The remaining ghouls were quickly dealt with casually.
"Didn’t expect it to be so mundane."
Aaliyah said with a smile.
"I hadn’t been an adventurer for long at that time."
Gauss said helplessly.
He’s human, not a god.
He wasn’t this strong from the start.
If it weren’t for a few people facing these configurations, a single 2nd-level demon with some 1st-level demons would have been quite terrifying, and many adventurer squads risked failure against them.
But now, let alone facing him, even the team’s medic Serdur could easily handle them.
However, Aaliyah only touched lightly on the subject.
After all, this was just an outing for leisure since Serdur and Albena were away for training, and Gauss’s squad couldn’t take on any overly formal commissions.
After cutting off the commission proof, Gauss and others left the cave the same way they came.
"Whew—"
Returning to the outskirts.
Gauss summoned Hephaestus.
"Roar."
Uncertain if it also felt something, it growled softly in Gauss’s direction.
Gauss concentrated on the newly acquired talent [Charioteer].
After Hephaestus appeared, this mysterious force within him became notably more active.
Clearly, this Red Dragon Beast, which had been with Gauss for some time, satisfied the contract standards, easing Gauss’s initial concerns.
As he focused on Hephaestus, he sensed a miraculous connection gradually forming between him and it.
After a few breaths.
The other end of the mental link formally landed on Hephaestus, with the other on Gauss, like an invisible bridge connecting the two.
"Is this the contract?"
Though not established in any written form, Gauss felt his relationship with Hephaestus suddenly became much closer.
He even felt a sense of blood relation.
And Hephaestus happened to be staring at Gauss, though somewhat puzzled, it gradually found him more agreeable.
"Roar~"
Its large head nudged Gauss’s body, seemingly "gentle" but continually pushed him to retreat.
"Alright, alright."
Gauss gently patted its head.
Aaliyah glanced at Gauss, then at the Red Dragon Beast nearby, her eyes slightly narrowed.
Her intuition told her there seemed to be some secret between them, known only to them.
"Hmm?"
"Come on up."
While she was pondering alone, Gauss eagerly jumped onto the dragon’s back.
Sitting on Hephaestus’s back, he carefully felt the unity of man and dragon.
This was wonderful.
It seemed like a force was invisibly binding him and Hephaestus together, forming a synergy between these two independent entities.
"Roar!!!"
Hephaestus likewise excitedly roared loudly.
It felt strength returned to it, the aura of a sky sovereign.
With Gauss sitting on its dragon back, there was an invincible sense of grandeur.
"Come on up."
"There are still some goblins nearby."
Gauss gestured to Aaliyah and Ying.
His Biological Positioning Skill provided feedback; there must be goblins nearby.
With him and Hephaestus united, they could practice with goblins.
Seeing Hephaestus impatiently preparing to take off, Aaliyah quickly had Ying lift her, jumping onto the dragon’s back.
...
The high-temperature Dragon Flame instantly melted the snow.
Amongst the thick fog, the terrified little green goblin corpses froze in position.
Before they could react, the fierce falling flame consumed them.
Almost instantly, the intense heat melted their skin and muscles, leaving only dried, charred bodies to crash down.
The temperature of the Dragon Flame breath increased.
Gauss noticed the change.
It likely also related to the [Charioteer] talent.
Like taking a walk, Gauss easily killed twenty goblins.
Casually extinguishing the fire with Water Manipulation, Hephaestus flapped its wings, rising in altitude, flying toward Gray Rock Town.
The Charioteer talent made it easier for Gauss to ride Hephaestus.
Landed in the central square of Gray Rock Town, amidst exclamations, Gauss retracted Hephaestus.
No matter how many times seen, dragons were always creatures that stirred excitement for ordinary people.
Gauss and others entered the Guild, casually submitting the commission.
"You returned just in time."
"Gauss, your spell has arrived."
The Guild’s Vice Chair Shirley came down from upstairs.
Seeing Gauss at the second-floor counter, having just completed the procedure, she quickly walked to his side.
"Has the Confusion Skill arrived?"
"And that Outfit Transformation Magic." Shirley took out two exquisite scrolls and handed them to Gauss.
"The Outfit Transformation Magic delayed it a bit."
"Thank you."
Gauss glanced at the two spells in hand.
The Confusion Skill was a 4th-level spell, while the Outfit Transformation Magic was a 3rd-level spell.
The rough effect of the spell was selecting multiple sets of preset clothes to switch almost seamlessly.
In future battles, he no longer needed to worry about the risk of clothing damage, able to summon new clothes and armor anytime and anywhere.
"Care for a drink after work?"
Gauss invited Shirley, he had something to request of her.
Their acquaintance time was actually longer than with Chairman Abelhard, though Gauss was not as strong then.
"Today?"
Shirley wasn’t clear about what Gauss invited her for, but she didn’t ask much.