After spending 4 gold and 65 copper on skills earlier, Gauss was left with 9 gold and 70 silver.
Even if he sold off all the miscellaneous items he had, he could only scrounge up about 19 gold and 20 silver—still short of the 25 gold he needed.
He hesitated, mentally preparing a polite way to turn down the purchase.
But before he could say anything, the store attendant gave him a small bow and said with a smile:
“If you're tight on funds at the moment, there's a way we can help you secure a short-term advance.”
“Really? What kind of help?” Gauss perked up immediately.
If there was a way, of course he wanted to get the storage pouch now. The earlier he got it, the sooner he could benefit.
“According to guild policy, bronze-ranked adventurers can apply for an interest-free professional development loan under the New Adventurer Welfare Act.”
“The max credit is 20 gold, with a six-month repayment period.”
There’s such a generous policy?
Gauss paused to think.
Twenty gold. No interest. Six months to pay it off.
He was confident he could earn that back well within the timeframe.
And the numbers lined up... a little too perfectly.
The 20 gold, plus the 5 he got as a newbie bonus, made exactly 25 gold—just enough to buy the pouch.
Still, he wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity. After a brief moment of thought, he nodded.
“Alright then. What do I need to do?”
The store attendant led him out of the shop and toward the admin hall.
With their help, the loan paperwork went smoothly.
Gauss handed over his adventurer badge. A clerk laid out a piece of parchment with gold trim on a peachwood desk. Content originally comes from N()velFire.net
It wasn’t a magical contract or anything special—just a standard document.
After carefully reading through the terms and confirming there were no hidden catches, Gauss signed his name at the bottom.
The clerk briefly explained the important points.
The parchment itself didn’t matter.
What really counted was the loan application record that was tied to his adventurer ID and uploaded to guild headquarters.
That record would be synced to every guild branch, so if he ever defaulted, his privileges would be restricted. His future quest rewards would be docked until the debt was paid off.
A few minutes later, 20 shining gold coins landed in his hands.
He added 5 more from his wallet and finally had the full 25 gold.
At the display shelf, he picked out the newest-looking storage pouch and asked the clerk to retrieve it for him.
The moment it was in his hands, he eagerly tested it out.
He channeled mana into it.
A vast, surreal space opened up in his perception—far larger than the pouch's exterior suggested.
Mana flowed like a stream within it. The pouch responded, drawing in some of his energy.
Moments later, a subtle, mysterious connection was formed between them.
This is... my storage space.
He pulled out the Adventurer’s Handbook, then mentally commanded it:
A ripple of magic shimmered through the air, and the book vanished from his hand.
He focused again. His perception shifted to the interior of the pouch—the book now rested neatly inside.
In a flash, the book reappeared in his hand.
The process was intuitive, even for a first-time user.
Feeling confident, Gauss dumped everything he carried into the pouch.
After finishing, he stretched. His whole body felt lighter.
The 500-pound capacity was more than enough for now.
Gauss wandered through a few more stores on the second floor.
As the golden sunset poured in through the glass dome, he casually descended the wide staircase back to the first floor—under the watchful, envious eyes of many adventurers.
“He looks young—barely twenty?”
“He’s already ranked?”
“I don’t think I’ve seen him before...”
“When will I be like that...?”
“They say the second floor has all kinds of magical gear...”
Whispers floated through the air like petals in the wind.
Gauss didn’t show any reaction, but inside, he couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.
Maybe one day this kind of attention would feel normal—but right now, as a newly minted bronze-ranked adventurer, it still gave him a quiet satisfaction.
Yeah... being a Bronze really does feel good.
“What’s with the sudden dinner plans?” Sophia put down her cleaning cloth, clearly confused but still obediently packing a small bag.
Gauss had come back from his quest yesterday acting all mysterious, saying they were going out to celebrate.
She’d even arranged for the neighbor girl, Winnie, to watch the counter for her.
“Winnie, I’ll leave the place to you.”
“You got it, Sophia!” Winnie smiled, then watched them leave. Her cheeks flushed pink for some reason as Gauss and Sophia walked side by side under the evening lanterns.
“Wait... today’s not your birthday, is it?” Sophia asked.
“Ahem. No,” Gauss cleared his throat. “But it is something worth celebrating.”
She looked up at him.
The warm light from the shops highlighted his sharp features.
His once-serious expression was now relaxed, his emerald eyes sparkling with joy and a touch of pride.
He really had changed. Not just his looks—his whole vibe was different.
Gone was the scrawny, dirt-smudged guy she used to see come back from the wild.
In his place was someone calm, composed, and... kind of impressive.
Can becoming an adventurer really change a person this much? she wondered.
“So... what are we celebrating?”
“It’s official,” Gauss said, trying to stay cool. “I made it—I’m a Bronze-ranked adventurer now. Thought we’d celebrate with a nice meal.”
He waited for a reaction—but Sophia had frozen in place.
She racked her brain.
She remembered seeing people like that around town—those who wore a shimmering blue badge and walked with such commanding presence that regular folks instinctively stepped aside.
And now... Gauss was one of them?
He pulled out the badge. Under the streetlamp, it gleamed in brilliant indigo light.
“It’s real? You... when did this happen?”
After a moment of stunned silence, Sophia’s eyes lit up.
“Oh my god—congratulations! Yes, yes, we definitely need to celebrate. Let’s eat something amazing!”
She didn’t know how he’d done it, but she understood what it meant.
This wasn’t just a promotion. It was a change in fate.
He’d become someone people looked up to.
“Oh, and someone else is joining us—a mentor of mine. I want to introduce you.”
“A mentor?” Sophia suddenly looked nervous. “Should I... maybe head back? I’m not dressed for this...”
Her clothes were clean but modest—just plain townsfolk attire.
“Relax, she’s super chill.” Gauss grinned.
They arrived at Firefly Kitchen. Gauss had made a reservation that morning.
“This place doesn’t seem cheap...” Sophia whispered.
“Just a cozy family restaurant,” Gauss replied smoothly, not wanting her to feel pressured.
Sophia rolled her eyes. She ran an inn with food service. She knew a high-end place when she saw one.
Before long, the door opened.
A small figure strolled in.
“I’m here! Gauss! Congrats on the promotion!”
It was Andeni, loud and cheerful as always.
Her eyes scanned the room and landed on Sophia. She glanced between the two of them with a knowing smile, then nodded politely.
“Sophia. Someone who’s taken really good care of me.”
“Hi! I’m Andeni. I run a general shop.” She casually plopped into the seat next to Gauss.
“Nice to meet you.” Sophia replied, a bit stiff. Andeni was cuter than expected, but clearly an important figure—enough to make her a little self-conscious.
“This one’s on me!” Andeni declared, grabbing the menu.
“Didn’t we agree last time? Plus, you’ve probably spent all your money already, right?”
Her eyes flicked to the pouch on Gauss’s belt.
“Still got some left,” he chuckled. “The guild’s got way better benefits now, y’know. Besides, I’m the one celebrating here—I should be treating you guys.”
“Oh?” Andeni raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. She leaned in, eager for details.
While she listened, Gauss quietly helped Sophia browse the menu and feel more at ease.
Before long, she relaxed.
Andeni’s petite figure and friendly vibe made her feel less intimidating, and once Sophia realized she was actually pretty down-to-earth, her tension melted away.
“Food’s here! Let’s dig in.” Gauss announced.
Food really did bring people together.
With a few dishes in their bellies, even Sophia and Andeni began chatting naturally.
Seeing it all, Gauss smiled to himself.
He’d brought Sophia here on purpose—hoping she could get to know Andeni.
Sophia was just a regular civilian. Now that Gauss was Bronze-ranked, he could help protect her... but he wouldn’t always be around.
If she and Andeni hit it off, maybe Andeni could keep an eye on her while he was away.
“Gauss, how about a bottle of wine?” Andeni grinned.
“You sure you can handle it?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” She slapped the table. “Back in my day, I could drink everyone under the table!”
Andeni started pounding glasses to prove her point—her cheeks turning bright red.
Sophia, surprisingly, handled her drinks like a pro—barely flushed.
Gauss, of course, was completely unaffected.
His Energy Gland trait processed alcohol instantly. Booze, like food, just became more fuel for his system.
Under the warm, orange glow of the lights, the atmosphere grew cozier, more joyful.
Gauss looked at the scene before him—two women laughing, food on the table, a warm buzz in the air—and felt a soft warmth fill his heart.
To celebrate with people you care about... this was happiness.
At least for now, he wasn’t alone.
And honestly, he couldn’t imagine a sadder fate than having no one to share moments with.