Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

-Luciel Greyrat-

"Ruijerd… I think I can help you clear the Supred Tribe's reputation and reunite you with your people."

The sharp blue eyes of the warrior immediately shifted toward me, studying me intently as if trying to determine whether I was serious or simply speaking without thought.

"Really?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism. However, beneath that doubt, I could sense a faint glimmer of hope.

I nodded firmly. "Yes."

Ruijerd narrowed his eyes. "You say that… but how?"

I locked eyes with him. "First, I need to ask… have you always stayed on the Demon Continent?"

He crossed his arms and gave a slow nod. "Hmm… yeah, I suppose so."

"Then," I continued, "have you ever tried going somewhere else? Perhaps in other regions, people don't hold the same extreme prejudices against the Supred."

Ruijerd fell silent. He lifted his head slightly, gazing up at the starlit sky.

I could see him deep in thought.

"I see…" he murmured after a while. "I… never really considered that."

I nodded. "If you've only been traveling around the same places, of course, you wouldn't discover anything new."

Ruijerd's eyes sharpened, and he let out a small sigh. "Every time I enter a city, people scream in fear, and the guards come to drive me away under the pretense of maintaining order. I've never had the chance to properly interact with anyone."

I could hear the weight in his voice.

Just as I suspected… his situation was far more difficult than I had imagined.

I leaned back slightly, staring into the flickering campfire as my mind worked.

"I understand… your situation is complicated," I murmured. "Then…"

I raised my head, meeting his gaze directly.

"Do you want to know how to leave this continent without drawing attention or causing trouble?"

Ruijerd's eyes widened slightly. He looked at me with curiosity and a hint of surprise.

"How?" he asked.

I smirked slightly. "There's actually a simple way."

I leaned forward slightly, making sure he was listening carefully.

"Look, you always run into trouble in cities because people instantly recognize you. The gem on your forehead and your green hair are distinct traits that make them afraid."

Ruijerd remained silent, staring at me. I knew he was already aware of this.

"But if you could disguise yourself… you could enter towns without immediately causing panic."

His expression stayed neutral, but I could sense the doubt in his voice as he spoke. "Are you suggesting that I hide who I am?"

I shrugged. "I'm not saying to completely hide it, but rather… to adjust so that you don't immediately stand out."

I took a deep breath before continuing.

"You know the Supred are viewed as demons, right? So the best way to avoid trouble is to conceal the features that make you identifiable."

I grinned slightly.

"I have a simple solution."

Ruijerd remained silent, waiting for me to continue.

"Have you ever considered cutting your hair?"

Ruijerd froze.

His eyes widened in shock.

"Wait… You're serious?"

I nodded without hesitation.

Ruijerd stayed silent for a long time, clearly deep in thought about my suggestion.

I couldn't blame him.

The Supred Tribe took immense pride in their identity, and one of their symbols of pride was their long green hair.

However…

If he truly wanted to clear the Supred's name, then disguising himself was a logical first step.

Finally, Ruijerd let out a deep sigh, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

"And you think this will work?" he asked, his eyes still filled with uncertainty.

I nodded again. "With shorter hair, you'll look more like an ordinary adventurer. And if you cover the gem on your forehead with a cloth or a headband, you can enter towns without immediately being recognized as a Supred."

Ruijerd continued staring at me in silence, but I could see he was seriously considering my idea.

I gave him a small smile. "Of course, this is just one option. If you're not comfortable with it, I won't force you."

Ruijerd remained silent for a moment.

Then, at last, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a few seconds, and gave an answer that surprised me.

"Alright. I'll do it."

I raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

Ruijerd met my gaze with determined eyes.

"If this helps me get closer to people without frightening them, then I'll give it a try."

I smirked. "Good. I'll help you with it."

Ruijerd gave a small nod before looking back up at the night sky.

That night, I felt that we had reached a deeper understanding.

He might not be someone who changed easily, but at the very least, he was flexible enough to try something new for his cause.

I didn't know if this would work.

But if this could be the first step toward clearing the Supred Tribe's name, then I would do whatever I could to help him.

###

That morning, I woke up feeling refreshed after a surprisingly good night's sleep. The air was still crisp, but the rising sun had begun to warm the surroundings.

I stretched for a bit before using water magic to wash my face.

Once I felt properly awake, I turned around—

And that's when I saw him.

"Oh, you're already—"

I stopped mid-sentence.

I froze on the spot.

I blinked several times, thinking that maybe I was still half-asleep and seeing things.

But no.

Ruijerd was truly… BALD.

His head gleamed under the morning sunlight, as if it had been carefully polished like a river stone.

For a moment, I felt like I was looking at an entirely different person—not Ruijerd Supardia, the feared Supred warrior… but a new adventurer who was quite literally shining.

Ruijerd looked at me as if nothing was out of the ordinary. "Luciel… you're awake."

I remained speechless.

Then, only one word escaped my mouth.

"WHY ARE YOU BALD?!"

Aisha and Norn, still half-asleep inside the tent, were startled awake by my sudden outburst.

"Mmh… What's wrong, Big Brother?" Aisha mumbled, rubbing her eyes lazily.

Norn let out a small yawn. "Why are you yelling so early in the morning?"

I pointed at Ruijerd with an expression of pure shock.

"LOOK AT HIM! HE'S BALD!"

Aisha and Norn finally turned to Ruijerd… and froze.

Aisha's mouth opened slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

Norn simply stared, her face a mix of confusion and awe.

Meanwhile, Ruijerd remained perfectly calm as if this was all completely normal.

"Did you forget?" he said in his usual serious tone. "You suggested that I cut my hair."

I opened my mouth to argue—then closed it again.

…Right. I did tell him to cut his hair.

BUT NOT LIKE THIS!

I ran a hand down my face in exasperation. "I meant cut it short, not shave it all off!"

Ruijerd stared at me for a moment before shrugging. "Once it's shaved, there's nothing left to cut."

My head started to ache. This guy is seriously too extreme.

Aisha finally found her voice and exclaimed, "Y-Your head is shining… like a river stone!"

Ruijerd gave her a flat look. "Is that so?"

Norn nodded slowly, still somewhat mesmerized. "Yeah… and the sunlight makes it shine even more."

I pressed my fingers against my temples, trying to accept the reality that Ruijerd Supardia, the legendary warrior of the Supred Tribe, now had a head as smooth as a mirror's surface.

"Haaah… Whatever," I sighed, finally giving up. "At the very least, now you won't be instantly recognized as a Supred when we enter a city."

Ruijerd gave a satisfied nod. "That was the goal."

I took a deep breath, trying to move past the shock of this morning's surprise.

Well, at least there was one good thing to come out of this.

Although…

I should probably find something to cover his shining head before someone mistakes it for a second sun in the sky.