Gaosi left with the determination to kill a monster.
But after wandering around the town for a long time, he found that it was not as simple as he thought.
Firstly, as a weakling of ordinary human level, his ideal target was, of course, a low-level monster that ordinary people could deal with, and one that was alone. It would be best if he could minimize travel and find one nearby.
However, after a quick look around, his initial idea was basically out of the question.
There was no environment for low-level monsters to survive near the town.
The constant clear-out operations by the city guard and the dense traffic of adventurers had already ploughed the area several kilometers around the town over and over again, making it quite safe.
So, to kill a monster, he could only leave the direct jurisdiction of the town and try his luck at the outermost edge of the nearby Emerald Forest.
Before setting out, he prepared to purchase some 'expensive' equipment that he had never bought before.
It was too risky to face monsters empty-handed, even if his target was a low-level monster that ordinary people could deal with.
He only had one life, so he had to be extremely careful.
In several of the most popular and thriving shops, he purchased the equipment he temporarily needed.
80 copper coins for a well-maintained second-hand dagger.
1 silver coin for a set of cloth armor, made of several layers of cloth and cotton lining. The texture felt quite tough and should be able to withstand a few attacks.
20 copper coins for a dose of paralyzing poison, homemade by the herbalist shop owner. It could be applied and air-dried on the weapon beforehand. According to the shop apprentice, after applying the paralyzing poison, the monster attacked would become relatively slow in its movements for a period of time.
40 copper coins for a dose of topical herbal medicine. Applied to wounds, it could temporarily stop bleeding and alleviate injuries.
30 copper coins for simple medical tools like linen cloth for bandaging, wooden splints, and bandages.
In total, it was 2 silver coins and 70 copper coins.
After the shopping spree, his savings dropped to 95 copper coins.
He naturally dared not spend all his money. If the adventure failed, he still had some savings, which would at least give him peace of mind and prevent him from starving or being unable to pay rent and sleeping on the streets.
Moreover, the equipment and armor he bought were relatively suitable for his current stage.
The original owner had been taught from a young age to use a dagger for processing prey, skinning, cutting meat, making traps, clearing paths, and emergency self-defense, becoming very proficient.
So, even now, relying on muscle memory, he could use it very smoothly, and naturally, the dagger became his weapon of choice.
Unfortunately, his original dagger was severely damaged, and he couldn't trust it for killing monsters, otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to spend this extra money.
He knew that long weapons like swords, maces, and spears had greater power than daggers, but their prices were beyond his current affordability. Even second-hand, they would cost at least double-digit silver coins, and he had no experience using them. Rushing into battle with them might not be as effective as with a dagger.
After all, weapons are important, but experience in using them is sometimes more important, so one cannot choose blindly.
As for armor and other protective gear, they were also ridiculously expensive. Not to mention metal armor, even a decent set of leather armor would cost 10 silver coins or more.
The sun quietly climbed to the top of the sky.
Before setting off, Gaosi reluctantly ate a good meal at the Nightingale Tavern at the town's exit, spending 30 copper coins.
It was a lunch with meat and vegetables: a small dish of pickled fish, carefully prepared pickles, a few pieces of tender stewed meat, and a bowl of noodles.
Although the portions of meat dishes were not large, it was enough for his body, which had long been deprived of meat and grease, to replenish some precious fat reserves.
After a satisfied burp, feeling his body seemingly becoming stronger, Gaosi, still pained by the copper coins spent, finally felt it was worth the money.
Forget it, before a big battle, there must be supplies! Just consider it charging up the body first!
He stretched, put on his cloth armor, tied the supply bag to his body, and tucked the cloth-wrapped dagger into his waist, then strode towards the town exit.
Stepping out of the town, the scenery suddenly became vast!
Under the clear blue sky, apart from the hard, dry dirt road underfoot, there was an endless wilderness.
For the sake of town safety, all the nearby forests had been completely cut down many years ago, replaced by cultivated land near the town and excellent visibility grasslands.
Firstly, the open view helped the town's guard collect intelligence and detect unusual movements from the Emerald Forest in advance. Secondly, dense forests were not suitable for human combat, while various monsters living in the forest year-round were unaffected. With this imbalance, it was naturally better to cut down the forests.
Gaosi was not the only one heading to the Emerald Forest. On the way, he met many others.
Some were solitary hunters, others were small teams of low-level adventurers, and he even vaguely saw the figures of several professionals.
Don't ask how Gaosi judged them; that thick plate armor exuding a scent of wealth, the physical strength to carry heavy armor and move freely, and the aura of a strong person that kept others at bay—anyone with eyes could perceive their identity as professionals.
Gaosi looked down at his lean figure, the messy cloth armor he wore, and the small cloth-wrapped dagger tucked at his waist. He instantly felt that the equipment he had purchased with most of his savings was extremely shabby.
"If I were to fight him, one punch would probably scatter me into pieces, right?" Gaosi could already imagine the scene in his mind.
He would rush forward, brandishing his dagger wildly, the dagger striking the opponent's rock-solid full plate armor, completely unable to cause any damage. Then, the opponent would slap him two or three meters away, leaving him unable to get up again.
"If only I were him, killing an ordinary Goblin to unlock the illustration would probably be easier than kicking a stray dog on the roadside. Even a group of Goblins wouldn't be a problem at all."
As he thought about it, Gaosi was filled with envy, but then he laughed at his own 'emperor using a golden hoe' kind of narrow-minded thinking.
Once one became a professional, the goal of adventuring would naturally not be small monsters like Goblins, right?
But as long as I kill one monster! I can activate the Monster Compendium, and then I won't be so weak!
The road to the Emerald Forest was not short. Gaosi observed other fellow travelers to pass the time while encouraging himself.
"Want to team up?"
"No, I'm used to being alone."
Perhaps Gaosi's set of equipment was already considered presentable among 'bottom-level adventurers,' as several unfamiliar teams invited him to join them along the way.
However, Gaosi refused them all.
This was not because Gaosi was arrogant or looked down on them. In reality, his own combat power might be on par with theirs, and besides, moving together would allow them to look out for each other.
It was just that the original owner had always been solitary and accustomed to acting alone, with no close acquaintances.
He really couldn't bring himself to join an unfamiliar team whose background he didn't know. He worried that he would have to face monsters while also being wary of strangers around him.
It was better to act alone and be more at ease.
He could act according to his own will and proceed cautiously.
If he observed an enemy beyond his capabilities, he wouldn't engage and would instead choose a more suitable target. Even in combat, he could completely turn and run.
Although he came with a goal, he knew his limits. Combat was secondary; self-preservation was key.
When his strength was insufficient, he had to be cowardly when necessary.
But if he joined a team, he wouldn't have that much freedom.
"Caw! Caw!!"
He entered the outskirts of the Emerald Forest.
The environment suddenly darkened, and the noisy calls of unknown birds echoed from the impenetrable canopy above, making one feel irritable.
Gaosi pulled the dagger from his waist and instinctively held his breath.
This forest seemed to make everyone who came here feel uneasy, like a dark, eerie maw swallowing all visiting guests.