Chapter 62: Exploring the Hunter’s Hut
Stepping inside the hut, the silence felt deeper than outside—almost as if the sound itself was being swallowed.
“…It’s dark…”
Ren narrowed his eyes and looked around the interior, faintly lit by the light coming in from the entrance.
Right beside the doorway, something was hanging on the wall.
On closer inspection, it was an old lantern. The iron frame was darkened, with patches of rust spreading across it. Ren stretched up on his toes and took it down. It didn’t feel as fragile as it looked. It had a solid, weighty feel. When he shook it slightly, a small splash echoed inside.
(There’s still oil… Can it still be used?)
That fact gave him a small sense of relief. But the surface was heavily covered in dust—so thick that his finger left clear marks when it touched it.
He stepped back outside with the lantern in hand. The brightness made him squint, so he took out a dry cloth and carefully began wiping it. The cold metal transmitted through his fingertips. As he cleaned it, the dull black surface slowly revealed its original color underneath.
The thick glass part wasn’t cracked or broken. It seemed surprisingly sturdy. The glass was still slightly sticky with grime, but most of the dust came off. As he wiped the metal body, an engraved emblem came into view.
“…Huh?”
Ren froze.
There it was—a familiar crest. A lion facing right, and a tower.
The Cream Baron family crest.
“…Huh? Ours?”
Ren turned back toward the hut.
Then he remembered the manor’s map he had once seen inside the baronial residence. This entire forest was within the Cream Barony. It made sense that this hunting hut was connected to the baron’s estate.
He looked back at the lantern again. Somehow, it felt a little more familiar now. Something that had been just an old tool moments ago had become something tied to him.
After staring at it for a while, he gave it another small shake.
“…Wonder if it still works?”
He gathered mana into his fingertips and brought his finger close to the wick.
“Ignite!”
Poof.
A small flame lit up inside the lantern.
“It lit!”
A smile appeared on Ren’s face—but it lasted only an instant.
The flame flickered, wavered weakly, and quickly shrank.
“…Ah…”
Before long, it thinned into nothing and went out.
A faint burnt, oily smell lingered in the air. Ren stared at the lantern in disappointment.
There was still oil left—but maybe not enough, or maybe it had deteriorated over time. Or perhaps the wick had simply gone bad after all those years…
He let out a small sigh.
If he replaced the wick and added fresh oil, it might still work. For a moment, he considered putting it into his “small box,” but in the end, he placed it back where he found it.
“For now, let’s take a look inside… Small Box.”
He summoned a palm-sized “small box” and willed it to glow.
Poooh.
The box brightened, illuminating the interior.
The floor was made of wooden planks, but many were darkened and creaking. Each step made a faint creak, and that sound felt strangely loud, making Ren move more carefully.
(It won’t collapse… right?)
He proceeded cautiously, shifting his weight slowly.
Along the wall was an old shelf. Up close, the wood was so dry and rough it looked like it would easily splinter into his fingers.
On it were broken ceramic plates, rusted metal containers, and pots.
Deeper inside the hut, there was a fire pit carved into the floor and lined with stone in a circular shape. In the center stood a sturdy table, with a single chair beside it. Both were thickly coated in dust.
“…Hasn’t been used in a long time…”
His quiet voice echoed strangely far.
Sunlight seeped faintly through gaps in the wooden window frame. He briefly reached toward the window, thinking of opening it, but stopped—imagining a small monster suddenly flying inside.
Instead, he looked down at his “small box” and willed it to shine brighter.
The light intensified, illuminating even the walls of the hut.
In one corner, he noticed several wooden crates stacked together.
Ren approached them, slightly tense.