“Mmmm… . aaahh…morning…”

I watch the morning light slowly illuminate the forest as my consciousness take its times to awaken . Ah, nature really did offer the best views . This wasn’t a world full of artificial things like j.a.pan . And so I really enjoyed these sights . I had never been to any national parks…

Great, I’m wide awake now . I untied the rope that was binding me and fixed it to a tree branch . And with that, I slid down the tree . I would just leave it there, since I’d be camping out here tonight as well . However, I would put all of my tools and belongings in the hollow bag and keep it up in the tree . I don’t know what I would do if I came back and it had been stolen . It was an important, vintage item that Russell gave to me .

I put everything that I would needed to take with me in a different bag . Breakfast would be dried meat that could be chewed as I walked . It would be difficult to move if I ate too much anyway . I remember watching a diet show on tv that said you would feel like you were full if you chewed a lot . And they must be right!

Alright now, I had my weapons . My belongings . The important stuff is up in the tree . The fire is put out . Good . Let’s go!

And so started my second forest training camp . It was currently the second day . Yesterday, I had hunted goblins . I had now acc.u.mulated over fifty weapons from them . They practically infested this forest . Not that they all carried weapons, but I definitely killed more than fifty of them . In any case, killing a bunch of mob creatures wasn’t exactly going to make my level go up much, but you needed to think of the big picture . I’m sure that at least one stat went up, maybe .

Regardless, I was overflowing with weapons at this point, so I decided to go to the plains . There were no gra.s.s wolves around here yesterday, probably because of the wyvern . But what about today? I use presence detection to find out . By the way, I had been using this skill pretty much constantly the other day, so I was starting to get the hang of it . I had a better idea of measuring distance now . As far as numbers went, that was still a little hazy, but I was no longer likely to just b.u.mp into an enemy anymore . Thanks to that, my hunting was going very smoothly .

And now I was out in the plains . I was relieved to see that the gra.s.s wolves had returned . They seemed to be just a little ways off . I didn’t know how many there were…yet . They were behind the shadow of a great rock that was further out past some bushes .

I slowly pull out the steel sword that Aragira had fervently crafted, and slowly approached while erasing the sound of my footsteps . They may be monsters, but they were like dogs . And so I was careful about my scent . I wasn’t new to this business anymore, kinda . Now, slowly, but nimbly, I make my way towards the rock . I climb up without making a sound and look over the edge . Bingo . There were several gra.s.s wolves lying in the gra.s.s . Perhaps they had just finished eating? There were bones lying around that looked like they were from a rabbit . Then they would have their guard down . I had no choice but to hunt them now .

I slowly unsheath the short sword at my belt . I had to use ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ to throw it at one wolf, as I was not accustomed to doing that yet . Unsurprisingly, the skill led me to success, and the blade sunk deep into the gra.s.s wolves brain . I wanted to do a fist pump, but this was not the best time to do so . The pack immediately became panicked as I slid down from the rock and slashed with the steel sword . I ignore the spray of blood as I continue to swing the sword, hurling the dead gra.s.s wolf into the air and into its companions . Once they tripped and fell, all I had to do was cut off their heads .

Chop . The blade slides between the joints and the head is severed . Just then, another wolf jumps at me, and I roll out of the way . Of course, I do not forget thrust my sword upward when I do so . The gra.s.s wolf lands with streams of blood running before collapsing on the ground . And before I knew it, I was the last one standing .

“Phewww…”

I sigh and catch my breath . Looking up at the sky, I can see it’s not quite at the highest point yet . I wanted to hunt at least twenty more before it was midday . Next up, removing the claws . I lifted a dead wolf’s paw and used my short sword to dig into the roots . Now, if I can just take them out cleanly, my work would be done . The bodies would regress naturally if you left them alone, so I moved them to the side .

Now we were done with this pack . I take out a water bottle from my bag and drink . The cool, clear water rehydrates my throat . In fact, this water was made with magic . The bottle itself had magic cast on it to keep it fresh . It wasn’t quite cheap, but it fit within my budget for this outing, so it was fine .

Once I was finished resting, it was time to go to the next pack . I spread the area of presence detection and discover something a little ways away by the border of the forest and plains . Since it was close to the forest, I couldn’t tell whether it was goblins or gra.s.s wolves . The number of enemies was also a blur, but the presence seemed large, so there was probably more than a few . I better be careful with this one .

I was attacked by other gra.s.s wolves on my way there, but they were hardly a problem . I just clipped their nails and moved on . Now I was almost at the spot where I had detected something . And still, I couldn’t tell how many there were . It was the presence of something big, or wide or…d.a.m.n, I still hadn’t mastered the skill completely . But really, what was this intimidating sensation? That was the one thing that was very tangible . What if it was some kind of boss version of a gra.s.s wolf or goblin?

Whatever it was, it was beyond those trees . I went closer and quietly looked through . I wouldn’t have much choice but to run if it was something too dangerous . I mentally prepare to use ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf’ as I look . And then I saw it .

Whatever it was, it was beyond those trees . I went closer and quietly looked through . I wouldn’t have much choice but to run if it was something too dangerous . I mentally prepare to use ‘Legs of the Forest Wolf’ as I look . And then I saw it .

Ah, are you kidding me? So it was here then…the other wyvern . I see, so the large presence wasn’t a pack . It was just one, overgrown monster . The gra.s.s wolves that had just attacked me must have been running from this guy…

“GRRRRRRR…”

Its throat growled as it lay on the floor . I wasn’t sure if it was asleep or not . But now would be the time to run . A wise man does not approach danger . That’s my motto .

But as I am about to turn around, Presence Detection catches something . Something else was headed over here . From the direction of the forest . I squinted through the trees and saw that it was a group of adventurers . Could they have been people who saw the notice on the quest board?

As I stood and stared at them, my eyes locked with one of them . I slowly put a finger up to my mouth . The man nodded and told the others in the group . They were now looking suspiciously at me, and so I pointed behind me with my thumb and suggested that they run . But the adventurers only smirked in response . What did they read from that? Was I a good-for-nothing? Or was I trying to keep the prey all to myself? It didn’t matter . I had every intention of getting out of here .

…But instead, I stop there and reconsider the situation . I would actually like to see how they would fight it . I hadn’t had much opportunity to see people fight in large groups before . I could watch and learn, it would supplement ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ just nicely .

…But instead, I stop there and reconsider the situation . I would actually like to see how they would fight it . I hadn’t had much opportunity to see people fight in large groups before . I could watch and learn, it would supplement ‘Jack of all Trades, Master of None’ just nicely .

As I watched, they began to brandish their weapons . They were going ambush it, it seemed . I crouched low in the gra.s.s and watched . First, one of them took out an arrow and aimed . A diversion? The first blow? I stare intently . The others who wielded swords were slowly approaching the wyvern now, so the bowman must be for support . Hmm, they are running now . Will they all strike at once? Ah, there goes the arrow . A simultaneous attack!

“ARRRGHHHH!!”

With a flash, the heavy blade falls towards the wyvern’s face . At the same time, an arrowhead glistens in the sunlight as it cuts through the air and pierces through the monster’s forehead . Or it tried really hard to, but dreams don’t always come true . The protection of the scales was too much for the arrow . And with the attacks and cries of the adventurers being unleashed, the wyvern opened its eyes…

“GGGGYAAAAAHHHH!!!!”

It raised its head and roars . The overwhelming power of the beast is enough to make the adventurer with the sword recoil for an instant, but he quickly regains himself and prepares to strike again . The arrow was no good, but what about a sword? Now all of the adventurers were in full view . They were eight in all, and they surrounded the beast . The wyvern glared back contemptuously . And I continued to hide in the bushes . I couldn’t wait to see how this turned out…