Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 92 - Returning Home — Tears Unshed

My family stood before Orsted, and not one of their expressions was pleasant.

Mm... not just unpleasant. They were terrified.

Especially Aisha. She looked like she might vomit at any moment.

Orsted didn't say much. I had explained things to them last night. The fear they felt toward Orsted now was the curse at work — though Aisha's fear might have been something else entirely.

He took out a scroll and cast his secret technique on each of my family members.

According to him, it would ward off illness and the Man-God's interference.

I didn't even feel any mana. But I chose to trust him.

He is very strong.

"Alright, Rudeus. Notify me when you're ready to begin your operation."

He left a scroll behind and said nothing else.

Communication magic? How extravagant.

The moment Orsted was gone, everyone in the room exhaled.

Especially Aisha and Paul. Both of them had kept their hands on their swords the entire time.

"Brother... what does he want you to do?"

"It won't be dangerous. Don't worry about it."

I patted Aisha's head. She was sensible enough not to push further.

Paul was the first to recover. He stepped in front of me.

"Rudy."

"Hm?"

"You... are going to work for him?"

"Yes."

Paul clapped me on the shoulder and grinned.

"Come find me if you need help. Your old man isn't done yet."

"I will."

As Paul turned to leave with Lilia and Zenith, I spoke up.

"Stay for dinner? I've been missing Lilia-mama's cooking."

Lilia smiled and nodded.

Paul agreed without hesitation. He took Zenith upstairs while Lilia moved to the kitchen and began preparing dinner.

I had dismissed the maids early because of Orsted's visit, so there was no one to help her.

Aisha looked like she had the weight of the world on her mind, but she went to help Lilia anyway.

That left only Roxy, Sylphiette, and me on the living room sofa.

Neither of them had said a word. They simply held on, one on each side, arms wrapped around mine.

Mm... having two arms again really is something.

"Rudy."

Roxy's soft voice drifted into my ear.

"What is it, Teacher?"

"How many times have I told you not to call me that at home... Wait — no! You almost changed the subject, Rudy. What you're about to do next. Is it dangerous?"

Dangerous?

I figured helping Ariel become king wouldn't be that hard. The main obstacle was one noble who had it coming. As for that Water God...

Of every opponent I had faced in this world, only Orsted had ever made me think: this is someone I cannot beat.

He said I would win. So I probably will.

"It won't be that dangerous. Mm... it's helping a princess become king."

"Is that so? Rudy is clever, so it probably won't be hard... but I'm scared you might run into someone really strong..."

"Relax. If I meet someone I can't handle, I can always have Orsted step in."

"That's true... Rudy, Sylphiette and I can help too, you know. Lean on us more."

"I know."

Roxy leaned against my chest and went quiet.

I turned to look at Sylphiette. She hadn't said anything either. She was just holding my right hand, the one that had only recently grown back.

She lifted her head. Our eyes met.

"Rudy."

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I do too... and also..."

The three syllables of "Roxy" never made it out of my mouth.

Something exploded at the front door.

-------

Eris's perspective:

From the Sword Sanctum all the way here. Ghislaine and I spent half a year on the road.

Mm... was it half a year?

I've lost track of how to count dates, and Ghislaine doesn't know either...

Anyway, once we got into the city, finding information about Rudeus at the Adventurer's Guild was easy.

It had been easy the entire way, actually. Because Rudeus is impressive enough that people remember him.

"Ghislaine! Is this how you read the map?"

"Mmm... it should be around here..."

"The guild staff said it was a big mansion. This doesn't look like one at all, does it?"

I stared at the house in front of me. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn't call it a big mansion.

Mm... the standard for a big mansion should be something like the house I grew up in, right?

"Lady Eris, this is what people call a big mansion."

"Really?"

"Yes. The house you grew up in could be described as a castle. Though technically it was also a mansion."

"Huh... so Rudeus lives in there?"

Ghislaine nodded.

"If the guild staff weren't wrong... mm... and if I didn't take a wrong turn anywhere..."

"Too many conditions! Just go knock on the door and we'll find out!"

Walking up to it, it really was quite large. Much bigger than any inn we had stayed at during our adventuring days.

This is the front gate... does Rudeus not have maids?

I pushed the iron gate open and walked through.

"Ghislaine."

"Hm?"

"Mm... how do I look right now?"

I looked down and checked my outfit.

I have no idea what kind of clothes Rudeus likes.

He did say he likes me for who I am... but not making any effort at all seems wrong too...

"Don't worry. Rudeus will like how you look, Lady Eris."

"Really!?"

"Mm... he will..."

I drew my sword.

Ghislaine reacted in the same instant, her hand snapping to the blade at her hip.

White hair. Golden eyes.

Dragon God, Orsted.

He had just... walked out of Rudeus's house.

"Hm? Eris Boreas Greyrat. You're here earlier than expected."

Our eyes locked.

"What did you do to Rudeus!?"

I charged at his back and swung hard.

He didn't even turn around. He caught my sword bare-handed.

I wasn't finished. I twisted my body, drove my foot into his face, then kicked off him to open distance.

"Ghislaine!"

"Understood!"

Ghislaine dropped low and came at him from the side, slashing straight for his head.

I followed right behind, targeting his hand.

Every strike was blocked. I jumped back to create space.

Orsted grabbed my ankle with one hand and sent me flying. His other hand caught Ghislaine's blade, and he put his fist into her stomach in the same breath.

I got back up. Picked up my sword.

The feeling in my chest wasn't the same helplessness as last time. We had a chance.

Ghislaine was still standing. And if Rudeus were here too...

"Eris Boreas Greyrat."

"I've already cast the Boreas name aside!"

"Is that so... Eris Greyrat. I haven't done anything to Rudeus. We're comrades now. Allies."

"How am I supposed to believe that? You're..."

The door to Rudeus's house swung open before I could finish.

"This is..."

Brown-gold hair. Emerald-green eyes. And beneath his left eye, the beauty mark I once kissed.

Rudeus... Rudeus, he... he's really safe.

I lowered my sword. Looked at Orsted. Took a breath, and bowed.

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you."

"The rest is a family matter."

Orsted said that, then vanished with a teleportation spell.

I turned back to Rudeus. For a moment, I couldn't find any words.

Two women stood behind him. The green-haired one was Sylphiette. So the petite girl with blue hair had to be Roxy...

Both of them were exactly as cute as I expected.

I was the one who told Rudeus he could find other women. I said that. But standing here now, seeing it in front of me...

Then Rudeus walked straight toward me.

My mouth opened. Nothing came out.

I had spent the whole journey here thinking about what I would say. I had so many things I wanted to tell him. So why, now that he was right in front of me...

"Ru..."

"Welcome back, Eris."

Rudeus hugged me.

His arms were just as warm as I remembered. As if I had never grown up at all. As if I were still that little girl who needed him for everything.

I looked up. He was a little taller than me now.

I trained to protect Rudeus. That was why.

But right now, I didn't want to protect anyone.

I just wanted to stay here, in his arms.

Just for a little while... it should be okay to let myself be that girl again, right? The one who didn't have to worry about anything.

"Mm... I'm back... Rudeus."

➤ Next: Before the Wedding