Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 66 - Feelings — Heartbreak

"Welcome back, brother~ Why are you so late today? The maids have all retired for the night... Oh? Who's that on your back, brother?"

"Welcome back, Rudy."

Aisha and Sylphie came to greet me not long after I stepped inside. Lilia had already gone to sleep.

It might be greedy of me to ask, but what about Norn? Was she asleep too?

If she was still awake and just hadn't come out to greet me, I'd be a little sad about that, as her older brother.

"I'm back. The person on my back is my... uh, friend?"

"Why does that sound like a question? The maids are all resting, so I'll go prepare a room for her."

"Thanks, Aisha."

"Just don't tell me she's your girlfriend, brother~"

With that, Aisha turned and headed upstairs. Sylphie moved closer to me.

She brushed the snow from my clothes, unbuttoned my coat one button at a time, took my overcoat and scarf, then carefully lifted the windbreaker draped over Nanahoshi.

Then Sylphie leaned in. Close. Close enough that I caught that warm, familiar scent she carried.

She gave a small sniff near my cheek and spoke softly.

"You've been drinking? Let me make you a bowl of hot soup to sober up. It'll warm you too."

"Mm... thank you."

After Sylphie headed to the kitchen, I carried Nanahoshi upstairs. Aisha had tidied the room faster than I expected. By the time I made it up, everything was already ready.

I got Nanahoshi settled and went back down.

Sylphie was still in the kitchen. Aisha followed me into the living room, and we settled naturally onto the sofa together.

"Brother~ Did you go drinking with her?"

"Yeah."

"Wow~ Did you invite her?"

"She invited me. Don't get the wrong idea — it was because..."

How was I supposed to explain this? Because we're from the same place?

Objectively, Nanahoshi really is quite a beauty. It was only natural for Aisha to be curious.

There was a line I'd read in a past life: "Half the truth is still the truth."

"It was because I agreed to help her with an experiment. That's why she invited me."

"Oh... I see..."

A brief silence. Then Aisha spoke again.

"Brother~"

"Mm?"

"What do you think of Sylphie-nee?"

The question pulled my gaze toward the kitchen, toward Sylphie's back as she stirred the pot.

What did I think? She was wonderful.

"She's a really good girl."

"Sylphie-nee definitely likes you a lot, you know. Haven't you noticed?"

"Yeah. I've noticed."

Aisha looked like she hadn't expected that answer. She reached over and pinched my cheek.

"Wow~ So brother is the type who strings along women who like him?"

"I..."

"Just kidding."

The pinch softened into a gentle touch. Her tone shifted, quieter and more serious.

"I know what brother is thinking. But... an indecisive brother is so lame~ Doesn't brother like Sylphie-nee?"

"I can't respond to her feelings. It would be a betrayal to Eris."

"Huh? I've never heard that brother follows the Milis faith. Eris-nee doesn't either. Is Sylphie-nee a Milis believer?"

"No."

"Then why would it be a betrayal? None of you follow Milis. Even if brother married Sylphie-nee, that wouldn't be a betrayal of Eris-nee."

"That's true... but I..."

The words wouldn't come. I trailed off.

Aisha cut through the silence.

"Brother, think about it this way."

"Mm?"

"What would you do if Sylphie-nee were taken as a wife by someone else?"

I wanted to say it, that as a man, if that was what brought Sylphie happiness, I would wish her well.

But I watched her back as she worked over the stove.

Even just imagining it for a moment sent a sharp ache twisting through my chest.

That ache wasn't false.

It was real. Suffocating. Like a snake coiling tight around my heart.

"I'd feel terrible. I don't think I could accept it."

"See~ Brother has always been someone who doesn't care about anything in the world except his family and the person he loves. I can see that much."

"So...?"

"So be bold, brother. Accept it and go after Sylphie-nee. Eris-nee isn't a narrow-minded person. Write her a letter — she won't blame you for it."

Is that really how it is?

Can my feelings for Sylphie be accepted in this world?

Even when I already have Eris, can I still want Sylphie too?

That's pretty arrogant of me.

And even if Eris agreed, would Sylphie? The idea of her husband having two wives.

But still. A lot had become clearer.

"Thank you, Aisha. I think I've worked some things out."

"You're welcome~ What else are little sisters for?"

"Mm... letting Aisha see her brother's lame side like this. It must have shattered whatever image you had of me."

"Brother has always been someone who acts cool. It's only when he's facing the people he loves that he gets a little clumsy." She smiled. "But even that clumsy side — I really like it. Aisha's always been watching her brother, you know."

She cupped my face in both hands and kissed my cheek.

This really is...

Has Aisha really grown this much? Grown enough to help me sort through something like this.

I didn't think too hard about it. I smiled and ruffled her hair.

"What are you two chatting about? Soup's ready~ I made a late-night snack for Aisha too. Rudy, do you want some?"

Sylphie's voice carried from the kitchen. Aisha and I looked at each other and smiled, then made our way to the table.

"No snack for me. I ate too much at the tavern."

"Is that so? Then it's just Aisha and me. Rudy, you focus on your soup~"

"Mm."

I held the bowl with both hands, drinking slowly, watching Aisha and Sylphie talk about the small things from their day.

Accept it, huh. Yeah.

I like Sylphie. And she likes me.

I drained the bowl and rested my chin on one hand, watching the two of them laugh together.

A confession... that could wait a little longer. First, I'd write a letter to Eris.

And then, let go of some of those heavy thoughts I'd been carrying. Try to simply enjoy this, the happiness right in front of me.

"Rudy? What are you looking at?"

"Mm... just watching you two. Wondering how long this kind of happiness will last."

"It'll last forever, you know."

Sylphie said it with a smile.

She really is such a good girl. So wonderful it almost felt unreal.

"Brother~ Stop overthinking things. Your face is so red, brother really can't handle alcohol, can he?"

"Yeah... I'm going to bed. Thank you for the soup, Sylphie. It was really good."

"If Rudy likes it, you can have it any time."

"Mm. I really do like it. Goodnight, Sylphie. And Aisha."

"Ah... goodnight..."

"Goodnight, brother!"

I went back to my room.

Lay down on the bed and stretched out completely, arms and legs wide open.

Now that I'd figured out how I felt about Sylphie, the weight I'd been carrying all night felt like it had simply dissolved.

"I really do love her..."

➤ Next: Early Morning, the School