The morning sun in Jusgard, though still young in the sky, was already dispelling the densest shadows of the clearing where they had rested after the previous day's grim discoveries. Corbin felt the weight of a poorly slept night, the persistent pain in his [Newly Inhabited Body] reminding him of his fragility. The [HP: 111/111] restored by the level-up was a relief, but the absence of significant natural regeneration was a constant worry. At least his mind was clearer.
The first task was to deal with the spoils from the battle site and the boar. He opened his [Inventory (Level 1)] with a mental command. The interface appeared in his vision, showing ten empty slots and a weight indicator. It was limited, but infinitely better than the burlap sack. With some effort and concentration, he managed to "send" the [Small Wild Boar Carcass] into the dimensional space. The weight Hector had carried disappeared.
"Practical," Corbin thought, a rare trace of appreciation in his internal voice. He also stored his old [Short Sword (Militia)], which he had found in the village. His current personal weapon situation was less than ideal. Before leaving the clearing, he decided on one last sweep for anything useful amongst the fallen humans who hadn't been carrying notable items like the sergeant. His attention was drawn to a guard whose gear seemed slightly better maintained. [Analyze.]
[Human Guard Corpse] … [Notable Item: Arming Sword (Decent Quality)] [Arming Sword (Decent Quality)] [Type: Straight Blade. Damage: 7-11 (Slashing/Piercing). Durability: Good. Condition: Well-kept.]
"Better than the rusty militia sword, and it leaves the steel one with Hector," Corbin noted, taking the [Arming Sword] and securing it. It felt balanced, a definite upgrade for his own use.
With his new weapon secured, he mentally reviewed the contents of his [Inventory]. The [Small Wooden Chest (Locked)] was there, still a silent challenge. For now, it would remain so; opening it without tools or the right skill was not a priority over immediate survival and investigation.
He retrieved a piece of the [Rustic Bread (Dried)] and took a gulp of water from the waterskin. The bread was hard and tasteless, the water had a slight earthy flavor, but they were sustenance. Hunger and thirst, though not fully quenched, receded to a minor annoyance.
He unrolled the [Local Region Map (Rustic)] over a relatively flat rock. His fingers traced the symbols. The destroyed village of Jusgard, now behind them. A river that flowed south. The immense green patch to the northeast that could only be the vast forest he saw on the horizon. And there, to the northwest, following the same general direction as the tracks of the "Large Humanoids," the small cluster of structures that indicated another village.
"A nearby village," Corbin reflected. "It might have survivors. It might have answers about the goblins, or about these larger humanoids. It might have... civilization. Or just more danger." The other option, the large walled city to the south depicted on the map, seemed too distant a goal for his current state.
He thought of the [Personal Diary]. The frustration of not being able to read it fully still bothered him. [Estimated Translation Accuracy (System): 15%]. The [AI] had been clear: he needed more texts in [Common Valerion] to improve. Perhaps in that village, there would be books, signs, anything written.
The decision formed in his mind, a mixture of necessity and cautious curiosity.
"Hector, Argos, prepare yourselves," he projected the command firmly. "We're heading northwest, towards that village on the map. Argos, you go ahead; use your [Keen Scent (Carrion)] for any sign of danger or the tracks we found. Hector, cover our rear. Maintain distance, but stay visible. Move silently."
The two skeletons nodded with a movement of their skulls, the pale light in their sockets demonstrating a rudimentary understanding. Corbin adjusted the burlap sack, now lighter with the boar stowed in his inventory. He drew the [Arming Sword (Common Quality)] he had just found, testing its balance. It felt more reliable than the old militia sword. Hector, already equipped with the [Steel Sword (Common Quality)] and helmet, stood ready.
They left the clearing and the site of the battle behind, its scars a silent testament to the brutality of this world. The trail the larger humanoids had left was clear enough for [Argos] to follow, even if the [Fabric Fragment (Unknown)] no longer offered immediate clues.
The forest began to close in around them, the great oaks and pines of Valerion creating a canopy that filtered the morning light into golden beams and dancing shadows. The air was cool, with the scent of earth and vegetation. Corbin walked between his two servants, feeling strangely exposed despite his [Necromantic Concealment (Innate)]. The forest was a place of unknown dangers.
For several hours, they followed the trail and the map's indications. The terrain began to rise gently. Corbin felt the tension in his shoulders, every forest noise – the snap of a twig, the distant call of a bird – putting him on alert. His mana ([MP]) regenerated constantly ([8 MP per minute] now), a welcome comfort, and after the travel time, was again at its maximum of [142/142]. His [HP: 111/111] was full, but the lack of natural regeneration still reminded him not to be reckless.
Then, [Argos] stopped. The canine skeleton sniffed the air, its skull turned towards a low hill ahead, partially obscured by dense trees. Corbin signaled for [Hector] to wait and advanced with [Argos], using the trees as cover. Upon reaching the top of the small rise, Corbin peeked through the foliage.
Below, in a small depression in the terrain, he saw what the map indicated: a small outpost or the beginnings of a settlement. Some rustic wooden palisades, one or two crude-looking huts, and in the center, an extinguished campfire from which a tiny, almost invisible wisp of smoke still rose.
There were no signs of overt movement, but the smoke was recent. He concentrated, trying to catch any sound. The wind brought, faint and intermittent, what seemed to be... conversation. An indistinct murmur of voices.
In the same instant, a notification appeared on his [System] interface:
[AI: Unknown language detected in proximity. Initiating passive acquisition and linguistic data analysis process. Estimated learning progress for basic comprehension: 0.1%...]
Corbin blinked. The [AI], until then a passive tool for the [System], was... learning? On its own? Just by listening?
"Interesting," he thought, a new kind of curiosity igniting amidst the tension. "Very interesting."
He remained hidden, observing the small settlement and pondering his next move, while his [AI] silently began its first lesson in the unknown language of Jusgard.