"How’s your dream coming along?"
Gauss asked as he waved at the distant Ying, speaking to the snowy owl Aaliyah on his shoulder.
Last year, Aaliyah awakened the ability to transfer real-world plants into dreams. The first test was a special magic plant variety of olive bonsai.
At that time, she immediately called Gauss over for consultation, so Gauss was well aware of it.
"Fruits have already grown in the dream."
"I brought some out last night."
"Would you like to try them?"
"Hmm, thank you."
Gauss nodded.
He then took a few fresh green olives from Aaliyah.
They looked no different from regular fruits, just more plump, with a strong magic aura emanating from the surface.
If not mentioned, it would be hard to imagine they grew in a dream.
Gauss and Ying each picked one and took a bite.
The magic-infused olive’s flesh was tender white, and very juicy.
Unlike ordinary olives, which are astringent and slightly bitter, these were very sweet, with an aroma that burst from the juice as soon as it entered the mouth.
The special energy unique to the magic fruit instantly melted into Gauss’s body like a warm current.
"Delicious."
Gauss nodded.
"And it’s quite energetic, too."
It provided more fullness and energy than the usual basic Magic Stone.
More importantly, the magic fruit was gentler and harmless to the body, which could have better effects if processed into potions.
"It should be related to the environment of your dream, right?" Ying also spoke.
Aaliyah nodded.
That olive, though carefully cultivated and modified by her, typically had characteristics of few fruits and poor quality due to artificial breeding.
Since wild magic plants often grow in special places like magic power veins, Aaliyah’s garden obviously couldn’t achieve similar effects. It was the special soil she left and the Natural Power that prevented them from wilting.
But in her dreamland, it seemed all problems were resolved.
The land appeared barren, but when crops emerged, a peculiar force would mysteriously nourish the plants.
"However, it seems only magic plant varieties can be transplanted for now; ordinary plants cannot be moved there."
Aaliyah sighed.
The cooldown time for plant transfers and the requirements for plant species meant she couldn’t rapidly transfer many plants to quickly rejuvenate the barren dreamland.
"It’s already very good."
"In the future, during our adventures, if we encounter magic plants, we can collect them for you to transfer to the dream garden."
When Gauss and others encountered wild magic plants, they often left the plants in place after gathering fruits and crops.
Even if they wanted to take the plants away, they would likely end up with plants wilting after leaving the power veins.
But now, they had a portable plant cultivation garden.
New fresh magic plant fruits could be continuously harvested in the future.
...
Returning to Gray Rock Town.
The town had completely restored order.
Time heals all, and the shadow of war seemed to be leaving Gray Rock Town behind.
After confirming that the Jade Forest outside Gray Rock Town wouldn’t organize a new offensive shortly, Sir Belock and the soldiers stationed outside the town were to return to Anvil Castle.
"Have a safe journey, Sir Belock."
"Gauss, visit Anvil Castle when you have time."
"Sure will."
After bidding farewell to the army at the city gate, Gauss and Abelhard entered the city.
The war was over.
The town entered a bustling period of redevelopment and reconstruction, with much to do.
To accommodate refugees from Black Water Town and the affected natives, the town hall offered new positions in a work-for-aid arrangement.
They built and fortified city walls, housing, and provided loans.
The victory in the battle brought considerable benefits to the town post-war.
The loss in population was gradually filled by subsequent residents.
It’s foreseeable that after a period of development, Gray Rock Town would become even more prosperous than before the war.
If growth continued, there might be a chance in a few decades for it to become a new frontier city.
With the great victory of the defense of Gray Rock, Gauss’s fame grew, and Gray Rock Town gained some notoriety too.
He also gained the title of "Gray Rock Guardian."
Some people, especially those from big cities he had never visited, remained skeptical about him "defeating" the Extraordinary Dragon Priest at Flute Castle. However, his significant battle achievement of taking the enemy leader’s head among thousands was witnessed by many soldiers and documented by the army scribes.
At this moment, Gauss’s fame surged again throughout the province.
Anyone trying to climb from the bottom often undergoes this process, proving themselves with one achievement after another, making a name for themselves.
Especially in big cities and even the kingdom’s center, residents often hold an air of superiority, putting more faith in their long-established strongmen or rising stars.
The emerging stars from frontier areas are usually viewed with scrutiny and reservation until their strength is repeatedly proven by undeniable achievements.
Village, town, city, province, kingdom, continent.
A famous adventurer needs to advance step by step until reaching the grandest stage.
Gauss currently had some fame, though his reputation was likely between city and province levels.
He was known in many cities and towns in the province, but far from being a household name; people discussing him were mainly around his active areas.
"Abelhard, I’m checking if there are any suitable commissions."
"Feeling idle?"
Abelhard, after several busy days, just had some free time today when he spotted Gauss coming in.
Though he just teased him, while they weren’t familiar before, over the past couple of weeks, Abelhard had already considered Gauss a friend.
Even though Gauss was significantly younger, his mature handling and superior strength meant Abelhard naturally wouldn’t act superior.
He had heard before that Gauss was quite the commission enthusiast and a monster-slaying maniac, and it turned out to be true.
Normal adventurers, having just ended a battle as the absolute main force and then busy clearing remaining monsters and accommodating refugees, would usually need one or two weeks of rest.
Unexpectedly, Gauss couldn’t even stay idle for a day, having just cleared the outskirts of the Jade Forest near Gray Rock Town this morning, and was already seeking suitable commissions.
Abelhard couldn’t help but sigh internally.
Suddenly feeling a bit old, not as energetic as the young ones.
"What kind of commission are you considering?"
"Combat commission, preferably involving elite-level demons."
"Should I have someone pick out the related elite goblin commissions?"
Abelhard inquired understandingly.
"No, not goblins this time."
Gauss shook his head.
He glanced at his Monster Atlas, and unbeknownst to him, the elite-level types in the atlas had quietly reached 19 kinds.
During the war days, he killed so many monsters that he didn’t notice the acquisition of new types.
Now he only needed one more to reach 20 kinds, allowing him to acquire a new talent.
Although a blue-quality talent probably wouldn’t significantly enhance his actual combat power, you can never have too many racial talents.
Just like Magic, the casters don’t frequently use every spell they learn, often relying on just a few common ones, but the rest becomes a part of their magic foundation.
And, you never know when they might come in handy.
Hearing Gauss’s request, Abelhard was puzzled but didn’t ask further.
He wasn’t a man of many words, nor was he overly curious.
Like last year’s winter hunt when Gauss was still a level 1 Professional, he noticed the unusual young man but ultimately didn’t contact Gauss, merely handling some trivial matters for him quietly.
He only assumed Gauss wanted to relax; after all, it was just elite-level monsters, nothing threatening to Gauss now.