Mushoku Tensei — Chapter 196 - Windsor, Eris

"Dad! Let's spar!"

Windsor drove her wooden sword into the ground and grinned at me.

She was almost six now. So how good was Windsor at swordsmanship, exactly?

Honestly, I wasn't entirely sure. According to Eris and Aisha, no child her age could touch her — not even a ten-year-old.

But I did train up to the Advanced rank once, you know?

So I picked up a wooden sword and said,

"Come."

Eris crossed her arms, expression turning serious.

"Windsor! If you lose to Dad, there's a punishment!"

Windsor blinked, then turned her head back.

"What's the punishment, Mom?"

"Your dad decides!"

"Oh!"

Windsor yanked her sword free and raised it toward me.

Heh heh...

Time to show Windsor just how impressive her dad really is.

"I'm attacking, Dad!"

"Go ahead!"

Windsor took a deep breath and charged straight at me.

That long red hair. The way she rushed forward without hesitating.

It brought back a lot of memories.

The first time I met Eris...

Well, the first time I met Eris, we were punching and kicking each other. I should say the first time I sparred with Eris.

Windsor really does look like her, especially the moment she picks up a sword.

She came for my stomach too, same as Eris did in that first spar.

But still...

When Eris beat me, she was nine years old.

Windsor was five. No matter how good her technique, she simply didn't have the strength yet.

I blocked it with ease.

That said, Windsor's swordwork was genuinely impressive. I could even catch glimpses of Aisha's influence in it.

After I stopped her first strike, she dropped low immediately and came in again with a horizontal slash.

"Ohh!"

I blocked that one too. Then Windsor did something I didn't expect — she drove her sword into the ground, lifted her leg, and kicked me.

It landed.

But, well...

Five-year-old kick.

I grabbed Windsor's adorable little leg and said,

"I win, Windsor~"

"Ngh..."

"You're really good, you know. A little more strength and Dad might've actually gone flying."

"If I had the strength, I wouldn't kick Dad that hard anyway..."

"Oh? Were you holding back just now?"

"No... Mom said at my age I have to use my full strength against anyone."

I felt a little sad hearing that.

I was absolutely sure she was going to say she couldn't bear to kick me with everything she had.

I let go of her leg and gently patted the dust off her clothes.

"So... how is Dad going to punish me...?"

Windsor hung her head, every inch of her looking resigned to her fate.

Déjà vu.

The kind from my past life... a female knight cornered by an orc... that kind of déjà vu.

I should warn Windsor not to become a knight someday. Mm.

I ruffled her hair, crouched down, and tapped my own cheek with one finger.

"So~ how about Windsor gives Dad a kiss?"

Windsor looked left. Looked right.

She confirmed it was only Eris watching. Then she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a quick, light peck to my cheek.

Then she turned red, pulled her sword out of the ground, and trotted away toward Eris with her head down.

Too cute.

Windsor... if her younger sisters had been here, she probably wouldn't have kissed me. She seems to care about her image in front of them, same as I do.

Mm! Takes after me. Adorable.

I was still savoring my daughter's cuteness when Eris and Windsor both turned and waved.

"Rudeus!"

"Dad..."

I stood up.

"What?"

"Train a little longer! I'm in really good form today!"

"Mom's right. Train a little more..."

--------

By evening, it was over.

Today really was something. A full day of training with Eris and Windsor.

As expected of Eris, I suppose. Even our child can go all day like this.

Neither of them seemed to tire at all. Halfway through I had to cast healing magic on myself just to keep swinging.

Though according to Eris, it was only because today's form was good that they could push that long. Windsor just said, "Because Dad was here, I felt like I could train forever."

Heh heh.

Eris sheathed her sword and wiped the sweat from her face.

"Good day! Windsor's improvement was really noticeable!"

Windsor bowed her head toward Eris in thanks. Clean, precise — dojo etiquette.

"Thank you, Mom. I'll go in and bathe first."

"Mm! Go ahead!"

Windsor disappeared into the house. Eris looked at me.

Our eyes met.

"What is it?"

"Train with me a little longer, Rudeus."

"Eh? We've been at this all day..."

Eris stepped closer.

"What matters is being with me. Not training."

I blinked.

Before I could say anything, she grabbed my collar and pulled me in.

At that distance, there was really only one thing to do.

A full minute of kissing. Then Eris spoke.

"It feels like... Rudeus has been spending less time with me lately."

"I'm with you every day, aren't I?"

"Hmph. The time when I was pregnant doesn't count."

"Oh? I was by your side almost the entire time during your pregnancy. That doesn't count as being together?"

Eris smiled and pulled me into a hug.

Direct as always, but gentle with it.

"It doesn't count! So I'm punishing Rudeus too. Your efforts at being with me simply weren't enough."

"Alright, I accept the punishment. What exactly does it involve?"

"Let me think..."

Her forehead came to rest against my shoulder.

The long kiss had left her breathing unsteady, but we stayed like that, arms around each other.

I settled my hand on her back.

"Take your time. I'll accept anything."

She hugged me tighter after that.

Almost a full minute of silence. Then, quietly:

"Rudeus. Let's bathe together?"

"...Just bathing?"

"Of course not~"

Eris lifted her head and bit my earlobe.

"I'll punish Rudeus very gently... Trust me, okay?"

"...Eris says that every time..."

"This time I mean it!"

In any case, we spent a stretch of time in the bathroom that could not, by any honest measure, be called gentle.

Not gentle at all. But... mm. Wonderful.

➤ Next: Aisha and Jealousy