mushoku tensei: unplanned reincarnation

The magic training with Roxy had already ended. Another day, another step forward — at least, that's how I liked to think of it. Now, in the yard, I was enjoying a moment of rest, feeling the gentle breeze against my face... until I heard footsteps approaching.

When I looked to the side, there she was. Sylphie.

"Hi, Rudy" she said, her radiant smile lighting up her face.

I gave a brief wave and walked over to her. The smile never left her face, and her eyes were sparkling. She seemed more excited than usual.

"Did something happen?"

Sylphie clenched her fists and took a step forward, nearly jumping with excitement.

"I did it, Rudy! I did it just like you!"

'What did she do?'

Her eyes were glowing with anticipation, and her smile showed just how happy she was.

"So... what about my gift?"

'Gift? What gift? I…'

It was only then that I remembered. The day before, I had promised to give her a gift if she managed to do what I did. But, in reality, I had said that on impulse, without thinking about what I would actually give.

Crap. What should I do now?

I couldn't just admit I had forgotten… or could I? Maybe she wouldn't mind that much. It was just a promise made in the heat of the moment, right? Kids forget about these things all the time.

"Ah… well… about the gift..."

The sparkle in her eyes wavered.

Wait.

Kids forget? Yes. But they also cling to small details, don't they? To me, it could be just a passing comment, but to her… maybe it was really important.

She blinked a few times, her smile fading.

"You… didn't bring it?"

Her gaze dropped to the ground, and a strange weight settled in my chest.

"Ah, no! It's not that! I just… haven't chosen yet!"

"So, you forgot."

She pressed her lips together and looked away. The silence that followed was worse than any scolding.

"I didn't forget," I tried to explain. ""But... I only thought of the gift because I wanted to cheer you up. I didn't think you would remember."

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized the mistake.

Sylphie lifted her head to meet my gaze. Her eyes, once sparkling with anticipation, now trembled, reflecting a mix of surprise and disappointment.

For a moment, she stayed still. Then, her lips parted slightly, and her breath faltered.

"Sniff... so... you just said that for no reason?"

'Great job, Rudeus. Passing the responsibility onto her.'

Her eyes filled with tears, and my stomach churned.

'Oh no… don't cry, please, don't cry…'

But it was too late. The first tear fell, and with it, the weight of my mistake hit me hard.

I wanted to fix it, apologize somehow, but how? What I had said wasn't just any lie; it was about her, about her expectation, and I couldn't just undo it.

'I really did say that just to cheer her up, but… I can't leave it like this. She was expecting something…'

I wanted to give her something real. Something that showed I cared.

'But what?'

Nothing came to mind. No gift I had or could easily give. It's not like I could buy something around the corner.

'But… maybe I know where I can find something. Something she might find unique and that could somehow be special.'

The forest.

Yes, there. I knew there were plants, flowers, and even materials that could serve as something interesting. The only doubt was whether I could find something that would really make her happy.

'And if it's not enough? And if she doesn't like it?'

There wasn't much to do except try. If I didn't try, the guilt would continue to eat at me. The only way to show I was really trying to fix my mistake was to act. The forest was the most obvious place.

"Sylphie, look at me. I'm going out for a bit, okay?"

I stared at her, waiting for a reaction, but she remained still, not answering. Her gaze was lowered, fixed on the ground, as if she hadn't heard.

That made me uneasy. Instinctively, I stepped a bit closer.

"Hm... I'm sorry... I swear I'll bring the best gift you've ever seen."

My voice came out strong, but Sylphie remained silent. Her small shoulders trembled slightly, and her breathing seemed heavy.

The pressure in my chest only grew.

I wanted her to believe me. I wanted her to know I cared. But in the end, words weren't enough.

So, without waiting for a reply, I turned and started walking away.

'I need to find something. Something that will make her smile again.'

I clenched my fists and turned to leave, but before I could take the first step, I heard her hesitant voice behind me.

"Rudy… where are you going?"

I stopped for a moment and glanced over my shoulder. Sylphie still didn't meet my eyes directly, but her eyes trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something and didn't know how.

"I'm going to the forest."

She immediately lifted her head, her eyes wide.

"What? But wh-what if it's dangerous?"

"I'll be back soon."

I didn't wait any longer. Before she could try to stop me, I spun on my heels and started running.

I heard Sylphie call my name, her voice full of concern, but I didn't stop. I had to do this.

As I ran, I thought about what I would give her.

---

When I reached the edge of the forest, I paused for a moment. The place I saw as the entrance wasn't really a defined path, since the forest was relatively flat and accessible from any point. Still, there was something symbolic in that moment.

I lifted my eyes to the top of the tallest tree I could see. The massive trunk stretched far beyond what I had imagined, almost daring anyone to climb it. Without realizing it, I bit the inside of my cheek.

I took a deep breath and turned my gaze back to the forest. Although the canopy of trees filtered the sunlight, creating a soft twilight, there were still clear spots where the golden rays filtered through the leaves. It wasn't a completely dark environment, but the change in light made everything feel more mysterious.

I looked back, as if expecting to see something that would make me hesitate. But hesitation wasn't an option.

"Come on, Rudeus. You're strong. You've got this. Don't be afraid."

With a firm step, I entered the forest.

As I advanced, my senses sharpened. The sound of leaves rustling in the wind, the occasional crack of a dry branch beneath my feet, the distant chirping of birds… everything seemed more vivid than before. I had never ventured so deep alone, but now there was no time to think about that.

I kept my eyes alert, scanning the surroundings for anything that would catch my attention. Unusual flowers, perhaps. A glowing stone. Anything that seemed worthy of becoming a special gift for Sylphie.

However, the more I searched, the more I realized it wasn't that simple. Many flowers were beautiful, but too common. The stones were just stones. Nothing seemed unique enough.

Then, when I was starting to feel frustrated, a subtle glow between the roots of a tree caught my attention.

I slowly approached, and as I cleared some of the vegetation, my eyes widened.

There, among the twisted roots, a glowing green flower grew amidst the moss. Its petals were long and slightly translucent, and a soft emerald glow pulsed from its center. It was something I had never seen before.

I knelt down and reached out to pick it, but as soon as my fingers brushed the stem, a low, rumbling sound echoed behind me.

My body froze for a moment. The sound wasn't the wind, nor a bird. It was a growl.

Slowly, I turned my head.

Between the shadows of the trees, two yellowish eyes glowed in my direction.

'Oh... great.'

I just wanted to pick a flower. But apparently, I wasn't the only one interested in it.

There, in front of me, stood a dog... no, a beast. Its body was covered in messy black fur, its claws were bigger than my hand, and its sharp fangs gleamed under the little light that filtered through the forest. It growled softly, as if savoring the thought of attacking me.

Its predatory eyes didn't blink. They just stared at me.

My breath caught in my throat.

'If I run, it'll charge. If I stand still, it might still charge. So… what do I do?'

My heart was pounding so hard that I could feel my pulse in my fingertips.

The monster took a step forward, then another, its movements slow and calculated, testing my reaction.

'Should I use fire magic to scare it off?'

That was the first thought that came to mind when I realized it had stopped about six meters away from me. Its growl became fiercer.

Subtly, I moved my left arm behind my body and raised my right hand.

'Now...'

I snapped my fingers with my left hand.

The monster lunged at me.

In that instant, the magic I had already prepared in my right hand activated, and a burst of fire erupted from it, burning the air between us. I dropped to the ground to dodge the attack, feeling the heat of my own magic and the sharp wind from the beast's charge.

When I looked up, I saw that the fire had hit its face. It let out a howl of pain, shaking its head frantically.

I couldn't stop now.

My mind raced for the best option. My eyes scanned the environment, looking for something I could use to my advantage. Then, an idea appeared — the same magic I used against Roxy.

Before I realized it, a stone had already formed in my hand. I hardened it, compressed its structure, and accelerated it with magic. In an instant, I threw it with all my strength at the monster.

The impact echoed through the forest.

"Uff… Urgh…"

Breathing heavily, I looked around, expecting other monsters to have heard the fight.

But there was nothing.

Only then did I turn my gaze back to the beast.

It was lying down.

Blood flowed from its head.

"Huh?... What?"

My body froze. I jumped to my feet and approached, irrationally hoping that it was still alive.

But it wasn't.

It wasn't moving anymore.

I felt a wave of nausea rise up my throat. My balance failed, and before I realized it, I was on the ground, staring at my own hands.

Slowly, I turned my eyes back to the beast's lifeless body.

'I... I killed...'

The thought came heavy, sinking into my chest.

'I just wanted to scare it. I just wanted to drive it away. But... I killed it.'

I swallowed hard.

The forest seemed quieter than before.

I knew monsters were dangerous. I knew I could be attacked.

But I didn't know I would feel like this.

My eyes were fixed on the beast's still body. Blood stained the ground, and its chest no longer rose or fell. A moment ago, it was growling, alive, fierce. Now, it was just a lifeless body.

I killed it.

The realization weighed on my chest in a strange way. It wasn't like in the books or games I remembered. There was no feeling of victory, no relief. Just an uncomfortable silence and the memory of how it looked at me before it died.

It was just trying to survive, wasn't it? Maybe it hunted to feed itself. Maybe it had pups hidden somewhere, waiting for its return.

But now… it wouldn't come back.

And if it were me in its place?

The question arose before I could avoid it.

If I died here, in the forest, what would happen? Would I reincarnate again? Or would it all end here? I didn't know. Maybe no one knew.

Suddenly, the world seemed colder.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

This was normal in this world. To survive, I would have to fight. But... if I had a choice, I would prefer never to feel this again.

I took a deep breath. My eyes returned to the reason I was here. The flower.

It was still there, swaying gently in the breeze. I approached, hesitantly, and knelt to pick it.

It was just a flower. Simple, fragile. But I knew Sylphie would be happy to receive it.

The thought brought a strange warmth to my chest.

"That... will make her smile."

I tried to hold on to that. I would be happy for her. To see her happy. That was enough.

With the flower securely in my hands, I began to stand up.

That's when I heard it.

A growl.

Two.

Three.

Many.

My eyes widened, and my breath caught in my throat.

Looking around, I saw pairs of yellowish eyes glowing between the trees. Eight. Eight wolves. Surrounding me.

My body froze.

My mind spun.

The monster's carcass I had slain was still there, bloodied. The smell of blood must have attracted the pack.

'Six meters. Five meters… They're closing in.'

My hand trembled.

If they attacked me all at once...

I swallowed hard, and the image flashed in my head. My body lying on the ground. Blood dripping. Limbs shredded. Their gaze on me, the same way I had looked at that dead monster.

'No... No, no, no...!'

I don't want to die.

My chest rose and fell frantically. Sweat trickled down my forehead.

'I have to decide. Now!'

My eyes steeled. My hands tightened around the flower.

'Fight. Or die.'

My magic was ready before I even realized it.

I raised my arms, and the air around me grew cold.

'Freeze everything.'

I imagined a wave of ice spreading like a brutal wall. Ten meters high, advancing like a hungry avalanche.

The ground cracked. The air vibrated.

And then, the cold took over everything.

The ice exploded forward, swallowing the wolves like an invisible beast. The sound of stalagmites freezing the ground echoed like shattering glass.

Five didn't have time to react. They were consumed by the freezing wave, their bodies crystallizing instantly.

Three managed to escape in time, leaping to the sides.

But now they were furious.

They growled with even more ferocity and ran toward me.

I prepared myself.

The cold still lingered in the air. But now, I needed the opposite.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

'Burn.'

I visualized the flames taking shape, furious, devouring the oxygen around me.

And then, I fired.

A burst of fire roared. The scorching heat blazed, illuminating the shadows of the forest. The flames took up the space between me and the monsters, forcing them to retreat at the last moment.

My fists were clenched.

My heart still beat like a maddened drum.

But now... I was ready to fight.

It wasn't over yet.

I channeled more mana into my wrist, gathering it into a growing combustion in front of me. The heat pulsed in the air, distorting my vision. Ignoring the mana cost, I continued expanding the flame until it was too large for anything to escape.

Then, I launched it.

The fire shot out in an instant. The ground trembled beneath my feet. A deafening roar exploded in the air, followed by a gust of wind and a devastating shockwave.

Instinctively, I raised my arm to shield my eyes.

When I lowered my gaze, I saw the result.

Two-thirds of the forest before me had been consumed. Charred trees toppled among crackling embers. The smell of burnt wood filled the heavy air.

It seemed impossible that anything had survived this.

That was too far.

The forest, which had once seemed dark and threatening, was now tinged orange and red. The flames danced, consuming everything they touched. Trees snapped, collapsing one after another. The heat rose through the air, forming wavering ripples that distorted my vision.

My heart hammered in my chest, and my breath was heavy.

But above all, I felt an unbearable weight in my throat.

'I did this.'

My eyes moved to what had once been a group of hungry monsters. Now, all that remained was ash.

The battle was over.

But instead of relief, I felt a tightness in my chest.

I caused this.

Not only did I kill the monsters, I annihilated them. And the forest, too. That scene that had seemed alive minutes ago was now a burned desert.

'Could I have solved this differently?'

The question echoed in my mind.

But before I could find an answer, a sound among the flames made my eyes widen.

Footsteps.

My breath caught in my throat. The heat from the flames still pulsed around me when a silhouette appeared between the burning trees.

"Rudeus!!"

The firm voice cut through the air, filled with urgency and disbelief. My body instinctively shrank.

Paul.

He stopped a few meters in front of me, his wide eyes scanning the scene of destruction.

"What the hell happened here?"

I opened my mouth, but no words came out. My gaze shifted to the ground, to the scorched earth beneath my feet.

What could I say?

That I went into the forest to get a gift?

That I was attacked by a monster and, panicking, overdid the spell?

That I didn't want to destroy everything, but lost control?

But then, more footsteps echoed.

"Did... you do this?"

The new voice was calm, but filled with shock.

I looked up and saw Roxy standing near Paul. Her eyes were fixed on the trail of destruction I had caused. She seemed stunned.

"This spell... it's a large-scale attack," she murmured, assessing the damage with a technical eye.

She took a deep breath, turning her eyes away from the ashes and looking up at the sky.

"We need to put out the fire before it spreads"

She raised her hand and began muttering an incantation. The sky, once clear, darkened suddenly, and clouds formed above us. The wind shifted, carrying the smell of moisture.

"Storm."

Then, the rain began to fall.

Thick drops of water plummeted from the sky, silencing the flames and filling the air with the sound of water hissing against the hot ground.

I stood there, feeling the rain run down my face.

My body was tense, my thoughts still swirling around what had just happened.

Then, I lowered my eyes to my hand.

The flower.

Or at least, what was left of it.

Without realizing, I had squeezed it tightly, crushing its delicate petals.

A long sigh escaped my lips.

I looked up and stared at the cloudy sky, letting the cold water wash away the heat still burning inside me.

---

As we walked back home, Paul looked at me and asked what had happened. I took a deep breath and tried to summarize the events.

"I went into the forest to find a gift. I ended up finding a monster, and... well, I didn't think properly and overdid the magic."

I tried to simplify, without getting into all the details, but still, Paul looked at me with a sharp gaze, raising his eyebrows. He clearly knew I wasn't telling the whole story.

As we walked in silence, my mind began to return to the forest, to what had happened. What I had done.

Life is fragile, and death has weight. When I saw the monster's fallen body, something clenched inside me. Killing a living being, no matter how monstrous, wasn't something I had imagined I'd feel this way about. I couldn't just ignore the gravity of taking a life, even in self-defense. It would never be the same. I saw what I caused, the trail of destruction, and there was no turning back. This wasn't like training with magic. This was real. I didn't want to do that, but... fear brought me to this point.

And, of course, I acted impulsively. If I had stopped to think, if I had stepped back before using so much magic, maybe things wouldn't have gone this way. I knew what magic was capable of, knew the impact it could have, but at the moment, I didn't stop to reflect. In an instant, I could've caused something irreversible. It was a feeling of emptiness, as if I had lost control of myself. What would've happened if someone else had been there? Would I have been able to handle the situation better? I felt weak, and that scared me more than any monster could have.

In the middle of all this reflection, I remembered the flower. The reason all of this had started. It had all been for her, for Sylphie. Something simple, but important. Something I wanted to do to see her smile, something that would make sense amidst the chaos I was creating. Maybe I had done everything wrong, but still, it reminded me that my feelings, my intentions, still mattered. Even though I had lost control, the motivation that brought me there was still real. I wanted to protect what was important to me, and that meant something. I just needed to learn how to do it the right way.

So was it good?

'But what if the monster had caught me by surprise? What if I hadn't gone into the forest? What if I had thought before using magic? What if I had been more cautious? What if I had controlled myself, instead of reacting with so much fear? What if...'

But no, I couldn't get lost in those questions.

I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment. I couldn't stay trapped in this whirlwind of doubts. What happened was already done. It was no use trying to go back, I had to deal with the consequences.

I needed to stop overthinking.

I breathed again, and with that, the anxiety began to dissipate. The trees around me were as they always were, the world hadn't stopped. I knew I had to move forward, even without all the answers. It was no use staying paralyzed. I needed to act, learn from all of this, and continue.

With my thoughts resolved, I looked to where my father was.

"Dad, when we get home, I'll train more seriously with the sword."

Upon hearing that, he raised his eyebrows but soon looked at me with a silly grin on his face.

"Finally learned that the sword is the best weapon a man can use to defend himself, huh?" He said this with visible pride on his face.

Seeing that made me chuckle.

I had never thought that much about sword usage during my training, but now I wanted to. Now, more than ever, I knew I couldn't rely only on magic. I needed to be more complete, more balanced.

The way back would be long, but I knew that every step I took was leading me toward what I needed to become.