Gauss left town with the firm resolve to slay a monster.
But after wandering around for half the day, he realized—it wasn't going to be as easy as he'd thought.
As a complete beginner with average stats, his ideal target was obviously something low-level—something even a regular person could handle. Best case? A weak, isolated monster, and if it was nearby, even better.
But after making a full loop around town, his fantasy pretty much fell apart.
There were no low-level monsters anywhere near the town.
Between frequent patrols by the city guard and the constant flow of adventurers, the surrounding area for several kilometers had been cleared out again and again. It was about as safe as it could get.
So if he really wanted to hunt a monster, he had only one option: head beyond the city limits and try his luck on the outer edges of the Jade Forest.
Before heading out, he decided to invest in some gear—items he'd never even considered buying before because they were "too expensive."
He wasn't going to risk his life fighting monsters—no matter how weak—without at least some basic armor.
You only get one life. Better to be over-prepared than dead.
After browsing a few busy, well-reviewed shops, he picked up the essentials:
50 copper – A small round oak shield, 30cm across, reinforced with a band of metal around the edge.
1 silver – A set of padded cloth armor, made of layered fabric and cotton. It felt decently tough and should hold up for a few hits.
20 copper – A dose of paralysis poison, made by a local herbalist. You could dry it onto your weapon ahead of time. According to the shop apprentice, it slowed down monsters after contact.
40 copper – A batch of healing herbs. Applied to a wound, they could temporarily stop bleeding and slow further damage.
30 copper – A basic first-aid kit: linen bandages, wooden splints, and other simple tools.
Total: 2 silver, 40 copper.
After all that, his savings had dropped to just 1 silver, 25 copper.
He didn't dare spend everything—if the mission failed, at least he'd still have a little left to cover rent and food. No one wanted to end up broke and sleeping on the streets.
Still, what he'd bought was about the best he could afford at this stage.
The shield and cloth armor were the cheapest kinds of protection available. Everything else was ridiculously overpriced. Even basic leather armor cost at least 10 silver. As for metal gear? Out of the question.
Weapon-wise, he took one glance at the iron swords, maces, and axes sold in the armory—and gave up. The prices were all in double-digit silvers, even for secondhand gear.
Luckily, his predecessor had left behind two weapons:
A dagger, about 20 centimeters long.
A wooden spear, 1.8 meters in length, carved from hardwood with a fire-hardened, conical tip.
His original self had been trained in using the dagger since childhood—helping skin animals, butcher meat, and make traps. So he was pretty handy with it.
The spear was less familiar, but usable.
With the spear for mid-range combat and the dagger for close-up finishes, it wasn't a bad setup. Sure, the materials were weak and the gear was old, but for now, it'd do.
Once he had the money, he could upgrade later.
After a brief evaluation of his budget and options, he decided not to invest further into weapons.
Thanks to muscle memory, he could use both the dagger and spear with decent effectiveness, even if his previous life had zero combat experience.
By the time Gauss finished preparing, the sun was already overhead.
Before leaving, he decided to treat himself to a decent meal at the Nightingale Tavern near the town gate—30 copper well spent.
It was a rare indulgence: a mix of meat and vegetables, including a small plate of pickled fish, some seasoned veggies, tender chunks of stewed meat, and a bowl of noodles.
The portions were small, especially the meat, but for a body that had barely touched animal fat in ages, it was a nourishing feast.
He let out a full-bodied burp, and despite still mourning the lost copper coins, he felt his body strengthen with the extra fuel.
Whatever… big fight ahead, gotta fuel up first!
Stretching lazily, he strapped on his armor, fastened his supply pack, tucked the wrapped dagger at his waist, grabbed the wooden spear, and marched off toward the edge of town.
As soon as he stepped outside the gate, the world opened up.
Beneath a bright blue sky stretched wide plains and farmland. The ground was dry and cracked under the blazing sun.
All the forests near the city had been cleared out years ago, replaced by farmland and open fields—both for cultivation and security.
Wide sightlines helped the city's guards keep watch for any disturbances from the Jade Forest. Plus, dense woods gave monsters an advantage in combat, while humans struggled to fight within them. So it was only natural to cut the trees down.
Gauss wasn't the only one heading for the forest. Along the road, he saw many others.
Some were solo hunters. Others were small teams of rookie adventurers. A few looked far more powerful—true professionals.
How did he know? Easy.
Those people were walking around in full suits of heavy armor that practically screamed money, and they moved as if the weight meant nothing. They gave off an aura that told everyone nearby: Don't mess with me.
Gauss looked down at himself—his thin frame wrapped in mismatched cloth armor, a tiny wooden shield strapped to his chest, a bundle-wrapped dagger at his waist, and a rough wooden spear in hand.
He looked like a caveman by comparison.
If I had to fight one of those guys, he imagined, I'd probably get shattered by a single punch.
He could already see it: his wooden spear bouncing harmlessly off solid plate armor, followed by a backhand slap that sent him flying several meters, KO'd before he hit the ground.
Man, if I were one of them… slaying a goblin would probably be easier than kicking a stray dog, he thought, sighing in envy.
But then he laughed at himself for being so naïve.
Professional adventurers weren't here to hunt goblins—they had way bigger goals.
Still… just one monster kill. That's all I need. Once I activate the Monster Index, I won't be this weak anymore.
The forest wasn't exactly close, so Gauss passed the time by observing the others along the road and giving himself a mental pep talk.
"No thanks. I'm used to working alone."
Surprisingly, a few small teams actually invited him to join. Among entry-level adventurers, his gear seemed presentable enough.
But Gauss declined every offer.
It wasn't because he looked down on them. Honestly, their combat ability probably matched his. And there were obvious benefits to working as a team—backup, support, safer hunting.
But his original self had always worked solo. No teammates. No friends.
In the wild, trusting complete strangers wasn't smart. He didn't want to watch his back for both monsters and fellow teammates.
Solo adventuring meant freedom.
He could act entirely on instinct. If the enemy looked too strong, he'd retreat. He could choose the fight—or walk away.
He knew his limits. The goal wasn't glory—it was survival.
If he joined a party, that freedom vanished.
The moment he stepped into the outer edge of the Jade Forest, the atmosphere changed completely.
The air turned darker, the canopy above dense and suffocating. Unknown birds cried out harshly in the treetops, their noise grating on the nerves.
Gauss gripped his spear tighter and instinctively held his breath.
This forest made everyone uneasy—as if it were a dark, gaping maw, ready to swallow up anyone who dared enter.