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Chapter 232 : Strange New Trend
Chapter 232: Strange New Trend
Serandur’s return was not much later than the two had expected.
The following morning, he appeared silently in his own room.
His return was as low-key as his departure, as if he had merely gone out for a morning stroll.
When Gauss found him, Serandur was coiled up, sitting cross-legged on a simple mat in the center of the room. In his hands, he held a coiled silver serpent statue—an image of the Lady of the Hidden Scales, his deity of faith—its head and tail joined to form a perfect ring.
Е̃ñu m ӓ
Gauss, upon seeing this, did not interrupt.
Serandur only performed such a prayer ritual in his room within the town. When he was away on commissions, this part of his daily routine was absent, so Gauss had not seen him meditate many times.
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The room was filled with the delicate fragrance of a rare incense, burnt from special herbs, calming the mind of anyone who inhaled it.
On the small table beside his bed lay several small bottles and bundles of herbs left to dry.
Soon, Serandur concluded his morning prayers. His pale golden slit-pupiled eyes opened slowly.
Seeing Gauss in the room did not surprise him. He had been praying, not dead.
Ẁе̇b̀ n̂ о̂ vе̄ l Е̂ ňú m а
His keen sense of smell had already detected Gauss entering the room.
「Did you succeed in advancing？」
「Mm. Very smoothly.」 Serandur nodded. His expression was calm, yet subtle shifts betrayed that he was in good spirits.
「That’s good.」
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Every advancement was crucial for an Adventurer.
Especially when one was stuck before a bottleneck, unable to progress—the gnawing anxiety and self-doubt would deepen with time, eroding confidence and shaking the very foundation of one’s beliefs.
Ê ṅ ŭ m̈а̊
Thus, Adventurers often faced two fates.
Either they advanced with unstoppable momentum, each breakthrough further strengthening their path and faith, quickly building achievements and fame.
Or they languished in stagnation, losing courage and motivation, and sometimes never overcoming a crucial bottleneck in their lifetime.
They would watch latecomers surpass them, their ambition worn down by reality, numbly repeating daily routines, drowning in alcohol and boastful tales—or driven by unwillingness, taking reckless risks, only to vanish on some commission beyond their ability.
Though Serandur’s situation had not been so dire, that invisible bottleneck had troubled him for some time.
Now that his knot was untied, the world before his eyes seemed suddenly wide and clear.
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Even during his prayer this morning, his heart felt more tranquil.
「Right, there’s something I need to tell you.」 After confirming everything went well, Gauss went straight to the point.
Just like last time with Arya, he used the Message spell to transmit the confidential commission details regarding the “Black Fang” tribe’s expeditionary force clearly to Serandur.
For a moment, the room grew quiet. In the faint fragrance of incense, the two communicated swiftly without sound.
Before long, Arya also came to join them.
The three discussed the details of the commission thoroughly.
W̃ е̇b̃ň о v̊ е̊ l̇ Е n u ṁа
After some time—
Gauss clapped his hands.
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「Good. Then it’s decided. We’ll head to the Adventurer’s Guild after breakfast to give them a definite answer. Then we’ll meet the other party.」
Arya and Serandur both nodded in agreement.
──Canopy Town.
On the second floor of the Adventurer’s Guild, in a certain meeting room—
Ё n ůṁ_а
A senior Guild councilor sat upright.
「Mr. Gauss, you wish to meet the other party first, and then decide whether to accept this commission, correct？」
「If possible, please.」
「That’s not a big problem. If I recall correctly, that person already arrived in town a few days ago, though she has only come to the Guild once. I’ll have someone send her a message, asking if she is available today.」
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The old man called a subordinate and delegated the task.
Soon, a sharp cry of a bird of prey rang out. Sipping his black tea, Gauss glanced at the bright floor-to-ceiling window.
Ẽ ǹu m.ä..i̇d̄
An owl cut across the sky, flying toward a certain part of town.
The efficiency was faster than he expected.
「Her lodging isn’t far from the Guild. There should be a reply soon. If she’s not free today, we’ll have to rearrange.」
「Then we’ll wait here.」 Gauss replied.
Since neither he, Arya, nor Serandur had anything urgent, they simply sat in the meeting room, drinking tea while waiting.
The staff brought dried fruits, snacks, and some reading materials to pass the time.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Gauss casually picked a book.
He had barely read a few pages when—
Knock, knock.
The sudden knock startled them. For before the sound, neither Gauss, Arya, nor Serandur had heard any approaching footsteps.
「Is it the temporary teammate？」 Gauss put down his book, glancing at the door.
He doubted it. The timing was too quick—almost as if she had been loitering at the Guild entrance, received the message, and walked up immediately.
W е̊ b̊ ǹ о̂v е̄l̊ _Е̃ n u m̌.а_
「This fast？」
The odds of that happening were very slim.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Perhaps it was someone else?
「Creak—」
The door handle turned.
A tall, slender figure stepped in.
É ňumá.. іd
「Huh？？？」
Gauss’s eyes widened instantly.
His gaze met that of the woman who entered.
Both showed surprise.
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「You again？」
「It’s you？」
Ēn ŭm̀a. і d̂
The woman, dressed neatly in travel gear, backed out of the doorway, checked the room number to confirm she had not entered the wrong place, then came back in.
「Haha, what a coincidence! You two actually know each other？」 The senior councilor caught their unusual reaction, adjusted his glasses, and smiled.
「No, we don’t.」 The woman spoke first.
Feigning calm, she walked to the meeting table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
【Well, you’re doomed. Your temporary teammate will probably think you’re a thief now.】
Unseen on the floor, her shadow squirmed subtly, transmitting a mocking thought.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The woman pursed her lips slightly.
She knew Gauss had definitely recognized her as the one from that night.
She only hoped he wouldn’t ask about it here.
Otherwise, she would be mortified.
「We just happened to meet once at the market a few days ago, and again yesterday on the street.」 Gauss calmly took over, vaguely explaining, answering the councilor’s doubt.
At the same time, he gave his two teammates clarity.
Wӗ b n̈ о v е l̆ Е̇n ûmа̀
Arya nodded at the explanation.
She had thought the woman might be an old acquaintance of Gauss.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The councilor chuckled, not pressing further.
「Since you’ve met, even better. Let me still introduce everyone.」
「This is Miss Shadow, a very skilled Rogue.」
「This is Gauss, a promising young Mage, and this is—」
Е nû ṁ а̇
The councilor gave a brief start to introductions, then left the meeting room to handle other matters.
After he left—
The room grew quiet.
A subtle atmosphere spread in the air.
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Serandur, normally silent and indifferent, rarely spoke to strangers.
Arya turned her head back and forth, glancing between Gauss and the woman called Shadow.
Е̌ n u ma .і d̈
Shadow, meanwhile, felt uneasy.
Though she knew she had acted with good intentions that night, from Gauss’s perspective, it might not seem so.
Yet if she explained now, it would look like guilty over-defensiveness, making her more suspicious. He hadn’t even said anything yet, and she would already be defending herself—
So awkward…
In the end, it was Gauss who spoke first.
「Um… Miss Shadow, right？」
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
「Mm.」 Shadow nodded, expressionless.
「You’re a Rogue? May I ask your level？」 In truth, the moment he saw her, Gauss’s impression of her rose.
Although he still couldn’t judge her suitability as a teammate, someone willing to help the weak likely wasn’t bad.
「I suppose. Level 5.」 Shadow replied concisely.
There was no point hiding her level. If they were to work together, it would come out anyway.
As for her exact profession, she had no intention of laying everything bare to someone she had just met.
W ӗb̃ n ӧv̈е́l̃ Ē n̈ŭ m а
Is that so? Gauss had been slightly curious at her uncertain tone when mentioning her class, but upon hearing her level—
He couldn’t help but be surprised.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
The Guild had actually matched them with a Level 5 teammate？？
Mostly because she looked so young.
Though he couldn’t yet tell her exact age, she was unlikely to be very old. Her aura alone revealed the difference.
This young, a Level 5 Professional—indeed, not common.
Ẇ eb ñо̇.v ё.l̇ Е̂nům ä
Thinking of this, he instead felt somewhat conflicted.
By logic, the stronger the teammates, the better.
But now, their team looked weaker on paper. Serandur, the team’s level pillar, had only just broken through to Level 4.
Even though Gauss knew his own real strength far exceeded Level 3, it didn’t change the fact that the newly dropped-in temporary teammate instantly became the highest-level member of the team.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
A trace of awkwardness showed on his face.
Yet since he had asked about her, he naturally had to introduce the team.
Е_n̊u mà.іd
「I’m a Level 3 Mage. This is Serandur, a Level 4 Priest. Arya is a Level 2 Druid.」
「Though our levels aren’t that high, our actual combat strength isn’t bad.」
Sure enough, when Shadow heard him state his own level, a brief flicker of surprise crossed her face, but she quickly returned to calm.
「It’s fine. If we confirm the cooperation, I can follow your command.」
【Not going to fight for command? You’re the highest-level one here.】 Her shadow once again tried to egg her on.
But Shadow pretended not to hear.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Having a shadow that could chat with her at all times—its benefit was never feeling lonely. The drawback, however, was plentiful.
Like now, throwing out bad ideas.
Though she had rarely teamed up with others, she knew well enough that as a temporary teammate, even if stronger, the best thing was to follow command.
Besides, she faintly sensed Gauss was unusual.
Gauss exhaled lightly.
Since her arrival, she had remained expressionless. He had thought she might be arrogant. But after brief interaction, she just seemed quiet, not fond of talking or engaging.
Е̊ñ u m а_.í d
For a Level 5 Professional to set aside pride and follow lower-level teammates’ command showed not only her professionalism, but also that she valued teamwork.
「Then allow me to thank you for your trust first.」 Gauss nodded. 「Let’s discuss the details of this commission.」
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Gauss spread the commission dossier on the table.
Just before leaving, the senior councilor had handed it to him.
「I believe the Guild already briefed you on the commission. The Black Fang tribe is skilled at beast-taming. Though this should just be a small expeditionary force, if they are involved, we may face wolf riders—or even small units of flying cavalry.」
「And as a scout-type profession, Shadow… Miss Shadow, you’ll bear heavy pressure early on. You’ll likely encounter the enemy first.」
Ӗ nŭm a
「No problem.」 Shadow nodded calmly.
When she said this, she seemed very confident.
After reaching initial agreement, Gauss pressed further, discussing preparations, routes, combat coordination, and other matters for nearly an hour.
Though called a discussion, it was mostly him speaking. Serandur and Arya occasionally supplemented, while Shadow remained the most silent.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
She seemed aloof and cold.
「So, we’ve reached a preliminary agreement to cooperate?」 Gauss summed up at last, looking toward Shadow.
W e b n ǒ vе̌ l Е̇.n̆um̃ а
During the talk, he had also used Message to briefly confirm with Arya and Serandur.
Both also held a favorable impression of Shadow.
「Alright then. I’ll be in your care.」 Shadow rose, giving a slight nod to the three.
Once everything was confirmed, the four exited the meeting room and officially accepted this special “Unofficial Commission” from the senior councilor.
The completion deadline was longer than Gauss expected—
Set at two months.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
But considering that the survey team had been missing so long already, survivors were unlikely. The mission’s focus lay in uncovering the cause and eliminating Black Fang forces.
So, the extended deadline was reasonable. The last team had spent a full month with little result. Gauss and his team also had to prepare for a prolonged campaign.
After leaving the Guild, the four agreed to meet the next morning at the Adventurer’s Guild entrance.
After waving goodbye, Shadow parted ways with them.
Watching her back, Arya whispered,
「She really doesn’t talk much.」
W̊ еb̈ n̄ о v̀el Ӗ nů ma
「But she seems decent.」
Unless someone was deeply cunning, spending even just an hour or two face to face would give a general sense of their character.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Serandur nodded as well.
Silence was good—it meant she likely wouldn’t meddle unnecessarily in their team.
As long as Gauss led, he didn’t mind an extra temporary member.
「We’ll see tomorrow.」 Gauss led the two toward the inn.
W е b̂ nоv̌е l Е̂ n̂ üṁ а̃
He and Shadow had agreed to first take some normal commissions the next day.
Though it looked odd for their strength, it was still a good way to build team rapport.
──Elsewhere.
Shadow’s shadow was still “chatting” with her.
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【Didn’t expect you and him to be so fated.】
「Indeed.」 Shadow nodded.
Ёn̊ũ m̊ á
But inside, she struggled whether to find a chance to casually reveal the truth behind that night to Gauss.
During the meeting, she had already been wrestling with it. She just hadn’t found a suitable entry point.
So she kept brooding.
【He does look alright. Just a bit weak. Otherwise, you two would be a perfect pair.】
「Wha… what are you saying, Said？」 Shadow lightly stepped on her shadow.
Said was the name she had given it.
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【Ow! Why step on me? Embarrassed?】
「I’m ignoring you.」
【But really, that Mage Gauss is interesting. Only Level 3, yet facing you he showed no fear—calm and poised. Don’t you think…】
「Let’s finish this commission first.」
This time, Shadow didn’t deny it immediately. She had indeed noticed that Gauss possessed a calmness beyond his level.
【And this commission? Do you really think it’s simple? Black Fang’s expeditionary force, missing survey team… feels more like a declaration—or a provocation.】
Е nû m̈а̃.ī d
「It may only be the beginning.」
【And you still want to take it?】
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「That’s exactly why we must.」
──The next day.
The temporary four-man team assembled at the Adventurer’s Guild entrance.
Amid astonished gazes, Gauss calmly walked into the crowd with his three teammates, muttering while they studied the notice board plastered with normal commissions.
Еn̂ umà
Unbelievable.
The low-level Adventurers had grown used to this “legend” Gauss, who often competed with them for jobs.
But they hadn’t expected he’d escalate—
By bringing teammates.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
And especially—seeing one tall woman bearing an Identity Badge with five six-pointed stars nearly made their jaws drop.
No mistake?
Wе b̂ ṅӧvе́l̇ En ů mӑ
A Level 5 Professional… coming to clear trivial commissions?
Many rubbed their eyes, confirming they hadn’t miscounted.
No matter how many times—they still saw five shining stars.
Monstrous.
How could they possibly compete for “work” with a Level 5 Professional? Was this fair?
As the low-level Adventurers gaped, wondering if they were dreaming—
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A loud, boisterous voice rang out behind them.
「This commission’s Goblin count is too low. Only twenty or so.」
「Boss, it’s a normal commission. Twenty is already a lot.」
「My bad. Been too long since I came to a place like this.」
The low-level Adventurers turned—and saw more swaggering Adventurers approaching, also bearing Bronze-rank badges.
And faintly, more figures followed behind, badges gleaming.
Е̃ nǔm а̇
More elites??
The low-level Adventurers felt the sky collapsing.
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Since when did Professionals start competing with them for scraps? Worse, they too seemed targeting Goblin-related commissions—just like Gauss, the so-called Goblin Killer.
But if even promoted Professionals returned for normal commissions…
What was the point of their struggle?
Did this mean the ultimate goal of Adventurers—was simply killing Goblins??
W e b ńо vе l̇ Ėn̄ ù m̆а
Had they already been spared decades of wasted detours?
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