Chapter 5

Since moving to this world, today marks the fifth day. Although it would be more accurate to say that he is still in a state of being stranded rather than living, Yū was thoroughly enjoying his life in this unknown world.

Living without the conveniences of civilization was indeed difficult and painful, but the knowledge he was gradually accumulating and the power he had gained were even more intriguing.

From then on, Yū had come to understand three things.

The first was about the ability he had acquired. Specifically, the power to distinguish poisons and absorb the abilities of what he ate. This power was incredibly strong in this environment, but it seemed that it was not omnipotent. Yū learned this the hard way when he suffered from a stomachache, realizing that the power could not detect hygiene issues. Additionally, it seemed that not everything he ate would grant him new abilities. Whether it was due to insufficient quantity or some other reason, he could not determine. However, since the day after his fall, Yū had not awakened to any new abilities.

The second was about the strange yellow fruit-bearing tree. After conducting some investigations, Yū visited the tree that bore the yellow fruit. He discovered several things. First, the tree always grew on steep slopes. The bark was so smooth it was as if it had been coated with oil, making it almost impossible to grab. While such a tree might exist on Earth, the fruit was undoubtedly from another world. The most striking difference was that the fruit emitted an unusual "charm" that attracted living beings. The purpose of this charm was to lure creatures to the dangerous cliff and cause them to fall.

The roots of the tree extended all the way down to the bottom of the cliff, and it seemed to feed on the fallen creatures. This eerie ecosystem made Yū shudder. After all, if he had not awakened to the hard aura, he himself would have become the tree's nourishment.

However, not everything about the tree was negative. This was the third piece of knowledge.

"Here it comes, here it comes."

Yū, who had been focusing his mind, stared into the depths of the bushes and muttered. He crouched low, gripping the axe he had made by inserting a split stone into a wooden stick. As Yū prepared for battle, a shadow emerged from the bushes, accompanied by the sound of rustling grass. It was a small animal, about the size of a rabbit, with sharp horns. Yū's keen eyesight caught the creature as it approached at high speed. He confirmed its form and swung the axe down.

The axe struck the unicorn's forehead, crushing its head. The small animal twitched slightly but its movements were already meaningless.

Yū's third discovery was this "lure" ability. Small animals are usually cautious, but despite its small size, the unicorn had charged straight at Yū. The reason for this was the effect of the second ability Yū had acquired, which he had gained by absorbing the fruit's power. However, this was not a gentle charm.

"This is more like a 'lure' than a 'charm.'"

It was a force that appealed to hunger and primal desires. With this power, even small animals and herbivores would attack Yū without hesitation. When Yū activated this ability, he appeared to be a very attractive source of food to the targeted creatures. The state of the creatures under the influence of this ability was extraordinary— even now, with its head crushed, the unicorn seemed to be crawling towards Yū.

"Complicated, huh?"

Yū had some resistance to killing small animals with his own hands, but this was the law of the jungle. It was necessary to survive in nature. He severed the neck to finish the job and tied the legs with vines to hang it from a tree. This was not out of some perverse hobby but to drain the blood. Wild animals often have a gamey taste if the blood is not drained while the heart is still beating. By doing this, the meat would be more delicious.

The cute face of the animal, now hanging, resembled frozen beef. As it hung there, Yū's perception shifted from seeing it as an animal to seeing it as food.

"But I'm excited! This is the first time I can eat meat since coming here!"

Even though Yū had unusual food preferences, he was still a high school boy. Meat was his favorite. He was overjoyed to have obtained some meat. He wondered what to cook. Grilling it would be good, or maybe boiling it. Seeing the animal now completely transformed into meat, Yū was very pleased.

"If only I had gotten salt earlier."

Since there was a sea, it was probably possible to obtain salt. As his thoughts turned to seasoning, something happened.

"────!"

It was a small, tickling "voice." It was not the sound of an insect or an animal. It was a voice filled with emotion, a cry of fear in a moment of crisis—

"It's a human voice...!"

The voice of a fellow living being. A human voice. Yū, who had been squatting in satisfaction, immediately stood up. He glared in the direction of the voice and gritted his teeth. The voice clearly indicated danger. Something must have happened to the person who made the sound, and it was easy to deduce that they needed help. However, Yū hesitated.

If the scream was due to being attacked by a large animal, there was a risk that the danger could extend to Yū. After all, he had a second chance at life after his supposed death. He was reluctant to take risks for someone he didn't know, someone who might not even be human.

However, Yū swallowed hard and started walking. If he could rationalize it, it would have been easier. He gripped the stone axe, unaware of his own awkwardness.

"I have the hard aura. I can at least check the situation, right?"

With these words to motivate himself, Yū began to walk cautiously. If there was a large animal, like a bear, could he survive? The hard aura aside, a simple stone tool would not penetrate fur. As Yū approached the voice, the image of an unseen monster grew larger in his mind. But at a certain point, the image began to shrink.

"…This direction…?"

He recognized the scenery as he walked. This place was unforgettable to Yū. After all, it was where he had nearly died when he first arrived.

"Of course, it's the place with that fruit…!"

The cliff where the "lure" fruit grew. If that was the case, he could guess what had happened to the person who made the sound.

"But, if that's the case, I can't just relax…"

Yū exhaled, relieved that the worst-case scenario he had feared had been avoided. But he quickly reminded himself that the situation was not good. If the voice came from this place, it meant someone else had experienced the same fate as he did.

Indeed, a glint caught Yū's eye in the forest.

"A girl?"

The source of the glint was silver hair with gentle waves. At the bottom of the cliff, a girl was lying down. It seemed that what he had suspected had indeed happened. The girl, lying on her back, did not move. Yū hurried to her side.

—Upon closer inspection, the girl was very beautiful. No, she was cute. Without any makeup, her youthful and well-proportioned face retained a childlike quality that made her seem more like a girl than a woman.

"Hey, are you okay!"

But now was not the time to be thinking about that. Yū immediately called out to the girl. …There was no response. Her chest moved weakly, indicating that she was still breathing.

"Damn, really… What should I do?"

Yū could only determine that she was alive. He had no idea what specific condition she was in. He cursed to ease his frustration. If she had hit her head, it would be better not to move her. Given her lack of consciousness, this was a likely scenario. Yū had this much knowledge.

On the other hand, he couldn't just leave her. Her leg was bent in a direction that no human limb should be. If left untreated, she would weaken and die.

"I can't just stand here."

If he did nothing, it would be the same as letting her die. Even if it didn't help, he would do his best. This resolve made Yū carry the girl on his back.

◆

"…She's not waking up."

Yū, poking the fire, muttered this aimless phrase for the umpteenth time, glancing at the girl lying beside him. It had been a long time since the sun had set. It must have been seven or eight hours. The girl continued to breathe but did not wake up. The smell of the boiling meat, mixed with water, was distant, and Yū was restless.

"But… I've never seen silver hair before."

There was still time before the meat was ready. Just waiting was difficult, so Yū found himself staring at the girl. The first thing that caught his attention was her silver hair, which glowed in the firelight, emitting a mysterious light. While white hair was familiar, the platinum-like shine of her silver hair was a beauty he had never seen before.

Additionally, the girl's face, which he had not had the chance to notice earlier, was very cute. Her otherworldly beauty reminded him that he was in a different world.

…One more thing. Yū was curious about the girl's clothing. The design suggested a culture.

"If this girl wasn't transferred to this world, it means this world has a culture."

This implied that there were people in this world, not just a few but enough to form villages, countries, and cultures. The scent of culture gave Yū a sense of relief.

"Alright, it should be ready."

As he reached a conclusion, he realized the meat was boiling. Thanks to the good preparation, the soup in the pot was clear, though it had a yellowish tint from the fat and essence. A layer of oil floated on the surface, making it look appetizing. However, the smell—

"Yeah, well, I kind of expected it."

It was pungent. Yū grumbled. The closest smell he could think of was that of a zoo. The overwhelming, nose-irritating odor was one of the things Yū had anticipated. He had tried to mask it with the leaves of coniferous trees, but the effect was only moderate. The animal smell was not completely eliminated.

Yū cautiously sipped the soup. The zoo-like smell spread in his mouth. It was not particularly appetizing, but for Yū, who was used to wild ingredients, it was just another "flavor." Compared to raccoon dogs, this was not too bad. The faint saltiness was a fresh taste since coming to this world. The nutrient-rich soup was not delicious but not unbearable.

And—

"The umami is strong. It's not an armadillo… no, a squirrel…?"

Despite the strong smell, the taste itself was good. A gentle sweetness, probably from the fat, pressed against his cheeks. Adding the coniferous leaves was a good decision. The pine needles, when boiled, not only added a pleasant aroma but also provided nutrients. While not pine needles, the leaves of this coniferous-like tree had a similar effect.

The mixed colors of the first dish with more than two ingredients in this new world gave Yū a sense of satisfaction. The warmth of the dish made him sigh in relief. But his sharp eyes immediately turned to the bento box. The main dish was still to come. With a plastic chopstick, he scooped up a piece of meat with a thick layer of fat. The fat was well-cooked, trembling like a self-proclaimed slime.

Despite the smell, Yū slowly brought it to his mouth.

"…!"

Indeed, he was not wrong. The fat, which broke with a slight pressure, spread a sweetness in his mouth. His nose was slightly irritated, but the sweetness of the fat—more than anything, the power of eating meat after a long time—made Yū exclaim.

"Delicious…!"

To be honest, it was not a taste that could surpass the hundred-yen pork sold in supermarkets. But the nutrients he lacked, the taste of meat that a teenage boy needed most, and the weight of the meat were stimulating his happy nerves. The coniferous leaves he had added casually also added a good flavor. The pine-like aroma not only suppressed the smell but also provided a refreshing, crunchy texture.

The meat of the unicorn was not a good ingredient, but the soup was a well-prepared dish.

"Ah… Meat is really good."

Just one bite and one sip made Yū smile. If he could taste it more calmly, he might not be able to ignore the smell. Before that happened, he decided to finish eating. Yū lowered his chopsticks for the second bite. But—

His chopsticks stopped at the surface of the soup. Why did he suddenly look that way?

"…!?"

He froze, spotting an unknown creature on the other side of the bowl. It felt like a lake he had been swimming in suddenly turned to ice. …In front of Yū was a beast. A quadrupedal animal about a hundred centimeters tall, with a long, wolf-like face and golden-yellow fur that flared like flames on its limbs.

No, it was not fur. It was fire. The wolf-like beast was enveloped in flames, making its outline stand out in the dark forest.

"…!"

He held his breath but could not move. He had not completely ruled out the possibility of encountering a large beast, but the busyness of daily life, the injured girl, and the routine had pushed this possibility to the back of his mind. A large beast. One of the terrifying possibilities. It was clearly aware of Yū.

He could not win.