Tutorial (7)–Waiting....

  -----

  A group of ten players moved cautiously through the dense undergrowth of the forest, boots crunching softly against the mossy earth.

  The air was thick with the scent of damp leaves and distant blood.

  "Okay, everyone. Be careful and focused," said the man at the front—Gavin, their designated leader.

  He held a spear in hand, eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced caution.

  The atmosphere was tense, but not silent.

  "Hey," a woman whispered from the second group, adjusting the straps of her bow.

  "What do you think happened to that guy who went in alone yesterday?"

  "You mean the reckless one with the weird coat?" another man replied, scoffing.

  "He must've died by now. No one would be able to survive alone in this forest."

  "Yeah, he was arrogant to enter here solo," someone else added. “Probably got torn apart by a boar or worse.”

  “Shut it,” Gavin said sharply, raising his hand in a signal.

  The entire group stopped in sync, crouching slightly.

  He pointed silently to the left.

  There, between two thickets near a fallen tree, were two forest boars.

  Their brown hides bristled with old scars, and their tusks curved menacingly outward.

  One of them snorted, its head jerking as if sniffing the air.

  “Alright,” Gavin said quietly, voice steady.

  “Everyone throw the bait. Prepare for engagement. Archers aim, tanks hold the front.”

  The players moved quickly but silently.

  Three of them pulled out meat pouches soaked in oil and blood—standard bait.

  They tossed them forward, landing several feet ahead of the group.

  The boars instantly turned, snorting loudly.

  One of them charged first, driven by hunger.

  The other followed close behind.

  “Hold!” Gavin shouted.

  The frontline players—two shield bearers and a spear user—braced themselves.

  The boars collided with the first line with a crash, tusks scraping against metal, legs churning up dirt.

  The force nearly knocked one of the shield bearers down, but he managed to hold.

  "Go! Flank them!"

  Two players rushed from the sides.

  One slashed at a boar’s hind leg while the other stabbed toward its ribs.

  The beasts were strong and aggressive, thrashing and twisting, but they weren't coordinated.

  The players struggled, grunting as they dodged close swipes and wild charges.

  A boar managed to knock a sword-user down, but Gavin intercepted it with a thrust of his spear, driving it back long enough for the player to recover.

  After a minute of back-and-forth, the team finally managed to bring both beasts down, one after the other.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Heavy breaths filled the air.

  One of the shield bearers sat down with a thud, armor scratched but intact.

  A few players had bruises and shallow cuts, but no one was seriously injured.

  "Well done," Gavin said, wiping blood off his weapon. “Two boars down, and no casualties.”

  “Damn, even two of them are a handful,” one of the players muttered.

  “Yeah,” another said. “How the hell did that solo guy plan to survive in here?”

  They exchanged glances.

  The forest suddenly felt darker.

  More dangerous.

  ---

  Pouches out of boar hide, bait, food, and oil from its meat.

  And now, I had made use of its bones too.

  Nothing had gone to waste.

  The sharp teeth of the scatterfurs and the Fang Rabbits were effective.

  With their help, I turned bones into crude but functional tools and weapons.

  With those tools, I’d carved hooks, spikes, even a short bone dagger tied together with sinew and sap.

  I’d gained a lot through this single hunt.

  Of course, it had cost me hours of time and energy.

  But I didn’t regret it.

  I stood up, stretching my arms, my clothes stained with blood, sap, and sweat.

  My fingers were raw, and a dull ache ran along my back.

  I turned toward the tree where six monsters were tied up—rabbits, one horned mole and scatterfurs all bound together with rope, their ears drooped, their eyes wide.

  They had seen everything.

  The way I’d skinned the boar, drained its blood, broken its bones, carved into flesh without pause.

  Even an average human would’ve been horrified.

  And they were just beasts.

  Their bodies trembled.

  One of the scatterfurs tried to crawl away slightly, only to whimper as the rope pulled taut.

  I stared at them.

  Unblinking.

  I didn’t care about their feelings.

  I wasn’t doing this to impress anyone or show mercy.

  It was necessity.

  I began to drag the bound creatures along, their small bodies scraping against the dirt and roots as I walked through the forest, back toward the pit traps I had set earlier.

  I checked the first one—a forest boar was already caught, squealing weakly.

  I descended quickly with the rope.

  Without hesitation, I stabbed it in the throat.

  [You’ve slain a Forest Boar!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  [You’ve gained some EXP!]

  Its squeal died instantly.

  I cleaned the blood, removed the spikes, and began the butchering all over again.

  Cut the hide. Scrape the fat. Separate the meat. Crack the bones.

  Create pouches.

  Render the fat.

  Pour the oil.

  Pack bait.

  Repeat.

  I tied more meat as bait and set it up again—crude rope traps, leaf cover, spiked pits.

  One by one, I checked the traps—some empty, some triggered with blood-stained branches, others holding injured or dying boars.

  Each one received the finishing blow.

  [You’ve slain a Forest Boar!]

  [You’ve gained some TP!]

  [You’ve gained some EXP!]

  More materials.

  More tools.

  More bait.

  It was repetitive.

  The same motions over and over—cut, carve, collect, craft.

  But it was necessary.

  I didn’t have luxury of skipping steps or wasting prey.

  As the sun climbed higher and shadows shifted across the forest floor, **hours passed** like flowing water.

  I was tired.

  But I had results.

  A pile of pouches, some soaked in sap for oil, some open for meat.

  Sharp bone tools stacked together.

  Just like that hours passed by.

  ---

  “Haa…”

  I let out a deep breath, fatigue washing over my limbs like a slow wave.

  My entire body ached from the effort, but my heart was light.

  The hunt had been a success.

  And with that, I had also risen two more levels.

  [Level Up! You are now Level 4.]

  And I also received 10 status points.

  Like before, I invested them into Agility, Strength, and Dexterity, evenly split.

  The moment the changes applied, I could feel a slight surge inside me—my muscles tingled, movements lighter, my reflexes just a little sharper.

  I tilted my head back, gazing through the canopy.

  The sky had turned a shade of orange-red, as if the sun had spilled its colors across the clouds.

  Long shadows stretched beneath the trees, and in a few hours, the sun would disappear behind the horizon.

  Night would soon fall.

  Growl~

  A sudden sound rumbled from my stomach.

  I blinked.

  “I guess it’s time to eat something.”

  Moving swiftly, I began gathering dry twigs and fallen branches from nearby.

  Snapping sounds echoed as I broke them into smaller pieces.

  Once the pile was ready, I struck the fire flint—a few sharp clicks, and sparks danced.

  Crackle—Fwoosh.

  Flames licked up the dry wood, casting flickering light and warmth onto my face.

  The fire hissed and popped as it consumed the branches, illuminating the clearing in gentle orange glow.

  “Inventory.”

  I reached into the interface and retrieved several pieces of boar meat, still fresh thanks to preservation effects.

  With my dagger, I sliced the thick cuts into thin strips, letting the juices drip onto the ground.

  I used sharp boar bones, shaped into skewers, and speared the slices through them.

  Then I positioned them near the flame, letting the heat cook the meat slowly.

  Soon, the rich aroma of roasting meat wafted through the air.

  “Squee…!”

  “Chii!”

  “Kiee—!”

  The six creatures nearby—three Fang Rabbits, two Scatterfurs, and ond horned mole—perked up instantly.

  Their noses twitched, eyes wide, small paws reaching forward eagerly.

  They squealed, chirped, and gave me their most pitiful begging expressions.

  I narrowed my eyes.

  “These little beggars…”

  I sighed, defeated, and tossed meat their way.

  One for the mole, three smaller ones for the rabbits, and a slightly bigger chunk for the Scatterfurs to share.

  They pounced like wolves, devouring it with wet munching sounds and joyful squeals.

  Chomp. Crunch. Slurp.

  I returned to my own meal and took a bite.

  ‘Still a bit raw…’

  The inside was a little pink.

  I put it back near the flame, letting the heat finish its job.

  This time, it came out crisped on the edges, juicy and steaming on the inside.

  I bit again.

  ‘Good.’

  It wasn’t amazing, but it was satisfying—hearty and filling.

  Still, the flavor was bland.

  No salt. No spices.

  I’d experimented with herbs I found in the forest, but they couldn’t compare to actual seasoning.

  What I missed most though…

  ‘How could the shop not have coffee?’

  That thought hit harder than any boar tusk.

  I had scoured the starter shop, but there was no coffee powder, no beans, nothing.

  Not even a fake caffeine drink.

  A heavy sigh left me.

  “Well… maybe the Tower shop will have it.”

  With that depressing thought, I continued eating in silence.

  So did the creatures—now quieter, their bellies slowly filling.

  Occasionally, one of them would glance up at me, eyes gleaming with hope for seconds.

  I ignored them.

  Eventually, darkness settled over the forest.

  The fire crackled louder now in contrast to the night’s hush.

  Crickets sang in the distance, and wind rustled the trees with soft whistles.

  ‘Time to move.’

  I extinguished the fire by scattering the embers and kicking dirt over it.

  The meat I hadn’t eaten went back into my Inventory.

  But instead of preparing to sleep on the ground or hide…

  This time, I began to climb a tall tree nearby.

  The bark was rough under my hands, but easy to grip.

  The branches creaked softly beneath my weight, but held.

  The creatures followed.

  The rabbits jumped from root to root, then branch to branch with ease.

  Scatterfurs climbed the tree quickly.

  The mole clung to a my back, oddly cooperative.

  They trusted me now.

  Or maybe they just wanted more meat.

  But ropes were still attached to their bodies, so escaping was useless.

  Once I found a thick, broad branch, I sat down with a sigh and leaned against the trunk.

  I pulled out one last piece of roasted meat and took a bite.

  Warmth.

  Silence.

  A peaceful forest night.

  And around me, six strange creatures, now quietly resting.