Running alongside the trees, I dodged and weaved through the forest.
Grabbing onto a branch, I swung myself into the air, using the momentum to land far ahead.
Jumping across stones that dotted the river’s surface, I bounded forward with ease.
「You still look like you’ve got some energy left. Let’s go even faster!」
「Barrkk!」
I couldn’t help but laugh as Chocola and I raced through the forest, side by side.
It reminded me of the time I hurried through the forest while investigating the mutants near the end of the year, rushing from the depths of the forest to the middle part.
But this was different.
Running full speed with a goal in mind wasn’t the same as racing through the forest just for the joy of it.
「This feels great.」
「Bark?」
「I was just thinking how happy I am to run with you at full speed, that’s all.」
Dashing through the forest like a ninja, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of joy.
Chocola had always kept pace with me, ever since we were little.
Whether we were walking in the park or playing Frisbee, he always matched my speed.
When we first transmigrated to Japan, Chocola was still a puppy. By the time I hit the lower grades in elementary school, he’d already grown to his current size.
I bet he wanted to go wild even back then, burning off all his energy, but I was still a kid, small and weak. He held back for my sake, never letting his full strength show.
「Not that you’re giving it your all even now, right?」
「Bark! Bark!」
Occasionally, I sensed the presence of monsters eyeing us from the shadows. Each time, either Chocola or I would sharpen our magical aura to scare them off. We weren’t out here to hunt, after all, so there was no need for unnecessary killing. Mutants were a different story, but there was no sign of any magical disturbances for now, so we were safe.
「Alright, let’s climb that cliff next. Keep up!」
「Bark!」
We reached the base of a steep rock face—the target I had in mind. I studied the formations, picking out footholds that looked solid, and activated my body enhancement magic while spreading out my magic to survey the area.
「Here we go!」
I bounded up the cliff, leaping from one jutting rock to another like a mountain goat.
Each time I jumped, I aimed for the next secure rock, using my magic to manipulate causality, ensuring the ledges wouldn’t crumble beneath my weight. With each leap, I moved closer to the top.
Sure, I could have circled around and taken the easier, sloping path, but that wasn’t what I wanted today. It didn’t matter if my movements seemed inhuman. I wanted to do this—I wanted to have fun.
That said, I wasn’t being reckless. I made sure everything was safe. My magic manipulated the odds to stabilize the rocks, and even if I slipped, the barrier around me would prevent any injuries. I guess that’s just part of my personality. I’ve never liked putting myself in danger, and maybe that’s why I’ve always been so good at defensive magic.
Keeping track of Chocola’s presence as he followed my path, I soon saw the end in sight. Three more jumps, two, one—
「Made it!」
「Barkk!」
The cliff’s peak was exactly what I expected—a jagged ledge jutting out over the forest below.
It kind of looked like the place where a murder suspect in a detective drama would get cornered.
「Looks like the other side leads deeper into the forest. Climbing up this way might’ve been more of a hassle than I thought.」
「Bark.」
The trees on the opposite side were dense, and descending through them would probably mess with my sense of direction.
「Guess we’ll jump down the same way on the way back.」
I sat down, taking in the view from the edge of the cliff. Chocola sat next to me, his presence comforting.
「It’s a different feeling from riding on the back of Ji Liz, huh?」
「Bark…」
Even though we were high up, it was still just a small peak compared to the surrounding landscape.
The forest wasn’t flat. It was a mix of hills, valleys, and uneven terrain. From here, we could only see a few kilometers out at most, and the view directly below was limited to a couple hundred meters.
「It still feels great, though.」
「Kwuunn!」
I felt as though I had grown just a little, but at the same time, I was reminded of how small I really was.
Two conflicting emotions blended within me—a sense that I was here, undeniably present in this lonely place, yet also a tiny dot in the vastness of the forest. I had come here with my own two feet, stood high above, looking down at the world. Yet, from a bird’s-eye view, I was just one more small speck among many.
「I’ve rarely gone on adventures like this. Even when I came to this world, I always prioritized safety. And back in Japan… well, I was always more of a cautious type.」
And then, suddenly—
「Oh…」
As I thought about it, the memory hit me.
It wasn’t just a realization—it was more like I finally understood why I became that way.
「Elementary school, second grade, wasn’t it?」
Father had bought me a bicycle.
I practiced in the park until I could ride it.
Pedaling was exhilarating—it was faster than running, and I felt like I could go anywhere. So I did. I went on my first adventure.
I got carried away, pedaling through the residential streets without a care, until I realized I had no idea where I was.
The scenery around me was unfamiliar, and I had no clue how to get home.
I was lost—completely and utterly lost. I panicked, anxious, scared, and eventually heartbroken.
I remember sitting on a bench in a small park, crying my eyes out, hoping someone would find me. But there were no kids playing, no adults passing by—just me, alone, feeling like I’d been cut off from the world.
And then, Chocola found me.
He’d noticed I was missing and barked at father when he returned from work. Then, following my scent, Chocola had tracked me down and led father straight to me.
「I remember hugging you and crying like a baby.」
「Bark?」
Looking back, I hadn’t gone far at all. As a kid, it felt like miles, but I’d only gone a few blocks—still within the same neighborhood, just at the edge of the school district.
But even so, the fear, loneliness, and helplessness I felt that day left a deep scar. I could never forget father’s worried face, or how Chocola kept licking my cheek, as if telling me I wasn’t alone.
After that day, something changed in me. The idea of venturing into unfamiliar places, of exploring new horizons, became linked with a strange sense of guilt. I stopped pushing myself to go beyond the known—I stopped ‘adventuring’, without even realizing it.
「And now, here I am. Guess I’ve come a long way, huh? Maybe I’ve finally shaken off that old trauma.」
「Kwuunnn?」
「It means I’m not that kid you had to come find anymore.」
I said, pulling Chocola close. Stroking his fur, feeling his warmth, I smiled.
「Bark!」
Chocola licked my face again, just like he did back then. But this time, it wasn’t to comfort a crying child.
「Should we howl at the top of this cliff, just for the heck of it?」
「Bark, bark!」
「Yeah, I guess that’s not really our style. Plus, there’s no point in scaring off the wildlife around here.」
「Bark.」
Just then, the communication crystal in my pocket vibrated.
Pulling it out, I saw that it was a message from my mom.
『Home before late』
「‘okay, thanks,’….send」
I replied, sending the message back before standing up and stretching.
I took one last look at the view.
「Let’s head back. We’ll come here again.」
「Bark!」
With a cheerful reply from my partner, I took a deep breath and launched myself off the cliff, diving back down into the forest below.
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