Reincarnated in a VRMMO: I'll be the strongest

Chapter 4: Baby Boar Hunt

The next day.

I decided to leave the orphanage and go outside.

Because I was heading to a certain place.

That amount of food really wasn't enough to keep me going. It was too little no matter how you look at it.

So I decided to hunt for ingredients.

The place I was heading to was the forest.

There is a certain forest not far from the orphanage.

Around the royal capital Celestia there are several hunting grounds for beginners, and one of them is the forest.

I should be able to get some decent ingredients there.

So I arrived at the entrance to the forest.

It has been a while since I was here.

This is a place you can visit from the early stages of the game.

I used it a lot when I was low level too.

But with my current self, I should be able to fight without problems.

Well then, let's go.

I entered the forest.

I proceeded while staying alert, searching for the target monster.

If I loiter around here... oh, there they are.

Ahead, a beast type monster was wandering around.

That monster is called a Baby Boar, something like a pig.

But it is about the size of a fully grown pig.

Even that is still a juvenile.

I carefully approached so it wouldn't notice me.

Once I got close enough, I hid in the shadow of a tree.

From here, I should be able to aim well.

Now then... let's give it a try.

The Baby Boar stopped moving and was drinking water from a puddle.

Hmm... Fire Arrow.

I activated Fire Arrow and a flame arrow appeared in my palm.

After waiting a moment, the arrows increased, and when there were five, I took aim.

Take this!

The fire arrows flew toward the Baby Boar.

It noticed me at the moment of impact, but it was already too late.

Four arrows hit and pierced the Baby Boar's body.

Squeaaaaal!

It rolled around on the ground in pain.

But its movements gradually slowed, and after a while it stopped moving completely.

Good, good. As expected, monsters around this level are an easy win.

With just one fire arrow, it might be questionable whether I could defeat it, but with four hits, it seems I can deplete its HP.

I meant to hit with all five, but one missed.

So I still haven't gotten used to this body yet.

Or maybe it is a side effect of my level being reset.

I will adjust these things later.

I approached the now lifeless Baby Boar.

All that's left is to take this back, but...

How should I carry it back?

I messed up. I didn't think about how to carry it.

Should I just carry it as is?

Heave... ho.

I grabbed a leg and decided to drag it.

It's not impossible to transport it like this, but it is a bit tough.

Dragging it along makes my arms tired, and it is surprisingly hard work.

Stop, stop!

It would take too long to bring it back to the orphanage like this.

Besides, I haven't eaten properly, so I don't have the stamina.

What should I do?

I never thought I would stumble here after finally catching one.

Isn't there a good way?

Should I just butcher it here?

But that would reduce the amount, and either way, I would still have to carry it by hand.

Besides, I don't want to grab butchered meat with my bare hands.

Isn't there something good?

That's when I thought to open my inventory.

Wouldn't this work?

That's right. I don't need to carry it by hand.

I can just store it in my inventory.

That is how I used to transport things in the game anyway.

But I don't think I ever stored an entire monster. That's probably why this idea didn't occur to me.

Let me try it anyway.

With the inventory displayed, I tried to put the Baby Boar inside.

And then...

Oh, it worked.

The Baby Boar disappeared, and the monster I just put in was displayed on the inventory screen.

See, it works.

From now on, I will use this for all transportation.

I caught one, so let's go back.

Today was more like a test run.

Besides, this forest might still be too tough for me as I am now.

One is fine, but if I get surrounded by multiple monsters, it could be troublesome.

Also, I am getting hungry.

I turned back the way I came and left the forest.

I arrived near the orphanage.

This should be fine.

I took out the prey I caught earlier from my inventory.

I didn't want anyone to see this scene, so I decided to take it out at a distance.

I dragged the Baby Boar's carcass toward the orphanage.

As I got closer, I saw Leeds near the entrance.

Ah.

Hey. What are you doing here?

I was waiting for you.

Huh? For me?

Yes. Because you suddenly said you wanted to go for a walk.

Come to think of it, I did make that excuse when I went outside.

More importantly, what is that?

Oh, this? Rejoice. It's a treat for today.

A treat? We are going to eat that?

Yeah. This is called a Baby Boar. I think it is pretty tasty.

Even in the game, you can eat its meat.

It doesn't have any special effects, so it often gets thrown away.

Can you go get Sister? I don't think I can butcher it alone.

Okay.

Leeds hurried back inside the orphanage.

Then she immediately ran back outside with Sister.

Sister looked at the Baby Boar and spoke to me with a surprised expression.

Did you bring this, Zest dear?

Well, yeah.

How on earth did you kill it?

Ah, right.

I didn't think of an excuse for that either.

Hmm...

Well... I found it!

You found it?

I was walking in the forest and... it was just lying there!

...

Even I think that's a weak excuse.

She probably won't believe me.

You found it? Is that even possible? And if you went to the forest, that means...

Wow! That's amazing!

What is it? What's that?

The children who were inside the building came running out one after another.

What are you going to do with that?

Oh this? Well... I found it lying around, so I thought we could eat it and brought it back.

No way, that's awesome!

It looks delicious...

I want to eat it too!

So everyone else was also unsatisfied.

They probably see the Baby Boar carcass as steak.

Let's eat it quickly!

But...

Hey, hey. I want to eat it too!

The children gathered around Sister.

Well then. Let's consider it a blessing from the forest and accept it.

Hurray!

Phew. I'm glad that got swept under the rug.

Well, this should work out for now.

I will have to think of a different excuse next time.

The Baby Boar I brought was cleanly butchered, and that day's meal was more luxurious than usual.