After the argument, everyone went quiet for a while. The fire crackled softly between us, and the only sound was the wind passing through the trees.
Then Sota-Riku's twin-broke the silence.
"I'm... hungry," she said, her stomach growling.
Riku sighed. "Yeah, me too. But we only have a few berries left."
Minji looked at the empty bags. "We should go back to where we found that stream. Maybe we'll find something there."
So we did. We moved carefully, keeping our eyes open for monsters. After an hour of walking, Marco suddenly stopped and pointed. "Hey... look over there."
In the distance, a deer was drinking water from the stream. It looked almost the same as one from Earth-just bigger, with golden-tinted horns that shimmered under the sun.
We looked at each other, no words needed. This was food.
Riku used his Wood Bind skill to trap its legs while I crept closer. The deer struggled, but I moved fast, remembering every motion from Arthur's memories. With one quick strike, it was done.
No one spoke for a moment. We just stared at the animal, breathing heavily.
Then Marco said quietly, "I'll handle it. I know how to cook."
He glanced at me. "Haru, help me with the fire."
"Got it."
We worked together, cutting the meat and cooking it over the fire. The smell filled the air, making everyone's stomachs growl louder than before. It almost felt... normal. Like a camping trip-if you ignored the fact we were trapped in another world.
That night, we ate together. No fighting, no arguing. Just silence, laughter, and food.
---
One Week Later
Time passed slowly after that.
We built a small shelter from branches and leaves, enough to keep the rain away. Every morning, we trained and explored. Every night, we hunted and cooked.
Marco and I became the main cooks.
Riku and Sota gathered wood and water.
Hyun Woo taught us how to check our stats and read skill descriptions.
As for me-I trained.
Every sunrise, I pushed my body harder. Running laps around the clearing, lifting stones, and fighting small monsters that wandered too close-mostly wolves and boar-like beasts.
Each kill made me stronger.
Each battle felt more natural, like Arthur's instincts were merging with my own.
By the end of the week, I could swing a sword made from sharpened metal we scavenged, my stamina doubled, and my body felt lighter than ever.
For the first time since arriving here...
I didn't feel like an outsider anymore.