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Chapter 246 : The Master’s Composure
Chapter 246: The Master’s Composure
Night had fallen, yet Sena City by the sea had not gone to sleep.
Instead, beneath the glow of countless lights, it came alive with a vitality unique to the night.
On both sides of the streets, windproof oil lamps cast circles of warm light, while the gentle sea breeze carried the noise of taverns and the aroma of grilled fish.
Sailors, arm in arm, sang out-of-tune sea shanties, while adventurers gathered in groups, exchanging and boasting about their adventures.
En̄ u m̈ а . ĭ d
Gauss and his three companions roamed the streets and alleys, finally choosing a lively-looking tavern called "Song of the Siren".
"Somehow, this tavern’s name feels a little... ominous."
Dilarang mengopy novel dari Enuma.id.
Gauss’s gaze drifted away from the signboard.
In this world, too, there existed tales of sailors lured to their doom by the songs of sea sirens.
Yet unlike his previous life, such tales here were not mere myths but lessons written in blood by real sailors.
Even so, the tavern was still packed with captains, first mates, and sailors.
W̄ ё b̈ n̈ о̃ v̈ е l̇ Ê ñùṁ à
Since those who made their living from the sea did not care, then adventurers who thrived on the land had even less reason to.
Having arrived in Sena City, they naturally planned to stay for a while — to survey nearby monster habitats and available commissions — though Gauss had no intention of venturing out to sea just yet.
Though he had come all this way, leaving without exploring the ocean did feel somewhat wasteful.
Still, setting sail was no small matter.
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Aside from Serandur, who had some understanding of navigation, the remaining three — Gauss included — knew nothing about it.
Even if experience was ignored, they lacked proper tools, manpower, and equipment.
Webń о̆ v ẽ l̃ Еń ū_m а̀
Of course, they could hitch a ride on other ships bound for certain sea regions or islands, but that would mean being at someone else’s mercy and losing flexibility.
Moreover, the sea differed greatly from land — far too unpredictable. Upon the vast waves, a malicious crew or a storm could be deadlier than any land-bound danger.
They stepped inside the tavern.
After a brief inquiry, they were told a few private rooms were still available. Since they had serious matters to discuss later, Gauss opted against the noisy main hall.
Once inside, the lively clamor from outside was largely cut off. The four sat around the table as a waiter in an apron soon entered with menus in hand.
"Honored adventurers, what would you like tonight? Our 『Song of the Siren』 serves the freshest seafood in all Sena Port — most of the fishing boats deliver straight to us the moment they dock!"
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The waiter introduced enthusiastically, his tone filled with the pride typical of coastal folk.
From his words, it seemed he could tell that the four were newcomers to Sena City.
The menu was dazzling to the eye.
Unlike the taverns inland, seafood dominated here — fish platters, the signature soup 『Neptune’s Kiss』, garlic-butter-baked giant lobster claws, deep-fried thunderfish, seaweed salad, and kelp bread.
Visiting new places, sampling local cuisine was always a part of the journey.
"Everyone, pick what you’d like." Gauss passed the menu to his companions.
Е nǔ m̃а̌
Now that the Gauss Squad had grown in strength, they were long past worrying about food costs.
After some discussion, they ordered a full spread along with a jug of coconut juice and seawater-mint water.
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For a while, silence fell over the table.
Gauss noticed that ever since their meeting earlier that evening, Shadow had seemed several times on the verge of speaking but held back.
"Ahem." Gauss cleared his throat.
"The commission from the Black Fang Tribe has been successfully completed. Shadow, do you have any plans next?"
Ẃ ě bn̆о ṽ ě_l̆ Е ṅ ù m̌а̇
He looked toward her.
Arya and Serandur both came to realize the same thing.
Yes — now that the commission was over, their temporary teammate Shadow would likely part ways. There was no reason for her to remain.
Thinking of this, Arya blinked and turned to look at Shadow.
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After spending these days together, she had found that, though Shadow looked difficult to approach, she wasn’t actually a bad person.
Especially on the night of the goblin ambush — while Gauss held the front line against the Elite Goblins, Arya and Serandur were besieged by Goblin Wolf Riders, with Goblin Bat Knights threatening them from above.
Ë ñ u m а. i̊d
More than once, that circling Bat Knight had turned his sights on Arya after failing to strike Shadow.
If not for Shadow’s shadow-manipulating abilities, Arya might have died several times over.
Whether it was Arya or Serandur, before they even realized the danger, Shadow had already relocated them — proof that even mid-battle, she was constantly watching out for her teammates.
From that night onward, Arya knew that beneath Shadow’s cool exterior was a comrade she could truly rely on.
Afterward, when Arya thanked her, Shadow had only replied that it was “no trouble,” refusing to take credit.
If... if she could stay, wouldn’t the team be much stronger?
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Especially for Gauss — the composition of their squad meant that Arya handled control and support, Serandur provided healing and buffs, and Gauss himself, as leader, was the sharpest blade, taking on the brunt of enemy assaults.
If Shadow stayed to watch their backs, then whenever an overwhelming attack came, she could instantly pull Gauss out of danger.
That thought alone made Arya feel relieved.
She recalled how, days ago, Gauss had privately spoken with her and Serandur to learn their opinions of Shadow.
Now she suddenly realized the true purpose of tonight’s dinner.
As for Serandur, he silently sipped his coconut juice, his forked tongue dipping into the cup, swirling once before he showed a satisfied, nostalgic smile.
Ŵе b̊ nо̄v еl Ẽń.ǔ m̄ а
He didn’t seem particularly concerned about the captain’s plans.
Or perhaps, he simply had no objections at all.
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Across the table, Shadow heard Gauss’s question.
Her plans for the future, huh...
She shook her head.
"Then..." Gauss was just about to continue, but at that moment, Shadow, after a brief hesitation, opened her mouth at the same time.
Е ṅ ü mã . і d
"You first."
"No, you go ahead."
They looked at each other, then shared a small, understanding smile.
Meeting Shadow’s deep black eyes for a moment, Gauss gave in.
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"Alright, I’ll go first then." He pressed his lips together.
Though he had discussed Shadow with Arya and Serandur, he hadn’t actually spoken to Shadow herself about it.
Е̊n̈ u̇m̌ а.і̀ d́
He didn’t really know what she thought.
But human relationships — if one side never takes the first step, nothing ever happens.
Meeting her gaze, he spoke earnestly.
"Shadow, this commission proved your strength and reliability to us all. So, if you’re willing, I’d like to officially invite you to become the fourth full member of the Gauss Squad."
Shadow’s eyes widened instinctively.
Gauss paused, assuming she needed a moment to process the sudden invitation, then continued, choosing his words carefully.
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"I know you’re used to working alone, but please give it some thought. We may not be the strongest team inviting you — but we’ll definitely be the most trustworthy."
His eyes swept over Arya and Serandur; Arya nodded firmly, while Serandur gave a subtle nod.
"Of course, this is just an invitation. No matter what you decide, we’ll respect—"
Before he could finish, Shadow interrupted suddenly.
"I’m willing to join."
"Eh?" Gauss blinked, caught off guard.
Еñ.um а
He had been about to tell her that she didn’t need to rush, that she could take a couple of days to think it over.
After all, it was normal to hesitate before joining a new team.
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Yet before he could finish, Shadow had already agreed.
"You’re sure you don’t want to take some time to think it through?" Gauss asked, trying to be considerate.
Arya, who had just raised her hands to clap, turned and glared at him in exasperation.
Captain, what are you doing?!
Е n̄ umа . і̆d̆
You clearly want her to join — why give her time to reconsider?!
Ever heard of the saying, ‘the longer the night, the more dreams come’?
Shadow shook her head decisively.
"No need to waste time."
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"I may be used to working alone, but..."
"Being with you all doesn’t feel bad."
Е n û ḿ а̌.ì d.
"Besides, I came here tonight for that very reason."
"Thank you for letting me join your team."
A faint smile appeared on her lips. Her eyes, meeting Gauss’s, grew firm — she chose to speak honestly.
For the past two days, she had been thinking about when to bring up the question of joining the Gauss Squad.
It had even made her a little nervous — something rare for her.
Yet before she could open her mouth, Gauss had already extended the invitation.
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"That’s wonderful!" Arya began to applaud. She had worried Gauss might lose such a capable ally, never expecting it would turn out to be mutual.
Beside her, Serandur simply nodded calmly.
To him, it was only natural.
After all, who could ever refuse the captain’s invitation?
Hearing her response, Gauss let out a deep breath — the weight on his chest lifted.
"Welcome to the team, Shadow."
Ѐ ǹ ŭ mа̌
Since her decision was made with conviction, not impulse, he could rest easy.
A bright smile spread across his face.
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To recruit a powerful and mysterious companion like her filled him with pride.
He couldn’t help recalling that very first day — when he had stepped alone into the forest with nothing but a wooden spear and a small shield. The excitement, the fear, and the nervousness all tangled together in his heart.
That feeling of solitude — having no one to rely on, yet still pressing forward into the unknown — had driven him to keep pushing himself onward.
And now...
Ӗn úm̀ ӑ .і d
He turned to look at the companions smiling beside him.
He now had teammates he could absolutely trust — in some sense... they were already like family.
With the squad continuing to grow and a powerful new member like Shadow joining them, that loneliness of walking the path alone had already faded away.
Gauss took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions swirling in his chest. "Then, for our new Gauss Squad — cheers."
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"Cheers!" Arya exclaimed excitedly, raising her cup.
Serandur lifted his cup with calm composure, a gentle smile on his lips.
W̌е̂b ñ о̀v̀.е l Е̌ n umа̌
Shadow, watching the three who so warmly welcomed her, slowly raised her own glass.
With a crisp clink of glass on glass, tonight’s celebration — both a feast and a welcoming dinner — officially began.
"Ah— what a fine day."
Gauss stretched lazily.
The sea breeze brushed against the curtains by the window; outside, sunlight gleamed over the deep blue sea and sky alike.
Having officially recruited Shadow and expanded their team from three to four, his mood had been good since last night.
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If not for official business, he might have stayed in bed a little longer at the inn to ease the exhaustion from their recent travels.
When he came downstairs, Shadow was already waiting in the first-floor lobby.
"Morning, Shadow."
"Morning."
"Waiter, five breakfasts please — with extra meat."
【Good morning, Captain Gauss.】
W e b n̊ ǒ v ѐl Е́.ňu m̊а
In a place unseen by others, the shadow beneath Shadow’s feet stirred slightly, greeting him.
【Shadow, why didn’t you let me out to advise you yesterday? Is your clumsy little mouth good at talking? Hmph... luckily, Gauss already planned to invite you. Otherwise, tsk tsk... you’d have to rely on me more, you know?】
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Shaid’s voice nagged incessantly, clearly dissatisfied that Shadow had sealed her away yesterday.
【Your advice is always nonsense.】 Shadow replied quietly.
Just remembering Shaid’s so-called “strategies” — beauty traps, bold declarations, and calculated flattery — left Shadow speechless, her lips twitching slightly.
【You brat, you’ve really grown some wings now, huh? You used to be so obedient. Back then, you knew nothing — I’m the one who raised you, spoonful by spoonful. You’d better remember that.】 Shaid scolded like an old nagging mother.
Ѐ ṅ u m̃ ā
This time, Shadow didn’t bother responding.
She simply muted the incessant chatter echoing in her mind.
In truth, aside from her unreliable ideas, Shaid was actually quite good to her.
After finishing breakfast quickly, the two headed toward the Adventurer’s Guild.
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Shadow had to reselect her reward.
The reason she hadn’t chosen one yesterday was that she wasn’t sure whether Gauss would accept her into the team.
Ẅеb̊_n̈ o v̇ ѐ l̆ Е́ nů m̃ а̄
At the time, she thought that if Gauss refused, she’d have to return to being alone, and that would change what she chose.
As for Gauss, he was going to the guild for a private training session with Adele.
Though Adele had said she’d be available for the next few days, as an adventurer, Gauss knew such things were never certain — emergencies could happen, and she might leave the guild.
Since he had no other plans in Sena City for now, he figured it best to strike while the iron was hot and master swordsmanship thoroughly.
Besides, he could also take the chance to upgrade his Adventurer’s Badge.
After entering the Adventurer’s Guild and explaining the situation to the receptionist, Adele soon appeared before the two of them.
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This time, she was accompanied by another staff member carrying a list of rewards.
The other staff handled Shadow’s reward exchange, while Adele gave a brief explanation and gestured for Gauss to follow her.
The two ascended the side staircase to the third floor.
The guards stationed there clearly knew who she was; under her lead, Gauss passed unhindered — only Black Iron–rank adventurers were permitted up here.
Gauss glanced around curiously.
A faint disappointment flickered across his face.
Е̄ n̆ u m.a . і́.d
It didn’t seem all that different from the second floor.
The spacious hall, aside from a few shops, was lined with tightly shut doors.
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Other than guild staff, there were hardly any people around.
"Not quite what you imagined?" Adele glanced back at him.
"A bit." Gauss nodded. "Is it always this quiet here?"
He had thought he’d get to see some of the Black Iron–rank adventurers from the big city in action.
Е n um̌а̄
"More or less." Adele replied. "Black Iron adventurers are usually very busy — either honing their skills or working on commissions. Even when they’re here, they hole up in their rooms. Unless there’s a special event, it’s rare to see many of them in the guild hall."
Gauss nodded — that made sense.
By the time one reached Black Iron–rank, one’s path was already set.
Lone wolves stayed solitary, and those in teams already had their established groups — there was no need for idle socializing.
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"Gauss, come with me."
Noticing the curious glances from nearby staff, Adele gestured for him to follow.
Еṅ ŭ mа̂
She pushed open a door and stepped inside first.
Gauss followed close behind.
Once he entered, the door shut automatically.
His eyes widened instinctively at the sight before him.
"Th-this is... huge."
The first impression was that the room was abnormally large — at least several hundred square meters.
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Judging by its position relative to the second and third floors, that was spatially impossible.
A strong sense of contradiction immediately struck him.
"You’re quite perceptive." Adele smiled approvingly at how quickly he noticed the anomaly.
She removed her shoes and walked to the center of the room.
Polished wooden floors spread beneath her feet, surrounded by rows of training dummies and weapon racks.
"This isn’t an ordinary room. It’s a special training chamber maintained by the guild using spatial folding magic combined with stabilizing wards."
E nu̇ mа̃ . і̃ d̀
"You can think of it as a ‘stretched’ spatial bubble. From outside, it looks like a normal door, but inside, the space has been expanded with magic."
"Yesterday, your teammate redeemed a Biological Pouch, right? The principle is similar — just far more advanced and stable."
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She paused, then added,
"After all, battles at Black Iron–rank or higher can cause devastating destruction. A regular training field can’t withstand that, and the upkeep costs are astronomical. But here, you can fight freely without worrying about damaging anything... as long as your strength doesn’t tear the barrier itself."
Gauss suddenly understood, scanning the room again in awe.
No wonder the third floor seemed so quiet — the true “activity zones” were hidden behind these unassuming doors.
Ẁĕ b̊ nоṽ еl̄ Ѐ n.ūm̃а
"Alright, enough small talk." Adele’s expression turned serious.
She brushed her hand over the nearby racks, then flicked her wrist — a flash of light gleamed, and a slender, razor-sharp rapier appeared in her hand.
In the next instant, a terrifying aura surged from her body.
Tier 5 Swordswoman? Gauss narrowed his eyes.
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No...
A Master Swordswoman!
Еnú ṁa .і̄d
His brows lifted involuntarily.
Perhaps because of his impression of the elderly Senior Councilor back in Canopy Town, he had subconsciously assumed that even in a large city like Sena, guild administrators were more scholarly than martial.
But clearly, he had underestimated her.
Seeing his astonished expression, Adele smiled knowingly.
"Welcome to Sena City."
"Before I formally teach you the White Gathering Swordsmanship, I want to first see your true strength. Use every skill, spell, and sword technique you have — show me everything. That way, I can guide you more effectively afterward."
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Her tone brimmed with confidence.
"Are you sure?" Gauss hesitated. "My strength might be... a little greater than you expect."
Though she was a Master Swordswoman, Gauss possessed plenty of hidden means.
Even he wasn’t entirely sure of the limits of his current power.
"Oh, I know you’re Tier 4." Adele waved dismissively. "And while I don’t know exactly how your team managed it, the fact that you completed that commission proves your strength far surpasses an ordinary Tier 4."
"But please, have some faith in a Master Swordswoman — you won’t hurt me, I promise."
Ėn um ӓ.ï d
Though she found his cautiousness somewhat amusing, Adele still explained patiently.
That was the composure of a true master.
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Even if Gauss wasn’t her equal yet, he was a “Seed Adventurer,” a key figure under the guild’s cultivation — she wouldn’t belittle him.
"Then, please be careful." Gauss gave a small warning.
He stowed away unnecessary belongings into his Storage Pouch and donned his Robe.
His White Wand clicked securely into the thigh holster on his left leg, ready to be drawn at any time — its proximity providing both attribute and casting bonuses.
Еṅum a.і d
Adele stood patiently in the center of the training hall, watching him prepare.
And as the moment of combat drew near, she began to feel it — his aura steadily intensifying.
It grew stronger and heavier by the second, to the point she faintly felt pressured.
Her sword-sharp brows furrowed slightly.
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Was it just an illusion?
Or some kind of concealed intimidation ability?
En̂ ú m̌_а.і̇ d̃
That thought had barely formed when—
Gauss’s aura suddenly surged even higher.
His emerald eyes flared, shifting into molten gold.
A surge of raw power descended upon the room.
Energy scales — like dragon scales — instantly condensed along his skin, crawling up his neck to his jaw, nearly reaching his face.
And the transformation wasn’t over.
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Before her astonished eyes, Gauss clenched his right hand, and an energy dragon claw — sharp enough to pierce the air itself — materialized.
"A... dragon claw? Wait — where’s your wand?!"
"You call this a spellcaster?!"
Adele’s mouth twitched violently as a giant question mark popped in her mind.
What kind of joke was this?!
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