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Goblin Chapter 125: Total Monster Kills: 500
🕑 Added 2025-08-07 18:07:55 +0000 UTCThe heavy wooden lid was lifted.
A wave of rich, steaming aroma rushed out to greet them.
Through the swirling mist rising from the pot, Gauss stared into the thick, amber-colored broth—chunks of tender white frog meat floated within, framed by golden potatoes and orange carrots.
Amid the rising steam, the stew gave off a warm, hearty scent that was oddly comforting.
"Phew—" Gauss picked up a wooden spoon and swallowed audibly. "Looks really good."
He ladled out a generous scoop—meat and broth—and poured it into a wooden bowl.
Looking across at Alia, he asked, “Wanna try some?”
Alia’s eyes were locked on the stew.
Honestly, for something made from monster meat, it looked and smelled surprisingly appetizing.
“I'll pass for now. You go first.”
Gauss caught the hesitation on her face and understood. It made sense to be cautious about unfamiliar food, especially monster meat.
"Alright, I'll take the first bite."
He lifted the bowl, blowing gently to cool the surface steam. Under Alia's watchful gaze, he took a small sip.
Then closed his eyes, savoring the flavor.
“…Well?” Alia asked anxiously after a long pause, wondering if he was about to collapse from hidden toxins.
“It's… incredible!”
Gauss let out a satisfied breath and opened his eyes, his face lighting up with surprise.
“Really?” Alia scratched her head.
“Absolutely.”
But Gauss had already stopped talking. He grabbed a spoon and eagerly dug in.
The long-distance leaping had given the Rustfrogs exceptionally muscular legs. Now, slow-simmered, the meat hadn’t turned mushy—it was perfectly tender and juicy.
His teeth sank into a piece of frog thigh, and it practically melted apart—richly layered, juicy strands soaked with golden broth. The flavors blended beautifully, every bite exciting his taste buds.
A few bites in, warmth spread through his body.
So good.
And—
So dense in energy.
He could feel his Energy Gland kicking into overdrive, processing the stew into heat and vitality. This sensation was new. No other meal had made him feel so fueled and recharged.
Was this the high-calorie food he’d been looking for all along?
While still chewing, Gauss mentally noted the value of Rustfrog meat as emergency provisions.
Across from him, Alia was quietly watching him scarf it down with alarming focus—and, despite herself, she started to feel hungry too.
Maybe… just a little taste?
She took an empty bowl and mimicked him—carefully ladling a bit of the golden broth, choosing a few decent-looking chunks of meat.
Then, bracing herself, she took a bite.
Eyes closed, she chewed slowly.
After a long moment, she opened her eyes, looking down at the remaining stew with a complicated expression.
…It’s actually good.
The frog meat was tender and smooth, the broth rich and fragrant—far better than she expected.
Only… there was a strange tingling sensation at the back of her throat. Like a faint electric buzz.
Still, that aside, it was surprisingly enjoyable. And the more she got used to it, the more she appreciated its unique flavor.
Before she knew it, Alia had gone back for another bowl.
Even Ulfen got a large portion, which he devoured with wild enthusiasm.
“Hic!”
Alia let out a small hiccup as she put down her empty bowl, frowning in confusion.
“Weird… I only had two small bowls, but I feel super full.”
Gauss was still eating.
Luckily, he had a massive appetite—and with Ulfen’s help, they eventually polished off the entire pot. Nothing was wasted.
After resting at their impromptu camp, Gauss lay on his back, belly full for the first time in ages.
Once the bloated feeling eased, he sprang to his feet with renewed energy.
Looking at the scattered frog corpses, his eyes lit up again.
This was high-calorie survival food—he couldn’t just leave it behind.
He could turn it into jerky.
Time was short, so full processing would have to wait. For now, he’d prep the meat, then finish the curing and drying back in town.
Gauss explained his plan to Alia, who quickly agreed.
She’d felt the same dense energy from the stew. It really was an ideal supply for Gauss.
The two of them got to work.
They cleaned the thigh meat, filled an entire large bag, washed it at a nearby pond, scrubbed it with salt water, and finally used Gust and Prestidigitation to dry and deodorize it before sealing the bag.
“Still… I think the meat has a tiny bit of toxicity,” Alia murmured, stretching her jaw and exhaling slowly.
The tingling in her mouth had lasted nearly an hour—not painful, but weird.
“Really? I didn’t feel anything,” Gauss said, licking his lips.
He thought back and double-checked—he’d felt nothing strange.
And he’d eaten way more than Alia.
Alia paused.
She was certain her experience was real. But Gauss clearly wasn’t faking.
Which meant… he just had a much higher tolerance?
She glanced at him again, wondering: Is this guy even human on the inside anymore?
Now that she’d said it, Gauss felt a bit uneasy too.
He grabbed “The Complete Guide to Foraging around the Jade Forest” and flipped to the end of the Rustfrog entry.
In a tiny corner was a warning, easily missed.
“Caution: While thigh meat is technically edible, it contains mild neurotoxins that may cause tingling or numbness in the mouth. Effects are typically harmless and fade within an hour. Not recommended for excessive consumption.”
Gauss exhaled in relief. So… safe, just slightly numbing.
But then—
“…Why didn’t I feel anything?”
His smile froze slightly.
Technically, he was still human—but after unlocking Energy Gland, his digestive system may have evolved far beyond normal standards.
…
After their break, the two of them (plus one very satisfied wolf) set out again for the Rustfrog nest.
Soon, by a quiet lake dappled in tree shadows, Gauss spotted the target.
A damp clearing near the water was filled with the frogs from the quest.
He crouched low, counting them carefully.
Fifty-two.
“Let’s go with the plan.” Gauss whispered, glancing at Alia.
“Got it,” she nodded.
They had already discussed the strategy on the way here.
Ulfen would stay on the edge of the battlefield, intercepting any fleeing frogs.
He was fast and agile—perfect for chasing stragglers. And more importantly, it meant he wouldn’t interfere with Gauss’s kill count.
Gauss needed to reach a total of 500 monster kills, and he was 42 away.
Though he was confident in his speed, he wasn’t about to risk missing the milestone over a few lucky Ulfen kills.
Better safe than sorry.
Gauss gave Ulfen a quick signal.
Alia patted the wolf’s thick neck. Ulfen growled softly in acknowledgment and slinked into the shadows, positioning himself on the far side of the clearing.
Gauss raised his signature white bone staff.
He spotted a plump Rustfrog sunbathing alone on a patch of grass.
He waited… waited…
“Firebolt.”
The spell charged and launched—a thin red streak slicing through the air, piercing the frog’s skull in an instant.
Its brain cooked instantly. It twitched once, twice… then went limp.
[Rustfrog Slain ×1]
No sound, no alarm.
The rest of the frogs didn’t notice a thing.
Perfect.
Gauss nodded.
Magic Missile would’ve made too much noise—too violent. The frogs would've scattered.
Firebolt, though flashy, was surprisingly quiet.
And there was another reason—
He’d noticed earlier that the three frogs killed by Magic Missile had partially ruined thighs—too damaged to harvest cleanly.
Firebolt gave cleaner cuts, and better meat.
“No rush. Let’s take it slow.”
He scanned again, spotted another frog separated from the group—
Another bolt. Another clean kill.
Then another. And another.
By the 11th frog, disaster struck.
Gauss had already released the spell when, mid-cast, the frog he was targeting suddenly bent down to snap at a passing beetle.
The shot hit its back—not the brain.
“RIBBIT—!!”
The shriek shattered the silence.
The whole colony turned at once.
Bulging eyes locked onto him, rage bubbling up.
“Ribbit! Ribbit!”
The entire horde exploded into angry movement.
Gauss sighed.
Well, eleven sneak kills wasn’t bad.
“Firebolt! Firebolt!”
He fired again, hitting three charging frogs dead center.
As the angry tide surged toward him, Gauss gave Alia a quick look.
She nodded.
Gauss activated Enhanced Leap, darting into motion. The frogs charged after him in fury.
He kept just out of their range—far enough to dodge their spit, close enough to keep them chasing.
Every so often, he stopped, turned, and fired another spell—whittling them down one by one.
As long as he kept them in a line, he could avoid getting swarmed.
Meanwhile, Alia was hard at work behind the scenes.
While the frogs chased Gauss in circles, she was sowing Entangle traps—laying magical seeds across a stretch of open ground.
When Gauss led the now-halved frog horde into range, she called out.
He immediately steered them straight over the ambush zone.
“Ribbit! Ribbit!”
Gauss passed a flat patch of grass.
The frogs followed blindly—right into the trap.
With a violent crack, dozens of green vines burst from the ground!
They ensnared frog after frog, causing chaos in the ranks. Some tripped, others crashed into their entangled allies.
“Firebolt! Firebolt! Firebolt!”
Gauss stood at the edge, launching spell after spell. With stationary targets, he barely needed to aim.
Frogs began to drop rapidly.
When the few survivors tried to flee, a wolf’s fierce howl echoed through the trees.
Ulfen leapt out, cutting off their escape.
Alia joined in to finish off the last few.
…
The fight had taken longer than usual, but no surprises occurred.
Gauss exhaled deeply and pulled up his status screen.
[You have slain 50 Rustfrog. The title ‘Rustfrog Hunter’ has been upgraded to ‘Rustfrog Slayer’.]
[Current Title Effects: Stagger — After activation, nearby Rustfrogs within 10 meters are mentally staggered and stunned for 2 seconds. Cooldown applies.]
Major upgrade—from 3 meters to 10, and from 1 second to 2.
And then—
[Total Monster Kills: 500]
[Reward Unlocked: INT +1]
Intelligence: 8 → 9
Wait... INT?
This wasn’t following the usual stat-balancing trend from earlier.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a rush of cool, crystalline energy surged into his brain.
His thoughts suddenly felt sharper.
