Aim To Live

Chasing my prey, the small critters avoid the trees with agile movement and disappear into the depths of the forest without suffering from the obstacles at their feet. It is some amazing speed of the beasts with those small bodies. Isn’t it impossible to catch up with a beast in the forest?

Enuma said, "In such a forest, one can only hunt down the beasts that flee. By setting a trap. Attack with a bow and arrow or a spear. But other than that, to chase and catch them myself. Such means exist."

Enuma explained, "Available footings are unstable with obstacles aplenty. Then what are you to do? Search for the path of light."

I was breathing heavy after giving chase. Confused, I was questioning what the path of light was.

Enuma lecturing, "The shortest route to the destination or goal. It is an application of dynamic vision and peripheral vision, which until now has only been active in sparring and speed reading. The ability to detect the shortest route to the goal while avoiding obstacles, by measuring ‘your own physical ability, passiveness, foothold situation and risk assessment, using experience, prediction and the ability to observe and understand surrounding conditions. The skilled person sees the situation in an instant while running, and the shortest route in which to advance to the target appears as a path of light."

The shortest route. Considering my current physical abilities. I have done it by nature, like walking through a crowd in the city. However, to do it in this deep forest. 

Enuma clarified, "Yes, even if you find the shortest route, tis not that easy considering your physical abilities. Therefore, in this forest, in addition to survival knowledge, you shall learn the techniques of running, climbing and flying, jumping and traversing using trees and surrounding terrain, running through narrow paths. You shall acquire Magic Parkour."

Magic Parkour. Although the naming is still the same, the technique is certainly convenient. Instead of obstacles being a hindrance, A person can move lightly from tree to tree, kick off rock walls that appear, and use the recoil to accelerate further.

Enuma said, "Yes, this is so. Once you master this, moving in the forest is easy. Furthermore, it is also possible to use the roof of buildings to move around the city."

Magic Parkour essentially made us run around covertly like a ninja. I was running in the forest, so by all means it was necessary to learn.

The hunt, to catch the escaping rabbit nimbly running around with its small body. I yelled,  “Rabbiiiiiiiiiiiit!!”

Determined, I explained, “I hate snakes and frogs, but I’ve eaten rabbit meat! Rabbits I can eat! Waaaaaaaiiiit!”

Enuma tried to calm me down, "Hey, do not get too eager. Parkour needs calm. You burn to hot and try to do more than your ability and you may end up in an awkward state."

The rabbit tries to run through the bushes and throw me, but I won’t let it get away. I want to eat more meat than mushrooms! I’ve eaten rabbit meat in a restaurant. It had a slightly wild flavor, unlike beef-pork, and I thought it was good enough.

With that in mind, I flew from branch to branch in full chase “I’m not going to let you go, rabbit!”

Misjudging the distance and hit the branch of a tree at the base. Then I tumbled over and started falling. 

I panicked, and shouted, "I’m gonna die! Gyaaaaaah!"

Falling in a tumble, I landed on my back and human airbag. The butt.

Enuma sneered, "Therefore, do not push your good fortune too far."

The distance between the branches of the tree was a bit longer, but I thought I could reach them. I didn’t reach them. I banged my shin on the branch of a thick tree, fell from the branch as it is, and crashed to the ground.

Hit my back and buttocks hard and rubbed my body with thickets.

Enuma said, "Hey, you have not perished. If you die with just this, you will be quite the dullard."

No good. I can’t get up right away because my whole body is numb. I said, “S-Sorry. Damn.”

That rabbit stopped and looked back at me. What, it seems to be mocking me with your nose! There is no sign of the rabbit any longer now. 

I felt like I was being made a fool of, so I stood up to be mean. “Nah, let’s go”

At that moment, the rabbit appeared again and shook its body. I began to focus, so that it could start parkour any time. I see the distance of the rabbit, and at the same time I understand. “No good, this distance. Even if I jump out, it can run away as it is.”

Unfortunately, I couldn’t use a breakthrough because of magic preservation. I can’t need my magic well because of the pain. Good grief, how hopeless am I. Reval brought down a dragon, but I can’t even catch a rabbit.

Enuma called out, “Don’t make light of it, this struggle. You catch it, you win.”

I gradually get numb but start to move somehow. However, it cannot be caught if the rabbit flees.

I use magic, “Dosse!”

The rabbit reacted. Enuma gasped, "Eh?!"

All right, one more time! I used the magic, “Dosse”

The technique taught by Enuma. A dance that lures beasts. It was embarrassing at first, but I was cornered up to this point, and I was hungry, and I couldn’t live if I didn’t eat anything. Shame does not matter.

I opened my heart and invited the rabbit with powerful steps. “Dosse”

The rabbit moves its ears, and it approaches me as if it were a drunk. It seriously worked. Yes, I didn’t feel ashamed of this, so I took it seriously and invited it.

Enuma grinned, "By opening your heart, you finally achieved it?"

I quickly caught the rabbit that came to my feet. “Oh, I got iiiiiiiiiiit!”

I shout with glee at my success. It’s a little hairy, heavy, hot, and you even hear the sound of the heart. This is life I live by eating this. Somehow, it’s kind of emotional

Enuma said, "Caught one at last? It took a long time. Now then, clean it up, drain the blood, peel off the skin, and remove the internal organs"

Now I’m to dismantle my catch. To take out the internal organs. Intestines, can I bare it?

Enuma saw my hesitation, "What is it?"

I stammer, “Heh, n-no way. Um, that. That! I’m gonna do it."

Nope, still can’t. I think about just grilling it as is.

Enuma chimed in, "Well I never, do you mean to imply you find such task disgusting."

I retorted, “Ah, Seriously”

Enuma said, "Absolutely! Even if you catch a rabbit, it remains a rabbit. From now on, you have to make the rabbit meat in order to eat it. That is your task."

Oh, still mocking me as a spoiled brat. Enuma did look at Terran with face of disdain. I can’t help it, but I’ve only eaten what became meat in the first place.

Enuma said, "That is why the one who has only eaten meat that has already been processed by the butcher-"

I’ve only eaten meat cooked in restaurants, not to mention the butcher’s meat.  I have to slaughter this rabbit by myself and dismantle it. Two more rabbits appeared from behind the bush. For some reason, I glance at them.

Even if I stare, the two do not run away. Me? No, it’s like they’re staring at a rabbit I’m holding by its neck.

I said, “No way. You’re not a parent and child, are you?”

Enuma barked at me, "Hey. Do not mind it."

No, I don’t think I’m going to. Stop it, don’t look at me like that.

I talked to the rabbit “Although, you have family, I still need to eat. I can’t stay alive otherwise—”

So, no matter how close you are, I’ll eat this guy. There is no need for sympathy. It’s a matter of life or death. I’ve been eating animal meat for years now. Now, the rabbit that I caught with half-hearted sympathy.

It is useless even if it looks with such round eyes. Your family is over today. The rabbit made a noise, “Kuu …”

I blurt out, “Guh. G-Go. You can go! The rabbit I met on the beautiful starry night. I’ll name you Shooting Star.”

Enuma had a bulging vein for some reason, despite being a ghost. Elegantly said, "Hey, boy!"

Before I knew it, something came up, and I let the rabbit that I caught go. The moment I lowered it to the ground, the rabbit dashed down to the other two, and without looking back at me, the three of them went deep into the forest.

My eyes shined like the night stars, as pretended to be a saint. I said, “Be strong and, get along with your family. Shooting Star Family”

Enuma shouted, "You let it gooooooooooo!!"

At that moment, even though he couldn’t touch me, Enuma struck me with his arm penetrating my head. Enuma was boiling and opened his mouth to vent. "Because nothing! What was that? Being kind?! Are you aware that tis the ultimate hypocrisy to show such half-hearted welfare to animals, even though you are not a vegetarian?"

Like a spoiled brat, I replied, “I-I know.”

Enuma replied, "You know not! It is natural in the animal kingdom to be caught by the strong and become food. Survival of the fittest, such is the way."

I remain speechless with guilt for being so weak. 

Enuma continued, "War is the same, is it not? That is how the human race won the right to survive."

No, yes. I know. I just. Family, I noticed, and it left me flabbergasted. 

Enuma mocked me, "Dear me with this, I worry for the future. In the end, all you could yield were mare mushrooms…. Uh!."

It was then. Enuma, who was preaching to me, suddenly glanced deep into the forest with a scary face.

I’m trying to guess what’s going on but called out. “Enuma?”

Enuma said, "A little unexpected, something dangerous that cannot be eaten. Seems he was in this forest."

I replied “What?!”

The next moment, the trees in the forest shook and felt a sign of something approaching little by little with a noise. At the same time, I heard the sound of something crashing three times.