Chapter 80: Marketplace, Swindler Merchants (3K)
Gauss looked at the people blocking the door in front of him, then turned to look at Lawrence.
His eyes were full of confusion.
If he remembered correctly, Lawrence was supposed to help him arrange training spells with the caster apprentices, right?
Why are there so many people all at once?
Are they planning to gang up on him? Hmm, a group against one.
"Uh... everyone heard that you want to train protective magic, and they’re all very enthusiastic, volunteering to see if there’s anything they can help with." Lawrence chuckled.
Although he had been a bit frustrated earlier because he couldn’t break through Gauss’s defense despite his best efforts.
But these people came voluntarily, unrelated to him.
At most, he mentioned a few times that Gauss’s level of protective magic was impressive, and the other apprentices’ eyes lit up one by one.
After all, who wouldn’t like a spell punching bag with good feedback from attacks?
The feedback from strikes on the protective effect with a magic field isn’t comparable to training punches on dummies or other props.
The number of apprentices learning protective tricks is relatively small compared to other caster apprentices.
Moreover, many protective tricks aren’t durable, so finding a suitable "punching bag" isn’t an easy task.
"I’ll go first."
A male apprentice squeezed out from the crowd.
"The trick I’ve mastered is the Electric Claw Technique, so please be cautious."
The male apprentice’s words were polite, but his actions during formal training were very rough.
Without much preparation, he activated the trick, a blue lightning wrapped his palm, and he swung his hand in Gauss’s direction, with blue electric light flowing from his fingers.
The electric current gathered on Gauss’s body surface.
Lightning strikes are dangerous attacks for ordinary people, but this Electric Claw Technique was used by a caster apprentice, so its intensity wasn’t too exaggerated.
Gauss watched as the lightning on his body surface jumped like glowing little snakes, his body felt a bit tingly and numb.
Fortunately, the mage armor infused with magic resistance blocked most of the attack, so this slight tingling didn’t cause him much discomfort.
"Did he really withstand it?"
"This protective spell is so strong, it looks somewhat like a 1st-level Mage Armor, but isn’t that a 1st-level spell?"
"Probably not, I remember Mage Armor has weak protective abilities against magic attacks."
"Should we ask?"
"Shh! Have you forgotten? Asking about others’ spells is taboo!"
The magic and spells in this world are vast and varied; some exist within a gem, some are buried in ruins waiting to be discovered, and others are simply integrated into the omnipresent natural magic.
So theoretically, everyone may have mastered some mysterious spells or tricks that others have never encountered or simply don’t understand.
Many spells are not perfect, especially rare and niche spells.
Therefore, many apprentices who master niche tricks or spells are unwilling to share their specific spell information, although common tricks and spells don’t need to be kept secret.
After all, common tricks and spells, even if you don’t say, once you use them, apprentices with a bit of experience understand the intricacies.
Gauss wasn’t bothered by what the people around were murmuring about.
He was just immersed in experiencing the electric therapy, no, the Electric Claw Technique and Mage Armor’s confrontation during the moment of his body’s magical resonance surging again.
Just as he carefully experienced the tingling yet warm resonance, the electric shock suddenly stopped.
Did it stop already?
He looked up and saw the male apprentice breathing slightly heavily, with an embarrassed expression.
"Sorry, I’m out of magic power."
Gauss clicked his tongue, though his training was interrupted, he felt a bit unhappy but still politely said a word.
"Thank you."
He actually understood, not everyone has the advantageous conditions like him, owning outstanding magic power reserves, capable of using 1st-level spells several times.
This is almost unimaginable for other apprentices.
Many caster apprentices lacking resources and training can’t use even 0th ring tricks for long.
This is the normal state for ordinary caster apprentices, who must carefully use their weak magic power, only improving upon officially advancing their profession, possessing more magic power reserves, and mastering more low-consumption core skills.
"Next."
...
Time passed quietly during the "Magic Wheel Battle."
"Mage Armor Level 3(5/50)"
After the training, the recently upgraded Level 3 Mage Armor gained a few more proficiency points.
This speed is very fast.
Logically, ordinary training shouldn’t have this kind of effect, but couldn’t resist the variety of attack methods present.
And his Mage Armor seems to be in a continual process of collecting data, absorbing nutrients, and constantly evolving.
Every new spell seems to bring new changes to the Mage Armor.
Therefore, elevation speed is fast.
Gauss took out the dried meat he carried, chewing vigorously.
Although his magical power is more than other apprentices, it isn’t enough to undamagedly endure the successive exhaustion by eight or nine apprentices popping up one after another.
During the process, he also switched to new Mage Armor, utilizing the rapid digestion talent, training while eating, to restore magic power.
Thus, eventually draining the magic power of all caster apprentices present.
Seeing everyone sitting by the wall on chairs, facial complexions pale, eyes closed in concentration, Gauss shook his head.
Ordinary caster apprentices rely on such consumption, indeed they can’t exhaust him.
1st-level spells inherently have a significant advantage over 0th ring tricks.
Moreover, his Mage Armor at this moment cannot be entirely considered a simple 1st-level spell.
Additionally, he has a large magic power reserve, training while consuming food supplements magic power.
Unless everyone goes together, one-on-one isn’t possible to outlast him.
To be honest, although the process was frequently interrupted, the overall experience of this training was quite refreshing.
Of course, I mean the satisfaction of seeing my proficiency grow rapidly.
There wasn’t much joy in the act of being "injured" itself.
Glancing at the other Mutual Aid Association apprentices, each looking exhausted from the excessive consumption of magic power and unlikely to continue training soon, Gauss bid farewell to Lawrence and left first.
After Gauss left, the apprentices, who had been sternly sitting against the wall, breathed a sigh of relief and lay down on the benches.
"Lawrence, what’s his background?"
"And are you sure you didn’t lie to us? Are you certain he’s not a professional caster?"
Lawrence suddenly felt a sense of balance in his heart, seeing the equally shocked members of the Mutual Aid Association. At least he wasn’t the only one questioning reality anymore.
"Ha, do you think I’m the kind of person who would hire a professional caster to put on this drama for you?" Lawrence shook his head. "Besides, he’s an apprentice who came with a letter of introduction from Ms. Andri. Isn’t it normal for him to be strong?"
The other members fell silent upon hearing this.
They naturally knew who Andri was.
She was the first president who founded this Mutual Aid Association. Her status as a Black Iron Level adventurer was already legendary for this group of apprentices.
Hearing that he came through Andri’s connections, the slight dissatisfaction and jealousy they harbored silently disappeared.
It was destined that he wasn’t the same type of person as them.
"Seize the opportunity to practice your tricks; such a good chance for training doesn’t come often."
The others heard this and said nothing, but inwardly they somewhat agreed.
No matter what you think, having an excellent practice dummy to freely perform tricks is better to take advantage of first.
"President Lawrence, will he come again tomorrow?"
...
Gauss walked through the streets of Bitter Wormwood Town and found that every town had its unique characteristics.
For example, Gray Rock Town was comprised of vast stone buildings and street views, a typical adventurer’s town, while Bitter Wormwood Town had many natural elements of grass and trees.
Gauss also noticed that many adventurers returning from outside weren’t carrying trophies from various monsters but instead had freshly picked herbs.
The pillar industry of a place can influence all aspects of it.
Arriving at the location of the night market, the crowds were even denser.
This was a small square nestled among low residential buildings.
Besides the open shops, there were many small vendors in the square, spreading out a tarp and displaying their items for sale.
It was quite lively.
Gauss was dazzled upon entering the square.
Merchants selling herbs, stones, and some unidentified tools, book vendors selling books and "skill books," apprentices dealing in magic items, potions, and powders all gathered here.
Everything was for sale, a mix of good and bad.
No wonder Lawrence from the Mutual Aid Association reminded him this afternoon to be discerning and avoid being deceived when he mentioned coming to the market tonight.
Gauss approached a book vendor’s stall selling books and scrolls, squatted down, and let his gaze wander over the tarp.
"Look for yourself if you want something," the stall owner said indifferently, seemingly not intending to actively introduce any goods.
But this suited Gauss just fine.
"Illustrated Guide to Herbs around Bitter Wormwood Town"
"Trick Talk"
"Dancing Light Technique Analysis"
"Great Mage’s Manuscript"
"Mage’s Hand"
...
They were dazzling to behold at a glance.
But Gauss had doubts about some of them, for example, could the Great Mage’s Manuscript really appear in the stockpile of such a roadside stall?
Seeing a familiar name, Gauss, with thoughts of verifying, asked the vendor, "Can I take a look inside?"
"You can. But don’t look at each one for too long."
Gauss picked up the scroll labeled Mage’s Hand, unrolled it, and quickly skimmed the contents.
Amidst the densely packed small text, there were also some small model diagrams.
After scanning it once, Gauss rolled the scroll back up.
It was a fake.
Since he himself already mastered the trick of Mage’s Hand, he could readily spot the flaws in the scroll, even though it seemed very real, it couldn’t fool him.
If someone really took this scroll to learn magic, it would likely just be a waste of time.
Silently placing the scroll back on the stall, he said nothing.
After browsing a few more books, he left the stall.
They seemed to all be fakes.
Perhaps they could only deceive average people who aspired to become caster apprentices or apprentices who weren’t skilled.
The price of handwritten copies of pages was around 2-5 silver coins, while some complete second-hand tricks were priced at almost 30 silver coins.
It left him astounded.
If they were real, it wouldn’t matter, but they didn’t seem like genuine goods.
Would anyone actually buy them?
Gauss couldn’t imagine if there truly was an ordinary person who painstakingly saved up a few silver coins and spent their life’s savings to buy a few pages of supposedly learnable trick handwritten copies.
If they returned home and trained for months with no results, such a feeling of despair would be overwhelming.
It’s not easy; the first major hurdle for ordinary people aiming to become caster apprentices isn’t the difficulty of learning the tricks themselves, but earning money and figuring out how to buy genuine learning scrolls.
Like himself, he could somewhat judge through experience and magic. How could ordinary people discern truth from falsehood among these vendors?
The path to becoming a professional for ordinary people is indeed filled with difficulties.