After everyone was awake and basic needs were met, Ren turned his attention to the next step: finding supplies.
He took out a bow and arrows, handing them to Kaito and Nanao.
"Listen, don't venture too deep into the forest. I don't want you two getting lost."
Nanao accepted the bow with a wide grin.
"Relax, Rokuhara! I'm a tracking expert. Besides, we won't go far."
Unlike Nanao, Kaito nodded seriously.
"Understood, Rokuhara. We'll be careful. Our top priority is finding anything edible or drinkable."
Seeing the three men looking like hunters ready for action, Umi stepped forward.
"Ren-senpai, wouldn't it be better if I helped search for food supplies too?"
"No need, Umi. Your role is more critical here. You have to care for the injured. You're the only one with basic medical knowledge to do it."
"He's right, Sonoda. You're the only one with medical know-how. Leave food gathering and security to us guys."
"Coach Takigawa, Seiya, and Ryohei are in bad shape. They need you, Sonoda."
Ren, Nanao, and Kaito gave nearly identical responses, united in their stance that Umi should stay. Their arguments were logical and valid—Umi was their only hope for treating severe injuries.
Understanding her role, Umi clenched her fists, a serious expression on her face.
"Alright, I'll do my best to care for everyone."
"…"
On the sidelines, Mafuyu could only watch the interaction.
(Pathetic. While my students fight to survive and take initiative, all I can do is watch.)
She felt ashamed of her uselessness. As a teacher, she should be leading in a situation like this. But she was painfully aware that her intervention, with all her limitations, would only cause problems.
(Let the capable ones handle it.)
Mafuyu had to set aside her pride for the group's survival.
"Then let's head out."
Ren led Nanao and Kaito into the dense forest, leaving the makeshift camp behind.
Umi watched Ren's figure vanish among the trees with worry. "Be careful out there, everyone."
"Don't do anything dangerous, Rokuhara-kun, Onogi-kun, Kisaragi-kun! Come back before sunset, and above all, stay safe!" Mafuyu raised her voice to ensure they heard her reminder.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The three men planned to hunt animals, a task they thought would be relatively easy given their remote location. But after thirty minutes of trekking through the silent forest, they found no signs of sizable game.
No tracks of deer, wild boars, or even rabbits they could catch.
"Damn it! Why aren't there any deer or boars?!" Nanao grumbled, kicking a pebble. "I haven't even seen a single rabbit! Is this forest really empty? We can't go back empty-handed, right? How are we supposed to feed everyone?"
Kaito sighed, scanning the surroundings for other solutions.
"If we can't hunt anything, our only option is to look for edible plants like mushrooms or forest fruits. The problem is, we don't know if they're poisonous. One wrong pick could make things worse. We don't have a forest botany guide or a herbalist among us."
"…"
Even Ren furrowed his brow, a rare expression for him. He hadn't expected finding food to become such an immediate challenge.
(Finding food through conventional means is incredibly tough for people like us with no survival experience.)
(If it's like this, the most efficient way is… magic. Yes, magic is the best solution in a situation like this.)
He turned to Kaito and Nanao. "Listen. I think it'll be more efficient if we split up."
Nanao immediately protested. "What?! Alone? That's too dangerous, Rokuhara! What if you run into a wild animal or get lost?"
Kaito nodded in agreement. "Kisaragi's right. We should stick together. Two heads are better than one, especially in an unfamiliar forest like this."
Ren looked at them with a reassuring gaze.
"I know the risks. But we don't have time to search for game that might not exist. Besides, I can move faster alone and track larger resources. You two would slow me down if you followed."
"We need to find food and water as soon as possible—especially water. The people back there need fluids more than anything after the accident and a night without drinking."
Nanao and Kaito exchanged glances. Doubt lingered in their eyes, but Ren's argument about water's priority and efficiency made sense. Their minor injuries would indeed hinder Ren's speed. In short, they'd be a burden if Ren needed to move quickly and cover a wider area.
In the end, they sighed, realizing Ren wouldn't budge.
"Fine, but promise you'll be extra careful, Rokuhara."
"And come back soon."
Nanao and Kaito stopped trying to dissuade him.
"Of course. You two, prioritize finding clean water. That's more important than food right now. If you find a water source, mark the location and return immediately. I'll handle the rest."
With that, Ren parted ways with Nanao and Kaito. He let the two students continue searching for water in a less deep area while he ventured further into the forest.
Once he was sure he was out of their sight and hearing range, Ren stopped under the shade of a giant tree. Then, he chanted the activation incantation for the Divine Authority of the Book of Knowledge.
"Fables, facts, myths—all are stored in my writings, all secrets gathered in my grasp, nothing can be hidden from my mind."
*BUZZ!*
In an instant, an ancient book materialized in his hand. It looked old, adorned with strange carvings and symbols on its cover.
*SHUA!*
With a mere thought, the book opened, flipping to pages containing the magic Ren desired.
Appraisal and Clairvoyance. Those were the two spells he chose. Appraisal to identify potential food sources and dangers nearby, and Clairvoyance to see far ahead, searching for animals to hunt.
"Appraisal's effect is like game information."
Ren focused his gaze on a cluster of brightly colored mushrooms growing on a large tree trunk nearby.
As his focus locked onto the mushrooms, a transparent interface appeared before his eyes, displaying detailed information like a game screen.
[Name: Purple Moon Mushroom]
[Type: Saprophytic Mushroom (Grows on dead wood)]
[Poison Status: Toxic (Fatal if consumed, causes organ failure and death within 24 hours)]
[Description: This visually striking mushroom is often mistaken for an edible variety. Releases mildly toxic spores when disturbed.]
"..."
(Good thing I didn't let Kaito and Nanao pick mushrooms recklessly. This information is incredibly useful.)