When Gauss and his party entered Fishsong Town, they were met with a far warmer welcome than they had expected.
It practically felt like their hometown hero had won the championship.
"This is… a little weird…"
The party members all found the situation a bit hard to read.
Still, whatever the reason, as long as it wasn't anything disgusting, being greeted with smiles and fanfare was a lot better than being glared at or ignored.
"So you're saying the town head wants to invite me as a guest at the town hall?"
The captain of the guard at the front of the little welcoming detachment had just extended the invitation to Gauss.
"Yes, Mr. Gauss," the captain replied respectfully. "When the lord town head heard you would be arriving today, he specifically ordered us to welcome you here."
"Please thank the town head for his kind invitation, but I should probably visit the Adventurers' Guild first."
Gauss didn't accept right away.
"Of course, as you wish."
"The town head said everything should be arranged around your convenience."
Seeing Gauss respond like that, the captain chuckled good-naturedly.
"Thank you for your understanding."
"We won't disturb you any further then. We wish you a pleasant stay here in Fishsong Town."
The soldiers soon withdrew, and at the same time gently dispersed the onlookers, making sure they wouldn't crowd Gauss and his companions or make them uncomfortable, and giving the group plenty of personal space.
"They're actually pretty tactful, the people of Fishsong," Alia remarked appreciatively.
Gauss took it all in quietly. Though he hadn't met the man yet, the local town head had left him with a fairly good first impression.
At least none of the melodramatic worst-case scenarios he'd half-expected had come to pass.
Which, thinking about it, was only natural—someone who could be appointed as the chief administrator of a place like this, and keep it running this smoothly and prosperously, couldn't be a complete fool.
After asking a few passersby for directions to the local Adventurers' Guild, Gauss and his group made their way down Fishsong's main street.
The town was overall quite clean.
As they passed through a busy market square, they saw a local inspector randomly checking the merchants' scales and measures, while a clerk beside him was recording notes on a board.
Add to that the regular patrol squads they saw marching by, and the whole town felt ordered and well-run.
When they stepped into the Adventurers' Guild hall, the building itself was nearly twice the size of the one back in Lakeside, spacious enough to accommodate many more local and visiting adventurers.
Gauss noted quite a few young faces.
"Anyone here an archer? Our party needs a bow."
"Looking for help to clear fifteen slimes north of town!"
"We need an experienced, settled local adventurer with a family to guide our party on quests—paying top coin!"
…
Once you stepped into the guild, that wild, noisy, chaotic but vibrant atmosphere hit you like the chatter of a marketplace.
This was what adventurers were like.
A pack of ambitious, eager people desperate to make names for themselves—like weeds growing along a roadside: no matter how hard you trample them, they still stubbornly stretch toward the sun.
"Hey, handsome, wanna team up?"
Even a random recruiter called out to Gauss as he threaded through the crowd.
"Sorry, I already have a party." Gauss waved him off.
The man opened his mouth to say more, but his companion tugged at his sleeve and muttered something in his ear.
Only then did he glance properly at Gauss's chest, spot the five-star badge, and visibly flinch.
Level 5s weren't exactly common in Fishsong.
Especially not a Level 5 with teammates who looked even stronger—like that woman built like a walking fortress.
Gauss's face wasn't quite as immediately useful here as it had been in Lakeside Town. Still, a handful of people took one look at this clearly formidable group of strangers and clearly thought of something… but didn't dare be sure.
"Make way!"
Albena's low, rumbling voice came from behind.
Anyone who saw her immediately shuffled aside by several steps.
To these fresh-faced newbies who'd barely just set foot on the adventurer's road, she was overwhelming.
In the section reserved for higher-tier professionals, Gauss and the others went up to the counter.
Before he could even take off his badge or open his mouth to speak, the young woman behind the desk smiled in recognition.
"You must be Mr. Gauss, correct?"
"That's me."
Gauss nodded.
He wasn't surprised to be recognized at first glance.
The guild staff had obviously been notified in advance that he was coming to claim his prize.
"I'd like to claim the prize for winning the Blue Lake Hunting Tournament. Is now a good time? What do I need to do?"
"Of course, Mr. Gauss!" The receptionist's smile brightened.
"Please, follow me."
After giving a few instructions to her coworkers, she rose from her seat.
With light, quick steps, she took the lead ahead of Gauss and his party.
"The prize vault isn't located in the guild," she quietly explained as they walked. "It's over at the town hall square, but it's not far from here."
Gauss nodded.
They left the guild and walked a few minutes down the road.
Soon they arrived at a relatively quiet plaza.
The number of guards and watchtowers around them was noticeably higher.
After passing several checkpoints, Gauss and the receptionist stopped in front of a solidly built structure.
"Sir Gauss, please show your identification badge," one of the guards requested.
After confirming his identity once more, the staff led Gauss inside—though his companions had to wait outside.
As he walked down the corridor, Gauss glanced at the walls.
Hard marble blocks were engraved with magic circuits and sigils.
"This is a joint vault built by the Fishsong Adventurers' Guild and the local town government," the receptionist explained. "It's used to store important materials and treasures. Security is extremely tight."
"In addition to the festival prizes, every year Fishsong allocates a portion of its tax revenue to purchase oddities and artifacts. Those are used to reward adventurers who've made outstanding contributions to the town."
As she explained, he could hear the pride in her voice.
"I see."
At the end of the rune-carved corridor, Gauss was led into a bright receiving room.
Two people were already waiting inside.
One was a slightly pudgy middle-aged man with a sharp look in his eyes; the other, an old man leaning on a cane.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Gauss did not waste time.
"Do you have any preferences regarding the prize artifacts?" asked the vault attendant, handing him a prize list.
As the tournament champion, he had the right to choose two items from this list before anyone else.
That was why the guild receptionist had brought him here immediately—he had first pick, and only once he was done would the other ranked contestants be allowed in.
"Let me take a look first…"
Gauss's eyes quickly scanned the list.
There actually weren't that many oddities listed.
He'd already had a rough plan before coming in.
"Could I see all of them in person?"
Since the list wasn't long, he asked the question he'd had in mind.
Seeing them directly, he thought, would help him pick more accurately.
"This…" The sharp-eyed middle-aged man seemed a little troubled.
Before he could stall too long, the old man beside him tapped his cane once and said decisively:
"Of course. However, we must ask you to wait here for a short while."
Gauss immediately understood who actually held authority between the two.
"Thank you."
He sat on the sofa in the reception room while the attendants brought out one artifact after another from the vault.
Soon enough, he saw a few of the items that had caught his eye on the list.
His attention was first drawn to a moon-white mage's robe.
He had worn a white robe to the banquet the other night, but that had just been something he'd bought randomly off a roadside rack—nothing special at all.
His usual black robe, on the other hand, was clearly getting a bit outdated for his current level.
He needed an upgrade.
"May I cast Identify on it?" Gauss asked the old man.
He wanted the artifacts out in the open for a reason: so he could use Identify on them.
"Please, go ahead," the old man replied.
He was not surprised that Gauss's eye had gone straight to that robe. On the list, this robe was by far the most valuable prize.
Originally, the top prize had been a magical suit of armor, but a few days back, it had been replaced with this robe.
Once he heard the old man's go-ahead, Gauss didn't hold back.
He drew his wand and cast Identify, lightly tapping the robe's hem.
Up close, he could see that the robe wasn't actually pure moon-white—subtle threads of pale gold were woven through certain details, giving it a refined, elegant look.
As Identify took effect, the robe began to glow—not white, not blue, but a shade of violet that made Gauss's eyes brighten.
A purple-quality mage robe?
Purple, a.k.a. "Exceptional" quality, was what you usually saw on artifacts meant for master-tier professionals.
Of course, that didn't mean all master-tier adventurers had purple gear. Most of them still made do with worn blue-quality gear; someone like Albena, walking around with three Exceptional pieces, was very much an outlier.
The Identify readout appeared.
[Moonlight Robe]
Quality: Exceptional magic item (Purple)
Description: The life's work of a certain female mage obsessed with the powers of moonlight and the stars. She attempted to weave starlight-touched mana into its threads. Though she failed to fully succeed, she accidentally imbued this robe with a spirituality surpassing ordinary equipment.
Base enchantment 1: Moonlight Reservoir — Under moonlight and starlight, the robe slowly absorbs ambient power and stores it.
Base enchantment 2: Stellar Aegis — The robe constantly maintains a thin, invisible defensive field, providing significant protection. Once, it can nullify a curse or mental attack directed at the soul. After this effect is used, the robe will consume stored moonlight energy to restore it.
Base enchantment 3: Traveler's Blessing — The robe has strong self-repair abilities and keeps itself clean. Dirt and filth cannot long mar its fabric.
Base enchantment 4: Serene Mind — The robe helps the wearer maintain a calmer, more focused casting state and makes it easier to steady their mind when disturbed. While studying magic, theorizing, or creating new spells, the wearer's thoughts become clearer and more agile, and they will occasionally experience flashes of insight. Intelligence and Charisma are both increased by a certain amount.
….
After reading the description, Gauss was almost certain: this was exactly the kind of equipment he needed.
First, the purple quality alone was tempting.
Up until now, he'd only had one Exceptional-quality magic item: the Universal Key, which he still hadn't used.
This robe was different from a key—it was a mage's primary piece of gear, second only to a good staff.
And it was easy to imagine that if he took this robe, he'd basically be living in it for a very long time.
To begin with, it could stockpile lunar energy at night.
Its physical defense might not see much use most of the time—the shields and barriers he already cast were usually enough—but another layer of protection never hurt.
And extra spiritual and mental defense was invaluable at higher levels, where enemies were just as likely to target your mind as your body.
Third, Traveler's Blessing meant he wouldn't need to worry much about wear and tear. The robe would repair and clean itself—one less logistical headache on the road.
Most importantly, though, was the fourth enchantment.
On top of all his existing ways to boost his casting focus, this robe would push things to a whole new level.
He couldn't even imagine how absurd his concentration and resistance to disruption would become once he was wearing the Moonlight Robe.
Not to mention the bonus to theory work and spell creation, plus buffs to Intelligence and Charisma.
Intelligence was his core attribute. As for Charisma—maybe not as critical as Strength or Constitution, but still very nice to have.
He'd begun to suspect that higher Charisma wasn't just about looks or aura. For a caster, it seemed to subtly increase affinity with both personal and ambient mana.
Gauss smiled, fully satisfied.
This robe was perfect for him.
He'd come here expecting to walk away with two good blue-quality oddities.
He hadn't expected the list to include a purple robe tailored to his needs.
Even though he was already more or less sold, his cautious nature wouldn't let him commit right away.
He went on to use Identify on every single artifact laid out before him.
As he expected…
Aside from the Moonlight Robe, everything else came up blue.
Some items did shine darker or brighter, suggesting better or worse within the same tier.
"Well then, did you find something you like?" the middle-aged man asked.
"For my first prize, I'll take this robe."
Gauss made his first choice without hesitation.
He knew full well this robe had been put there especially for him.
He happened to be a mage, not a warrior, and the best prize just so happened to be a mage robe.
How many coincidences could you stack up before they stopped being coincidences?
"Very well," the man nodded.
Gauss turned back to the pile of blue artifacts, thinking carefully.
On his way here, he'd already decided: first, he'd pick something to strengthen himself. For the second item, he wanted something the entire party could benefit from.
So…
He scanned the table once more, and his gaze settled on a pot glowing a deep, rich blue under Identify.
[Delicious Magic Pot]
Quality: Rare magic item (Blue)
Description: A seemingly ordinary but subtly enchanted portable cooking pot. Its body is made of a special alloy that conducts mana well, and the bottom is inscribed with simple runes for constant heat and flavor concentration. You can use it to cook a variety of dishes.
Base enchantment 1: Portable & Self-Cleaning — Light weight, easy to carry. The pot cleans itself and can also clean ingredients.
Base enchantment 2: High-Efficiency Cooking — Heats food faster and more evenly.
Base enchantment 3: Enhanced Flavor — Food cooked in this pot tastes significantly better. Even if the cook is mediocre, the pot's magic can bring the dish up to professional quality. In the hands of a good cook, the results can rival legendary cuisine. In addition, eating a hot meal made with this pot leaves the diner feeling relaxed and content, and slightly accelerates the natural recovery of stamina and mana.
…
Compared to the other blue artifacts, this one was something he knew would see constant use.
Food, clothing, shelter, travel—those were the basics of life. Clothing he'd solved with the robe; shelter with the folding house; travel with Hepis, the chocobos, and the creature bag.
The only piece missing was food.
Gauss had never been stingy about meals for himself or his team.
But because none of them were professional chefs, they sometimes struggled to do justice to rare ingredients. That always felt like a shame.
With this pot, though…
"Gulp…"
He couldn't help swallowing.
Life on the road would get an instant quality upgrade.
If you eat well, you fight well.
And on top of that, the pot's meals came with a recovery buff, not just good taste.
"For my second prize, I'll take this magic pot."
He made his final choice.
The middle-aged man winced inwardly.
Of course, once an item was on the list, he'd known it might be selected. And it wasn't his pot, strictly speaking. Still, as the one overseeing this vault, he couldn't help the ache.
Besides the obvious standout—the robe—the magic pot was, in his mind, the most expensive thing on the table.
For a certain kind of person, its value might even rival or surpass the robe.
It was "merely" rare, but its unique utility pushed its true value beyond what Identify suggested.
The rarer and better the ingredients, the better its results.
After the staff noted his choices and confirmed the paperwork, Gauss took both artifacts on the spot.
The magic pot went into his storage bag.
The robe, he put on immediately.
As soon as the fabric settled on his shoulders, a cool, gentle energy spread through his body, making him feel wonderfully comfortable.
His mind felt as though it had been soaked in some clear, bright liquid—sharper, quicker.
He glanced at his status.
"Intelligence +1."
"Charisma +2."
The changes were instantly visible.
Intelligence: 15 → 16 (15)
Charisma: 11 → 13 (11)
The numbers in parentheses were his base stats, without equipment bonuses.
He looked down at himself.
The robe felt so comfortable he almost didn't want to take it off.
And even more, he could faintly feel a subtle glow, like a soft white radiance clinging to his skin, as if his whole body were wrapped in some pure aura.
The glow wasn't really light, of course. To Gauss, it felt like a spiritual field gently radiating outward.
At his side, the others were staring.
Especially the young receptionist who'd brought him in; her face turned scarlet in an instant, the flush creeping all the way to the tips of her ears. Her eyes were going unfocused, as though she'd just stared at something blinding.