Chapter 2: The Red-Spotted Finch Hunter

As soon as Hutson stepped into the dense forest, a profound silence descended around him.

The once lively chorus of chirping birds and buzzing insects faded into an eerie stillness. The creatures of the woods had sensed the presence of an intruder and instinctively hid in the shadows.

Hutson adjusted his breathing, slowed his footsteps, and sharpened his focus as he scanned for his first target.

Before long, a gray wild hare emerged ahead, its ears twitching as it foraged among the underbrush.

Hutson reached for his bow, drawing an arrow in one fluid motion.

"AI chip, enable aim assist."

"Calculating wind speed…"

A faint blue trajectory line appeared in his vision, adjusting to compensate for the wind and distance. Hutson shifted his aim slightly, aligning his shot perfectly.

Swish!

The hare barely had time to react before the arrow pierced through its skull.

Hutson remained still, scanning his surroundings before cautiously approaching his fallen prey. He lifted the hare, weighing it in his hand—five, maybe six pounds. Not bad.

With practiced efficiency, he pulled the arrow free, wiping it clean against the animal's fur before returning it to his quiver.

"I still lack control over my body," he thought, noting the slight instability in his shooting stance. He needed to train more.

A few minutes later, another target appeared.

High in the northeastern canopy, a pair of red-spotted finches perched on a branch, preening each other's feathers in a moment of quiet affection.

Hutson held his breath, body motionless as he slowly drew the bowstring back. The arrowhead gleamed under the faint light, sharp and unforgiving.

Swish!

A perfect shot—piercing through both birds in a single strike.

The two finches fell together, their entwined bodies skewered like a string of candied hawthorn berries.

Though small, the red-spotted finch was considered a delicacy, known for its crispy and flavorful meat. This world had no concept of wildlife conservation—game was abundant, and hunting was simply part of survival.

As the afternoon waned, Hutson's hunt proved fruitful.

Three hares.Seventeen red-spotted finches.Two fish.

If not for his growing fatigue and the strain on his arms, he could have continued hunting.

Twilight and Unease

As the sun sank beneath the horizon, casting golden streaks through the trees, a low, guttural roar echoed from the depths of the forest.

Hutson froze.

His instincts screamed danger.

Without hesitation, he picked up his pace, swiftly making his way back toward the castle before the forest's true predators emerged.

Astonishing the Castle Guards

At the castle gate, the guards stared at him, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"You caught all this… by yourself?" one of them stammered.

Hutson grinned smugly. "Of course. Here's your red-spotted finch. Pay up."

One of the guards hesitated, eyes locked on the string of finches dangling around Hutson's neck, saliva forming at the corners of his mouth.

"Uh… I think I'll just buy five of them." He patted his pockets awkwardly, realizing he didn't have enough money for more.

"Fine," Hutson shrugged. He hadn't expected to sell all of them anyway—every coin counted.

Castle servants earned no wages, only receiving occasional rewards on festival days. Guards, on the other hand, were paid but not much.

Still, any earnings were better than none.

As Hutson walked through the castle, carrying his bounty, curious onlookers whispered among themselves.

"Where did this kid find all that?"

"I heard he hunted them himself."

"I'd sooner believe they ran into trees and died on their own."

"Old Henry, look what I've got!" Hutson proudly displayed his hares and fish.

The old gardener's eyes narrowed as he inspected the animals. He immediately recognized the precise arrow wounds.

"This…" Henry murmured, almost doubting his own vision.

Hutson grinned, dropping a hare and a fish at Henry's feet.

"Consider this my payment for borrowing your bow. 

Eat well—no need to meet the Ruler too soon. They're not going anywhere."

Old Henry didn't refuse. He simply nodded silently, lost in thought as his gaze lingered on the bow.

After a moment, Hutson turned to him again. "Can I borrow it for a few more days?"

Henry's expression shifted, as if caught in a distant memory. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with something unreadable.

"Take it. It's yours."

Hutson blinked in surprise. "Wait, you're giving it to me? Just like that?"

Henry waved a hand dismissively. "I can't pull it back anymore. Better for an old friend to find new use."

Hutson bowed his head slightly in gratitude, knowing how much Henry treasured that bow.

Back in his small hut, Hutson got to work.

Hares were skinned.Finches were plucked.A single fish was kept alive in a water basin—he'd save it for later.

By nightfall, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.

A hare turned slowly over the fire, its golden-brown skin crackling with heat. The red-spotted finches were smaller and cooked faster, their meat crisping up to a fragrant perfection.

With limited seasonings, Hutson had foraged some spicy wild herbs from the forest and sprinkled a pinch of precious salt onto the meat.

The first bite of the red-spotted finch surprised him. Instead of a dry, gamey taste, it was deliciously rich, its crisp texture almost addictive.

"The guard wasn't lying—these really are amazing."

Suddenly, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

"Detected a physique-enhancing food source. Consumption of 150 red-spotted finches will increase Strength by 1 point."

Hutson froze, heart pounding.

"What…?"

One point of Strength was a massive boost. It meant the difference between a weakling and a warrior.

This world was far from ordinary.

Back on Earth, food had never possessed the power to fundamentally change one's physique.

Here, however, a single knight could effortlessly take on dozens of ordinary men.

Hutson's grip tightened around his meal, eyes gleaming with newfound determination.

"If eating finches makes me stronger…"

A plan began to form in his mind.

The hunt was far from over.

Baron Buck was not just a noble—he was a Great Knight, a warrior said to possess supernatural strength.

Hutson had never witnessed such power with his own eyes. Given that he had only been in this world for a short time since his reincarnation, he had always assumed these tales were nothing more than exaggerated rumors.

But now, he wasn't so sure.

After feasting on red-spotted finches and wild hares, for the first time since arriving in this world, Hutson experienced true satiety.

"The feeling of being full… it's incredible."

With a contented sigh, he collapsed onto his straw bed, the warmth of the meal settling in his belly. Sleep claimed him almost instantly.

At dawn, after finishing his chores, Hutson slung his longbow over his back and ventured once more into the forest.

This time, his goal was clear—hunt only red-spotted finches.

Yet, as he moved through the dense woodland, he remained attentive to the flora around him. Many of the plants here were unlike anything from his previous life. Unable to identify them, he devised a simple method of testing their properties.

Each time he encountered an unfamiliar plant, he would:

Rub a small amount on the back of his hand—if there was no reaction, he proceeded to the next step.Touch it lightly to his lips—allowing AI chip to analyze its composition.

Through this meticulous process, over the span of several days, Hutson made a discovery.

A peculiar plant with crimson leaves and fern-like tendrils had an unusual effect.

"Detected physique-enhancing food. Naming it 'Redleaf Fern.' Consuming ten pounds will increase Constitution by 1 point."

Over seven days, Hutson consumed:

200 red-spotted finches15 pounds of Redleaf Fern

"Query current physical status."

"Hutson Merlin: Strength 1.4, Agility 0.6, Constitution 1.4, Mental Power 1.2."

After eating 150 red-spotted finches, he reached a limit—his body had seemingly developed resistance to their effects. No matter how many more he consumed, his strength did not increase further.

The Redleaf Fern, however, was a different story. Its taste was bitter, almost unbearable, but Hutson forced himself to swallow every bite. Strength was worth the suffering.

Through experimentation, he noticed something intriguing—when both his Strength and Constitution increased, his Agility naturally rose by 0.1, even though his Mental Power remained unchanged.

Clenching his fists, he felt it—the raw, explosive energy coursing through his body.

Over time, Hutson's reputation began to spread.

Each time he ventured into the woods, he returned with an abundance of game. His consistent success earned him a new title—the Red-Spotted Finch Hunter.

The name came naturally. Every time he came back from a hunt, his body was draped in a string of freshly caught finches, swinging from his belt like a hunter's trophy.

But today, his routine was interrupted.

"Hutson, get out here!"

A deep, familiar voice echoed from outside his hut.

Old Henry was calling.