Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 99 - Love, Roxy — What Was Lost

After class, I headed to the entrance of Roxy's classroom and waited for her final lesson to end.

I poked my head around the doorframe and stole a glance inside.

Roxy was wearing the glasses I use at home — the pair with the magical enhancement. Those glasses, paired with her serious teaching expression, were almost unbearably adorable.

Mm.....

I ended up listening attentively through the entire second half of the lesson.

I have to say, Teacher Roxy is still Teacher Roxy. Her instruction quality hasn't dropped one bit from before.

......

"Rudy~"

"Good work today."

Roxy didn't bother with any pretense. The moment class ended, she jogged straight over to me.

Marriage had made her bolder. A lot bolder.

Right there in front of all her students, she kissed me.

Amid the chorus of startled exclamations, I took her hand and walked her out of the school.

"Rudy~"

"Hmm?"

"What were you looking at just now?"

"Listening attentively to Teacher Roxy's lesson, of course."

"Is that so?"

The corner of her mouth twitched as she pushed her glasses up with one finger.

Alright. I'll admit it.

Roxy wearing glasses was even cuter than I'd imagined. I couldn't explain why, but I really liked it.

"As I thought~"

"Hmm?"

"I noticed it back at home. Rudy really likes the way I look in glasses~"

"Can't deny it."

Roxy let go of my hand.

She slid the glasses off her face and put them on mine.

"Mm......"

"Something wrong?"

"Rudy looks quite handsome in them too. There's an intellectual feel to it."

"Teacher looks adorable in them."

"Just adorable?"

Roxy took the glasses back.

Her smile turned teasing.

"Tonight, Rudy belongs to me~ And my glasses-wearing look is only adorable?"

"Mm..... also very...... beautiful."

"Well~ I know 'beautiful' isn't really a word that fits me."

She put the glasses back on, then lifted both hands to adjust them into place.

"Rudy~ I'll be wearing them tonight, so...... be gentle~"

......

"Rudy...... have you ever been to a brothel?"

Roxy asked that between breaths.

Right now. At night. Entwined with Roxy.

This should have been a tender moment. Somehow it had turned into this.

Are all women like this? One second they love you desperately, the next they're second-guessing you?

Her tone was gentle. Her eyes weren't. That faintly suspicious look made me uncomfortable.

I took a breath and thought it through. There was no reason to panic, because I genuinely hadn't been to one.

"No, I haven't."

Something in Roxy's shoulders relaxed. She leaned into my arms.

"Rudy, do you know why I asked you that?"

"Why?"

"Mm...... because you're very skilled."

Me?

I'm skilled?

The reality is that I'm always the one pinned underneath Miss Eris, like a * being endlessly taken from. On nights with Eris, I always feel like our roles have swapped entirely. She's always the first to give in eventually, but I'm never in much better shape by the end.

And yet in Roxy's eyes, I'm a skilled, capable man?

I pulled her closer.

"You've given me confidence, Roxy."

"Hmm? So Rudy...... can we keep going?"

"Of course."

"This time, no need to be gentle~"

Roxy set her glasses on the bedside table.

......

The night with Roxy was a wonderful night.

➤ Next: Love, Sylphiette — Tears Unshed