Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 102 - Operation 1 — The Conversation

One and a half years later

......

Inside the Student Council room, I held the report Luke had handed me and read through it, murmuring to myself.

"Supporting infrastructure and economic development in impoverished regions... Rudeus Greyrat."

My fingers tapped lightly on the desk. I closed my eyes and thought.

This charity organization Rudeus founded had been running for a year and a half now. The places he'd visited had genuinely seen improvement...

But could it really be that simple? Where was Rudeus Greyrat getting the money to help all these people?

And most importantly, he'd actually made contact with my elder brother. Could it be he'd chosen Gravel Zafin as well...

If so, everything I'd done these past few years would have been nearly for nothing. Even with Perugius's support, it would be futile.

Damn it. If I just had one more year. If I could have made use of Norn...

Do I really have to resort to threatening him with his sister? I couldn't shake the feeling that was absolutely not a good choice.

"Luke, have the cities and nations in this report that received his aid truly improved?" I asked, brow furrowed.

Luke lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

"Yes. At least we haven't discovered any other issues."

"What exactly did he do?"

"Very simple. Give money to the poor, free slaves, suppress the local nobility, force lords to lower taxes."

"And the nobles didn't resist?"

Luke shook his head.

"They did resist. But Rudeus himself and the guards around him are absurdly powerful. Normally they'd only take two-thirds of a noble's property — but if anyone resisted, they were executed outright and everything was confiscated."

"What's Father's reaction?"

"No reaction..."

Hmm. No reaction.

That was understandable, I suppose.

Father was about to abdicate, and the nobles' influence had grown too strong. Now someone had suddenly appeared to offer timely assistance without harming the nation's interests, since the money ultimately returned to the people's hands. That was a good thing for Father, and for me.

Though... for my eldest brother, it was a different story.

Hmm?

Why was that?

What exactly was Rudeus trying to do?

"...That being the case, he shouldn't be on my eldest brother's side."

"Correct. But there's a strong possibility he has other motives. Among the cities that have received his aid, several have experienced riots. Cause unknown."

"Unknown? How could the cause be unknown?"

"To be precise — uncertain. Among those rioters, some joined the marches because their lives hadn't improved much after Rudeus left. Some acted out of pure greed, wanting more even after conditions improved. And most importantly, the commoners in those areas have almost all begun to resent the nobility."

"That could actually be a good thing... And what about Rudeus's reputation?"

"Still excellent. Even when these rioters are arrested, they don't blame Rudeus. Their unified line is: 'Irresponsible nobles deserve execution by the people.'"

"Hmm..."

Rudeus's existence was a good thing for me.

But...

Inciting opposition between commoners and nobles, what was he after?

Didn't they say he'd made contact with Gravel Zafin? If he kept doing this, Darius's reputation would slowly erode. What was the point of making contact in the first place? Was it completely meaningless?

The nobles were wavering now. Because of Rudeus, the ones siding with the First Prince had grown even more tightly united, afraid of being rounded up and purged. Meanwhile, the nobles on my side were growing fearful of Darius's power and unsettled by Rudeus's ambiguity...

Infuriating. If Rudeus hadn't made contact with the First Prince, Perugius's support alone would have been enough. I would have become queen.

"Tsk..."

I clicked my tongue at the report and felt whatever remained of my royal composure quietly dissolving.

"Hmm~ Troubled, are we?"

A crisp, bright female voice reached my ears.

The voice was charming. It felt like a devil's murmur.

In an instant, Luke had his sword drawn.

I raised my head.

Wine-red hair, long and loose. A figure with fine curves, not particularly tall. A longsword at her waist.

"Aisha Greyrat..."

It came back to me now. The philanthropist Rudeus always kept three bodyguards at his side. One confirmed to be Eris Greyrat. Another with green hair who claimed to be of the Superd race. And one who had always been veiled.

A year and a half ago, Aisha Greyrat had withdrawn from school.

I steadied myself. I needed to seize the initiative.

"Did Rudeus send you here? How did you get in?"

"So many questions~"

Aisha ignored Luke entirely and walked straight toward me.

"Stay away from Lady Ariel!"

Luke swung his sword at her. Aisha didn't even glance at him. She simply mouthed two words.

Magic activated instantly. Luke froze solid.

"What do you think you're doing?"

I kept my voice level.

"Relax, relax. It's not lethal magic. I just want only you to see this letter. My brother wouldn't even let me read it, after all."

Aisha pulled a letter from her pocket and held it out to me.

"You two..."

I didn't open it right away. I tried to draw something out of her first.

But Aisha had no intention of playing along. Before I could get a word in, she raised one finger and cut me off.

"Read the letter before you talk to me. You have two minutes. I don't know how long your little knight here can stay frozen."

I sighed. This wasn't a situation where I could afford to deliberate. I opened the letter and read.

"I will help you become queen. Afterward, the right to dispose of criminals goes to me. Do not inquire about any of the slaves who disappear."

Huh?

One short sentence.

I read it again.

It was a good while before I murmured.

"This... is real...?"

"Hmm? If my brother wrote it, it's real."

"Why? Why help me? Just for this? The price is far too small..."

Aisha's eyes lit up.

"What? Did my brother mention some kind of deal?"

"Uh..."

I realized I'd said too much. I shifted course.

"Can you undo the magic first?"

"Oh, right. Almost forgot."

Aisha snapped her fingers. The magic dissolved.

Luke gasped for air, eyes wide, taking in the feeling of still being alive.

After a moment, he seemed to remember something and called out.

"Lady Ariel! Are you..."

"I'm fine."

"That's good..."

He exhaled. Then he remembered Aisha Greyrat.

He turned and fixed her with a hard stare.

I spoke first.

"Luke. You are not to treat our ally like that."

"Al... ly?"

"Yes. Aisha Greyrat and Rudeus Greyrat are now our allies."

After all... this was my last lifeline.

Aisha watched the exchange with quiet amusement.

"The deal my brother mentioned," she said. "What is it?"

There was no bluffing my way through this. I spoke directly.

"Since you're Rudeus's sister, I'll tell you. He wants the right to dispose of all criminals in the prisons. And no one is to ask about any slaves who disappear."

"All of them?"

"Yes."

Aisha nodded without pressing further and moved straight on.

"Lady Ariel intends to secure Perugius's support, correct?"

"Correct."

"Hmm~ If Perugius ends up refusing you, we have a fallback plan."

"There's another option?"

"Of course. If Perugius refuses, my brother and I will step in and kill every noble and royal who opposes you."

"That..."

It was a method, no question. With no opposition, my ascension would be a foregone conclusion.

But even if those nobles were foolish and hidebound, eliminating them all at once would bring the nation to a halt. My plan had always been to purge them one by one after taking the throne.

"Alright, it's just a fallback. Don't overthink it. Perugius will support you."

"Very well..."

"Set out next week. Get Perugius to back your ascension."

With that, Aisha glanced at Luke, then at me.

"Just to check — is this your only bodyguard?"

"At present... yes."

Aisha clicked her tongue and muttered under her breath.

"Tsk... exactly like my brother said... Honestly..."

A beat of quiet. Then she raised her head.

"For this journey, I'll serve as your bodyguard. Until Perugius agrees to support you."

"Thank you!"

I had no objection whatsoever to powerful reinforcement. My current combat strength was essentially nothing.

Out of curiosity, I asked.

"Miss Aisha, are you a mage?"

"Mage and swordsman both."

"Voiceless casting, like your brother?"

"No. I've just shortened the incantations considerably."

"I see."

"I'm very strong. With me protecting you, the only person in this world who could kill you would be... hmm... Dragon God Orsted."

I paused briefly. I didn't know how powerful the Dragon God was, but he was a figure who existed only in legend.

She was probably exaggerating. Inflating her strength to reassure me.

"That is truly... reassuring."

"Good. So your little knight here doesn't need to come along on this trip. He's unnecessary."

She glanced at Luke with clear disdain.

Why make that demand?

Was she worried he might be a spy?

I cleared my throat.

"Although Luke isn't as strong as you, Miss Aisha..."

"I'm enough to protect you. Having outsiders around makes me uneasy."

That sentence was a lit fuse.

Luke, who had been holding his tongue, finally spoke.

"I know I'm not as strong as you, Aisha Greyrat. But you're calling me an outsider? I have been loyal to Lady Ariel for more years than I can count. And you, who have barely exchanged a word with us, dare to call me..."

"Enough, Luke."

He stopped.

I pressed two fingers to my brow.

"Miss Aisha, I can personally guarantee that Luke is absolutely on my side. So..."

"It's not your nobles' and royals' petty politics I'm worried about. It's just... hmm..."

Aisha considered for a moment. Then she pulled a bracelet from her pocket and tossed it to Luke.

"Put it on. It carries my sensory magic. If there is a single moment on this road where I sense you've removed it, in that instant, your head leaves your body."

Luke picked up the bracelet. He hesitated. Then he put it on.

He didn't know what the magic did. But his only goal was to remain at Lady Ariel's side.

"One more question. If your father supported the First Prince — what would you do?"

"How could that ever happen! My father absolutely supports Lady Ariel!"

"I said if."

"I would... continue to serve Lady Ariel. Even if my father switched sides."

"Remember what you said, Luke Notos Greyrat."

➤ Next: Operation 3, Ruijerd