I Am Not Goblin Slayer
Chapter 38: Power Upgrade

"Tsk—"

Though Andni's fists were small, her strength was anything but.

Two solid punches to Gauss's waist immediately made him suck in a sharp breath.

His Mage Hand nearly dissipated from the impact.

"Oh, sorry about that."

Only then did Andni realize she'd gotten too excited, licking her lips with slight embarrassment.

"It's fine." Gauss took several deep breaths, waiting for the pain to gradually fade before speaking.

This incident changed his impression of Andni.

Who would have thought she possessed such physical strength besides her spellcasting abilities?

Truly befitting a professional - even though Andni clearly wasn't strength-specialized, her physical capabilities far surpassed ordinary people.

"Never thought this bone would find its owner..." Andni sighed, complex emotions swirling within her.

She used to wonder if there truly existed someone compatible with it, but now that she'd actually found them, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss.

"So... Senior Andni, how much for this staff?" Gauss asked nervously.

Though Andni had casually mentioned it wasn't expensive earlier, this staff suited him so perfectly that he couldn't help feeling anxious.

Moreover, Andni's current expression was unreadable, leaving him uncertain of her thoughts.

After a brief silence, the sentimental Andni finally spoke.

"Just give me 10 silver coins. I did spend considerable time polishing and crafting it."

The quoted price immediately eased Gauss's worries.

"However..."

"?"

Too soon.

His just-relieved heart was yanked back up again.

Couldn't she finish her sentences properly?

Gauss turned his gaze back to Andni.

Was she having second thoughts?

His grip on the staff tightened subconsciously.

"However, you'll likely face significant difficulties turning this bone staff into a proper magic wand later." Andni grinned mischievously, her canine teeth nibbling her lip.

"Perhaps it's my limited skills, but over the years, all my attempts to transform it into a true wand have failed."

"I've tried every suitable magical core material in my possession - not once succeeded."

That's it?

Gauss maintained a straight face but secretly sighed in relief.

All this drama for something so trivial?

For him, crafting a formal wand was future business - his current priority was securing ownership first.

"But it should serve you fine for now. You'll eventually acquire your second, third wands anyway." Andni glanced at Gauss's "solemn" expression and added comfortingly.

"For spellcasters like us, owning multiple wands is perfectly normal."

"Each wand has its specialties and characteristics, just like people - rapid assault, precision, burst damage, coordination..."

Andni gestured toward her collection, which included one wand nearly twice her height - imagining her wielding it was almost comical.

"Understood." Gauss nodded. "Should I pay now, senior?"

Merely 10 silver coins - he had enough cash on hand.

"Tch, fine, since you're so eager."

Andni shook her head, ending her teasing.

She extended her pale palm.

Gauss promptly counted out 10 silver coins from his pocket onto her hand.

The coins vanished the moment they touched her skin.

Magic? Or something like storage spaces from fantasy stories?

But since Andni offered no explanation, he didn't pry.

Gauss remained at Thorn Cottage a while longer, mainly because Andni kept him for additional instructions. Before leaving, she even lent him one of her early magic notebooks - perhaps out of respect for Grom, or because he was now the bone staff's owner.

When Gauss finally stepped out, dusk was approaching.

As the oak door slowly closed behind him in the twilight, he felt as if emerging from another world.

Thorn Cottage seemed to gradually fade, blending seamlessly back into the unremarkable alley as the most inconspicuous building there.

Such fascinating magic.

After observing for a moment, Gauss withdrew his gaze.

Holding the bone staff, he walked toward the alley's exit with noticeably lighter steps.

This visit to Thorn Cottage had been immensely fruitful - not only did he borrow a notebook explaining magical fundamentals from Andni, but he also acquired a suitable wand base for just 10 silver coins.

The Life Magic Stone remained unsold and in his possession.

Andni advised keeping it unless he urgently needed money.

Long-term proximity to a Life Magic Stone offered subtle health benefits - minor individually, but accumulating to noticeable effects over time.

In the following days, like other adventurer teams after completing a mission, Night Owl Squad had no immediate assignments.

Gauss didn't know what the others were doing, but his own days were thoroughly productive.

Waking to bell chimes, meals, practicing magic with the bone staff in open areas outside town, studying, sword training, returning to rest - then repeating the routine.

The staff reignited his initial passion for learning magic.

Naturally, he focused on practicing Magic Missile.

After their last mission, his Magic Missile proficiency had reached LV2 (3/20).

But with the staff and dedicated practice, his proficiency rose rapidly from LV2 (3/20) to LV2 (6/20).

The bone staff's enhancement, combined with improved spell proficiency and steadily increasing mana reserves, significantly boosted his combat capabilities compared to days prior.

1.65 standard units of personal mana.

Magic Missile's mana compression improved from 60% to 50% output.

This meant he could now unleash three micro Magic Missiles consecutively without exhausting his mana.

Additionally, the staff accelerated casting speed and slightly increased spell potency.

A 50%-output Magic Missile through the staff now matched a 70%-output barehanded version's destructive power.

His combat prowess had clearly ascended another tier.

In direct confrontation, current Gauss could easily defeat his past self - faster casting meant seizing initiative.

When your magic hits the enemy's face before they complete their attack, the advantage speaks for itself.

Sometimes casting speed matters more than raw power.

The principle of "nothing surpasses speed" applies equally to spellcasters.

Counting the days, Gauss estimated their next mission would commence soon.

Perhaps his recent progress made him eager to test his improved skills.

He actually looked forward to the next assignment as a practical examination of his growth.

Come to think of it, he could suggest to Levin that they take on non-goblin combat missions this time.

With his enhanced abilities, Gauss felt more confident.

It was time to hunt other low-tier monsters and unlock more entries in the Adventurer's Manual's Monster Encyclopedia.

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