Chapter 29

The journey toward the Cursed Mountain is going smoothly.

From morning until early afternoon, I focus for several hours to make progress, setting up camp preparations while there’s still daylight.

For a while, I devoted myself to chopping down nearby trees, foraging, and hunting to accumulate points, steadily leveling up in the process.

“The further in we go, the larger and stronger the magical beasts become.”

The rabbit and fox-like beasts were no longer in sight. Near the temporary base, forest boars and forest deer were abundant.

Both types of meat were incredibly delicious, so I hunted them eagerly. Any materials besides the meat were converted into points. Magic stones, pelts, tusks, and antlers were considered rare and fetched high points.

“A deer nets 10,000 points, and a boar gets 13,000. Their meat is tastier than bear—fantastic prey.”

After consistent use, I had completely mastered beginner-level magic and advanced enough to use intermediate magic without incantations. With my magic power significantly increased alongside my level, I no longer worried about running out of mana.

Once I mastered intermediate magic, I planned to learn advanced magic. Following the instructions in my grimoire, I had been progressing methodically.

“All four elemental magics are useful. Earth magic, especially, is versatile and invaluable in the great forest.”

Besides plowing soil for farming, earth magic could harden ground for roads and even construct small structures.

Though large-scale projects were out of reach, I could manage something like a single-story house with earth magic.

“If I level up earth magic enough to make concrete, I might not need to buy a house. As long as I can endure the rainy season.”

By considering drainage and roof design carefully, I could build a decent structure. It might be fun to dig a deep trench around the house to keep magical beasts at bay.

Filling it with water would turn it into a moat, essentially creating a fortress.

“Once I master all four elemental magics, I’ll move on to spirit magic. I’m also eager to try plant magic.”

Recently, I’ve been planting fruit seeds in areas where trees were felled. Though I hadn’t learned plant magic yet, I used earth magic to till the soil, water magic to moisten it, and light magic to encourage growth.

It might not have any real effect, but I hoped the area would eventually bear fruit.

“Oh, a dense patch of blueberries! I absolutely have to harvest this.”

Today’s lunch plan included pancakes, and I wanted to top them with jam, butter, honey, and some fresh blueberries.

This morning, I noticed hotcake mix was sold at the local 100-yen shop. Nostalgia made me buy it on impulse.

“When I was in elementary school, I used to make pancakes for those hungry cousins of mine…”

It was tough for a ten-year-old, but after a few burnt batches, I learned how to make them rise and cook evenly.

I still vividly recall how my cousins happily devoured them, calling them delicious.

“Maybe I’ll send them some tonight. There might be pancakes in this world, but it’s the thought that counts.”

Storing the blueberries in my [Item Box], I hurried back to camp.

“Alright, they’ve cooked to a perfect golden brown.”

To avoid overheating, I cooled the frying pan with a damp cloth between batches. Beating egg whites into a stiff meringue was key to achieving a fluffy soufflé texture.

I added a pat of butter to the beautifully cooked pancakes and drizzled honey over them. Strawberry jam and fresh blueberries completed the presentation.

“Mmm, delicious. Pancakes really hit the spot sometimes.”

Though they resembled hotcakes more, their humble flavor was satisfying. The butter’s saltiness and honey’s sweetness blended beautifully, making them irresistible.

The tart, juicy blueberries balanced the sweetness, and the pancakes melted in my mouth.

After finishing four thick pancakes, I sighed contentedly.

“They were great, but definitely sweet. I’m craving some hearty meat for dinner now.”

Recalling the deer and boar meat stored in my inventory, I grinned. The large cuts promised a filling meal.

“If I’m grilling it, I should marinate the meat first.”

I decided to cut the deer meat into thick steaks, tenderize it, and soak it in steak sauce. A salad and soup would make perfect sides.

I could heat up some pre-cooked rice before eating, and a simple instant soup would suffice.

“Can’t wait for dinner. Until then, I’ll hunt and gather to stock up on meat for a couple more hours.”

Both forest deer and boars had been identified as high-quality meat. A small sample had already confirmed their incredible flavor.

“Alright, deer it is!”

Using [Presence Detection] and the [Stealth] skill, I located a herd. Attacking with maximum firepower from the start, I took them down one after another.