Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 149 - Aisha Greyrat 5

[I will ride the wind and waves, and reach the other shore]

[Although I don't know what dangers I'll face]

[But I cannot resist the curiosity in my heart. I must go and explore it all]

------

"Aisha, try this one!"

Sarah pulled my hand, steering me through the market stalls while she picked out adventurer robes.

"I don't need one. The one I'm wearing is fine."

"But black-gray doesn't suit you at all."

"Really? I think it looks okay."

Sarah held up a robe with a white base and gold trim in front of my face.

"This is what suits you, Aisha!"

What style is that even supposed to be?

It looked a bit like what the priests in the Holy Country of Milis wear.

I opened my mouth to refuse, and Polina appeared from nowhere, also holding a robe.

"What are you talking about! This one suits Lady Aisha!"

Polina's was also white-based, but with red patterns.

Hah.

"You two. The whole point of an adventurer's robe is wind protection and blending into rough environments. There's no snow here. White is too conspicuous, and why are there decorative patterns on it?"

Polina shot back.

"Lady Aisha has never tried to conceal herself, has she? So wearing something that looks good is better!"

Sarah nodded along.

"This is the first time I've thought Polina isn't completely brainless. Aisha, you really should give it a try."

"What do you mean I have no brains?!"

I slipped away while they started arguing again.

Right now, we were in Shirone Kingdom.

It had been half a year since I started paying attention to that Chino from the Holy Land of Swords.

At night, whenever I felt like it, I'd go beat him up. And he still had to thank me for it.

Felt pretty good, honestly.

The market stalls were all selling fairly plain stuff...

Hm?

"Beautiful lady, see anything you like? Tell the boss here! For your beauty, I'll give you a discount."

"What book is this?"

"Imported straight from Asura Kingdom — [The Truth of the Superd Race], Part One!"

He reached under the counter and pulled out another book.

"[The Legend of Ruijerd], Part Two! You have to read both together! Trust me, if you only read Part One, you'll just feel frustrated. But read them back to back!"

The boss spread both arms wide toward the sky.

A posture of genuine reverence.

"This is a masterpiece for the ages... The author just gets it... That feeling of being crushed down to nothing, and then the explosion..."

"Ho."

I handed him a gold coin and picked up [The Legend of Ruijerd].

Flipped through it casually. Read a few passages at random.

Mm.

Not bad.

There were quite a few exaggerated elements, sure. But it was clever about one thing, it never used an absurdly overpowered opponent as Ruijerd's enemy.

The author had to know some genuinely strong people. Or was one.

Otherwise, the depiction of the enemies in this book wouldn't feel this accurate.

He even had a general grasp of the Seven Great Powers' abilities.

But why Ruijerd as the protagonist?

Did this author really admire him that much?

"Beautiful lady, both books together come to five gold coins."

"Not unreasonable, but I only want one."

I already understood the situation with the Superd Race well enough.

"No! They have to be read together! I won't sell just one!"

"You're really troublesome."

"This was written by the younger sister of Lord Rudeus Greyrat himself. Look right here — the author's name — Norn Greyrat. Isn't that worth five gold coins?"

"Ha?!"

Norn-nee?

Wait, what?

"Haha, sounds like this honored customer is also a fan of Lord Rudeus. Three gold coins. Three gold coins and I'll sell you both."

"You've got a way with words. By the way, how do people in Shirone Kingdom even know about bro, Lord Rudeus?"

"Need you ask! Our King, His Highness Pax Shirone, heard of Lord Rudeus's great deeds and has been promoting and following his example ever since."

"Is that so?"

"Though our country's nobles... well... His Highness the King doesn't quite have what it takes. He can't use overwhelming force to make the nobles submit the way Lord Rudeus did."

The boss's expression darkened for a moment. Then it brightened right back up.

"But! We can feel that the King has us commoners in his heart. Things will keep getting better!"

I handed over five gold coins.

"With these 2 books, you've earned five gold coins. You won't need to open your stall for the next few months."

"You flatter me~ Thank you for your patronage, beautiful lady."

I slipped [The Truth of the Superd Race] into my storage ring, picked up [The Legend of Ruijerd], and started reading as I walked.

Well. Knowing Norn-nee wrote it, I actually wanted to read it properly.

"Aisha!"

"Lady Aisha!"

I'd only taken a few steps before their voices caught up.

Sarah and Polina came running toward me. No robes in their hands this time.

Sarah was carrying a sword. Polina had both arms full of snacks.

Sarah was still catching her breath when she reached me.

"Ha... ha... Aisha, this."

"What is it?"

"I've never actually seen you draw your sword to attack anyone. But I have seen you maintaining it. Even though you've barely fought a handful of times, it's so... um..."

"Beaten to pieces?"

"Yeah... Does that sword mean something to you?"

"Not really. I've always figured a truly strong person fights just as well with anything."

"Oh! That's perfect then! I picked this one out for you. See if you like it."

I took it and held it up against my original scabbard.

Huh.

Perfect fit.

So I drew the wrecked old blade and tossed it to the side of the road without a second thought. Slid the new sword into the scabbard.

That old one had been trained to ruin sparring with Chino. Time for a replacement.

Still, thinking about it...

Chino's growth really was something else.

From getting one-shotted by me when we first started, to now actually holding his own in an exchange.

"Lady Aisha! That was so cool!"

"Very elegant, Aisha."

Mm.

A sense of déjà vu.

I kind of missed those two. The cat and dog idiots.

"Thanks, Sarah."

"Don't mention it~ After a year and a half adventuring together, I've lost count of how many times you've saved us."

Polina cut in.

"That's because the bald old man is out of his mind! Always dragging us into the most dangerous places! Like he's trying to work Lady Aisha into the ground! I'll give him a piece of my mind later!"

"Ah... there's a bald head up ahead. Looks like Bahn."

Sarah's eyes were sharp. That was the scout in her.

Polina's fire flickered out. She just said, "Let's go see what the bald old man is doing."

Sarah let herself get pulled along. I followed behind.

We walked up to the stall.

"Boss, is what you said actually true?!"

"Of course! This aphrodisiac can put even a dragon in heat!"

"No way!"

"Would I lie to you? You drink it and you'll be unstoppable all night. A woman drinks it~ well, you know how it goes."

"Hohoho! Now that's a find! There's treasure even out here!"

Polina kicked him.

Bahn was old, but he was built solid. A small girl like Polina wasn't going to move him.

"Bald old man! What do you think you're doing!"

"Go away, kid. You don't know anything."

"An aphrodisiac? You're actually buying an aphrodisiac?!"

"So what? Do you have any idea how powerless I feel every time I go to a brothel? I spend the coin and it's over in one or two thrusts. What would a woman understand? I need confidence."

Bahn said it with a straight face and bought the aphrodisiac on the spot.

Eight gold coins.

Really not cheap.

Mm.

I stepped up to the counter.

"Boss, one for me too."

"Lady Aisha?!"

"Aisha?!"

"Thank you for your patronage, miss! Your beloved is going to be very happy! And you too, sir!"

I handed over the coins and pocketed the aphrodisiac.

Well.

I might not need it. But having a backup option wasn't a bad idea.

If big brother won't agree on his own, I'd just have to be a little more persuasive.

Bahn let out a loud laugh.

"Aisha, you still have those kinds of feelings for Rudeus?"

"What of it?"

"I wouldn't dare judge. I can only offer my full support."

Polina and Sarah stood there, mouths open, not saying a word.

I'd never tried to hide it anyway.

I gave a small nod and looked back at Bahn.

Just now, when he shoved the aphrodisiac into his pack, I'd caught a glimpse of something inside.

A scroll.

A magic-sealing scroll.

"What? Why are you staring at me?"

"You're sixty years old and you're using aphrodisiacs. Aren't you worried your heart will just give out on the spot?"

"Hahaha! Then I'd die in a brothel, buried in women. That's the perfect death!"

Sarah shook her head.

Polina gave up entirely, working her way through the snacks she'd bought earlier.

"Right then. Rest up tonight. We move on tomorrow."

➤ Next: Aisha Greyrat 6