I Am Not Goblin Slayer

Chapter 377: The Promising Gauss

After hearing the report from the base's "Chief Steward" Ivan, Gauss habitually praised his work.Watching his light-footed retreat, Gauss's expression showed a hint of puzzlement,

When did Ivan's personality become so lively?

If he remembered correctly, at the first interview he looked steady and composed, his face tense the whole time.

But thinking it through carefully, Gauss found it not entirely unreasonable.

In his previous life, many fresh graduates already had several years of work experience when applying for jobs; who doesn't "polish" themselves a bit in interviews?

At least Ivan's work ability and attitude were beyond reproach.

After covertly observing the base situation for a while, Gauss then went to Aria's "meditation" spot.

To avoid disturbing her cultivation, he kept his distance and only watched from afar for a while.

After reminding Shadow about a few things, he finally left the site.

After all, having learned from the previous incident at Longdi Fort, it was better to have someone keep an eye on things.

Of course, compared with Longdi Fort, this place fell under Falim's jurisdiction, and its security level was several notches higher.

In his spare time he would still drop by from time to time; after all, the Red Dragon Guild's base wasn't far away.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Back at the manor base, Gauss held the invitation Ivan had mentioned from the magic academy.

After thinking it over, he decided to accept the appointment and visit.

Although, thanks to the Adventurer’s Manual, he already started ahead of other spellcasters, moderate communication with fellow spellcasters would help him understand the gap between their strengths and his.

Most of the time, his enemies had been creatures that didn't speak his language — small green skins, spellcasting green skins, the big green skins.

In other words, he was more experienced at PvE than PvP.

So moderate interaction with peers was necessary.

"Guild Leader Gauss, shall I accompany you?"

Ivan had somehow returned to Gauss's side.

Seeing the expectant look on his face and considering his status as an academy alumnus, Gauss guessed Ivan wanted to use this chance to visit his alma mater.

Also, lately Ivan had worked tirelessly to stabilize supplies for the Red Dragon Guild's potion shop.

Gauss couldn't bear to refuse.

Within the Red Dragon Guild, Ivan was the most suitable companion for the trip; Albenia and Serlandul at the manor were not conventional spellcasters.

Consider it a well-deserved break for his steward.

"All right, please come with me."

"It is my duty, Guild Leader Gauss."

Ivan had someone bring out a carriage.

They climbed in, and with the coachman's whip the wheels rolled swiftly out of the manor.

..

"Ho!"

At the coachman's shout, the horses slowed to a stop.

Gauss stepped down from the carriage.

A short distance away stood a manor almost as lavish as a purple castle; even before entering, it exuded an unmistakable aristocratic air.

"Guild Leader Sir, this is my alma mater, the Karkesa Magic Academy."

Ivan looked at the complex with a blend of nostalgia and pride.

Although his spellcaster rank wasn't terribly high, this academy had produced many powerful spellcasters.

As far as he knew, among Falim's transcendent spellcasters, at least three had received their early training at this academy, and several others maintained deep ties to it.

You could say that of Falim's magical might, the Karkesa Magic Academy accounted for the lion's share.

Gauss sensed that the ambient mana density here was noticeably higher than in other city areas.

They were still outside the academy; inside and within certain training rooms, the concentration would only be stronger.

Although spellcasters couldn't directly absorb ambient mana as their own, long-term exposure to such an environment clearly aided gradual growth of their own magical reserves.

No wonder Ivan said most of Falim's reputable local spellcasters were connected to this academy.

How could those self-taught path spellcasters ever erase that disparity?

Furthermore, students admitted to the academy always got a head start.

Access to diverse magic potions, exposure to a wide range of spells, peer exchange, and top-notch faculty — these were obvious, tangible advantages.

Even practical combat experience against monsters was considered; the academy regularly organized field purge activities under the supervision of powerful teachers, which ensured higher safety.

The only advantage Gauss could think of was psychological resilience.

Academy-trained spellcasters might lack ruthless toughness toward foes or themselves; their wits and battlefield-hardened experience might be less rich compared to those who had clawed their way up from the bottom.

Of course, this edge mattered little against a vast level gap.

And once those academy graduates left and trained for a while, they would quickly make up that minor shortfall.

Gauss fell silent and sighed inwardly.

How brutal... even though he really had no standing to complain.

After all, he possessed some of the world's top resources and talent.

"According to academy regulations, visitors must make a reservation on non-open days. Do you have the documents?"

A guard at the gate stepped down and said, "We are also professionals who have learned how to read people by standing at gates for a long time."

They inspected the two who stepped down from the carriage, lingering a moment on Gauss before their faces switched to respectful smiles.

In their eyes, the young man in the spotless white robe carried an air of composed dignity — a poised presence that showed no trace of intimidation even before this opulent academy manor.

Such a person was either very powerful or had impressive backing.

Either possibility made them wary of offending him, so they spoke very politely.

With anyone else the attitude might have been different.

"This is an invitation to our esteemed academy addressed to Lord Gauss, the Red Dragon Guild leader."

After examining the paper, the guards' expressions grew even more deferential.

"Guild Leader Gauss, please enter."

They had not expected such a young mage to already command a guild.

Although, in theory, professionals who reached level 6 could register guilds, in reality that often led to lengthy reviews and probable rejection.

Guild leaders usually needed high master-level strength or even transcendent power.

Even as academy guards who often met important figures, they rarely encountered people of this caliber.

"Thank you."

Passing through the ornate iron gates, the academy's interior proved even more lavish.

Every plant had been manicured by gardeners, and the ground was spotless.

As Gauss observed quietly, he also felt a powerful magical fluctuation underfoot.

The entire academy appeared to be built atop a massive formation.

Thus visible security here did not need overwhelming force.

He then directed his perception toward students walking the corridors; they wore uniform black robes and mage hats, clustering in small groups to talk, or clutching books as they hurried along.

Their strength levels varied.

There were unranked spellcaster apprentices, level 1 spellcasters, and Gauss could even sense a few students with level 2 mana.

Noticing Gauss's perception, Ivan continued introducing.

"The Karkesa Magic Academy's program runs six years. Most students enter as magic apprentices, but with the curriculum some exceptionally talented students may breakthrough to level 1, level 2, or even level 3 during their studies."

Ivan trailed off after mentioning level 3.

In truth, most students who qualified as level 1 spellcasters could graduate smoothly.

Even without professional advancement, students could still graduate if they earned certificates in alchemy, runecrafting, or enchantment.

Reaching level 2 before graduation already meant an outstanding student — Ivan himself had been that kind.

As for level 3, those were exceedingly rare.

Gaining one level every two years was an astounding pace.

Most students entered academy at ages 15 or 16; reaching level 3 by graduation meant they were only 21 or 22.

A level 3 spellcaster in their early twenties had a strong chance to reach level 5 by 25; if fortunate enough to attain Master level before 30, they could then push toward even higher ranks.

Unlike warriors, whose physical vigor declines with age, spellcasters had a longer "prime" and were said to get stronger with age.

Thus those level 3 graduates were already halfway to Master-level, maybe even peeking at Transcendent horizons.

Ivan shook his head.

His talent was middling — not the worst, not the best. Graduating at level 2 was respectable, but compared to those dazzling prodigies, he felt dim.

He could sense his potential was not as outstanding as some level 2 graduates; as a rare-lineage warlock, he had advanced smoothly early on, but the pace slowed considerably upon reaching level 2.

It took nearly six years after graduation to reach level 3; part of that was due to his focus on alchemy, but the core issue was a lack of innate talent.

Only after joining the Red Dragon Guild had his cultivation speed improved.

Ivan glanced involuntarily at Gauss observing quietly beside him.

That sense of inferiority vanished instantly.

Any gifted spellcaster paled in comparison to their guild leader.

He had only learned that Gauss was barely over twenty.

Against such absolute talent, he and those level 3 prodigies might be no different.

The guild leader was the real monster!

He couldn't help but marvel again.

While Gauss quietly studied the academy, a teacherly-looking man walked briskly toward them.

"Lord Gauss, welcome. Karkesa Magic Academy is honored by your arrival."

"I am the academy's External Liaison Director, Allen Victor. Please excuse my inability to receive you at the gate. The Vice Dean awaits in the reception hall; I have been tasked to escort you."

"Director Victor, good day."

Gauss shook hands with the middle-aged man.

From Gauss's perception, although "External Liaison" sounded like a non-combat role, Victor himself had level 6 mana.

One could say Falim indeed produced gifted people.

The faculty at the city's premier magic school was genuinely formidable.

But ever since his professional rank broke to level 7 and he realized his combat power rivaled the weakest transcendent, Gauss had relaxed a little.

He wasn't shabby either.

The three of them walked through the grounds, drawing many glances.

Perhaps it was Victor's demeanor, or Gauss's effortless elegance that made passing students look twice.

"He's so young."

"Is he some big figure?"

"That must be Director Victor; he usually receives visiting powerful mages."

"I feel like I've seen that face somewhere."

Students whispered.

If Victor had been escorting a venerable elder, they would have been less surprised.

But the man beside Victor looked younger than many of them — at least their peer.

If he were a visiting student, the escort would likely have come from the admissions office, not External Liaison.

Strange, strange.

Gauss soon met the academy's Vice Dean, an elder mage with white temple hair.

He fit Gauss's stereotype of a powerful wizard.

Perhaps stereotypes endure because they frequently reflect reality.

Waiting to greet him were several teachers and directors.

Except for Ivan, the attendees were mostly Master-level spellcasters.

Seeing this reception, Gauss raised an eyebrow in mild curiosity.

He had not expected the Karkesa Magic Academy to value him so highly.

Ivan had not expected it either.

The gathered faculty were all senior teachers and department heads.

Probably most of the academy's spellcasters, aside from those teaching classes then, had come to the reception hall.

They had not been pre-notified.

It seemed the academy only learned of their arrival when they reached the gate.

Seeing the venerable "mentors" who had once taught these grounds flock toward them, Ivan looked somewhat embarrassed, but because most attention focused on the guild leader, he managed not to lose face.

"Apologies, Lord Gauss, for any inconvenience," Vice Dean Kieran Xavier stepped forward.

"Our faculty are greatly looking forward to your visit."

"Upon learning you had arrived, everyone could not remain seated."

"It is my honor, Vice Dean Xavier."

Gauss replied modestly.

Since the academy had shown such respect, and because he was not arrogant by nature, he did not put on airs.

Also, the Xavier surname was familiar; the noble family governing this provincial capital bore the same name — clearly not a coincidence.

After sitting and exchanging a few words with the academy staff, Gauss finally understood why they had rushed to "gawk."

It turned out that in the past two days Falim's high-level mage weekly had published news of his breakthrough to level 7. Coupled with his reportedly barely-twenty age, the article acted like an alchemical bomb in the city's upper-circle mage community, instantly sparking enormous commotion.

Some had even dubbed him "a once-in-a-millennium rising star" or "a miracle of the post-Roland era," which showed how astonished they were.

To many teachers, the best students at this age typically reached only level 2 or 3; even among those now exalted transcendent archmages, very few had reached level 4 at that age.

Gauss, however, compared to his peers among great figures, stood not one or two levels higher, but a full three to four levels above them.

That gap was so outrageous that "level difference" barely described it; "worlds apart" would not be an exaggeration.

What they did not know was an even more important fact — unlike most academy students who formally began studying magic at 14 or 15 or earlier, Gauss had only started his professional path at 18.

If they knew that, their shock would have multiplied many times, enough to cause a real tidal wave of astonishment.