Class Rank, Path, Class Rank

"Then I'll give you a basic rundown of what it means to be a professional."

Gron closed the door, casually pulled out a stool, and gestured for Gauss to sit with him.

"In this world, there are all kinds of races—you've probably noticed that in daily life. The most common are Gnomes, Dwarves, Halflings, and Half-orcs. These races aren't fundamentally different from us humans, aside from some external traits in build and appearance."

"But there are also special races—like Dragonborn, Elves, Orcs, Mermaids, Banshees, and Dragons—who are born with extraordinary power beyond human limits. That's a gift from their bloodline."

"Aside from the power carried by a race from birth, those who develop extraordinary abilities through training and effort are called professionals."

"Through the relentless efforts of countless people, many unknown Professional Paths have been explored. Most of them have faded into the dust of history, waiting for someone fated to rediscover them. The most common mainstream paths, however, have been passed down through generations to this day."

Gauss listened with intense focus.

He knew that an opportunity like this—to receive such experience and knowledge—was rare. You had to find a professional willing to teach you everything they knew.

"Warrior, Sorcerer, Mage, Ranger, Druid, Rogue."

"These mainstream professions offer the highest stability and a relatively high ceiling, making them suitable for advancement across all races."

"'Suitable' here is relative. In truth, crossing from an ordinary person to a professional is still an extremely difficult process."

"Out of ten adventurers with decent talent, maybe one can become a professional—or even fewer."

"I imagine you've already come into contact with some prerequisite skills for professionals, right? Skills like Sword Skills, Combat Skills, or magic."

Gron's throat was getting dry from talking, so he poured a glass of water for himself and Gauss, then looked at Gauss with a confident gaze.

Gauss nodded.

There was nothing to hide here.

Since Shopkeeper Gron was willing to explain the knowledge of professionals to him for free, it would be rude to be evasive.

"Yes, I've already mastered a 0th Ring cantrip—Mage Hand—and, uh, a 1st Circle Spell—Magic Missile."

"Cough—cough—"

Gron, who had been calmly sipping his water, immediately choked.

"It seems your talent is even better than I imagined."

After calming himself, his expression toward Gauss grew complicated.

"You awakened your mana and suddenly grasped both of these spells, didn't you?"

Gauss nodded.

Even though it was a reward from the Adventurer's Handbook, it had indeed been sudden.

Gron looked as if he'd confirmed something, wearing an expression that said, I knew it.

"You've got good luck and talent, kid. You probably don't understand where your magic came from."

No, I do. Gauss thought silently, but he didn't interrupt Gron.

"Some say this kind of sudden insight—this flash of enlightenment—is a gift from the gods. Others say our world is actually filled with the inheritance of all kinds of Combat Skills and magic power, but most people go their whole lives without encountering it even once. Occasionally, a lucky one like you gets the chance to receive that inheritance."

"Aside from sudden enlightenment, most other people who want to learn skills like Combat Skills or spells have to rely on books or instruction from other professionals. Through extensive practice, they might eventually master them."

The reason Gron guessed that Gauss had learned his spells through enlightenment rather than study was simply that Gauss had no resources for learning magic.

"So, Shopkeeper, does mastering skills like Combat Skills or spells make someone a professional?"

"No, no, no—it's not that simple." Gron shook his head. "That's just the first step, the most basic threshold. We usually call this stage a Professional Apprentice."

"To become a full-fledged professional, you first need to practice the skill you've chosen until you're extremely proficient."

"How proficient? There's no set standard—it depends on personal feel."

"And when you've practiced the skill to the right level, you'll sense a mysterious force guiding you from the world around you."

"That guidance is called a Professional Path."

"The Professional Path will condense an intangible presence within your body—a Class Rank."

"The Class Rank is the source of a professional's power. Even today, we still can't give it a precise definition."

"The mainstream view is that it's a product of the rules formed by this world. When we step onto a Professional Path and keep walking it through practice, we slowly grow stronger."

Gauss understood only vaguely, but his heart couldn't help surging with joy. His Adventurer's Handbook could quantify his skills—he had an advantage no one else could match.

"So what I need to do now is practice one spell until I'm extremely proficient, and then I'll receive the guidance of power and step onto the Mage's Professional Path?"

"In simple terms, that's the idea. But in reality, it's not that easy." Gron nodded. "To practice a skill to the guidance stage takes a lot of time. Many people spend their whole lives and never finish."

"That's when you need a master's guidance."

"And even after completing that stage and entering the guidance stage, there are still difficulties."

"The Professional Path will subtly transform the body of the would-be professional. Some people can't adapt to this transformation, so they might need Magic Potions, reagents, Job Change Rituals, or special treasures to assist. The specific methods for aiding advancement vary depending on the profession and each person's body. Only when the Class Rank is fully condensed can you be considered a 1st-level professional."

"Normally, becoming a professional takes anywhere from a year or two to several decades."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Gron!"

By the time Gauss was ready to leave, his mind had been filled with a wealth of knowledge about professionals.

He stood up and bowed deeply to Gron.

In this world, no one will be good to you for no reason.

Even though Gron had a decent personality, knowledge about professionals was generally something they were unwilling to teach or guide others in for free.

It was a simple principle: professionals needed external resources for their cultivation, whether armor, weapons, or auxiliary medicines.

And resources were limited—guiding one more professional meant creating one more competitor.

Gron likely saw potential in him and wanted to cultivate a good connection, or perhaps his brief past work experience here helped. In any case, Gron told him many secrets about professionals.

For example, if he wanted to become a Mage, it was best to have a magic wand.

A magic wand provided immense benefits to a Mage, not just in combat but also in daily cultivation—it could speed up the effects of practicing spells.

And the Life Magic Stone he had taken out was one material for making a magic wand.

Toward the end, Gron seemed to feel he had spoken too much, so he quickly added that he had heard it from a professional friend.

Gauss naturally wouldn't expose him.

Both tacitly maintained their mutual understanding.

"Shopkeeper, I'll be going now."

"Alright, come back to see me when you have the chance."

Gron waved his hand, watching Gauss's retreating figure, his gaze somewhat dazed.

He seemed to see himself from decades ago, the ambitious young man who had stepped out of his home to make his way in the world.

Back then, he too had been so spirited and full of ambition.

Professionals, or rather adventurers, were precisely such extraordinary people—they craved excitement and lived lives others dared not tread.

"Shopkeeper! I've decided, I want to be an adventurer like Gauss! I don't want to forge iron anymore!"

"Marlin. Let me say something that might hurt you."

"I think being a blacksmith suits you better."

Is anyone reading this book?