With the abnormal conditions of this forest, it was clear that large animals were not an option. Wild boars that were muscular as monsters and ran at lightning speed were definitely crossed off the list, as were other predators that were far beyond Liam's ability to deal with. That left two main focuses: plants and insects. If Liam's body were stronger later, hunting small rabbits could be an alternative, but for now it was still impossible; his strength was limited, his body was still stiff, and any small mistake could mean death.
Because of this, the matter of food became the core of today's quest. One small seed, one bite of a foreign leaf, could carry a deadly poison that instantly ended everything. The lawyer knew the risks all too well, he had seen too many people perish because of a small oversight. So he strategized more carefully, designing systematic steps that he would command through the system.
On the other hand, he wanted Liam to believe that the system was indeed omniscient, as if the system were the true source of truth. For this reason, the instructions given should not be rash; every order must be measured, as if it has gone through deep knowledge of this world. The end goal is simple but calculating; maintaining the system's image as a perfect entity, while strengthening its manipulation authority over Liam, and surviving as efficiently as possible. It is better to make Liam blame himself and develop a sense of inferiority, than to have the system suspected of incompetence even if it is a grain of sand.
Food consumed by animals cannot be considered one hundred percent safe for humans; there are differences in metabolism, differences in how the body filters out toxins, and how each organ works on what is consumed. But still, observing what animals ate was a much more sensible way than randomly picking up a foreign object and putting it in your mouth; at least, it gave you a slight chance of avoiding disaster. And so the instructions were given. The system instructed Liam to carefully observe the animals around the forest, focusing on two animals similar to an ape and a pig. Of all the forest dwellers, these two were the best candidates because on earth they had the digestive system most similar to humans. What they could digest could likely be digested by Liam as well, although there was no guarantee.
He walked through the undergrowth and kept his distance to find a safe spot to observe without attracting attention. Every time he saw a herd of ape-like animals, he held his breath trying to capture the details of what they were putting into their mouths; was it fruit? Was it an insect? Or a particular leaf that they were chewing quickly? They took notes in their minds, trying to recognize the physical features of each item the animals ate. Every time the pig sniffed the ground and then dug with its snout, Liam tried to remember the shape of the object that was then eaten; even if it was just a glimpse, every little detail could be the key. Animals move fast, and sometimes what they eat is hidden behind the ground or trees above. Meanwhile, Liam's stomach was rumbling more and more, disrupting his concentration. But he persisted, because every instruction of the system felt absolute; as if he disobeyed it, bad luck would soon befall him.
Hours passed, and reality turned out to be much more difficult than expected. Liam had to crawl between huge roots and dig through the soil with his bare hands just to find something edible. Out of many attempts, only one type of plant seemed viable; a food similar to potatoes, but with a much tougher skin like cassava. The size was not uniform; some were as round as a soccer ball, while others were long and curved strangely like a baby's body.
Besides food, the long search led to another important discovery. While digging in the rock-rich terrain, Liam found several rocks with shiny surfaces similar to obsidian. The rocks were relatively fragile with a highly sensitive stability, requiring just enough of a jolt to create a flicker of fire from similar or stronger rocks; making them more sensitive than flint, which was the main tool for creating fire.
••••••••••••••••••••
The afternoon slowly closed the day with a burning orange color in the sky above the forest, the fading sunlight reflecting through the boy's eyes. They were right on top of a rock cliff that was large enough to see part of the forest, just below the side of the cliff was a cave that they had chosen as a place to rest.
Liam looked down at his bulging shirt, where two strange roots were; they looked like potatoes, but the skin was harder, almost resembling cassava. After half a day of searching, observing, and digging with almost exhausted energy, this was the only real result. The lawyer as the voice that kept guiding him through the system, gave clear instructions; before eating, the tubers must be burned first. Burning them is not about taste, nor is it about texture, but rather for safety; the heat from the fire can destroy any pathogens or toxins that may be contained within. Burning is the most efficient method that can be done at the moment, other cooking methods such as grilling or frying are obviously impossible because they don't have the tools or containers.
Liam had prepared simple materials that they gathered along the way: fine and brittle dry fibers, unknown rocks that were sensitive to sparking, and dry twigs and wood. The materials they found scattered around the forest were either leftover plant fibers or dead delicate roots; whatever their origin, they were the perfect tools for creating fire. First, Liam grasped two dark, shiny stones, which Lawyer named "Cinder Stone". The stone was special, surpassing flint and even equivalent to fire steel.
The first slow friction only produced a small flash that was soon extinguished. Liam frowned, took a breath, then tried again. The second swipe brought out a more vivid spark, and this time the ember flakes fell right onto the fibers arranged like a small bird's nest; the fibers ignited, and a thin smoke began to billow. Liam reflexively looked down, blowing gently to keep the flame from going out; his small breath ignited the spark until it grew a little bigger. He quickly added more fibers to strengthen the embers' footing, then threw in the small twigs and pieces of dry wood that had been previously arranged. The fire began to lick steadily, slowly growing from a fragile spark to a steady flame.
As the fire grew, Liam's face reflected a warm orange light. There was a strange feeling rising in his chest, relief, pride, and happiness; for a moment, he felt like a magician who had just successfully recited his first magic (although not the slightest smile was etched on his face).
With a long branch that was strong enough, Liam pierced the mutated potato from one of its sides. The hard skin had been peeled off completely, revealing the yellowish flesh inside. He lifted it close to the fire turning it slowly for even heat; a thin smoke came out, its faint aroma mixed with the smell of burning wood. Time was slow, and Liam patiently waited until the pale color began to turn brown.
Once it was cooked enough, Liam lifted it away from the fire. He blew briefly to cool the still-hot surface, then took a careful bite. The texture was dense, slightly tough on the outside but soft on the inside. The taste he got was nothing special, bland, neutral, neither sweet nor savory; yet there was no bitterness, tartness, or other strange symptoms that usually signaled poison. It was nothing more than a boiled potato without salt, except for its abnormally swollen shape.