mushoku tensei: unplanned reincarnation

A month after the incident in the forest, I was in the backyard, training with the sword under my father's supervision.

Paul took a quick glance at my stance, adjusting it with na instinctive movement, as he always did.

"Now, swing your sword with a 'vush' and then 'slash!'" he said, with his usual tone, not bothering to explain why or how.

I took a deep breath, trying to understand what he meant. I pieced the words together, but they still didn't make much sense. I raised the sword, attempting to follow his instructions. However, instead of a smooth strike, what came out was more of a clumsy blow, lacking coordination. He looked away and made his usual expression, that effortless smile.

"That's not it," he said, shaking his head. "Faster, more direct. Like I said."

I raised the sword again, trying to process what he wanted. But the more I tried, the more disoriented I became.

---.

When the swinging of the sword finally stopped, exhaustion set in. Sweat was dripping down my forehead, and my arms were heavy from the pointless repetition. I sighed, feeling the weight of a growing thought.

"Maybe... fencing isn't really for me," I said, more to myself than to Paul, as I let the sword fall to the ground.

He looked at me for a moment, saying nothing. I stared at him, with no energy left to argue or try to understand.

Paul looked at the sky for a few seconds, then finally returned his attention to me.

"Rudy, now we're going to have a duel, and I want you to focus on the moment of the attack," he said, walking over and adjusting my posture.

I did what he asked, but no matter how hard I tried to match my father's movements, he always outpaced me in speed and precision. When I attempted na attack, he easily dodged and struck my shoulder, throwing me off balance.

I was getting exhausted, but I didn't let it consume me. I stood up and tried to analyze the fight that had just taken place.

Should I counterattack when he advanced toward me? Or would it be better to wait for na opening before attacking? But, if I attacked first, I'd also leave many openings... On the other hand, if I was fast enough, I could surprise him, make him drop his guard, and then find my chance to win.

"You think too much before acting," he commented, smiling. "In real combat, hesitation can be fatal."

I looked at his face and raised na eyebrow.

"But you said I should focus on the moment of the attack."

"Rudy, what I meant is that you need to be present in the moment of the attack, not just planning. If you overthink it, you'll miss the chance to act. If you act without thinking, you'll be predictable. The balance between the two is what defines a skilled swordsman."

He then assumed his stance again, challenging me to continue.

"Now, try again. But this time, feel the flow of the combat, instead of just analyzing it."

I took a deep breath, adjusted my grip on the sword, and advanced. My arm moved before my thoughts could catch up, and for a moment, I felt like I was in the right rhythm. My sword followed a precise arc toward my father's flank.

But he wasn't there anymore.

A second later, something hit my rib, forcing me to stagger back.

I bit my lip and adjusted my stance. Again.

This time, I tried to wait. I watched his posture, waiting for a move. As soon as he advanced, my muscles reacted almost instinctively—but at the last second, I hesitated. Doubt flashed like lightning through my mind. Was it really the right moment?

It was enough. My father dodged to the side and struck my arm, making my sword slip from my fingers.

I gritted my teeth.

"This is annoying..." I muttered, picking up the sword from the ground with too much force.

"You've improved," he commented, but the smile on his lips showed he knew exactly what I was feeling.

I didn't want praise. I wanted to hit him.

I raised the sword once more.

I took a deep breath, adjusted my grip, and assumed a defensive stance.

I waited.

Paul twirled the sword between his fingers, carefree, as if the training was just a game. His eyes evaluated every movement I made, and the worst part: he was smiling. A satisfied smile, as if he already knew exactly what was going to happen.

My chest heated with frustration.

I knew he was better. I knew he was teaching me. But that expression on his face, that absolute confidence...

My body moved before my thoughts could catch up.

I advanced, aiming for the leg.

Paul jumped back, but this time I was already expecting it. I twisted my wrist and redirected the blow to the side, trying to strike him on the flank. He raised the sword to parry, but I was already crouching and turning my body for a second attack.

My sword hit his calf.

The sound of the impact froze me for a moment.

Did I do it?

Paul stepped back, massaging his leg. His eyes assessed me for a moment before returning to a satisfied smile.

"Good hit."

A wave of satisfaction washed over me. I had hit him. After so many tries, I finally did it!

But then...

My mind went back to the seconds before the attack. What made me advance like that? What made me hit, without hesitation?

The answer came too quickly... and it wasn't what I wanted.

The irritation.

I hadn't stopped to analyze. I hadn't hesitated. I just attacked because I let myself be carried away by the moment.

My expression closed.

I had promised myself I would stop overthinking. And yet, in the end, it was na impulse that made me act, not real learning.

A hand landed on top of my head, messing my hair slightly.

"Again," Paul said, stepping back and assuming his stance.

I didn't want to feel happiness just for that, but when I realized, I was already smiling.

'The reason I'm smiling is because of my body. Yes, that's right... my body that isn't responding to me.'

I gripped the hilt of the sword tightly and nodded.

Even if it was small, the feeling of finally landing a hit was good. One step forward. Maybe... just maybe, I was improving.

If I wanted to change, I needed to keep trying.

---.

Later that night, I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. My whole body still ached from the training, and the wind outside whistled through the gaps in the window.

And the wind wasn't the only sound echoing through the house.

"Ngh... aah..."

I closed my eyes tightly. It didn't take much effort to realize what was happening. The sound echoed through the walls, impossible to ignore. If anyone walked down the hallway right now, they'd have a rather unpleasant revelation.

Two images flashed in my mind. And along with them... the scene I definitely didn't want to imagine.

'This is a curse for the ears of everyone in the house... But I can't judge them. If I were at the height of my life, I'd probably be doing the same.'

I sighed and turned to my side, trying to push the thoughts away.

But then, I remembered Roxy.

She was still in the house. Was she hearing this too?

My parents clearly didn't care, considering they had already done this on her first day here.

'Maybe I'll walk down the hallway to scare them?'

The idea made me smile, and without thinking much, I started to get up.

With that in mind, I left my room, trying to be as silent as possible – but someone had already taken the lead. In the dark hallway, I saw Roxy bent over, peeking into the room. Her cheeks were red, and her breath was muffled, as if she were under some unusual tension.

However, what really caught me off guard wasn't her curious position, but the fact that one of her hands was discreetly out of sight, doing something that definitely didn't fit the situation. She didn't seem to notice my presence until, in a flash of realization, our eyes met.

Roxy's face lit up with a deep blush, as if the floor was about to swallow her whole. She immediately stopped the movement, bringing her hand to the front of her body and turning to flee. It was the kind of look someone gives when they want to disappear from embarrassment.

For a few seconds, I stood there, not knowing what to do. Then, in na impulsive attempt to salvage the situation, I quickly looked away and returned to my room, trying to pretend like nothing had happened.

'At least she has the good sense to hide...'

Pretending I hadn't seen anything, I turned to the bed, trying to maintain my composure. 'Nothing happened. It's nothing, really... Just another normal day in the Greyrat household.'

---

The next morning, I was sitting at the breakfast table, chewing on bread while the aroma of coffee filled the room. The silence in the house was pleasant, a moment of tranquility, until I heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs. I looked up to see Roxy descending slowly, her messy blue hair and simple day clothes.

She seemed a little distracted, probably still half asleep, but I couldn't take my eyes off her. The way she descended the stairs, her face a bit pale with a hint of shyness, made me almost freeze in na odd moment. I lowered my head slightly, trying to hide how much I was watching, but I couldn't avoid it.

After a moment, Roxy looked up, and the instant our gazes met, I immediately noticed the change in her behavior. Her cheeks turned bright red, and her steps faltered for a moment. She paused briefly in the middle of the stairs before hastily continuing, trying to seem natural, but the embarrassment was evident on her face.

I kept looking at her, almost unintentionally, but the situation was uncomfortable for both of us. She quickly looked away, her shoulders hunched as if she wanted to hide. I felt uncomfortable too, but I kept chewing my bread as if nothing had happened.

She finally reached the table, trying to hide her face with a forced smile. The silence that followed was almost deafening, and neither she nor I seemed willing to break it.

Only after a moment did Roxy try to mask her embarrassment and sit down, but I couldn't help but notice how uncomfortable she was – as if she was wondering how much I had been watching.

The mood was strange, so I decided to break the ice in a simple way.

"Hm... good morning," I said, trying to sound casual.

Roxy just looked at her plate.

"..."

She didn't respond.

That silence made me sigh, but I wasn't going to let it affect me.

'She's probably just being shy. Damn, it must be because of my masculinity.'

Seeing that my casual approach wasn't working, I decided to do the most normal thing I could.

"You know, last night I had a strange dream... I left the room and saw a monster at my parents' door. It scared me, and when I realized, the monster had run away. And in the dream, the monster had blue hair and—"

"Hah... you... you had that dream too?" Roxy said, her face showing a slight blush. "I... I did too! I was afraid of a monster with blue hair..."

She let out a nervous, muffled giggle that quickly turned into a frustrated attempt to hide her embarrassment. Her hands went to her face, but not enough to hide the redness. The involuntary laugh had betrayed her discomfort, and she stood there, trying to regain her composure, her shoulders tense and her eyes avoiding mine.

I, on the other hand, just watched, feeling the situation get even more awkward. She was clearly trying to recover, but the situation wasn't helping much.

Trying to relieve the tension, I decided to change the subject.

"Ah, Sylphie is really happy to learn from you, you know?" I commented, trying to shift the focus.

When Roxy heard my comment, she stopped for a moment, her eyes lifting to meet mine but quickly darting back to her plate. I continued, taking advantage of the opening.

"I talked to her about you taking Sylphie as your disciple. I think she was hesitant, but I knew in the end, you'd accept her... even though you were a little skeptical at first."

Roxy remained silent for a moment, as if reliving that memory.

"Do you remember? When I mentioned that Sylphie could use magic, you didn't believe it right away. Your expression showed clear skepticism. But then... when she actually cast a spell, the shock was visible on your face. For a moment, it seemed like time had stopped. You sighed... and at that moment, you knew there was no room for doubt anymore. That's when you truly accepted her."

I fell silent, watching Roxy, who lowered her head, perhaps a little embarrassed by the recollection. She didn't respond immediately, but her expression suggested she was reflecting on my words – maybe realizing that, in a way, Sylphie had already become part of our group.

After a few moments of silence, I decided to change the subject.

"Speaking of magic, Sensei... Do you think it would be possible to create a spell based on electricity?"

She raised na eyebrow, looking surprised by the question. "You mean lightning? That already exists, you know? Lightning magic is a powerful offensive magic, at the King level and above."

"No, no. I mean something different. What if, instead of just summoning lightning from the sky, we could manipulate electricity directly? Like na... invisible current of energy that flows through objects and can be used in various ways."

She furrowed her brow, thoughtful, clearly trying to fit my idea into her magical understanding.

"Na invisible current of energy...?" she murmured, bringing her hand to her chin. "If it doesn't come from the sky, where would this energy come from? Lightning is a manifestation of nature's fury. If we don't use clouds to create it, how would we do it?"

"Well, what if that energy existed inside everything? As if it was always there, just waiting to be manipulated?" I suggested.

She tilted her head, showing skepticism. "If this energy already existed in everything, then it should be perceptible in some way. But I've never seen anyone talk about a spell like that."

"That's because no one has tried yet."

The reasoning lingered in my mind, but I couldn't quite make the pieces fit together.

'The problem is I have no idea how to produce electricity out of nowhere... I mean, in my head, this should work somehow, but in the world I came from, it was something more... technical.'

I tried to recall the concepts I knew. Friction? Particle movement? I needed something to start the electric current... How were lightning bolts formed again? Something about positive and negative charges, but how would I apply that with magic?

"You seem confused."

I looked at her and realized she was looking at me curiously.

"It's because I'm trying to remember something that should make sense, but it doesn't fully," I admitted.

She looked at me, then up at the ceiling, pondering. I mimicked her, staring at the ceiling, trying to find a way out of this dilemma.

"Well, if electricity needs something physical to work, then how could we...?"

The reasoning got lost as I tried to force the logic to work. In the end, I just sighed and looked at Roxy, who still had a flicker of confusion in her gaze. I realized she doubted whether this would even work, since understanding how it would work was beyond her too.

"So, in the end, my idea is just some nonsense," I joked, trying to ease the tension in the conversation.

"No, it's not absurd. But this idea you had made me push myself to try and understand how it works."

I stared at her for a few seconds, fixing my gaze on her face, and she quickly looked away. A small smile naturally appeared on my face.

"That's what you're here for, teacher."

She huffed, but couldn't hide the smile that appeared at the corner of her lips. A slight blush spread across her cheeks, almost imperceptible, but still there.

While she smiled, I found myself thinking about the night before. The light blush spreading across her cheeks was different from yesterday.

However, I could understand why she did it. Despite all her magical experience, she was still young. But did she know how to deal with the hormones that come with age?

Seeing her advanced skills made me question whether she was a genius. In fact, maybe "genius" was too modest a term. And I doubted all this knowledge came solely from study. She probably had experience in battles as well.

But the question of her age kept hammering in my head. Her short stature suggested she could be between 15 and 17... But in my previous world, I'd seen people in their 40s who looked like they were in their 20s.

I decided to ask directly.

"Roxy, how old are you?"

She blinked, looking a little surprised by the sudden question.

"Eh? What does this have to do with our conversation?"

"Well, it's just that you have na absurd knowledge of magic, and at the same time... your appearance doesn't help much in defining your age," I admitted, scratching my cheek.

Roxy sighed, crossing her arms. "If you're insinuating that I look like a child, I'll warn you that it's not something I like."

"No, that's not it!" I hurried to correct myself, though... well, it was kind of that too.

"It's just, you know, with your experience, I would think you're older, but your appearance says otherwise. So, I got curious."

She was silent for a moment, as if pondering whether she really wanted to respond. Then, she averted her gaze and said in a somewhat reluctant tone:

"I'm 37."

I blinked.

"Sorry, what?"

"Thirty-seven," she repeated, now looking at me with a neutral expression.

The silence stretched as my brain tried to process the information. My first instinct was to laugh, thinking it was a joke, but her serious gaze made me swallow any comments.

"You're... serious?"

"Yes. Migurdi demons age slower than humans. I'm still young by my race's standards."

I tried not to seem too shocked, but it was difficult. It all made sense now—her vast experience in magic, her skill as a teacher, her maturity at times.

My gaze faltered for a moment. It was strange to think about because, mentally, I still saw myself as a young 17-year-old boy. Although my body was that of a three-year-old child, my mind belonged to someone who had already passed adolescence.

And now, in front of me, was a master who looked like a teenager... but was actually a 37-year-old adult.

'Well... I guess I can't call her young anymore.'

I swallowed and pushed those thoughts aside for the time being. After all, age was just a number... right?

"That explains a lot," I murmured, still processing it.

Roxy sighed and massaged her temples, as if she had already predicted my reaction.

"Anyway, I hope that satisfies your curiosity. Now, how about we start eating?"

Still a bit stunned, I nodded.

"Sure... teacher."

This time, the smile on the corner of her lips was more exasperation than amusement.

---.

After some time, once the meal was finished, I went to the backyard, where Lilia was.

She was there, stretching her arms on the clothesline, apparently putting clothes to dry.

But if you looked closely, you'd notice that as she raised her arms, her breasts swayed slightly.

And as I observed the fluid mountains, I realized she had glanced in my direction and, being the gentleman I was, I raised my arms and waved in greeting.

As I approached, I saw that her clothes were slightly wet, and I looked towards the basin and saw that there were still some clothes left to be hung.

"Good morning, and thank you for the meal." Whenever I had the chance, I would thank her for the food she prepared.

"Good morning. I'm glad you liked it."

I looked at her face and furrowed my brows. Her response was still formal, almost distant.

Lilia was a reserved woman, I knew that, but sometimes I wondered if she spoke that way out of habit or choice. It wasn't coldness, just... a restrained way of expressing herself.

"Do you always speak like this?" I asked, crossing my arms.

She paused for a moment, as if reflecting on the question. "It's my way of speaking."

"So, does that mean you don't have a more... relaxed way of speaking?"

She blinked, thoughtful, and then let out a brief sigh.

"If you prefer, I can speak less formally."

The tone was the same as always, but for some reason, it seemed like a small breakthrough.

'Well, at least this is progress toward finding the kindness I think is still deep in your heart.'

With a slight smile, I turned my gaze back to the clothes on the line. "Need help with that?"

She looked at me and let out a small laugh.

"Do you think you can reach the line?"

Hearing that broke my gentlemanly side inside.

But I shook my head and quickly recovered. I had to show the side every cool guy has within himself.

"Mfufufu, don't worry, my lady," I declared, bringing my palm to my face, covering my left eye. "I, Rudeus Greyrat, the wizard, can make the impossible possible!"

With a dramatic movement, I removed my hand from my face and placed both palms on the ground. I let my mana flow between my fingers, shaping the earth. In moments, a small mound of grass made of dirt appeared before us.

I raised my head with a confident smile. "What do you think?"

Lilia observed the small mound of grass with a neutral expression. For a moment, I thought she would completely ignore my feat, but then...

"Interesting," she said, tilting her head slightly.

'Is that it? Just interesting?'

I crossed my arms. "Well, well, I expected a more excited reaction! Something like, 'Oh, how amazing, Rudeus-sama! You truly are a genius of magic!'"

She blinked, not changing her expression. "That was na impressive trick... for a child."

The blow was direct. I felt my confidence crumble a little.

"You could at least pretend to be a bit more excited," I muttered.

She sighed softly, then placed her hand on her chin as if reflecting.

"So... what do you plan to do with this little mountain?"

"Well, climb it and hang the clothes, of course."

Lilia looked at me, then at the pile of dirt, then back at me.

"...Just don't dirty the clothes."

Despite her impassive tone, I had the slight impression that there was a trace of amusement in her eyes.

As I climbed my glorious mound of dirt, Lilia handed me some clothes to hang. I took a shirt and stretched it on the line with all the skill of a true laundry assistant.

"So, Lilia," I started, trying to make conversation, "do you always wake up this early to do this?"

"Yes."

...That's it?

"But what if it were raining?"

"I'd hang them inside."

This woman really didn't waste words.

I continued hanging the clothes, trying to find another topic. "Did you always want to work as a maid?"

"Not exactly."

"Then why did you choose this?"

She paused for a moment, taking another piece from the basin. "It happened naturally."

Hmmm... definitely not na easy conversation.

I decided to change my approach. "You know, you move with such precision that you look like a trained swordswoman."

This time, she hesitated a little before answering. "I have trained in fencing."

"Aha, I knew it!" I smiled, satisfied. "So you must be really strong. I bet you've won many fights."

She didn't answer immediately, just continued her work. That left me curious.

I looked at her and then at her leg. I had noticed before that, although she moved normally, there was something subtle about her posture, as if she avoided putting too much strain on one side.

"By the way, what happened to your leg?"

This time, Lilia stopped completely. Her gaze went to the clothes she was holding, and for a moment, I thought she was going to ignore my question.

But then, in a calm and controlled tone, she said:

"It was na old injury."

I waited for a bit, but it seemed she didn't intend to say anything more.

"Old as... war?"

"No." She folded a piece with precision, as if the act were more important than the conversation. "It was na incident while I was protecting someone."

It didn't seem like a topic she wanted to dwell on, but curiosity was itching at my throat.

"And did it hurt a lot?"

She looked at me for a brief moment. "There was poison. The wound was treated, but it left scars."

I fell silent for a moment. Poison? That explained why she moved so calculatedly.

"So, you can't run or jump properly anymore?"

She nodded. "I can't fully force the leg."

I stopped hanging the clothes and looked at her, crossing my arms. "Isn't that kind of unfair?"

Lilia blinked, surprised by my response.

"I mean, you saved someone and ended up with a scar? Wasn't there some ridiculous healing mage to fix that?"

She went back to hanging the clothes, her expression returning to neutrality. "Not every wound can be healed."

I fell silent for a while, absorbing that.

I looked at my hands.

I already knew healing magic. And without incantations.

'If I were na absurd healing mage in the future... no, why wait?'

"Hey, Lilia."

She paused for a moment and looked at me with that ever-neutral gaze.

"If the problem is your leg, I can try to help."

She blinked, seeming not to understand.

"I know healing magic," I continued. "And without incantations. Maybe I can improve it a bit."

For a moment, Lilia just watched me. Her gaze was evaluative, as if she was trying to measure how serious I was.

"No need," she said, returning to her work.

"But it doesn't hurt to try."

"I've tried many times before."

"But not with me."

She sighed, but upon realizing I wasn't going to give up, she finally stopped hanging the clothes.

"If this is to calm you down, do as you wish."

That was a yes!

I knelt down, placing my hands on her leg. I closed my eyes and let the mana flow.

The sensation was strange. Normally, when I healed something, I felt the mana spreading, rebuilding whatever was damaged. But as I touched her leg, it was as if there was na invisible barrier. Something that wasn't just a physical injury, but something... rooted.

I opened my eyes and furrowed my brows.

"Something's strange here," I murmured.

Lilia was watching me but didn't say anything.

I squinted, focusing more. My healing magic flowed, but it felt as if it was being pushed back by something that didn't want to be healed. As if her very body had accepted the injury as part of itself.

But I wasn't going to give up that easily.

'If it's a problem with the flesh itself, maybe...'

I changed my approach, not just trying to heal, but forcing the regeneration of her leg. If the body didn't want to accept the healing, I would have to make it relearn how to be healthy.

Mana vibrated in my hands.

Lilia slightly furrowed her brows. "This... seems different."

"I'm trying something new."

I continued pushing the magic, feeling the resistance slowly decrease. It wasn't something immediate. It would be a process.

But... it was working.

Lilia tested her leg, moving it lightly. Her expression didn't change much, but I noticed the surprise in her eyes.

"Did you feel anything?" I asked.

She hesitated. "Maybe."

I smiled. That was progress.

"Let's keep trying."

But just as I was about to place my hand back on her leg, I heard a noise at the door and, when I looked, there was Roxy.

She was holding a book in her hand.

Her face was a mix of confusion and curiosity, but it was then that I realized the position I was in and, with a quick reflex, I removed my hand from Lilia's leg.

Roxy approached, stopping where I was. She looked at Lilia, then at me.

"What were you doing?"

"Ah, uh... hm... mfufufuahaha!" I raised both hands to the sky. "You... don't understand, Roxy! I was trying... to solve a big problem!"

Roxy looked at me, clearly unconvinced.

"And what would that big problem be?"

"Only those destined for fate can know!"

I went straight to Lilia, winking at her. But, when I looked at her expression, I realized she was tilting her head, confused. She clearly didn't understand what I was trying to communicate with that mysterious gesture.

"Ah, so... what are you doing out here, Roxy?" Before she could answer, I continued. "Oh, of course! You came to study magic, right?"

Without waiting for confirmation, I grabbed her hand and started guiding her away, smiling as if nothing had happened.

"Well, since you're here, how about I help you find a quiet place for that?"

Lilia was watching us silently, still tilting her head. I gave her a quick wave.

"See you later, Lilia! We'll continue later!"

Without looking back, I kept pushing Roxy in the opposite direction.

She didn't resist, but cast a suspicious glance at me as I dragged her.

"Why are you taking me like this?"

"Shhh, focus on the magic, focus on the magic."

She sighed but didn't insist.

With every step, I felt like what I had done wasn't exactly suspicious… right?

No, no, of course not! I was just trying to help Lilia. But for anyone watching—like Roxy—it might seem like I was... I don't know, overstepping?

I shook my head. No, impossible. My heart was pure!

"Rudeus," Roxy called, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes, sensei?"

She gave me a look that said she didn't buy my cheap excuses. "If you were really helping Lilia, why did you run away like that?"

"Run away? Me? Hahaha! Sensei, you have quite the imagination, huh?"

"Then why didn't you just say what you were doing?"

Damn. Good question.

"Because... because... it was a secret!"

She narrowed her eyes.

"A secret of very advanced magic!"

More silence.

"... That you're not ready to understand yet!"

Roxy sighed deeply, rubbing her temple with her finger.

"If you're going to lie, at least do it properly."

Ouch. That one hurt.

But at least it seemed like she lost interest in the topic.

"So, about that book," I quickly changed the subject. "Is it something new? Some crazy magic I don't know yet?"

Roxy hesitated for a moment, but then opened the book as if my excitement was a little contagious.

"It's my theory about spells without incantations. I was planning to review some concepts to see if I can understand better how you do it naturally."

"Ah, then I can help you with that!"

She looked at me with a bit of suspicion, but soon sighed again, seeming to give in.

"... Fine. But no beating around the bush, understood?"

I smiled, nodding.

"Sensei, I would never beat around the bush with something so important!"

And so, we went to our study. At least, until I had to go back and continue my mission to heal Lilia.

But that... would be for another time.