Chapter 135: Expedition

 After everything was ready, the Gauss Duo stayed a few more days in Graystone Town.

The weather gradually turned colder over those few days.

Finally, after their earnest waiting, they received the final assembly notice from the Adventurer’s Guild.

On the main avenue of Graystone Town—

Pedestrians stayed off the streets, leaving the cleared central road for the Winter Hunt expedition team preparing to depart the town.

The townspeople crowded at their windows, watching curiously and reverently.

The Bronze-rank Adventurers, usually a rare sight, had now gathered into a stream.

Children, seeing such a scene of mobilization for the first time, shouted with excitement.

On the street, adventurers gathered in groups of twos and threes, waiting to board the carriages.

Some Bronze-rank Adventurers chose to ride their own mounts.

Gauss stood by the street, glancing toward the front of the formation. His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the figure at the very front—Graystone Town’s Adventurer’s Guild President, Eberhard.

The man who had once suppressed the entire meeting room with an intangible presence, temporarily deemed by Gauss as the strongest Professional he had encountered.

He rode a majestic white horse.

Of course, it wasn’t the man himself or the white horse that drew Gauss’s gaze, but rather the magical creature accompanying him—

A griffin!

Perhaps due to leading the team, Eberhard was not riding the griffin.

However, anyone with a discerning eye could see the close bond between the creature and Eberhard.

Gauss was not the only one watching that griffin mount. In fact, many Bronze-rank Adventurers in the ranks were secretly eyeing it as well.

As a mount—especially a flying one—the griffin was simply too eye-catching.

With the body of a lion and the head of an eagle, its front half was that of a giant male eagle, covered in dark golden feathers, and its hooked beak resembled black iron claws; the rear half was the body of an amber-colored male lion, its thick lion’s tail whipping the air with whooshing sounds.

Aside from its powerful physique, the griffin mount also wore a helmet and breastplate that shimmered with strange light,

A saddle suitable for riding was installed on its waist, adding an extra touch of might.

Just watching from afar, it already looked incredibly formidable.

Moreover, Graystone Town and the surrounding areas were not a region where griffins were typically active. They usually thrived atop mountain peaks, building nests from twigs, leaves, and the bones of prey atop steep cliffs and summits.

So, like many others, Gauss was seeing this magical creature in person for the first time.

「I wonder how many gold coins that griffin mount is worth?」 Perhaps because Gauss was also planning to purchase a mount recently, the sight of the griffin made this thought pop into his head uncontrollably.

「It must be an astronomical figure.」

He shook his head.

A mount of this caliber was still far beyond his reach.

Even with the money, lacking enough strength, it would be nearly impossible to tame such a wild creature.

But to be fair, among flying mounts, griffins weren’t the most outrageous beings.

In Gauss’s memory, Dragon Knights existed in this world.

And not just drakes or wyverns, but pure-blood dragons.

In terms of value, dragon mounts were truly beyond estimation.

As the assembly progressed, the bustling team finally formed. Comprising over a hundred Bronze-rank Adventurers, a dozen or so elite Low-level Adventurers approved for battle, and a massive convoy of logistics supply wagons, they filled the entire street.

Seeing this magnificent scene, Gauss, as a member of the team, couldn’t help feeling a rush of emotion.

He and Arya boarded a carriage.

Arya was still instructing the gray wolf Ulfen to follow the vehicle carefully and not get separated in the crowd.

Gauss lifted the curtain of the carriage window.

On the windowsills of buildings on both sides, the townspeople, knowing this Bronze-rank Adventurer force was heading out for the final large-scale sweep of the gathering forest monster army before the arrival of winter, were flushed with excitement at the rare sight of such an elite team and various fantastical creatures. They waved both hands vigorously, shouting loud cheers of farewell.

Thinking of the monsters they would soon slay and the gold they would earn, the adventurers were in good spirits, also waving and greeting the residents on both sides.

Gauss was likewise immersed in the passionate atmosphere.

The convoy began to slowly move forward.

「Rumble rumble rumble!」

The grand procession rumbled over the stone pavement, producing a deep but orderly grinding sound.

Just as Gauss was about to pull back into the carriage—

His gaze swept across a tavern entrance and caught sight of a few familiar figures.

Levin, swordsmanship apprentice Doyle, archer Oliver, priestess apprentice Daphne, and Meiva.

The Night Owl Team was standing there, waving at him with all their might.

It really was them.

Gauss’s lips curled slightly upward, and he immediately leaned out halfway from the carriage, waving his arms back at them vigorously.

They seemed to be saying something, but unfortunately, the distance was too far, and their voices were drowned out by the roar of wheels and the clamor of people.

At the tavern entrance—

「Gauss saw us!」

「So grand! If one day I could also enjoy the cheers of countless people as I set out on an expedition like this, I’d die happy.」 Doyle was full of envy.

「Pah pah pah, don’t curse him just because you can’t stand Gauss doing well!」

「Ah! No, I meant myself... Ugh, I wonder if he heard us say we’d wait for him to come back for drinks.」

「It’s all your fault. Meiva said she wanted to meet up with Gauss ages ago, but you just couldn’t lower your pride, afraid of embarrassment, and didn’t agree.」 Oliver calmly retorted.

「Was I the only one? What about you and Levin?」

As the carriage carrying Gauss moved out of sight, the group quickly burst into laughter and bickering.

Gauss returned to his seat in the carriage, calming his emotions.

「Why is this year’s expedition so grand?」 Arya, now seated properly, shook her head and spoke softly.

「Wasn’t it like this in previous years?」 Gauss asked, somewhat surprised.

「No, at least not the time I joined last year,」 Arya replied. 「Even though anyone interested could find out about the expedition, we assembled and departed outside the town that day.」

Upon hearing this, Gauss showed a look of realization.

He thought to himself, he should have already arrived in Graystone Town around this time last winter, yet he had no memory of any such grand departure scene.

「Perhaps it’s to boost morale,」 she paused briefly.

「After the legendary Sword Saint passed away, I’ve begun hearing rumors again that a war with monsters might erupt within the next few years.」

「Small frontier towns like Graystone, right on the front line with monster territory, have caused many residents to panic. Those with means are even preparing to relocate to safer inland areas.」

「Maybe the Guild wants to use this spectacle to give the townsfolk a reason—to hold on.」

Gauss nodded.

「Could be...」

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