Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 41 - News — Tears Unshed

Port Zante had the same bones as Port Wen. Sloped streets, a port that buzzed louder than the city proper. The whole place had the energy of an Adventurer's Guild that decided to set up shop at the docks rather than bother with the city center.

But the differences were real. More wooden buildings here than in Port Wen, all of them slapped with bright paint, whether that was a defense against the sea air or just local taste, I didn't know. The streets were lined with trees, and past the city's edge, thick forest stretched out green and dense.

Green. All of it green.

After months of the Demon Continent's white and gray and brown, it was almost hard to look at.

Just one stretch of sea between them. Practically a different world.

And the people matched. This was the Milis Continent, and it showed. No Demon Race wandering the streets looking like chaos given a body. Here it was Beastmen, Humans, Long-Ear Tribe, Smallfolk. Races that at least looked like they belonged in a city.

The moment the ship docked, Aisha and Eris were off the gangplank before the ropes were even secure.

They hit solid ground and both of them stopped dead, just breathing.

Then Aisha spoke, slow and deliberate, like a man who had survived something and was only just starting to believe it.

"Breathing on solid ground. That's the only time I really feel alive."

"Yes! Exactly!"

I had no idea where Aisha had picked up that kind of line. Eris just nodded along like it was scripture.

I smiled and fell into step beside them.

"Anyway. Adventurer's Guild first?"

.......

Maybe because we'd finally left the Demon Continent, there were actual Humans here. On the Demon Continent you could go days without spotting one.

We found the message board and started working through it notice by notice.

Was it just the Milis Continent, or were there always this many postings? The board was packed. And nearly all of it was missing persons.

After almost half an hour, I found what I was looking for.

Something about our family. Paul's handwriting.

[To Rudeus,

Zenith and Aisha are both missing.

Norn and Lilia are under my protection.

I don't know where you are right now, but I know you well enough to believe you can find your own way back. I've postponed the search for you.

I'm heading to the Milis Continent. It's Zenith's homeland. I'll also send word to Lilia's hometown and let her family know we're safe.

You go to the northern Central Continent and help with the search.

If you find anyone, write to this address: Milis Continent, Holy Country of Milis, Capital Milishion, Adventurer's Guild, Party Name [Buena Village Search Team], Group Name [Fittoa Territory Search Group].

My party is at the address above. If we move, I'll update this notice.

To anyone who knows me or my family, and to the former members of [Black Wolf Fang], I'm asking for your help.

Some of you have grudges against me. I'm not asking you to forgive me. Curse me out if you want. Tell me to get on my knees and lick your boots clean, and I'll do it. I've lost everything I owned, so I have nothing to offer. I'm just begging you. Help me find my family.

Paul Greyrat, in his own hand]

I stood there for a long moment.

Everything I'd feared was true. But there was still good news. Paul was alive. Lilia was alive. Norn was alive.

Paul was in the Holy Country of Milis's capital. 3 months by carriage from here, roughly. The plan took shape without much effort: write him a letter first, let him know I was safe and where I was. Rest for a few days. Buy a carriage. Head for the capital.

Then figure out the rest. Get Aisha settled. Return Eris to her homeland. That was on the way to the Central Continent anyway, so searching there wouldn't conflict with anything. It worked.

It had to work.

"Brother..."

"Yeah. You saw it."

"Yeah."

I let the silence sit for a moment.

Then I thought of something I hadn't yet. Eris's family. There was no notice on that board searching for Eris. Not one.

The worst answer was the obvious one.

I turned to look at her. Her expression hadn't shifted. She looked like none of it had connected yet.

"Eris." I kept my voice steady. "Whatever happens, I'm taking you home."

Eris nodded. Slow. Wooden.

"Why are you suddenly saying that?"

"No reason. Let's go find an inn. We'll rest here for 2 days, and I'll buy a carriage tomorrow."

"Okay!"

She didn't know. Eris had no idea what was sitting right in front of her.

Should I tell her?

No. Her uncle and her father could still be alive. There was nothing to confirm. It wasn't hiding anything. Not yet.

We booked the inn. Aisha and Eris headed off to bathe together, and I sat down at the desk to write to Paul.

"Rudeus, your turn!"

"Coming."

I tucked the finished letter into the drawer.

"Hm? Where's Aisha? Going to scrub my back again?"

"Looks like it!"

I reached out and touched Eris's cheek without thinking.

By the time I realized what I was doing, I pulled my hand back.

"Sorry. Reflex."

Why did I do that?

Did I feel sorry for her?

If Eris ever found out that was the reason I touched her face, she'd deck me without a second thought.

"N — no, it's fine!"

Her face went red. She sat down on the bed.

I was about to step closer, say something, when,

"Brother! Get in here already!"

"All right."

I looked at Eris's flushed cheeks for a moment, then turned toward the bathroom. I probably needed to cool down anyway.

Aisha was already waiting inside, a bath towel around her, gesturing toward the tub with a formal little wave.

I found it funny, somehow.

I sat down. She scrubbed my back, rinsed my hair. I could feel how much effort she was putting into it.

"Aisha. Is there something you want to ask me? You're working awfully hard tonight."

Her hands slowed.

"Yeah..."

"What is it? Whatever it is, if I can do it, I'll say yes."

"Really?"

"Really."

"I... after we reach the Holy Country's capital... I want to keep going with Brother. To the Central Continent."

"Can I ask why?"

"Why?" She thought about it. "Because I like being with Brother. That's why."

She said it without a trace of hesitation. For several seconds I just sat there, nearly nodding.

Then I caught myself.

No.

"That's not the real reason. What is it?"

"It is the real reason... and also, I'd just get in Father's way if I stayed..."

"Coming with me is dangerous."

"I'm almost an Intermediate Mage! And you said it yourself, didn't you? My shortened incantations are good! And the swordsmanship Sister Eris has been teaching me — I'm already at Intermediate level for that too!"

"How old are you?"

"I'm almost seven! Brother left home at eight to be a tutor. If you have the skill, it's enough. Age doesn't matter."

I took a long breath.

I had no argument. I was living proof she was right.

Aisha didn't press. She just went back to scrubbing in silence.

After a while, I spoke.

"I'm afraid you'll get hurt. When I reach the Central Continent I'll be searching for people. That probably means taking adventurer work, running commissions, moving constantly. It won't be simple."

"Then Brother can protect me. And I'm strong too. You promised me on the Demon Continent — we'd go adventuring together."

"I said when you were older."

"Fine. But I'm asking now." A pause. "If..."

"Yay! Brother is the best!"

She scrambled around in front of me, grabbed my face, and kissed me on the cheek.

Soap. That was all I smelled.

Honestly.

When we came out of the bathroom, Eris had already fallen asleep.

I walked to her bedside.

"Neither of you gives me a moment's peace. You can't sleep without drying your hair first?"

I pulled her upright. She sat there half-conscious, head drooping. I used magic to dry her hair, and when I turned around Aisha was watching me with barely contained hope in her eyes.

"You already know this spell."

"I still want Brother to do it~"

"Fine. Come here."

"Okay!"

I dried her hair with her sitting tucked against me, then pulled the letter out of the drawer and checked the light coming through the window.

"Aisha. I'm stepping out to send this. If you get hungry, tell the innkeeper at the front desk. We took the best room they had — he'll send food up."

"Got it~"

She yawned before she finished saying it and lay straight back down.

I smiled. Walked out of the inn alone. Made my way to the Adventurer's Guild and handed the letter to the front desk.

Letters in this world traveled by bird. I still didn't know which kind. But under a week, door to door. Faster than it had any right to be.

Back at the inn, both of them were still asleep.

"You two haven't even eaten."

I was turning into a mother. That was the only explanation.

I thought about waking them. Decided against it. The ship had knocked their sleep sideways for weeks. Let them rest.

I went downstairs and ate alone, then came back up and lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

The road ahead needed thinking through.

➤ Next: Aisha 3