Re:Zero: No Job, No Magic, Just a Stupid Romance System

Roxy turned to look at Allen.

He held the knife with both hands and swept it slowly through the air, the blade tracing a deliberate arc before resting its tip gently on the grass.

Whether it was a trick of the light or not—

Roxy felt the blade shimmer with a double image.

Above the trembling edge, a few leaves floated down in front of Allen… and split apart midair.

"126!"

Sylphy called the count softly. Roxy blinked, staring at the tip of the knife.

"…Such a slow slash could cut leaves in the air?"

Rudy, watching her expression, scratched his head and sighed helplessly.

"Teacher, don't just look at the knife. Watch carefully—look at his arm."

As Rudy spoke, Allen raised his blade again. He slashed down along the exact same trajectory—slowly, steadily—with no deviation.

From overhead, past the shoulder, down to the abdomen, and finally resting again on the waving grass stems.

Rudy added:

"…Watch his arm."

Roxy followed the line of sight—from the blade, to the hilt, to Allen's arm.

There! Just as the blade trembled mid-swing, Allen's sleeve jumped as if tugged by invisible hands, then softly dropped back down.

Roxy's brows lifted in realization.

"…So when the blade touched the grass earlier, he had already completed another slash? That's incredible."

Right as she spoke, Allen let out a heavy breath. His face paled, and he staggered over to Rudy.

"Any left? Just one more."

Rudy: ...

Roxy: ...

After a very quick chant, the green light of a healing spell enveloped him. Allen instantly revived and leapt up, grabbing his blade and resuming his swings.

Rudy groaned, covering his face with his hand. He turned to look at Roxy, who seemed a little dazed.

"…It feels like Allen has the strength of a top-tier adventurer."

"Well… isn't Allen an adventurer?"

Roxy blinked. Then she remembered: when Allen confessed to her that day, he mentioned that only Paul and Zenith knew about his true identity within the Greyrat family.

She fiddled with the strand of hair on her forehead and spoke with forced casualness.

"Ah—what I mean is, he's got the power of an S-rank adventurer, even if his actual rank is lower."

Rudy, distracted, glanced at Allen—who was still practicing—and then turned back, barely holding back a mischievous grin.

"Teacher, since you were an adventurer too… have you ever met a guy you liked?"

Roxy was taken aback. She scratched her face awkwardly, then answered slowly.

"Well… when I was in Milis, I got rejected because of my hair color. I had no money. Luckily, I was taken in by a villager and started working at a tavern. Later, I fell in love with him, and joined an adventuring party with him and a curvy lady."

Rudy froze.

"…And then?"

Roxy looked sheepish and muttered:

"Then… they got together."

"…A divine being who's never had a successful romance!"

Roxy blinked at Rudy, who had jumped up in shock, and grew even more embarrassed.

"No one would like a figure like mine… like a child's."

Rudy said seriously:

"I think that's what makes you more likable, Teacher~"

Roxy's lips twitched.

"I told you—it'd be more believable if you said that in ten years. Right now you might like it, but in the future, that'll probably change."

Rudy vowed:

"No way! I'll always like you just the way you are!"

Half-lidded eyes, petite frame, cool expression… the perfect goddess!

"…Liar."

But despite her words, Roxy looked genuinely happy from the compliment.

Just as Rudy was about to speak again, Allen wandered over, pale-faced.

"…One more heal. Please."

A soft green light appeared again. Allen straightened up, thanked Roxy, then casually added:

"Why so worked up? I heard you talking about your 'type'? Love talk?"

"No—Teacher's feeling insecure about her figure, and I was comforting her."

Roxy lowered her head and drew circles in the dirt with her finger.

"…Was that really comforting?"

Allen glanced at her.

"If she's insecure about her figure, then don't compliment her body. Even if you're sincere, she'll think you're just trying to comfort her."

At that moment, Roxy looked up at Allen. Her eyes widened slightly, and the light filtering through the leaves reflected off her pupils like rippling dark blue lakes.

Allen paused, then looked away. As he walked off, his next words floated softly behind him:

"…Her eyes are beautiful. Just praise those."

It was so natural.

The sound of Allen's sword slicing the air returned—but it made everything else fall silent.

Rudy gulped and slowly turned to look at Roxy beside him.

She was tugging at her bangs, face flushed.

"…Smooth talker."

Her voice was light, and the breeze stole it before it could go far.

Rudy was silent for a moment, then gritted his teeth and forced a topic change.

"If Teacher's leaving in a few days… are you still going to explore the labyrinth near the Dragon King Mountains like you planned?"

Roxy glanced at Allen, then looked up at the sky.

"Yes. That's the plan."

Rudy asked cautiously:

"Then… will you stay in the Central Continent for the next ten years, or…?"

Roxy hesitated.

"Well, it's hard to say. Adventurer commissions are limited here, and I still want to improve my magic. I'll probably take tutoring jobs to make a living. But ten years is too far to plan ahead."

"I see… maybe you'll stay long enough that I can join your adventurer party after I grow up."

"But I suggest you go to the Magic University first before thinking about becoming an adventurer."

Rudy smiled.

"Then it's settled. I'll go to Magic University, then team up with Teacher after I graduate!"

"…We'll talk about that after you graduate."

Rudy grinned.

"But why do you want to be an adventurer so badly? Why not teach at Magic University? Maybe you'll end up teaching me there."

Roxy rubbed at the grass with her foot, clearly flustered.

"Why do I want to be an adventurer…? Well, even though I look like this, I dream of romance, too. Maybe someday, a tall, masculine young man with a slightly childish look will rescue me deep inside a labyrinth. Then we'll rely on each other, become partners, and slowly fall in love…"

She trailed off and looked involuntarily at Allen beside her.

The sword swung again.

"139!"

Sylphy, watching from nearby, had been silently listening to the conversation. Her elf ears twitched, and she stared at Allen with a serious expression.

Rudy, meanwhile, was completely frozen. He turned to look at Allen with tears practically welling in his eyes.

"Tall. Masculine. Childlike. Young. Adventurer."

Isn't that… exactly Allen?!

Dammit! I never should've agreed to Paul's idea of making him my swordsmanship teacher!

The courtyard fell into a strange silence—only the clash of wind and sword remained.

Allen paused mid-swing, noticing the atmosphere. He looked around.

Everyone was staring at him.

"…?? What? Why are you all looking at me?"