After the fight ended—
the rookie party collapsed like deflated bladders, dropped their weapons, and plopped onto the ground.
"Whew—"
Once their bodies finally relaxed and the adrenaline faded, exhaustion crashed over them all at once. Their muscles wouldn't stop trembling.
They realized real adventuring wasn't anything like what they'd imagined—even though, before setting out, they'd told themselves they were ready. But when those snarling monsters really came at them, when they saw mouths, teeth, and claws hungrily reaching to tear them apart, both body and mind still felt fear.
That, more than anything, was why they couldn't bring out their full strength.
Human reason and thought have huge advantages in many things, but at raw life-or-death range without experience, they can turn to ballast. Low-tier fights in the heat of it leave reason and cleverness behind—you need a mean streak, the kind that bites through an enemy.
"You were way too careless."
Gauss descended out of the air.
The sudden voice made all four of them jump, cold sweat breaking out. Only when they looked up and saw his handsome face and the easy command in his bearing did they exhale.
He looked terrifyingly strong.
Hopefully not an enemy?
Even if he were, a man who can fly—never mind that they were spent—at full strength they wouldn't win either.
So after the first jolt, they didn't do anything rash.
"You are…?"
Gauss shook his head at the slightly "naive" rookies. Maybe because it hadn't been that long since he'd left rookiehood himself—not like those lifers with ten or twenty years in—every time he saw a team like this he couldn't help remembering his own first step out of the inn. That, and the urge to help and offer a few pointers.
"Just an adventurer passing through."
At that, the girl mage—the one who'd been pensive since his arrival—seemed to recall something. Looking over his wizard's robe, she blurted, "You're the one who saved me, aren't you!"
She remembered: right as a big water ghoul ambushed her, a flaming arrow had dropped from the heavens and pinned it. Without that shot, she would probably be dead—and if she went down, her teammates might panic and the whole party wipe.
She wasn't wrong—many rookie collapses start with the first casualty.
"It was nothing," Gauss waved it off. Any healthy-minded adventurer, he thought, would have lent a hand in that moment.
"Thank you—thank you so much!"
Realizing he was the mysterious savior, the four hauled themselves up and bowed repeatedly.
"But—I think until a fight is really over, it's best to keep your weapons in hand."
He didn't wait for a reply. Red light sparked in his palm. He cast so fast the four couldn't react; a flame arrow coalesced in an instant.
"Why—?"
Their pupils shrank hard, shock flooding their eyes. Had this impeccable face—the one that sparked trust at first glance—just turned on them?
FWIP!!!
The flame tore the air with a sharp scream. Their feet felt nailed to the ground; the heat flushed their skin. In horror, they watched it streak past their shoulders—
Ssschk!
—and slam into a water ghoul lying flat on the far riverbed.
It had been hiding in the reeds, silent even as its pack died.
All four had thought they were about to die there. Only when the fire went past did they realize Gauss hadn't turned on them. They twisted back and saw it—a charred, ugly humanoid staked to the wet river sand, reeds burning around it.
"Whew—"
The sense of having survived again rose up in them. The whiplash of the last few minutes was brutal.
"Remember this: in the wild, even if you think the fight is over, don't relax—and don't drop your weapons," Gauss went on. "A job's not done until you're back in town handing it in."
With the smoking corpse as exhibit A, the advice carried weight.
"Mhm, mhm."
"Thank you for the guidance, sir!"
Shaken to the core, they bowed again and again. Their first real adventure had turned out very educational. They'd even posted for an escort before, to shadow a veteran for a run—but this had taught them more.
"We didn't get your name, sir?"
Seeing the Level 5 badge on his chest, their faces grew more respectful.
"Gauss," he said casually—then added with a smile, "Thought I was about to shoot you, did you?"
"Heh… n-no, Sir Gauss—you look like a good man. Someone like you wouldn't waste the effort on us," the purple-haired archer Mira managed. Of course they'd been terrified, but they wouldn't say that—just a sheepish grin.
"I could have. No one would know," Gauss said, shaking his head. A place this remote—if he'd wanted to, no one would suspect. Just another rookie party dead on a job.
Cold sweat prickled again.
"You're joking, right?"
Gauss only smiled. Alia and the others were strolling up.
"Gauss, scaring newbies again?"
The rookies finally noticed the others—especially the mountain-strong giant of a woman—and swallowed hard. Her size was pure pressure. They had no doubt she could pulp them with one swing.
"Don't worry—we're friendly," Alia soothed, seeing their eyes locked on Albena. "She looks like that, but Albena's soft-hearted."
She turned. "Right?"
"If Sir Gauss orders it, I'll act," Albena said, laughing big. It was hard to tell if she was serious—or teasing. Given how literally she usually took Gauss' words, even Alia wasn't sure.
Gauss cut in before it got awkward. A few words, and that spring-rain charm of his smoothed the rookies' nerves. After this, they'd never toss their weapons again. The wild is dangerous everywhere—lurking monsters, unknown strangers. Adventurers need to stay alert. Granted, if someone of Gauss' tier truly meant harm, realizing it early wouldn't save you—but at least you could go down with some dignity.
Serandur quietly patched them up. Once they'd gotten their wind back, they collected loot and proof-of-kill slips. In chat, Gauss learned it was their first time in the area; Mira, the archer and captain, warmly invited them to her town.
Gauss had been headed there anyway, and didn't refuse. A local guide was handy.
On the road, he pointed out gaps in their teamfight—casually, precisely. They listened like sponges. Tips from a Level 5 pro don't come every day.
Alia watched him play the mentor and shook her head. He wasn't often openly warm, but at heart he was a good man. Given how staggering his talent was, that kindness was the best thing for this world—and for ordinary folk. Monsters excepted, of course.
The road unspooled—and a thriving town on the blue lake's edge came into view. Unlike Gold & Silver's shabby decline, this place was small but buzzing. Timber-and-stone houses stepped up a slope; windows and doorways were bright with flowers. The air had the lake's clean tang; lively market sounds carried. Fishing boats and traders lined the docks, white sails bright in the sun; fishers worked their catch. Adventurers and caravans were plainly more common here—wealth and safety on display. Watchtowers were manned; order underlay the bustle. A vivid scene of life.
"We're here! Welcome to Lakeside!" Mira pointed ahead, her voice warmer and proud at the sight of home.
Gauss noticed colorful banners everywhere. "Festival time?"
The streets glowed celebration.
"Yes, Sir Gauss," Mira said, slapping her forehead. "We're hosting the Five-Town Lake Grand Prix. It's the biggest event around Blue Lake—only once every few years!"
"Oh?"
He perked up. People love festivals. By chance, they'd arrived in the middle of one—he couldn't help smiling. It sounded lively—a joint effort by the lakeside towns.
"A lake contest?" Alia blinked. "Fun! Can we enter?"
"You can," Mira nodded. "There's a public division and a professional division, and lots of side games. Locals and visitors alike can join."
In a flurry of excited explanation, Gauss got the gist. It wasn't grim and serious; no arena kill-or-be-killed. It was entertainment—a celebration: races, fishing competitions, underwater treasure hunts. There were prizes, too. Summer's tail still hung warm in the air—no wonder a lakeside festival drew adventurers and travelers like moths.
"But—no entries from Level 6 and up," Mira added, flicking a glance at Albena. Few masters showed up anyway; and masters brought nonhuman power. Hard to "keep it safe." Elite-level adventurers, with guildmasters on site, could be managed.
Alia eyed Gauss. He was a walking edge case—a Level 5 badge on a Level 6+ body. Serandur and Albena (banned) both looked his way. A living rules exploit.
"What?" Gauss scratched his head. "Let's find rooms first."
He wasn't sure he'd enter. His job was killing monsters. But he would be staying—waiting for Shadow, and because the monsters around Gold & Silver were dry. Lakeside and Blue Lake would be teeming.
Mira offered them beds with her family—but Gauss declined, and she happily led them to an inn instead.
They hadn't made it before a pack of kids—waving toy swords—blocked the way. Mira's "fans."
"Big sis, you're back! Did the quest go well?"
"Idiot George! She's back, isn't she? Of course it did!"
"Stop asking dumb stuff!"
"Big sis is strong as a monster!"
They chirped like sparrows. Talking about the adventure snapped Mira out of festival mode—she shot a mortified glance at Gauss. Without him, they would have been in real trouble. Hearing her little brothers brag in front of him turned her cheeks hot.
Gauss only grinned at the sight. Seeing her squirming, he winked and nodded—he wouldn't out her.
She tugged the kids' ears aside, face turning stern. "Go play somewhere else. I've got important business."
She could not let them linger—or every tall tale she'd fed them would spill out. Then she really would want to bury herself in a hole.
~~~
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