Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 68 - The Other Side

"Rudeus Greyrat. Discovered to possess magical talent at age three. Became a Water Saint-rank Mage at five. At seven, took up the position of Home Tutor to Eris Boreas Greyrat. Then came the Teleport Incident at age ten, and he was dropped onto the Demon Continent without warning. He spent over 2 years finding his way back to the Central Continent, bringing with him his younger sister Aisha Greyrat and his then-student Eris Boreas Greyrat. Funded the journey through adventurer commissions. Rose to A-rank in the process. After returning Eris Boreas Greyrat to her homeland, he came back to the Central Continent with his sister and resumed his adventurer work, this time with a single objective: find his mother, Zenith Greyrat. By the end of it, he had reached S-rank Adventurer. His younger sister made A-rank. Not long ago, on the advice of his father and the recommendation of his teacher Roxy Migurdia, he accepted a position at the Magic University......"

Ariel stared at the report. The whole thing felt faintly unreal.

Her fingers tapped a slow rhythm against the desk. Without looking up, she addressed the handsome man standing beside her.

"Luke. Has all of this been verified?"

"Every word. Nothing fabricated."

"Hmm......"

"There's also a rumor. Unconfirmed."

"Oh?" She glanced up. "Let's hear it."

Luke cleared his throat.

"It's said that while Rudeus Greyrat was in Likaris Town on the Demon Continent, someone threatened his younger sister. His response was to unleash Saint-level Magic on the West District. Over a thousand dead. More than 2,000 wounded."

"Ho......" Ariel's eyes sharpened. "Source?"

"A Minotaur. Demon Race. No one believed him. General consensus is that he lost his mind."

"Hmm. Let's treat it as true for now."

She set the documents on the desk.

Closed her eyes.

What would it take to win Rudeus Greyrat over? What did he actually want? What did he lack?

Money? Women? Status? Or......

"Family."

"Princess Ariel?"

"Family." She opened her eyes. "If we want Rudeus Greyrat on our side, that's the only real point of entry."

"But you just said to treat the rumor as true."

"Exactly. So let's think it through." She folded her hands. "He doesn't lack money. He doesn't lack women. Status doesn't seem to interest him at all. And yet he unleashed Saint-level Magic and put over 3,000 innocent people in the ground, all because someone threatened his sister. His sister who, by the way, walked away without a scratch."

"Right. He's a bomb."

"Wrong, Luke." There was something almost fond in her voice. "A man who leaves his weaknesses that exposed is the easiest kind to work with. All he wants is to keep the people he loves safe. Using that couldn't be simpler."

"You mean....... threatening him through his sister?"

Ariel shook her head. She smiled.

"Luke. You weren't this slow before, were you?"

"My apologies."

"Mm~. Not a threat. Both of his sisters are enrolled at this university. That's an enormous advantage for us."

"Do we bring them into the Student Council?"

"Not both of them. Just one." Ariel tapped the document with one finger, light and deliberate, right on the photo. "Norn Greyrat."

"Why not Aisha Greyrat as well? Pulling both of them in would be stronger leverage."

"Hmm......"

Ariel reached for a second report and lifted it.

The header read: Aisha Greyrat.

"That girl......" A pause. "I suspect she'd be harder to handle than her brother."

"I've read her file too. She's talented, I'll grant that. But she's eleven years old."

"Luke. What rank is your swordsmanship?"

"Intermediate."

"Intermediate." Ariel set the report down. "Aisha Greyrat had mastered the Advanced rank of 3 separate sword styles before she turned ten. Her magic was personally taught by her brother and reached Advanced rank as well. At this point, she may already be approaching Water Saint level."

"...Possible."

"So. Do you honestly think a genius like that wouldn't see exactly what we were doing the moment we moved?"

"But she's only eleven......"

"Luke. You don't understand geniuses." Her tone was final. "Aisha Greyrat is not what those files suggest. Not even close."

"That's my failing. Then we move on Norn Greyrat alone. How do we get her into the Student Council?"

Ariel tilted her mouth into a slow smile.

A genius older brother. A genius younger sister. And between them, one ordinary girl, desperate to prove herself with nothing to show for it. What does someone like that want more than anything?

The answer was obvious.

"I believe there's a child from a noble family who supports our faction in Norn Greyrat's class. Have him approach her. Not with recruitment — with questions. Ask for her guidance. Make her feel seen."

"Understood. Do we start immediately?"

"Go notify him now."

Luke offered a short bow and walked out. The door closed behind him.

The real work was just beginning.

Rudeus Greyrat. A mage like that had to be brought to her side. There was no other option.

This was her one chance.

She would not waste it.

➤ Next: The Holy Land of Swords