Three days passed peacefully.
For the first time in months, Aiden woke up in a real bed instead of on cold ground.
The nightmares still came.
Sometimes he dreamed of the teleportation circle.
Sometimes he heard the king’s voice calling him worthless.
Other nights, he found himself standing once again in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by glowing eyes.
Each time, he woke before sunrise.
Unable to sleep, he quietly left the house and walked through the silent village.
The morning air was cool.
Smoke slowly rose from the chimneys as families prepared breakfast.
It was peaceful.
A peace Aiden had almost forgotten existed.
“You’re awake early.”
Aiden turned.
Elder Rowan was sweeping the front of his house.
“I’ve always been an early riser,” Aiden replied.
The elder smiled.
“Good.”
“Then perhaps you’d like to help the hunters today.”
“Hunters?”
“The village’s food stores are running low.
A hunting party is heading into the nearby woods.”
Aiden nodded.
“I’d be happy to help.”
Not long after sunrise, six villagers gathered at the village gate.
Each carried simple equipment.
Bows.
Spears.
Axes.
Only one man carried a sword.
None of them wore expensive armor.
Aiden quickly realized something.
These weren’t adventurers.
They were ordinary villagers protecting their home.
The oldest hunter introduced himself.
“My name is Gareth.”
“We only hunt near the village.”
He looked at Aiden.
“We never go too deep.”
“The monsters around here are weak, but they’re still dangerous if you’re careless.”
Aiden nodded.
“I understand.”
As they walked, Gareth continued explaining.
“The monsters in these woods are mostly **F Rank Monsters**.”
“They’re the weakest type.”
“Even then, we never hunt alone.”
“A single mistake can still cost a life.”
Aiden listened carefully.
This was his first time hearing someone classify monsters.
The creatures around this village were only F Rank.
Compared to the horrors of the Forbidden Forest…
They were harmless.
But Aiden didn’t say that.
To these villagers, F Rank monsters were still a real threat.
After nearly an hour, the group stopped.
Gareth raised his hand.
“Everyone stay quiet.”
Aiden looked ahead.
Several wolf-like monsters were feeding near a fallen tree.
Gareth whispered,
“Gray Fang Wolves.”
“F Rank Monsters.”
“They usually travel in small packs.”
“There are four.”
The villagers immediately spread out.
Everyone clearly knew their role.
The archers climbed onto large rocks.
The spearmen moved to the front.
The others circled around.
Aiden watched carefully.
Their teamwork wasn’t perfect.
But it was practiced.
No one acted recklessly.
The wolves noticed them.
A loud howl echoed through the forest.
“They’re coming!”
The first wolf charged.
An arrow struck its shoulder.
Not enough to kill it.
The spearmen stepped forward together.
They blocked its path while another hunter attacked from the side.
The battle lasted only a few minutes.
When the last wolf fell…
The villagers released long breaths.
Several of them were sweating.
One had a small cut on his arm.
Even against F Rank monsters…
The hunt wasn’t easy.
Aiden understood why.
These people weren’t chasing glory.
They were risking their lives simply to feed their families.
“Your turn.”
Gareth handed Aiden a hunting knife.
Aiden looked confused.
Gareth laughed.
“We don’t leave the bodies behind.”
“The meat feeds the village.”
“The hides become leather.”
“The bones become tools.”
“The fangs are sold to traveling merchants.”
“Every part has value.”
Aiden froze.
“…Every part?”
Gareth nodded.
“Of course.”
“Monster meat sells well.”
“The stronger the monster, the higher the price.”
“A poor village like ours survives because of hunts like this.”
Aiden looked silently at the wolf lying before him.
For a moment…
He remembered the Forbidden Forest.
Every monster he had defeated with Nothingness had vanished without a trace.
Bodies.
Meat.
Hides.
Bones.
Mana cores.
Everything had disappeared.
He had erased fortunes without even realizing it.
Seeing Aiden staring quietly, Gareth smiled.
“First hunt?”
Aiden nodded.
“…First time collecting.”
“Then watch carefully.”
The older hunter patiently demonstrated how to remove the valuable parts without damaging them.
The villagers worked together.
No one wasted anything.
By the time they finished, only cleaned bones remained.
Aiden quietly stored the lesson in his memory.
From now on…
Nothingness would remain his last resort.
Against ordinary monsters…
His sword would be enough.
Not only would it improve his skills…
It would also allow him to collect valuable materials.
As the hunting party began walking back toward the village, Aiden carried his share of the meat on his shoulder.
One of the younger hunters laughed.
“Looks like you’ll fit in around here.”
Aiden looked toward the peaceful village waiting in the distance.
For the first time since arriving in this world…
He wasn’t surviving.
He was living.