"Then let me give you a quick introduction to the basics of being a professional."
Gron closed the door, pulled out a chair, and gestured for Gauss to sit with him.
"There are all kinds of races in this world. You've probably seen them in your daily life. The most common are Gnomes, Dwarves, Halflings, and Half-orcs. They're basically no different from humans, aside from a few differences in their build and appearance."
"But there are also some unusual races, such as Dragonborn, Elves, Orcs, Mermaids, Banshees, and dragons. They're born with special powers beyond those of humans, gifts inherited through their bloodlines."
"Besides the powers people are born with because of their race, anyone who develops extraordinary abilities through training is called a professional."
"After countless people devoted themselves to exploring the unknown, many Professional Paths were discovered. Most of them have since vanished into the dust of history, waiting for someone destined to uncover them. A few of the most common, mainstream paths, however, have been passed down through the generations to this day."
Gauss listened intently.
He knew an opportunity to learn from someone with this kind of experience was extremely rare. He had to find a professional, and one willing to teach him everything they knew.
"Warrior, Sorcerer, Mage, Ranger, Druid, Rogue."
"These mainstream professions are the most stable and have the highest potential, so they're suitable for members of every race to advance along."
"Suitable is only relative. In reality, crossing the divide between ordinary people and professionals is still an extremely difficult process."
"Out of every ten adventurers with decent aptitude, perhaps one can become a professional. Sometimes even fewer."
"I imagine you've already learned some of the skills that pave the way to becoming a professional, Gauss? Things like Sword Skills, Combat Skills, and magic."
Gron's throat was getting dry, so he poured a glass of water for himself and Gauss, then looked at him with a certain confidence.
Gauss nodded.
There was no reason to hide it.
Gron was willing to explain what he knew about professionals for free. It would be rather rude of Gauss to keep things from him.
"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 drinking his water, immediately choked.
"Your talent is even better than I thought."
After composing himself, he looked at Gauss with a complicated expression.
"You must have suddenly mastered those two spells after awakening your magic, right?"
Gauss nodded.
The Adventurer's Handbook had given him the spells as rewards, but they had indeed come to him quite suddenly.
Gron looked as if he'd just confirmed something, wearing an expression that said he'd known it all along.
"You're a lucky kid, and talented, too. You may not understand where your magic comes from."
No, I do, Gauss thought to himself, but he didn't interrupt Gron.
"Some say these sudden flashes of insight are gifts from the gods. Others say that our world is already filled with the legacies of all kinds of Combat Skills and magic, but most people never encounter them in their entire lives. Once in a while, a lucky person like you gets the chance to inherit one."
"Other than through sudden insight, most people have to learn skills like Combat Skills and spells from books or other professionals. They need to practice a great deal before they have a chance to master them."
Gron suspected Gauss had grasped his spells through sudden insight rather than learning them later simply because Gauss lacked the resources to study magic.
"So, shopkeeper, does mastering a skill like a Combat Skill or a spell make someone a professional?"
"No, of course it's not that simple." Gron shook his head. "That's only the first step, the most basic threshold. We usually call this stage a Professional Apprentice."
"To become a full-fledged professional, you first have to practice the skill you've chosen until you're extremely proficient."
"There's no set standard for how proficient you need to be. It depends on how it feels to each person."
"Once you've practiced the skill enough, you'll sense a mysterious force in the world around you guiding you."
"That guidance is called a Professional Path."
"The Professional Path condenses an intangible presence inside your body: your Class Rank."
"Your Class Rank is the source of your power as a professional. Even today, we still can't give it a precise definition."
"The mainstream view is that it's a rule born from the formation of this world. Once we embark on a Professional Path and keep devoting ourselves to it, we can gradually grow stronger."
Gauss only half understood, but he couldn't help feeling delighted. His Adventurer's Handbook could quantify skills, giving him an advantage no one else could match.
"So all I need to do now is practice one spell until I'm extremely proficient, and then I'll receive guidance and embark on the Mage path?"
"Simply put, yes, but it's not that easy in practice." Gron nodded. "It takes a great deal of time to practice a skill to the point where it guides you. Many people never manage it in their entire lives."
"That's when you need a master to guide you."
"And even if you make it that far and enter the guidance stage, there are still difficulties to overcome."
"The Professional Path subtly alters the aspiring professional's body. Some people can't adapt to these changes, so they may need Magic Potions, reagents, a Job Change Ritual, or special treasures to help them. The specific methods of assistance vary depending on the profession and the person's body. Only when the Class Rank has fully condensed can you be considered a level 1 professional."
"Normally, it takes anywhere from a year or two to several decades to become a professional."
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Gron!"
By the time Gauss got ready to leave, his mind was already full of knowledge about professionals.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Gron.
In this world, no one was kind to you for no reason.
Gron had a good disposition, but professionals generally weren't willing to freely share what they knew or offer guidance.
The reasoning was simple: professional training required resources, whether armor, weapons, or medicines to aid one's cultivation.
And resources were limited. Helping one more person become a professional meant creating one more competitor.
Gron probably saw promise in him and wanted to cultivate a favorable connection. Or perhaps Gauss's brief time working here in the past had helped. In any case, Gron had shared many professional secrets with him.
For example, if he wanted to become a Mage, he would be better off with a Wand.
A Wand greatly enhanced a Mage's abilities—not just in combat, but in everyday training, too. It could help spells improve faster through regular practice.
The Life Magic Stone he'd taken out was one of the materials used to make a Wand.
Toward the end, Gron seemed to realize he'd been talking a little too much, so he hurriedly added that he'd learned all this from a professional friend.
Gauss naturally wouldn't call him out on it.
The two of them tacitly agreed to leave it unsaid.
"Shopkeeper, I'll be off, then."
"All right. Come visit me again if you get the chance."
Gron waved as he watched Gauss walk away. His gaze grew distant.
For a moment, he seemed to see himself from decades ago, leaving home with great ambitions to make his way in the world.
Back then, he'd been just as spirited and full of ambition.
Professionals—or adventurers, as they were also called—were extraordinary people. They craved excitement and lived lives others wouldn't dare to venture into.
"Shopkeeper! I've decided. I want to be an adventurer like Gauss! I don't want to be a blacksmith anymore!"
"Marlin. This might hurt your feelings, but..."
"I think you're better suited to being a blacksmith."
Is anyone reading this book?
Before you continue