Gauss returned to the inn.
Nothing about the place had changed since he’d left. That in itself was oddly comforting.
It felt like no matter how far he went, this place would always be here—holding onto his memories.
“Want something to eat? There’s food in the kitchen.”
“Already ate before coming back.”
“Gauss, you…” Sophia’s eyes narrowed as she gave him a closer look.
It had been several days since she last saw him. Now that he was back, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something about his appearance was different.
But when she tried to pinpoint what had changed, she came up blank. His eyebrows, nose, and mouth were all the same—but everything just looked more refined. As if he had "grown into" his features.
Had he done some kind of special skincare treatment during his trip to Wormwood Town? The place was known for its herbs and medicinal goods...
But why bother with that all of a sudden?
A possibility flashed through her mind.
Could he be in love? Is that why he’s suddenly paying more attention to his looks?
“Nothing,” Sophia said with a sly smile, feeling like she had cracked the code. “Something good happen while you were away?”
“Something great, actually. But I’ll keep it a secret for now. Once it’s official, I’ll tell you.”
Gauss had no intention of telling Sophia about his promotion to professional adventurer—not yet.
He figured it would sound better if he casually mentioned it later, once he passed the Bronze-rank trial. Otherwise, it’d feel like he was bragging.
Sophia, hearing this, only grew more certain of her guess.
And for some reason… she felt a little bitter about it.
Like a mom watching her kid fall in love for the first time.
She wasn’t even a parent, so she couldn’t say exactly why she felt that way—but it was there, all the same.
Walking through the streets, Gauss felt lighter on his feet.
That dungeon run had been a major windfall. With four gold coins in his pocket, even the shops along the road looked more welcoming.
He had to gear up before heading out again.
First: a decent one-handed crossbow and a case of bolts.
That last dungeon battle had made him realize how important it was to have a backup ranged weapon. Magic Missile was great, but it cost mana. A crossbow just needed ammo—and he could reuse the bolts too.
Next: one basic healing potion and one mana potion.
He might not need them, but it was better to have them. In a life-or-death moment, a bottle of potion could mean survival. A pocket full of coins wouldn’t help him mid-fight.
His trait, Quick Digestion, helped regenerate mana through eating, but the effect wasn’t instantaneous. Not yet, anyway.
He also restocked his general survival gear: waterproof firestarter, salt blocks, climbing rope and hooks, anti-snake/insect repellent, a medical kit, and a multi-purpose hemp rope.
In total, he spent just over one gold coin—most of it on the crossbow and potions.
By the end, his backpack was stuffed full—nearly as tall as half his body. Good thing he had 7 Constitution. Carrying it didn’t even faze him.
He’d hoped to visit Andeni to thank her, but she was out. No one at the Thorn Cottage knew when she’d be back.
So, it was time to move on and take care of the quest.
Fully rested and at full strength, Gauss stood outside Grayrock Town, ready to go.
The last time he’d visited Jade Forest, it was right after arriving in this world.
Now, months later, he was going back—but with a completely different mindset.
Gone was the thrill and anxiety of his first time. He remembered splurging at a tavern back then—treating himself to noodles, stew, and pickled fish just to calm his nerves.
Looking back, that might not have been the smartest move. Thankfully, he hadn’t suffered any food-related consequences.
At the edge of Grayrock’s main road, Gauss stood tall.
A well-packed backpack slung over his shoulders. A thin sword at his waist. The bone wand tucked into his inner coat. And in his hand—his black metal staff.
Pairs of low-rank adventurers passed him by, stealing glances as they walked.
Some looked twice at the oversized staff in his hand, eyes flashing with a bit of envy.
Everything about his gear screamed not a rookie.
Gauss noticed the stares, but didn’t care much.
In fact, he was starting to understand how that full-plate professional he’d once admired had felt, standing calm and proud amidst a sea of newcomers.
The sound of a carriage rolling up snapped him back. It stopped right in front of him.
Gauss climbed aboard.
Inside the carriage were a few others.
The outer edge of Jade Forest was about half a day’s walk from town—maybe two to three hours even for someone with high stamina.
So Gauss had reserved a seat through the local transport guild to save energy.
Apparently, he wasn’t the only one with that idea.
He stepped in and found the only empty seat.
He sat down—and started quietly observing the others.
Most had suppressed their class aura, making it hard to tell their strength. He had to rely on appearances and gear.
Across from him sat a male-female pair in light armor—likely a couple.
In the corner, a hooded man in black robes, keeping to himself.
Next to Gauss, a silver-haired boy with a medium-sized suitcase, flipping through a hardcover book with intricate patterns.
And by the window, a blue-haired woman with a calm air, holding a wooden staff, gazing out at the scenery.
As Gauss studied them, they were also subtly sizing him up.
Even the white-haired boy who seemed focused on his book.
Warrior? Mage? they wondered.
He had a used sword, and the massive staff looked like a melee weapon—but it was embedded with a gem, so maybe it was a magic staff?
He was tall, muscular… hard to read.
After a moment, the white-haired boy dropped the scrutiny and went back to reading.
His mentor had always warned him—don’t poke the unknown. Especially when you can't gauge their strength.
A carriage of six, and except for the occasional whisper from the couple, the only other sounds were the driver’s reins and the clatter of wheels.
Gauss leaned back and closed his eyes, resting as the cart bounced gently.
“We’ve arrived—Jade Forest, everyone.”
The driver’s voice roused him.
Gauss opened his eyes and stepped out.
Familiar green trees stretched into the mist.
It was early morning. White fog still lingered like floating ribbons between the trunks.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting golden rays over moss-covered ground.
The scent of damp leaves and earthy humus filled the air.
Everyone disembarked.
Gauss noticed something he hadn’t earlier: the blue-haired woman and white-haired boy were actually a party.
So out of the six passengers: two pairs and two solo adventurers—Gauss and the hooded man.
No one exchanged greetings. Barely any eye contact.
The robed man silently melted into the forest, disappearing like a shadow.
Gauss shouldered his gear and followed.
Some unseen bird screamed overhead.
Gauss activated Mage Armor, then checked the map in his hand and started down the forest trail.
Whenever he reached a fork, he stopped to double-check directions—marking each split in his mental map before moving on.
He soon entered the outer perimeter.
The guild’s map divided Jade Forest into zones by distance.
The outermost layer was relatively safe. The deeper in you went, the more dangerous it became. Rumor had it, a fully grown green dragon lived in the very center.
Luckily, Gauss’s target location wasn’t that deep—just past the outer edge.
Still, compared to his first trip, this spot was much deeper—and the chances of running into danger were much higher.