After saying goodbye to Genji, they set off for the forest on horseback. Denzo gently tied Raiku to his back using a cloth, securing him safely like a precious bundle.
As they entered the forest, Raiku expected something mysterious—dark and eerie. His mind painted images of haunted woods and creeping shadows.
But what he saw instead left him utterly speechless.
The forest was breathtaking.
Everywhere he looked, vibrant flowers bloomed in full color. Ripe fruits hung from the trees, and butterflies of every hue danced joyfully in the sunlight. The air shimmered with a peaceful energy, as if heaven itself had descended upon the land.
"W-What? How is this even possible?" Raiku whispered in awe, his eyes wide with wonder. "It's like a paradise…"
Suddenly, system window opened
---
> [SYSTEM]
Host, this is due to the presence of mana in this world.
The trees absorb mana from the atmosphere, which allows them to bear flowers and fruits all year round—through all twelve months.
---
"Oooh…" he nodded slowly, absorbing the knowledge like a sponge.
His father chuckled softly and began explaining things to him in a slow, gentle tone—like teaching a newborn baby.
"See, Raiku," he said, pointing at the ground, "this is soil. And that over there is a tree. Trees give fruits when they're healthy. Understand?"
He could only stare in disbelief.
Do they really see me as a one-month-old genius baby just because I can talk? He thinked
Suddenly, rustling echoed from the bushes ahead. A group of goblins emerged—snarling, ugly little creatures with jagged weapons and wild eyes.
"Raiku, look closely! Your strong father will kill them all! Hahaha!" Denzo boasted playfully.
He acted along, clapping his tiny hands.
"Yayyy! Papa is the strongest!"
With a confident grin, his father leaped from the horse and unsheathed his blade. In one swift motion, he charged into the group of goblins.
The fight was swift yet brutal—clean slashes, thundering kicks, and glowing runes flashing from his gauntlets. Within moments, the goblins lay defeated on the ground.
Raiku watched in awe.
In my previous life, I was never strong enough to face beings like these. But if I had mana like a average human here then everything might've been different.
Then, to his surprise, his father began collecting the corpses of the fallen monsters.
"Papa… why are you collecting their bodies?" he asked innocently.
---
> [SYSTEM]
Host, humans use monster materials to craft valuable items—such as weapons, armor, and medicine.
---
"Ohh… so it's like how humans used tiger skin for clothes and bones for medicine?"
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> [SYSTEM]
Correct, Host.
---
Denzo chuckled. "Oooh… this is because… aah… well, you'll know when you grow up."
They ventured deeper into the forest, encountering more creatures—giant obsidian spiders, slithering serpents, and then... two Spiral monsters.
They were grotesque—their twisted forms like black whirlwinds of limbs and claws, constantly spinning in motion, their very presence warping the air around them.
Raiku's heart pounded as his father stepped forward, eyes sharp, voice low.
"Spiral-type monsters. Stay calm, Raiku."
With a burst of mana, his father summoned a glowing shield to his left arm and a blade that pulsed with golden light in his right.
The ground trembled as he clashed with the monsters. Each hit sent shockwaves through the forest. One Spiral lunged, spinning wildly—his father countered with a flash-step and cleaved it in half. The second one tried to retreat, but his father hurled his blade like lightning. It pierced through the air and impaled the creature, ending it with a screech.
Panting lightly, he retrieved his sword and gathered the remains.
By the time they returned, Raiku felt overwhelmed—not with fear, but wonder.
"Today… I've learned so much," he thought.
So the beings we saw are called monsters. They try to kill humans. But humans use their bodies to make powerful and valuable items.
All this… I learned today, thanks to the system.
He gazed at the forest one last time, as butterflies fluttered past.
This world… is beautiful, but dangerous. And I… I was born again into it for a reason.