Chapter 7

Finding a stone just the right size to sit on, I crouched down, keeping a wary eye on my surroundings. Here, I needed to reconsider my plans for the future.

According to the plan, I would use the 'Search' skill to gather items from the deceased transferees and improve my equipment. Ideally, I would also find some food or water. With raisins, I shouldn't starve for a while, even if I can't be too picky.

It's a shrewd method, but I'm desperate to survive. Besides, this isn't a world where one can afford to be concerned with appearances or niceties.

I obtained the item box as planned, but I'm not entirely satisfied with the result. I also learned some unwanted information.

"Can you take items from the dead?"

What would the other transferees think if they knew this? If they think like me, it might be fine. But can I really say that no one would kill others to obtain powerful weapons or tools?

"I wanted allies, but it seems to be on hold."

I planned to head towards the points where the 'Search' skill reacted and join up with any surviving transferees. I thought this would be the best way to increase my chances of survival.

However, now that I know items can be taken, I don't think it's wise to approach survivors so easily. If I do make contact, I should observe and assess them first.

"Let's think about this later. There are two."

The threads I had set up, wrapped around the surrounding trees and laid low, reacted.

I had set the threads at about the height of a person's ankle, and now something had touched them. The 'Thread User' skill allows me to manipulate threads, but I don't have a sense of touch when they touch something. However, by circulating 'Qi,' I can get a vague sense, almost like touch.

"The point isn't getting closer. So, it must be a first encounter."

I can tell that something is gradually approaching the threads I had extended in a spiral. Since there's no reaction from the student handbook, it's not a transferee.

The stick in my right hand, less than a meter long, is my weapon. It's not very reliable, but I have to make do with it.

The sensation of something stepping on the thread I had set up a little ahead of the large tree in front of me reached me, and I crouched, ready to move at a moment's notice.

With a rustling sound, a strange creature appeared, parting and crushing the grass.

It had long, pointed ears and nose, and sharp fangs visible from a mouth that split to the cheeks. It wore animal skin around its waist and held a club thicker and sturdier than the stick I had.

It was only as tall as my chest, which is nearly 180 cm. Its skin color was a deep green, but it was hard to see clearly because it was dirty with mud.

"Is it a goblin?"

It looked like a goblin I had seen in novel illustrations or games. Two of them were slowly approaching.

Though they look ugly, it's too early to judge them as enemies. I've read many stories where goblins are intelligent and have normal personalities. The fact that 'Goblin Language' was listed on the skill chart suggests that communication might be possible.

"Um, I don't want to fight."

I thrust the stick into the ground and raised my arms slightly to show I had no intention of fighting. I managed to smile and speak, but the goblins kept their clubs at the ready.

"Ah, do you understand human language?"

I took a chance that they might understand human language, but they seemed to become even more wary, ready to pounce at any moment.

"Well, I guess that's it."

As I said this, the two goblins collapsed to the ground, their bodies entangled in multiple layers of threads.

"It worked better than I thought."

I had gathered the threads I had set up around the area at the goblins' feet and wrapped them up all at once. The pose of not wanting to fight and speaking to them were to draw their attention. If this simple plan had failed, I intended to buy time by setting up countless threads between us and then escape.

The threads, infused with 'Qi,' had the strength of fishing line, so it would be impossible for an adult human to tear them off once they were wrapped around the body. The goblins' strength didn't seem to be anything to fear excessively.

"Looks like we can't talk, so... well, it's not bad. I'll have to kill you."

I glared at the goblin that wasn't the first one to appear, the one holding the club.

In its left hand was a human right arm with bite marks. A metal wristwatch on the wrist confirmed it belonged to a transferee.

"Sure enough, this isn't a gentle world."

I stared at the goblin's hanging corpse from a tree branch and let out a small sigh.

Looking at the motionless corpse, I was trying to suppress my nausea.

Killing something, even if it's a strange creature, is different from killing a small insect. I think only someone who is broken can remain calm after their first kill. But as I've read in some books, people can adapt to their environment and get used to things more than they think. Based on my life experience, I agree that people can get used to things, even if the situation is different.

"I need to stop being scared and afraid now..."

I confirmed that the green-skinned creature, which I assumed was a goblin, was no longer breathing and touched its skin.

"The skin is hard. It seems like a knife would have to be very sharp to penetrate it."

Strangling them with threads might have been the right choice.

I tried activating 'Explain,' but no information about the goblin appeared. It seems to only work on items and skills listed on the skill chart.

"In such cases, you usually have to cut them open to take materials."

I had no knife, and I didn't know what materials I could take. Besides, I didn't have the courage to cut open a corpse, which was just as well.

"Huh?"

As I carefully examined the goblin's body, it began to glow.

"Whoa!?"

I jumped back and hid behind a large tree, peeking out cautiously.

The goblin's body turned into particles of light and dissolved into the air. A few seconds later, only the threads hanging from the branch remained, and the goblin's body had completely disappeared.

It seemed like the light particles were absorbed into me, but maybe it was just my imagination.

At my feet were the fur it wore, the club, and the partially eaten arm. There was also something else that hadn't been there before.

"Is this a small gem...?"

I picked up the dirty, thumb-sized gem. Looking closely, it seemed to have low value if it was a gem at all.

"In such cases, this is 'Explain.'"

Information about the gem-like object flowed into my mind.

'Magic Stone' (A stone filled with magic power. Dropped by monsters when they die. The stronger the monster, the larger and more beautiful the magic stone.)

"So, this world has a magic stone system. It's convenient that I don't have to disassemble anything."

The 'Magic Stone' was listed in the item section of the skill chart, so I was right. It's a common trope that monsters are made of magic power and turn into magic stones when killed.

So, the phenomenon I just witnessed...

"I see..."

I took out the student handbook from the empty slot in the 'Item Box' and opened the page with my status and skills.

My level had increased to 2, and my skill points had increased from 4 to 24. It seems that I gained 20 skill points by leveling up to 2.

There was also a new item listed.

'Status Points 2'

It seems that status doesn't automatically increase with level up. I have to allocate the points myself. Only 2 points, but I'll think about it later.

With only 20 more skill points, I can't easily increase skill levels.

I touched the words 'Thread User' to check the required points again.

"Huh, it's decreased?"

The skill points needed to level up were significantly lower than the last time I checked.

"So, if I use the skill, the required points decrease?"

I touched 'Qi,' 'Search,' and 'Consumption Reduction,' and the required points were indeed lower.

"Ah, if I use the skill enough, I can level up without spending points."

This is a significant discovery. I can level up skills without killing monsters. I should use skills frequently, but not too much.

While searching for new static points and keeping a wary eye on my surroundings, I'll level up my skills. If the enemy is few and I can win, I'll fight; if they're strong, I'll run.

This will be my strategy from now on.

The next closest point is northwest of here—northwest?

Why can I tell the direction? I can confidently say I don't have the directional sense to determine direction from the sun's position.

But somehow, the direction appeared in my mind. It must be the effect of the 'Search' skill. Knowing the direction is better, and it's even helpful.

This direction is where the goblins came from... I expect a rather grotesque scene, but I have to go.

I used the threads to remove the wristwatch from the transferee's severed arm and wrapped it around my left hand.

"It might not be the same time, but just in case."

I gripped the club, which was like a thick wooden bat, in my right hand and headed towards the point.

There are two other points in the southwest direction. They are constantly moving, so it seems the surviving transferees have teamed up.

If I can't survive alone, I'll join them, but I'll observe from a distance and assess them carefully.

After walking for a while, a faint, unpleasant smell wafted through the air.

By the third time, I should be used to it, but I don't think I should get used to this smell.

As I got closer to the point, the smell of blood became stronger. The goblins carrying body parts suggest that's what I'll find.

The forest thinned out, and the area ahead was a grassy plain with grass no taller than my ankles. The open view made it dangerous as I could be easily spotted by monsters or transferees, but I had no choice but to proceed.

I activated 'Search,' but there was no reaction nearby.

I couldn't see any monsters in the visible range.

I used 'Qi' to search the surroundings but didn't get the typical "I can sense the enemy's presence!" feeling from manga or anime. Maybe I'll be able to use it for that purpose if I level up more.

To be safe, I sent the threads ahead to check for traps or hidden monsters.

"Nothing."

I crouched, hoping my green hoodie would blend in, and hurried towards the point.

As I got close, I felt something squishy under my foot.

"I don't want to see it, but I can't waste time..."

I steeled myself and looked down. My worst fears were confirmed; there were countless pieces of flesh scattered around.

The white, meat-stained parts are probably bones. Oh, okay, I can do this!

The long, wavy thing is something I often see at Korean BBQ when I order hormone meat.

Anyway, I have to get to the point.

I kept my eyes on the ground and spread threads around to move towards the point.

The grass was covered in dried blood, and the smell of blood was overwhelming. If this were an enclosed space, it would be a nauseating stench, but being outdoors helped.

I reached the search point and looked at the location of the point—our eyes met.

I stared into the eyes of a severed head, its mouth open wide, drooling.

"Ugh."

I had expected it, but being prepared doesn't mean I wouldn't be surprised. I praised myself for not screaming out loud.

He looked to be in his early twenties, with a plain face and short hair.

There was no reason to keep staring, so I looked away and searched for the student handbook. The point was definitely here, but there was only dried blood and flesh, no student handbook in sight.

So, it must be under the flesh or the severed head.

I used the threads to push aside the flesh and the head and picked up the student handbook from underneath.

I took out a piece of sewing cloth, wiped the blood off as I did with the first one, and opened it.

I quickly glanced at the name, age, and gender. That information wasn't particularly necessary.

He hadn't allocated any points to his status except for 'Vitality.' So, he must have died by his own hand. The goblins didn't kill him; they just ate his corpse.

"He focused on skills rather than status."

There were quite a few skills listed in the skill section.

'Agriculture,' 'Plant User,' 'Consumption Reduction,' 'Appraisal,' 'Stealth,' 'Water User,' 'Common Language (Conversation)'

Ah, I see. He planned to focus on agriculture. He didn't allocate points to 'Explain.' The fact that he had the useless skill 'Appraisal,' which everyone gets stuck on, is proof.

So, what items did he have?

'Item Box'

The item box duplicated... Well, it's not bulky, and it can store twice as much, so I'll keep it. What else do I have?

'Complete Food Seeds'

I thought he might have some seeds, but what are these? Complete food means you can get all the necessary nutrients from one food, like sweet potatoes for dieting.

I might as well touch it to find out.

Hmm, these fruits are nutritious and high in calories, so one can sustain you for a whole day. They are drought-resistant and only need a little water. That's pretty good, but there's more to the explanation.

(However, it takes three months from planting the seeds for the plant to bear fruit.)

Of course. It's not that easy. There's also a 'Growth Accelerator,' which can triple the growth rate. If I use it, it will take about a month... It might be useful when I have a base. I'll put it in the new item box.

Wow! There are two more mithril weapons in the item section.

I might finally get the weapons I've been hoping for. Mithril, known for being stronger than steel and more beautiful than silver, is a familiar mineral. The performance seems fine.

However, 'Mithril Scythe' and 'Mithril Hoe'—they are farming tools.

The description confirms they are farming tools.

They have excellent sharpness and durability and shine brightly. They should make farming easier!

...I'll stop being sarcastic. But both have excellent sharpness, so they can be used as weapons. However, like skills, weapons have prerequisites.

'Mithril Scythe' (Equipment Level 20, Strength 20, Dexterity 30 required)

'Mithril Hoe' (Equipment Level 20, Strength 30, Dexterity 25 required)

High-performance weapons and armor obtained with skill points have the barriers of equipment level and ability values.

The higher the performance, the higher the required abilities and levels.

The item section of the skill chart listed many legendary weapons and armor with incredible abilities, most of which could be obtained for around 300 points. If I hadn't checked with 'Explain,' I would have wanted a few.

"Status is one thing, but the level is the problem."

I knew weapons and armor required high status, so I allocated many points to status increase, but I'm still far from the required level.

Even for non-combat weapons, the level is this high. There were also weapons that absorbed the opponent's life force and spirit, and swords that could cut through anything, but the required levels were—no need to say.

I'll pray that I can use them someday and search the surroundings for the item box, putting the seeds, scythe, and hoe inside.

I also paid my respects to the body of the person whose items I had taken.