Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 60 - The Present

Inside the Adventurer's Guild, I sat at the bar watching Barn and the others talk big with a few rival squads.

I'd turned down their drinking invitations too many times before. This time they practically dragged me here.

Not that I was actually drinking. I'd ordered fruit wine, the kind that's barely alcohol at all.

"Risking your life, and all you win is a few parties and a few warm beds." The voice came from beside me, low and dry. "How stupid~"

The one speaking was the scout and archer from Barn's squad. Her name was Lodis.

Long golden hair, striking features, she stood out among adventurers the way a single flower stands out in a field. Plenty of suitors, from what I'd heard.

Though she wasn't really a flower. More like a rose that had decided thorns were the whole point.

"What's wrong? You're not drinking with them?"

I said it without much interest.

"Rudeus, you really are here for the first time." She swirled her cup. "I always end up at the bar drinking fruit wine alone."

"It is my first time."

Lodis drained her cup in one go and waved for the bartender to bring her something harder.

"Want some?"

"Getting too drunk could be dangerous."

"Not even a little? I've never invited a man to drink before."

I sighed, smiled, and took the cup from her.

"The way you say things really invites misunderstanding."

"Maybe you're not misunderstanding at all?"

She propped her chin on one hand and took a slow sip.

She really is beautiful... especially right now...

But that was all the thought I gave it.

Lodis took another sip and spoke.

"They're heading to the brothel. You going?"

"I have a little sister waiting at home. And a fiancée."

"Oh? They all have wives too, and that doesn't stop them. Are you and your fiancée Milis followers or something?"

"Not at all. I just don't want to go."

I drained the half-cup of hard liquor and quietly cast a detox spell on myself. Getting into trouble while drunk wasn't something I could afford.

"Mm~ A good man~ Any interest in getting to know me better?"

"Oh? You like me?"

Lodis paused, then nodded.

She reached over and rested a hand on my shoulder.

"I do. Why wouldn't I?"

"How to put this — we barely know each other. You fell for me after a handful of quests together?"

"What's wrong with liking someone strong? On top of that, you're handsome, you're young, and out on quests you've shown real knowledge and a personality I actually like."

"That's... a little shallow."

"I'm exactly that shallow~ So what do you say? Want to give it a try?"

"I believe I already mentioned — I have a fiancée."

"So? You're not a Milis follower. I'd be happy as a concubine~"

Honestly, she was a good woman. In the squad she pulled her weight without complaint. After work she drank her fruit wine and stayed out of trouble. No rumors, no drama.

Beautiful. Confident. Generous.

So why? Why did I feel nothing for her?

I shook my head and stood up.

"I'm going to have to say no. You're a very charming woman, but I'm about to leave this city."

"Hmm? Where to?"

"Not sure yet. Maybe to enroll at the Magic University. Maybe to teach there."

"You? Enroll?"

"Is that strange?"

"What more could you possibly need to learn?"

"Maybe I'd be the one teaching."

"If you're the teacher... yeah, that actually tracks."

She hadn't reacted to my rejection at all. We both just smiled at each other.

"Alright. I'm heading home."

"I'll walk you."

She stood too.

"Shouldn't it be the other way around? Since when does a woman walk a man home?"

"Rudeus, I always thought you weren't the old-fashioned type."

"Fine. Suit yourself."

Everyone in the Adventurer's Guild watched Lodis follow me out, breaking into whistles like they were celebrating something. Not sure what.

We walked the whole way without a word, all the way to my front door.

"This is your place?"

"Yeah."

"A mansion..." She looked it over. "No wonder you only take thirty percent of the reward. You're not short on money at all, are you?"

"This mansion came from thirty percent at a time."

"Really?"

"Really."

A moment of quiet. Then her voice shifted, taking on a soft, coaxing edge.

"I want to be your wife more and more. Can't I at least be a concubine~?"

"You really are shallow."

"Strong, wealthy, handsome, and young. You check every box most women in this world are looking for."

"Maybe."

"So you're really turning me down?"

"Yes. You're a very charming woman. But what I feel toward you isn't anything I could call love."

Lodis stared at me. Then she leaned in.

I reacted just in time. She only caught my cheek.

"I like you more and more. I have a feeling we'd get along really well."

"We might. But I've already said no."

"Relax~ I'm not the type who clings." She stepped back. "That was just a kiss for the first person I've ever liked. It's done now."

"What a shame. I hope you find someone new soon."

Lodis turned and gave a lazy wave.

"Oh, I will. And when I do, I'm absolutely rubbing it in your face, and laughing at you for turning down a good woman."

"If that day comes, I'll congratulate you."

We said our goodbyes. I turned and walked inside.

The moment I stepped through the door, something felt off.

The maids greeted me as usual. But Aisha hadn't come running out to meet me.

"Where's Aisha?"

One of the maids answered. "Miss Aisha is entertaining guests. She said they're family."

"I see."

So Lilia and Norn had arrived.

I headed toward the main hall.

As I got closer, voices filtered through. Aisha and Lilia going back and forth at each other. Norn's quieter voice, asking someone something.

I stepped into the living room and everything went silent.

Lilia. Norn. And a woman in a hood.

All three of them sat on the sofa, watching me.

What was I supposed to say here...

After a short silence, it was Lilia who spoke first.

"Young Master Rudeus... you've grown up."

"Mother Lilia, I've told you before — just Rude is fine."

"That's true..."

She didn't say anything else. She rose from the sofa and walked toward me.

When she was close enough, she pulled me into her arms.

It felt a little like when I was small. I still vaguely remembered it, when I first arrived in this world, Lilia was the one who read to me, who taught me my letters. I used to fall asleep in her arms without even meaning to.

"You've worked hard, Rude."

"You're the ones who've worked hard. A journey that long must have been exhausting."

"Not at all... well. Maybe a little."

She didn't try to play it off. She just smiled at me.

"Brother~ you smell like alcohol."

Aisha's complaint came at exactly the wrong moment.

I laughed awkwardly and turned back to Lilia.

"Take Aisha and go rest. I'm sure you two still have plenty to catch up on."

"Mm. You should rest too. Oh — and Paul asked me to bring you this."

She held out a wooden box.

I took it and opened it on the spot. Inside were jewels, and a letter of recommendation from Roxy.

After Lilia and Aisha disappeared into their room, I turned to Norn. She'd been fidgety the whole time, and she still was. The hooded woman stood beside her, not moving. I didn't recognize her, but since neither Norn nor Lilia had said anything, she had to be the one who'd escorted them here.

I lowered my head.

"Thank you for bringing my mother and my sister safely here. Whatever reward you want, name it. If it's within my power, I'll see it done."

Norn only grew more unsettled after I said that.

She looked at me, then at the woman in the hood.

Had I said something wrong? I thought that had come out pretty sincerely...

The hooded woman hadn't moved at all. I couldn't tell what she was thinking.

The silence stretched. Then Norn spoke, almost whispering.

"Take... take off your hood... Brother won't forget you..."

Forget?

Paul had mentioned in his letter that the escort was a friend of mine. Someone trustworthy.

Given how well Paul knew me, the friends he thought I had were...

"Is it... Sylphie?"

The moment I said it, she seemed to let go of something. Her whole posture changed.

She reached up and pulled her hood back.

The same emerald-green hair as before. No, longer than before.

Her face too. It wasn't the simple, uncomplicated cuteness I remembered. What she had now was something that could only be called beauty.

Familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. That feeling hit me harder than I expected.

"Brother, it's rude to stare at Sister Sylphie that long."

"Oh... right... Sorry."

Norn wasn't tripping over her words now. So she hadn't been nervous about seeing me, she'd been nervous that I wouldn't recognize Sylphie.

"It's... it's fine..."

Sylphie seemed less sure of herself than before. A lot less.

Where was it coming from?

I looked at the hood, at the long robe that covered nearly all of her.

Was it her hair?

After the Teleport Incident, had Sylphie been dealing with discrimination this whole time because of her hair? Back in the village, Paul's presence had probably kept it from getting too bad. But out in the wider world, prejudice against green hair was far more open, something I'd only learned for myself during my travels.

I drew a slow breath, and smiled.

"Sylphie, your hair is still just as beautiful as ever."

I meant it out of sympathy. But I also meant every word.

Sylphie looked up. Her eyes were full of tears, right at the edge.

"Sylphie... what's—"

Before I could finish, she threw her arms around me.

"I was... I was so scared... I was scared you'd forget me... I was scared that after growing up you'd hate green hair... I was scared that the way I am now would disgust you... I was scared of all of it, every single part of it..."

She cried in my arms. I lifted a hand and gently patted her back.

"How could any of that happen..."

She cried for a long time. Then, like she'd suddenly remembered herself, she pulled away.

Her face was flushed red. She kept her eyes down.

"Sorry..."

"What are you apologizing for? You're my benefactor right now. Go get some rest, you've earned it."

"Mm... Um, that..."

"First room on the left, second floor. Get some rest."

"Can I... can I just sleep on the sofa...?"

"Of course. It won't be as comfortable, though."

Sylphie settled onto the sofa and patted the empty space beside her.

"Will Rude sit here...?"

I glanced around. Norn had slipped out at some point without me noticing.

"Sure."

I sat down. Sylphie leaned her head against my shoulder.

She smelled nice. Had she bathed recently?

Her ears were so cute...

My thoughts were starting to drift in a direction they probably shouldn't when Sylphie's soft, drowsy voice reached me.

"Rude... I tried really hard, you know..."

"I know. You did."

"Really... really hard..."

I didn't answer this time. Because there was nothing I could honestly say to that.

Where had she been sent? What had she been through? How had she found Paul? What had it felt like to learn that her entire family was gone? None of it was something I could truly understand.

I couldn't say something as hollow as I know how you feel. I didn't know what would comfort her, either.

If letting her use my shoulder was enough to make things a little easier, then that was enough.

After a long while, Sylphie's breathing evened out. She was asleep, still leaning against me.

Her sleeping face was soft and peaceful. You'd never believe she was a mage with real experience behind her.

I carried her to the room that had been prepared and then made my way back to my own.

I lay down on the bed and let out a long, slow breath.

"You've worked hard..."

➤ Next: Some Daily Life 4