Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 172 - The Return to Daily Life

After Aisha came home, life settled back into something quiet and ordinary.

One thing worth mentioning: after she returned, my daughters decided to make her their godmother.

To be fair, Aisha's stories from traveling the world were hard for any kid to resist. She could teach Lara about magic. She could teach Windsor swordsmanship. And her tales from the road kept Lucy hanging on every word.

Alright... my daughters just really love my little sister.

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In the mornings, since Eris couldn't practice swords during her pregnancy, Aisha and I would join Windsor for her training sessions instead.

Windsor's attachment to Aisha was getting obvious fast.

All it took was good swordsmanship and she warmed up that quickly? Damn it...

Still, it worked out. With Aisha teaching Windsor, at least she wouldn't get swept away in the future by some guy who learned three sword moves and thought that made him impressive.

Aisha walked over and took hold of my sword hand, adjusting my grip and stance.

I didn't actually think she was being serious about the adjustment.

"Brother~ your swing is way off. Little Windsor has better form than you. Wore yourself out last night? Take a break~"

"Not a chance. I'm completely fine."

"Are you?"

"I am."

While we were chatting about last night's topic, Windsor stopped mid-swing.

She wiped the sweat from her face, turned around, and called out.

"Godmother Aisha, don't say mean things. Father, don't give up! Do your best!"

"Got it!"

Anyway, I wasn't going to let Aisha's commentary get to me.

My own daughter was cheering me on. That was reason enough to push through.

Today's sword practice ran a full hour longer than usual.

------

At noon, Orsted showed up in my yard while we were still at lunch.

I went outside right away, ready to ask what brought him here.

But he was smiling when he said it.

"Finish eating with your wives first. No rush. It's nothing major. I'll wait in the yard."

"Alright."

I watched Daibai start circling around Orsted's feet on his way out.

After lunch, I came out to the yard. Aisha followed.

Orsted gave a small nod.

"I need your help with some things. Not right now, though."

"Roughly when? I'm planning to take my wives and daughters to the Holy Country of Milis soon."

"After you come back from there, then. Simple work: rescuing some people, eliminating others who would become a problem down the line. I've already got North God III started on it."

"Will there be a lot of it?"

"No. You're my friend. It's just that things will get a bit busier during a certain period ahead, so I wanted to ask early."

"Sure. I'll come find you after Milis."

"Good. Then I'll be going."

"Take care."

After Orsted left, Aisha tugged at the hem of my clothes.

"What is it, Aisha?"

"Does this mean~ we get to go on adventures together?"

"Haven't we done that already..."

"That was different. Last time we had a destination. This is different!"

"There's still a goal, isn't there? We're helping Orsted save some people and kill some people."

"It's basically the same thing! And Orsted said the opponents won't be strong, so they're definitely weak."

"Fine. We'll go together when the time comes."

"Yes!"

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That afternoon I sat alone in my room, writing out my thoughts on magic theory.

Mostly for Lucy.

Lucy didn't share Windsor's love of the sword, and she didn't have Lara's natural instinct for magic either. I personally thought it was fine either way, but Lucy clearly didn't see it that way.

"Father, I want to try magic..."

Supporting her was never a question. That part was simple.

But words alone weren't going to be enough.

I still remembered what Norn told me, all those years ago. What she admitted when she finally opened up.

"Being caught between you and Aisha was too painful. Because I'm not a genius..."

Lucy's situation reminded me a little of that.

She was still young now. Still too young to really understand. But what about later? What if she grew up and realized she didn't have the same talent as her sisters? What if she buried it the way Norn used to bury things?

So I was writing this book. Maybe it wouldn't change anything. But at least Lucy would know, in something she could hold in her hands, that I loved her.

"Knock knock."

"Come in."

The door swung open. Sylphiette came in carrying a fruit platter and walked around behind me.

"Rudy? Writing more magic theory for Lucy?"

"Yeah. She's been pretty motivated lately."

Sylphiette pulled the chair beside me out and sat down to my right.

She didn't say much. She just picked up grapes, peeled them one by one, and fed them to me.

Every so often she'd lean in to read what I'd written and ask a question or two.

That warmth stretched on through the afternoon, all the way until the sun started going down. I turned to look at her.

Sylphiette had her cheek resting in her hand. Her eyes were half-closed, drifting toward sleep.

"Go take a nap, Sylphiette?"

She opened her eyes at the sound of my voice.

Rubbed them with her knuckle, then smiled.

"Mm... I should start on dinner."

"The maids are here."

"I've slept enough~ It's just that being next to Rudy makes me want to relax without thinking about it."

"I think you take on too much around the house. We have maids, you know."

"That's not why~"

She said it in the most effortlessly endearing way.

Then she closed her eyes again, pressed one finger to her chin, and thought for a moment.

"Mm... I was listening to the scratch of Rudy's pen, and it made me think of when we were little. When Rudy used to teach me how to read, how to do arithmetic. I was thinking about that and I just... fell asleep."

"That would make more sense coming from Eris. You were always the one who actually paid attention."

"I paid attention back then so I could be worthy of Rudy~ Now I already have Rudy. Isn't it natural to relax?"

"Honestly... you always find a way to say something that makes me love you more."

"So is Rudy just going to leave it at words?"

I pulled her into my arms and kissed her.

At some point, without me really noticing,

Sylphiette had gotten a lot bolder.

She always takes her time with it...

The kiss lasted 2 minutes. When Sylphiette finally pulled back and stood up, there was still color in her cheeks.

"I'm off to cook~"

"Go on. I'm almost done here anyway."

"Do your best!"

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After dinner, everyone gathered in the yard.

Eris had Daibai in her arms and was pressing her face against him with the full force of someone who needed it. Daibai looked like he was struggling to breathe.

...Sorry about that, Daibai. Eris has been in low spirits lately.

I still hadn't figured out what to do about it. Everyone said mood swings were normal for pregnant women. But she hadn't been like this the first time. Not like this.

So I'd been worried. Quietly, without knowing what to do. At least she had you, Daibai.

-------

Aisha was working with Windsor on swordsmanship.

Roxy was over with Lucy, teaching her magic.

Sylphiette and I were with Lara.

"Teaching" was generous, honestly. All we had to do was demonstrate something once and explain it once, and Lara could copy it clean. I couldn't do that. I don't think anyone could do that.

I was half convinced that if Orsted stood in front of Lara and performed the Front Dragon Gate and gave her one explanation, she'd have it down by the end of the day.

She'd already mastered Gravity Magic. Mind Control was next on the list in terms of ability, but... no. Let's hold off on that one.

Lara put her hands on her hips, tilted her head back, and announced with complete confidence:

"I'm amazing, right!"

Sylphiette clapped immediately.

"Amazing, amazing~ Lara is such a genius."

"Hehe~ The only one who bullies this genius is Blue Mama!"

A voice floated over from nearby.

"What~ did~ you~ just~ say~? La~ra?"

"Eep!? Mama, weren't you over there with Lucy? How are you already here..."

Roxy came over with Lucy's hand in hers, smiling at Sylphiette and me.

"Lucy is doing very well. She got it after just one lesson."

Sylphiette's smile went warm. She reached out and ruffled Lucy's hair.

"She really is. Lucy's amazing too."

Lucy dropped her head a little under the hand petting her, and said quietly, mostly aimed at me:

"Thank you for the notes, Father..."

"That was all your own effort, Lucy."

Then, with perfect timing, Lara jumped in.

"Father! You're playing favorites!"

"Hm?"

"You wrote notes for little sister Lucy! What about me!"

"Isn't Lara a genius?"

"Hmph! Even a genius wants notes from Father!"

"I am writing them. Lara uses voiceless casting and Lucy uses spoken incantations, so your theory is different. Lara's copy just isn't finished yet."

Lara considered this for about one second, then flung herself straight into my arms.

I caught her and lifted her up.

"Love you, Father! Tell me these things earlier next time~"

This kid... the speed at which her moods turn is genuinely something else.

Off to one side, Aisha and Windsor were sparring.

Eris sat with Daibai in her arms and called out to Windsor across the yard.

"Footwork! Watch your footwork! Stop watching your godmother Aisha's sword! Don't overthink it!"

"Mm!"

"Don't expect her to go easy on you! Stop falling back on defense! You're using Sword God Style, not Water God Style! Swing with the will to win!"

"Mm!"

Eris had basically become Windsor's remote control, calling out every adjustment in real time as she sparred.

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That night, I decided to stay with Eris.

Not because these past few days had worn me down — if anything, they're always the ones who end up admitting defeat.

It was just that Eris had been off lately. The pregnancy had her moods dipping in ways I couldn't always predict, and I didn't know what to do about it except be there.

I walked into her room.

"Rudeus."

"Yeah?"

"Why'd you come here..."

"Wanted to be with Eris. Is that not okay?"

"...It's okay."

Eris pulled the blanket up around herself and went quiet.

She seemed genuinely tired. Maybe more than usual.

I climbed onto the bed and lay down beside her, close enough to hear her breathing.

I was a little tired too, honestly.

"Love you, Eris. Goodnight."

A pause.

"Goodnight... Rudeus. I love you too..."

➤ Next: Eris, Heart — Heartbreak