Chapter 5: Rest and Recovery |
The moment Gauss focused his mind and entered the Adventurer's Manual, several notifications immediately popped up.
At the same time, a peculiar force surged through his entire body before finally converging in his brain.
It was a warm current that rippled through every part of him—his brain, spinal cord, and limbs—as if soaking in a hot spring. Countless invisible hands massaged his body, kneading every inch with indescribable comfort that left him momentarily dazed.
His brain buzzed incessantly.
When he opened his eyes, the world suddenly seemed brighter and clearer, as if a veil shrouding his consciousness had been lifted.
A special energy was also imprinted into his mind.
It was a spell called [Mage Hand].
Having just experienced a brief but intense battle, his body and mind had still carried some exhaustion, but after this wave of cleansing, his vitality was fully restored.
Name: Gauss
Agility: 5 (Body flexibility, dynamic coordination)
Constitution: 5 (Endurance, physical stamina, wound recovery, cardiopulmonary metabolism)
Intelligence: 7 (Memory, thinking, mental energy)
Perception: 5 (Senses, intuition, judgment)
Charisma: 5 (Presence, affinity, appearance)
Skills:
0-Tier Cantrip: Mage Hand Lv1 (1/10)
Gauss examined the changes in his manual’s attributes.
His Intelligence, originally at 6, had now surged to a leading 7 points.
The most immediate benefit of this increase was that the fragmented memories of his former self, which had required occasional recollection throughout the day, were now fully absorbed and organized in an instant. Gauss felt his memory had never been sharper.
However, this "Intelligence" likely wasn’t entirely equivalent to IQ from his past life. While he did feel slightly sharper after the increase, the change wasn’t drastic—more of a boost to memory and mental energy.
And...
The faint, newly-born magic flowing within him!
Yes, there was now a thrilling, mystical force circulating inside him.
The fledgling magic was still weak, but undeniably real—like a child who had just arrived in a new home, running excitedly through every room.
Paired with the newly acquired Mage Hand spell, he could now begin practicing magic.
However, considering the current circumstances weren’t ideal, he dismissed the fleeting thought.
The Monster Encyclopedia’s main objectives were now clear:
First, the total number of monsters slain. Once he reached certain milestones, he would receive rewards—the next threshold being 10 kills.
Second, slaying a specific type of monster in sufficient numbers would also yield corresponding rewards.
After assessing the changes in his body and the manual, he turned his attention back to reality.
The goblin was thoroughly dead.
Now, it was time to loot.
He retrieved the stone spear he had kicked away earlier, testing its weight in his hand.
Surprisingly, despite not being metal, it was sturdier than expected.
Take it!
His gaze shifted to the goblin. Aside from a small, tattered loincloth covering its lower body, it wore nothing else—and even that scrap of cloth reeked of a pungent, foul odor.
After a moment’s hesitation, Gauss decided against taking it. It probably wouldn’t sell for much anyway, so he left it as a final covering for the corpse.
The goblin’s body itself held little value. Since this wasn’t a targeted bounty hunt, he couldn’t harvest specific parts for rewards either. After a quick search, he settled for the beast-tooth pendant hanging around its neck.
As for the corpse, he didn’t have time to bury it. Though goblin flesh was somewhat polluting, the primal forest would handle its decomposition naturally.
After packing up, wary of the blood attracting other monsters or beasts, he quickly left the area.
Only when he returned to the oak tree where he had buried his belongings did he finally relax.
His first monster kill had gone far more smoothly than expected.
Now, it was time to return to town and recuperate.
Reaching ten kills wouldn’t happen overnight.
Catching this lone goblin had only been possible thanks to his predecessor’s intel and a well-executed ambush.
In reality, low-tier monsters in the wild usually traveled in groups. Even if individually weak, overwhelming numbers made them dangerous.
For now, he lacked the ability to fight multiple monsters unscathed. He needed to return, digest his gains, and grow stronger.
Following the map, he retraced his steps.
Upon reaching the main road outside the forest, he finally spotted other people.
From there, it was a straight journey back the way he came.
By the time he arrived at the town’s checkpoint, dusk had fallen.
The sun hung low over the distant mountain peaks, its final golden rays painting the gray rooftops of the town in a warm glow.
Reflecting, Gauss realized most of his trip had been spent traveling—actual combat had been brief.
After passing inspection and entering, he vowed to acquire a mount.
Walking everywhere on foot was exhausting before even reaching mission locations.
Especially since he seemed to be developing as a spellcaster—with Strength and Constitution no better than an average person’s, managing stamina was crucial.
......
After a hot bath at a local bathhouse, Gauss emerged refreshed.
Shedding his padded armor for loose linen clothes, he felt invigorated.
The steaming water had turned his skin pink, washing away fatigue along with the heat.
Moderate relaxation was essential after battle—staying perpetually tense would only lead to breakdowns.
The summer night in Grayrock Town was pleasantly cool, carrying the crispness of spring water. Stars dotted the deep blue sky.
The central market square flickered with torchlight. Street vendors’ canvas canopies, propped up by bamboo poles, swayed in the breeze, wind chimes tinkling softly. Clay pots of food wafted rich aromas.
His predecessor, fearing impulsive spending, had rarely ventured out at night.
Now, experiencing the exotic night market for the first time, Gauss found everything fascinating.
Most stalls sold food, but a few offered fortune-telling, cheap jewelry, or puppet shows—the latter drawing the largest crowds.
Patrolling guards stood watch, swords at their waists, maintaining order.
All in all, it was a lively little town, especially after dark.
"How much is this worth?"
Gauss crouched before a junk stall, presenting the beast-tooth pendant and stone spear taken from the goblin.
"Looted from a goblin, eh?" The elderly stall owner leaned closer, inspecting them. Though phrased as a question, his tone suggested certainty. Clearly, he’d handled similar primitive trinkets before.
"Yep. Killed one in the Emerald Forest this afternoon and took these."
"I’ll pass on the spear, but I’ll give you 70 copper coins for the pendant. Not many customers go for this savage style, and these trinkets aren’t exactly rare. I’m only offering this because the wolf-tooth craftsmanship is decent." Seeing Gauss’ hesitation, he added, "That’s the market rate. Ask around—other shops won’t differ much."
Gauss was mostly satisfied. Seventy copper for a tooth pendant was nearly a fifth of his previous savings.
Still, unfamiliar with market prices, he decided to compare offers before selling to the highest bidder.
Every extra copper counted, and it wouldn’t take long.
Money was vital for adventurers—equipment, weapons, potions, training, skills.
With enough coin, anything was attainable.
Fully arming oneself meant better survival odds against low-tier monsters.
After checking nearby stalls and shops, he confirmed the old man hadn’t lied—other offers hovered around the same range.
In the end, Gauss sold his trophy for 78 copper coins.
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