Once again, I launched a fist towards a random shadow, before quickly twisting my body to perform a roundhouse kick with my right leg. After unleashing the kick, I stepped down hard with my right foot and swifty rolled backwards to give myself some distance.

I started to get back up, and rapidly got back to my previous fighting stance. I bent my right leg forward and kept my left leg tensed. My fists went up to protect my chin, and I stood there for a while, letting my body relax and calm down so I could begin again.

I closed my eyes, and let my mind turn tranquil. I could feel the wind brush against my body, whistling in my ears as the breeze swam past me.

My clothes had turned damp from the amount of sweating that I had done, weighing down my body. I really wished I didn't sweat so much at times like these. Sweat sometimes got into my eyes and it was now even making my movements feel sluggish.

Nevertheless, I had to stop whining and continue with my practice. I shifted my body forward to continue my unarmed fighting training, at least before my nerves started to feel like they were burning.

Before long, I could feel my muscles ache and protest from the continued training. There was nothing I could really do about it anymore so I silently gave in and let myself fall backwards. I landed on the chilly and feathery grass, which thankfully provided me with the relief that I needed.

I laid there, completely unwilling to move my aching body. I silently looked around, before choosing to look up at the sky.

The moon was at half crescent, with the stars up in the sky making the entire world seem beautiful and harmless. A relaxing scenery that would allow me to think about my past situation, and let me meditate a little bit.

I closed my eyes slowly, and let myself start to breathe in and out deeply. I started to think about the events that had transpired recently, letting me recount my steps to figure out if anything in my life had actually changed.

Let's see... I had been playing around with Buan and Sally, although not that intensely, since my night training was still putting tension on my body. I had been going around with Alise and doing chores with her.

Last but not least, I had been meeting Esther, the village elder's daughter, and learning how to read and write. At this point, I was capable of being able to read letters, but I haven't yet been able to piece them together into words.

I have yet to be able to write, but we should begin practicing how to do that exercise tomorrow. I honestly had fun with her, considering the amount of advantages I gained from having her as an ally.

... Has it only been thirteen days since I met Esther? I couldn't help but think about that fact, since it honestly felt like that meeting had happened just yesterday.

I guess that singe event has been engraved in my present memory, for reasons that I didn't completely understand myself. Why was our first impressions that important?

Did I trust her? Was she a person I could truly my friend? Did I truly believe that she would help me for endless days, and that I could truly rely on her constantly?

No. I didn't. The answer to all three of those questions was a definite no.

However... when I looked at her, and when I talked to her, I couldn't help but feel connected. Like if she hadn't been born in this world, we definitely would have been similar in personality in Japan.

I quickly shook my head, so that all those silly and ignorant thoughts would be thrown right out the metaphorical window. I didn't sneak out the house and risk punishment to think about cheesy crap, I would've just stayed inside if I wanted to do that.

No, I came outside to train and become stronger and powerful. I didn't do these activities for fun or for joy, I did them because I had to do.

I couldn't rely on anyone but my self to undergo this task... could I?

I started to think long and hard about this idea. Friends were useful tools, and they could easily allow me to become that much stronger. A group of people working together towards one task was much more stronger than a solo person, and a team would be able to accomplish tasks easier.

Though, that problem laid in itself: friendship. In order to work efficiently in a group, everyone had to be synchronized and willing to unite to succeed a goal. In addition, one single person that was weak could bring down the entire squad, and essentially destroy any form of camaraderie all at once.

I didn't have the kind of personality to associate well with people. True, I was able to get along with Esther quite well, and I did consider Buan and Sally my acquaintances. True, I did like my new family to an extent, and I was willing to show some affection for them.

That didn't mean that they were an obvious advantage. There were problems with friends in a group that made me completely disregard that train of thought.

Simply put, that answer was synchronization. In order for the team to work perfectly and efficiently, the group needed to be able to unite together and work around their differences to succeed their goal.

They needed to work around their weaknesses and their strengths to be able to unite. If there was one person who was unable to work with the team or was too weak to even be considered for the match-up, then they would destroy all the efforts made.

All that camaraderie would be crushed under the stomping power of this cruel reality. All that planning, effort, and social interactions would be completely shattered to tiny fragments, with that single mistake.

That just wasn't for me. I was the outlier in any of those cases. I would never be able to unite with another person and become a true friend to anyone. I couldn't bother to care about dynamics, synchronizations, or even stop to think about the one left behind.

It was all about me. This whole situation? It was about me.

I was the one who needed to win this game. I was the one that needed to go back home. I was the one with everything to lose. I was the one who needed to do this.

There was just no other way around it. Teams were useless, and I would rather try to become stronger myself instead of rely on others.

It would be easier when I had to leave this world.

Then, my mind gave me such a traitorous thought that I ran cold: What if, I just stayed in this world and lived comfortably? What if I just stalled my plans, and tried to live happily?

After all, I was only two years old. Wasn't it really going beyond the call to try to get strong at such a young age? I could probably succeed at a more reasonable age, like eight or fifteen years old.

At that moment, I felt nothing but utter hatred towards myself. How dare I? How could I think such a disgusting, terrible thought? I ought to go and kill myself for thinking such a shitty thing!

There was no way I could ever be forgiven for such a sin. Abandon my perfect mother, who had given up everything for my life? Ignore her circumstances, when I knew that she was going to die from heartbreak and depression?

I got up immediately, ignoring my body's screams, and immediately headed over to the nearest rock.

I grabbed the object in mind, despite my nerves pleading with me to stop, and slammed my head directly in the forehead.

It hurt. My entire head felt like I had just been hit in the face with a sledgehammer. My whole brain was calling me an idiot and a retard for doing such a thing.

Blood ran down my face as I started to walk towards the river, letting the stone go. I didn't care.

That thought was gone, and I squashed it like the fucking bug it was. If I ever had such a horrible idea again...

Well, I would just have to do worse. That kind of thinking was banned forever. I didn't care.

When I got to the river, I quickly pushed my whole face into the stream, letting the motion of the water clean off the blood that was on my forehead.

After a brief moment, I raised up my head to breathe, before I began to shake my head to get off any water, as though I was a wet dog.

I looked down at the river, and I could see my face. Thankfully, the wound wasn't bad at all, as I had finished bleeding, and I would honestly say that I probably didn't do any actual damage.

I didn't even spot it myself, so I was most likely going to be safe when I wake up today and go eat breakfast with the family. If I do get caught, I can just lie and say I banged my head against the crib in my sleep.

Nevertheless, I slowly got up from the river, and went to go and fetch a random large stick for me to train with. With every step, my synapses screamed at me to stop and lay down, for me to take a break and to just relax.

I kept moving, but my body refused to listen to me. After all the abuse I had given to my systems, I would be shocked if they were willing to play ball with me any longer.

Instead of walking and finding a stick to practice swordsmanship training, I instead just dropped down, hitting the ground and landing face first. I had closed my eyes first before the impact hit, and thankfully enough, I didn't get hurt.

The grass was my salvation, as the foliage cushioned my fall and prevented me from doing any more damage to myself. I just laid there, getting sleepy and wanting to rest right where I was.

Of course, that was impossible. I had to go inside the house and sleep, and with my new stats from those days ago, I could easily vault over the window and hide myself that way.

However, with my current situation? Most likely not, but normally, I would have tried to attempt to do so anyways. However, I should probably relax and try to get some feelings to my muscles first before I try anything.

After all, if my body was refusing to obey me, then perhaps I should just give myself a mini break. I have been training for a long time, so much so that the moon had appeared to change its position a decent amount.

Oh well, it wasn't like the moon was going to immediately descend and turn into the sun out of nowhere, I still had some time to have a needed break and get my composure back together.

I silently turned myself around, so my back was to the ground once more. I let the comfortable, chilled grass splash all over my body, cooling me to the core and giving me a moment to appreciate the surroundings.

The crickets were chirping to a beautiful tune, the moon was in the sky with the stars dancing around it, and the dark clouds were all set up to look like different shapes.

In fact, if I put my mind to it, then all those stars and clouds looked like something. I could see a cloud that looked like an airplane, another cloud that looked exactly like a neighing horse... and a group of stars that resembled the face of my mother.

I sighed as I stared up at the sky. I missed her so much, I truly did. Even in this world, I couldn't help but regret the choices I made.

I truly am the worst daughter to exist throughout both worlds.

Ugh. I could feel some tears welling up in my eyes. I should find some kind of thought to prevent myself from getting myself homesick and depressed once more.

After all, Alise would be able to detect my sorrow, and she'd try to do anything to get me better. I couldn't burden her like that when she already had to do house chores.

I knew exactly what to do. After all, it had been fifteen days of me just doing training, learning, and playing around. There had to be some significant increased in my stats, right?

"Status." I said softly, and my eyes widened when I received the information. I couldn't help but giggle childishly with all my heart. After all... I had just gotten a gift beyond my wildest beliefs.

[Level 1]

[HP 30/30]

[MP 0/0]

[Strength 13]

[Endurance 11]

[Intelligence 16]

[Wisdom 13]

[Agility 15]

[Dexterity 4]

[EXP Points: 100]

[You have enough EXP Points to increase a stat. Please choose wisely!]

I was truly blessed this day. I couldn't be any more happier. All that training paid off, and I had just gotten to the pinnacle of expansion.

Truly, there was nothing that could go wrong anymore. I could feel it in my heart.