LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 6: First Day In Forest
When Ed left the Director's office, he hurried toward the island's market. Lately, events had been unfolding too quickly, and he had very little time left to take care of his camp. So, he decided to sell some of his belongings and spend the money on essential supplies.
Reaching the market, he lowered his gaze to the two suitcases he was carrying. Opening them, he found that most of the contents were clothes. However, among his possessions were a few valuable items: a ceremonial dagger, a golden goblet adorned with precious stones, and a silver hand mirror.
Author's note: In the original, Ed had all these items. I wonder why he didn't sell them earlier to buy the necessary gear. It would have saved him a lot of effort and energy.
Ed decided to sell the mirror and the golden goblet, intending to complete the transaction quickly. However, after three hours, he ran into an unexpected problem. Many merchants who could have bought his items deliberately undervalued them. They offered only two gold coins per item, even though their actual worth was no less than fifteen.
Ed memorized every merchant who tried to shortchange him, but despite his best efforts and attempts to bargain, he had to give in. In the end, the best price he managed to get was seven gold coins—exactly half of their real value.
Purchases
With the money he earned, he set off to buy supplies. In the end, he purchased:
An axe and a bow – 1 gold (the axe would be useful for gathering wood, and the bow for hunting).
Five iron arrows (a small reserve to start with).
Flint and steel – 15 silver coins (even though he could use magic, he preferred to conserve his energy wisely).
A rain cloak – 70 silver coins (for protection from the rain).
Rope – 50 silver coins (useful for setting traps, building shelter, or tying things together).
A cooking pot and an iron mug – 20 silver coins (for preparing food, boiling water, and collecting rainwater).
A 2–3 day food supply – 15 silver coins (bread, hardtack).
A small pouch of salt (an important resource for cooking and preserving meat).
A blanket and a pillow – 1 gold (to add at least a little comfort to sleeping outdoors).
Setting Up Camp
After finishing his shopping, Ed headed into the forest. Although he had never been to these parts before, he walked with confidence, as if he knew the terrain like the back of his hand. Instinctively, he picked a specific spot—and when he arrived, he understood why. This place was perfect for setting up a camp.
Along the way, he spotted a conveniently shaped tree—leaning over as if it had already half-fallen. Deciding it would work as a temporary shelter, he set up camp beside it.
The first thing he did was light a fire and toss in a mushroom he had found nearby. The smoke from it was supposed to ward off the insects that had been bothering him on his way here.
After that, he started building his shelter. He leaned branches against the tree, tying them securely with rope for stability. Then, he layered large leaves on top to protect the shelter from rain.
Once the structure was complete, he moved on to insulation. First, he piled dry leaves and grass inside to create a soft bedding. Then, ensuring the layer was thick enough, he added the blanket he had bought and placed the pillow on top. Now, the shelter felt much cozier.
When everything was ready, he took a few steps back and admired his handiwork. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his shirt clung to his body, and his breathing was slightly labored—the work, though simple, had taken a lot out of him.
"Well, this isn't exactly a five-star hotel," he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow, "but considering my situation, it's not bad at all."
He chuckled, satisfied with his efforts, but quickly realized just how much he had sweated. A hot day, physical labor—it was no surprise that he reeked. His water flask was nearly empty, which meant it was time to refill his supplies.
Turning around, he strode briskly toward the river, planning to not only collect water but also take a quick bath.
Something's Watching
Reaching the riverbank, he looked around, then crouched down, scooped up a handful of cool water, and splashed it onto his face. Feeling refreshed, he stripped off his clothes and stepped into the river, letting the water embrace his tired body.
Submerging up to his shoulders, he closed his eyes with satisfaction, allowing the cool currents to wash away his fatigue. However, after a few moments, a strange feeling crept over him—like someone was watching him.
He opened his eyes sharply and scanned the surroundings.
The forest remained as still as ever. Dark silhouettes of trees stood motionless around him, the river flowed in its natural rhythm, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. But the sensation of being watched didn't fade.
"Just my imagination?" he muttered, eyeing his surroundings with doubt. "Then again… why not? The forest is huge, and I'm all alone here."
He shook his head, pushing the uneasy thoughts aside, and finished his bath. Stepping onto the shore, he untied one of his ropes, secured it between two sturdy branches, and fashioned a makeshift clothesline to dry his garments faster.
And then—there it was again.
That feeling.
As if someone was carefully observing his every move. He turned around sharply, but the forest remained as empty as before. No rustling, no movement, no shadow among the trees.
"Paranoia," he smirked, forcing himself to relax.
Deciding not to dwell on it, he headed back to his shelter. Night had already fallen, the air was getting cooler, and exhaustion weighed on his body. All he wanted at that moment was to lie down and sleep.
But… was he really alone in this forest?