Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 195 - Lara and Roxy

It was another afternoon.

Lara pulled me along and showed off her magic.

She stood with both hands on her hips, looking very impressed with herself.

Her nose was practically pointed at the ceiling...

"What do you think, Dad!"

"Oh! Very impressive!"

"Hehe! I know, right? Hahahaha!"

Lara burst out laughing. I really don't know who she takes after...

I don't fully understand how magic ranks are classified, but based on my old understanding, it seemed like you were considered a Saint-level Magician once you could use Saint-level Magic.

And Lara had already learned everything Roxy knew. Everything Sylphiette knew. Even most of what I knew.

My wives and I had all taught our daughters without holding anything back.

Which meant, could Lara already be a Saint-level Magician? At four years old, she was already at the same level I'd been at five.

Her control over magic and mana wasn't quite there yet, though. The technique still had some roughness to it.

But then again, she was only four.

Hmm... almost five, actually.

I'd need to start thinking about what gifts to get for Lara and Lucy for their fifth birthdays...

"Dad!"

"Hm?"

"My birthday is coming soon!"

"It is. I've been thinking about what to get you too..."

"For my fifth birthday! I want a magic book written by Dad!"

"...Didn't I already promise you that? So it doesn't count as a birthday gift."

"Hmph! Dad is such a liar! I've already seen Sister Lucy's notes! Written so carefully, and mine hasn't even been started yet!"

How should I put this.

I'd made the same mistake again.

Back then, Aisha was so sharp that I'd slightly overlooked what she needed and focused on Norn instead, who I thought needed the attention more. Aisha had gotten moody with me over it...

I absolutely was not repeating that.

I patted Lara on the head.

"Don't worry. I'll start writing yours today."

"Really?"

"Of course. Lara is such a genius that I've been trying to figure out how to write it properly..."

That part was the truth.

Even sitting down to write it, I had no idea where to start. At most I could put together some thoughts on controlling magic and managing mana. Beyond that, what was left to teach her?

Everything that needed to be taught, I'd already taught...

"Well, I am a genius! Hahahaha!"

"Goodness..."

I pinched her cute little cheeks and turned the problem over in my head. A magic theory book. Though honestly, I didn't think Lara had any real need for one.

As if reading my mind, Lara spoke up.

"I don't need brand-new theory. I just want Dad to write me a book. Even if the content is completely meaningless, that's fine!"

"Even if it's meaningless?"

"Yes! As long as Dad wrote it! Oh — but either it should be interesting, or it should be useful!"

"Didn't you just say meaningless was fine?"

"I changed my mind!"

"Alright, but this book is something Dad promised and didn't deliver on, so it doesn't count as a birthday gift. What does Lara actually want as a gift?"

"Hmm..."

Lara lowered her head.

Her little hand pinched her chin, small face scrunched up in earnest thought.

After a good few dozen seconds, she shook her head.

"I can't think of anything."

"Hm?"

"I just... don't seem to be missing anything."

"...How old are you again?"

"Hmph! I just don't lack anything! Then... Dad, can you go ask Uncle Orsted to teach me some of his spells?"

"That's a great idea. Your Uncle Orsted is very fond of you. He'll definitely say yes."

"Yay! Then that's my fifth birthday gift!"

"Uh... but what about me? Does Lara really not need anything from Dad?"

Lara looked at me.

Stared straight at me.

Then she waved me closer, and I obligingly crouched down.

"Dad."

Lara cupped my face in both hands and gently kissed my cheek.

"I don't need Dad to give me anything. Dad has already taught me everything he knows. I love you, Dad."

I noticed it then.

Lara was getting better and better at wrapping her old father around her finger.

I felt like for her, I could do just about anything...

"Don't space out~ Dad, keep teaching me how to control mana~"

"Okay!"

The whole afternoon passed just like that.

-------

Evening came, and I returned to the study.

This time it was Roxy sitting beside me, a book held in her arms.

She wasn't reading it, though. She was just looking at me.

"Roxy, what are you looking at?"

"You."

Her tone was oddly serious. It made me a little uneasy, the way it does when you're certain you've done something wrong but can't figure out what.

"What's so interesting about me?"

"I was just thinking — why is my husband so gentle? Why is he so easy to love?"

"That's a bit out of nowhere. You're making me embarrassed."

"I heard from Lara. Are you writing a book for her right now?"

"I wrote one for Lucy, so I can't be a father who plays favorites."

"Hmm~ Let me help~"

Roxy scooted toward me in that cute way of hers until she was sitting on my lap.

I always marveled at how perfectly petite she was. Sitting on my lap like this, leaning over together to look at what I was writing.

"Rudeus~ this isn't a magic theory notebook at all."

"Yeah. Lara doesn't need that kind of knowledge."

"True. But Rudeus — are you writing your own story?"

"That's right. Still in childhood right now. Roxy has just appeared as my home tutor."

"Hmm... Rudeus, do you still remember something?"

"Hm?"

"It was one night... you said you'd been sleepwalking."

"I've kind of forgotten."

"Looking back on it now, Rudeus was already so mature back then. The next morning you even said those things to comfort me."

...Ah.

It came back to me.

The night Roxy had accidentally seen Zenith and Paul together.

It had left quite an impression on me. But as a mature man, I shook my head.

"Did that happen? I used to sleepwalk when I was little?"

"You did. But it's probably better that Rudeus forgot. Keep writing~ I was curious whether you'd include that scene."

So we sat together, talking about the past, the pen scratching softly, the room warm around us.

Mm... very warm...

Though, how to put this.

A man's instincts don't always follow his brain. Sometimes the body is just comfortable, and certain things happen on their own. It genuinely wasn't that I was thinking anything strange.

"Rudeus..."

"Hm?"

"The atmosphere is so nice right now. What exactly is Rudeus thinking about~"

"Teacher, you're the one who's been shifting around on my lap this whole time, aren't you?"

"Was I? I was just getting comfortable~ Rudeus's self-control really is poor~"

"Oh? Let me show Teacher just how poor it can get."

I picked Roxy up, heading for the bedroom.

But she spoke first.

"Last time, Rudeus and Sylphiette did it in the study, right? I want to try that too."

"Uh...?"

"What? You don't want to?"

"It's not that."

"Hehe~ Rudeus, my student~ sit down! Teacher will do what Sylphiette did, and help you with her hands~"

Anyway, another wonderful stretch of time passed in the study.

➤ Next: Windsor, Eris