Hailier circled Gauss twice, clicking her tongue inwardly in amazement.

It wasn’t that she’d never seen people change—but those were changes measured in years.

A cheerful childhood friend growing up to be reserved and subdued because of status gaps—she’d lived through that.

But that had taken a decade, and came during adolescence, when change is natural.

Gauss, though?

They’d been apart not even a year.

Now his looks, his bearing, even his strength were completely renewed.

Yes—though Gauss had come in low-key everyday clothes, Hailier still felt the pressure of a professional radiating off him. That difference in life tier isn’t something clothing can mask. And since she often dealt with professionals, she knew that aura well.

Her movements grew a touch more formal.

“G—Gauss. And this is…?” She glanced at the tall serpentfolk beside him.

Unlike a common shopkeeper, she didn’t take him for a mere monster.

“This is my current teammate, Serandur.”

“Hello, I’m Hailier—Gauss’s… old teammate.” She couldn’t help blushing at the description. Calling herself an adventurer would be wrong; truthfully she’d been an impulsive runaway, an adventuring fan. One utterly ordinary goblin job had been enough to make her see reality.

“Hello,” Serandur nodded—neither haughty nor overfriendly. Not because he looked down on her, but because that was how he was with most people, especially strangers. And a snake’s features aren’t great for showing feeling. He kept his face neutral unless he couldn’t help it.

“Shall we go upstairs to talk?”

Gauss and Serandur followed her up to the second floor. Her office was there. A few clerks in the hall ducked their heads when she came in with the two men; only after they’d gone into the office did they whisper curiously.

“What will you have?” The office wasn’t lavish, but it was neat, with tasteful curios—clearly arranged with care.

“Tea is fine.”

“Same.”

They sat.

Gauss opened: “How have you been?” He glanced around. “You’ve taken on the family business, right?”

He could still see the look on her face the first day out—eyes shining as she talked about a life of adventure. That kind of yearning can’t be faked.

“Yeah,” Hailier sighed. “After that, I realized I wasn’t cut out for it.”

She exhaled and looked relieved. “Keeping at it would only endanger me and drag down my companions. This steady life—boring as it is—isn’t bad, haha.”

Gauss lingered on her smile, parted his lips, then nodded. “True. Adventurers just scrape by; business is more dignified.”

“Oh, stop,” she waved.

A few exchanges later, her stiffness faded. For all his changed face and bearing, this was still the boy she’d felt at ease with. She relaxed without noticing.

“You’re a professional mage now, aren’t you? Still trying to be low-key!”

“You could tell?” He’d thought ditching the robe would help—nope.

“Of course. Here—tea. Green from Tepei Manor—try it.” She set down two cups. “And frankly, you’re not Level 1, are you?”

She’d met Level 1s; they didn’t radiate like this.

“Heh—close enough. Just broke into Level 2,” Gauss lied a little. Relative to his pace, it wasn’t exactly “just.”

“Gauss, that’s insane—less than a year,” Hailier breathed. “I knew it—I knew you’d be something.”

“I’ve got a long way to go yet.”

“Level 2 and still ‘far’? In a few years I might not dare talk to you this casually,” she said wryly. Level 2 didn’t sound high, but even in Barry it meant someone. The wealth that came with it was beyond a normal family’s lifetime. And Gauss wasn’t a “simple” Level 2; others might peak there—he’d only just begun.

Serandur, mid-sip and cooling his tea with a hiss, glanced over. Less than a year from bottom-tier to Level 2? Even he was impressed—and pleased. He wasn’t here for Gauss’s combat ability, but if the lad’s talent was this good, a higher level wasn’t far off—which meant a stronger party. All to the good.

“Enough of that,” Gauss said, pulling a small purse from his coat and setting it on the desk; the coins inside clinked. “What’s this?” Hailier asked.

“The payout from our first job back in Grayrock—your shares.” He was returning the extra from his first-ever Adventurers’ Guild reward. By today’s standards 13 silver 50 copper wasn’t much, but back then it had been a lot—and he’d kept it untouched. It might seem rigid, but a pre-agreed split was a matter of principle.

“The commission was 9 silver, plus a 9-silver Guild credit—18 in all,” he explained, since it had been months.

“You…” Hailier had forgotten. She looked from the money to Gauss’s earnest face, torn between laughter and being moved. He’d come all this way to return a sum she’d put out of mind?

She didn’t refuse. She knew the amount meant little to Gauss; he was returning it out of honor. “Thanks,” she said, pocketing it. “I’ll pass Bell’s and Mia’s shares on.”

“How are they?” Gauss asked. Both had been badly hurt—he’d wanted to know.

“They’re recovered,” she thought a moment. “Bell’s injured leg still bothers him; he’s taking over the family shop. Mia’s studying for the city hall clerk exam.”

“That’s good.” Hearing they were well, he exhaled. One more weight off his mind. That first little party—each had found a path: two shop heirs—secure enough; Mia with her nose in a book, maybe next time they’d meet at city hall.

“Want me to ask them to dinner?” Hailier said. She hadn’t seen them in a while either. Everyone had been busy—no pause button in this world; out of sight, everyone moved forward.

“If it’s convenient, please,” Gauss nodded. Miss this chance and who knew when the next would come? Even in one city, lives diverge; the odds of a last meeting are never zero.

“Alright.” She stepped out to send word.

“Our company’s also getting into labyrinth loot buying,” she added on returning. “If you have anything to sell, come to me—I’ll give you a fair price.”

“Okay,” Gauss said. He’d compare offers with Alia; if they matched, handing sales to Hailier’s firm would be fine. He wasn’t surprised they were expanding—Barry’s west gate pointed toward the labyrinth.

Even if Golden Beak’s location was slightly north, there was still profit to be had. Loot sales are vital; fighting is only one part of the job.

Healthy growth is a cycle: profit strengthens you; strength wins better profit. Many parties partner deeply with merchants—some firms even run pickup wagons outside the maze, buying loot and supplying teams so they can keep delving.

“Miss Hailier, the restaurant’s ready.”

By noon, the three headed to a fine eatery down the street. After a short wait in a private room, Bell and Mia arrived. The messenger hadn’t said much—just that Hailier invited them—so they’d dropped what they were doing.

“Hailier—what’s the occasion?” Bell asked loudly as he came in.

He limped slightly, not badly. He looked much more mature—no longer a boy, with a new shadow of beard. Mia had changed less—just glasses and a thick book, even quieter.

Their eyes hung on the two “strangers” in the room. One seemed faintly familiar, but they couldn’t place him. Why invite them with outsiders here?

Hailier didn’t say. “Order first—let’s eat.”

They glanced at Gauss again, then sat near Hailier, guarded.

“Your call, Hailier.”

“Ha! I win, Gauss,” Hailier said suddenly, turning back. “Told you they’d never recognize you.”

Gauss shrugged helplessly. He hadn’t expected his teammates to fail to recognize him—he thought his features hadn’t changed that much.

“Gauss… that’s so familiar…” Bell muttered. Mia, though, suddenly stiffened and stared at Gauss.

“You’re Gauss—oh my god!” she gasped. No wonder he’d felt familiar the moment she walked in.

“That’s not on me—you’ve changed too much,” she said, a little embarrassed.

Then Bell’s memory clicked—the rag-clad boy with a wooden spear in the Grayrock Guild’s corner half a year ago—finally overlapped with the calm youth before him. He gaped, feelings tangled: joy at seeing an old friend; a sting of envy and inferiority.

Hailier briefly summarized Gauss’s situation—and introduced Serandur. When she said Gauss was Level 2, their reactions were even more dramatic than hers.

Bell even borrowed his bronze badge to ogle it for a while before reluctantly handing it back. He still had a spark for the adventurer’s life—but reality had closed that chapter for now.

Though a little stiff after so long, the table was easy overall. They caught up on life and plans. Serandur, the only outsider, quietly ate—though his occasional pauses betrayed more interest than he showed.

After a good meal, they parted at the door. Gauss watched them go, smiling. Parting, he believed, was just for a better reunion.

One more box ticked: visit old friends (√), buy mounts (√), delve the labyrinth (in progress).

Knowing his old team was doing well made him quietly content.

But like them, he had to push forward.

“Shall we get to work, Serandur?”

“Yes, Captain.”

They’d taken a goblin-clear outside the west gate from the Guild’s nearest branch. Gauss had registered his own party in Grayrock; they were just shy of the marks to bump the party to Level 2. With Alia in retreat for a week, this was the time to sprint—then they could take higher-tier team jobs, maybe labyrinth-exclusive commissions for extra income while delving.

“Let’s go.”

Gauss swung onto the chocobo. This one was a goblin nest—over a hundred of them, with a high chance of an elite goblin leader. Perfect for him: both his white-grade traits—Storage Glands and Reptilian Strain—leveled up from goblin kills. Reptilian was still at basic; this was the time to push it up.

And really—he’d made his name on killing goblins; early on they were all he fought. Yet his elite monster index still had no goblin entry—ridiculous.

Time to return to form.

Their figures vanished down the street, heading for the city gate.