Kaito woke with the soft rustling of leaves overhead. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dancing patterns on the forest floor. For the first time in decades, he felt fully awake, alive, and unburdened.

  Stretching, he scanned the area around his shelter. The forest seemed endless, filled with towering trees, moss-covered rocks, and tiny streams winding between the roots. Every sound—the chirping of birds, the distant calls of unseen creatures, the gentle sway of branches—felt like music to his ears.

  As he walked around to stretch his legs, something small and unexpected caught his eye: a rabbit with two tiny fangs, hopping cautiously toward his shelter, making a soft soaring sound.

  Kaito froze. Wait… is that…? His heart raced. The rabbit was moving fast, and instinctively, he thought: Maybe Fire Ball would work…

  He raised his hand, focused, and whispered, “Fire Ball!”

  A small flame flickered into existence in his palm. He concentrated, growing it bigger, until it swelled into a full ball of fire. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it at the rabbit.

  The fireball hit perfectly. The creature yelped once, and then it was gone, consumed by flames. Kaito stepped back, stared, and then laughed aloud.

  “So… breakfast just came like that,” he said with a wide grin. “This should be enough for three meals today.”

  After carefully cooking part of the rabbit over a small fire, he stored the remaining meat in his Item Box, grateful for his newfound magical storage. Once the meal was done, he cleared the remnants of his small shelter and continued walking forward, curious about what lay beyond.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  As he wandered, his thoughts drifted. How far until I reach a town or city? Will this world really be like the manga I read in my previous life?

  Then, he heard it—a rushing flow of water, louder than any stream. Excitement sparked in him. A river! he thought, running toward the sound. Emerging from the trees, he saw a broad, clear river winding through the forest. Kneeling at the bank, he dipped his hands into the cold water and splashed his face. The refreshing sensation made him grin.

  “I might camp here tonight,” he whispered happily.

  Kaito’s practical side kicked in. He ventured into the forest nearby, dragging a long log back to the riverbank. Using a sharp stone, he chipped one end of the log to make it pointed. Then he waded into the water and began fishing.

  Hours passed. He caught more than ten fish, storing all but one in his Item Box for later. After cooking the first fish for lunch, he rested for a short while, feeling satisfied and energized.

  Next, he began building a proper shelter near the river. Three hours later, he leaned back and admired his

  “It would be easier if I had some big fabric to make a tent,” he whispered, eyes scanning the structure.

  Not stopping there, Kaito crafted a spear for daily use and even made a fishing rod just for fun. The rest of the afternoon and early evening passed with him fishing leisurely, experimenting with small techniques, and enjoying the peace of the forest.

  As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Kaito sat by his small fire, holding his spear in one hand, the fishing rod in the other, and a satisfied grin on his face.

  This… this is the journey I never got to have in my previous life. Every day will be new. Every day will be my own.

  With that thought, he leaned back, letting the sounds of the forest wash over him. The first full day of his new life, his adventure, and his camping journey had come to a peaceful close.