Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 171 - Aisha, Morning

Aisha's Perspective:

Early morning.

My brother's breathing, steady beside me on the pillow.

I opened my eyes.

Last night... was so blissful...

I'd used a Love Potion. I'd even asked him to be rough with me.

But he still held himself back. Still gentle, still restrained. And even so, I was satisfied...

He really is skilled.

It's a little embarrassing to admit, but I felt a twinge of jealousy.

Well. Just a passing thought. How do I put it...

His skill, his gentleness, it's like my sisters spent years fine-tuning him to perfection.

Mm... I can't quite name the feeling. But let's leave it at that.

Right now, I'm tucked in his arms.

Warm. Gentle.

And this happiness, it'll be here from now on, always.

I reached out and stroked his cheek.

My beloved.

"Aisha...?"

"Brother~ you're awake?"

"Mm."

He answered, then patted my head.

But wait, that's not quite right, is it? We're husband and wife now.

So my hand slipped lower, not behaving itself at all.

"Aisha... last night... were you not satisfied?"

"How could that be? I ended up in such a state last night..."

Recalling it, my brother, so gentle, making me...

What would it be like if he were rougher?

I'm a swordswoman too. My body is in good shape too.

But it seems... I just can't be like Eris-nee.

My mind wandered with those thoughts, but my hand didn't stop.

"Brother~ the children aren't awake yet."

"Aisha, you really are..."

"Hmph~ clearly my brother still has so much energy..."

He said nothing more.

He turned over and pressed down on me.

"Aisha."

"Brother..."

A kiss.

Then, love.

-------

While the children and sisters were still asleep, we went to the bathroom together.

In the bathroom, I seduced him again, I just couldn't help myself.

I was already spent. But I still wanted to find his limit.

Coming out of the bathroom, my legs were trembling.

The decisive battle against the Fighting God never made me tremble like this.

As expected of my brother.

-------

Morning.

The maids arrived early and began preparing breakfast.

One by one, the sisters and children woke up, drifting out of their rooms. Seeing my brother and me already seated at the dining table, they smiled and headed toward the bathroom.

Mm... we'd cleaned up thoroughly just now. Should be fine.

And even if there were traces, it wouldn't really matter. Just a little embarrassing.

The sisters and children finished washing up and settled into their seats at the table.

Sylphie-nee rested her chin on one hand, her tone lazy and content.

"Aisha~ how was it?"

"Mm... more wonderful than I imagined."

"Right?"

Sylphie-nee smiled.

Roxy-nee pulled out her chair, sat down, and spoke.

"Mhm~ after all, he is our husband. Rudy~ tonight..."

My brother was drinking his milk, visibly evasive about that particular topic.

Mm. With the children right here... he really is a conservative person, my brother. Four wives, and yet, how do I put it, he just feels conservative somehow.

Sure enough, he spoke up.

"The children are still here... let's save that for tonight. Is Eris still asleep?"

"Yes, eight months along now. This is when she needs the most rest."

"Mm. But at noon, someone should still wake Eris up to eat. She's been having appetite issues again lately."

"Have the maids prepare more snacks and sour fruits? Those were what I craved most when I was pregnant."

"Alright."

Roxy-nee and my brother discussed what Eris-nee should be eating through the rest of her pregnancy.

Children, huh...

I don't actually want them that badly. But, if it were possible...

If I could...

After the maids finished preparing breakfast, the children came to the table too.

Once we'd all finished eating, my brother spoke.

"In 2 months, I'm planning to go to the Holy Country of Milis for Cliff's wedding. I'd also like to visit my grandmother — she'd be your daughters' great-grandmother. Would you all like to come?"

The sisters nodded together. Among the children, Lara was the first to speak.

"I want to go! The Holy Country of Milis! It's in the storybooks!"

Windsor nodded, then turned to Lucy beside her. Using her older-sister tone, she murmured quietly.

"Lucy, do you want to go?"

Lucy nodded.

"Mm... want to go..."

Then Windsor raised her hand.

"Dad, we all want to go."

Ah~

How wonderful.

Windsor is such a good older sister. Lucy is a little timid, so Windsor takes extra care of her.

My brother looked around at everyone's agreement and nodded.

"Alright. We'll all go together in 2 months. Think of it as a leisure trip."

Lara shot her hand up.

"I want to bring Daibai!"

"That's fine."

Windsor and Lucy didn't seem to have any particular requests.

But I've heard from my brother, Windsor really loves the sword.

I need to build a proper relationship with the children.

Swords. Magic. Storybooks.

Their interests really are all different.

------

After breakfast, with Eris-nee being pregnant, Windsor apparently hadn't had anyone to watch practice swordsmanship for quite a while. She'd been swinging on her own.

She's only five. It's honestly adorable.

Five years old... I think that's around when I started learning the sword too. Back then, we were still on the Demon Continent.

I walked over to her.

"Little Windsor."

Windsor stopped mid-swing.

"Summer Mom..."

"Your Summer Mom is a swordswoman too, you know. Want me to teach you?"

"Really?!"

"Of course~ I'm quite strong."

"Thank you, Summer Mom!"

And so I began teaching Windsor.

A five-year-old clearly isn't ready for real combat training. Looking at her forms, the Sword God Style Eris-nee taught her was the right place to start.

We'd begin with Sword God Style. Once she had that foundation, move to Water God Style.

North God Style could wait, or even be skipped entirely.

Sword God Style for offense, Water God Style for defense. North God Style is more or less a composite of both. If a swordsman reaches a solid level in the other two, North God Style becomes somewhat ornamental.

At least, that's how I see it.

Though it's not entirely correct either. According to Orsted, the first-generation North God was something else entirely, a genuinely monstrous existence.

But never mind that. Sword God Style first.

"Windsor, let's start with your stance."

"Mm!"

I corrected her grip, adjusted her footwork, worked on the force behind each swing and the rhythm of her breathing. After making the adjustments, I had her swing for half an hour.

"Windsor, can you feel the difference now?"

"Mm... my breathing is much smoother..."

"Then keep going like this."

"Okay! Summer Mom."

Windsor really does love the sword.

From what I can tell, Eris-nee didn't actually teach her directly, Windsor had simply been imitating Eris-nee on her own. And just from that imitation, she was already doing quite well.

At five years old, holding herself to 2 hours of practice every morning.

Even I couldn't manage that back then. Eris-nee reportedly didn't even start until she was nine.

When training ended, Windsor collapsed onto the ground.

"Summer Mom..."

"You did very well, little Windsor."

I walked over and cast healing magic on her.

Just then, my brother came outside, Eris-nee's hand in his.

"Windsor?"

Eris-nee called her name. Windsor turned her head.

"Mom, Dad..."

"Working so hard! As expected of my daughter!"

Eris-nee's praise was so straightforward and generous.

My brother smiled wryly beside her.

"Windsor, practice in moderation, okay? Hurting your body would be bad."

"Okay, Dad... thank you for the praise, Mom..."

Windsor really is well-behaved. In personality, she's nothing like Eris-nee. Honestly, she doesn't feel much like my brother either.

"Eris and I are going out for a walk. Windsor, Aisha — want to join us?"

Windsor shook her head.

"I'm covered in sweat... I'll pass. I want to take a bath."

My brother nodded, then looked at me.

Well. Eris-nee is pregnant. She must have been cooped up inside for too long. Even though my brother and I are technically in our newlywed period, that doesn't mean I'll cling to him every moment.

As long as he's beside me at night during this time, that's enough.

So I shook my head too.

"Brother and Eris-nee, enjoy your walk. I'll go teach Lara some magic later."

"Alright."

He held Eris-nee's hand and they left.

Mm-hm. Windsor pushed herself up from the ground.

"Windsor."

"What is it, Summer Mom?"

"Does Lucy have anything she likes?"

Windsor's expression shifted, just a flicker of guilt.

"I don't know... she likes listening to stories, but beyond that, I'm not sure. And I'm supposed to be her older sister."

"Little Windsor is only five. Don't blame yourself over something like this."

I patted her head.

I take back what I said earlier.

Windsor really is like my brother. At such a young age, already carrying the weight of being an older sister so seriously. At the dining table, she goes out of her way to look after Lucy.

As expected of his daughter.

"Alright, Windsor — go take your bath."

"Mm! Then I'll go first, Summer Mom."

"Mm."

------

Back inside, Roxy-nee and Sylphie-nee were going over outfit combinations together.

Seeing me return, Sylphie-nee waved me over.

"Aisha~ come here."

I leaned in closer.

This is...

"Tonight~ shall we all be together? It's been a little while."

Roxy-nee nodded.

"Aisha, pick something you like. I think this one would look great on you."

She picked up a set of black-and-purple lingerie and held it up against me.

"Mm~ it would definitely suit you perfectly. Aisha's figure is made for this style."

"..."

"What, feeling shy?"

"A little..."

"But we need you, Aisha. Eris is pregnant — without you, we'd be short."

"My brother isn't that scary..."

"We just want to fully satisfy him. Rudy always holds back when it's me and Sylphie."

"Mmm..."

Well, he holds back with me too, honestly.

Roxy-nee and Sylphie-nee must think I'm on Eris-nee's level when it comes to endurance.

We're both swordswomen, but I'm... considerably more sensitive than Eris-nee, it seems.

Sylphie-nee clapped her hands.

"Settled! Aisha wears this one. I'll go white. Roxy, same as me. Tonight, all together — we'll absolutely make Rudy's head spin."

"Okay!"

"Mm..."

-------

After we'd settled on the evening's plans, I went to find Lucy.

She was reading a book.

Lucy seems to be the most literate of the 3 children. She's studying magic too, though it seems she doesn't have the same natural talent as Lara.

"Summer Mom?"

"Lucy~ what are you up to?"

"Reading the book Dad wrote for me..."

"Dad wrote it?"

"Mm... because my magic kept having problems, so Dad wrote out some notes and the principles behind the spells..."

"Has it helped? Do you understand more now?"

"Mm-mm! Magic I couldn't cast before — after reading this, it clicked."

I looked at the book she'd mentioned.

It was a small diary. Only about a dozen pages filled in.

"Can I take a look?"

"Mm..."

Lucy handed it to me.

I opened it.

...My brother, honestly.

To help Lucy understand, he'd drawn little illustrations throughout, cute, careful drawings of the magic itself, with simple annotations to explain the key points.

He must have spent a real amount of time on this.

I handed the notebook back.

"Lucy, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me too. And Roxy Mom and Sylphie Mom as well."

"Mm... thank you, Summer Mom..."

Lucy lowered her head and went back to reading.

Maybe she just prefers her own company?

Mm... probably not, though.

With that thought, I sat down beside her and read along.

A quiet half hour passed. Then Sylphie-nee came over.

"Hm? Aisha?"

"Sylphie-nee."

"Teaching Lucy magic?"

"Not exactly. Lucy is sharp, she's reading the magic notes Ru... Rudy wrote. She just needs to read them and she gets it on her own."

Sylphie-nee clapped, beaming.

"Lucy is amazing!"

Lucy went red, ducked her head, and gave a small nod.

So cute.

Sylphie-nee leaned over to get a look at the notebook herself.

"If anything is unclear, you can ask Summer Mom. Her magic is second only to Dad's."

"Summer Mom... is amazing..."

I patted Lucy's head.

"Right? Ask me anything."

Sylphie-nee and I stayed with Lucy while she practiced. Lucy still needed to chant her spells, but according to my brother's theory, chanting isn't strictly necessary for anyone. Deep enough understanding of magic, and the words become optional.

Well. I have no real motivation to refine my own magic any further at this point. I'm already happy. There aren't any real threats anymore. And if something ever came along that my brother and I couldn't handle, Orsted would be there.

As for Lucy's chanting, there's no rush. She'll grow into it naturally. With a magician like my brother teaching her from childhood, how could she not?

Lucy closed the notebook.

"Mom, Summer Mom... I'm sleepy."

Sylphie-nee and I looked at each other. She smiled, gathered Lucy into her arms, and stood.

"Aisha, I'll take Lucy for a nap."

"Mm."

------

Afternoon.

In the backyard, Roxy-nee was teaching Lara magic.

Daibai was running circles around them.

Lara fired a Water Ball, and Daibai went tearing after it.

"Daibai! If you can beat my Water Ball, tonight I'll have Dad buy you something delicious!"

"Woof!"

Lara raised her head and gathered the spell.

That amount of mana... that's an advanced-level spell.

Four years old.

A genius, just like my brother.

Lara launched the Water Ball. Daibai bolted after it immediately.

But even Daibai couldn't outrun it.

Lara was laughing anyway, cheering him on at the top of her lungs.

"Come on! Think about the food Dad's going to buy you! You know how generous he is!"

"Woof!"

Daibai's pace suddenly surged. He launched himself into the air and caught the Water Ball. It burst apart on impact.

No wonder they call him a Sacred Beast. He does have something special.

Soaking wet, Daibai shook himself and trotted back to Lara. She laughed and started blowing his fur dry with Warm Wind magic.

Roxy-nee watched with a wry smile.

She even knows that spell.

"Aisha?"

"Roxy-nee."

"Something you needed?"

"No, I just came to see if Lara needed any extra guidance... but clearly she doesn't."

"That's what I thought too. I honestly don't know how Rudy teaches her."

Lara apparently caught on that we were talking about her.

She stopped drying Daibai, spun around, planted both hands on her hips and tilted her chin up.

A dramatic hmph, then she burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha! Dad said Lara is a genius!"

Roxy-nee tapped her lightly on the head.

"Yes, yes, genius Lara. Then surely genius Lara won't mind learning some Demon God Language next? A genius who can barely read, what kind of reputation is that?"

"Ugh..."

Lara immediately turned back around and resumed drying Daibai's fur.

So heartwarming.

------

Night.

After the children were all asleep, Roxy-nee, Sylphie-nee, and I changed into what we'd chosen that afternoon.

"Aisha, shall we hold hands going in?"

"Mm..."

I took a breath. We entered the room together.

My brother's eyes went wide.

Sylphie-nee smiled.

"Rudy~ do you like it?"

He nodded, a little blank.

We moved closer. Roxy-nee spoke.

"I want a second child too..."

Then both of them stopped talking and simply moved on my brother.

I was still watching from the sidelines when Sylphie-nee, underneath him, caught my eye.

She looked utterly spent, and yet she reached out her hand and pulled me in.

"Aisha, don't just stand there spacing out... mm..."

Roxy-nee's voice followed.

"Exactly. Aisha, come here too. Rudy still has that hand free..."

"Ah...?"

The night turned out to be far more filled with love than I had imagined.

➤ Next: The Return to Daily Life