"Kain, with your current status, you're probably around average in this world. You won't survive with that. Go level up a bit. Also, you're not allowed to check your status until your training is over. I've also adjusted this world so you can't use teleportation."
In this continent, unlike Kain's world, high-level monsters inhabited it.
Yuuya handed Kain a sword.
When Kain drew the sword from its sheath to check, it was shining silver.
"With your iron sword, there are countless monsters you can't cut even with magic. Take this mithril sword."
Kain returned the sword to its sheath and replaced the one hanging from his waist.
"Master, thank you. By the way, Master, what level were you when you sealed Aaron?"
In response to Kain's question, Yuuya placed his hand on his chin and recalled.
"Back then? I think I was around level 600."
Kain was surprised to hear that it was twice the level he already considered exceptional.
"Still, it's more than double. I'll do my best."
"For now, the monsters around this house are too strong for the current Kain. SSS-class and above are around here. Even the weaker monsters on the outskirts of this continent are S-rank in your world. I'll send you back to the beach you just arrived at, and from there, try to make your way back to this house. Oh, no flying."
Kain was teleported to the sandy beach by Yuuya.
Then Yuuya threw a compass to Kain.
Kain caught it and saw that it was pointing in one direction.
"That's the direction of the house. Gather your own food and supplies. I'll be waiting at the house."
Yuuya said that and teleported away.
Kain, standing on the beach, gazed at the forest.
Each tree in the forest was dozens of meters tall, and the forest was dim and eerie, with only a little light filtering through.
"I don't know how far it is, but I'll do my best!"
Kain stepped into the forest.
He used his detection skill as he moved forward. The presence of monsters was everywhere, and they were even fighting each other. Kain was found and attacked by a monster within five minutes of entering the forest.
"Five minutes in the forest and already S-rank. This feels promising."
Kain put the four-meter-tall Oak King, which he had cut in half, into his item box and continued on. He encountered other monsters within dozens of meters. This cycle repeated. Sometimes, while fighting a monster, another would attack him.
The time went on without a break, and when he took a break, he dug a hole with magic and rested there. For meals, he cooked the monsters he had killed along with wild herbs, using the seasonings he carried for camping. It was a life close to the primitive era.
Kain kept moving step by step in the direction the compass pointed.
A year passed. However, for Kain, it was just a daily routine of walking in the direction the compass pointed and fighting monsters, so he had no sense of the passage of time.
After fighting for a year, Kain's emotions had faded. Living alone in this dim forest for a year without talking to anyone would do that to anyone. He was only ten years old, and including his previous life, he had only lived for a few decades.
Kain, with a blank expression, mechanically killed the monsters that appeared. That was all he did.
As usual, after defeating a monster and putting it in his item box, he heard a cry nearby.
Kain was curious about the cry and naturally headed towards it.
As he moved forward, he found a white wolf, about the size of a puppy, stained with blood. Its leg was broken, and it was covered in blood, seemingly exhausted from fleeing from something.
The white wolf and Kain met each other's gaze.
"Whine"
The wolf whined and lowered its head.
For Kain, who had lived without talking to anyone for a year, this was healing.
A smile appeared on his face, which had been expressionless for a long time.
After a few months, Kain's expression returned.
He approached the white wolf step by step, smiling.
"Okay, are you alright? I'll heal you now."
Kain cast a spell with a gentle smile on his face.
"Extra Heal"
The white wolf was enveloped in light, and its wounds quickly healed.
"Body Clean"
The blood-stained small white wolf became a clean white-furred wolf.
"Whine"
The white wolf, now standing, rubbed against Kain and jumped onto his face, licking it.
"Hey, hey, that tickles. It's time for dinner, so do you want to eat with me?"
"Whine"
The white wolf wagged its tail and circled around Kain.
Kain, listening to the wolf's voice, first used magic to create a wall around them and started cooking inside.
"You prefer raw, right? Here, it's Oak King's meat."
Saying that, he cut the meat into appropriate sizes and threw it to the white wolf. The wolf caught the meat with its mouth and started eating.
It seemed to finish quickly and looked at Kain, whining again.
"More? You're a greedy one, aren't you? Here you go."
He took out more meat and threw it to the white wolf.
The white wolf happily started eating the meat again.
Kain, eating the grilled meat next to him, watched the white wolf eat.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Kain asked the white wolf without thinking. He was lonely being alone.
When Kain spoke to the white wolf, it stopped eating and looked at Kain.
"Whine"
It whined once and started eating again.
"If you come with me, I'll give you a name. Since you're white, how about 'Haku'?"
When Kain said that, the white wolf raised its head and whined once.
"Alright! Haku! Let's work hard together."
Then, Kain and Haku finished their meal and started walking in the direction the compass pointed.
Haku turned out to be much stronger than expected. Despite being the size of a puppy, it fought without fear against monsters that were already S-class, using its explosive speed to tear them apart and bite their necks in an instant.
Kain, reassured by not being alone, no longer lost his expression.
Another two years passed, fighting in the forest.
It was a journey of just walking in the direction the compass pointed and defeating monsters, under the name of training.
Haku had grown to about three meters in size but still played with Kain.
"Haku, stop it, you're heavy because you're so big."
Kain was already thirteen years old and had grown to over 160 centimeters. His clothes no longer fit, so he used magic to make and wear them.
"I wonder when we'll get there."
Saying that, he enjoyed his life with Haku. By this time, they had entered an area where SSS-class monsters were believed to roam, and he continued his monster-slaying training.
After another year, he saw light at the end of the forest.
Kain ran through the light.
On the other side, a familiar landscape spread out, and beyond the fields, his master's house was visible.
It took four years to get through this forest.
"Finally, we made it—!!!"
He ran all the way to the house door, with Haku running beside him.
Without knocking, he suddenly opened the door.
"Master—! We made it—!!"
In the living room, Master Yuuya and an unfamiliar man were talking.
"Kain, you finally made it. I was waiting for you. You seem to have grown a bit. Hmm? The one you're with is a Divine Wolf, isn't it?"
Looking at the over three-meter-tall Haku, Yuuya muttered.
"Fenrir?"
Kain tilted his head in confusion.
"Yes, a divine beast. It's still a child, but it will grow to over five meters as an adult."
"Really? Haku is a divine wolf and a divine beast?"
"Whine"
Haku nodded.
"You've bonded quite a bit. Maybe you can make a contract?"
"Contract?"
Kain tilted his head in confusion.
"A summoning contract. By making a contract, you can summon it whenever you want. It might be inconvenient to keep it at this size."
"Haku, will you make a contract with me?"
"Whine"
"Sounds good. I'll teach you the contract before we start training."
"Say, 'I seek a contract. In the name of mutual trust, bind us! Contract Summoning.' If it responds, you'll know."
"I'll try."
Kain faced Haku.
"I seek a contract. In the name of mutual trust, bind us! Contract Summoning."
At that moment, magic power flowed from Kain to Haku.
A magic circle appeared at Haku's feet, and it was enveloped and disappeared.
"Haku disappeared!!!"
"Don't panic. Just say, 'Summon Haku' to bring it back."
"Summon Haku"
At that moment, the floor began to glow, and Haku appeared from the magic circle.
"Whine"
"Wow! Amazing. Now we can be together."
Kain hugged Haku and rejoiced.
"Is it about time?"
The man who was with Yuuya spoke.
"Ah, sorry. I'm Kain von Silford."
"I'm Dorian. An old friend of Yuuya's. I was called here to train you."