I Am Not Goblin Slayer
Chapter 2: Equipment Procurement

Gauss set out with the determination to kill a monster.  

However, after wandering around the town for a while, he realized it wasn’t as simple as he had thought.  

First of all, as a weakling at the level of an ordinary human, his ideal target was, of course, low-level monsters that normal people could handle, preferably those wandering alone. If he could reduce unnecessary travel and find something close by, that would be best.  

But after checking around, his initial assumption was basically impossible.  

There was no suitable habitat for low-level monsters near the town.  

The frequent clearing operations by the town’s defense forces and the constant traffic of adventurers had thoroughly swept the area within several kilometers around the town, making it quite safe.  

Therefore, to kill a monster, he had no choice but to leave the town’s direct jurisdiction and try his luck at the outer edge of the nearby Emerald Forest.  

Before departing, he prepared to purchase some “expensive” equipment he had never bought before.  

Lacking proper armor to kill monsters—even if his target was a low-level monster that ordinary people could handle—was too risky.  

Among several stores with the most customers and busiest business, he bought the equipment he needed for now.  

50 copper coins for a small round oak shield, 30 cm in diameter, with a rim wrapped in riveted metal strips.  

1 silver coin for a set of cloth armor made of several layers of fabric and cotton lining; the texture felt quite tough and should withstand several attacks.  

20 copper coins for a portion of homemade paralyzing poison from the herbal shop owner. It could be applied and dried on weapons in advance. According to the shop apprentice, monsters hit by the paralyzing poison would have slowed movement for a period afterward.  

40 copper coins for a topical herbal medicine. Applied to wounds, it could temporarily stop bleeding and slow injury progression.  

30 copper coins for simple medical supplies: linen cloth for bandaging, wooden boards, and bandages.  

All in all, the total was 2 silver coins and 40 copper coins.  

After this round of shopping, his savings dropped to 1 silver coin and 25 copper coins.  

Naturally, he didn’t dare to spend every last coin. In case the adventure failed, having some savings left would at least bring peace of mind so he wouldn’t starve or be unable to pay rent and end up homeless.  

Moreover, the items and armor he bought were relatively suitable for his current stage.  

The wooden shield and cloth armor were the cheapest protective gear available.  

Other armor was ridiculously expensive. Not to mention metal armor, even a decent set of leather armor cost at least 10 silver coins.  

As for weapons, he glanced at the metal swords, daggers, and spiked hammers sold in the weapon shop and decisively gave up the idea. Those prices were beyond what he could afford for now.  

Even second-hand weapons cost at least double-digit silver coins.  

Besides, his original body already had weapons: a dagger about twenty centimeters long and a wooden spear. The spear was carved from hard wood, with a sharp conical spearhead, 1.8 meters in length, and had been hardened by fire carbonization treatment to improve durability.  

Regarding proficiency, the original body was taught to use the dagger from a young age, helping the family handle prey, skinning, cutting meat, and making traps. He was very skilled with the dagger.  

Experience with the wooden spear was less than with the dagger but still passable.  

Using the two weapons in combination, the wooden spear could suppress enemies from mid-range, and the dagger could finish off foes up close. Although wooden weapons weren’t very durable and the dagger was old, given the limited conditions, this setup was workable for now.  

He would upgrade to better weapons when conditions allowed.  

After a brief thought and considering his finances, he decided not to invest too much in weapons.  

Thanks to muscle memory from the original body’s use of the dagger and spear, even his past self who knew nothing about weapons could handle them smoothly.  

The sun quietly climbed overhead.  

Before leaving, Gauss painfully treated himself to a good meal at the Nightingale Tavern at the town’s exit, spending 30 copper coins.  

A lunch with both meat and vegetables: a small plate of pickled fish, carefully prepared side dishes, several chunks of tender stewed meat, and a bowl of noodles.  

Although the portions of meat dishes weren’t large, it was enough to replenish the precious fat reserves of this body that had long refrained from eating meat.  

After a full burp and feeling his body growing stronger, Gauss still regretted the spent copper coins but finally felt it was worth it.  

Well, before a big battle, there must be supplies! Consider it charging the body’s battery first!  

Stretching, he put on his cloth armor, tied the supply-packed bundle to his body, clipped the dagger wrapped in cloth strips to his waist, grabbed the wooden spear, and strode toward the town exit.  

After leaving the town, the scenery suddenly opened up!  

Under the bright blue sky, apart from the sun-baked, hard, and dry yellow dirt road beneath his feet, there was an endless wilderness.  

For the town’s safety, all the nearby forests had been cut down many years ago, replaced by farmland close to the town and grasslands with excellent visibility.  

Firstly, the open view helped the town’s guards collect intelligence and detect any disturbances from the Emerald Forest early. Secondly, dense woods were not suitable for humans to fight in, while various monsters living in the forest were unaffected. This trade-off naturally meant it was better to cut down the woods.  

Gauss was not the only one heading toward the Emerald Forest. On the road, he encountered many others.  

Some were lone hunters, some were small low-level adventurer teams of several people, and he even vaguely saw a few professionals.  

Don’t ask how Gauss could tell. Anyone wearing heavy plate armor that radiated wealth, who could carry and move freely in heavy armor, and who emitted a strong aura that warned strangers to keep their distance, was obviously a professional. Anyone with functioning eyes could recognize them.  

Gauss looked down at his own skinny figure, the tangled cloth armor he wore, the small wooden shield strapped to his chest, the small dagger wrapped in cloth hanging at his waist, and the rough wooden spear in his hand, and instantly felt the equipment he spent most of his wealth on looked extremely shabby.  

Compared to them, he was like a primitive man.  

“If I fought him, I’d probably be almost torn apart by one punch,” Gauss imagined the scene in his mind.  

He would charge with the spear, but the spear tip would hit the opponent’s rock-solid full-body plate armor with no damage at all. Then the opponent’s slap would knock him flying two or three meters, and he wouldn’t be able to get up.  

“I wish I were him. Killing a single ordinary goblin to unlock the encyclopedia would be easier than kicking a stray dog by the roadside. Even if it was a group of goblins, there’d be no fear at all.”  

As he thought this, Gauss felt envious but immediately laughed at his own narrow-minded thinking like an emperor who suddenly digs up a golden hoe.  

If you become a professional, your adventure targets would naturally not be small monsters like goblins anymore.  

But as long as I kill one monster! Then I can activate the Monster Encyclopedia, and I won’t be so weak anymore!  

The road to the Emerald Forest was not short. Gauss passed time by observing the others traveling with him while cheering himself on.  

“Want to team up?”  

“No thanks, I’m used to going alone.”  

Perhaps Gauss’s equipment was already decent among “lowest-level adventurers.” Several unfamiliar teams had invited him to join, but Gauss refused all of them.  

It wasn’t that he looked down on them. In fact, his combat ability might be about the same as theirs, and traveling together would provide mutual support.  

It was just that the original body had always been alone, used to solitude, and had no acquaintances.  

In the wilderness, rashly joining an unknown team made him uneasy. He worried he might have to face monsters and defend against strangers at the same time.  

It was better to act alone and freely.  

He could act according to his own will, be cautious, and avoid engaging enemies beyond his ability. He could choose suitable targets and even flee during battle.  

Although he had a goal this time, he knew well that survival was the priority, not fighting.  

When weak, you have to know when to retreat.  

Joining a team would take away that freedom.  

“Croak croak!!”  

Entering the outer edge of the Emerald Forest.  

The environment suddenly darkened. The dense canopy overhead blocked out sunlight, and the noisy calls of unknown birds created an irritating atmosphere.  

Gauss gripped his wooden spear tighter and instinctively held his breath.  

This forest seemed to unsettle everyone who entered, as if a dark, gloomy maw was ready to swallow every visitor whole.