Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 76 - Date, Heart's Intent

The day of the date.

We set out early for the market.

Rudy is a serious person. I could feel it just walking beside him through the stalls.

His personality hasn't really changed from when he was little. Still that same earnest, proper quality.

......Maybe that's exactly what I like about him. That mature, steady feeling.

"Rudy, there's a restaurant over there. Want to grab something to eat first?"

"Sure. Teacher, go ahead and order — I'll pick something up from that stall over there."

"Alright."

I also noticed something that wasn't exactly favorable for me.

Rudy......hates the Demon Race.

When we passed stalls or shops, his eyes never lingered on the vendors. And on the rare occasion their gazes met, the disgust in his expression was impossible to hide. Even when he was smiling.

Not fear. Not arrogance. Rudy......simply felt disgust.

He didn't look at me that way, of course. Still......his expression reminded me of something from long ago. A little like the look most humans wore when they cursed the Demon Race.

No......I should stop dwelling on it. It's not as though I can't understand how he feels.

Those years on the Demon Continent, he must have witnessed plenty of greedy demons. That's probably why Rudy sees the Demon Race the way he does.

I finished ordering and waited idly for him to come back.

"Sigh.......forget getting Rudy to fall for me. I'm not even confident he doesn't already dislike me......"

I lay slumped against the table, my mind drifting through all of this without really landing on any of it.

I had already resolved to put Zenith first. And yet I kept thinking about Rudy anyway.

This really can't go on.

"Eep!"

Something cold pressed against my face without warning.

I jolted and turned around. Rudy was back, holding some kind of snack.

"Teacher, what were you thinking about?"

"I was thinking about when you'd come back."

"Is that so? Well, I'm back now. Here, try this — it's made with Ice Magic.....hm? Frozen sweet milk?"

"Yeah!"

I took the snack from his hand, scooped a spoonful, and put it in my mouth.

The taste was genuinely good. But what stayed with me was what Rudy had just done.

So mature and steady, and yet he'll crack exactly the right kind of joke at exactly the right moment. One that makes you relax without even noticing.

So nice. This is my ideal kind of man. Without realizing it, I had almost completely forgotten about the look he'd given the other demons earlier.

The Demon Race has many branches, after all. As long as Rudy doesn't dislike my specific race, it's fine. And honestly, this feeling of being given special treatment made my heart flutter a little.

"Teacher, how is it?"

"Hmm? Oh! It's really good."

I scooped another spoonful into my mouth.

Rudy rested his chin on one hand and watched me, smiling.

I suppose this was meant to be romantic somehow. But being stared at like that was genuinely embarrassing.

On impulse, I scooped up another spoonful and held it out toward his mouth.

I don't know why I did it. And just as I was starting to feel shy enough to pull my hand back, Rudy didn't hesitate at all. He leaned forward and took the spoon.

Well......something like that happened when he was little too. So he probably doesn't mind.

When the food arrived, we talked about the labyrinth between bites.

In moments like that, I slipped back into teacher mode without meaning to.

I couldn't tell whether he genuinely didn't know the answers or was just being considerate, but he listened carefully the whole time.

"By the way, what are you actually doing at the Magic University these days? Still a student?"

"I'm a teacher, actually."

"Hmm? You're teaching there? That's surprising — but then again, you really are incredible, so I suppose it makes sense......"

"It's not that I'm especially impressive. Teacher Roxy's letter of recommendation did most of the work. And I barely teach classes as it is."

"Hmm~ Even I had to sit an exam to teach there. I know better than anyone whether my own recommendation letter would carry that kind of weight."

Rudy smiled and let the subject drop.

After we finished eating, we left the restaurant.

Moving through the market, almost everything Rudy bought was books.

Lots of them about Magic Circles. Even though Rudy doesn't need incantations to cast.

"Teacher, what do you plan to do after this is all over?"

He asked it casually, mid-stride.

What I plan to do......Honestly, I hadn't known before. But nearly dying had a way of clarifying things. Maybe stability and happiness were what I actually wanted.

"I'll probably become a teacher at the Magic University too. That's something of a dream of mine."

And of course, I'd like to try marrying you too.

That part I kept to myself.

"Being Teacher Roxy's student would be an honor for whoever ends up in that classroom."

"Don't get my hopes too high. With my build, showing up to teach at a university would probably just get me laughed at."

"It won't. The students there are decent enough not to do something that tasteless. And besides, I don't think there's anything wrong with Teacher's build at all. It's very cute."

C......cute.

Is that so? Well. I am actually......fairly cute, when I think about it......but still......

"Rudy, do you say things like that to every girl you meet?"

I stood on my tiptoes and pressed one finger against his nose as I said it.

"Of course not. I'm just telling the truth."

"I......is that so......mm......"

Could it really be like Elinalise said? That Rudy might actually like this type?

I clenched my fists and lifted my head.

"Ru-Rudy! After all this is over, how about I come to Sharia Magic University as a teacher too?"

Rudy nodded without a moment's pause and broke into a smile.

"Of course. When we get there, just stay at my place. I bought a house near the university."

"W-would that really be alright?"

"Teacher, I still remember what I told you. You will always be my teacher, and my family. My home is your home."

Something about that felt......slightly off.

Isn't Rudy's respect toward me just a little too thorough.......?

At this rate, how is any of this supposed to develop into the romantic scenario I actually want......

Right, Elinalise said it once: as long as a man reacts to physical contact, there's still hope.

Worth a try.

I grabbed Rudy's hand without any buildup, and immediately felt my own face going red.

Rudy's reaction wasn't dramatic. He seemed startled for just a moment, then he understood, and his hand closed around mine.

Does that count as a reaction? It counts, right!? I'm asking Elinalise about this the moment I get back!

"Teacher?"

"Ah......I.....um......I just......wanted to hold your hand like I used to when you were little?"

"I haven't really changed."

Rudy said it simply, and didn't let go.

The rest of what was supposedly a date went like that. Rudy holding my hand as we wandered through stall after stall.

Gradually, the embarrassment faded. Or rather, I stopped thinking about it entirely.

It wasn't until we got back to the inn that we finally let go.

I looked down at my hand, the one that had been held for an entire afternoon, and turned the day over in my mind.

Nothing that happened was especially remarkable. None of it.

But I was so happy.

Of course I was.

I love the Rudy of right now.

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