Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 113 - Eris and the Girls' Night
Nighttime. The weekly Girls' Night.
We'd had to push it back because of the Asura Kingdom business. But now that the dust had settled, we called it the very next day.
Sprawled across the bed, the three of us talked about Rudeus.
Though...
"Eris~"
Sylphie's voice was gentle. But to my ears, it carried a certain weight.
It's just my imagination...
"What is it...?"
"Hmm, nothing much. It's just that Roxy and I have both been feeling like Rudy is exhausted lately. You were with him in Asura Kingdom, Eris. You must know something, right?"
"N-no! I don't know anything..."
After I answered, Roxy reached out and patted my head.
Her tone was gentle. Like a teacher with a student.
"Eris~ I know Rudy must have asked you not to say anything. But do you know how sad and heartbroken that makes us feel?"
"Mm..."
"We're family. Of course I know Rudy stayed quiet because he didn't want us to worry. But... we don't want him shouldering things alone."
They must have already tried asking Rudeus themselves.
Rudeus isn't like me. He would have handled it smoothly, talked his way around it without a crack...
But. Just like Roxy said.
Even if it's to protect us from worry, lying to his own wives isn't right...
If Rudeus ever deceived me, even for my own good, I would be devastated.
"Is it something you can't talk about?"
Sylphie's voice, still gentle, nudged me again.
"No... it's not that..."
"It's okay, Eris. Tell us. Whatever it is, we all love Rudy the same. Don't we?"
"Mm..."
------
I told them. Everything Rudeus had been doing.
Roxy's and Sylphie's expressions shifted as I spoke, the softness gradually giving way to something more serious.
My chest tightened. Would I be the one who broke the family apart...
Would Rudy resent me for this...
"Eris."
Roxy reached out and covered the back of my hand.
Sylphie reached out too, her fingers brushing lightly against my cheek.
"We won't tell Rudy that you told us any of this. So please — don't make that face anymore, okay?"
I looked up. Sylphie and Roxy were both smiling.
"So that's how it is~ Rudy is probably scared we'd blame him?"
"Very likely. He always wants to look like a perfect, radiant husband in front of us~"
"Still... magic that experiments on people..." Roxy murmured. "It does sound rather sinister. Even if it was only criminals and people who'd already chosen to die."
She said it with a slight frown, but her expression was more curious than horrified.
Sylphie's voice stayed gentle.
"According to what Eris said, every time Rudy does an experiment, he has to experience someone else's memories firsthand..."
"No wonder he's worn out..."
I watched the two of them, brows furrowed in concern, and felt something stir in my chest.
Maybe...
"Should we... call Rudeus in?"
They both looked at me.
Mm...
Just say what you're thinking.
"Let's have Rudeus tell us himself. Even though I promised him I'd keep it secret..."
"But...! But! We're his lovers. We're his family. We should be worrying together, laughing together — that's how it should be... isn't it...?"
I lifted my head when I finished.
Sylphie and Roxy were both smiling.
"Eris is right. We shouldn't be huddled here figuring out how to help Rudy behind his back. We should just talk to him."
"Mm-hmm. Keeping it all inside can't be good for him either. We just need to let him know we don't mind at all." Roxy straightened, a flicker of conviction crossing her face. "And it's about time this teacher made her authority known!"
------
"Hm? Isn't today Girls' Night?"
"It is. And precisely because it's Girls' Night — we talked it over at length before deciding to let you in, Rudy."
Roxy's expression was stern. It made me unconsciously sit up a little straighter on the bed.
This is a bit unusual... a serious atmosphere with my wives, in bed.
"Mm... my beloved ones. Is something the matter?"
"Rudy~ shouldn't you be confessing something first?" Roxy said, holding her teacher's posture.
"Mm... I had no contact with any women in Asura Kingdom. The only exception was putting on a performance with Princess Ariel at the very end."
"Rudy... you know perfectly well that's not what we mean."
"Is there anything else?"
"Eris told us everything."
Hm? Eris told them everything.
The experiments...
I turned my gaze toward Eris.
Our eyes met. Eris immediately looked down, flustered.
Well. Can't be helped. That's just how Eris is.
I smiled.
"Everything is already prepared. I won't be doing those experiments anymore."
"Really?" That was Sylphie.
"Of course. I only needed a handful of cases."
Sylphie nodded and took my hand in hers.
"Rudy, we believe you... but... just like Eris said, I want us to worry together."
"We're so happy to be your wives. But we don't only want to share in the good times. If our husband is suffering and there's nothing we can do about it, that hurts us too..."
I opened my mouth to respond.
Before I could get a word out, Roxy reached up and tapped my forehead with one finger.
"Rudy~ your reasoning was definitely 'if I tell my wives, I'll only burden them.' That's why you said nothing. Am I right?"
"Mm..."
"But that kind of thinking doesn't account for us at all. That's a form of arrogance, Rudy. Worrying alongside you, that's also something that makes us happy."
"Mm... I'm sorry."
I'd made this mistake before.
Once, on the Demon Continent, Aisha and Eris had both seen through me then, seen past the face I was putting on...
Ah...
Right. That's why Eris spoke up.
She really hasn't changed at all.
"Rudeus..."
Eris's small, uncertain voice pulled me back.
"Hm?"
"Are you... a little angry...?"
"How could I be?"
"But... I..."
She looked like a kitten that had knocked something off a shelf and couldn't decide whether to run.
Her words came out halting, unsure.
It was incredibly adorable.
Actions, then.
"Eris."
"Hm?"
She lifted her head, and I kissed her.
She froze for just a moment, then kissed me back.
When we broke apart, I looked toward my other two wives.
Roxy's cheeks were faintly pink. She didn't say a word.
I drew her into my arms and kissed her too.
Finally, Sylphie. She simply shifted closer and pressed a soft kiss to my cheek.
"Rudy~"
"Hm?"
"Get some rest. Don't push yourself just because the mood calls for it."
Roxy and Eris nodded together.
------
Tonight's Girls' Night. Problem solved.
➤ Next: Good News — Tears Unshed