Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 82 - Return to Daily Life
A month has passed since I came home.
I bought Paul a house and hired him a maid. He moved in with Zenith and Lilia.
The house is close to mine, just a twenty-minute walk. A decent villa. Norn moved in with them too.
Life has settled back into something ordinary.
.......
Inside the laboratory, Aisha and I channeled magic power into Nanahoshi's experimental Magic Circle.
"Cases....... cases, huh....... I'm very sorry, Rudeus. I don't know of any successful treatment cases either. At least, none of the books I've read mention one."
"It's fine. I wasn't holding out much hope to begin with."
"Yeah......"
Nanahoshi's research seemed to have made significant progress thanks to Aisha's help earlier. Not surprising. Aisha is a genius in every sense of the word.
"Brother."
"Hm?"
"Ah...... let's talk about it when we get back."
"Alright."
I didn't know what she wanted to say, but she was probably treating Nanahoshi as an outsider.
Calling her an outsider....... that's a bit strong. Nanahoshi's place in my heart is not small. She's one of the few people I can bring my real troubles to, and the same is true for her with me.
After finishing up with Nanahoshi's experiment, Aisha and I walked home together.
We stepped out of the school gates. I asked.
"So, what did you want to say earlier?"
"Mmm~"
Aisha struck a thoughtful pose, humming and stalling for a long moment.
"Promise you won't get mad, okay?"
"Have I ever gotten angry at you?"
"That's true. Okay, I'll say it."
She took a deep breath, like someone who had been working up to this for a while.
"Sylphie-nee and Roxy-nee have been waiting for Brother all this time. Zenith-mama probably wouldn't want to see Brother throwing away his own happiness for her sake either......."
After she spoke, Aisha stole quiet glances at me for a while.
I spaced out for a moment.
Just a moment. My heart didn't waver.
Because this is something that has to be done.
"Aisha, I've already made a promise with them."
"A promise? Can you tell me?"
"Yeah. The promise is....... give me two years. I'll try to cure Mother within those two years. Whether I succeed or not, I'll marry them when the two years are up. One wedding, four people."
"Four people....... uh...... Eris-nee is the main wife, right?"
"There's no such thing as a main wife. If I had to pick, it would probably be Roxy. She's the oldest."
"Brother knows that's not what I meant......."
Aisha pouted. I couldn't help reaching over to ruffle her hair.
"Besides....... I'm happy right now. Genuinely."
"As long as Brother is happy."
"I mean it. That comes from the bottom of my heart."
Back home, noise reached me before I even stepped inside.
The two maids seemed to be teaching Roxy how to cook. Sylphie came to meet me with a smile.
"Welcome back~ The bath is ready. Would Rudi like to wash up together with Aisha?"
"No need. Last time was a special occasion, a reunion after a long time apart. Aisha's grown up already......."
"We're bathing together! Brother lost an arm and he's still trying to act tough!"
Before I could say anything else, Aisha grabbed my hand and dragged me into the bathroom.
How should I put it....... in Aisha's eyes, me missing an arm has apparently turned me into someone who can't be trusted to function on his own.
After enjoying Aisha's back-scrubbing service, I washed her hair in return.
When we came out, Roxy was still in the kitchen. Sylphie had gone in to help as well.
Why does making dinner look like they're waging a war.......
Out of curiosity, I walked over.
"Ah! Rudi, you're done already?"
Roxy looked up, surprised.
"I've been done for a while now."
"Oh, oh...... welcome back! Um...... I made dinner....... well...... Sylphie and the maids helped a lot....... but....... I......."
I glanced over at the two maids. They read the room and quietly stepped out.
I walked up to Roxy and wrapped my one arm around her.
She's so small. It was easy.
"Thank you, Roxy-sensei. For making dinner for me."
I kissed her on the forehead.
Then I crossed to Sylphie and did the same.
.......
At the dinner table, I ate what Roxy had made.
Was it good.......?
Honestly, it was average. But knowing Roxy had worked hard on it made my chest feel warm.
"By the way, Rudi."
"Hm?"
"I'm starting work in a couple of days. At the Magic University."
"Oh! Roxy-sensei's lessons are going to open a lot of minds."
"Stop flattering me....... I don't even know yet if they'll take me seriously as a teacher."
"If anyone dares disrespect Roxy-sensei, I'll deal with them personally."
"Oh? Then I'll be counting on Rudi."
I glanced over. Sylphie was watching the two of us with a quiet smile.
Come to think of it....... did Sylphie have anything she wanted to do?
Looking back, I realized I didn't know what her hobbies or interests were. I knew she loved me, and I loved her. That was all I knew.
Hm......
After dinner, I went out to the yard.
Aisha was watering and tending to her peculiar plants.
"What is it, Brother?"
She didn't even turn around, and she already knew it was me.
"Nothing important."
"Hm?"
"I just wanted to ask. Do you know if Sylphie has any hobbies? Anything she's into?"
"Sylphie-nee........"
Aisha thought it over, then turned to face me.
"Hm...... probably not. It seems like she just puts everything she has into loving Brother."
"That......."
Unhappy about it? No, I was happy. Of course I was.
But how could a person have no hobbies at all?
Aisha liked strange things. Roxy liked teaching. Eris liked swinging a sword. Paul....... liked women.
Everyone needs something they love to keep going, don't they?
"I know what's bothering Brother. But think about it."
"Hm?"
"What are your hobbies, Brother?"
"I......."
My hobbies?
In this world......
If researching magic counted, then I supposed I had one?
"See~ Brother couldn't even answer right away. So you can't really blame Sylphie-nee."
"Sylphie-nee has dealt with discrimination her whole life because of her hair. During the Teleport Incident, she had to work alone as a mage. With something like that weighing on her since childhood, she probably never had the chance to develop any interests to begin with."
Aisha's words left me with nothing to say.
Because she was right.
"You're right....... I wasn't thinking."
"Well, instead of asking me, why not just ask Sylphie-nee directly? I'm going to go feed Domi."
I watched her go, then turned and headed back inside.
Sylphie was at the sink washing dishes. Roxy was in the bath.
I walked into the kitchen and put my arm around Sylphie from behind.
"Rudi?"
Her voice was soft. She didn't pull away.
Her hands stilled over the dishes, like she was waiting to see what came next.
I leaned close to her ear.
"Sylphie, is there anything you like? Anything you want?"
"That's sudden. What brought this on?"
"You're always here at home. Cooking, doing laundry, taking care of things. Isn't there anything else you want to do for yourself?"
A moment of silence.
Then Sylphie tilted her head back to look at me.
"If there's something I want to do, will Rudi really say yes?"
"Of course."
"Rudi......."
Her voice was gentle. She lifted both hands, cupped my face, and kissed me.
A full minute passed before she let go, leaving me a little breathless.
"What I want...~ is Rudi's child. Raising them would be my hobby."
"That......."
In my plans....... no, in my schedule.......
Sex had been pushed to after the two-year mark.
Not because I didn't want it. But there was always a voice.
[Before Zenith wakes up, do you really deserve this kind of happiness?]
Or to put it another way: after spending two years working toward Zenith's recovery, whether it worked or not, I figured I'd finally be able to accept happiness with a clear conscience.
And in all of that, it had never once crossed my mind how Sylphie and Roxy might feel.
"It's alright, Rudi. I know what you're thinking. I'm not in a hurry."
"I love you, Sylphie."
"I love you too. When Roxy comes out, give her a kiss for me, okay?"
"Mm."
So the question of Sylphie's hobbies got quietly left behind after all.
➤ Next: Return to Daily Life 2