The group stopped in a small clearing, their bodies sagging with relief. The leader, a burly man named Garin, addressed the ragged refugees. “We’ll rest here for the night. Keep watch, and don’t stray from the group. The wolves are still out there.”

  Riku observed quietly, his analytical mind already at work. This was a primitive world, where even basic survival was a struggle. The tools they carried were crude—stone knives and splintered wooden spears. Their food supply was meager, little more than dried roots and scavenged berries.

  “Riku, right?” A girl around his age approached, offering a small piece of bread. “I’m Leira. You’re new, aren’t you?”

  He nodded, taking the bread. “Where are we going?”

  “South,” she replied. “Garin says there’s a village that might take us in. But it’s far, and... well, not everyone makes it.” Her eyes flicked toward a bundle of rags where a small child lay motionless.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  Riku felt a pang of anger. This wasn’t just a struggle; it was chaos. These people needed structure, strategy, and leadership. He couldn’t explain why he’d been reborn in this world, but if he was here, he wasn’t going to watch them die.

  The next morning, Riku approached Garin. “We need to organize,” he said.

  The older man raised an eyebrow. “Organize? You’re just a boy.”

  “Doesn’t matter,” Riku replied. “You’re walking blind, wasting time and resources. Let me help.”

  Garin’s skeptical gaze lingered, but desperation outweighed pride. “Fine. Show me what you’ve got.”

  Riku got to work. He divided the group into smaller teams: hunters, foragers, and builders. Using sharpened stones and vines, he fashioned better spears and simple traps for small game. He mapped the immediate area, identifying potential water sources and shelter spots.

  By nightfall, they had caught a few rabbits, gathered edible roots, and fortified the camp with a crude wooden barricade. The group’s morale lifted as they ate their first real meal in days.

  “Not bad, kid,” Garin admitted, clapping Riku on the back.

  Leira approached, her eyes wide with admiration. “How did you know what to do?”

  Riku smirked. “Let’s just say I’ve played this game before.”

  For the first time, Riku felt a flicker of hope. He had been given a second chance in a broken world, and he was determined to make it thrive.