Pale morning sunlight began to pierce the forest canopy, creating thin shafts of light that illuminated the lingering water droplets in the air.
I had been sitting still on this tree branch for nearly two hours—at least, that was my guess. Without a watch, time was just an abstract, torturous concept. My muscles were stiff and sore, and my tailbone felt numb from pressing against the hard, damp wood for so long.
"Finally..."
I tried to stretch my body slowly, my joints making soft cracking sounds.
The torrential rain that had trapped me last night had subsided, leaving behind a fine mist that fell lazily. I reached my hand out from the leafy shelter. The droplets landing on my palm felt light, not stinging like last night, but the cold was just the same.
"Freezing, dammit," I cursed, rubbing my arms.
Even though this black poncho kept me dry, the naked body underneath was still shivering. I needed real warmth.
"System," I called out.
The blue holographic screen lit up again, casting a soft glow in the dim forest morning. I immediately typed into the search bar: Warm Clothes.
Thousands of results. Too many. I needed to be specific. Not a thick down jacket for winter—that would make me overheat and restrict my movement in this tropical forest. I needed something functional.
I retyped: Waterproof & Warm Field Gear.
The choices narrowed down. My eyes landed on a set of clothes that looked practical and not too flashy.
[Tactical Field Gear Set - Pathfinder Brand]
Description: Consists of a waterproof and windproof softshell jacket with a thin fleece lining, and ripstop cargo pants resistant to tearing. Dark olive green for camouflage. Lightweight, quick-drying, and maintains stable body temperature in humid environments.
Price: 12 Points.
"Twelve points... kinda pricey," I muttered. But health was an investment. I added it to the cart.
I also needed protection for my hands and feet. This forest was full of thorns, sharp rocks, and mud. This kid's worn-out leather boots were no longer fit for use.
*L[Military Jungle Boots - Vibram Soles]
Description: Waterproof leather and nylon boots with Vibram soles providing maximum grip in muddy and slippery terrain. Protects ankles from injury.
Price: 10 Points.
[Half-Finger Tactical Gloves]
Price: 3 Points.
And two crucial items: a timekeeper and a container.
[Waterproof Digital Watch]
Features: Water-resistant up to 50m, stopwatch, alarm, backlight.
Price: 5 Points.
[30L Mountain Daypack - Black]
Description: Lightweight backpack with multiple compartments and a built-in rain cover.
Price: 12 Points.
[Knitted Beanie - Dark Green]
Price: 2 Points.
Total purchase: 44 Points.
"That's almost the price of fifty packs of instant noodles," I complained, staring at the total.
"But this is a long-term investment."
I pressed the [PAY] button.
WHIRRR...
Blue light glowed, and a large cardboard box landed in my lap. I opened it quickly. The smell of new shoe rubber and synthetic fabric wafted out.
I got dressed right there on the tree branch. I pulled on the sturdy cargo pants, zipped up the warm softshell jacket, and tied the laces of my new boots tight. Finally, I strapped the digital watch onto my left wrist.
I set the time to 06:00.
"I'm assuming it's six in the morning, and this world rotates twenty-four hours a day," I mumbled.
"If I'm wrong, I'll adjust it later."
I pulled the knitted beanie over my head, making sure my pointed ears were completely covered.
This was important. I didn't know the sentiment of this world's inhabitants toward Elves. In many fantasy stories, Elves were often targets for slavery because of their appearance. Given that this boy was found alone in the middle of a forest in medieval clothing, the probability that he was a victim of hunting or a runaway was extremely high. Hiding my identity was the safest move.
Fully dressed, I organized my belongings. I stuffed the old, wet, musty clothes into the plastic packaging from the box, then placed them at the very top of my new mountain backpack. The dented goblin pot and the leftover cup noodle went in there too. I pulled the rain cover from the bottom of the bag, wrapping the entire exterior to protect it from the mist.
Now, weapons.
I ejected the magazine from my Glock 17.
Click.
Only 10 rounds left inside. I had gifted seven of them to the goblins last night.
I took the ammo box from my pocket, took out seven glistening gold bullets, and pressed them into the magazine one by one. Click. Click. Click. Full again.
I slid the magazine back into the pistol but didn't rack the slide. Safety remained on. Safety first. I put the rest of the ammo box into the deep pocket of my new jacket.
I shouldered the backpack, then put my black poncho back on over everything. My body felt much bigger and heavier now, but also much warmer and safer.
"Alright, time to get down."
I held the pistol in my right hand, my left hand gripping the wet, slippery tree bark. I started lowering my legs, searching for a foothold on the trunk.
Scrape!
"Shit!"
My new boots slipped on the wet moss. I lost my grip.
THUD!
I fell face-first toward the ground, but twisted just enough so my butt slammed into a hard tree root.
"Argh... that hurts like hell," I groaned, rubbing my poor backside.
"Lucky the branch wasn't too high. Otherwise, my adventure would end right here with a broken pelvis."
I stood up slowly, brushing the dirt off my black poncho.
"Thank god I didn't land on a sharp rock."
I took a deep breath, calming my startled heart. After making sure there were no serious injuries, I started walking. My goal: return to the river and follow the current.
But before that, I went back to the goblin camp.
"Still here, huh," I muttered, staring at the three green corpses lying stiff in the muddy ground.
Flies had started swarming them, but their bodies were still intact.
"Either there are no large predators around here, or goblin meat tastes as bad as it smells," I concluded.
"Who knows. Either way, I need to get out of here fast."
I left the bodies to rot and returned to following the riverbank.
My steps were steadier now thanks to the new boots. I walked carefully, eyes constantly scanning the perimeter, ears alert for every rustle. This forest... it was very similar to a tropical rainforest on Earth. Giant ferns, creeping vines, high humidity. Was I on the equator of this world?
Along the way, I saw strange creatures a few times. A winged lizard the size of a chicken flying between the trees, a swarm of giant insects crawling on a rotting log. I chose to avoid them. Sneaking, holding my breath, blending into the shadows.
"Damn, I'm such an idiot," I cursed inwardly as I looked at my black poncho contrasting against the forest green.
"I should have bought green or camo."
Luckily, the creatures didn't seem to notice my presence, or maybe they weren't interested in a scrawny kid in black.
The sound of the rushing river got louder, mixing with another unfamiliar sound.
Grunt... Grunt...
Like the snoring of a pig, but heavier and raspier.
I stopped, hiding behind a thick fern bush. Slowly, I parted the leaves and peeked through.
Up ahead, on the riverbank, stood a large humanoid figure. It was nearly two meters tall, with a protruding potbelly. Its head was literally that of a wild boar: long snout, tusks jutting from the lower jaw, and small red eyes. Its skin was dark brown and rough.
Orc.
It wore a dirty leather loincloth and some kind of shoulder guard made of thick hide. In its hand, it gripped a greatsword that looked heavy and crude.
"I can't get past here," I thought, panicking. The Orc was standing right on my path.
"No... if I detour into the forest, I could get lost or meet worse monsters. Besides, going around will take time."
I swallowed hard. My hand felt for my pocket, gripping the handle of the Glock 17.
"Just kill it."
The decision came quickly. Coldly. They weren't human. They were monsters. Killing them wouldn't give me nightmares.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my heartbeat. I racked the pistol slowly so it wouldn't make noise, disengaged the safety, and aimed.
Distance was about twenty meters. Target: that big pig head.
PFFT!
The jerk of recoil hit my hand.
In the distance, the Orc's head snapped back. A red hole appeared in its temple. It didn't have time to scream, didn't have time to realize what happened. Its massive body instantly collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, splashing mud.
Fresh red blood flowed out, mixing with the clear river water.
I waited a few seconds, making sure it was truly dead, then stepped out of my hiding spot.
"Pfft, you look disgusting," I spat on the ground near the pig face. It smelled even worse than the goblins.
I crouched down, inspecting the corpse.
"System, sell."
I touched its greatsword.
[Orc Greatsword]
Description: Heavy weapon relying on brute force. Low-quality iron.
Sell Price: 15 Points.
Not bad. I sold it. The sword vanished.
I looked at its leather clothes and shoulder armor. Filthy, smelly, and full of lice.
"Nope. I'm not touching that. Stripping goblins yesterday was enough to make me nauseous all night."
I stood up, about to leave, but then I realized something. A corpse this big on the riverbank would attract attention. If there were other Orcs around, they'd know there was an intruder.
"I have to hide it."
I grabbed the Orc's rough, hairy wrists, trying to pull it away from the path.
"Hnngghhh...!"
I pulled with all my might, my feet slipping in the mud. The body didn't budge.
"Dammit, so heavy!" I complained, panting.
"This must weigh two hundred kilos!"
I tried again, dragging it inch by inch. Cold sweat started pouring down my back.
"Fuck, I give up," I let go of the Orc's hands, my arms trembling from exhaustion.
"This scrawny kid's body isn't strong enough to drag this insane weight."
I looked around. Bushes.
I took out my hunting knife and started cutting branches from the thick shrubs. I piled them on top of the Orc corpse, covering it layer by layer. After that, I grabbed handfuls of river mud and sand, scattering them over the pile of leaves to mask the scent of blood.
"In fantasy stories, an Orc's sense of smell is sharp, on par with actual wild boars," I muttered while washing my hands in the river.
"Hopefully, this is enough to trick them, or at least buy me some time."
Once finished, I stood back up, checked my pistol one more time, and continued my journey along the river. The forest ahead was still dark and mysterious, and the mist continued to fall, wetting my footprints.
"Stay alert," I whispered to myself. "There must be others."