After walking for quite a while, around 3 minutes, Norn didn't find any signs of life.
It wasn't surprising, but he still felt that it was kinda strange that this forest had nothing but goblin.
What did the goblin eat? Berries? No wonder they are so weak then...
Some more time later, like 2 more minutes, Norn started trying to detect anything around him.
Obviously, he failed miserably.
Not only he couldn't do that, he also almost forgot to to feel mana in himself.
Thankfuly it wasn't as bad, as he finally saw some footprints.
He decided that it was the easiest way to find something in a forest just after looking around and listening.
Since he already was looking and listening he decided to do a third thing together.
His realization, however, was somewhat strange.
He didn't walk around checking the ground periodically, no, that would've been too easy.
He walked and constantly switched his gaze from ground to things around him.
It was as if he was a damn scanner machine that painted the whole place.
While it did look ridiculous, it was precisely why he found those footprints earlier.
He didn't know whose they were, but since they looked like they belonged to something that has hooves...
Why not chase that thing? What's the worst thing that can happen?
As such, he started following the footprints.
He didn't see anything too suspicious on the way, it was just a normal forest.
While yes, it was kinda quiet here, but it's not like he has been in any other forests in this world, maybe they were all like that?
Well, he hasn't been in any in his real life either...
He decided to focus on feeling mana around him and such.
As he realised that he used his head in the wrong way to solve that problem.
...
After some time he finally saw what he was following.
It was a boar.
He was somewhat lucky since if it was a deer or something that wasn't ready to fight him he would have little chances to slay it.
That boar didn't look any bigger than the previous one he saw.
It didn't have any tusks, it must be another female boar.
Norn, however, didn't see any piglets around it.
Maybe they were simply too far or something like that, it didn't really matter if she had them or not.
He wondered about it since it was just more free food.
He didn't know how to approach it or something like that, he wasn't a hunter after all.
His best take would be coming as close as he can and then just jumping.
However, he had something that he called a plan.
It was to injure one of its front legs so it wont be able to run that easily.
In Norn's head it was an easy way to kill it!
If it can't run or even walk, what can it do? Glare at him angrily?
As such, Norn knew steps he had to take to kill it. He didn't bother thinking about how he would get back with a boar in his hands.
It was a problem his future self would have to solve it on his own.
As he was walking around it he stepped on a branch and crushed it.
And, since that produces a sound... The boar spotted him.
Norn facepalmed himself in his mind, thinking that he cant do anything right...
However, instead of running away the boar charged Norn!
It was a pleasant and unpleasant surprise at the same time.
As he barely dodged the charge by jumping left he tried to graze the boar with his sword, but it didn't work as good as he imaged it would.
It's skin was too thick to be cut just like that, and it's not like it was even a proper hit.
The boar soon turned around and made another charge.
Norn didn't know what to do since it was first time fighting a boar.
Even his "genius" plan couldn't be used anymore, it didn't stop at all...
"No, wait, it does stop..."
He surrendly thought.
"I can just follow that boar after i dodge, and when it stops..."
As such, he had another plan in his mind.
Since the boar didn't have any eyes on it's back nor would it be able to hear him... hopefully... it'll work!
What chances does it have against such a mastermind?
None!
So, after succesfully dodging another charge Norn charged the boar!
They swapped places!
However, as Norn slashed it's back he found a problem...
It didn't do any damage to it.
Immediately after noticing it Norn decided to stab it, to not lose any initiative!
This time, it did work! He finally saw some blood, but as he was about to take back his sword...
The boar kicked him with it's back legs and ran away immediately after!
Norn lost his only weapon!
He thought that it's the end of this hunt, but the boar thought different.
It was arguably stupid, as such it decided to... charge Norn again.
Norn was extatic as he saw that boar turn around!
He already had a plan he could use, he saw in it movies and games!
He would run towards the boar, and since the sword is alredy inside of it...
He only needs to take a hold on it and enertia would do the rest!
Since the boar ran in a simple trajectory... It was so damn easy! In his mind, at least.
As such, Norn prepared to do the thing.
He stood like a damn cowboy waiting for a boar to be close enough so it couldn't turn in time...
As it happened... He held the sword, making a big hole in the boar!
It was a grievous wound, after crushing into a random tree in didn't move anymore.
Norn, however, wasn't without an injury either. His right hand that he used to grab the sword hurt as hell!
He could barely even move it, and he felt like he almost broke it or something!
But, it was his win! He killed the boar on his own!
However, another problem arose...
It wasn't in one piece now, meaning that he had to take out it's guts right here, otherwise they would just drag around...
Well, it's not as bad, it would make the boar weight less thus it would be easier to carry...
...
After a horribly long amount of time Norn was finally done.
He was now almost fully covered in either blood or something else he didn't want to know what.
Since he didn't have any to put his sword on and he used to carry it in his hand...
He simply stabbed the boar with it and left it there, an easy solution.
He tried lifting the boar but it was... just a bit harder than he imagined it would be.
It wasn't impossible, but was far from easy too.
He was surprised, since the boar was... Well, it was a damn boar!
It was heavy as hell! Does that mean that he's so strong?..
Well, not really. He collapsed after 5 meters or so.
It wasn't unexpected, he could barely even walk with that thing on his shoulders.
"Fuck you"
Norn kicked the boar to express his anger.
"Why couldn't you be closer to the fucking cave!? Why do i have to carry you all the way over there!?"
He wasn't even holding back, he screamed out loud every word that he thought would help.
"Wait..."
He thought after screaming for some time...
"Why dont i just tell goblins to carry it? It's not like it'll stop being mine..."
It was a great idea. Why bother doing something alone if you have underlings?
"But how the hell do i find it again..."
It was a problem. He didn't even know where exactly he was right now and oriented using his "feeling".
It wasn't always working, but it brought him to the cave once, who said it wont work twice?
As such, he started thinking of a way to make something that would he would see from far away...
It was too difficult. Making a campfire was unsafe since he could take too much time to bring goblins here, it might or might not still be lit...
So what should he do?..
"Right!"
Mana! Why cant he make something with mana! It was allpowerful, after all!
He was sure that he'll be able to come up with something that could serve as a beacon...
Thus, he started experimenting.
...
It was pointless. Not only he was unable to make anything but simple things, he couldn't even place them on the ground.
They just disappeared immediately after.
What joke his idea was!
As such, he decided to make a gamble as it was already long past midday, it will start to get dark soon.
After collecting some branches nearby he reaslised... It was still day, so what if he made a campfire?
Would he be able to see the fire in daylight?
No!
After a disappointed exhale he just stood there, thinking about life.
It didn't last for long, however, as it wasn't too big of a deal.
He got used to being disappointed in himself.
He decided to carry it on his back anyway, what other choice did he have, really?
He couldn't even be sure that some wild animals would just go around it if they found it...
As such, it was his only viable decision, he also thought about it as a form of training.
It was one, after all. As such, some time later he got a message:
[STR: +1]
[END: +1]
"Oh damn"
He was genuinly surprised at such a sight.
Was it that easy or something? If so, why didn't he get stats from training with mana?
He spent much more time doing that than carrying the boar...
So why did he get points for doing physical stuff, but didn't for magical related?..
Was it the effect of his skill or something?
He got it for doing physical exercises after all, so maybe it only applied to them...
Well, whatever it was - he was happy.
It meant that his stupidity was somewhat useful to him!
He could finally use his greatest card to profit!
As such, his moral rose and he started walking even faster, he was even less tired!
It was, of course, due to an increase in his stats...
...
After walking for god knows how much time he was finally there.
You might think that he would be extatic because of the amount of stats he got?
Yep... He got 2 in total! That's a lot, right?
"Fuck this world, fuck this pig, fuck this system, FUCK EVERYTHING"
He was saying all of that in his mind.
He has been walking for several hours at least, but he only got stats once.
It was almost fruitless.
He did succeed in bringing the boar back to the cave, so it wasn't all that bad.
However, it wasn't whole anymore. He ate some of it since he was too hungry.
He didn't even mind that it was probably filled with stuff he wouldn't want to eat...
But, hunger isn't something he could negotiate with.
It's not like he was stupid enough to do that, it's just that he thought that he had no other choice.
What if he collapsed and the boar dropped directly on him?
He could die because of that!
When he got inside of the cave he sawe Erika who was still sitting infront of the campfire.
She noticed him aswell, saying:
"A whole boar!?"
She didn't think that Norn was THAT strong! Since it took him so long it must've walked a long distance!
She couldn't even think of doing that without magic, but he did!
How determined was he!?
"Honestly, fuck this boar, i will go with some goblins next time."
He immediately grunted, it wasn't that angry but Erika still understood that he wasn't in a good mood.
"It's fine it's fine, just place it somewhere here, i'll cook for you, okay?"
She is such an angel!
Norn listened to her, obviously.
As he placed the boar close to Erika he noticed that a lot of goblins stared at him.
Their stare wasn't that of a reverence or something good, it was like they would stare at a monster!
This guy brought a whole fuccking boar, alone!
Usually goblins teamed up and then hunted in the groups of 5 or so, but this guy did it alone!
Not even the big goblin that wasn't on good terms with Norn could do so!
Even he was afraid of such a thing!
Norn, however, didn't bother too much with their gazes.
To him it was obvious that he was at least somewhat special since he got reincarnated here.
Why would he be on a level of a normal goblin?
It's not like would remain a goblin forever, would he?
After sitting down next to Erika he finally started calming down.
Of course, that experience of carrying a boar was tiring and felt awful generally, but so what?
He succeeded! He scared all of the goblin, even Erika was surprised at what he has done!
It was worth it, from beginning to end!
As he watched Erika butcher the boar skillfully he slowly dozed off...