As the morning sun reached its peak, I concluded our English lesson and prepared to continue with the day's plans. Survival remained crucial for obvious reasons, and the importance of acquiring essence for skill advancement weighed heavily on my mind. Bah had enlightened me about the direction and approximate distance of his goblin camp by sketching a rudimentary map on the ground with a stick.
Only a few days ago, I had felt vulnerable and overwhelmed with fear. Every step in this unfamiliar environment seemed fraught with danger, and the unknown lurking in the forest filled me with apprehension. While I still held a degree of fear, the experiences I had since arriving here had gradually instilled a hint of confidence within me.
Through acquiring skills and proving my ability to defend myself and survive, I had gained a newfound assurance. Though I remained cautious and vigilant, I now had a glimmer of belief in my capacity to navigate this harsh world. The challenges still lay ahead, but with each passing day, I grew a little less fearful and a little more determined to face whatever awaited me.
Instead of trepidation, I now felt a surge of excitement for exploring the unknown, especially after seeing the map Bah had sketched on the ground.
Bah's knowledge of the area proved invaluable, providing me with a significant advantage. His familiarity with the forest and its inhabitants spared me the risk of stumbling upon a deadly encounter. However, despite our growing camaraderie, I couldn't shake off a sense of wariness towards Bah. It could be my own paranoia, but I couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't attempted to escape or show any signs of hostility. Perhaps he was smart enough to realize that escaping would only alert me or that he couldn't overpower me in a fight. It remained a puzzle I was determined to solve.
I yearned to build a genuine friendship with Bah, not only for the sake of companionship but also to gain deeper insight into his thoughts and motivations. I recognized that understanding Bah and the world around me was crucial for increasing my chances of success in this new and unfamiliar environment. By establishing trust with Bah, I hoped to unravel the mysteries of this world, including the distinctions between Monsters, Beasts, and animals, as well as other important aspects. Whether our friendship would develop into something more meaningful was uncertain, but the knowledge and understanding I sought would undoubtedly enhance my journey.
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Preparing myself for another outing towards where the boars were located, I remembered the information shared by Bah. He had mentioned that his camp was situated to the west of our current location, while the plain where the boars resided was in the north-west direction. A heavy feeling settled in my heart as I recalled me encounter with Brandon and his death. Unbeknownst to him, he had unknowingly trespassed into the boars' territory and found himself face-to-face with their formidable Boss boar, whom I presumed to be the alpha boar.
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Before we embarked on our journey, I took the time to fill the water skins I had brought along. Knowing that we had two backpacks in our possession, including the one that belonged to Brandon, I decided to make use of both of them. I kept my own backpack, while handing Brandon's backpack to Bah. I tried my best to explain to him that he would be carrying the backpack to help with carrying items if necessary, although I wasn't entirely sure if he understood. The backpack looked a bit amusing on him, but it served its purpose.
With the backpacks sorted, I proceeded to distribute some supplies to Bah from my own inventory. I gave him one of the water skins, the hand shovel, some rope, a portion of the food I had, and a few medical supplies. I also entrusted him with the fire starter kit and the pan, as it made sense for me to have a lighter load. However, I still didn't fully trust him to handle a weapon, so I decided against giving him my knife or purchasing one for him. As we ventured through the forest, Bah took the lead and guided me towards the location where the boars resided. I observed his movements and noticed that he navigated through the forest with a sense of familiarity and confidence that I couldn't fully grasp. It was clear that being born in this place had granted him a level of comfort and knowledge of the surroundings that I, as an outsider, lacked.
While I followed Bah's lead, I sparingly used “Enhanced Focus” carefully watching my surroundings for any signs of danger. Although Bah appeared to be less cautious than me, I couldn't fully rely on his judgment alone. I needed to trust my own instincts and remain alert to potential threats.
Throughout our journey to the boar spot, Bah stopped about three times, which initially made me extremely nervous. Each time he halted, I thought there might be some sort of monster or beast in the area. However, as I got closer to understand why he had stopped, I realized he had paused to collect a couple of different plants or herbs. He handled them with the utmost care, digging them up and placing them into his bag with an amusing look on his face. Despite my curiosity, I had no idea what these plants were for or their purpose in this world. My limited understanding and language barrier prevented me from learning more about these valuable resources he deemed important.
As we continued our journey through the forest, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty and mystique of the natural surroundings. The towering trees, the dappled sunlight filtering through the foliage, and the songs of the birds created an enchanting atmosphere. It was a stark contrast to the dangers that lurked beneath the surface, a reminder that this world was both alluring and treacherous.
The forest path seemed to stretch on endlessly, but we persevered, determined to reach our destination. I kept a watchful eye on Bah, observing his interactions with the environment, hoping to learn from his natural instincts and gain a better understanding of this world.
As the trees began to recede and the forest gave way to an open field in the distance, I cautiously approached while keeping the trees as cover. The field revealed a sight that both intrigued and concerned me. In the distance, I could see a group of boars scattered about, numbering around 30 in total. Some of them were peacefully grazing on the grass, resembling cows more than the aggressive creatures I remembered them to be. Others were lying down, seemingly at ease in their surroundings. However, what surprised me the most was the presence of a new boss boar among the group.