Isaac awoke to the persistent growl of his stomach. The hunger was a sharp, gnawing pain, and it pulled him fully from his sleep. The rays of the early morning sun filtered through the canopy above, casting dappled light onto his makeshift resting spot. He sat up slowly, stretching his arms with a yawn.
"Figures," he muttered, pressing a hand to his abdomen. "No rest for the hungry."
His mind flicked briefly to the supplies he had left, which was nothing. The boar meat from yesterday had been entirely consumed, leaving him with nothing but the option of hunting again.
Grabbing his knife and adjusting the iron brass knuckles strapped to his belt, Isaac made his way into the forest.
The forest was alive with sound—the rustle of leaves, the calls of birds, and the faint scurrying of animals. Isaac tread lightly, keeping his steps quiet as he scanned for signs of prey. Activating his System, he focused his attention on the glowing markers that indicated living creatures nearby.
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[System Notification]
Scan activated. Searching for viable prey…
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After a few moments, a faint red marker appeared on his map, moving sluggishly through the underbrush. Isaac followed it carefully, his eyes narrowing as he spotted the source: a large boar limping heavily, blood matting its fur.
The animal staggered with each step, and Isaac quickly noticed the arrow protruding from its belly. It was a clean shot, but it hadn't hit a vital organ. The boar had been left wounded, struggling to stay upright.
Isaac crouched, scanning the area for any sign of the hunter who had injured the boar. The arrow was expertly crafted, its shaft smooth and its fletching precise—definitely the work of a skilled marksman.
After a moment of deliberation, Isaac stood and approached the boar. It let out a weak snort, trying to charge, but its legs buckled beneath its own weight.
"Sorry, big guy," Isaac muttered. He moved quickly, driving his knife into the boar's neck to finish it off. The animal collapsed with a heavy thud, its labored breathing finally ceasing.
Satisfied, Isaac knelt beside the boar and began cutting it into manageable portions. The work was slow but methodical, his focus entirely on harvesting as much meat as possible. He'd need it to last the week, and his tired body yearned for a proper meal.
Just as he finished cutting through the boar's flank, a sharp, angry voice rang out behind him.
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing to my prey?!"
Isaac turned, his knife still in hand, to see a figure storming toward him. It was a young girl with short, messy brown hair and an irritated scowl plastered across her face. Her slender build and flat chest made Isaac mistake her for a boy at first, but her voice was unmistakably feminine.
She carried an elegant bow slung over her shoulder, its polished surface glinting in the sunlight. The craftsmanship was exquisite, a stark contrast to the rough gear most cadets carried.
"Who's the brat with the fancy bow?" Isaac muttered to himself, loud enough for her to hear.
"What did you just call me?!" she snapped, stopping a few paces away from him. Her green eyes burned with anger as she pointed accusingly at the butchered boar. "That's mine! You just stole my prey, and you're cutting it up like it's yours ! I hit it first!"
Isaac shrugged, standing up and wiping his hands on his pants. "I didn't see your name on it. Fair game."
The girl's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Fair game?! I wounded it first! You just swooped in and stole the kill!"
"It was dying," Isaac replied bluntly, his tone calm and unbothered. "If you didn't finish the job, it's not yours anymore. That's how hunting works."
"Are you out of your mind?!" the girl yelled, stepping closer. "You can't just take someone's prey and act like it's no big deal!"
Isaac shrugged. "I didn't see you around. What were you doing? Polishing that bow of yours while it bled out?"
The girl's face turned red with fury. "You arrogant jerk! Do you even realize how hard it is to track something like this?"
"Apparently not hard enough if you lost it," Isaac replied, his tone indifferent. He turned back to the boar, resuming his work.
The girl bristled, her fists clenching at her sides. "Unbelievable! You can't just take someone's prey and act like it's no big deal!"
Isaac looked at her with faint amusement. "You're awfully loud for someone who didn't even bother to finish their hunt. Stop being a brat."
Her face turned red with anger. "Brat?! You—"
Fed up, she grabbed an arrow from her quiver and nocked it with a swift motion. "Fine! If you're so tough, let's see you handle this!"
The arrow flew straight at Isaac, its tip gleaming in the sunlight. Without flinching, he caught it mid-air, the motion effortless. He held the arrow between his fingers, inspecting it briefly before glancing at the girl.
"Really?" he said, raising an eyebrow.
The girl's hands trembled with frustration, her knuckles white as she gripped her bow.
Isaac sighed, setting the arrow down beside him. "Look, I'm not interested in picking a fight with a rich kid. Just take this as a learning experience—finish what you start next time."
Despite his annoyance, Isaac decided to avoid escalating the situation further. He reached for one of the larger chunks of boar meat and tossed it toward the girl.
"Here," he said. "Half the meat. We'll call it even."
The girl caught the meat clumsily, glaring at him as though he'd just insulted her further. "You think this makes up for stealing my kill?"
"Better than nothing," Isaac replied with a shrug.
The girl hesitated, her grip tightening on the meat before she finally stuffed it into her pack. "Fine," she muttered, though her tone made it clear she wasn't happy about it.
Isaac stood, slinging his pack over his shoulder. "Next time, try to keep up. Might save you the trouble of running into me again."
He began walking away, leaving the girl fuming behind him.
"Don't think this is over!" she shouted after him. "You're rude, arrogant, thief ! I hope you choke on that meat !"
Isaac raised a hand in a lazy wave, not bothering to turn around. "See you around, brat."
Her indignant yell echoed through the forest as he disappeared into the trees, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
As he walked, Isaac considered the encounter. The girl's bow and confident demeanor clearly marked her as someone from a wealthy background, and yet she was hunting in the same dangerous dungeon as everyone else.
"Wonder what her story is," he mused. Not that it mattered. He had bigger concerns—like cooking his portion of the boar meat and getting back to training.
After looking around, Isaac found a small clearing in the forest, its soft mossy ground and lack of overhanging branches making it the perfect spot to set up a campfire. Dropping his pack, he knelt and gathered some dry sticks and leaves, arranging them neatly in a pile.
Activating Gevurah's Purging Flame, he snapped his fingers, and a small spark leaped to life. The flame spread quickly, crackling and consuming the kindling until it formed a steady fire. Isaac leaned back, satisfied with his work.
"Now for the main event," he said, pulling the boar meat from his pack.
Before he began cooking, Isaac decided to check the Da'at System's Store for any tools or ingredients that might help. A quick scroll through the interface revealed a wide variety of items, including condiments, utensils, and even portable cookware.
"What's this?" Isaac muttered, selecting the Condiments Pack (Basic) option.
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[Item Purchased: Condiments Pack (Basic)]
Cost: 10 SP
Contents: Salt, pepper, dried herbs, garlic powder, and chili flakes.
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"Cheap," Isaac said with a smirk. He browsed further and found a simple Iron Skillet for another 20 SP, along with some Cooking Oil for 5 SP.
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[Item Purchased: Iron Skillet]
Cost: 20 SP
[Item Purchased: Cooking Oil (Basic)]
Cost: 5 SP
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"Guess the system isn't just about fighting," Isaac remarked as he pulled the newly purchased items from his inventory. "It's like my personal convenience store."
With his tools and ingredients ready, he checked his remaining SP.
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Initial SP: 590 SP
Total Spent: 35 SP
Remaining SP: 555 SP
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After checking his SP, Isaac set the skillet over the fire, pouring in a small amount of oil and letting it heat up while he prepared the meat.
Isaac worked methodically, slicing the boar meat into thick, even cuts. The rich red flesh glistened in the sunlight, and he marveled at its quality despite the boar's injuries.
He sprinkled salt and pepper generously over the pieces, followed by a light dusting of garlic powder and a pinch of chili flakes. The aroma of the spices hit him immediately, sharp and tantalizing.
"This should be good," he muttered, placing the first piece of meat onto the hot skillet.
The sound of sizzling meat filled the clearing, accompanied by a savory aroma that made Isaac's mouth water. The oil crackled as the boar meat browned, its edges caramelizing to a golden perfection.
Isaac flipped the meat carefully, watching as juices bubbled to the surface, creating a glossy glaze over the surface of each piece. The chili flakes added a subtle kick to the aroma, while the garlic and herbs created a deep, earthy undertone.
The combination was intoxicating, and Isaac found himself leaning closer, mesmerized by the transformation of raw meat into something truly mouthwatering.
"Damn, that smells good," he said, a rare grin spreading across his face.
He worked in batches, cooking each piece to perfection before setting it aside on a clean surface. The pile of cooked meat grew steadily, its rich, savory aroma filling the air and making Isaac's stomach growl loudly.
Finally, Isaac speared a piece of the boar meat with his knife, holding it up to inspect it. The outside was perfectly seared, its caramelized crust giving way to tender, juicy flesh.
He took a bite, and his eyes widened.
The meat was rich and flavorful, the natural gamey taste of the boar perfectly balanced by the salt, garlic, and herbs. The chili flakes added a subtle heat that lingered pleasantly on his tongue, while the caramelized edges provided a satisfying crunch.
"This…" Isaac muttered between bites. "This is incredible."
He didn't bother with manners, quickly digging into the rest of the meal. Each bite was better than the last, the flavors layering together in a way that made him forget the fatigue of the day.
The warmth of the campfire, the quiet of the forest, and the satisfaction of a well-cooked meal created a rare moment of peace for Isaac.
As he polished off the last piece of meat, he leaned back with a contented sigh, his hunger finally sated.
"Not bad," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Not bad at all."
The fire crackled softly as Isaac cleaned up, his mind already turning to the challenges ahead. But for now, he allowed himself to enjoy the simple pleasure of a good meal, his body and spirit renewed.
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A/N: don't hesitate to tell me your opinions on how the stories are unfolding and which direction would be best. I am always looking forward to hearing what you think.