"That man is a Bronze-rank adventurer!"

The teammates exclaimed in astonishment, their gazes shifting back to Malin with disbelief in their eyes.

A fellow blacksmith's apprentice? That meant the other couldn't have become an adventurer much earlier than Malin himself.

"Are you mistaken?" Malin found it hard to believe. Though new to the profession, he understood what Bronze-rank signified, and instinctively refuted the claim.

"How could we be wrong! Didn't you see the green badges on their chests?"

Only then did Malin vaguely recall that fleeting glimpse of green on Gauss's chest earlier. But in his shame and eagerness for Gauss to leave, he hadn't paid close attention.

A Bronze-rank adventurer?

Really?

And... how so quickly?

An indescribable mix of confusion and envy rose in Malin's heart. In his understanding, professional adventurers were the last people one should provoke in town - and now Gauss had become one of them?

Just over a year ago, the other had been merely a temporary worker at the smithy, with no one to rely on.

Even a small-town commoner like himself could find ample superiority over Gauss back then - boasting about eating meat today, casually mentioning family allowances tomorrow...

Watching the poorly concealed envy in Gauss's eyes had given him no small satisfaction.

But now?

The reversal of their situations struck him as bitterly ironic.

His only consolation was that Gauss didn't seem inclined to flaunt his success like he once had.

Otherwise, he'd truly have nowhere to hide his face.

"Ma...Malin," the team leader stammered, his previously arrogant face now twisted into an ingratiating smile Malin had never seen before, "do you think... maybe your friend could... mentor us?"

Malin's throat worked silently.

A nauseating sensation surged through his body.

Why... was the gap between them so vast?

"An acquaintance?"

After they'd walked some distance, Aria asked. Gauss's social circle was even smaller than hers - beyond the inn, she rarely saw him interact deeply with others.

After a brief silence, Gauss summarized his relationship with Malin.

"He's not suited to be an adventurer," Aria said bluntly.

She wasn't just referring to skills, but mentality and presence. Malin's spineless demeanor when scolded by his leader revealed his usual standing in the team.

Adventurers needed a certain ruthlessness - toward enemies, teammates, and most importantly, themselves.

Without forcing oneself to toughen up, only extraordinary talent could help one struggle free from the bottom mire.

"That's his choice," Gauss said calmly.

He and Malin were merely nodding acquaintances. Even close friends had no right to dictate life choices.

Two paths diverged in the woods - taking one would make one yearn for the other.

Yet in truth, both paths brought pain.

While Malin seemed ill-suited now, convincing him to quit might later breed regrets about not persevering.

Well-meaning advice could then breed resentment.

"Rising from the bottom... is too hard," Aria sighed, as if recalling something.

They continued in silence.

Passing through the town gates, Grayrock Town felt noticeably warmer than the wilderness.

Their first stop was the Adventurers Guild to submit completed tasks.

Though merely trivial ordinary commissions, they still earned thirty silver coins. With minimal resource expenditure and weapon wear, they could save some after covering daily expenses.

Gauss never expected much profit from such minor tasks - they served as warm-ups before the Winter Hunt, accumulating magic practice and kill counts.

Walking through town, he noticed fewer low-level adventurers.

Many had returned home for winter.

Instead, Bronze-rank adventurers gathering for the Winter Hunt had increased, visible throughout streets and alleys.

This made shopkeepers and townsfolk move and speak more cautiously.

Occasionally, fellow Bronze-rank adventurers would nod or greet them as they passed.

"We should collect the jerky," Aria reminded.

Over a week had passed since commissioning the food workshop for processing.

Navigating winding alleys, they arrived at an inconspicuous courtyard.

Knocking revealed the workshop owner absent, with only a few workers basking in autumn's last weak sunlight.

The workers tensed at their imposing entrance, relaxing only after Gauss showed the contract.

"Per your request, we made three types: original, savory, and spicy - about 70 pounds each."

Gauss inspected the racks of jerky.

The frog meat had undergone complex processing into dark, stiff strips. Leaning closer, he caught its rich, salty aroma.

Confirming no adulteration with other meats, he nodded.

As workers bagged the jerky for his Storage Bag, Gauss planned further purification with Magic Cantrip.

Despite the clean workshop, dried goods inevitably gathered dust and impurities.

Magic Cantrip would remove such residues.

"First supply secured," Gauss told Aria.

Barring surprises, she should master the Divine Berry Spell soon.

With frog jerky and magic berries for balanced nutrition, his supply concerns would ease temporarily.

Coupled with his Energy Storage Gland, he could outlast most adventurers in prolonged battles.

This explained his lack of urgency in recruiting teammates.

While other teams needed numbers to compensate for low-level stamina and mana limitations, he alone could match several - provided supplies held.

Especially after fully mastering his Meditation Method, which he practiced nightly.

His mana continued growing at an impressive rate.

In just over a week, he'd gained enough for nearly ten downgraded Magic Missiles.

Even his Energy Storage Gland's hidden reserves grew slowly with each goblin slain.

Now his "mana pool" could comfortably sustain 1st-circle spells.

...

Next morning.

Gauss rose unusually early.

Leaving his blankets, he shivered involuntarily.

"Cold..."

Outside, fine snow drifted silently through the gray-black sky like scattered salt crystals.

Snow already?

Surveying the haze-shrouded sky and world's first snow, Gauss felt uneasy.

Though the recent meeting warned of an early Winter Hunt, this sudden cold snap might bring unforeseen complications.

Bundled in winter clothes, Gauss left for the inn.

In the lobby, fireplace flames raged hungrily against the invading chill.

For once, Aria had arrived first.

Swaddled in a fluffy coat with a playful fur cap, she smiled and waved as he entered.