Going out at dawn, when the sun was nearly set, Bell left the forest and reached the plains and hills.
"Phew~ I really thought I'd have to spend the night in the forest."
To be honest, Bell would never have chosen to stay overnight in the forest if time was short.
Camping might have been common in the civilizations of the past, but that was based on the relative safety of campsites—something that couldn't compare to this magical world where swords and magic intertwined.
After all, no one could truly guarantee what kind of monsters lurked in the forest.
Like an ant that spits acid.
Like a lizard skilled in camouflage.
In short, the forest is truly not a place to venture into without strength. If you're unlucky enough to wander into a monster's domain, you might instantly become their prey.
That's why Bell preferred taking his chances on the plains instead.
If the greatest danger in the forest lies in the monsters lurking in the shadows, then the danger on the plains stems from human nature.
After all, the world is a treacherous place, and some people hide monsters within their hearts.
But Bell wasn't really afraid of such people—after all, he carried nothing of value. If a bandit saw him, they'd probably couldn't even be bothered to glance his way.
Even including the items stored in his four-dimensional space, Bell's entire fortune didn't exceed **12,000 valis**, with **10,000 valis** being the living expenses left behind by his runaway grandfather. The remaining **2,000 valis** covered the worth of his clothes, camping gear, utensils, food, three short knives, and three whetstones.
Bell scanned his surroundings and chose to set up camp by the roadside.
Whether in the heart of the plains or deep in the hills, unpredictable dangers lurked everywhere.
The road, however, was a frequently traveled path.
Though there was a risk of being spotted by passing adventurers, Bell was currently dirt poor—practically destitute.
No one would bother robbing him; even if he encountered adventurers, they wouldn't attack him outright.
And what kind of capable adventurer—or one with spare cash—would actually camp by the roadside?
Every adventurer knew this truth: no gain meant no threat.
Besides, Bell was just a fourteen-year-old kid who'd recently emerged from the remote mountains. There wasn't a shred of malice in him, making the roadside the safest camping spot.
It also gave him a chance to observe how many travelers used the road.
Having made his decision, Bell carefully surveyed the area before retrieving a simple tent from his four-dimensional space.
The tent was a single-person model—compact yet properly pitched.
Though Bell had stored the wooden bed from home in his four-dimensional space, it was wiser not to unpack it while camping outdoors. Without transportation, hauling such bulky items would inevitably raise suspicions about how he'd carried them.
He simply struck flint to start a fire, poured long-stored water into a pot, and retrieved pre-prepared bear meat from the four-dimensional space as the water boiled.
"Lucky the old man hunted a bear for me before he left."
Bell felt a pang of gratitude for that mysterious elder. A single bear yielded enough meat to sustain him for at least a month.
Time didn't pass within the four-dimensional space, making stored items effectively imperishable.
He meticulously carved the bear meat into smaller portions. After cleaning the kitchen knife, he returned it to the four-dimensional space.
Right on cue, the water reached a boil. Carefully, he lowered the bear meat into the pot.
The scarlet flesh paled to ivory in the bubbling water as impurities foamed on the surface.
He fished out the parboiled meat, discarded the murky water, wiped the pot dry, and stowed it back into the four-dimensional space.
Once again, I took out a frying pan and added just a trace of oil.
Commodities like oil, salt, sauces, and vinegar were not only scarce but quite expensive, so Bell measured every use with extreme frugality.
He still didn't know where his next resupply would come from. Perhaps there'd be no opportunity until reaching **Orario**. Maybe by saving a little now...
When the bear meat browned on one side, he flipped it until every piece turned crisp and golden.Then, he sprinkled a pinch of salt, kept stirring to let it meld, and finally removed the pan from the fire.
As Bell cooked, dusk gave way to night. The sky seemed draped in a dark shroud; were it not for the stars, the world might have been plunged into gloom.
At this border between forest and plain, the fire stood out like a beacon.The spiraling blue smoke betrayed his presence.
Yet the surroundings stayed quiet.Only the whine of mosquitoes broke the silence—a reassuring sound in the wilderness.
When even that disappears, danger is near.
Bell scanned his surroundings. After confirming all was safe, he poured himself a glass of water, took up his fork, and began his dinner: pan-seared bear meat.
The first bite.
"Hmm~ this tastes a bit different from beef."
At the first bite, Bell noticed the difference the moment his teeth sank into the bear meat—more tender and springy than beef.
"The flavor is incredible. Just salt, yet amazingly delicious."
Only the gods knew what this bear had been eating to develop such exquisite taste. It was simply marvelous.
Without realizing it, Bell quickened his pace as he devoured the meat.
Before long, the entire plate's contents had vanished into his stomach.
**"Burp~"**
After a satisfied belch, he downed the glass of water in one gulp. The cool liquid elevated his contentment to new heights.
**"Satisfied~"**
Now replenished and reclining on the grass, Bell felt the exhaustion from his endless fleeing that day finally easing. This moment to eat and rest was his small treasure.
"Now I need to pick up the pace. Reach Orario within a month..."
He knew his real adventure would only begin upon entering the city.
Unlike dungeons, the outside world had no monster "respawn mechanics." For a rookie, the Dungeon's upper floors were far safer than the wilderness.
The key advantage: adventurers could choose floors matching their strength.
Out here, monsters roamed with chaotic level distributions. Stepping into an area with overleveled enemies meant certain death.
—The downside of a truly "open world"—
It was terrifyingly easy for beginners to stumble into impossible zones.
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