I Am Not Goblin Slayer
Chapter 8: Mage Effect

The sudden voice startled the three of them.  

Especially the short-haired girl, whose entire body visibly trembled.  

The archer girl scrutinized Gauss with a wary gaze, cautious of the stranger.  

She didn’t respond.  

But judging by her slightly resistant expression, it was clear she was already leaning toward refusal.  

In her eyes, Gauss’s appearance showed no real strength.  

Besides a cheap small round shield by his side, he wore no proper armor—just a linen shirt washed so much it had faded white, with several small holes at the hem letting the cold air through. His only weapon was a battered dagger hanging at his waist.  

He looked more like a starving young man biting the bullet to survive rather than an adventurer.  

The only commendable thing was his fairly clean, delicate appearance—black hair and emerald eyes. Not especially handsome, but his bright eyes made one want to look twice.  

She liked those emerald eyes quite a bit, but she certainly wouldn’t invite a combat-weak “flower vase” into the team just because of that.  

She stayed silent now, just thinking of an excuse to reject him later.  

After a few seconds of silence, the atmosphere grew awkward.  

At that moment, the young swordsman leaning against a pillar spoke up in response to Gauss.  

“We’re newbies too. If you want to build adventuring experience, it’s better to team up with veterans.”  

His tone was weak, but the words were honest and carried some kindness.  

“No problem. My goal is also the goblin commission, but I haven’t found a quest suitable for one person yet. I thought I’d try temporarily teaming up with someone.” Gauss actually wasn’t eager to join a team of seasoned adventurers who had been around the bottom tier for years.  

“I need to discuss with my companions,” the archer girl finally said upon hearing Gauss’s words.  

“No problem.” Gauss nodded.  

He wasn’t insisting, just trying his luck by asking.  

If rejected, he’d find a suitable quest elsewhere.  

“By the way.”  

Gauss was about to move away to give them space for private discussion when the archer seemed to remember something and stopped him.  

“Is your main weapon a dagger? Or do you have other specialties?”  

She didn’t expect any useful answer; an adventurer’s weapon was usually their specialty.  

She asked just to keep the conversation going, preparing to gently reject him later with teammates who already wielded daggers and didn’t need more melee fighters.  

But Gauss’s answer surprised her.  

“For melee, I use a dagger and a wooden spear. As for specialties, I was a hunter before, so I don’t get lost in the wild. Also, I just learned a spell.”  

“A spell?”  

As soon as Gauss said this, all three of them looked over.  

Their expressions clearly said, “That probably has nothing to do with you.”  

“You’re a mage?”  

“I don’t know if I qualify, but I do know one spell.” Gauss didn’t hide it.  

He was already asking to join a team; no need to keep secrets.  

Knowing words alone wouldn’t prove anything, he immediately cast Mage Hand.  

The air briefly twisted slightly, and an invisible phantom hand formed under his magical control.  

He handed over the dagger.  

Mage Hand grabbed the dagger’s hilt and swung it twice at the empty air.  

“Wow... magic indeed!” The archer girl’s eyes glittered as she watched the dagger floating and slashing the air!  

She stepped forward eagerly to ask Gauss,  

“What kind of spell is this?”  

“Mage Hand. It forms an invisible hand,” Gauss briefly explained.  

Though not hiding his skill, he didn’t elaborate further—who knew if they’d accept him?  

If rejected, explaining more would be pointless.  

“Mage Hand... sounds pretty good.” The archer girl nodded repeatedly, still excited.  

She seemed quite passionate about magic and spells.  

“We’ll discuss first. You wait here, don’t leave.” After saying this, she quickly pulled the other two companions to a corner to talk.  

They didn’t go far, and Gauss had no intention to eavesdrop, but their voices, not lowered, still reached his ears.  

“Are we really going to team up with this stranger?”  

“He’s a mage!”  

“Having a mage in the team should be safer. For a first quest against seven or eight goblins, better to be cautious.”  

“...”  

After a brief meeting, the three returned to Gauss.  

“My companions and I have no objections. Welcome to our team. Hope we have a good cooperation on the upcoming commission.”  

The archer led the welcome, extending her hand toward him.  

“Alright, please take care of me.” Gauss also extended his hand to shake hers. “What should I call you three?”  

“I’m Hayley. My weapon is the bow, providing ranged support. Uh, I also cook.”  

“I’m Mia, I use daggers.”  

“Bell, I use a longsword.”  

Their personalities differed—Hayley was the most enthusiastic upon learning Gauss was a “mage,” Mia was the shy short-haired girl, and Bell was the lazy-speaking young swordsman.  

Despite their differences, Gauss felt instinctively that none of them were bad.  

“You’re probably not locals, right?”  

Gauss had been in town over a year but had never seen them before.  

“That’s right. We’re all from Barry, lifelong friends.”  

......  

The first day of temporary team-up.  

Hayley, the leader, generously treated everyone, taking them to a tavern to celebrate with a feast.  

The three from Barry came from decent families—not aristocrats but at least with no worries about food or clothing.  

Roasted meat, malt beer, salted sturgeon, venison sausage...  

Gauss had his most sumptuous meal since arriving in this world.  

The large chunks of meat roasted until sizzling with oil, drenched in the tavern’s secret sauce. The moment he bit in, the meat’s juice mixed with the salty and fragrant sauce exploded on his taste buds.  

The sliced venison sausage was also unique, with a strong salty meat flavor, somewhat like beef mixed with an inexplicable smoky fruit aroma.  

The chefs in this world were quite skilled, especially compared to the black bread, oatmeal porridge, and pickles Gauss had eaten for days. The dishes in front of him seemed incredibly rich by comparison.  

However, when the bill came, the price made Gauss, who was already full, silently gulp.  

“3 silver coins 40 copper coins.”  

The entire meal cost all his assets.  

He had wanted to suggest splitting the bill, but swallowed the words and showed some embarrassment.  

Having just paid the adventurer registration fee, his money was not enough to split the cost evenly.  

“No need to be polite with Hayley. Her family is in business and has some money,” Bell whispered.  

Gauss nodded, suddenly feeling the wealth gap in this world was no less intimidating.  

He had started out with 30 copper coins, some clothes to change, and a pound of black bread. After working hard for more than a year, he had saved a bit over 3 silver coins—just enough for one meal here.  

He shook his head.  

Regarding this disparity, he only felt it keenly but did not despair.  

After all, the future was his.  

Though his pockets were empty now, he knew it was only temporary.  

He would have money in the future, then he could go home.  

Gauss rubbed his empty coin pouch and followed the three out of the tavern.