I Am Not Goblin Slayer
Chapter 62: Filling the Gaps

Gauss had no idea what they were thinking. If he knew, he'd probably find it amusing.

The fact that they could receive training under a professional swordsmanship instructor already indicated their family backgrounds were far superior to most bottom-tier adventurers.

With such solid foundations, their chances of eventually becoming professionals were much higher than self-taught amateurs. There was no need to envy others.

Of course, compared to him, there was simply no comparison.

Swordsmanship instructor David heard Gauss's words and recalled that he had indeed once mentored a novice adventurer named Doyle in sword techniques. This made him lower his guard slightly as he approached.

"I'm David, the swordsmanship instructor at this training ground."

"Instructor David, hello. I'm Gauss, a novice adventurer. I'd like to request some basic swordsmanship guidance from you to correct my flaws. May I ask about the fees?" Gauss got straight to the point without unnecessary preamble.

As a swordsmanship instructor, David's purpose was to earn tuition fees anyway—there was no need for beating around the bush.

"I see..."

While the two conversed, the other youths couldn't help whispering among themselves. After all, they were at the age of peak curiosity.

"He looks so young."

"Is he here to learn sword techniques like us?"

"All that fancy equipment, but his basics might be worse than ours?"

"..."

After brief negotiations, Gauss and David settled on a price—50 copper coins per day for instruction.

To David, this just meant taking on one more student, no different from the others. He had observed the young man—while Gauss's eyes carried a strange intensity, his hands showed no signs of long-term sword practice. Clearly a beginner.

The price was actually much higher than what he charged other students. But considering Gauss's equipment alone was worth at least double-digit silver coins, David tentatively quoted this seemingly expensive rate.

To his surprise, Gauss agreed to the exorbitant price without much hesitation.

"The rest of you, continue your practice," David instructed the other students before turning back to Gauss with a smile.

Since this was the first lesson, he planned to devote more attention to Gauss—at least ensuring the first experience lesson went well so Gauss would return.

Though not a professional himself, David claimed he had been just one step away from becoming a professional warrior in his youth.

Had he not been overly obsessed with various swords and techniques, spreading his focus too thin, becoming a professional wouldn't have been difficult.

Gauss remained noncommittal about this boast. People always subconsciously glorify their pasts—just like how most classmates in his previous life would claim they underperformed on college entrance exams, insisting their true abilities were far better.

Still, while David might have exaggerated his own story, his proficiency with various swords wasn't fake.

Whether longswords, broadswords, short swords, daggers, rapiers, or foils—he could demonstrate them all, showing genuinely solid fundamentals.

Seeing this display of skill, Gauss almost believed David might not have been lying earlier.

Could it be true that spreading himself too thin had prevented him from becoming a professional?

But were there really such eccentric individuals?

Not that it mattered. Regardless of the truth, as long as David could correct his basics, that was enough.

Under David's guidance, Gauss began practicing fundamental rapier movements while the instructor periodically corrected his mistakes in force application.

The day passed in a flash.

When Gauss left the courtyard, he left behind a stunned instructor and students exchanging bewildered glances.

"Instructor David, tell us honestly—are we just stupid?" one student asked, his confidence seemingly shattered.

David didn't know how to respond. He'd never encountered someone who learned with such terrifying efficiency.

Many times, he'd merely offered casual corrections, only for Gauss to immediately implement them perfectly.

If he'd had such learning ability back then, not even obsession with every weapon under the sun could have stopped him from becoming a professional.

"..."

Exiting the courtyard, Gauss checked his Adventurer's Manual's status panel, where a new line of text appeared:

"Basic Swordsmanship lv1 (3/10)"

This counted as a skill? And his first self-learned one at that?

Gauss scratched his head. He'd never heard of such skills before.

In his understanding, skills should be like his Magic Missile or Doyle's Cross Slash—specific, specialized techniques.

But what was Basic Swordsmanship? Just fundamentals?

He didn't feel like he'd gained any miraculous techniques—just that swinging his rapier felt slightly more natural now.

Shaking his head, Gauss decided not to overthink it. Having it was better than not. Maybe at higher levels, Basic Swordsmanship would show new effects?

Walking back, Gauss decided not to return tomorrow.

His 50 copper coins had been well spent—he'd already mastered all the fundamentals David could teach about daggers, short swords, and rapiers.

All thanks to his 7 Intelligence and 6 Agility.

The Adventurer's Manual might have helped too, making him learn faster than others, but without proof, he could only credit his own talent and effort.

"Self-learned skills seem to level slower than those three spells," Gauss mused. "But my swordsmanship is just for self-defense—it just needs to be functional."

Slow progression didn't matter. He wasn't counting on Basic Swordsmanship to become a professional anyway.

Besides, with steady practice and accumulated experience, he'd grow stronger eventually.

Once something became a skill, it seemed to be permanently retained—no backsliding in proficiency.

Dragging his exhausted body to the tavern for a hearty meal, Gauss felt his vitality gradually returning and couldn't help marveling again at Rapid Digestion's effectiveness.

Next morning at dawn, Gauss resumed practicing the [Mage Armor] spell.

He'd slacked slightly yesterday to address his weaknesses, but he hadn't forgotten his identity as a spellcaster apprentice. Time to return to the main path.

Magic practice took top priority.

In the following days, Gauss immersed himself in Mage Armor training.

"Mage Armor lv2 (13/20)"

This should suffice for goblin hunting.

Munching on dried meat as he observed the panel's changes, Gauss smiled contentedly.

As he'd deduced, whether during adventures or in the immediate days afterward, skill training proved more effective than usual.

By capitalizing on this golden period through sweat and effort, he could rapidly boost proficiency.

Even practicing swordsmanship during mana recovery breaks had raised [Basic Swordsmanship] to lv1 (5/10).

Improved swordsmanship fundamentals let him wield his rapier more deftly despite no increases in Strength or Agility.

Now, even without Magic Missile or Mage Hand, in pure melee combat, Doyle and others likely couldn't defeat him.

With Mage Armor, he could engage in close-quarters combat, trading "shield" for wounds.

Of course, this remained just a passing thought. As a cautious individual, against potentially threatening enemies, he preferred standing at range and bombarding them with Magic Missiles.

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