Chapter 2.2

I checked my current status.

I must have been scratched by tree branches or tall grasses while running.

My jacket and pants are slightly torn here and there.

Reflecting on the situation, I was running with a bag on my back and stones in my pocket.

And yet, it still didn't catch up.

It seems that the difference in physical abilities between the goblin and me is quite considerable.

But my underwear is wet with sweat.

My clothes and hair are dirty with soil in different spots.

My personal discomfort index is rising in real-time.

The next time I encounter a goblin, I will kill it.

I've never killed an animal other than bugs, but I don't think I'll hesitate.

After 30 minutes of walking with such a promise in mind, I found a random gap dug into the hill.

It is too big to be a random hole, but too small to be a cave.

"Let's rest here and wait for the sun to rise."

As I sat down, paying attention to my surroundings, thirst and hunger slowly rose to the surface of my thoughts.

Fortunately, there were water and glucose candies left in my bag.

I'm glad I didn't throw away my bag while running away.

"So... Where am I? Why am I here?"

It is a fundamental question that had been filtered to the back of my mind while I was running.

I've had countless delusions of entering another world or a novel.

In my delusions, I was a harem king.

Beautiful women gathered around me, and the world revolved around me.

Or I was a villain.

I did evil to satisfy my desires.

In particular, netori was an indispensable element of my fantasies.

This is me; the true nature of Jung Ji-hoo, hidden behind the mask of being the rank one student in the school.

Web novels were a medium to satisfy my shady desires.

I don't know what role I will play in this world.

Is it as an extra or a main character?

If it is possible, should I try to live as I want?

After escaping from here obviously.

***

After holding out for about 3 hours inside the cave-hole, the sun eventually rose.

The rays of light filtered through the branches and lit up the calm forest.

The chirping of birds and bugs awakened the quiet silence.

I stepped out of the burrow and walked through the trees again.

The time spent in the cave was meaningless.

First of all, I created various scenarios based on my web novel experience.

I thought about how to behave in this situation according to various ideologies and genres.

Of course, most plans will be destroyed unless they exist beyond the scope of my lacking knowledge base.

Still, this is far better than having no plan at all.

Then, I thought about how to live in the woods.

I don't know how long I'll be stuck in this forest, but at worst I might have to live out a survival genre fantasy here.

The water, food and shelter issues must be addressed urgently.

My food can be guaranteed for several days with the glucose candy bars.

The place I can sleep at is not a problem that can just be dealt with overnight.

For now, I can use the previous burrow.

But the water at my disposal is almost gone now.

This should be addressed as my priority.

As long as goblins live here, water resources must exist somewhere in the forest.

So I am now looking for water.

Fortunately, I was able to find a river in less than an hour.

The river is as deep and wide as the Han River, and unlike the Han River, it is transparent.

It is water that anyone can see through and drink.

There are a few things to worry about, such as the presence of microbes and the fact that this is a different world...

But the only option I have is to drink it.

However, the joy of finding water was short-lived, as soon I had no choice but to pay attention to other things.

There were traces of something brought along by the river.

This is... A bag...! And is this padding?!

A grey bag with only a square logo.

And thick black long padding.

Both were torn and burned, but they couldn't fool my eyes.

These are objects of Jihye's.

She was here yesterday.

***

I am walking in the direction downstream of the river.

I found a trail of Jihye, but there is little I can do.

There is no way that a guy who had been studying for the CSAT diligently until yesterday will suddenly be able to assess the state of the land and trace what happened yesterday and where she went.

Only, I know she always carries a lighter on her.

I also remember that the goblins I met last night did not carry a torch.

It looks like they have night vision.

Therefore, I presume that she set her bag and her padding on fire herself.

Why? To light up the dark? To warm up? Or to protect herself?

Or maybe there are people other than goblins in this forest, and they might be using fire.

If I were a typical good-natured protagonist, at this point I would be driving myself crazy with anxiety and worry about my childhood friend and prospective heroine.

However, although I am curious about Jihye's specific situation, I am not particularly concerned.

This is... I guess it's faith.

I know more about her than anyone else- even more than her parents.

She has her brain and is cool and calm.

She will definitely try to break through this troublesome situation while analyzing the circumstances calmly like me.

She found the river yesterday.

This river is relatively upstream because of its fast current.

Also, the surrounding area is overgrown with trees, making it unsuitable for human habitation.

If there were to be a nearby river town, it would be located downstream.

Jihye will undoubtedly draw the above conclusion and follow the waterway.

I sighed while tasting the strawberry-flavoured sweetness of the glucose candy and hurried my steps.

***

"Kieek! Kkiek!"

"Kiruk!"

I hear the voices of the goblins from below the hill.

I immediately walked up the hill and slowly approached the edge.

I was careful to avoid exposing my frame as much as possible and looked at the situation below.

There, there was Jihye.

She is holding a pointed branch like a weapon in her right hand, and a cardigan wrapped around her left hand, covered with her mittens as a shield.

And as if she had been in and out of the river, her water-soaked shirt sticks to her skin, exposing her body in the process.

The goblins, glaring at Jihye and screeching loudly, are rushing at her.

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