I'm not a Goblin Slayer

When Gauss bit into the meat, he was almost moved to tears.

The rich, savory flavor filled his mouth, and it felt like every taste bud on his tongue—every cell in his body—was cheering with joy.

His body was satisfied.

Time passed quickly as he enjoyed the food.

Before he knew it, he was full, his hunger completely sated.

He let out a loud burp, his brain going completely blank from the comfort.

"Sir, excuse me…"

Just as he was about to doze off, a sweet and gentle voice called by his ear.

He opened his eyes, still groggy.

"Could you settle your bill? That'll be 2 silver and 50 copper."

"Huh? How much?" he blinked, still not fully awake.

"2 silver, 50 copper," the beautiful waitress repeated politely.

"That much?" Gauss wasn't trying to dodge the bill; he was just surprised he'd spent that much.

2 silver, 50 copper?!

A few days ago, he'd been shocked when Hailier treated the party and the bill came to 3 silver and 40 copper for four people.

And now? He'd nearly matched that alone?

Was he the extravagant one all along?!

He just ate 0.03 of a house, he thought bitterly, heart aching.

"Feel free to check the order. These are all the items you requested," the waitress said with a composed smile, handing him the menu.

"Fried fish and chips, cured ham with cheese, thick-cut flame-grilled meat steak (seasoned with salt and olive oil), borscht…"

Every item had been marked by him.

And now that she mentioned it…

Yeah, he had ordered more food partway through. Maybe even a few times.

He mentally tallied up the prices.

The total was accurate.

He really did eat a 2 silver 50 copper feast.

The stack of empty plates beside him confirmed it.

Even after he paid and walked out of the tavern, he was still heartbroken.

Sure, higher income meant higher spending. That was normal.

But this was a leap.

"All because of that absurd craving for meat," he muttered with a sigh.

That said… his body felt amazing.

Like all that meat had filled a deep void caused by recent growth.

"Fine. I'll count it as an investment in myself. No regrets. No regrets…"

He repeated the mantra to himself as he did the math:

Current cash: 28 silver, 52 copper.

As Gauss silently tallied his savings, he couldn't help thinking:

So this is human greed, huh?

The more you make, the more you spend—often without noticing.

Money seemed like a lot… until you started spending it.

And with how hard it is to go back to being frugal once you've had better, his desire to earn more money went up a notch.

…

The next morning.

"Morning, Sophia," Gauss greeted as he came downstairs, spotting the innkeeper mopping the first-floor hallway.

"Good morning, Gauss. Want some breakfast?"

She looked up and leaned on her mop.

"Uh…"

Images of black bread, pickled soup, and that tasteless, mushy routine flashed in his mind.

Compared to yesterday's feast?

There was no going back.

"Heh… maybe next time. I'm not that hungry today," he said with an awkward smile, waving his hand and heading out.

Sophia watched him leave, eyes filled with silent frustration.

Was my cooking getting worse? she wondered.

But no one else had complained…

That thought would probably haunt her for a while.

The morning bell rang, signaling the town was waking up.

Street vendors lined the roads with breakfast stalls.

Gauss bought two meat-filled pastries for 4 copper.

Sorry, Sophia.

I'm a carnivore now.

Your black bread and veggie soup just can't fuel me anymore.

"Didn't expect much from a street stall, but damn—these are good."

He chewed happily, juice dripping as he devoured the warm, flavorful pastry.

Okay, maybe the black bread flashback helped, but still…

His newly awakened body soaked up the nourishment like a sponge.

Today's goal: practice Magic Missile.

He planned to shelve Mage Hand for now—and drastically reduce its usage.

Why?

Because he was scared of what might happen if Mage Hand hit the next proficiency tier.

What if it suddenly triggered his class path awakening and became his core skill?

No way would he let a utility cantrip become his defining ability.

Currently, Mage Hand was Lv.2 (15/20)—dangerously close to whatever the unknown threshold was.

After finishing breakfast, he headed toward the town's outskirts.

There was nowhere in town suitable for spell training. But outside?

The wide-open plains were ideal. Many adventurers used the area for training—it was practically tradition.

Plenty of space. No one got in each other's way.

He walked a fair distance until he found a quiet, empty patch.

Time to begin.

He closed his eyes and focused, trying to recall the exact feeling of casting Magic Missile.

It had been several days since he last used it—back during the goblin fight, in a state of extreme concentration.

Now, after rest and recovery, recapturing that mindset wasn't easy.

"Magic Missile."

A blue glow sparked in his palm—then fizzled out.

Gauss wasn't surprised.

Level 1 spells were just harder.

But based on his experience training Mage Hand, he knew that as long as he put in the time, he'd get there.

After all, the spell was already imprinted in his mind. The Adventurer's Manual had done the heavy lifting—he didn't have to study or meditate to build the spell model from scratch.

He just needed to train.

"Magic Missile."

"Magic Missile."

…

Break time.

Then again—

"Magic Missile!"

"Magic Missile!"

…

As he practiced, Gauss quickly realized that Level 1 spells weren't like Cantrips.

When he failed to cast Mage Hand, there was no side effect.

But Magic Missile? Even failed attempts left him feeling mentally drained.

Fortunately, the fatigue wasn't overwhelming—maybe thanks to his 7 Intelligence, which gave him exceptional mental endurance.

A short nap in the sun, and he was good to go.

Finally, after persistent practice—he found it.

That feeling.

That sudden, indescribable sense of alignment—as if everything just clicked.

A breeze brushed his skin, and all his mana surged forward.

Power gathered in his hand, swirling, twisting—external magic energy flowing in to match it.

In his palm, the energy solidified.

A glowing Magic Missile took shape.

Success. Again!

This time, with no enemies charging him, he could take a closer look.

The orb was crystal-clear, wrapped in a faint white glow. Inside, raw magic churned like a whirlpool of tiny flowing streams.

And yet—he could feel it wasn't dangerous to him.

Even more surprising?

He could control it.

He focused his will. The orb shifted slightly in his palm—just a fingertip's length, but enough to prove it.

His control was limited now—but it would grow.

Satisfied, he hurled the missile toward an empty stretch of land.

The spell accelerated instantly, tearing through the air in a brilliant blue streak.

"BOOM!"

The impact rang out like a thunderclap.

Magic Missile detonated on contact with the ground, blooming like a firework even under the morning sun.

When the dust settled, a shallow crater remained.

About a foot across, with a fist-sized impact point in the center—cracked earth spreading like a spiderweb around it.