Chapter 5

The forest isn't particularly dark, despite the high sun or perhaps because the trees are spaced widely apart.

"Still, I should get back early," he muttered to himself, marking nearby trees with his machete as he ventured deeper. The house was no longer in sight, but the knowledge and experience "installed" in his body allowed him to sense the direction home. He needed to gradually resolve the discrepancies in his mind.

In his work as a blacksmith, he was a complete novice in the "previous world." He believed he could handle most tasks with the "installed" knowledge and experience, but it was still a part of his memory that was missing. He had to resolve these discrepancies through daily work.

However, he wasn't particularly worried. He could feel the knowledge and experience gradually settling into his body as he explored the forest. Still, he couldn't predict when the discrepancies might resurface and he might lose his sense of direction, so he continued to mark the trees.

Along the way, he picked as many medicinal herbs as his pockets could hold, which he knew from his head could be used to reduce fevers and prevent infections. He was sure they were not available at home. "Reliable medicinal herbs" were undoubtedly valuable in this world, and this place might be a good spot.

After about an hour, as indicated by his internal clock, he heard the sound of water. It seemed he had found a valuable water source in this world. Following the sound, he found a lake. The side where he stood appeared to be the downstream, and he could see a river flowing out in the distance.

The opposite shore was not visible from here, so it must be a fairly large lake. If he had come straight here without stopping to search for herbs and other things, it would have taken him about 15 minutes. This would likely solve the water problem. He might need to make several trips each day, but considering he would spend most of his time at the house, it would be good exercise. He wanted to make it a daily routine starting tomorrow.

He peered into the lake. It was hard to tell from the reflection in the water, but it seemed he was about 30 years old, as he had hoped. Given that he was a skilled blacksmith (or so he thought, with the "installed" experience and knowledge), and that he had recently moved, it wouldn't make sense if he were in his twenties.

He needed a cover story, something like a blacksmith who had come to this place after completing his training and fleeing from something. Without such a story, he would seem suspicious, and even with one, he would still seem somewhat suspicious.

His body told him it was still early in the day, so he continued to explore the lakeside. As he walked along the water's edge, stopping occasionally to peer into the water, he made several discoveries.

First, there were low shrubs with berries similar to strawberries and tall trees with fruits like apples. According to the "installed" knowledge, these fruits were edible. He had enough food supplies and no tools to carry them back, so he decided to leave them for today.

Looking closely into the water, it seemed the lake was fed by a spring. Although he couldn't see it from here, there might be a mountain somewhere nearby. The water was clear, and fish were living in it. He had no fishing or hunting tools, so he didn't catch anything today. It would be a future pleasure, but he wondered if he would have time to enjoy fishing or hunting as a blacksmith.

Since he would earn his living as a blacksmith, it was natural that he would be too busy for such leisure. If he became that busy, he could set a regular day off and come on that day. A slow life was better than being a workaholic.

As his body told him it was a good time, he thought about heading back soon when he noticed something lying in the shadows of the grass. It was about 150 cm long.

If it were a regular animal, it would be quite large. He approached it cautiously.

It was hard to see in the shadows, but the head looked like a dog or a cat, and the overall silhouette was human-like. Seeing the shoulder move roughly, he approached more quickly. He could hear his footsteps, but the animal continued to breathe heavily and didn't move.

When he got close enough to reach it, he saw the full picture. It wasn't an animal, but a beastkin with a tiger-like head.

The body, covered in leather armor, was slender but well-muscled, with wounds all over. Despite lying face down, he could see the leather armor on the side of the abdomen was torn, and the area around it was dark red. It was clearly a deep wound, even without the "installed" knowledge.

"This needs to be moved right away," he said, lifting the figure from the front. He was surprised to find a more prominent chest under the leather armor than he had expected.

He was startled, but there was no time for that, so he put his head under the armpit and lifted the entire body onto his shoulder, a "fireman's carry" in the previous world.

"If you were a girl, a princess carry would be more romantic, but this is faster. Sorry, bear with it."

He was surprised that he could lift the figure so easily, but he hurried back to the "house."