The journey Part I

After getting a bonk by Mother! I finally got my notebook back from Kars! That jerk!.

With that problem solved, I finally finished packing my stuff, clothes swaps, and some beloved personal belongings, like my staff. However, if I'm being honest, the staff seems useless, and it's not that good of a quality.

How do you know Yui? Well, because of great sage, appraisal didn't really give me important details about it, but with great sage, well, let's say that I see why Ronnie didn't hesitate that much into giving it to me.

- Yui, if you don't come down in the next 2 minutes, I'ma just go with Kars! Hurry up!

Oh, Come on, pops! Give me a break! I have to get a little pretty before I go, too! Ugh, OK, forget about it, let's just go!

After putting my backpack on and grabbing my staff, I rush downstairs where Mom and Dad await, along with that dumb Kars.

Dad already has the horses ready, 2 actually, 1 for him and the other for me and?, KARS!?, you can't be for real! Do I have to ride all the way with this annoying brat? Fine! Even though I don't wanna, I just mount the horse with Kars; as we prepare to go, we say our goodbyes to Mom. Father especially has a hard time leaving her alone, yet Mom reassures him that everything will be fine.

After saying our goodbyes to Mom and the few people along the way out of town, I can't help but feel, how can I say it? Empty? Like, this might be the last time I spend with Kars, what if he? I mean, no, it's not like I care about him! It's just that! Nguuugh! he hasn't paid for his crimes yet! I have to get revenge! Yeah, that's it! Stop thinking weird stuff. Wait, what's actually wrong with me? Since when do I speak so childish and stupid? I'm an adult, for god's sake.

I know what is happening to me; it's because of my body. They say body and soul are correlated; in my case, my soul is that of a 30-year-old male teacher, but this body is that of a little girl. In this relationship, something has got to give. Unfortunately, it's my old soul that's merging into this body. Come on, snap back into yourself. I don't wanna go blank stare again!.

- Yui? You alright?

- eh? Oh no, did I space out again?

- Yeah, I have been holding you for a while now, just so you don't fall from the horse.

Those words made me blush as I looked down my abdomen, seeing his hands grabbing me like that wasn't a big deal. I turn around to look for Dad. I see him, and he sees me, then looks at Kars and just smiles. What the heck?! Dad! Didn't you tell him that if he ever tried anything! You would kill him? You liar!

- T-Thanks, but uhm, could you?, you know, not grab me like that?.

- Eh? Oh shit, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, he says! Like that will fix my red-as-a-tomato face! Oh no, this is bad! I must not look at him. I'm not gonna give him the satisfaction of seeing me like this! My heart pounding at full speed; I just calm myself down, breathe a little bit, and keep my cool. Speaking of cool, agh! Ouchy! What was that for reader! Ugh, fine! I'll keep it on the trip this time.

- So, Yui, what do you want to do as an adult?

- Well, a mother, I guess, although if I could help it, I would also like to be an adventurer. I wanna get to know this world as well.

- Oh? So you would need money to do that, say, what kind of husband would allow that?

- Uhm? Another adventurer, I guess. I still have 5 years to go, so I'm in no rush.

I answer truthfully, without noticing how red Kars became after my last answer. Honestly, I can't shake off the feeling either; every time he looks in my direction, I get a slight tingle, like the appraisal tingle, but differently. How can I explain it?, uhm it feels like Kars is interested in me? Nah! What am I saying? He just thinks I'm a peasant girl; no way royalty looks at me like that. Ah, shake it off already! Going along a trail many have followed before, we make a good deal of distance on our first day. When nighttime starts to set, we set up an improvised camp, a simple fire with something to eat from home. We just heat up our first meal and eat it; the vibe is quite lovely: the clear atmosphere, the fresh air, and a beautiful sky! Thinking of it makes me remember home, ah yes, my old home, back in the big city. There were never clear skies like this, and you could barely see a star or two. Right now, I don't miss home for that. This scenery is definitely better than any back in my world.

After eating and a good story from pops, we just went to sleep. I inadvertently just so happened to sleep next to Kars, who seemed to have noticed because he got closer. Ahh, so sleepy, sooo there went the night.

- Wuuaahhhh!, I'm growing! Little morning stretch to start the day, eh?

After saying that, I found out that Kars and Dad were already going! Mother [redacted]! How dare they leave me behind! Oi! Wait! Wait! Without time to spare, I just start running to them, reaching them only after a couple of minutes running, all tired and exhausted; my dad just says something that made me realize that he's the actual jerk!.

- I'm glad you woke up, sleeping beauty.

- Why did you do that?

- You did it to yourself. I tried waking you up, but you were more asleep than a rock, ask Kars.

- Your dad has a point, you know, even I shook you a bit and didn't wake you up.

Oh, that's just great! After that little exchange of words, I just jumped onto the horse I was supposed to ride. Still not fully awake, I hold on for dear life for a few minutes, and then I wake up normally. We keep going for a while until Dad slows down a little bit, before entering what seemed to be a dead forest, not burnt. Still, like dead quiet, all trees without leaves, and the area completely devoid of any life forms around, Dad just explains the mild danger of the forest and how it's plagued with ghosts and spirits. Still, other than that, there are no monsters or other living things. He explains that most of the danger is from oneself, as the ghosts will try to scare you and make you run and whatnot, so most inexperienced travelers will end up rushing out and, therefore, hurt themselves by doing so.

And just in time, as soon as we step foot onto the forest, a ghostie casually whispers into my ear, making me scream, making both Kars and Dad laugh like there's no tomorrow. Completely scared, I just looked down. This time, it was me holding onto Kars, almost like hugging him; I just closed my eyes and hugged him so tight he made a noise like he was uncomfortable. Still, I don't care! This place is too scary for me to not do this! It's all your fault, Mr.! Being so scared, I just end up not even looking down, just completely closing my eyes. Maybe that's why I didn't notice, but suddenly, our horses stop, and I can feel a slight shaking from Kars; my dad then just confirms my worries by yelling.

- Giant! Cobra! Kars! Take your horse and Yui out of here with you! I'll buy you guys time!

- But, sir! I can also fight!

- I know, son! But we don't have antidotes; besides, I can't protect both of you! Just take my daughter out of here!

Without more time to think, the Giant monster cobra launches at my dad, who deflects the first head-on with his sword. Then, I just sense a struggle with Kars; he doesn't want to leave, but his hand movement starts to turn the horse around, which I object to by dismounting the horse.

- Yui, what are you doing!

- I'm going to help my dad!

Yes!, I can't be scared!, this is just the perfect opportunity!, if you think about it!, I have never tested my magic with real monsters, so I'm more than eager to find out my power level! I ran back to where my father and the cobra were fighting fiercely; although the monster was clearly cornering my dad, he didn't give up! I hesitate a little after seeing the monster up so close, but I just press on. Getting my staff, I point it at the beast; as I think about a low-level attack spell, it comes to mind! I point my staff at the snake again and chant!

- Icicle! Shot!

A bright light pops off from my staff, then a giant pointy icicle shot appears, and then, just like that, it fires at full strength. The power unleashed was so strong it sent me back flying, but it didn't disappoint. The shot hits its target and rips all the way right through it! Cutting its head clean right off! The rest of the snake's body collapses into the floor as its head turns to dust. My shot then proceeds to explode midair, leaving Kars and Father speechless; neither of them seems to believe their eyes, and to be honest, neither do I! Like, no way! I just did that?! oh yeah!, I'm pretty sure that was me!

Monster Encyclopedia: Giant Cobra

- G. Cobra race -

Name: nameless

Age: 200

HP: 9,000/9,000

SP: 8,900/8,900

MP: 7,000/ 7,000

Strength: 8,500/8,500

Skills: Strength level 10, herculean strength level 1, poison magic level 5, Worm scales level 9, HP auto recovery level 3, body slam level 8, tough acceleration level 4, parallel minds level 1, concentration level 1.

Titles: keen eater, fowl feeder, monster slayer, Monster slaughter, Monster calamity, Human slayer, Human slaughter, Human calamity.

Information: It is a rare monster that usually doesn't reach a high level because of its colossal size. If they become big, they're extremely hard to kill, as they will regenerate faster than many humans can harm them. Its danger level is S.