After the incident in the Forest, everyone in the village who wasn't a fighter was banned from entering it.

  In the meantime, the Village Chief put a request in the Adventurer's Guild to investigate the forest to make sure Goblins aren't migrating to this forest.

  While the children in question were punished, except for Amaranth, who went to find Henry's father in a panic after we didn't come back right away…

  I've never quite seen Mother this furious with me before. It's understandable, I was very sick not even a year ago, and now she thinks I nearly died from some goblins.

  I took my punishment without complaint, as I should have prevented the others from running into the forest in the first place.

  My punishment? No training, no going outside for a month.

  Well… what is there a child to do when there's no modern entertainment? Absolutely nothing except help with chores.

  And indoor exercises. Calisthenics, in particular.

  As much as I worked out by swinging my sword around and shadow dueling and sparing with Valerie, I haven't actually worked out properly.

  As my body is still growing, albeit quickly, I start with body stretches to become more flexible than I already am. With this catgirl body, I might just be able to become a contortionist in this life.

  "Uun…!"

  My back bends backward as I slowly stretch, aiming to eventually touch my head to my rear.

  Since there really wasn't anything else to do except chores, I spent the whole day stretching every part of my body.

  It certainly was a different type of ache than when I used dumbbells and weights in my past life. It was definitely more comfortable.

  I've never slept so well after stretching. I may just have to do this every night, even after I become as flexible as I can.

  Even so, I still need to build a bit more muscle. After two weeks of consistent stretching, I start body calisthenics. Namely, pushups, sit-ups, and squats.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I don't have any proper weights, but I guess I can ask Father if it's possible for a blacksmith to make some dumbbells out of scrap iron.

  Three weeks into my grounding, Father came back for the weekend and was thankfully not as angry as Mother when he heard the news. Most of his anger was aimed at the dead goblins.

  In fact, when Mother wasn't looking he secretly praised me after hearing from Henry's father that I killed the goblins and protected my friends without getting hurt myself.

  "My daughter is a genius little swordswoman…!" He said while he ruffled my hair with a wide grin plastered on his face.

  "Hmhm~ can I ask for a favor, Papa?"

  He leaned back on the couch and looked at me with a knowing smile. "Eh…? But Mama says you’re punished~."

  "I want a special piece of heavy metal! So I can exercise!"

  He tilted his head in confusion. "Exercise? How will a heavy price of… Oh! I see what you mean. But, can't you just help the village farmers? They carry heavy things all the time."

  Oh, that's also a good idea…

  "But I can use the heavy metals when it's raining outside."

  Father nodded his head and thought of something for a moment. "Okay… I can ask the city blacksmith for something. Did you want it in a specific shape?"

  "Yes!"

  I quickly sketch the shape of a pair of dumbbells and give Father the paper.

  "I want one pair in 25 pounds and another in 50 pounds! If possible!"

  "That's quite heavy, and the price of the iron will depend on its weight…"

  "Hmm… it doesn't have to be iron. It could be a cheaper metal."

  Copper or bronze or any other dense metal is fine.

  "Alright, I'll see what the blacksmith has available when I get back to the city."

  "Thanks, Papa!"

  ****

  ****

  "One… hundred! Huff!"

  I drop the 25-pound dumbbells to the grass below me, finishing my last set of bicep curls.

  Only a couple of weeks ago, I could barely do 2 sets of 15 reps, but with the great power of mana and my catgirl genetics, I recover faster than normal.

  Despite my progress, my body refuses to show it.

  I've built almost no muscles. It's like the universe wants me to stay as feminine as possible…

  "…Not that I mind…"

  I look over my reflection in the crude mirror in the restroom. Even though I've just turned 11, as a Cat Furlian, we have grown exceptionally quickly during these few years.

  Just a year ago I looked about 8 years old, but now I look closer to 13.

  "Every day, I'm looking more and more similar to Mama."

  God, I hope I don't get hit on by men… I really don't need that in my life.

  One bad thing that's been happening is puberty. Anytime I see any of my friends' Morhers, my thoughts always drift in a weird direction. I never knew I was such a damned pervert.

  I don't want to do that my friends' Moms, I swear!

  As I soak in the bath after my exercises, I pour cold water over my head to banish my sinful thoughts of naked older women.

  "…I haven't looked it up in the library… how does this world view homosexuality?"

  I sigh and stand up from the bath, draining the used water from the tub and drying myself off.

  It would be nice to actually love someone this time around, in this new life, since I never got the chance as William. I was given a second chance at life, so I want to live with no regrets, but…

  "I just hope it won't be too hard for me."