Chapter 3

Fortunately, there were plants nearby that were effective for stopping blood loss. The problem was how to use them.

In a game, you just use them and that’s that, but not in real life. I had blood gushing out of my arm, and eating it wouldn’t change a thing.

Should I crush it with a stone and apply it, or just roll it up like a bandage? I had no idea. But I didn’t have time to think.

I roughly crushed it with a nearby stone and slathered it on the bleeding part. No matter what, I had to stop the blood from flowing.

Luckily, maybe crushing it was the right answer since the bleeding soon stopped. I let out a sigh of relief.

‘Is it too real to be thankful for this?’

I wasn’t talking about the reality I was experiencing right now, but about the game. The reason I could immerse myself in the crummy controls was the various status ailments.

If the bleeding didn’t stop, my health would continue to decline until I died, and if I didn’t sleep on time, my overall stats would drop due to sleep deprivation.

Especially replenishing drinking water and food was the most critical; if I didn’t get water for three days, I would definitely die, no questions asked.

So if I couldn’t escape this hellish place, I had to find water for sure.

‘Parasite or whatever, I just need to stay alive.’

Finding drinking water in the wilderness is really tough. Even flowing stream water can’t guarantee safety.

Plus, I was already feeling dry in my throat after nearly dying in that last battle. I was getting hungry too.

‘Good thing I found a cave.’

Fortunately, I found a cave right before dark. The humidity was lower than outside, and the temperature was just right.

The downside was that there were all sorts of bones scattered inside. But at least they all looked ancient.

If there had been a corpse left behind, I would have bolted. Staying here for a night and risking my life would be pure stupidity.

“Ugh… damn.”

I leaned against the cave wall and cursed. I still had no idea how it ended up like this.

I’ve never complained about a game like a character in a novel or received any DLCs. I was just an ordinary user, like anybody else.

Sure, there were fewer players in single-player games, but there were definitely other players. Why did they send me instead of them?

Even if I’m an established player, there are plenty of others more experienced than me. But they chose me.

‘At least let me know the criteria…’

I was so angry it became ridiculous. Out of all the people, why me?

Of course, someone else could have come here besides me. But there was no way to find out.

‘Everything is fine, but why the hell this place…’

In other novels, they usually drop you into a city or village where at least ‘civilization’ exists. I was dropped into this godforsaken forest.

I got smacked by Porori as soon as I opened my eyes, and after walking a bit, a wolf bit my arm.

Killing had never been something I thought I would do for the rest of my life. It was a necessity for survival, but the sensation still lingered in my hands.

‘First, I need to survive somehow.’

This isn’t a dream. It’s the harsh reality, vividly felt.

I wasn’t even sure if this place was really a game world. There’s a Porori, but maybe that’s just coincidence.

Setting my ultimate goal as escape, maximizing my survival is my primary objective. For that, I need to make plans.

[???]

•Strength: 13

•Agility: 12

•Endurance: 15

•Magic Power: 10

•Luck: 10

•Faith: 8

[Traits Held]

•Wilderness Instinct (???)

[Skills Held]

– Currently no skills held.

[Abilities Held]

– Currently no abilities held.

As I conjured up the status screen in my mind, it appeared as I wished. I examined my stats closely.

I gained 5 health from getting beaten by Porori, and after taking down a starving wolf, my strength and agility rose a bit.

My faith stat dropped, probably from insulting God. I couldn’t care less.

The Soul World makes it relatively easy to raise stats in the beginning, but as you progress, it gets tougher.

Especially due to the realistic aspects, just going hunting recklessly is inefficient.

‘What trash stats.’

The most common knight class would be much better than this. I’m a game veteran, not a reality veteran.

My traits and skills were pathetic too. Other origins at least have 2 to 3 traits, but I have nothing.

At least I just gained ‘Wilderness Instinct,’ but I don’t know how helpful this’ll be.

To put it bluntly, if I manage to escape from here, that trait becomes meaningless. Living my entire life in the wild would be insane.

‘Still better than having nothing, I guess.’

Even Bear Grylls is specialized in ‘survival,’ not in ‘wilderness.’

I frantically gathered bugs to eat and was still waiting for rescue.

But me? I have knowledge, but it’s limited to the game. Reality is different.

Taking down that starving wolf just required some quick thinking. There are plenty of monsters here that are much stronger than that.

‘This is really bleak.’

A laugh escaped me at the absurdly dark reality. I was feeling down already.

However, I can’t let my spirits drop this early. I have to survive and find traces of civilization.

Especially since if this forest is really near the Academy, my chances of survival go up. Someone might come looking for me.

Survival comes before story or whatever. To do that, I need to be well-prepared.

‘I guess I have to wait until I get better.’

With my left arm in this state, I can’t go hunting right now. Whether I can actually go hunting is questionable.

I’m not a survival expert like Bear Grylls, and I don’t have a proper weapon either.

At least the bones scattered in the cave provided me with some consolation.

I had no idea what kind of animal or monster used to live here, but there were some bones that could make decent blunt weapons.

‘Tangy.’

The bones themselves could definitely serve as makeshift clubs. I randomly picked a sturdy one and swung it around.

It felt oddly surreal, like I had become a primitive human, but what can I do?

Humans shine when they wield tools. Especially in a wilderness like this.

‘Ha…’

Suddenly, an overwhelming reality check hit me. No matter how I think about it, I still don’t understand why I have to endure all this suffering.

Maybe I’ll have to eat poop from some animals or monsters. Just the thought made me want to hurl.

As I absentmindedly waved my heavy bone, one vital thought crossed my mind.

‘How do I start a fire?’

If I’m using the cave as a base, fire is essential. But in my current state, that’s hard.

It’s best to have a sure safe place and expand my area of activity around it rather than running around aimlessly.

I can’t emphasize enough; I’m an ordinary person, not a survival expert like others.

As I faced increasingly difficult situations, my head grew messier. It truly was a time for sighs.

‘Let’s hang in there until my arm heals.’

Additionally, I’m left-handed. I already struggled quite a bit using my right arm to crush plants earlier.

I had no idea when my arm would heal, but it would surely take several days.

I hope no one ambushes me before I recover.

‘…I guess I should sleep first.’

Both my body and mind were exhausted from sudden changes.

I used way too much energy from that near-death situation earlier. I even lost blood.

I picked a suitable bone to use as a pillow and laid my head on it. Hard like a rock, but better than nothing.

‘Please let me wake up in my cozy room.’

I prayed earnestly and slowly closed my eyes.

Maybe it was because of the wilderness instincts, but as soon as I shut my eyes, my sense of smell and hearing intensified.

I wonder if I can even sleep like this. Still, I tried my best to close my eyes and entrusted myself to sleep.

-Aooowww!

-Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!

-Kyaaaang! Kyaang!

The howls of wolves. The buzzing of insects. Unknown sounds.

All sorts of noises from outside the cave crept into my ears. It was distracting, but not enough to wake me.

The smells were the same. I had completely adapted to the damp scent unique to caves.

If another smell mixed in, there must be some kind of problem arising. I could rest easy now.

–Chirp chirp! Cheep!

Time passed, and now I heard the sound of something like a sparrow. Just hearing it felt peaceful.

But usually, sparrows don’t wake up until morning. A nocturnal bird wouldn’t make sounds like that.

‘…Huh?’

With a puzzled mind, I slowly opened my eyes to find something strange.

The cave that had been dark outside when I closed my eyes was now filled with light. Thanks to that, the inside of the cave was illuminated.

I stared blankly outside the cave and then realized it all too late.

The dark night had retreated and morning had arrived.

‘…Did I just keep my eyes shut?’

I heard sounds and smelled things. I really just kept my eyes shut, and now morning was here.

The funny part was that the fatigue in my body had completely dissipated. My left arm throbbed, but it hurt less than yesterday.

I didn’t spend the night with my eyes wide open; I spent it with them closed.

It sounds a bit weird, but with my lack of expressive words, this is the best I can do.

“What the…”

Surprised, I grabbed a bone with my right hand and stepped outside the cave. The forest bathed in morning sunlight showed itself between the trees.

The forest was alive with chirping birds fluttering about, and the sounds of insects were much fainter than during the night.

I glanced around the forest for a while and scratched my head. It felt like a scene from a horror movie.

Yet, a more pressing issue arose.

Gurgle—

“Ah.”

I was hungry.