Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 45 - Openness — Words Unspoken

A week after our reunion, Eris and I started getting ready to leave.

The day before we set off, Aisha picked a fight with Lilia and Paul.

Aisha wanted to come with me. Paul and Lilia said no.

How should I put this... I had promised her, sure. But I honestly thought she'd forget about it once she saw Lilia and Paul again. I didn't expect her to remember so well.

"Mom! I'm really strong now, I won't slow Brother down!"

"No. You're still too young."

"I'm an Advanced-rank mage! And an Intermediate-rank swordsman! If you don't believe me, ask Sister Eris and Brother!"

Eris and I nodded. Helplessly.

It was an undeniable fact. Aisha genuinely wouldn't slow us down. But even so...

As her older brother, I wanted her childhood spent by her mother's side, not dragged along on adventures with real risks attached. That was all.

"The answer is still no."

"Why?! Brother went off to work at someone else's house when he was eight!"

Mother and daughter went at it. Paul stayed silent.

Fine. I'll step in.

I walked over and put a hand on Aisha's head.

"Aisha. Stay with your mother Lilia for now, okay? She hasn't seen you in so long. She must miss you terribly. And asking any parent to let their child go off adventuring at your age, that's a hard thing to agree to."

"But..."

"What's the 'but' for? Is there some reason you absolutely have to follow me?"

Aisha went quiet.

Then, after a long moment, she screamed.

"Brother never keeps his promises! I hate you the most, Brother!"

She threw that out and ran back to the inn.

I stood there, frozen. That was the first time I'd ever heard Aisha say she hated me.

Lilia came over. She kept her head down when she spoke.

"I'm sorry, Master Rudeus. Aisha is a willful child. She must have given you a great deal of trouble on the road."

"Not at all. She was sweet the whole way, very well-behaved. It's just, I did promise I'd take her to the Central Continent. She's angry because I didn't keep my word."

"I see..."

"Also — don't be so formal with me. Just call me Rudi."

"I couldn't possibly..."

I looked at her troubled expression and spoke.

"Mother Lilia."

Zenith and Lilia. In my heart, they are both my mothers.

There's no difference between them. They are both women who raised me. Gentle, kind women I respect.

Lilia heard me call her that and visibly froze. For a long moment she just stood there.

Then she pulled me into a hug.

"Yes, Rudi."

Eris nodded warmly from the side.

What exactly are you nodding about?

I badly wanted to say it out loud, but this clearly wasn't the moment.

And then, because timing is what it is, the mood-wrecker arrived. It was Paul.

"Rudi. Is it really true that Aisha won't be any trouble?"

"That part's true. She's well-behaved, and her magic and swordsmanship are solid, Eris and I taught her ourselves. She can take care of herself."

"I see. Then let her go with you, Rudi."

"Huh?"

I looked over at Lilia. She nodded too.

"Aisha told us about this a long time ago. Paul and I didn't want to agree, but she truly wants to follow you."

"Just... because of that?"

Lilia didn't answer. Paul did.

"She'll learn a great deal traveling with you. Lilia and I don't have much to offer either child in terms of education right now. If two years in the Central Continent turns up nothing, settle down somewhere and write me your address. I'll send Norn along as well. Find them both a school."

"Understood. I'll write to you as soon as I reach the Guild there."

"Good."

"Father. Don't talk to me like a stranger."

"Fair enough. Hahahaha."

That evening, at the restaurant on the ground floor of the inn, we ordered enough dishes to fill the table.

We had our farewell dinner. Then Eris and I headed back upstairs.

Aisha was sitting by the window. When she heard us come in, she didn't say a word.

"Still sulking?"

"Brother is a liar."

"How could that be?"

"We had a deal..."

"Pack your things tonight. We leave tomorrow."

Aisha was quiet for a beat. Then she exploded.

"Eh?! For real?! You worked it out with Mom and Father?!"

"Of course. But tonight, as punishment, you're scrubbing my back."

"Okay!"

She snapped to it like a soldier taking orders. I couldn't help but laugh.

"Rudeus! I want in too!"

Eris's voice came out of nowhere, right next to my ear.

"Mm... huh?"

"I said, I want in too!"

I looked at Aisha fast. She was watching me with a knowing look, like she'd already figured everything out.

What's going on? How did this just happen?

"Eris, did Father say something to you?"

"No! I just want to scrub your back too!"

"And you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You... aren't you going to wash up?"

Eris thought about it for a second. Then something clicked.

Her face went scarlet.

"Rudeus, you pervert!"

She hurled a pillow at me. Then, in a much smaller voice:

"T... together. Let's do it together."

I stared at her.

"Then I won't disturb you two, Brother~"

Aisha said it sweetly and started inching toward the door.

I grabbed her by the collar.

"What are you imagining? All three of us."

"Eeeh~ Brother is so greedy. Are we doing the completely-open thing?"

"What are you talking about? We're wearing bath towels, obviously."

"Eh? But before you never—"

Aisha was saying it with the most innocent face. Eris, meanwhile, planted both hands on her hips and declared it like a fact of nature:

"Why would we wear them!"

"...Huh?"

"You said you like me! Rudeus!"

"I do like you, but, but still—"

"If you like me, that's enough. I like you too! So we should be completely open with each other!"

"What kind of warrior-woman logic is that?!"

And just like that, Eris grabbed my arm and dragged me into the bathroom.

I was thoroughly taken care of by both Eris and Aisha.

Entirely wholesome, of course.

➤ Next: Departing Once More