Chapter 19

"Everyone can do something simple to become stronger.

That is, not talking during battles.

Don't open your mouth.

Those who start chatting during a fight will end up with a half-assed strength and a death like scum.

But doesn't Roll talk a lot? Why do you think that is?"

Indeed.

During the battle in the previous mission, Roll seemed to talk to me quite a bit.

Why?

"…I don't know."

"It's because if you don't talk, you can't convey what you want to say.

What your partner wants to do, how they will move next.

Feel it without conversation."

"Yes!"

The first day of training started with a lecture.

Sigh was a good teacher.

He gave me insightful talks.

I took notes on Sigh's words desperately.

I don't want to forget them.

Sigh said, "You don't need to take notes; we'll talk about the important points again when you notice them," but I had to take notes to remember his valuable words.

It seems a bit embarrassing for Sigh to have his words noted down, and he has been glancing at my notebook from time to time.

He seems to have a slightly shy side.

My image of Sigh as a heartless person had already been dispelled.

It's hard to tell, but he is quite emotional.

After a while, Sigh's lecture ended, and we headed to the lake with our belongings.

The lake is only about a five-minute walk from here.

It's close to sunset.

The sun is gradually setting, heading toward the horizon.

Though the horizon isn't visible.

As we approached the lake, Sigh crouched low and moved slowly.

He then turned and gestured for me to come closer.

What's there? I can't tell with my below-average hearing.

It feels like being blindfolded.

I moved next to Sigh and, following his example, peeked through the bushes.

There, a vast lake spread out.

The shore was so far away that it couldn't be seen.

The lake, reflecting the glittering sunlight, was beautiful.

Sigh nudged me with his elbow, and I changed my gaze.

There, a single beast was drinking water by the lake.

That's definitely... a Crimson Puma...!

It's not that big, but it's a highly dangerous beast.

A carnivore, it's at the top of the ecosystem in the Basara Forest.

Probably, that's why the lake is so quiet.

There should be more beasts around a water source.

"The important thing is to assess what is truly dangerous.

Many things that seem dangerous are not actually that dangerous."

Sigh said this in a whisper, looking at me as I stared at the Crimson Puma.

If that's the case, the Crimson Puma is definitely dangerous.

"…Can you see the diagonal rear of the Crimson Puma?"

I shifted my gaze as he said.

But there was only the underbrush...

"…!"

No, there is something.

Something is watching from the underbrush... Not one, but several.

They are even higher in the ecosystem, targeting the Crimson Puma!

The Crimson Puma is drinking water while being cautious of its surroundings.

However, when it takes another sip, its life ends.

Four Basara Wolves leap out from the underbrush.

The Crimson Puma reacts quickly, but it's outnumbered.

With a scream, it is quickly killed.

The Crimson Puma, now a mass of meat, is dragged away by the Basara Wolves into the underbrush.

Sigh finally stands up.

I am overwhelmed by the scene and can't stand up for a while.

"When I see such a scene, I truly think this forest is the best place to hone oneself.

High-level battles usually end with a single decisive strike.

The one who spots the enemy first wins.

In battle, don't give up the first move. Don't hesitate.

Deliver a decisive, no-nonsense strike from the first attack."

"I understand."

"Alright," Sigh continued.

She stepped out of the underbrush to the lakeside and put down the small backpack she was carrying.

"Take everything out of this backpack."

"Eh? Why?"

"Just do it."

"...I understand."

As instructed, I took out the contents of the backpack one by one.

First, three survival knives and a machete appeared.

There are small and large survival knives, all wrapped in leather holders.

Next came cans.

Food. Enough for about two days.

Then a small box. Inside was a sewing kit.

There was also the encyclopedia I had been reading in the car and helicopter, a plant guide for the Basara Forest, a lighter, salt, and a compass.

Everything was thrown into the backpack haphazardly.

And the final item from the backpack's side pocket was a book titled "Survival Life from Scratch."

"..."

I already know what I'm going to be made to do.

"Good, put them back."

As Sigh said, I put everything back into the backpack.

"Put the backpack on."

I did as instructed.

"...Sigh.

I have a really bad feeling about this."

"Shizukane.

To be honest, I'm worried you might die.

But understand, I want to make you stronger.

You didn't think you could become strong without any risk, did you?"

"I'm sorry, what are you saying..."

"Ideally, it should take no more than four days, but I'll wait a month if necessary. Good luck.

Now, go."

Smack.

My butt was slapped by Sigh.

It wasn't a particularly hard slap.

But my body took off.

Yes, I flew.

"Uwaaaaaah!!!"

I flew over the lake at an incredible speed.

Several large fish jumped out of the lake, aiming at me. I narrowly avoided them and continued flying.

Splashes rose from various spots on the lake.

"Aaaaaah!!! Stay back!!! I'll die! I'll die!"

After flying for a while, even after crossing the lake, I continued to fly.

I covered my face.

My exposed skin was being cut by the grass and trees.

That guy, he really did it.

I said I'd do anything.

My motivation is high.

But this is too much, right!?

If I die, there's no point in training!

While crashing through the trees, I amplified my voice and screamed.

If a beast attacks me in this situation, it's over.

I'm screaming to warn and express my anger.

Sigh, who is probably far away, can probably hear me too.

The tuxedo Roll tailored for me is already in tatters.

I feel like crying.

After a while, the momentum finally slowed down.

I got closer to the ground.

When my feet touched the ground, I landed softly.

"Haa... haa..."

Exhausted from screaming, I put my hands on my knees and panted.

This is bad. My legs are shaking.

I slapped my thighs a few times and managed to stop the shaking.

I took out the compass from the backpack.

I flew from that direction. East.

I flew quite a distance.

How far?

I don't know.

Damn, can I even get back?

The sun is about to set. This is bad, very bad.

If I'm in this state at night, I'll be attacked by beasts.

I can't keep screaming all day, and I'm already quite tired from using my ability too much.

My throat is dry.

I need to drink some water. I need to calm down.

Thinking this, I searched the backpack and realized there was no water.

"Sigh, you bastard...!!!"

Sigh, that bastard, didn't put any water in!

Why not?

Put the water in before anything else!

Damn, Sigh...

Absolutely!

I will definitely get back at him someday.

I'll definitely peek at his bath!

I'll definitely do it!

To avoid despair in this situation, I burn with determination.

If I have the goal of peeping on Sigh's bath when I return to the cabin, I can push through anything.

"Phew."

I took a deep breath.

Calm down... calm down. Stay calm.

I don't want to waste my energy.

Think about surviving.

Since I made a lot of noise, I hope the beasts around here have been driven away to some extent.

I took out "Survival Life from Scratch" from the backpack's side pocket. I'll call it ZeroSaba for short.

What should I do first when I'm stranded?

As I was looking through the table of contents of ZeroSaba, I suddenly noticed it was getting dark.

Curious, I looked up at the sky.

There, a giant spider with a body length of at least 5 meters was spinning a web.

That's... a Jim King Spider.

The only spider species in the Basara Forest that spins webs.

It chases down any prey on the ground, even if it's not caught in the web, and is considered dangerous.

I could see several beasts wrapped in silk in the spider's web.

Eight lifeless eyes were fixed on me.

This is bad.

Before I could think, I grabbed my backpack and started running.