One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

I stared at the bundle of dried meat beside me.

The jungle girl had vanished, just as quickly as she had appeared.

The only evidence of her presence was this small offering.

My stomach growled.

The hunger I had been trying to ignore crashed over me, making my limbs feel heavy and my thoughts slow.

I hesitated for a moment, staring at the food.

Why was she helping me?

In this world, no kindness came without a price.

Was this a test?

A trap?

A twisted game, where she fattened me up before the final blow?

Or maybe—just maybe—I wasn't the only one trying to survive.

A Desperate Need for Strength

I picked up the meat and inspected it closely.

It smelled salty, dried under the sun, and had a slightly smoky scent—probably from being preserved over fire.

No poison. No strange markings. Just food.

But I wasn't naïve.

I tore off a tiny piece and held it in my mouth for a moment, letting my tongue test for anything unusual.

Nothing.

I swallowed.

And then I waited.

Seconds passed. Then minutes.

Still nothing.

Only the dull ache of my body begging for more.

That was all the proof I needed.

I tore into the meat like a starving animal.

The tough, chewy texture burned against my dry throat, but I forced it down.

Every bite sent a jolt of energy through me.

Not much.

But enough.

A Debt Unpaid

When the last bite was gone, I leaned back against the rough bark of the hollowed-out tree.

I wasn't full.

But I wasn't starving anymore.

And that was enough—for now.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting my body absorb the little strength the meal had given me.

The jungle girl had helped me twice now.

First, water.

Now, food.

But why?

She hadn't asked me for anything.

Hadn't spoken beyond a single word.

Eat.

That was all.

But I knew better than to think it meant nothing.

No kindness was ever free.

And sooner or later, I would find out the price.

The Watchful Eyes of the Jungle

The jungle was alive with sound.

The distant hoots of birds. The rustling of unseen creatures in the trees.

But beneath it all, I felt something else.

A presence.

Watching.

I opened my eyes.

The jungle was empty.

At least, to the untrained eye.

But I knew she was there. Somewhere, hidden among the leaves, still observing me.

I exhaled slowly.

If she wanted me dead, she would have let me starve.

But she didn't.

And that meant one thing—

She had a reason to keep me alive.

What that reason was… I would find out soon enough.

For now, I would play along.

For now, I would survive.