Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 49 - The Distance Between Hearts

A month after that, we left the Red Dragon's Jaw.

We bought a carriage the moment we reached the next city and set off toward Eris's homeland.

"So... how much longer are you two planning to keep this up?"

Eris had her arms locked around my left arm, pressed against my side. Aisha was lying flat across my lap.

They'd been like this ever since the encounter with the Dragon God. The first week, honestly, I didn't mind at all. But now a second week had passed, and nothing had changed.

"Rudeus... don't you like this?"

"Brother... are we bothering you?"

When they said it like that, how was I supposed to harden my heart and move them?

So I smiled.

"How could I? I like it."

"Good!" Both of them, at the same time.

For some reason, I had the distinct feeling these two had gotten very good at managing me.

Not that I was complaining. If anything, I was enjoying every second of it.

.......

In the quiet hours of the night, I'd try to replicate the magic the Dragon God had used.

Former Dragon Gate, wasn't it?

No progress. None whatsoever. Though, since the name had "dragon" in it, maybe it was the kind of thing only someone with dragon blood could cast.

"Brother, whatcha doing~"

Aisha had been asleep on my lap. Apparently I'd woken her.

I stroked her hair.

"Trying to replicate the Dragon God's magic."

"Why? Does brother want to beat him?"

"Of course not. I just want to get stronger."

"Oh... but why does brother need to get stronger... couldn't we just do what he says and stay out of trouble... he's so strong, he probably doesn't even need us to fight..."

Aisha's voice had gone flat.

She probably thought I was studying his magic so I could challenge him the next time we met.

I reached over and pinched her cheek.

"Aisha. You almost died."

"Mm... but I'm still here, aren't I?"

"You are. And because you are, I can't afford to waste a single second. I won't let there be a moment where you need me and I'm not there."

"So brother... you still want to fight that Dragon God? Or... the things he's asking you to do are dangerous, aren't they..."

Her voice cracked. Just slightly.

"That's not what this is. I want to get stronger so something like this never happens again. Even if we end up facing something worse than the Dragon God someday, I need to be able to keep you alive."

"Promise you won't go looking for revenge?"

"I have no interest in dying."

"Pinky promise?"

She held out her little finger.

"Pinky promise."

After we hooked fingers, I lifted her off my lap and repositioned her so she was sitting on it instead. Then I wrapped my arms around her from behind.

"Aisha. I've had my memories since birth. I remember my life clearly, all of it."

"Really?"

"Really. From the day I was born until now, I've never cried for anyone. Not once." I paused. "But when I saw how badly you were hurt, I couldn't stop. The tears just kept coming."

"...I'm sorry, brother."

"It turned out alright. That's what matters."

"Mm... brother, about... about the Dragon God... his reason for killing me..."

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No. I need to say it."

And so she did.

She told me everything.

Starting from the Teleport Incident, a being who called himself the Man-God had been appearing in her dreams. He would give her advice on certain things. She'd almost never listened to him, which meant the only reason we ended up crossing paths with the Dragon God was my decision to go that route.

When she got to the part where one of the Man-God's suggestions had been don't take the Red Dragon's Jaw, her voice went quiet with guilt. Guilty for not listening.

I stroked her hair.

"It wasn't your fault. Your instinct to distrust him was right."

"Mm..."

"The bracelet. Don't take it off. I think it blocks the Man-God's ability to reach you. If the Man-God is the Dragon God's enemy, then a bracelet the Dragon God left behind for an enemy would do exactly that..."

"Okay, brother..."

She still looked miserable. That expression was hard to sit with.

"Hey. It's over. Smile a little."

"...okay."

I patted her head.

Then, from the back of the carriage, Eris shot upright like something had startled her out of a dead sleep.

"Rudeus! What about me!"

"I love you too, Eris."

She answered by kissing my cheek, quick and light, mindful that Aisha was right there, but she did it without hesitation.

I had to say... since we'd started whatever this was between us, Eris had gotten increasingly open about showing affection.

Wait. Were we dating? Officially?

There hadn't been a formal confession. But we knew how we felt about each other. That had to count.

Probably.

"Alright, both of you. Get some sleep. We're a few weeks out still."

"Aren't you tired, Rudeus?"

"I'm fine. You two drove the carriage all day. I've had plenty of rest."

"I want to stay up with you."

No setup. Just direct.

When I first met Eris, she was the kind of kid who drove me up a wall. But watching her grow up, the change had been undeniable, visible in real time.

I wasn't sure how to put it exactly. She was just... really something.

"Ah... alright. Keep me company for a bit, then go to sleep."

"Mm!"

Aisha quietly slipped to the back of the carriage without being asked.

Eris talked. A lot. About everything she wanted for the future.

She wanted to hold a grand wedding once we found Zenith. She wanted to reunite with her parents first and tell them about us. She wanted to get stronger. Stronger than Ghislaine. Stronger than the Dragon God. Strong enough that no one could ever touch us.

"Eris."

"Mm?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to say—the sky tonight is beautiful."

She looked up.

She didn't say anything. She just looked, and kept looking, somewhere far away in that field of stars.

I don't know what she was thinking.

The night sky in this world really was beautiful. Every time I looked up at it, I felt how small I was. Everything that weighed on me seemed to thin out and drift away under all that light.

After a few minutes, Eris quietly came back to herself. Still looking up, she spoke.

"Rudeus... if I left you to become stronger... would you forgive me?"

"Leaving isn't something you need to be forgiven for. It's not the same as betrayal."

"That's really how you think?"

"Yes."

"If you ever said you wanted to leave me... I'd track down whoever lured you away and cut her down."

"That's terrifying."

"Does Rudeus not like that about me?"

"I like it."

"Oh..."

She leaned her head against my shoulder. Her cheeks had gone pink.

"I mean it, though... if I left... you could find someone else. I wouldn't blame you. As long as... when we met again... you'd take me back, even as a concubine, that would be enough..."

"Are you going to leave?"

"I don't know. But when I'm with you... I feel like I can't get stronger. You're too reliable. I keep wanting to lean on you instead of standing on my own."

"Hearing someone you love call you reliable is better than I ever expected." I stopped. "But, Eris—there's no point worrying about things that haven't happened. And the idea that you'd leave and I'd just replace you—that's a sad way to think of yourself, isn't it?"

She tilted her head, genuinely puzzled.

"Father and Grandfather both had many women. So I thought someone as capable as Rudeus... would naturally have several too."

"Even if that were true, there wouldn't be any 'concubine.' I'm not a noble. I'm not royalty."

"Then... would you still want me?"

"Eris. I love you."

I kissed her.

"Does that answer it?"

She nodded, face bright red.

"Mm..."

"Go to sleep. You didn't rest at all today."

"Mm... goodnight... Rudeus."

"Goodnight."

➤ Next: Change — Tears Unshed