I’ve used the flight feature to check if I can see any signs of clay from above. However, it turned out that the only part I could see was the settlement where my colonists lived and a few kilometers around it. So, Leva went looking for clay without any more precise clues.

It was evening. Leva continued to walk along the river bank carrying various items. There is a large sack and makeshift shovel made of long wood tied to an escape pod plate on her back. In addition, she also carried a wooden box-shaped container on her shoulders. The container will later be used to carry clay.

The container was about the size of a gallon of water. What the woman will bring is clay, not water. I think clay will be heavier than water. Will the girl be strong enough to carry that thing to the colony?

I hope so.

At first, I thought this mission would be completed in one day. However, even after traversing the river bank on the first and second day in opposite directions, Leva had yet to find any clay. Therefore, I ordered her to go alone while bringing enough provisions for up to three days. If Leva doesn’t see those bricks materials for three days, I’ll ask her to return to the colony. Then, I’ll have her follow the riverbank again in the opposite direction.

Unfortunately, making a raft is not an option. This river flows quite fast because it is not too deep and there are many large rocks.

The red-haired girl stopped, put her container and bag of goods on the ground, then knelt on the bank of the river. She scooped up the clear river water, then drank it. The girl did the same thing again, but this time to wash her face.

Then, the girl sniffed her own armpit.

“Just take a shower, Leva. You haven’t showered in a long time, haven’t you?” I’m giggling in her ear. “It’s not too late. You’ll be itching before going to bed. You’ve been sweating all day, you know.”

Leva was silent for a moment, looking up at the sky. Then, she got up and took off all her clothes. I certainly enjoyed the sight. Her slim and slightly muscular body has its own allure.

However, just as Leva was about to put her foot into the river water, I heard a snarl like that of a beast, and the auto-pause was triggered.

Well, of course, you can’t expect everything to go smoothly if you’re traveling alone in the wild.

After I gave her orders and pressed the play button, Leva grabbed her shovel and started to look around warily, not bothering to put her clothes on at all. Maybe she didn’t want to waste time because even a second of her carelessness would put her life in danger.

This is the wild.

But, seeing her ready with her weapon, still with her naked body, I feel like seeing such a beautiful work of art.

The beast’s growl sounded again. Leva turned her body back and found a gray furry beast. The beast was similar to a house cat but doubled in size, and the contours of its face looked fiercer, almost like a lion.

It didn’t seem to like Leva’s existence or think that she was a threat to its territory.

“I don’t want to bother you little cat.” Leva hissed. “If you don’t want me here, I’m leaving.”

However, the wild cat didn’t care and jumped instead. Leva didn’t have time to dodge and couldn’t do anything about it when her left arm was clawed.

“Ouch!” Leva jumped back and winced in pain.

Ugh, it turns out that some of the animals on this planet are quite aggressive. Starting from that group of monkeys, and now this cat. As far as I know, their counterparts on earth are not like them.

“Okay, then.” Leva sneered when she saw the blood flowing down her arm. “I had to defend myself. I don’t want to get hurt any more than this.”

Growling again, the cat jumped a second time. However, this time Leva was much more prepared. She hit the wild cat with her shovel. The cat slammed hard to the ground and staggered to get up, but instead of running away, it was ready to strike again.

“Oh, come on.” Leva clucked.

***

Sitting in front of the bonfire, Leva checked the bandage on her left arm. The bandage was so untidy that it was still dripping blood.

“Oh, whatever.” The woman snorted, then began to roll back the cat she had skinned over the fire.

Let’s hope it doesn’t get infected before you get to your house, Leva.

Several times women check if the animal that has been removed from the head is cooked or not. Yes, Leva did have provisions, but if the food she brought could be stored for another day, wouldn’t that be great? After all, it was the cat who attacked first. Leva needs rest. If she ran away, she might get even more tired.

I’ve learned not to get too attached to the animals in this world. If needed, they can be food for the survival of my colonists.

The woman took the stick used to stab the beast, but she didn’t eat it right away. She removed the cooked meat from the fire and fanned it with a large leaf. I went fast-forward, intending to speed things up until the morning. However, just a moment after I did that, everything went back to normal automatically.

An event?

“Ugh. Your cooking is much more edible, Seb.” Leva scowled after chewing, but she took a bite of the food anyway.

And suddenly, I heard a meowing sound. Leva immediately stopped eating.

Three little gray kittens came out of the grass. With bodies only the size of a human fist, they walked with a limp. Seeing Leva, they weren’t scared but instead kept meowing, as if asking the red-haired girl something.

“Shit.” Leva lowered the grilled meat she held, then looked at the three small animals with a sad grimace. “You came out of the nest because your mother didn’t come home, did you? Oh, I’m sorry.”

I slapped my forehead and chose to look up, unable to bear to look at the three kittens. Why does this game have any means of breaking your heart?

Leva approached the three animals, but they fled and were lost in the grass instead.

“That is the law of nature. To maintain one life, we may have to sacrifice another life.”

It wasn’t Leva’s voice.

The woman got up and raised her shovel, staring at the darkness that was the source of the voice. “Who are you?”

It wasn’t long before the figure of a human emerged from that darkness.