Kyle stepped outside at sunrise.
Eleanor had given him Alden's old hunting clothes before dawn, and insisted that he would need them.
The jacket was slightly too large on him, and the dagger looked old. However, they had done their job.
"I feel like a real hunter wearing these." Kyle almost chuckled.
Kyle was heading towards the forest's edge, which was where he and Garrick decided to meet up at.
Garrick was already there when Kyle reached there. He was inspecting his bowstring. Luna was beside him, adjusting the straps of her backbag.
"So, you'll be joining us for hunting today." Garrick chuckled slightly. "Don't yell if you get bitten by a rabbit."
Kyle smiled back to him. "'ll try not to."
Luna looked at the dagger on Kyle's waist. "Ever handle one?"
"Uh... Not on a living thing before, probably."
She nodded. "Then stick with us."
They walked into the forest.
There were plenty of high trees blocking swaths of sun light. With the chirping of distant birds and the smell of soil and grass.
"First rule," Garrick said as they started walking, "the edges of the forest are safe. Rabbits, deer... and sometimes wild boar."
Kyle froze for a moment when he heard "wild boar."
"Second rule." Garrick resumed, "The depths are dark and filled with things you don't want to encounter. Stay away from them."
Kyle looked between the trees. "Like what?"
"Bears, wolves, and sometimes worse." Garrick shrugged.
"It's okay. There aren't any monsters in this forest." Luna replied. "Just animals. No goblins or anything."
Kyle nodded. `Great. That suits my goals.`
Kyle had three reasons for hunting in the forest. One was getting practice hunting and killing. Because sooner or later he was going to be adventuring outside the village and he would have to kill.
The second reason was gaining unused stat points to raise his stats. But the third was most important:
`Testing the [Mind Control] skill on animals and monsters.` Kyle sighed. `But it looks like I'll only be able to test it on animals... too bad there aren't any monsters here.`
***
They went further into the forest
Garrick led the way, eyes open and bow half-drawn. Luna walked behind, keeping an eye on their backs.
Kyle walked between the two, gripping his dagger and trying to stay alert for anything.
"You are doing good." Luna said, noticing Kyle's stiff posture. "Most people tremble in their first hunt."
Kyle took a deep breath. "Just trying to do my best."
To be honest, Kyle's heart had been racing since they entered the forest.
A few moments after, they saw the first rabbit near a tree trunk. It did not appear to have heard them, as it just sat there.
Garrick raised his hand, signaling them to stop. He then notched an arrow.
But just at that time, the rabbit turned its head and saw them. It began trembling, with its ears up and ready to run.
Kyle immediately acted on this and used his skill "Mind Control" on the rabbit, when Garrick and Luna were not paying attention to him.
His eyes flared crimson as he commanded the rabbit.
`Stay where you are.`
The rabbit stopped immediately, frozen in its place. Garrick's arrow flew and hit it.
"Good. We got it before it escaped." Garrick sighed comfortably
`Great! It works on animals too,` Kyle smiled. `But the system didn't give me any unused stat points... I guess it only counts if I make the kill myself.`
"First catch of the day," Garrick said as he picked up the rabbit. "Let's keep going."
Before long, the second rabbit would suffer the same end, followed by the third. By the fourth rabbit, Kyle's hands stopped shaking. By the fifth, the stench of blood didn't bother him as much.
Kyle rarely used his skill, [Mind Control], partly because he got few opportunities and partly because he wanted to avoid raising Garrick and Luna's suspicions.
On the sixth rabbit, he used his skill right away, stopping it in its tracks. Then he jumped forward with his dagger and killed. But the system still didn't give him any unused stat points.
`As expected... The rabbit's too weak for me to get unused stat points.` Kyle nodded as he picked the rabbit up.
"Good job! You're adapting quickly... I think you have the talent." Garrick said.
"You are much better than I was on my first hunt." Luna laughed
"I suppose I'm quite a fast learner," Kyle shrugged slightly
They started packing their catch and prepared to leave the forest since they had finished hunting.
But suddenly, the ground and the surrounding trees started to shake a little. The shaking was getting stronger with each passing moment.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
"Do you hear tha—"
A loud noise interrupted him.
Among the trees, a huge wild boar jumped. Its eyes were red and its tusks were curved.
It was charging towards them fast.
"A boar!" Garrick shouted.
He and Luna turned too late.
"Move!" Garrick shouted again as he tried to notching his bow. But the boar was too close.
The problem was,
It wasn't targeting Garrick.
It wasn't targeting Luna.
Its gaze was focused on Kyle.
`Why me?! WHY ALWAYS ME!`
The boar bent its head down, getting ready to ram into its target. Its speed didn't slow down.
At that moment, it seemed to Kyle that time was slowing down.
His heart was beating fast in his chest, shouting at him to run. But another thought stopped his panic.
His eyes flared crimson as he activated his skill. Then, with a single overwhelming thought, he commanded.
`Stop!`
The boar trembled midcharge.
Its legs pushed into the ground, muscles tense, and its hooves carved deep lines in the soil as it fought back.
Earth shook as it let out an angry roar. But it began to slow down.
Kyle held his position no longer.
He rushed forward, then jumped while pulling out his dagger. He let out a loud scream as he stabbed the boar in the eye.
The boar shook and trembled hard, but Kyle held on to the dagger jammed in its eye․
Then, with one move, he twisted the dagger into his eye. The boar breathed its last before falling to the ground.
The forest went quiet.
Kyle stood there panting with blood on his hand. It was not his own blood, but blood from the first creature he had ever slain alone.
At the same time, a system screen opened in front of him and confirmed the kill․
[You have slain a Wild Boar.]
[Unused Stat Points +2]
[First Kill Achieved. Feature Unlocked: Shop.]
Kyle let out a heavy breath, a small, satisfied smile on his lips. `Finally!`
Beside him, Garrick stared at the fallen boar, then at Kyle.
"...What the hell just happened?"
Luna slowly lowered her bow, her eyes fixed on Kyle in disbelief. "That thing was supposed to crush you."
Kyle pulled the dagger from the boar's eye and forced himself to laugh nervously. "I guess I was lucky."
Garrick shook his head. "Lucky, my ass. That was amazing!"
Luna crossed her arms and studied him for longer than necessary, but said nothing.
As they walked back, Kyle felt different. He felt heavier, stronger, and for the first time since arriving in this world,
`I'm finally moving forward.`