Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 79 - The Return Journey

The return journey. Because we didn't want anyone finding out about the teleportation circle, Paul handled the entire route himself.

The whole way, Sylphiette and Roxy looked after me with an attentiveness that was almost too much.

Even having lost my right hand, I might actually be happier now than I was before. Of course, if only Zenith hadn't ended up like this...

"Not bad."

Paul's voice came out of nowhere.

I turned. He'd already climbed onto the carriage.

"Hm?"

"You're starting to look a bit like your father."

"Heh..."

"So. Are you going to marry both of them?"

Paul was gazing into the distance, where Roxy and Sylphiette were picking wild fruit by the lake.

What was he thinking? He was my father, after all.

"What if I said there's also Eris?"

"Hm? That noble young lady?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my... I won't say a word about it. But when your mother wakes up, she's definitely going to give you an earful. Hahaha..."

The laugh at the end held a trace of loneliness. It was hard to watch.

But I couldn't bring myself to promise something like I will cure Mother myself, because right now I hadn't thought of any way to do it. Not a single one.

I hate being the kind of person who carelessly hands out hope.

"Once we're home, I'll buy a house and hire some servants to help care for Mother. Or would you rather we all live together?"

"Do you still have enough money for that?"

"Of course. I have enough to buy a house."

"Then help me buy one... I'm sorry your father is such a useless man."

"It's just money."

"Haha..."

Paul laughed, awkward and hollow. That confident expression he used to wear — I hadn't seen it in a long time.

What was he feeling right now? Guilt? Shame? Something else entirely?

"When will the wedding be? If you're planning to take three wives, you'd better start preparing soon."

"Still a long way off..."

"Hey, hey, don't turn into an irresponsible man. You were the one who lectured me about this, remember?"

"Yeah. And it's precisely because I want to be responsible to them that I have to wait..."

"Rudeus. What are you thinking?"

Paul had gone serious. The shift was sudden.

Should I tell him?

We'd been on the road for 2 months now. Judging by how Paul had been lately, he'd probably already accepted the possibility that Zenith might never wake up, even if a sliver of hope still remained.

Hm...

"I'm thinking I'll get married after I cure Mother."

"Hm... Huh? You're serious?"

"Yeah. That's what I'm saying. But I have no leads right now, none at all. Please don't get your hopes up too much, Father."

"I understand... but... I still hope you'll marry soon. I'm glad you feel this way. I am. But I don't want to see my son spend his whole life running himself ragged for his parents."

Paul scratched the back of his head, wearing that awkward smile.

So that was what he was thinking.

He was right. When I looked back, almost everything I'd done had been for Zenith's sake. From the Teleport Incident up until this very moment, I had been moving for her.

I had no complaints about that. Acting for my own mother wasn't something worth complaining about.

But as my father, how did Paul see it?

His son had been knocked unconscious by him and sent off as a Home Tutor for the family's sake. After the Teleport Incident, his son had trusted him and gone searching for other family members first. In the years since they'd reunited, his son had been running himself ragged for his wife, and had even lost an arm in the process.

His guilt was only natural.

"Yeah. I'll make them happy."

There were so many things I could have said. What came out was that one plain sentence.

"I just wish for your happiness even more, Rudeus."

I hadn't expected Paul to say something like that. I was a little stunned.

The silence that settled was a strange one. Then Sylphiette and Roxy climbed back onto the carriage, arms full of wild fruit.

"Alright. I'll leave you to it."

"Yeah."

Paul dropped down from our carriage and walked toward the one where Zenith was sitting.

"Rudeus? What did Mr. Paul talk to you about?"

Roxy fed a piece of wild fruit into my mouth as she asked.

A bit sour...

"We talked about the future. And I told him — I'm going to marry you both."

"Eh...?"

Roxy's hand froze in midair.

Her cheeks flushed deep red, fast.

Sylphiette's reaction was considerably calmer by comparison.

"Rudeus, did Uncle Paul agree?"

"Yeah. He said he wishes us happiness."

"Mm-hmm? Will Rudeus make us happy?"

"Of course."

I reached out and wrapped my arm around Sylphiette's waist, rested my chin against Roxy's forehead, and kissed it.

"Honestly, you're getting more and more practiced at this, Rudeus. Did you get used to having a girl on each arm back during your adventurer days?"

"Indeed... Rudeus really is... a little frivolous..."

It was one thing for Sylphiette to say that. But even Miss Roxy was chiming in?

Do I really come across as that frivolous?

"Rudeus, when will we get to meet Miss Eris?"

It was Roxy who asked.

"You know about Eris already?"

"Mm. Sylphiette told me quite a lot about Miss Eris. And I've heard rumors about her over the years, so I already have a fairly clear picture of her."

"Er... what are you two planning to do when you meet her?"

"Nothing in particular. She's Rudeus's first wife, which makes Sylphiette and me the concubines, doesn't it? There are certain things that need to be sorted out..."

I glanced down at Sylphiette. She seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Was this the feudal logic of another world?

I sighed quietly and spoke.

"There's no first wife or second wife. Your places in my heart are equal. When Eris comes back, we'll hold one wedding, all four of us together."

"Eh?!"

"Rudeus..."

The shock on their faces was genuine. And incredibly cute.

I truly hated having only one hand right now. I couldn't pull both of them in at once.

"My love for you is the same. Don't you want that?"

"I want it... I do... but won't Miss Eris be angry?"

Roxy twirled a strand of hair around her finger, murmuring.

"She'll agree. Don't worry. Eris hasn't been the way those old rumors described for a long time."

"Oh..."

It seemed Roxy had accepted it.

"Rudeus~"

Sylphiette, nestled against me, said my name, and then she suddenly tilted her head up, eyes closed.

Ah...

Instinctively, I kissed her.

"I love you, Sylphiette."

"Me too."

After kissing Sylphiette, I looked over at Roxy beside me, her face bright red.

She caught my gaze. She fidgeted, shifting in place, restless but not pulling away. Something in her eyes said she wasn't entirely opposed to what came next.

"Ah... um... well... I haven't brushed my teeth these past couple of days... Ah, of course I'm not saying my mouth smells! I just..."

I didn't let her finish. I pulled her in with my arm and kissed her.

The taste of wild fruit.

➤ Next: Unexpected Acquaintance — Face to Face