I Am Not Goblin Slayer
Chapter 61: Visiting

At the purchasing shop near the Adventurers Guild, the squad disposed of all the miscellaneous items obtained from the goblin-like creature commission. Most low-level adventurers sold their spoils at these few shops, where prices were generally fair.

The group received slightly more money than expected. The total earnings from selling the spoils amounted to 25 silver coins and 60 copper coins, with most coming from the elderly goblin-like creature's corpse which sold for 12 silver coins. The remaining cartload of miscellaneous junk fetched another dozen or so silver coins.

Gathered around the now empty flatbed cart again, everyone wore happy smiles. For adventurers, if there was one moment during a commission that brought the most joy, it was undoubtedly when receiving payment. Clutching the smooth silver coins in their palms made all the hardships of the journey seem worthwhile.

Daphne was the happiest among them, her eyes curved into crescents filled with longing for a staff. After parting ways, Gauss took another look at his coin pouch. Earning 11 silver coins from a single day's work satisfied him with this efficiency.

Counting his money again while feeling the gnawing hunger in his stomach, he realized something and hurried to find a tavern. This time he couldn't bring himself to order all meat dishes, opting instead for staple foods with some meat and vegetable side dishes. Only after consuming roughly 2-3 adult male portions did Gauss gradually feel full.

Whether it was psychological or not, when Gauss stood up to pay the bill, he already sensed his body beginning to digest the food, with faint waves of warmth flowing through his limbs. Was this the effect of Rapid Digestion? Considering it was still only at the weakest initial level, the effect shouldn't be so immediate - it was probably mostly psychological influence.

......

"Business has been better lately?" Gauss leaned against the counter, glancing at the hall before looking at Sophia, who couldn't hide her smile.

"You noticed too? More people have been coming to town," Sophia said cheerfully. "Plus I put up a small advertisement board outside to attract customers." Her good mood was evident.

Gauss nodded, recalling the simple ink-painted wooden signboard he'd seen outside when returning to the inn last night. Not everyone could afford tavern rooms, so privately-run small inns like Sophia's became the alternative. Though somewhat distant from the town center, its quiet and peaceful environment was an advantage.

"Sophia, are you raising prices?" He suddenly remembered the prices on last night's signboard: 4 copper coins per day per room, 60 copper coins monthly - double the previous rates. His own monthly rent was still the original 30 copper coins.

"Shh—" Sophia quickly stopped Gauss. After ensuring the other guests were still engrossed in conversation, she relaxed and whispered near his ear, "It's just to make some extra money from these outsiders. I checked - all nearby inns have raised prices."

So it was taking advantage of the approaching "peak season" to overcharge customers. Even doubled, the prices remained much cheaper than most tavern rooms. Given how packed the town's taverns were, they wouldn't lack tenants despite the small price hike.

Looking at Sophia, Gauss hesitated before swallowing his words. He wanted to say he was an outsider too. But considering "he" had first arrived in this otherworldly place at this very inn, in some sense it wasn't much different from home.

"Just let me know when you raise prices later. I can afford it now anyway," Gauss said after a pause, accepting the water Sophia handed him. "A single commission earns me several silver coins." He was being modest - yesterday alone had brought 11 silver coins.

"That can't be right. Even if you have money now, don't be reckless with it. Save while you're young," Sophia advised kindly. Unfamiliar with adventuring matters, common sense told her novice adventurers couldn't earn money so easily.

"Suit yourself," Gauss chuckled, shaking his head. He didn't want to explain further and risk sounding boastful. Besides, being a low-level adventurer wasn't particularly respectable yet. Better to wait until officially becoming a professional and ranking up as a Bronze-rank adventurer before sharing such news. That would make a nice surprise, as professionals held considerable status in Grayrock Town.

After drinking some water at the counter and shaking off his morning drowsiness, Gauss ended his chat with Sophia and left the inn.

"1st Circle Spell Mage Armor lv2 (10/20)"

"1st Circle Spell Magic Missile lv2 (11/20)"

"0th Circle Cantrip Mage Hand lv2 (19/20)"

All spell proficiencies were improving rapidly. Mage Hand, which he hadn't even practiced deliberately, was nearly reaching lv3. Yet he didn't feel that guiding sensation toward a Professional Path, suggesting lv3 Mage Hand probably still wouldn't meet the requirements for professional advancement. It remained unclear whether 1st Circle spells differed from 0th Circle cantrips in this aspect.

Considering Mage Armor had only been practiced for a few days yet already reached lv2 (10/20), even reaching lv3 or lv4 likely wouldn't take excessively long - certainly much faster than other apprentices. This realization set his mind at ease.

His progress was genuinely rapid, especially compared to others in the Night Owl Squad. However, this morning Gauss didn't plan to practice spells, instead intending to visit a swordsmanship instructor to shore up his foundational weaknesses.

After casually mentioning to Doyle yesterday his desire to practice swordsmanship and strengthen his basics, Doyle had recommended his "mentor." This world having adventurers naturally meant there were instructors to teach adventuring skills. In larger cities, different professions supposedly had their own guilds that only professionals could officially join.

Grayrock Town lacked such professional guilds, and Gauss wasn't yet a certified professional, so learning basic swordsmanship required paying for instruction. There was arguably a better option - Grom, owner of the Black Anvil Workshop. But considering Grom's desire to keep his professional status secret, asking him for training as a mere acquaintance seemed too presumptuous. Gauss preferred paying for the service anyway, since he only needed a skilled swordsman to teach basics - a professional would be overqualified.

After navigating through town to the area Doyle had described, Gauss quickly found the courtyard. The gate was ajar, and within the earthen-walled compound, a dozen or so youths practiced sword swings under a middle-aged man's guidance.

"Hello, I heard you offer swordsmanship instruction? Doyle referred me," Gauss said upon entering, immediately drawing everyone's attention. The young eyes regarding him held mixtures of admiration, curiosity, and even some wariness. Unlike these novice "reserve adventurers" yet to embark on real journeys, Gauss looked every bit the seasoned veteran - especially his weapons, which made the wooden-sword-wielding youths green with envy, despite him not appearing much older.