Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 161 - If5 — What Was Lost

Aisha.

The little girl in front of me was named Aisha.

Even her name was so similar.

"Are you going to kill me?"

Don't say that. Not with Aisha's face. Don't say something like that.

I shook my head immediately.

"No. I won't kill you. Aisha, right?"

"Mm."

"Where are you from?"

"The Asura Kingdom."

"Why did you become a slave?"

"My mother and father sold me."

"Do you have an older brother?"

"No."

I stepped forward.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

Don't.

Don't be afraid of me.

Don't look at me with fear on that face.

I undid all her shackles.

"Aisha. You look a lot like my little sister."

"Is that why you won't kill me?"

"Mm. You could say that."

"But I'm not your little sister. If I don't act like her, will you kill me?"

"How could I! With that face — how could I possibly lay a hand on you!"

Ah.

I lost control.

Just moments ago I'd been telling myself not to frighten this child.

But Aisha didn't look frightened.

She moved closer.

She tilted her head up and, with that face, said it.

"Big brother."

Aisha.

The face.

The voice.

Even the color of her eyes.

And the way she tilted her head up like that.

I pulled her into my arms.

"Aisha! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. It was your big brother's fault. My uselessness got you killed."

I knew.

She wasn't Aisha.

But I held a child who wasn't yet ten years old, and I wept.

I vented everything into her, with no thought at all for how she must have felt.

I cried for a long time.

"Don't be sad."

Those small hands.

That small voice.

She was comforting me.

"Aisha."

"Mm?"

"My name is Rudeus Greyrat. I'll arrange a place for you to stay. From now on — be my assistant?"

"Mm! Can I... can I call you big brother?"

"No. Just use my name. You're not Aisha."

"Mm. Okay."

Night came.

Aisha had fallen asleep, seemingly without eating much of anything at all.

I carried her on my back and walked toward Nanahoshi's laboratory.

I couldn't let Lilia see this child. I didn't want to make Mother cry again.

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At the lab, I had Nanahoshi give Aisha a bath, then put together some food.

She really hadn't eaten in a long time.

Aisha tore into the food ravenously. Every time she choked, Nanahoshi patted her on the back.

If Aisha were still alive, she'd be about the same age by now.

"Aisha, how old are you?"

"Nine."

So close in age, too.

➤ Next: If5.1 — Tears Unshed