Seed in the Forest
It had been about three weeks since I set out on my solo adventure.
And where the hell was I...?
I have no idea.
Why? Because there was no one around.
No people meant no way to gauge where I was. Hell, I couldn't even figure out who I was anymore.
I was so damn lost, spouting philosophical nonsense like some backwoods sage.
Sorry. I way underestimated this isekai world—it's wilder than the untamed frontiers of the Old West.
I figured if I just marched straight for two or three days, I'd hit a village or castle. At least a road... or a damn trail!
Even finding a meadow where sheep could frolic was a pipe dream!!
The one silver lining? It wasn't a desert.
Thanks to the survival skills Hunter Elias drilled into me, this endless forest kept me alive.
Was a legendary fantasy race like high elves about to pop out? Nah, screw it—even a high orc would do. Just someone to talk to.
I'm so lonely.... Sob.
Lv 35
HP: 352/421
STR: 33 | AGI: 35 | INT: 71 | LUK: 13
MP: 29/40
Status Effects: None
Equipment:
• Casual Clothes - Leather Armor
• Drasona's Spear
• Longsword Enchanted with Sharpness Magic (No Mana)
• Shtai's Backpack (*)
• Connection Ring
• Prosek's Hero Badge
Blessing: Happy Moment
Why'd I pull this up?
Boredom. After three weeks alone, even a scrap of toilet paper becomes prime entertainment. Try it sometime.
Watch this demo.
Levels shot up nice. Nine whole levels just wandering this forest! But they don't touch the stats.
What the hell's the point of levels, then?
HP hits zero, you die—that much I get. But it's weird. It drops even without wounds. And stays put even with injuries.
Fun part: Thinking "I wanna die" tanks it hard. Yell "Oh man, I could go for some sex~" and it bounces back.
...So what the fuck is HP to me? Shouldn't it just be stamina or libido?
STR is straightforward. Muscle mass, basically.
At least that's normal. Physical stats for the win.
Magic's physical too. Don't ask what I mean—just roll with it. Dig too deep and Agnes's Star's Tear will show you why.
AGI's got some nuance. Speed, sure, but reflexes too.
Suu had killer AGI—over double mine. Her senses were sharper than most. Does it factor in perception?
INT... has zilch to do with magic.
Guess I'm a genius by this world's standards. Most folks here barely scraped kindergarten-level knowledge, let alone elementary school.
Useless when you're solo, though.
LUK's pitiful compared to other stats. But everyone else's is low too—mine's probably average. Suu edged higher; rest matched or sucked.
Reshi's was sky-high. Never compared directly—no chance.
MP barely budges.
If it climbed, Happy Moment might turn into Happy Era. No dice.
Not some balance patch, damn it.
Current MP? Full lets me enjoy about two minutes-plus of frozen bliss.
Bet this ties to magic talent. Low or zero MP? No spells for you.
Average Joe's got around 10.
And... scene.
Staring at my Status Window, overanalyzing as I walk—bam, nightfall. Fills the page... er, kills the day.
Shit, another lonely night...
Hiss! Hiiiiss!!
Thanks! Not lonely tonight.
A Komodo-lizard the size of a Komodo greets me.
Differences: Six legs, waist-high bulk, razor mane from head to tail like heavy metal locks. Back shell like Super Saiyan 3 hair.
Biggest yet—chin-high. Could swallow me whole.
What makes 'em scary? Not that...
Flash!!
The red eyes!
Lock eyes when they glow red, and you freeze up involuntarily.
First time, I thought I was dead—no Happy Moment, just paralysis. Saved when it gaped wide; gaze slipped, I dodged.
Tolerance building—brief glances don't lock me now, but it still stiffens me a bit.
Frozen time? Eyes don't faze me.
Been there, done that. Spear from Reshi to one eye before paralysis hits.
It flies true, stabs—agony, thrashing, obviously.
I dash to the stabbed side, freeze time, ram my sword like a nail into the soft throat flesh from inside its gaping maw toward the brain.
...Solo life's turning me chatty, like I'm narrating to someone.
Snap out of it.
The pseudo-Komodo thrashes in eye-pain agony, then sword in guts—motionless, soul-shocked.
Legs buckle, collapses soon after.
Fourth one since entering this forest.
One a week.
Terror at first; now, genuinely welcome. No joke.
Cleared zone means safe camp—no other beasts approach.
Top predator scent scares 'em off. Animals bolt or freak at strong vibes, they say.
Biggest perk: Meat's surprisingly tasty!
Never crossed my mind at first—monster chow?
Three days in, rations gone. Not from no-hunt skill; "Village soon, soon..." turned into a week-plus.
Starving on random berries, no protein—then this guy shows.
Ancestors, I get why you'd risk pufferfish now.
Skipped tough back/belly hide; hacked throat chunks, grilled sloppy... delicious.
Normal meal? Vomit. But desperation has no standards.
Three in, I mapped tasty bits, weak points.
Now? Slit soft mouth like snake molt, peel hide, slice fillets, grill over fire.
Miracle: Doesn't spoil easy.
Alright! Safe night, meat aplenty—BBQ party!!
Smoke the rest—five days' rations secured! Woo~!
Chicken-ish flavor. Need cold beer.
These red eyes, though. Pretty.
Kill mid-glow, they stay red. Normal eyes soft; red-locked death hardens 'em. Instant kill traps the glow?
Reddened reptile pupil like huge gem. Looks pricey—pocket it~
Three in the bag now.
Whoops, inner monologue's chit-chatting again.
Bedtime.
Beating depression: Full belly, warm sleep. Or is that weight gain starter pack?
Whatever!
A handful of fertilizer brags of ripe fruit from my soil.
...
...Huh!?
Just heard my native tongue in my head. Heart-voice vibes.
Why that?
"Could this be a hallucinated personality my delusions cooked up?"
[...A handful of fertilizer. Knows refined speech, does it?]
"Wha—huh!? Who's there!?"
Deep forest, no souls—ancient tongue chat.
Shocking, terrifying... but...
"Finally! Talking to someone!"
Overjoyed. Like a country granny reuniting with kids and grandkids.
"I'm Kirgil from Agnes Village. Hero of Prosek, now solo traveling. And you? Care to show your face?"
blurted self-intro. Desperate to meet.
[So it seems. Thought you came to my land picking fights. My mistake.]
"Fight? Just walked, fought a beast for my life. Oh, right—this meat's great. Join me?"
[Polite fertilizer, eh? Fine, I accept you as such—not mere dung, but proper manure.]
"Fertilizer? Manure? Same diff?"
[Different.]
"Sure, one's dirtier, but same job."
[Ho, discerns the subtle divide—and comprehends my words. Cultured, indeed.]
"Hahaha, first chat in three weeks, and compliments? Feeling great. Pull up a seat, eat while we talk."
[Grateful. But my consciousness lingers briefly; body absent. Only when united will I accept your hospitality.]
"Aw, leaving already? Didn't catch your name..."
[No fitting title for your kind yet. Least of all to pure manure—tainted by dung's name? Nay.]
"Vibes say forest god or spirit. Not some world tree, right?"
[True or false. 'World tree' amuses. Inspired a name.]
Voice paused.
Human? Clearing throat.
[Seed.]
"Seed? Like, flower-tree seed?"
[Yes. Call me 'Seed.' Fits now.]
"Got it, Mr. Seed. Really heading out?"
[Yes. Consciousness visited to confirm you; body sleeps. Your 'dream,' perhaps.]
"Dream-like encounter. Too short."
[Fate may unite consciousness and body someday. But awakening calls.]
"Shame, but okay. Sweet dreams, then..."
[Your odd farewell tugs. A gift: You're lost here. West at sunset—day's trek to a massive dung heap.]
"Haha, fun directions. Thanks—loneliness gone, goal set."
[May fate bind us. Farewell.]
And... gone.
"Sunset west. Dung heap... village that way."
Seed vanished traceless as arrival.
Pity.
Real?
...If not, for life's spark, courage—screw it, yell again.
"Oh maaaan, I waaaant seeeeex~!!!"
[...Pfft, pffahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!]
Whoa, jump scare!! Seed's still here!!
Not my fault!! Dying of shame!!
Gyaaaaah!!! I'm losing it!! Liar!!!
[Go on! Get lost!!]