There's Something Strange About My Water Magic ~ Before I Knew It, I Was a Slum Orphan Thrown Into the Trash Bin ~ - Episode 13: Turn Back to Normal~

Episode 13: Turn Back to Normal~

I crawled through the grass. I was trying to make as little noise as possible. And I managed to get away from the road where the trash bins were being transported.

When I slowly stood up and carefully looked around, I saw that the grass was growing up to about my waist.

I clenched my back teeth tightly to endure the pain in my waist and knees as I headed deeper into the forest.

The robe I stripped off of John was a dark green color. So as long as I didn’t move around wildly, it wouldn’t stand out in the forest.

While carefully looking around in all directions and listening closely for the sound of any creature moving, I slowly walked through the forest.

The words that the low-ranking adventurer—who let me go back on the trash bin—had said, “Slum brats are just slaves,” echoed in my ears. Of course, I needed to be cautious of monsters. But if someone found me, I might be treated like a slave and dragged off until I was used up.

Maybe the reason I was dumped into a trash bin, battered all over, was also because I had been used like a slave and discarded when I was no longer useful…

There weren’t any real paths in the forest. But there was one beaten trail of exposed soil that stretched deeper into the forest. It was as if people had walked on it many times.

I kept my distance from that trail and continued through the forest.

Away from the trail, the terrain was difficult to walk due to tree roots and fallen logs—probably why others didn’t come through this way.

As I pushed aside the grass, I picked any medicinal herbs or edible wild plants I spotted and stuffed them into the robe’s pockets.

I must’ve learned how to identify herbs and edible plants while helping adventurers.

Tearing them by hand didn’t work well and got my hands messy with plant juices. So I held a knife in my left hand and used it to cut the plants like trimming grass.

Because I was constantly listening closely and cautiously looking in every direction as I went, I gradually became exhausted and the pain in my body became unbearable.

I found a large fallen log and sat with my back against it. I then conjured water into my palm, and drank it down in gulps.

I pulled out some edible wild plants from my robe pocket and chewed on them. But they were very grassy and had a harsh bitterness when raw. I took a pinch of salt—about the size of a grain of sand—from the pouch I got from the magic pouch and popped it into my mouth to mask the taste.

It was better than eating nothing at all.

The salt looked like a mix of brown and pink gravel. It seems it’s crushed finely before use.

I couldn’t stay sitting here forever. I stood up while protecting my aching waist and knees and started walking deeper into the forest.

So far, I hadn’t heard any sounds of monsters or people moving. But as I walked slowly and cautiously, I found something like a round board on the ground.

When I picked it up, it was a shield made by fitting thick wood into a round iron frame. But the surface was scratched by monster claws. And the leather grip on the back was torn off.

Maybe someone fought a monster around here… or maybe they just tossed it away because they didn’t need it anymore.

Even a worn-out shield was better than nothing.

I tucked the shield under my arm and continued walking.

I found a small tree with red berries on it. And when I appraised them, it read [Wild Raspberry: Edible]. I popped one into my mouth and bit down… *so sour~!*

Maybe it wasn’t ripe yet…

Still, it was easier to eat than wild plants. So I picked as many as I could and put them in the magic pouch.

If I mess around for too long, monsters might come near. So I moved through the grass carefully, trying not to make noise.

It felt like I needed to find a place to rest my body soon, or I might collapse from exhaustion. I wondered if there was a good spot somewhere…

As I walked quietly, I found a hollow at the base of a large tree where it had rotted away.

If I could somehow squeeze my body in, I might be able to rest there.

I pulled out a dagger from the magic pouch and cut the surrounding grass. I then spread it inside the hollow.

I cut enough grass to cover my body and stacked it in front of the hollow. Then I crawled into it and sat down, letting out a big sigh.

I drank water from my palm. I then ate the wild plants and raspberries alternately. I did so while licking a pinch of salt.

Then, I decided to try restoring the worn-out shield I had picked up.

Since I managed to access the magic pouch’s contents, I thought maybe I could also repair the shield—it would help protect me, after all.

When I appraised myself, I had a Unique Skill: Reset. So if that worked properly, I figured it might succeed.

I held the broken shield in both hands. I strongly wished “Turn back to normal~,” and said, “Reset.”

A sharp pain like a cramp surged from the magical energy core deep in my solar plexus. But I endured it. As I kept focusing, the shield began to shine.

When I looked closely, the worn-out shield had become as clean as new—no trace of the monster’s claw marks. And the torn leather grip on the back was fully repaired.

Grinning, I patted the shield all over. I then placed it in front of my chest. I put my left hand on my solar plexus, and my right hand on the lump on my head. I then strongly wished “Pain, pain, go away~,” as I said, “Healing.”

As I felt the magical energy flow out from both hands—

I lost consciousness.