Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 44 - Reunion — Tears Unshed

After a month and a half on the road, we entered the Great Forest.

Once inside, the Beastmen children stopped needing our help entirely. They were better at finding food than Eris and I combined.

Eris, for her part, spent the whole journey glued to that big dog. She hugged it every chance she got. Every time she did, the Beastmen children covered their eyes.

Some strange custom? Or did that creature — the Sacred Beast — have other ideas about Eris?

"Rudeus! It says it wants to come with us!"

"You can't understand it..."

"Its behavior told me so!"

"Let's at least wait until we reach the tribe first, alright?"

"Yeah!"

I was glad those Beastmen children couldn't understand human speech. If they knew Eris wanted to take their Sacred Beast, I didn't want to imagine the looks on their faces.

........

A week of traveling through the Great Forest, and we reached the Beastmen tribe.

How do I put it? Larger than I'd expected.

That was about all I had to say. Nothing else struck me.

After we returned the children, the adult Beastmen seemed eager to host us. I was ready to decline. Compared to eating and making merry here, Paul and the others mattered more.

I looked down at Aisha. She had no interest in the invitation either. Eris only cared about whether she could keep the Sacred Beast.

But the moment we arrived at the tribe, the Sacred Beast was already taken away. That settled that.

"Thank you for the kind offer, but we have important matters to attend to. We won't trouble you any further."

"I understand. May I ask your name? You will forever be a benefactor to the Beastmen."

"Rudeus Greyrat."

And with that, we left.

Before going, I asked about Ghislaine. They didn't know where Ghislaine was either.

Somewhat disappointing.

........

Millishion, Holy Country of Milis.

A month and a half from the Great Forest to here. Three months total since we sent the letter.

The whole journey passed without incident. Probably because we hadn't taken any Adventurer's Guild work.

"Brother, Father is in this city?"

"Yes."

Aisha's grip on my hand tightened.

Was that happiness or nerves?

"Uncle Paul? Rudeus, take me to change clothes! I can't meet Uncle Paul looking like this!"

Eris suddenly cared about her appearance. This from someone who had been shamelessly hugging a white-furred dog just yesterday.

"Alright. We'll get Aisha a new set while we're at it."

"Eh~ I don't need one. The one Brother bought me before is fine."

"That one wasn't refined enough. It was picked with travel in mind."

"But I really like it. So I don't want a new one."

"Alright..."

No point forcing it, I thought. Then I heard Eris's voice.

"Then I don't want a new one either! Let's just go meet Uncle Paul like this!"

She picked up Aisha, grabbed my hand, and took off running toward the Adventurer's Guild.

The carriage... well. The city looked safe enough. Leaving it a while should be fine.

........

Inside the Adventurer's Guild, Eris and Aisha walked in hand in hand. Not a trace of the boldness they'd shown moments ago.

Eris was probably bracing herself to meet her future father. Aisha was just plain nervous. She hadn't seen her father in a long time, after all.

I went to the front desk and gave the name of Paul's Search and Rescue Party.

The woman at the desk froze. Then she rushed away from the counter in a hurry, off to notify someone, I assumed.

I settled into the drinking area. Aisha and Eris sat down beside me without a word.

Ten minutes later, the front door of the guild was kicked open.

Familiar faces.

Paul, Lilia... and Norn, visibly older than I remembered.

Paul's expression was wound tight. When he saw me and Aisha, he didn't say anything. He pulled us both into his arms without a word.

"Thank god... thank god... as long as you're not hurt."

His stubble scratched. Probably because it was wet with tears.

I pushed him off with mild distaste and looked toward Lilia and Norn.

"Lilia, Norn..."

I walked over and hugged them too.

When I let go, Aisha went straight into Lilia's arms and cried. No restraint. Just tears.

She had been so strong the whole journey. But when she saw her mother, she couldn't hold it back. She really was still a child.

After the reunion settled down, Paul ordered enough food to cover the table. I introduced Eris again, even though I'd already brought her home when I was ten.

Paul had clearly had a rough two years. No word from us for all that time. He must have been carrying it the whole while.

"After a week here, I'll take Eris back to her hometown, then head to the Central Continent. Don't worry, it's on the way."

"Mm. Be careful."

"Father should be the careful one. Didn't you say you left messages at every Adventurer's Guild within human reach? Did you miss the Central Continent?"

"I didn't miss it... I just felt that place is too vast. The Guild's reach only goes so far. And you came all the way from the Demon Continent without any news of your mother, so I thought it was likely she ended up in the Central Continent..."

"I see."

Lilia, quiet until now, spoke.

"It's a rare reunion. Let's eat and be glad, yes?"

"Mm... you're right. We can talk about the rest later."

"Alright."

Paul and I nodded together.

Paul's face shifted. He smiled and turned to Eris.

"You're Eris, right? Thank you for looking after Rudeus on the road."

"N-No... that's not it... Rudeus was the one looking after me..."

"Oh? You two had an engagement, didn't you? What does Eris think? Do you like our Rudeus?"

Eris went red.

"I-I do! Please, Father, leave Rudeus to me with full confidence!"

"Isn't that the groom's line?"

Paul kept poking at her, easy and unbothered. Eris kept sputtering.

Aisha was soaking up every bit of Lilia's attention.

Norn... looked uneasy.

What was she worried about?

I stood up and pulled her into my arms.

"Eh?!"

She startled. Then, slowly, she relaxed and settled into my lap.

Right. I'm still her brother. That hasn't changed and it never will.

I did what I'd watched Mama Lilia do and just held her.

Aisha noticed. She stared at me with an intensity that could bore holes.

I smiled.

"What's wrong? Does Aisha want to sit in my lap too?"

She nodded. Hard.

"It's a rare mother-daughter reunion. Enjoy Mama Lilia's warmth while you have it."

I stroked Norn's head as I said it.

My little sister was quiet. A bit shy. Her cheeks were already a deep red.

"Brother is playing favorites!"

"Aisha, don't disturb Master Rudeus and Miss Norn."

"Mother is playing favorites too!"

The two of them bickered, easy and warm.

This is good. This is really good.

I have to find Zenith. I have to bring this family all the way together.

➤ Next: Openness — Words Unspoken