Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 53 - Three Years — Face to Face

In the northern reaches of the Ranoa Kingdom, Aisha and I sat inside the Adventurer's Guild.

"Brother~ are we getting ready to head to the next place?"

"There is no next place. We've finished exploring the Central Continent and covered the Ranoa Kingdom. Let's settle down here from now on."

"Settle down? Aren't we going to look for Mother Zenith?"

"Of course we are. But your growth and Norn's is important too. I'll write to Father and ask if he can bring Norn here. When the time comes, I'll find a school for the two of you."

"Eh~ I don't want to go to school~ Schools are full of annoying nobles."

"You can't say that. Don't you think you should make some friends your own age, Aisha? You're almost 10, and you've been following me for six years. No matter how you look at it..."

"Being with Brother is the best! Aisha is very strong now, you know. My personal adventurer rank is already A-rank!"

"That's not the issue. I'm worried..."

I had been about to say she might grow up struggling to connect with people her own age. But then I thought about how she had those adventurers twice her age wrapped around her finger, and the words died in my throat.

"Worried about what?" Aisha tilted her head.

"Nothing. Anyway, you have to go to school."

"Brother is so unreasonable!"

It was the 3rd year after Eris left. Aisha and I had more or less finished combing through the Central Continent and made our way to the Ranoa Kingdom.

Our abilities meant we could pull good pay on any job, but we only took thirty percent of the reward each time we formed a party. The price we asked in return was simple: keep an eye out for any word about Zenith. It had earned us a solid reputation among the adventurers here.

Even so, we hadn't turned up a single lead.

"What are you fretting about, Rudeus?"

A man named Vian patted my shoulder from behind. He was a warrior, S-rank, and one of the adventurers Aisha and I had worked with before.

"Nothing. Just have to send my little sister to school."

"Ha? Your little sister? She still needs to go to school?"

Vian looked over at Aisha with open disbelief. Aisha smiled back at him, spread her hands, and shrugged.

"See? Uncle Vian thinks what Brother is doing is ridiculous too, right?"

"I mean... are you sure about this, Rudeus? I honestly don't think your little sister has much left to learn at school."

I pushed his hand off my shoulder.

"That's still better than being an adventurer."

"Fair enough. I can understand how you feel as her older brother, I suppose."

Vian gave a nod and let it go.

After he left, Aisha drifted over and leaned against me.

"Brother~ writing a letter?"

"Yeah."

Quiet. Neither of us said much more.

I sat with the question rolling around in my head: was sending Aisha to school actually necessary?

She could read. She could do arithmetic. I'd taught her everything I knew about magic. Swordsmanship wasn't something a school could give her anyway.

But the instinct from my previous life was stubborn. Children should go to school.

"If I'm at school, what are you planning to do?"

"Probably keep up with adventurer work. We still haven't found Mother."

"But haven't we already searched the whole Central Continent?"

"We have. So after I get you and Norn settled, I'll head to the Becalit Continent. Maybe I'll find something there."

"Oh..."

I finished the letter and sent it off.

.......

A month later, Paul's reply arrived.

[To Rudeus,

I'm glad it only took you 3 years to thoroughly scout out the Central Continent.

I'd love to say we should sail straight for the Becalit Continent to find Zenith — but I'm also the father of two daughters. So I'm accepting your proposal. Aisha and Norn will enroll at the Magic University.

In about half a year, Norn and Lilia will arrive at the guild where you are. The escort is someone you know. You'll never guess who, but she's trustworthy.

As for the Becalit Continent, leave that to me. Until you hear from us, stay put at the guild on the Central Continent. Or you could always attend the Ranoa Magic University yourself. Knowing you, though, you'd probably end up as a teacher rather than a student.

Either path requires a letter of recommendation. As it happens, your teacher Roxy is currently with our search-and-rescue party. She was once a student of the university's vice-principal, so she wrote you a recommendation. I've passed it to Lilia. She'll give it to you when you meet.

One last thing. I haven't had a single day where I was qualified to call myself your father. But even so — enjoy campus life a little, Rudi.

Paul Greyrat]

That Paul...

"Brother! Brother! Does this mean you're enrolling too?!"

Aisha had finished reading over my shoulder. She threw her arms around my neck and shook me.

"More or less. Though I'll probably end up going as a teacher."

"Yay!"

"Isn't the better news that Mother Lilia is coming?"

"I am happy that Mother is coming..."

Aisha squirmed, suddenly bashful. It was a rare look on her.

She only ever got like that when Lilia came up.

Still — who was this trustworthy friend Paul mentioned?

I let it go. What mattered right now was buying a house. Even if Aisha and Norn lived in the dorms, Lilia and I would need somewhere to stay. As a teacher I'd probably have a room on campus, but I had no interest in living there.

"Aisha. We're going to be attending the Ranoa Magic University. Let's find a house somewhere nearby."

"Mm! I've wanted to buy a proper house for ages."

"Really? Why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Because Brother and I switch guilds every few months. What was the point?"

"Fair enough. Then let's get something you like. We have plenty of money, so don't hold back."

"Brother~ I love you the most!"

Aisha launched herself at me and pulled me into a hug. I let her, and reached up to ruffle her hair.

...She really is still a kid, when it comes down to it.

Though sometimes she didn't feel like one. Out on jobs, her caution was something else, sharp and measured in a way that had no business belonging to someone her age.

When Eris was 12, she'd still charge solo into a monster nest on pure impulse.

Aisha had trained under Eris, and somehow she'd ended up nothing like that.

She must have picked it up from me. Definitely.

"Alright. Let's go find a house."

"Okay!"

➤ Next: Settling In and Resting Up