Chapter 3: Monster's Meat is Juicy! Let's Hunt

The second day.

Jin woke up inside his so-called 'dirt mansion,' a simple shelter he had carved into a hillside using his newfound strength. Though crude, it had kept him warm through the night. Stretching his arms, he sat up and let out a yawn, the stiffness in his muscles reminding him of all the foraging and fire-making from the previous day.

His stomach growled. The berries had kept him from starving, but they weren't enough. He needed something more substantial—something with real protein.

He sighed, looking at his hands.

"If only I had some water to wash my face…"

That's when an idea struck him. If he could create fire through sheer will, then maybe—

He held out his palm and focused. Water. The image of fresh, clean liquid forming in his hands. He concentrated on the cool sensation, the gentle weight of it pooling in his palm.

A droplet appeared.

It was small—barely more than a bead of moisture—but it was there. Encouraged, he pushed harder, visualizing a small stream. The droplet stretched, then fell, splashing against his hand.

Skill Acquired: Basic Water (Magic)

Effect: A small stream of water for daily life magic

Jin's eyes widened.

"I actually did it."

It wasn't much, but it was a start. He flicked the moisture over his face, refreshing himself as best he could. His magic was still weak, but if fire had worked, then water would eventually come, too.

For now, though, his hunger took priority. Fruits and plants wouldn't cut it anymore. He needed meat.

Determined, he stepped out into the forest, ready for his first hunt.

——

Jin moved cautiously through the trees, scanning his surroundings. The forest was alive with movement—birds flitting between branches, small critters scurrying across the underbrush. Then, something caught his eye.

Jin crouched low behind a thick bush, steadying his breath as he observed his first potential prey. A creature hopped into view—a rabbit, or at least, something resembling one. Its brown fur blended well with the underbrush, and if not for the glint of its curved, sharp horn, he might have mistaken it for a normal animal. A translucent screen appeared before him.

[Horned Rabbit]

Level: 3 Traits: Agile, Aggressive, Piercing Horn Status: Unaware

"A rabbit… with a weapon attached to its head. Great." Jin muttered, feeling both excited and nervous.

A rustling sound made him glance to the side. Just beyond the clearing, he spotted a deer-like creature grazing among the trees. However, when he instinctively used Appraisal, his eyes widened.

[Forest Stag]

Level: 16 Traits: High Endurance, Quick Reflexes, Territorial Status: Passive

Jin gulped. Yeah, definitely not picking a fight with that. His eyes returned to the horned rabbit. Compared to the stag, this was much more reasonable prey… but still, this was his first hunt, his first real fight. The idea of taking a life—even if it was a monster—left him hesitant.

Is this really different from hunting animals back on Earth? Or is this just a fantasy world's way of saying 'kill or be killed'?

He shook off his doubts. If he wanted to survive, he had to adapt.

Gripping a sturdy branch he had picked up earlier, he inched forward. The plan was simple—strike fast before the rabbit had a chance to react. He readied himself, coiled his muscles, then lunged forward.

The horned rabbit's ears twitched. Before Jin's swing could connect, the creature bolted, moving faster than he expected. He barely had time to react before it spun mid-air and lunged at him, horn-first.

"Shit—!"

Jin twisted his body, narrowly dodging the charge. The rabbit's horn grazed past his side, cutting through his shirt. His heart pounded. This thing isn't just fast—it's trying to skewer me!

The rabbit landed and immediately pivoted; its beady red eyes locked onto him. Without hesitation, it charged again. This time, Jin didn't try to dodge. Instead, he tightened his grip on the branch, steadied his stance, and swung with all his might.

CRACK!

The branch collided with the side of the rabbit's head, sending it tumbling across the ground. Jin rushed forward before it could recover, raising his weapon for a finishing blow. The rabbit weakly kicked its legs, trying to rise, but Jin brought the branch down one last time. The creature twitched… then fell still.

Panting, he stepped back, staring at his handiwork. His hands trembled slightly, and he couldn't tell if it was from adrenaline or something else. This wasn't just a fight—it was his first kill.

Was it an animal? A monster? Did it even matter?

A familiar chime rang in his head, followed by a notification window.

[You have defeated a Horned Rabbit! Exp Gained.]
[Level Up! You are now Level 2.]

Jin blinked. A strange sluggishness washed over him for a moment before a surge of energy followed. His body felt… different. Stronger?

He quickly pulled up his status window, eyes scanning the changes.

[Jin]

Level: 2 Strength: Increased Agility: Increased HP & MP Fully Restored

He exhaled sharply, his mind reeling. "I just… leveled up? Just like that?"

A grin tugged at his lips. "This is totally a fantasy game…"

His stomach growled again, bringing him back to reality. He eyed the fallen rabbit.

"…Well, I did say I needed food."

With a mix of hesitation and determination, he knelt down, ready to make use of his first hunt.

Tonight, he was eating monster meat.

Now came the next problem—dismembered the rabbit. Skinning and butchering an animal were something he had only ever seen in videos. With no knife, he had to improvise. The horn of the rabbit was sturdy and sharp enough to be a potential tool. Using a flat stone, he managed to pry the horn free, then used it to carefully cut into the rabbit's hide. The process was messy and slow, but eventually, he had raw meat ready to cook.

Then, an idea struck him.

A weapon. The horn was strong—too strong for just a simple cutting tool. He needed something better for future hunts and self-defense.

Jin found a long, sturdy stick and tried tying the horn to its end using vines, but it kept coming loose. He tried different bindings, different stick lengths—each attempt failed miserably. Frustration built up as he struggled with his crude crafting.

Then, something unexpected happened.

As he gritted his teeth, gripping the broken attempt in his hands, a strange sensation filled his chest. His mana pulsed—an invisible energy seeping into the ground. Without conscious thought, an image of a spear formed in his mind. At that moment, the nearby tree roots shifted, stretching out and intertwining with the horn.

Jin staggered back as the roots wove together seamlessly, reinforcing the weapon's shaft. When the process finished, he was left holding a perfectly balanced spear, its grip firm and natural in his hands.

He swallowed hard and used Appraisal.

— [Horned Root Spear]

Damage: +50 A spear formed through a fusion of natural magic and low-quality monster material. The infused horn enhances piercing ability.

P/s: A crude creation by a novice, yet imbued with surprising potential.

—

Jin stared at the status screen, dumbfounded. He had accidentally created a weapon with magical properties.

"This… is insane."

A slow smile crept onto his face. The hunt had been a challenge, but this—this was a breakthrough. He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was evolving.

And this forest… it was far more than it seemed.