After accepting his first quest, Ren immediately began his preparations with a methodical approach. The task was simple: gather medicinal herbs used as the base ingredient for healing potions. While it sounded like an easy job, the city's supply of these herbs often ran out quickly due to high demand from adventurers. That meant competition for gathering them would be tough, and he would likely have to venture deeper into the forest to find the best stock.
Instead of rushing out, Ren started by gathering information first. He visited several alchemy shops and spoke with their owners, asking about the characteristics of the herbs he needed, their ideal habitats, and the best methods for harvesting them. This way, he could search more efficiently and avoid picking the wrong plants.
Once he understood what he needed to look for, the next step was preparing his equipment. He couldn't enter the forest unprotected, especially with the possibility of monsters roaming the area. With his remaining money, he purchased a hunting knife, a simple storage bag, and a lightweight cloak to help him blend into the natural environment. Conventional weapons like swords or bows didn't interest him—he had his own plans for defense.
With everything ready, Ren set off toward the nearest forest. However, instead of heading straight in to search for herbs, he first made his way to a secluded spot outside the forest. The area was far from the main path, hidden behind a formation of large rocks that shielded him from prying eyes. It was there that he began his work.
Since his first day in this world, Ren had been collecting various materials he deemed useful—scrap metal from old ruins, mineral powders from the marketplace, and basic chemical components he obtained from alchemists he spoke with. With all these materials gathered, he was finally able to craft something far more useful than just a hunting knife.
Under the dim light of the late afternoon, he began reconstructing something that had only existed in his memory. Something that had once changed the course of history in his original world. A piece of technology created to balance the power between the strong and the weak.
Something often associated with both gods and demons.
A firearm.
However, due to his limited materials and tools, Ren couldn't immediately create a full-fledged rifle. Instead, he opted for something simpler yet still effective—a basic pistol along with ten small-caliber bullets.
Even though it was primitive compared to modern firearms, it was still far more advanced than any weapon in this world. Ren examined his creation with a faint smirk, carefully checking its balance and mechanism.
"Good… This will do for now."
With this, he no longer had to rely on magic or swords like the other adventurers. Ren finally had his own weapon—something this world couldn't comprehend, and something that would give him an absolute advantage.
With the pistol hidden beneath his cloak, he finally stepped into the forest, ready to begin his search for herbs… and to test his creation if necessary.
The forest before Ren stretched vast and dense, its towering trees casting long shadows over the narrow dirt paths. The thick canopy above filtered the sunlight, allowing only faint beams to pierce through, giving the place a mysterious ambiance. The air was humid, mixed with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves—typical of a thriving natural ecosystem.
Ren walked in calmly, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings. His main objective was gathering herbs, but he couldn't ignore the potential dangers lurking within. Wild monsters, predators, or even hostile adventurers—all were variables he needed to consider.
As he ventured deeper down the narrowing path, he pulled out a small notebook containing descriptions of the plants he needed. Broad leaves with a deep green hue, stems that released a minty scent when crushed, and a preference for growing in areas with limited sunlight—these were the key characteristics of Gleamleaf, the primary ingredient for healing potions.
After some time, he finally spotted a cluster of plants matching the description, growing between the roots of a large tree. Squatting down, he carefully examined the leaves to confirm their structure, ensuring they were the correct herb. Once satisfied, he began harvesting them methodically, making sure to keep the roots intact to increase their resale value.
However, just as he was placing a handful into his bag, his ears picked up the faint sound of movement from behind the bushes.
Ren immediately halted his actions and slowed his breathing, his body remaining still while his mind worked quickly. (That sound was too heavy to be just the wind… and it's not the footsteps of a human either. Something is here.)
Slowly, he adjusted his cloak and reached for the pistol concealed at his waist. His index finger rested near the trigger, but he didn't immediately aim it. Instead, he remained crouched, waiting patiently.
Then, emerging from the underbrush, a creature covered in dark fur with glowing red eyes stepped into view. Its body resembled that of a wolf, but with longer fangs and sharper claws than any ordinary beast.
A Dire Wolf—a common low-level monster often found in forests like this.
Ren didn't panic. He had anticipated the possibility of running into something like this. Dire Wolves weren't a major threat, but for someone untrained in combat, they could be a serious problem.
The creature growled lowly, baring its fangs as it crouched, preparing to lunge. Ren remained still, calculating the distance and predicting its attack trajectory.
"Seven meters… If it jumps, an average wolf's speed should close that distance in half a second."
Ren inhaled deeply, then in a swift and precise motion, he raised his pistol and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The gunshot shattered the silence of the forest, followed by a pained yelp from the Dire Wolf as it staggered backward. The small-caliber bullet had pierced its left shoulder, disrupting its balance.
Ren stayed focused, not immediately attacking again. His eyes studied the monster's reaction—would it choose to fight, or retreat?
The Dire Wolf growled in anger, but hesitation flickered in its eyes. It didn't recognize the weapon Ren had used, and now it was wounded without understanding how.
Ren took advantage of that hesitation. He didn't want to waste more bullets unless absolutely necessary.
In a swift motion, he stepped forward, gripping the hunting knife in his hand. Before the Dire Wolf could react, he delivered a precise slash to the vulnerable spot beneath its throat. The blade cut deep, severing its vital arteries in an instant.
The creature gasped, its movements growing sluggish before finally collapsing.
A few seconds later, the forest fell silent once more.
Ren exhaled slowly, wiping his blade clean before tucking his pistol back beneath his cloak. "One problem solved."
He glanced at the Dire Wolf's corpse. Its fur and fangs could be sold in the city for a decent price.
(Gathering herbs alone won't be enough to fund my long-term plans. It'll be more efficient if I can also profit from the monsters I encounter.)
With that thought, Ren took his hunting knife and began skinning the Dire Wolf with practiced efficiency.