It's been a long while since I slept that well. This bed might not have been the best, but it beats the ground for sure.

As I stretch, I look around. Everyone is still asleep it seems. We did go through a lot yesterday. Coming face to face with death and all. Better leave them.

*sneaks out*

The air is pure and the temperature warm. This is going to be a good day. I should probably wait for them to wake up to bid them goodbye.

It seems to still be early too. Let me see. There are a kitchen and a supply depot. Let's check the kitchen first. There seems to be a lot of semi-hard bread there. I nibble one a little. It isn't that bad but compared to what I am used to it is worlds apart.

After all, in the old world, anyone has access to food of amazing quality. In this one, I did live at the Moon Keep for a while. Let's just say the accommodations and food were all great. Then in the wild, I could hunt. There is a certain charm to a simplistic outdoor barbecue. I wouldn't know how to explain it either. In any case, I guess the good company is helping a lot.

Now, what else should I busy myself with? I explore the camp. The supply depot seems to contain lots of tools. Axes and whatnot. Also some wood. This is kind of weird. Why are these guys cutting trees with physical might? Wouldn't it be more efficient to use magic? I'll have to revise my estimate of the number of people that actually have magical powers.

Perhaps the number is lower than I initially believed. Perhaps the common sense of the sects doesn't apply to the general populace?

If I remember correctly one guy did say that they needed to cut a few hundreds of trees. He was probably talking daily. That is how workload is calculated if I remember correctly. Not sure.

Should I try it for a bit? I'm not sure how well I would fare. Know what? Let's give it a try! Okay, first gotta walk to the target.

Next, make sure I aim correctly. Trees being immobile helps a lot.

Afterward, enhance my physical prowess with divine energy. I would enhance the axe but I'm worried it will break.

Next swing and …*CHOP*

This feels nice!

The more I keep swinging the better it feels. This is oddly therapeutic. To further increase my motivation I imagine that snob rank 4 tamer's face in front of me. Now this feels even better!

…*CHOP*

What do you mean no king slime in sight?!

…*CHOP*

That's what I think of your obvious lie!

…*CHOP*

No talent whatsoever! So fucking what?!

*CRASH*

Hell yeah! I will keep working hard. Little by little until, finally, I can topple huge trees.

I feel enlightened at the moment. I am quite similar to this simple axe. I might not be the sharpest, or the strongest, or even the coolest, but I will remain myself. I will prevail through sheer effort.

Then again, I am also taking it slowly. Going from place to place exploring this world and stopping from time to time to train.

Right now, for instance, I am chopping wood. How will that help? I am keeping myself busy. This turned out to strengthen my resolve too. I will wait for them to wake up then I am going to learn about taming.

Doesn't matter if most of them doubt me and jeer at me. As long as there is one person that believes I can do it then I can't let them down. There is Wolfie, there is the unicorn and there is also that silver glasses guy. I am truly lucky. If I didn't have them, I would have to believe in myself. This is something extremely hard to do. Especially when you feel lost in life. Getting summoned into a whole new universe doesn't help haha.

And so I keep chopping and chopping.

This is relaxing.

The physical exercise.

Working in the morning.

Something simple and repetitive, chop until nothing remains.

No need to think about anything complex.

You just keep going.

Every time a new target falls the satisfaction of a job well done.

Venting all the bad emotions into every hit leaving behind only calmness and peace.

The more I chop the more proficient I become.

Towards the end, it takes me one swing only to take down a tree.

Then I start chopping faster and faster.

I can hear something in the distance. Are the others awake?

"What the hell happened here?!"

Is there something happening? Better head over there! I stop in front of a stupefied lumberjack.

[What is it?!]

"Where did the forest go!?"

I turn around. I did cut many trees but that's what this place is for no?

[I did cut a few…was I not supposed to?]

"N-no, it's just when did you do this?"

[I've been chopping for a little while. By the way, how do you guys even carry these to sell?]

"Someone will come with a carriage to deal with it."

Another one of our companions comes nearby.

"Where is the forest?!"

What is up with these guys?

[I did cut a few trees…]

"You call that a few? That is half the damn forest you laid waste to!"

[I mean this is just a small part of it on the outskirts no?]

"No this is it! Or used to be it in any case.

[All of it?!]

"All of it."

There is clearly something wrong here. I've seen a forest before. The savage archaic forest wasn't anything like this at all. This one looks fake in comparison.

[So, what do we do about it? I just kept swinging and it somehow turned like that.]

"Is it possible you have a gift for woodcutting?"

Now that think about it yes.

[Sadly I think this might just be my specialty.]

"I'm just messing with you. It's normal with your strength that you would be a faster worker than us. If you ever want to work for us, we'll take you in hahaha."

Oh? Getting offered a job that easily? This is amazing!

[Perfect! I'll take you up on the offer then!]

"Wait, what?! You accepted?!"

Yes, why wouldn't I? *perplexed*