Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: To Live in This World
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Zentia was the type who slept a ton in the mornings. Even if someone woke her, she often couldn't get up, and once she sprawled out, she'd sleep straight through until the sun was high in the sky. She was a heavy sleep-talker too, so if anything was nearby, she'd just hug it in her sleep.
But even she would snap her eyes open the moment there was work to be done. Otherwise, she never would have made it as a mercenary. The only times she lounged around were on days when her schedule was completely relaxed.
Yesterday, she'd taught Yuda dagger techniques, and starting today, they'd head into the forest for activities, returning by evening. They planned to camp outdoors eventually, but since Yuda was still young, they could take it slow. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Zentia yawned as she changed clothes, washed her face, and then woke Yuda. The sun was just beginning to rise over the mountain.
Yuda hadn't expected to wake this early either, but he got up without complaint, ate breakfast with her, and they set off for the forest. The east gate was already open, and along the road, a few hunters and herbalists shuffled along, still groggy with sleep.
The south and west gates were dangerous spots overrun by monsters, so they didn't let anyone through unless they were adventurers or knights. But the east gate's dangers were just cliffs or wild animals—nothing a bit of caution couldn't handle. The only real issue was the occasional black wolf wandering up from the southern forest.
Yuda followed Zentia into the forest, and soon she began the lesson.
What she taught was simple yet difficult. First, she explained the traits and effects of common local herbs, and where to use them in emergencies. Using his notepad function, Yuda made sure not to miss any of the info she shared.
She didn't expect him to memorize it all at once—just to familiarize himself by sight. Yuda nodded. As a player, he could learn skills instantly. The notepad let him review and input details later without forgetting. But his brain was still the same. His memory had improved a bit, but it was impossible to retain everything after one look or listen. After the herb lesson, she moved on to hunting methods. Nothing fancy.
It was all about adapting dagger throws to kill from afar or targeting legs to slow them down before chasing and finishing them off. But the real helps were concealing your presence and erasing your tracks. She even taught tracking beasts that weren't around here.
Hunting was fun, just as she said, but the aftermath was the problem. Butchering—skinning and deboning—was straight-up labor. They'd eat the catch for dinner and head home. It was an exhausting day.
And Yuda had no idea it would repeat for two whole years. He'd gather herbs daily, recite their effects, and explain treatments for emergencies. Mercenary-style left-hand dagger arts had reached mastery; now he could even hit moving prey from a distance. Skinning and filleting were second nature.
He'd gained proficiency in erasing tracks and tracking too, and through drills chasing Zentia or fleeing from her, he nearly unlocked a skill naturally—but he permanently canceled it.
Even through these busy days, his stats barely rose. It seemed like first times mattered most here. Initial attempts gave stat boosts, but repeats yielded little gain.
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*Settlement
[You crossed mountains and dashed through the forest east of Serenia Castle, hunting wild beasts. This will surely count as experience. Strength and Agility +3, Vitality +4.]
[You learned essential survival knowledge from hunter Zentia: herbs, emergency first aid, edible fruits and mushrooms, and more. Knowledge +4.]
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「Status Window」
[Name: Yuda Arshe]
[Title: None]
[Level: 9]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revives Remaining: 1]
[Strength: 35 (D) / Potential A]
[Vitality: 35 (D) / Potential S]
[Agility: 30 (D) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 37 (D) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 51 (C) / Potential S]
[Knowledge: 17 (F) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 79 (B) / Potential A] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 8]
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Still, he felt quietly proud. Hunting beasts had leveled him up a bit, and he hadn't spent the points since he didn't feel the need yet.
Lately, Zentia seemed to think she had nothing left to teach, so she no longer rose early. She'd sleep in and live like a bum. Thanks to that, Yuda's solo forest trips became routine.
He hunted every two or three days, yet the beasts never seemed to thin out. With multiple hunters around, he wondered if they respawned somewhere.
Truth was, Serenia Castle had shockingly few hunters relative to its population—practically none. Hunting wild game like boars just meant gamey meat that was sometimes tough as leather. The effort of trekking forests and hills rarely paid off. Killing black or silver wolves in the southern forest for hides and magic stones was way more profitable. Beasts didn't drop stones, and crucially, the northern forest around Serenia had almost no monsters or predators, so they just grazed sheep and cattle.
Caravans brought regular supplies of rice, wheat, and chicken, so food shortages weren't an issue. Naturally, hunting died out as a job. The few who stuck around did it purely for the thrill as a hobby.
Yuda opened his minimap. A top-down view appeared in the corner of his vision, mapping the surroundings in fine detail. The red circle marked his position. Even lost in the forest, the minimap showed directions and retraced paths.
'Hmm, is this... near the southern forest?'
He'd gone farther than planned. He never came this way usually, and ahead, the map was pitch black—unexplored territory.
Yuda looked up. No obvious boundary, but his minimap drew a line, labeling it the southern forest. Even with the sun high, the woods ahead felt dark.
The southern forest—also called the Black Forest. Where vicious black wolves and silver wolves fought over territory. Step in recklessly, meet a wolf, and you might die or suffer worse.
'Time to head back.'
He wanted to test himself against them, but safety over high risk. No proper weapon, no armor. He stretched, turned casually to leave—
A chill crawled from his feet to his scalp. His hairs stood on end.
Grrrrowl...!
Before he could question it, a whisper-like growl reached his ears.
'Wolf!'
Reflexively, he drew his waist-hung longsword in his right and yanked the dagger from his belt with his left. The blade gleamed sharply as it left its leather sheath. He crouched low, scanning around. Nothing visible. The dense woods hid it.
Sssip—!
He inhaled fresh air deep into his lungs, then exhaled. He took a slow step, moving carefully. The serene forest, with its pleasant wind whispers, shifted the instant he sensed the wolf. It turned eerie, like a haunted house.
This wasn't like his hunts so far. He'd been the hunter before; now he was the prey. A new apex predator threatened the wolf's throne—one that hunted predators.
The thought of risking his life brought trembling fear, but it swiftly turned to excitement. Realizing he was grinning, Yuda thought:
'Ha, I'm crazy too.'
Excitement in this situation? He'd changed. Back home, he wasn't a coward, but he wasn't this boldly calm. He'd solve fights with words if possible, avoid if he could. He'd stop short of being dismissed.
But here, it was different. Survival on the line? Or maybe the [War God] and <Player> traits flipping his personality.
Grrrrr...
The growl came again, confirming it wasn't his imagination. Crunch—something stepped on twigs too.
It circled, watching him. If it charged, he'd cut it down with his sword, just like training.
Confident, he waited for it to lunge first. But it stayed hidden, growling and flickering its presence whenever he stepped.
Ten minutes passed, no wolf. Cautious beast. Excitement faded; fear crept back. Tension from the unknown rear attack weighed him down. His sword felt heavy without swinging.
The thick forest remained unchanged. Cool breeze rustled dancing branches. Sunlight filtered through leaves to the ground. Excess tension just bred fatigue, wearing him out fast. Yuda realized it late and shifted his mindset.
'Worst case, I just respawn.'
Like with the mercenary. No big deal.
Back to start. Nothing to worry about. Death wasn't that painful, right? You barely felt it.
He muttered it like brainwashing. Tension eased. He'd maintain healthy alertness, scan surroundings, and give his all when the enemy appeared. His body felt lighter—but only briefly.
It was tough. Every rustle made him jump. Not like chasing beasts in the west forest. Now, he was the prey.
'Experience...'
Yeah, this was experience. What Kaseun and Zentia stressed. He'd face southern wolves eventually. Just sooner than planned. Two years dashing these woods. He'd slept with earth as bed, roots as pillow, leaves as blanket. The forest wasn't the enemy.
Just a battlefield. The shift widened his view. His body lightened. The thing still prowled. Then, through bush gaps, red eyes—its eyes. He gripped his sword tight. Sweat-slick hands held by wrapped cloth—no slip.
No worries.
No fear.
Die and restart from the beginning. Done.
'From the beginning.'
Repeating those harsh, boring days was grim, but resurrection was solid insurance. Trusting that, Yuda steeled himself. All those scarecrow bashes, Kain spars, stamina builds, Zentia hunts—for this. To survive here, topple the strong, become stronger.
'If it won't come, I'll go.'
Yuda inhaled deeply and activated Shadow Heresy Arts.
========== Afterword ==========
Zentia: Learn humility. Let it enter your eyes.
You fancy folks with such high-class tastes! No helping it.
Have to nickname Zentia as Tia.
That okay?
Oh, and I read every comment!
I check on my phone first thing in the morning—love it that much.
If you commented and I didn't reply, don't feel bad ㅠ
I don't just freeload on coupons.
Just a tiny, teeni-tiny bit..., see! Yesterday consecutive update, today too!
P.S.) Du... Tutorial....