Chapter 2: Frogs, Herbs and Honed steel.

Note: If you don't Know who is Ginko She is the Main character in Isekai Samurai. 

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The morning sun sat low on the horizon, its soft, golden rays casting long shadows over the dirt road that led Cecilia to her first challenge. Her body felt alive, an exhilarating energy coursing through her veins.

Yet, it wasn't just raw adrenaline—it was the strength, the confidence, and the precision that came with wielding Ginko's body.

Every step Cecilia took seemed deliberate and calculated, a stark contrast to the uneasiness that still lingered in her thoughts. The body she inhabited was not her own, but it moved as if it had been forged for battle.

Muscles coiled and released like taut springs, every movement graceful yet efficient.

Cecilia felt as if she were a passenger in the shell of a warrior—a swordswoman honed by endless battles.

Her katana hung at her side, its sheath bouncing lightly against her thigh as she approached the outskirts of Axel.

Her first task as an adventurer was about as mundane as it could get: eliminating a group of giant frogs that had taken to wreaking havoc on nearby farmland.

Simple, she thought. But simplicity didn't mean she could let her guard down.

The tales of Ginko's prowess echoed in her mind. This body carried the scars of hundreds of battles, each one a testament to the challenges its previous owner had overcome. Cecilia couldn't afford to tarnish that legacy—not here, not ever.

The croaking started faintly, then grew louder as she drew closer to the farmlands. The smell of damp earth mixed with the stench of swampy water, making her wrinkle her nose. She stepped lightly, her instincts guiding her as she followed the sound.

There they were.

Three massive frogs, each roughly the size of a wagon, lounged lazily near a shallow pond. Their slimy green skin glistened in the sunlight, and their bulbous yellow eyes blinked slowly as they took in the world around them.

Cecilia unsheathed her katana in one fluid motion, the blade glinting dangerously in the light. Her grip was firm but relaxed, her stance low and balanced. The katana felt like an extension of herself, its weight and balance perfectly attuned to her movements.

The nearest frog raised its head, its gaze locking onto her. It let out a guttural croak that reverberated through the air, its muscular legs tensing as it prepared to lunge.

Cecilia smirked. "Let's see what this body can really do."

The frog leaped toward her with surprising speed, its massive jaws opening wide. But Cecilia was faster. She stepped to the side with uncanny precision, her katana flashing as it sliced cleanly through the creature's flank.

The frog let out a screech of pain, its momentum carrying it past her before collapsing onto the ground.

Before she had time to breathe, the second frog charged. Its sheer size and weight made the ground tremble as it moved.

Cecilia tightened her grip on the katana, her golden eyes narrowing. She darted forward, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

The blade cut upward in a smooth arc, slicing through the frog's throat. Blood sprayed in a crimson arc as the creature toppled backward, its croaks reduced to a wet gurgle.

The third frog hesitated, its yellow eyes darting between its fallen companions and the woman who had felled them with such ease. Cecilia took a step forward, her katana at the ready.

The frog turned and fled, its massive form bounding away into the distance.

Cecilia exhaled slowly, wiping the blade clean on the grass before sheathing it.

The adrenaline coursing through her veins began to ebb, replaced by a sense of satisfaction.

The battle had been brief but exhilarating—a reminder of the strength and skill that this body possessed.

"Not bad," she muttered, glancing at her scarred hands. "This body knows what it's doing. I just have to keep up."

With the frogs dealt with, she turned her attention to the second task: gathering medicinal herbs. The forest near Axel was said to be rich with them, but navigating its dense undergrowth was another challenge entirely.

Cecilia made her way into the woods, her eyes scanning the ground for the telltale green leaves and delicate flowers of the herbs she sought.

Her movements were quiet and purposeful, her senses sharp.

She felt strangely at home in the wilderness, as if her body remembered the countless campaigns and skirmishes fought in similar terrain.

As she bent down to pluck a cluster of herbs, a rustling sound caught her attention. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her katana as she turned toward the source of the noise.

A wild boar emerged from the underbrush, its tusks gleaming as it pawed the ground aggressively.

Cecilia's heart raced, but she didn't panic. Her body settled into a defensive stance, her katana gleaming in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

The boar charged, its hooves thundering against the forest floor.

Cecilia waited until the last possible moment before sidestepping and delivering a swift, precise slash to its flank.

The creature let out a pained squeal but didn't stop, wheeling around for another attack.

Cecilia adjusted her stance, her golden eyes locked onto the boar as it charged again. This time, she met its charge head-on, her katana slicing downward in a devastating arc.

The blade struck true, and the boar collapsed, its momentum carrying it into the underbrush.

Panting slightly, Cecilia cleaned her blade and sheathed it. She couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

Every move, every strike—it was as if Ginko's spirit guided her hand, her experience etched into every fiber of the body Cecilia now possessed.

By the time she filled her satchel with herbs and emerged from the forest, the sun had dipped low in the sky.

Her body ached slightly, but it was a satisfying ache—the kind that came from hard work well done.

As she walked back toward Axel, her thoughts turned to her cheat skill. She hadn't needed to use it during the battles, relying entirely on her swordsmanship.

But she couldn't ignore its potential. During her journey through the forest, she had experimented briefly with drawing energy from her surroundings, shaping it into small, harmless orbs of light.

The process was clumsy and imprecise, but it intrigued her.

"There's something there," she murmured to herself. "But it'll take time."

Back in Axel, the guild hall was as lively as ever. Cecilia submitted her completed quests and received her rewards, earning a few approving nods from the receptionist.

She could feel the curious gazes of other adventurers, no doubt drawn by her distinctive appearance and the air of confidence she carried.

Before leaving, she approached the desk once more. "Can you point me toward an inn?"

The receptionist smiled warmly. "Of course! The best one for adventurers is The Cozy Mantle. Just head down the main road and turn left at the market square. You can't miss it."

"Thanks," Cecilia said with a small nod.

The streets were quieter now, the bustling energy of the day replaced by the soft glow of lanterns and the hum of evening chatter.

When she reached The Cozy Mantle, she was greeted by the comforting smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread.

The innkeeper, a kindly older woman, welcomed her warmly and showed her to a modest but clean room.

Cecilia dropped her satchel by the bed and sank into the chair by the window, her golden eyes gazing out at the starry sky.

Her first day as an adventurer had been tiring but fulfilling.

She had proven to herself that she could handle the challenges of this world, relying on the strength and skill of the body she now inhabited. But she knew this was only the beginning.

With her katana by her side and a faint glimmer of curiosity about her cheat skill, Cecilia was ready to face whatever came next.