The next morning came slowly.
I woke up beside the river, my body stiff and sore.
For a moment I simply stared at the sky.
"...Still alive."
The wound in my stomach throbbed painfully, but the bleeding had stopped.
Barely.
I tore a piece of cloth from my shirt and wrapped it tightly around the wound again.
"Not great… but it'll do."
The forest was quiet.
Too quiet.
I gathered some branches and lit another small fire.
The chicken I caught yesterday still had some meat left.
Using river water and a few random plants I found nearby, I threw everything into a small metal pot I had taken from the adventurer camp during the fight.
It wasn't exactly cooking.
More like boiling random things together.
Still…
After a while, the smell of soup filled the air.
I took a cautious sip.
"...Not bad."
Warm food helped a little.
At least my stomach stopped complaining.
After eating, I stood up and stretched my aching body.
"If villages are built near water…"
Then following the river was my best chance.
So I started walking again.
Hours passed.
Trees.
Rocks.
More trees.
No houses.
No people.
Just endless forest.
"...Am I walking in circles?"
Eventually I reached a small hill.
I slowly climbed it, using tree branches to keep my balance.
When I reached the top, I looked across the forest.
Nothing.
Just a sea of green trees stretching to the horizon.
My shoulders dropped.
"Seriously…?"
Exhaustion finally caught up with me.
I sat down under a tree and closed my eyes.
Just for a moment.
---
When I woke up again, the sun was already low in the sky.
Evening.
"...Crap."
Then I saw something.
Far away in the forest.
A thin column of smoke rising into the sky.
My heart jumped.
People.
I forced my tired legs to move again.
Step after step, I followed the smoke.
Eventually I reached a small clearing.
A campfire burned in the center.
Five people sat around it.
Adventurers.
They were sharpening weapons, eating meat, and talking casually.
When I stepped out of the trees, they immediately grabbed their weapons.
"Who's there?!"
I raised both hands.
"Wait!"
"I'm not a monster."
They stared at me.
A skinny, wounded boy covered in dried blood probably wasn't the most comforting sight.
One of them lowered his sword slightly.
"…A survivor?"
Another man shrugged.
"Looks like a corpse that forgot to die."
I walked closer slowly.
"I got attacked by a monster."
"No kidding," one of them muttered.
Their armor looked more professional than the village squad.
One of them spoke again.
"What do you want?"
I took a breath.
"Healing magic."
They all laughed.
"Listen to this guy."
"He wants healing."
The man with the spear smirked.
"And what exactly will you pay with?"
I stayed silent for a moment.
Then I lifted the dead chicken tied to my belt.
"I can cook."
They looked at each other.
Then burst out laughing again.
"You think food pays for healing magic?"
Another man shook his head.
"Healing spells cost money, kid."
"I don't have money."
"So why should we help you?"
I clenched my fists.
"I can carry your supplies."
"And cook for you while you're hunting."
The man with the spear stood up angrily.
"You think that's enough to pay for healing magic?"
The atmosphere grew tense.
Before things got worse, one of the other adventurers raised his hand.
"Relax."
He looked at me.
"You said you can cook?"
I nodded.
He pointed to the chicken.
"Then cook it."
"If it tastes good… we'll talk."
I quickly started preparing the fire.
Cutting the meat was painful with my injured body, but I forced myself to finish.
After a while, the smell of roasted chicken spread through the clearing.
The adventurers watched quietly.
Finally one of them took a bite.
He blinked.
"...Huh."
Another one tried it.
Then another.
After a few seconds, the man who spoke earlier sighed.
"Alright."
He stood up and stretched.
"I'll heal you."
He placed his hand over my wound.
A soft green light appeared.
Warm energy spread through my body.
The pain slowly faded.
The man looked at me with a smirk.
"Congratulations, kid."
"You just bought yourself a little healing."