256 Chapter 256: The Bloody Boar (1/2)

”Er…where is everyone?”

I had dismissed Canis Major quite some time ago because the drain on my mana was starting to affect me physically but I couldn't find anyone at all. It felt as if I had been walking in circles for ages. All the trees looked the same, there were no notable landmarks to distinguish one area from the next, and nobody to ask for directions when I got lost.

And lost I was.

”Actually…where the hell am I?!”

There was no response other than the chirping of a bird from far away. I looked around blearily, feeling extremely tired. I needed to rest and soon, and I obviously couldn't do it in the open. If only I could find a cave…

Ironically, at that moment my friends were all resting and recovering in a cave, and if I just found them I would be able to do just that. Unfortunately, I had completely forgotten about my poor sense of direction and my inclination to get lost, especially in a forest like this. I had trouble finding my way around a new city even with a map, though I managed (especially since there were people I could ask for directions if I ever got lost), but in a forest?

Basically, I was fucked.

”Damn it. So much for being a hero.”

And I wanted to surprise my friends with the blood tokens I had gotten, and share them with Harrison and the rest. The looks on their faces when I brought the blood tokens back…I was so looking forward to savoring their pleasantly shocked features.

Now that plan was all ruined because I couldn't find my way around a damned forest. To be fair, most people couldn't. I wished I had learned pathfinding and tracking like Troy and the rest. Then I wouldn't be in so much trouble.

For now, however, the most important thing was to find shelter. I needed a place to rest or I would be a sitting duck for both the monsters and other predatory students seeking to add my blood token to my collection. If they found out that I had a ton of blood tokens on my person, I would become quite the ripe target for exploitation.

That wouldn't be good.

If I couldn't find a cave, I should just improvise.

Thinking that, I glanced at the trees and wondered if I could use any of them as shelter. It took another few minutes of trekking through unknown territory, but I finally found a tree suitable for my purpose.

There was a hollow at the base of the tree, where I could squeeze in and sleep without anyone knowing that I was in there. Well, to be sure, specialized trackers might be able to locate me, but if they weren't looking for me specifically, they had no reason to watch for my presence and track me to my makeshift shelter.

”Ugh…”

Crawling through the dirt and soil, I dusted myself off wearily. Even creepier was the bugs, which I swatted away in disgust. I hated bugs and insects. Most of them, anyway. They crept me out, and I was a little ashamed to say I had a slight fear of them. Well, I dealt with that fear by squashing them or swatting them away.

If they were gigantic, then I tended to take them out from long range with the hopes of not needing to get into close combat with them.

In any event, once I cleared out a comfortable spot for myself inside the hollow of the tree, I went to sleep and began the process of recovering my depleted mana.

*

When I woke up, it was the next morning. According to my cellphone, anyway. I had slept the entire night away, as well as evening. I was pretty exhausted after unleashing Hercules, so I didn't find it strange.

Just a little annoyed that I had slept for too long.

”Damn…well, I guess I should start looking for my friends now.”

Crawling out of the hollow, I dusted myself off and looked around for any imminent danger.

Thankfully, there was none whatsoever, so I could immediately begin my journey to look for my friends.

”What a pathetic MC!”

”Spineless wimp.”