Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 183 - The Return Journey, Arrangements

Rudeus's Perspective:

Coming back to the Asura Kingdom, Sylphie and my daughters were shocked.

Because I had brought back a carbon copy of Aisha.

And I mean that literally. The resemblance was uncanny, the only difference was that her hair was shorter.

I actually started wondering whether Mother Lilia had some other relationship going on outside the family.

But based on what this Aisha told us, she'd once been a noble, later sold off by her own parents. That doesn't line up with Lilia's history at all.

So. A genuine coincidence.

"Papa...is she really not Mother Aisha?"

"No. Her name is Aisha. She'll be serving as your guard from now on."

Lara nodded, but kept looking the girl up and down.

Hmm. Once we get back to Ranoa, what kind of face will Aisha make?

Just picturing it already felt entertaining.

Windsor and Lucy, on the other hand, went right up to greet her.

Probably because she looked so much like Aisha. An instinctive warmth, most likely.

"Hello. I'm E Windsor."

"I......I'm Lucy......."

"Hello, young ladies."

Windsor nodded, then continued.

"Papa says you'll be our guard. Can you use a sword?"

"I can. Though I don't have the skill of Lady Eris or Lady Aisha."

"Mother Aisha told me swordsmanship has ranks. She said she's at the top level in all three schools. What about you?"

Aisha's expression shifted. She gave a wry smile.

"I......I'm only at the advanced level in all three schools......."

Windsor didn't so much as flinch. She just nodded.

"No matter the level, you're still stronger than I am now. So can we spar together sometime? Mother Aisha only trains with me in the mornings, and Mother...when she teaches me, I can't quite follow what she's saying......."

That got a quiet laugh out of me.

Eris's teaching method really is something like Paul's. She reaches for sounds and impressions, trying to make Windsor feel her way into understanding.

Windsor, being Windsor, is too stubborn to ask for clarification. She just decides the problem is on her end and drills harder. She's never once raised her hand in Eris's lessons, just grinds away in silence.

Hearing Windsor's words, Aisha broke into a smile and nodded.

"Of course! Lady Windsor!"

Then came Lara's turn. The mischievous one, surprisingly, held back on the strange questions this time.

She just talked with Aisha — mostly asking about Aisha.

Aisha only knew what common people knew about Aisha and me. Nothing more.

"Rudeus."

"What is it, Sylphie?"

"Did you take one look at how much she resembles Aisha, go soft, and decide to bring her home as our guard?"

I couldn't deny it.

That factor was definitely in play.

What can I say, this Aisha felt familiar. Inexplicably so. Looking that much like Aisha, a little familiarity is hard to avoid.

I nodded.

"A bit. And she also worships me. With a face like that looking back at me, I didn't know how to say no. Besides, Orsted really is short on people."

"Aisha is definitely going to throw a little tantrum over this, you know."

"You think so?"

"Think about it. If Aisha went on a trip and came back with a man who looked exactly like Rudeus — how would Rudeus feel?"

.......

I couldn't even picture it.

No — I could picture it. And that was the problem.

"Unacceptable......."

"See? But your behavior can also be read as loving the house and its crow, I suppose."

"Should I say something to Aisha about it...or just leave it?"

"No need. She's over the moon just being allowed to serve as our guard. Just go home and do a proper job of soothing Aisha."

"Understood. I really am lucky, having a wife like Sylphie."

"Mm? Even though you were so rough last night......."

"I thought you liked it that way. I'll be more careful going forward."

"Eh?! I love it! I was just saying it casually~"

I smiled and slipped my arm around Sylphie's waist, leaning in for a kiss.

At that exact moment, Lara's voice cut through with perfect bad timing.

"What are Papa and Green Mama doing!"

Sylphie shoved me away instantly.

Still red in the face, she turned to Lara.

"What is it, Lara?"

"I want to go home!"

"Yes, yes! Home, home......."

Honestly, Sylphie.

Kissing in front of the kids isn't a big deal.

The reason I'd minded being seen before was because that time it was Eris, and I'd been the passive one. I didn't want the kids catching that particular image of their father.

Papa's standing is something to protect, after all.

Our whole family, plus Aisha, settled into the carriage Ariel had gifted us.

It was enormous: 6 horses out front, pulling it along in steady rhythm.

Ariel had made 2 requests. First: that I ride this carriage when traveling to the Holy Country of Milis. Second: that when leaving the Asura Kingdom, I take it to the teleportation array, even if that added 2 days to the journey.

The reasoning was simple. She wanted the nobility and the people to see the friendly relationship between us cemented in plain sight. Leaving in her carriage made that point more cleanly than any speech could.

I figured it didn't much matter either way, so I agreed.

Inside the carriage, Aisha sat bolt upright.

Like a grade schooler called to the front of the class in my past life.

Sylphie, sitting beside me, was quietly entertained. She spoke up.

"Aisha."

"Yes! Lady Sylphie!"

"You don't have to be so stiff."

"I'm not being stiff!"

That completely broke Sylphie. She laughed, turning to me with bright eyes.

"Rudeus, look what you've done to the poor girl."

"Me?"

Lara jumped in immediately.

"Yes! Miss Aisha right now is just like the common folk outside! She can't even speak when Papa's right in front of her! She only dares to shout Papa's name from a distance! Papa must have done a lot of scary things!"

As Lara said that, the crowd outside the carriage was still calling my name at full volume.

Somehow, that fit perfectly.

Windsor pushed back.

"That's because the people worship Papa."

Lucy nodded along with her.

"Sister Windsor is right......."

Aisha kept her head down, face red.

She still didn't say a word.

Well. She really does only look like Aisha.

Personality-wise, they're completely different.

My ever-composed wife Sylphie tried once more.

"Miss Aisha."

"Yes!"

"We're all ordinary people here. Relax a little."

"Understood!"

The corner of Sylphie's mouth twitched in resignation, and she let it go.

Some things can't be changed in a day.

I wasn't particularly trying to change her, either. She was a guard. Showing us respect was fine. More than fine.

--------

2 days later, the carriage reached the teleportation array.

The knight order commander the Asura Kingdom had assigned to escort us took his leave once we arrived.

After that, Aisha took the reins.

......

Lara was swaying back and forth in her seat. I reached over and pulled her into my arms.

She was asleep before she settled.

Lucy drifted off in Sylphie's arms.

Windsor leaned quietly against my left side.

➤ Next: Throwing a Tantrum [Incomplete Version]