Mushoku Tensei: The Sword, the Magic Hat, and the Love System

The next morning, Rudeus came looking for Allen right after stepping out of his room. The two had agreed to get up early and review the events of the previous day's battle in the courtyard to improve their skills.

Still groggy, he rubbed his eyes and made his way down the hallway. For some reason, the downstairs area sounded livelier than usual—Zenith and Lilia were chatting happily while preparing breakfast.

Without giving it much thought, Rudeus walked to Allen's room and pushed the door open—Allen rarely locked it.

The curtains were tightly drawn, making the room dim. On the bed, Allen's blanket was bunched up and visibly rising and falling.

"Guess Allen's sleeping in for once... yesterday's fight must've drained him, huh?" Rudeus crept over and yanked the blanket. "Wake up, you naked weirdo!"

As the blanket flew into the air, a breeze lifted the curtain, and a beam of light fell on Roxy's peacefully sleeping face.

Rudeus stared at her for a long moment.

Then he slapped himself.

"Am I dreaming? Did I really mistake Allen for Roxy...? Weird... Wait, why's Allen wearing Roxy's clothes...?"

He rubbed his eyes hard and looked again. Roxy stirred from the noise, blinking drowsily.

Footsteps sounded from the hallway.

"Roxy, it's time to get up. Rudeus might come looking for you soon—"

Allen stepped into the room and froze. Rudeus turned from Roxy's sleepy face to Allen's horrified expression.

Silence.

Allen blinked rapidly. "Rudeus... calm down. I can explain."

Rudeus, exuding an intimidating aura worthy of a boss confrontation, gave a frosty smile.

"Go ahead. I'm listening."

"Oh, hey Rudeus. Is Allen there?" Roxy murmured, lifting herself up.

"Good morning. Thanks for everything last night. If you hadn't helped me, I wouldn't have made it to bed at all. You even heated water for my bath..."

Allen's mind screamed. "Roxy, do you hear yourself?!"

Rudeus roared, "ALLEN!!"

"Listen! She's clothed! I swear! Wait! WAIT!!"

"Water Ball!"

"Flow Ōgi (Secret Flowing Technique)! Don't! You'll get the bed wet! Roxy's still in it!!"

"Water...?"

Both boys slowly turned their heads toward a thoroughly drenched Roxy, who sat up blinking, still not fully awake.

At that moment, Zenith and Lilia burst into the room, alerted by the yelling. Zenith took one look at the soaked Roxy and the two panicked boys.

She smiled sweetly. "You two seem to be getting along so well... how reassuring."

——

At breakfast, Allen and Rudeus sat at the table, nursing panda eyes.

Zenith scolded them the entire meal.

"Before Allen came, Rudeus was such a calm, well-behaved child. I guess he just needed a peer to play with, huh? And you, Allen—four years older than him, yet you act like a brat."

"We're sorry!" they chorused.

The two, who were actually the same age, shared a glance and both looked at Roxy. Now dressed in homewear from her luggage, she sipped tea with a serene expression—though the smile in her eyes gave her away.

Paul laughed. "Since Roxy just happened to be passing through, stay a few days. We'll clear out the storage room for... Allen to sleep in."

Roxy glanced at Allen. This was the story they agreed on earlier—to avoid worrying Zenith and Lilia, and to keep Rudeus from discovering Allen's true identity.

Allen worried that once Rudeus became a tutor in the future and traveled to Roa, he might accidentally spill the truth.

"So, you lost your money to thieves and had to walk all the way here. It was late when you arrived, huh? Yeah, that sounds like something Roxy would do."

Roxy choked on her tea. Zenith patted her back.

She gave Allen a half-lidded glare. That lame excuse had been his idea—"It fits your character," he'd said.

"Well, dear," Zenith added with a smile, "Being clumsy is part of Roxy's charm~"

"True that."

Roxy: ...

Allen: ...

Rudeus glared at the flirtatious pair with a grief-stricken expression.

"Why is Allen so good with women? I'm so jealous. God, I'll definitely get my revenge on him... Wait—"

He froze. "The shrine incident! He's got dirt on me! That scheming bastard!"

Allen sensed Rudeus's burning gaze but could only sigh.

As he chewed his breakfast, a nagging feeling tugged at him—he'd forgotten something important.

He shook his head.

"Whatever. It'll come to me eventually."

(End of Chapter)

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