Kazuki woke up to the sound of something chewing.
He bolted upright, heart pounding, weapon (ladle) in hand—ready to go full Gordon Ramsay on whatever was snacking on his face.
It was Kaelith. She was calmly munching on a root of some kind, sharp eyes scanning the woods like she was waiting for the world to disappoint her again.
"Relax," she said without looking up. "If anything wanted to eat you, it would've done it hours ago."
"That's... not the comforting reassurance you think it is."
She tossed something at him. He caught it purely by accident and stared at what appeared to be a chunk of grayish, bark-covered mystery tuber.
"Eat," she said. "It's bitter. Keeps your blood from smelling too strong."
Kazuki sniffed it.
It smelled like regret.
[Item Acquired: Thornroot Tuber][Effect: Mild HP Regen. Also, ew.]
He chewed slowly, eyes watering. "This tastes like a tree had a panic attack."
"Good. That means it's working."
They sat in silence for a while, the sky overhead bleeding from red to dusty gold.
Kazuki eventually asked, "So… what happens next? Do I just wander around doing quests and getting attacked by things with too many teeth until I accidentally become the chosen one?"
Kaelith gave him a look. "Is that not how your world works?"
"I mean, yeah, kind of. But at least we had Google."
She didn't ask what that was. Smart girl.
After a while, Kaelith stood, slinging her crossbow over her back. "There's a town three days from here. If we make it there alive, I can get you registered as an adventurer. Maybe find someone who knows more about your system."
Kazuki nodded. "Right. Awesome. Can't wait to fill out paperwork while bleeding internally."
They packed up camp—read: kicked dirt on a rock and called it good—and started down the overgrown path leading deeper into the forest.
[New Quest: Path to Civilization]Objective: Reach Blackstone Crossing alive.]Rewards: Guild Registration, Basic Weapon, Probably More Trauma]
Kazuki sighed. "You'd think the system could at least give me a sandwich."
Kaelith snorted. "If it ever offers you one, don't eat it. Could be a mimic."
He blinked. "Wait—mimics can be sandwiches?"
"Everything can be a mimic if you're paranoid enough."
Kazuki was silent for a moment. Then:
"…I miss vending machines."
Kaelith said nothing. Just walked a little faster, like she was deeply embarrassed to be associated with him.