Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 193 - Homecoming, Old Friends

After a few more days sightseeing in Milis, we headed back to the Ranoa Kingdom.

Before leaving, I set up teleportation arrays at two places: Cliff's house and my grandmother's house.

The array at Cliff's place links to Nanahoshi's laboratory. The one at my grandmother's links to Zenith's home.

How do I put this? I'm not a fan of teleportation arrays linked directly to my own house.

My wives and I don't exactly limit our intimate moments to nighttime, you know?

Having someone suddenly teleport in would be bad.

So only Roxy's parents have a direct link to our house.

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Back in Ranoa, the first thing I did was visit Zenith's home.

We brought specialty goods from Milis, of course. I also picked up some Milis-exclusive health supplements for Paul on the side, he'd asked me to grab those for him earlier.

How do I put this... Paul is 47 now.

The mothers... Mother Zenith is 44 too. Mother Lilia, I'm not entirely sure of her age.

Either way, knowing my parents still have a sex life at this stage makes me genuinely happy.

Though Paul seems to be struggling a little already.

Mm? Struggling, or looking to push even further?

Given his physical condition, it might honestly be the latter...

They are taking precautions, right?

Yeah, they have to be.

Otherwise I'd have another little brother or sister by now.

Zenith accepted the gifts and looked up.

"Mother didn't say anything unpleasant, did she?"

"It was a bit awkward at the start, but Grandmother is the type who says one thing and means another. We forgave her eventually."

"That's good, then..."

At that point Paul cut in, Lara riding on his shoulders.

"What do you mean, says one thing and means another! Your grandmother is just an unpleasant person, full stop!"

"Darling~ Mother can change. Just like you~ You were such a scoundrel back then, and haven't you changed?"

"Uh..."

Lara patted Paul's cheek.

"Grandpa~ Great-grandmother isn't that bad. She even gave me a little wand!"

"If Lara wants a wand, Grandpa can get you one."

"Oh! Then get me one too, Grandpa!"

"Deal! For your fifth birthday, Grandpa will get you a wand that's ten times more useful than the one Great-grandmother gave you!"

"No need for practical, Grandpa. Pretty is fine. For practical, Daddy will give me his wand someday."

"Is that so?"

"That's how it is! Now come on, Grandpa — out to the yard! I'll show you the new magic I learned!"

"Ohhh!"

And with that, the grandfather-granddaughter pair disappeared into the yard making very strange noises.

My wives and I all smiled helplessly.

Zenith did too. When the smile faded, she spoke.

"By the way... Rudeus~ that Aisha you found..."

"What about her?"

"I asked her to come inside and rest, but she wouldn't. She stood guard at the door all night..."

"She's a guard. She arranges her own rest time."

"Well~ she looks so much like Aisha. I just couldn't bear it..."

"Should I talk to her? Or find you a different guard?"

"We don't need a guard ourselves. But the granddaughters are all still young — they need one."

"That's true."

"So! Paul and I found the perfect candidate!"

"Hm?"

Zenith clapped her hands.

"Come on out, Ghislaine~"

A beastwoman with wheat-colored skin stepped out from the room.

...She really is a perfect candidate.

Ghislaine. After the final battle, she'd vanished. I never worried about her, she's strong, and she can read. But now she looked... thinner.

Where had she been all these years?

Seeing us, Ghislaine smiled.

"Lady Eris, long time no see. Rudeus, long time no see. And... Aisha, Roxy, Sylphiette."

After the greetings, her gaze moved to my children. Then it landed on Pursena, standing beside Windsor.

Ghislaine's brow furrowed visibly when she saw Pursena. She didn't say anything, though.

My wives all nodded. Eris spoke first.

"Just call me Eris! I've said it so many times already!"

"Understood, Eris."

I asked, "Where have you been all these years?"

"Nowhere in particular, really. Went back to the Great Forest once, then wandered around for a while."

"You've gotten thinner."

"Yeah... I can read and write, but... the arithmetic you taught me? Completely forgot it. Got cheated."

...Ah.

I'm still pretty gratified, though.

Eris still can't read or do arithmetic, so at least Ghislaine's one step ahead.

"I have a rough idea of what happened. Want to come work as a guard at my house?"

"Mm. That's what I came for." Her gaze shifted toward Windsor. "Eris's child, I'd like to personally teach her as well. I heard she loves the sword."

Windsor met her eyes and nodded.

"I do love the sword. I think I'll like you too..."

Oh, Ghislaine is Beast Race as well.

Having her teach Windsor really does make sense.

Come to think of it, Windsor has quite the lineup of sword instructors now.

Aisha for the fundamentals.

Eris for the... abstract approach.

Ghislaine for the advanced work.

And the ultimate techniques from Aisha.

I genuinely cannot imagine what Windsor is going to become.

"Good. I'll teach you the same way I once taught Eris, Little Miss Windsor."

"Just Windsor is fine!"

Ghislaine nodded, then turned to Pursena.

"And then there's you... Pursena. What are you doing here?"

Pursena looked a little put-upon.

"I... I lost to that damn cat, you know... Didn't know what to do, so I came back to the Ranoa Kingdom. I'm not too sure on the details myself, but I ended up working as a maid at Boss's house, you know..."

"How do you feel? Your father asked me a while back to keep an eye out for you. He said if I found you, to have you write him a letter so he knows you're safe."

"I... I feel..."

Pursena started to speak, and then Windsor took her hand.

She looked down. Windsor was smiling at her, very gently.

Pursena went still for a moment.

"I feel... really happy right now. I'll write Father a letter, you know..."

"Good. Then take good care of the little misses."

"I will, you know..."

The moment Pursena finished speaking, the hand Windsor had been holding let go, and immediately changed targets, reaching straight for Pursena's tail.

Pursena didn't even flinch. The startled reactions she used to have were long gone.

Zenith clapped her hands.

"Alright! Everyone's back together — let's have a proper meal!"

My wives all agreed. Zenith and Lilia sent the maids off to gather ingredients; tonight, the two of them would cook.

The mothers and wives fell into easy conversation. The children all scattered into the yard.

I brought Ghislaine to the front door.

When she saw us, Aisha straightened immediately.

"Lord Rudeus!"

"Mm, good work. This person will be your colleague from now on."

Ghislaine stepped forward and extended her hand.

"Hello. My name is Ghislaine. Are you Aisha's younger sister? Or older sister?"

"Neither. We just happen to look alike. My name is Aisha."

I watched the two of them.

It felt strange.

"Anyway. Let's have dinner together?"

➤ Next: Lucy and Sylphie