Gauss met Alya on the second floor of the Adventurer's Guild.
The Druid was the same young woman who had returned with him from the Emerald Forest two weeks earlier. Back then, she had been accompanied by a magnificent dire wolf, which had helped carry his luggage for a stretch when he still had no Storage Bag.
They had kept in touch since then. They weren't particularly close, but they had made a preliminary acquaintance.
"Congratulations." Alya's gaze lingered for a moment on the brand-new Bronze Badge on Gauss's chest, and she secretly admired how quickly he had advanced.
Thinking back to her own early days, she had prepared thoroughly for every assessment task. She couldn't remember exactly how long completing all three had taken, but it had certainly been longer than it had taken Gauss.
Considering the strength of her contracted Animal Companion—the formidable dire wolf—she was already one of the best among newly promoted Professionals. The fact that Gauss had advanced so efficiently as a Spellcaster proved that he was no ordinary adventurer.
That was also why, even though a white-haired Mage teammate had just let her down, she hadn't turned Gauss down when he suggested they try teaming up.
And besides...
Alya's gaze discreetly swept over Gauss's face.
Her first impression of him had been very comfortable. Judging by his appearance, he didn't seem like the sort to flee in the middle of a fight and abandon his teammates.
So, why not give teaming up a try?
If they didn't work well together, she could always find someone else afterward.
Alya muttered to herself. She had high standards for teammates.
She knew that might be why it was so hard for her to find a regular party.
Many newly promoted Professionals were rather self-centered, and finding someone