Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 87 - One Day, Eris

At the Holy Land of Swords, two people were seeing off a red-haired girl.

"Girl" might be too generous a word. Her figure could hardly be called that anymore.

Taut muscles. A full chest. A tall, commanding frame. If not for the fierce look she wore and the rumors that followed her name, she would have been exactly the kind of woman most men spent their nights dreaming about.

"You think... Rudeus will like me like this?"

She examined herself, uncertain. The gap between who she was and who she had become was just too wide.

In her own estimation, she didn't have much feminine charm left. The sword calluses on her palms, the muscle packed onto her frame, the height that bore no resemblance to the girl she once was, everything about her had changed. She genuinely didn't know if Rudeus would look at all of it and stop liking her.

And then there was the matter of the letters. She already knew Rudeus had two fiancées. As for why they were fiancées rather than wives, his explanation had made her absolutely glow.

[I thought the wedding should be for all four of us together.]

One sentence. That was all it took. After reading it, she had no doubts whatsoever about Rudeus having two fiancées.

Besides, she knew Sylphie. And she'd heard Rudeus mention Roxy more times than she could count.

So in the end, her only uncertainty was about herself.

"Don't worry, Eris-san. With how you look now, how could that scumbag Rudeus not like you~"

Isolte's tone carried just enough of an edge to be deliberate.

"Rudeus is not a scumbag!"

"Okay, okay, he's not, he's not~ But he did already have you, Eris, and still ended up with two fiancées."

"That's because I wasn't by his side! Rudeus gets lonely too!"

"I know, I know — don't you dare start swinging!"

Eris had already begun rolling up her sleeve for a [sword technique exchange]. Isolte folded immediately.

"Honestly... the moment anyone mentions her man, this is what we get."

"Hmph. That's what you get for badmouthing Rudeus."

Eris crossed her arms over her chest and looked down at her from a position of pure superiority.

Isolte knew Eris wasn't a bad person. When it came to Rudeus, she just lost all capacity for critical thought. Still, she felt like she owed it to her friend to say something.

She turned it over in her mind for a moment, then spoke.

"Hmm... does that even count as badmouthing? I'm just worried my friend might get played."

"How could Rudeus possibly play me!"

"Think about it. You're incredibly strong now. Isn't it possible he wants to use your strength?"

"Impossible! Rudeus is way stronger than me anyway. And I became strong for him in the first place, even if he does use me, I don't care!"

Eris looked completely unbothered, waving the concern away like it was nothing.

"Honestly... I've got nothing left to say."

Isolte pressed her hand to her forehead and shook her head.

Nina, who had been watching all of this with undisguised amusement, grinned.

"So Eris, when you go back — are you marrying Rudeus right away?"

"Yeah! He already said so in his letter. Once I'm back, we're holding the four-person wedding!"

Eris drifted into that familiar daydream expression. Nina and Isolte glanced at each other and smiled.

"What about us, then? We're not invited?"

Eris turned to look at them both.

Over the years at the Holy Land of Swords, things had been rocky with Nina at the start, but once that friction was settled, the three of them had gotten along more easily than Eris would have expected. These two were, honestly, her only friends here.

That thought made her nod without hesitation.

"Of course! Nina, Isolte — come with me! Come to my wedding!"

"Oh... I might..."

Nina wavered. Isolte shook her head straight away.

"I can't leave. My training isn't done. But Nina should be able to get away for a bit, right?"

"Probably... but Eris, are you sure the wedding is happening the second you walk through the door? I can't exactly wait around forever."

Eris thought it over for a moment, then delivered her verdict with all the gravity of a battlefield order.

"Fine. I'll go ahead. When the wedding is set, I'll write you a letter!"

"Can you even write? And do you know how to send a letter?"

"I'll have Rudeus do it!"

"...Fair enough."

With that settled, Eris swung up onto her horse in one easy motion.

"Alright. We're heading out." She glanced back at them. "Nina, Isolte, take care."

Watching her about to ride off, both of them felt it, that small, stubborn pull of not wanting to let go.

They had always treated Eris like a younger sister. Even if this particular younger sister could put either of them on the ground without breaking a sweat.

It was her straightforwardness, really. That honest, uncomplicated nature of hers made them both want to look out for her, even when she didn't need it.

Now she was leaving to go find her happiness. The least they could do was wish her well.

Nina and Isolte smiled.

"Yeah. You have to be happy, okay."

"Lord Milis may not give his blessing, but I will. Eris-san, may everything in your life together be wonderful."

Eris turned to where Ghislaine sat ready on her own horse.

"Ghislaine. Time to go."

"Yeah." Ghislaine's gaze carried something quiet and distant. "It's been a long time since I've seen Rudeus myself. I need to ask him for a favor while we're at it."

"A favor? What kind of favor?"

"I'll talk to him first. If he's willing to help, I'll tell you then, Lady Eris."

"Oh~"

Eris was in far too good a mood to let that little mystery bother her.

The two of them rode out at a brisk pace, leaving the Holy Land of Swords behind.

➤ Next: A Day, Aisha