Not just a soul

Her name is Mary. Who is Mary? The young girl who saved me yesterday, of course.

She is cute and petite with medium brown hair and clear blue eyes. Also, she appears to be around 10 years old and is wearing a white one-piece dress.

'She is too young to be my sister and too old to be my daughter.' (Horned Rabbit)

I was in my 20s, so I don't know how to feel about her. Although, if I had to decide, I would like to have a younger sister like her.

'She is too cute! I want to pat her head ... ' (Horned Rabbit)

But I can't do it right now ... I have no hands, only feet. Besides ...

From what I can see, it appears that I am inside a small cage made for animals in the corner of his house. This seemed to be the living room.

It is a small and cozy room with wooden walls and floors. Also, there are a couple of sofas, a bookcase, and wall pictures with different landscapes drawn on them.

'It is not a bad place to live.' (Horned Rabbit)

Why am I in a cage? I thought.

Maybe they couldn't afford to keep an eye on a wild beast like me. Even though I helped them yesterday, it's natural to be careful.

Nobody wants to be suddenly stabbed with a horn in the stomach when they enter their houses.

'It is 100% understandable! I understand but...' (Horned Rabbit)

Even if I could yell "I'm a former human, please let me go!" to them, there's no way they'll let me out.

I mean, they would probably call me a monster and kill me right there.

Also, I am covered in bandages. So, I should thank them instead.

Let's go back to the present. After I woke up, the girl came over to my cage and started telling me different things.

Her manners were impeccable, so she seemed like a well-raised girl.

At first, I didn't understand anything for a while and I started to get bored.

So, she started repeating something while pointing her index finger at herself, I'd be an idiot if I didn't realize what that means.

"■■Mary." (Unknown Girl)

"Mary." (Mary)

It was her name. Mary. A cute name for a cute girl.

Then he continued speaking in that unfamiliar language and although I appreciated talking to a human being, the one-way conversation quickly bored me again.

When I was going to sleep out of boredom, she said something that caught my attention.

"Usagi." (Mary)

"■■Usagi!" (Mary)

<Do you want to receive the name 'Usagi'?>

<Yes / No>

So you want to give me a name? I want a better name, but this should work for now. Still, it's hard for a 'pet' to get a cool name.

<Your name has changed from '???' to 'Usagi'.>

Not bad. I finally have a name. However, I wonder what Usagi means. Does it even have any meaning?

Afterward, Mary probably said goodbye to me and then left the house with gentle steps, her beautiful long hair fluttering slowly due to the wind blowing through the windows.

'Take care, Mary!' (Usagi)

Where did she go? I'd like to know that, of course, but for now, I should review what I learned yesterday.

My thoughts were twisted and I made hasty decisions. It was really reckless of me to charge into a strong-looking enemy unprepared.

One wrong move and the rabbit could have been killed, my soul damaged, and who knows if I could find a new body before disappearing.

That aside, I should open up my status and check what has changed.

≪Usagi≫

Race: Beast (Spirit)

Species: Horned Rabbit (Wandering Soul)

Gender: Male (None)

Age: 1 (0)

Level: 61 (10)

≪Inherent skills≫

Piercing Horn Lv. 3 (Passive)

[Possession Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Eater Lv. 2 (Active)]

≪Active skills≫

Charge Lv. 2

[Appraisal Lv. 2]

≪Passive skills≫

Evade Lv. 3, Escape Lv. 3

My name and my level have successfully changed. Furthermore, Increased Piercing Power isn't there yet. Maybe it will appear after I leave this body.

Let's analyze my status window ...

From what I can infer, the inherent abilities are based on my species. While the horned rabbit has a very pointed horn, a wandering soul needs to possess a body to avoid 'death'.

Soul Eater looks like a cheat ability, but it can only be used when I successfully possess a living being. If I have no one to possess near me, I will definitely disappear.

Shiver! Shiver! (Usagi)

I only realized that now, but I was very lucky to find that rabbit. It is thanks to him that I managed to survive.

'But I can't thank him anymore ... ' (Usagi)

I got mad at his actions yesterday and basically killed him. I can no longer feel his presence in this body ... it's just me here.

I closed the eyes that were once his and prayed that he would find happiness in his next life.

. . .

I gained abilities and memories from the horned rabbit. Normally, one would think that his memories would mix with mine, but that is not the case.

It's more like having a database and gallery of images inside my head, separate from my own memories.

The 'database' is full of 'important' things and facts that he discovered in his short life like the sky is blue and the grass is delicious.

On the other hand, the 'picture gallery' is full of 'photos' of other species that live in the forest outside the village and things like useful plants and herbs.

When I think of something specific, all the relevant memories of it appear in my head.

Clearly, there is also junk and useless data.

Some examples are that he thinks all humans are evil because he has escaped from them many times and I can even see memories of his favorite rabbit friend ...

'He was just like me. We both died before we had a girlfriend ...' (Usagi)

Now I pitied him even more. If I hadn't been rash yesterday, we could have become good friends ...

However, I cannot change the past, so I decided to leave this behind and live for both of us ...

As expected of a beast from a fantasy world, it had some useful abilities.

The skills I gained from the horned rabbit may seem simple, but Evade is obviously impressive as it makes my movements more agile when evading an attack.

I have not used Escape, but as the name implies, it only kicks in when escaping some kind of danger.

Unlike Escape, Charge is an active ability that makes me run faster and adds more weight to my next attack.

Now, it's time to get serious.

Although it may be dangerous, I will leave this body. I can't stay glued to a caged beast forever.

'My hopes and dreams for the future will not die here!' (Usagi)

<Proceed with caution! The current vessel will die shortly after you abandon it!>

So do the beings that lose their souls become empty vessels? However, it makes sense that this body will die after I am gone because no one will control it then.

From what I read in my past life, I know that most beings are made of three different things.

Mind, soul, and matter.

In my case, 'matter' is this body. It helps me interact with the physical world and is affected by laws like gravity.

The 'soul' is me. Somehow both my conscience and my memories are here. It may have something to do with my species or the properties of this world.

Also, I got the memories of the horned rabbit after eating his soul. They are said to be located in the brain, so this is another mystery.

Are the memories stored in the soul in this world? Or does Soul Eater do more than just eat souls?

'This gives me a headache! Ouch!' (Usagi)

Leaving that aside, the "mind" is the most mysterious part of our existence.

Is it located in the brain of this body and am I controlling it?

Or is it actually part of my soul?

I don't know the answer, but I think it's something in between.

The soul (which is me) probably transmits orders to the mind that interprets them before sending them to the body.

I don't know how much of this is true. Before I thought they were just some theories that people had, but now I'm not so sure.

'I should really put this aside ... ' (Usagi)

In any case, I proceeded with my plan.

<You have left your vessel!>

<Your dormant skills have been properly acquired!>

<Your soul is getting weak!>

<The inherent skill 'Soul Guard Lv. 1' has awakened!>

Soul Guard, huh? I can guess what it does, but ... is there any way to confirm it?

I started thinking and after a few moments, an idea popped into my mind.

'How about I use Appraisal? Is there a way to use it to analyze my other skills?' (Usagi)

I thought a bit more and decided to open my status window one more time.

≪Usagi≫

Race: Spirit

Species: Wandering Soul

Gender: None

Age: 0

Level: 10

≪Inherent skills≫

Possession Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Eater Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Guard Lv. 1 (Passive)

≪Active skills≫

Appraisal Lv. 2, Charge Lv. 2

≪Passive skills≫

Evade Lv. 3, Escape Lv. 3, Increased Piercing Power Lv. 1

Once it opened, I stared intently at the Soul Guard skill and activated Appraisal.

≪Soul Guard (Lv. 1). After spending a long time outside the protection of matter, you have become able to withstand the weakening effect to some extent.≫

So it basically gives me more time to find a new body? Sounds useful.

'This is good. I really felt like I was going to die last time ... ' (Usagi)

I would like to evaluate my abilities further, but it will be better to find a new body quickly.

After leaving the body of the horned rabbit, I left the building.

As expected, I can go through walls like a ghost, even though it feels uncomfortable.

'Also, I can really fly, huh? This is fine, but I would rather have angel wings ... ' (Usagi)

Although I have no back to wear them.

The landscape changed and I found myself looking at people.

I saw the villagers going back and forth from place to place carrying wood and simple construction tools.

It seems that the damage from yesterday's fire was not small.

It was really interesting to see how people spent their time. Strong men repaired buildings while kind women distributed food to them.

'However, this town is not that different from others that I have seen in my past life.' (Usagi)

I couldn't find a cute elf anywhere, only humans. There wasn't much of a fantasy world atmosphere. It was a bit disappointing.

Nevertheless, I could not afford to remain inactive. I had to do something and fast!

My best option is to possess a strong adult human being because I don't want to become another beast or animal. It feels really strange to be one.

After a while, I found a good candidate. He looked to be in his early 20s and was a bit handsome.

Furthermore, he was very far from other people, so I could quickly walk away without suspicion when possessing him.

I used Appraisal on him.

≪??? (Male Human, 21 years old) ≫

I couldn't see much of its information, but it was definitely an improvement over 'Appraisal Lv. 1'. Before, I could only know the species of other beings and find common herbs in the grass ...

I tried to possess this guy right away before he went back to the others. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan.

<You cannot control this host! The level of 'Possession' is not high enough!>

My best option collapsed in front of my eyes. I didn't have high expectations about it, but failing at something feels sad no matter what.

Now what? Should I go into the forest and find another beast? No, I don't want to, plus I don't think I can go far enough to find one.

I tried not to think about it, but there is another option. If I can't control an adult, a child should suffice.

'I feel like trash. Dammit!' (Usagi)

I don't think it's something a righteous person should do. Although I want to think like that, I was already looking for a suitable host.

A healthy child. I tried to find one in my close environment, but couldn't. I was just too slow to go too far.

<Your soul is in critical condition! Use your ability to possess a living being to prevent your soul from fading!>

My death timer started ticking and I took the only option I could. I went back to Mary's house and found her napping on a couch in the living room.

'Sorry, Mary! Somehow I will pay this debt!'

<You have successfully possessed the Female Human 'Mary White'!>

<Your soul has started to stabilize!>

Just like when I possessed the horned rabbit, my soul entered Mary's body and began to adapt to it.

Obviously, there were differences. Her body was not as small as the rabbit's and its shape was not that different from my previous body apart from its height.

Once the process was finished, I opened "my" eyes. They both felt wet and itched a bit.

When I thought about the reason why she cried, I saw that "Usagi" was gone. Of course, my soul was no longer there.

I shouldn't have let her see that. No child in the world experiences things like watching their pets die.

'Now, I'm a horrible person too ... ' (Usagi)

I made a mistake. I should have somehow escaped from that cage and run somewhere before letting that body die.

Thinking about the things that I shouldn't have done, I went outside the house with heavy steps.

"We need more wood here!" (Hardworking Villager A)

"Crap! I broke the handle of my uncle's hammer!" (Unreliable Villager B)

However, being able to understand other people made me happy. I can finally communicate with them.

The sadness I felt before suddenly disappeared and I promised that I would do my best to be part of this world.

Giggle! (Mary [Usagi])

Mary ... "I" let out a very cute laugh ...