[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-not-goblin-slayer":3,"chapter-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-53":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am Not Goblin Slayer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1030707,1343,"Chapter 53: Mage Armor","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-53",53,"\u003Cp>In an open space outside Grayrock Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss clenched his staff and closed his eyes to focus his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He continuously communicated with the new spell imprinted in his consciousness - Mage Armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One advantage of spells rewarded by the Adventurer's Manual was that compared to other apprentices learning skills, it saved significant introductory time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if he had already mastered this skill before, and was now simply recalling past experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to information Gauss gathered from the Night Owl Squad and others, normally it would take others several months to go from zero to barely being able to cast a spell's effects after obtaining a skill book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for achieving proficiency, ordinary apprentices like them would need years of practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Gauss required much less time from initial learning to proficiency, giving him a head start.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Benefiting from the Adventurer's Manual's effects, his first two spells - Mage Hand and Magic Missile - didn't take long to progress from lv1 to lv2.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled some knowledge from Andni's notes he had read recently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each spell represented an independent magical effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These effects could create convenient tools, weapons, damage, protective barriers, and more, broadly categorized into eight schools:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abjuration, Conjuration, Divination, Enchantment, Evocation, Illusion, Necromancy, and Transmutation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mage Hand and Magic Missile Gauss already mastered belonged to Conjuration and Evocation respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mage Armor he was about to practice fell under Abjuration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spell's target could be either himself or other creatures he touched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But casting on others required more experience and had less noticeable effects than self-casting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Successful casting would envelop the target in a protective magical field.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After briefly reviewing his memories, Gauss began formal practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mage Armor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss concentrated on channeling magic within his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spell imprint in his consciousness stirred slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was feedback!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A somewhat relieved expression appeared on Gauss's face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finding that sudden spark of sensation on the first attempt meant this spell wouldn't be too difficult to practice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any reaction was good feedback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mage Armor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>......\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss tried several times consecutively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He felt the spell was on the verge of \"bursting forth.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, spellcasting had little to do with actually shouting the spell's name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But casting required extreme concentration, and verbalization served as direct psychological reinforcement, helping achieve the correct mental state quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Many might relate to the experience of trying not to think about something, only for the mind to uncontrollably fixate on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Focusing single-mindedly on something without distraction sounded simple but was actually quite complex, especially when unfamiliar with the subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus specific verbal or physical guidance was very necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with his relatively proficient Mage Hand and Magic Missile, Gauss would silently recite them during casting to ensure focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a short break,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss took a deep breath, feeling he was just one step away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He patted his cheeks to refresh his spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mage Armor!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His consciousness sent commands throughout his body as the Mage Armor meditation imprint flickered faintly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic within him surged rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Buzz!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, his magic smoothly gathered at the Bone Staff before releasing waves that merged with natural magic at his body's surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As magic was consumed, a layer of magical protective field finally formed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"1st-level spell Mage Armor lv1 (1\u002F10)\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Success.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss sighed in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once successfully cast, Mage Armor didn't require special concentration - already formed, it only needed some mental upkeep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being able to sense his own magic, Gauss clearly felt the mysterious field protecting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet it wasn't tangible protection like leather or iron armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hesitating briefly, Gauss took out his dagger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He carefully drew the blade across his finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Buzz!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he attempted this attack, the magical field around him vibrated slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where blade met finger, only faint white light flickered briefly with no other reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The edge seemed to cut not flesh but an invisible, extremely thin yet tough membrane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Admittedly this description wasn't entirely accurate, but Gauss couldn't find better words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No bleeding, no damage whatsoever.\" Gauss examined his fingertip with excitement. \"Such obvious effects!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the magical effect of protective spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They might not grant greater strength, create objects, or deceive minds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But they could safeguard targets, providing ample security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The protective field seems slightly weakened.\" Gauss concluded after careful observation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Attacks would be negated by Mage Armor, but the spell's power would also diminish accordingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfectly reasonable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One couldn't expect Mage Armor to withstand all damage indefinitely - like all magic, it had limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even with Mage Armor, recklessness was unwise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying solely on its protection to tank damage was clearly foolish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially since his current Mage Armor proficiency was lacking, making caution even more necessary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Avoidable attacks should still be dodged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would prevent unnecessary erosion of Mage Armor's protection, preserving it for truly unavoidable attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss remained logically clear-headed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next I need to test Mage Armor's damage threshold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Understanding his spells' limits was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only with clear knowledge could he judge which attacks were endurable in real combat, and which were not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leading to wiser combat decisions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the first \"self-harm\" test and personally experiencing Mage Armor's effects, Gauss grew more confident.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He decisively drew the blade across his hand again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, this would have caused severe bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the blade only met that invisible barrier after faint white light flickered, ultimately causing no damage.\u003C\u002Fp>",891,"2026-06-03T09:23:13.438Z","2026-06-03T09:23:16.563Z",1,"novelbin.me","b47c521e3f50ef41929336fdb630a96a1068b9dd592c1e02a360a21a544f075a","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-54","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-52",414,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-not-goblin-slayer-cover.jpg"]