Pushing the thick bark of the tree I was using as a door, I was greeted by morning sunlight. Since I had moved closer to the river, the amount of trees was much smaller.

For the last two days, since I had twenty traps to catch rabbits, my routine was simple, I would explore while Kurama hunted. After a bit of exploring, I would come back, collect the rabbits' bodies, take the magic essence that Kurama had stored, take a short rest, and then start all over again.

In my explorations, other than what appeared to be an old highway that hadn't been used in a long time, I didn't find anything significant. But it's not like I've gone that far, I don't know what I might find if I venture too far, so I'm proceeding carefully.

In those two days I caught an absurd amount of rabbits, slowly increasing my XP to 66%. But after catching more than a hundred rabbits in such a short time, it seems that their population has decreased considerably, since in the last checks of the last traps, not all of them contained prey.

In addition to the rabbits, I managed to catch one more fox the same way I captured Kurama. Unfortunately, my unique skill is still at level 1 and didn't let me tame it. I don't know when I will be able to tame another one, but thanks to this, I have discovered a profitable source of xp. That single level 3 fox gave me almost 6% xp.

In addition, I also prepared a place to sleep. Since my first night here was quite uncomfortable, I intended to prepare a small hut with branches, mud and bark. But while I was looking for a good place to build it, I found a tree trunk about two meters in diameter and one and a half meters high, so I gave up my previous idea.

Since I don't know what I might find, it was best to blend in with the surroundings as much as possible so as not to attract attention. That same day, with the help of my sword sharpened beyond comprehension, I managed to dig a hole in the trunk deep enough to fit me. In the end, it turned out to be easier than making a hut.

The best part is that it was about a hundred meters from the river, even if it was a bit far from the traps, it didn't matter, since I intended to do others in the surrounding area.

Besides more rabbit traps, the next day I also went to a relatively distant place and set some traps to try to catch some foxes. Since I couldn't attract them with bread, I had to use the dead rabbits in my inventory.

I still don't know what is valuable in this world, but anything that can earn money should be taken advantage of. So I carefully removed the skin and horn from the rabbits and kept them. As for the entrails, I buried them so as not to attract predators.

Unfortunately, probably because they were so weak, there was no magic stone.

Stretching my limbs after leaving my temporary home, I was greeted by Kurama who was rubbing his head against my legs. Stroking his head, I gave him a piece of rabbit meat to eat.

"Harvest time~"

With my spirits high, I went to check all the traps. Of the ten that I had set to catch the foxes, only three were trapped, while the other seven had nothing. When I say nothing, I mean that even the lures were gone, it seems that the foxes managed to get out of the hole after falling in.

In the end, along with the 14 rabbits I caught in the traps, my XP came to 91%. If I continue this way, I feel that I will come out of this forest very strong. I just need to gradually increase the level of the monsters I hunt.

Although I am happy, in some ways, I also feel a little disappointed. Even though I'm almost at level 3, I don't feel a difference in strength. Well, maybe it has increased and it was so little that I just couldn't tell.

As for magic, although I can feel it in my body, I can't use it. No matter how hard I try to imagine it or what I try to do, nothing happens. I can't even gather a tiny amount in my hand.

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I wish Shadow-san had put a tutorial on how to control magic along with the information in my head.

***

After eating bread for every meal of the day, I was ready to change my diet by adding some meat. The only problem was that I didn't have a single pot, seasoning, or anything else that could be used when preparing food.

Still, I wanted to try something different for a change, so I started gathering wood to make a fire. Since I had decided to come to the forest, I asked Shadow-san for a lighter.

The lighter had a round metal handle about two inches long. Connected to it was a small thin rod about ten centimeters long, also made of metal, from which fire appeared. It was the first magic tool I had ever seen, but despite its rather primitive appearance, it works very well.

When I opened the handle to take a look, there was a small pale blue magic stone. According to what I know, the sizes and intensity of the color vary according to the grade of the stone.

Back to before, with the fire already prepared, I cut the rabbit meat into small pieces, skewered them on several small sticks, and stuck them beside the fire. Since the inventory would keep, I prepared as many skewers of meat as possible.

It's a little late now, but I should have ordered pans too, it would have been quite convenient.

As I lamented thinking about the things I could have ordered, I was constantly paying attention to the meat so it wouldn't go over the point.

I don't know how it tastes, but the smell was great.

While I was at it, Kurama came back with a rabbit in his mouth and brought it over to where I was sitting. He is quite efficient when it comes to catching rabbits, it's a shame that he gets tired after three or four in a row.

As I put the rabbit away, I noticed that he was looking intensely at the meat skewers in the fire and sniffing.

"Are you enjoying the smell?"

As if in affirmation, he ran his tongue across his snout as he sat up and looked at me anxiously.

"I think it's about time I had a taste."

I got up and went toward the fire.

To tell you the truth, I was quite eager to try it, but the result was a bit disappointing. Although Kurama was desperately devouring the meat, the lack of salt made a big difference to me.

***

Since I had nothing to do at the moment, I decided to make clay pots using the black clay near the river. It's not as if I need them now, but it's good for distraction since it was still too early to check the traps again.

Let the truth be told, if I were reading a fantasy novel and the main character went about making pots and traps for rabbits instead of hunting bravely, I would be quite disappointed.

Well, despite saying that, what else could I do? My real desire is to go around slicing everything that comes my way with my sword to get stronger, but all the creatures I meet run away in a hurry.

Getting back to the pots, to be honest, it's not like I really know how to make clay pots, in fact, even though I've seen my grandmother make them, I've never made one myself before.

With that said, I started with the simple stuff, after kneading the clay well and removing all the stones it had, I made a shallow dish.

Just to be on the safe side, I made five of them. Since I was not prioritizing beauty but practicality, I also made other varieties such as deep pots, pans, and mugs.

While I was at it, Kurama brought me two more rabbits, but my experience bar had not yet passed 92%.

***

Almost at noon, several ugly and badly formed pots were drying in the shade of the trees. Although drying in the sun would be faster, it would also cause them to crack due to the intense heat.

"If I had a potter's lathe like my grandmother, I could make better pots. But well, even though they are ugly and have some flaws, I think they serve their purpose," I muttered to myself as I got another rabbit from Kurama.

My bar was almost at 94%, I must say he is very useful.

"It's a shame I can only get one of you," I stroked Kurama's head.

In the face of my lamentations, Kurama actively rubbed his small head against my hand. Even though I wasn't sure, I felt as if he wanted to eat.

Although he doesn't speak, somehow I feel that I am beginning to understand him.

"Let's not eat now buddy," I said. "First let's check the traps and then we'll have lunch."

Leaving immediately, we went first to the fox traps, but when we were getting there, I suddenly felt a sense of fear coming from Kurama.

When I looked at him, I saw him lying on the ground with his ears hanging down. Even though I didn't know what it was, I knew that something had scared him.

In a state of alertness, I looked carefully from one side to the other, and only then did I notice some considerably dangerous creatures.

They had already taken the lead and gone to steal my traps.