I Am Not Goblin Slayer

Chapter 462: The Price of Weakness Is...

When Nira and the others stood at the bow, using the hazy light of dawn to see the stone dam standing in the distance on the river surface, tears of excitement streamed down their joyful faces.Few humans could truly empathize with the emotion they felt in that moment.

It was a profound sense of gratitude that transcended personal survival—the first time in their lives they felt how powerful their own race and nation truly were.

It could bestow upon people the most precious dignity.

They were no longer miserable wretches barely surviving under the oppression of monster tribes, but members of another great civilization on this land.

Staring at the beautiful, magnificent human buildings in the distance, Nira and the others were overwhelmed with immense shock.

Gauss did not interrupt this rare moment of emotion. He quietly returned to the stern, continuing to cast the "Control Water" spell, using the water beneath the boat to propel the large wooden vessel forward swiftly.

Their ability to travel from the great river to the coast, loop around into an inland river, and finally return to human territory in just two days was largely thanks to his magic.

Of course, Mete's power had also provided tremendous assistance.

In natural bodies of water, his water-element affinity grew stronger, and his water-related spells became more effective.

Soon, Gauss's swift boat was halted at the stone dam.

Nira and the other tribal humans were like country bumpkins visiting a big city for the first time. From the moment they set foot on the stone-paved road, they chattered excitedly in hushed tones, staring at the stone buildings, fortifications, and even the soldiers standing nearby.

Not just the squad of soldiers guarding the harbor entrance—any human with even a shred of intelligence could see that this group was out of place.

Gauss's storage space only held some personal clothing, nowhere near enough to outfit dozens of people.

Moreover, even when he offered his casual clothes, Zeke and the others politely declined, choosing to continue wearing their grass garments and animal hides.

So, just by appearance, they stood out from ordinary people in linen clothes.

Even more telling was the unrestrained curiosity and wildness radiating from them, like a group of primitive humans.

The squad captain at the front was about to bark at the strange group disembarking from the boat to submit to inspection.

Suddenly, his sharp eyes caught sight of a pure-white figure slowly rising from the stern.

He would swear it was the most beautiful figure he had ever seen in his life. Even though the person was far away and appeared to be male, he never doubted his judgment for a second.

His words instantly caught in his throat.

The radar in his mind for detecting big shots was blaring an alarm.

If this man brought them, then perhaps they weren't just some unknown weirdos.

Maybe something special had happened?

Given the stark contrast in appearance and demeanor, he naturally wouldn't mistake the man rising from the stern as a companion of the savages disembarking at the bow. He quickly realized there must be some special reason for this.

Still, he had to carry out the questioning and inspection. It was his job, and he had to do it right no matter what—otherwise, if someone reported him, he'd be dragged down along with his position.

He just needed to adjust his attitude a bit during the work.

Relaxing his facial expression, he led a few other soldiers toward Gauss, who was gracefully landing on the dam.

Confirming the visitor's identity and purpose was his main task.

Travel documents, identification, cargo inspection, and passenger checks—all were indispensable.

If he let in suspicious individuals who caused damage or destruction within the kingdom, and an investigation later traced back to him, his life would be over.

Fortunately, amid his slightly anxious mood, Gauss quickly produced his badge and commission documents, sufficient to prove his identity.

"Thank you for your cooperation. Please allow us to verify this."

"Alright, I appreciate it." Gauss nodded.

Since setting foot on human territory, even he had unconsciously relaxed a little.

It had nothing to do with strength—it was a strange feeling. Even though they breathed the same air under the same sky, being in monster territory made him feel a subtle repulsion from both body and soul, as if the world's rules were reminding him that he didn't belong there, that he was an "alien presence" on that land.

What would normally have been a cumbersome inspection process went quickly.

This was largely due to Gauss's reputation. Once they confirmed the authenticity of his adventurer badge, the soldiers' expressions grew more respectful.

Many soldiers stationed here had professional levels, and even though most were at the lowest level 1, it still allowed them to understand Gauss's status in the adventurer world better than ordinary people.

"Do you need us to dispatch accompanying soldiers to escort you?"

"Rest assured, we have absolutely no intention of monitoring you."

Declining the staff member's offer, Gauss led the remaining people onward.

After this small incident, Nira and the others gained a deeper understanding of Gauss's standing in the human world.

They exchanged glances, realizing that the man who had saved them from the monster world was also a huge figure even in human territory.

As the boat sailed on, more human buildings, villages, and towns appeared before the tribal members' eyes.

They also understood why their ancestors and forefathers, over a hundred years ago, had dared to launch a massive invasion into monster territory.

Gauss didn't bring Nira and the others to Barry City, the Forest Capital, which was now on the front lines of the war. Instead, he dropped them off at a town to the northwest.

After learning of their situation, the local Adventurers Guild assured Gauss that they would take care of these humans from monster territory and help them integrate into the human kingdom.

"I'm leaving now."

"I'll come back to see you later."

"Live here for now. If the war reaches you, evacuate with the others to the kingdom's heartland."

"Nira, study magic well."

Having fulfilled his promise, Gauss said his final goodbyes to Nira, Zeke, and his father before setting off.

Nira looked at Gauss's handsome face, her lips parting slightly before she finally nodded in agreement.

"Alright."

Reality had severed her last thread of impractical fantasy.

However, before leaving, Gauss informed the guild of Nira's considerable magical talent. Someone should later arrange for a mage to guide her through her magical initiation.

That was his parting gift.

Gazing at Gauss as he mounted his dragon and disappeared into the horizon, Nira let out a quiet sigh, only withdrawing her gaze after a long while.

She had a feeling that the next time she saw Gauss might be a very, very long time from now—perhaps never in this lifetime.

Standing beside Nira, Zeke understood his daughter's feelings all too well.

But he had said nothing about it throughout the journey.

A powerhouse like Gauss was destined to live in a different world from ordinary people like them. Meeting him had already been a stroke of good fortune; they couldn't ask for more.

Now, returning to a human town, no longer living in constant fear, was already a dream they wouldn't have dared to imagine before.

Besides, Gauss hadn't just left them here. Before leaving, he had specifically asked others to take good care of them.

Even a "primitive" like Zeke could guess the weight of Gauss's words. From the moment they arrived at the town that morning, guild staff had been thoughtfully arranging their lodging, work, and corresponding subsidies.

Nira also had the opportunity to walk the path of a proper spellcaster.

"Let's go back."

"Only by becoming stronger will you have a chance to stand before him."

Nira, usually taciturn, nodded at her father's encouragement, a spark of motivation igniting in her heart.

---

Outskirts of the Forest Capital.

The flames of war continued to rage unabated.

The conflict had already evolved from large-scale army battles into smaller skirmishes with higher engagement frequency.

From plains to hills, swamps to forests, streams to lakes, the battles between humans and monsters never ceased.

*Pant, pant, pant...*

An adventurer gasped for breath.

Moments ago, he had been separated from his team during a fierce chase.

Now, stranded in the woods, not a single companion was in sight.

All he felt was the cold sweat trickling down his back.

He knew he was in grave danger.

Being alone in a war was a terrifying situation for both monsters and humans.

He gripped the short sword in his hand, swallowing hard.

The forest seemed to harbor countless beasts and monsters.

Of course, this wasn't just his imagination.

Just moments ago, he had heard several unusual howls.

They were the roars of monsters gathering.

This meant the monster tribe that had scattered their team was nearby, and his companions were nowhere to be found.

*Thud!*

A freezing arrow sliced through the air, emitting a chilling whistle before grazing his cheek and striking a tree trunk not far ahead.

The arrowhead buried itself deep, the entire shaft vibrating violently.

"Enemy behind!"

Almost instantly, the hair on the back of his neck stood up as he registered this information.

He quickly turned around, using the nearby trees for cover, crouching low as he peeked back.

He saw a Gnoll Warrior riding a Dire Wolf, holding a bloody human head in one hand.

When he made out the face on that head, Finley's pupils violently contracted as he leaned against the tree trunk.

He knew that face all too well—it was his most beloved captain, Gabrie, the honest, family-loving burly man.

Not only was Gabrie strong himself, but he also went out of his way during training to provide combat guidance to the squad members. He was a rare, excellent captain.

Yet such a powerful captain was now dismembered by that monster, his unseeing head carried around as a trophy.

They had fallen into a trap.

This monster tribe's numbers far exceeded what they had seen before.

The earlier feigned weakness and retreat into the dense forest had only been a ploy to lure their overconfident team in for an ambush.

Regret, hatred, fear—countless unsettling emotions surged within Finley.

But it was too late now. His captain was dead, and his remaining companions were likely being hunted through the forest, falling one by one.

And he, already discovered, would never leave this dark, oppressive woodland alive.

"Come out, little mouse."

Unlike goblins, gnolls were generally more intelligent.

And an elite gnoll with a challenge level could even speak a few words of the common human tongue.

The elite Gnoll Warrior wore an ugly, vicious grin, a cold glint flashing in his eyes as if he could see through the tree trunk to the trembling human male hiding behind it.

He gestured for a few other gnoll underlings to flank from other directions while he leisurely walked toward the man's position.

*Thump!*

He made no effort to hide his footsteps, the crisp sound of snapping twigs and leaves echoing through the forest.

The strongest human leader of that squad had already died by his hands, so he had no worries about his own survival. Finally, he had a chance to toy with these damned humans.

Rather than killing him swiftly, he relished the taste of tormenting his prey in a situation where victory was already assured.

Watching the despairing, helpless expression on the enemy's face.

It was just like the powerlessness he himself had felt on the battlefield when he couldn't even withstand the residual waves of human powerhouses' attacks. Watching his companions die one by one with mournful wails, his spirit shattered, he had fled in panic, surviving by sheer luck, only to be haunted by that same helplessness.

He would repay that despair tenfold onto these humans.

Only then could he briefly escape the terrifying psychological shadow that still gripped him.

It was like a downward spiral of cause and effect, endlessly repeating.

*Thump!*

The footsteps were now very clear.

Finley's mind flashed back to his captain's teachings.

Taking a deep breath, he seemed to simulate the gnoll leader's position in his mind based on the sound's location and the leader's estimated size.

He pushed off the ground, spun, raised his blade, and thrust with lightning speed.

*Swish!*

Every step went smoothly—until the final moment, when his short sword was about to pierce the gnoll leader's abdomen.

A rough, powerful hand clamped tightly around his wrist, stopping him cold.

Finley's heart sank.

Before he could even look up, the gnoll's strange rendition of the common human tongue rang in his ears.

"You're too weak. The price of weakness is only..."

*Swoosh—!*

The voice cut off abruptly. A stream of hot liquid poured down over Finley's head.

It flowed over his forehead, the corners of his eyes, his nose, his lips, his chin, splattering onto the dirt like a stream.

He dazedly licked his lips. The viscous liquid was slightly salty, with a strange, acrid taste.

Blood? Whose blood?

Finley looked up to see the once-powerful elite gnoll in front of him now headless. Its death had come so suddenly that its body was frozen mid-motion.

As for its head, it lay two meters away on the ground. Ironically, the face on that head also wore an expression of disbelief.

Finley felt the forest was eerily silent—so quiet it was almost unsettling.

He turned his head. In every direction around him stood more headless gnoll corpses, frozen in place.

What... just happened?

"You're safe now."

A voice rang out from above. Gauss floated down slowly.

Descending with him were several other adventurers—Finley's surviving companions.

This was already the umpteenth human squad Gauss had rescued along the way. Rough estimates put it at several hundred people.

Of course, even with him intervening, he couldn't save everyone every time. Quite often, by the time he arrived, the human squad had already suffered casualties.

Sometimes, they had been completely wiped out, their bodies already cold.

Gauss could only do his best. His Future Sight allowed him to briefly freeze the space around him and deduce possible futures, but it couldn't reverse the past.