Flashback—outside the Greyrat household, Buena Village~
Rudeus POV
Yesterday was so fucking embarrassing and it only got ten times worse…When Roxy and Sylphy got a full view of my pee-stained shorts, underwear, and blanket.
That fateful day, Roxy stood in the middle of the front yard with her hands holding her iconic staff, as the gentle wind brushed her miniskirt and brown cloak as she watched me and Sylphy line up in front of her.
"All right," she said, in her teacher's voice calm but expectant. "Today I'll show you an advanced rank wind spell and fire spell. They are very powerful and dangerous spells, so shoot them upward into the air, okay. We don't wanna damage Mrs. Zenith's garden and trees outside."
Sylphy straightened beside me, her green hair fluttering in the breeze. "Y-Yes, Ms.Roxy!"
I nodded. "We'll do our best, Master Roxy."
Roxy smiled faintly. "The spell is called Sonic Blast. It releases a powerful and wide-reaching shockwave strong enough to kill a D-ranked to B-ranked monster in the Central Continent of the Asura Kingdom.
Next, she turned her gaze to me first. "Rudeus, you can go second. Sylphy, you'll demonstrate with the chant first."
Sylphy's small hands clenched at her sides. I could see her lips moving silently as she rehearsed the lines.
Roxy nodded encouragingly. "Whenever you're ready."
Sylphy took a deep breath and remained focused. "S-Spirits of the endless sky, gather your breath within my hands. Break forth with wind and sweep away my foe—Sonic Blast!"
A powerful and violent widespread shockwave of wind launched out of the palm of her hands as the air visibly rippled into the sky above.
WHOOSH💨
The frontal part of Roxy's miniskirt was instantly lifted upward by the strong gale force winds and it completely exposed her beautiful holy relic' in front of me and Sylphy.
"Eek!" Roxy shrieked and pulled down the front of her miniskirt as her cheeks flushed bright pink like a rose.
"Ahem, excellent job Sylphy, but next time try not to add too much power when we're practicing okay.😅" Roxy said, feeling quite embarrassed by the whole debacle.
Sylphy blinked and blushed red when she apologized. "Sorry Ms.Roxy, I will try to be more careful next time."
Then Roxy's eyes turned to me. "Your turn, Rudeus."
"Okay," I answered.
I chanted, letting my voice steady, "Spirits of the endless sky, gather your breath within my hands. Break forth with wind and sweep away my foe—Sonic Blast!"
It was a slightly less powerful Sonic Blast spell, compared to the one Sylphy displayed earlier.
Sylphy shielded her face. "W-Wow…That was amazing, Rudy! You maintain control of the spell too.
Roxy blinked, stunned for a heartbeat, then composed herself. "Impressive, you even made sure to lessen the power output."
"Oh thank you, Master Roxy," I said while scratching the back of my head.
"Next, fire magic. An advanced spell called Exodus Flame."
Sylphy's eyes widened. "T-That's the one that explodes right?"
Roxy nodded. "It produces a wave of fire that detonates on impact. So aim it in the sky and it will eventually evaporate so long as you don't maintain the spell with mana for an extended period of time—Rudy and Sylphy, how about both of you demonstrate the spell at the same time."
We both stepped forward and said the incantation simultaneously."Raging spirit of fire, strike down with all your might and fury. Let the blazing inferno consume everything in your path—Exodus Flame!🔥"
A massive wave of yellow flames appeared a good distance away from the palm of our hands and we launched our spell into the air. Then the flame exploded releasing immense heat in the process.
"Great job both of you," Roxy replied and smiled proudly. "All right. That concludes today's lesson. You both did wonderfully. We'll take a short break in the meantime."
Finally, we bowed, and Roxy dismissed us. She noticed that Zenith had prepared snacks and drinks for us to eat while we relaxed for a while.
Afterwards, I excused myself. "I'll be right back, nature calls."
Roxy nodded and ate sugar-powdered apple fritters and drank orange juice alongside Sylphy outside. They smile happily together while enjoying their appetizers outside on the table.
Inside the house, Zenith and Lilia were currently washing the dishes. I took care of my business quickly, washed my hands, and stepped back outside so I could eat snacks with my two lovely goddesses.
That's when I froze.
Hanging neatly in the mid-morning sunlight were my white shorts, matching colored underwear, and blue blanket—all freshly washed, fluttering gently in the wind like flags announcing my humiliation to the entire neighborhood. Faint yellowish pee stains were shown, clear as day.
For one blessed second, I hoped nobody would notice…Then the two of them saw.
Roxy and Sylphy were standing a few paces away, both facing the laundry line. Their expressions were identical: eyes wide and cheeks flushing pink like roses.
"Uhhh," Roxy murmured first, looking composed. "So…That's why Zenith was up so early in the morning."
Sylphy's gaze darted from the laundry to me, then back again. Her cheeks blushed like scarlet red embers. "U-Um…R-Rudy…Is that…What do I think it is?"
My heart plummeted faster than a falling boulder. "Ahhh—it's not what it looks like!" I squeaked.
Roxy's lips parted slightly, clearly trying not to chuckle. "It appears," she said delicately, "someone had a little accident last night."
I wanted the ground to swallow me whole. "I-I can explain," I stammered while blushing a bright shade of red. "I had this…nightmare last night, okay? A really scary one. I'd rather not talk about it, but…Yeah, that's what happened."
Sylphy's eyes softened instantly. Then the pink blush on her face melted into concern and she gave me a compassionate hug. "Oh…Rudy, I'm sorry you had a bad dream."
Roxy nodded quietly and patted my head to comfort me. "Nightmares can do that, especially for young children. There's nothing to be ashamed of Rudy, it happens to all of us at a young age."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you and Sylphy, I was afraid you might think I was a baby and laugh at me," I muttered, but they could hear me clearly, due to being close to earshot.
"Of course not," Roxy said. "Bed-wetting happens to everyone at a young age."
Sylphy hesitated, then fiddled with her fingers and responded. "Uhh…I wet the bed before too." She explained further. "Once I had a dream about those bullies; they were throwing mud and attacking me with sticks. When they chased me down caught up to me. The bullies dog piled me and I wasn't able to use my magic. It was so scary…Suddenly I woke up and noticed that I wet the bed sheets and mommy had to wash the sheets and the rest of the clothes."
"One time when I was a child, my father frightened me by saying that the outside world was very dangerous and scary, and if I left the village I would get eaten by Superd Warrior. CHOMP! CHOMP! GOBBLE!!" Roxy said, showing a monster-like scary face…It was quite cute and funny seeing her pose like that.
I blinked at her. "Whoa, really!?"
Sylphy nodded, smiling fondly. "Yeah, so don't feel bad or embarrassed, okay? It just happens."
Hearing Sylphy say all that certainly eases the tension in my chest. It was soon replaced by the kindness and warmth of her sympathy.
Roxy crossed her arms and responded with a soft and nurturing tone in her voice. "See Rudy? Even Sylphy understands. There's no need to feel embarrassed."
"But it's hanging out there for everyone to see…" I groaned and covered my face with both hands.
Roxy coughed and gently patted my head. "Unfortunately I can't help that Rudy, sorry."
Sylphy giggled—an innocent and amusing sound. "It's kind of funny and cute, knowing that the silent magician Rudy wets the bed too🤭."
My ears started burning when I heard Sylphy say that…Dammit, this is so humiliating…
Roxy's lips quivered upward, betraying a small laugh. "She's right 'ya know, I guess little Rudy is still a child on the inside, despite being so mature and talented with magic."
I dropped to my knees dramatically and covered my face. "You two are going to tease me about this forever, huh?"
Sylphy hurried closer to me, waving her hands denying doing such a thing, and patted my head to comfort me. "N-No, no! I won't! I promise!"
Roxy crouched beside me, her expression looking quite gentler. Then she gave me a heartwarming hug. "It's all right, Rudy," she said quietly. "We promise not to laugh at you because of your little accident."
"Thanks, Master Roxy, you too Sylphy…For being so nice to me." I said, in a generous tone. While wrapping my arms around Roxy in an affectionate embrace. As my head rested on her shoulder.
"It was our pleasure, Rudy, that's just what friends do. We look after each other, through thick and thin." Roxy proclaimed with a proud and loving smile on her face. "Now lift your head, Rudy. You're going to get your legs all dirty if you keep kneeling on the grass like that."
Sylphy giggled, covering her mouth with both hands. "Come on, let's go sit down and eat before the apple fritters get cold!"
Nighttime, Greyrat Household—Buena Village~
Roxy POV
The Greyrat Family and I recently finished dinner tonight. Meanwhile, I was peacefully drinking my cup of red wine.
"Make sure you get all snuggled up under the covers and go straight to sleep, alright," Zenith said as she kneeled and gave Rudy a goodnight hug.
"Okay, goodnight Mommy," Rudy replied.
Then a period of time passed and Lilia informed us that Rudy was currently fast asleep.
"Everything seems to be fine, madam. Young Master Rudeus is fast asleep." Lilia reported and bowed her head to Zenith.
"Thanks, Lilia!" Zenith said, expressing her gratitude for checking on her son.
"Well then! I would like to open the floor…And commence our meeting to plan our beloved Rudy's fifth birthday!" Zenith announced to everyone in the dining room.
"Hard to believe he's already five years old; time sure flies by fast huh. When he was born, he was blue all over and wasn't even breathing…What a relief to think that he's healthy and made it to five years." Paul sighed. "He sure has kept us busy until now…"
"Busy, how exactly!?" I asked, looking quite confused.
"But I can't even think of a single time our little angel caused trouble for us. Well except that one time he accidentally blew up the wall." Zenith said recalling the events of Rudy's past.
"Yes you're right madam, Master Rudeus has always been a very good boy, since the day he was born," Lilia replied, agreeing with Zenith.
"Do you remember what your family gave you for your own fifth birthday, Sir Paul?" I asked.
"My folks gave me a fancy-panty looking feather pen…But I didn't even use that thing once." Paul answered.
"The nobility offspring should have refined things for all their own necessities…They said something like that. The monsters can eat that crummy etiquette talk for all I care." Paul retorted, looking quite annoyed about the way noble society behaves.
"You see Roxy, nobles tend to favor gifts which they expect to be necessary in the future…Rather than gifts tailored to the tastes and personal happiness of the recipient." Zenith explained to me.
"You know, one time, my family gave me a corset, and they said…You should start using this. Can you even! Imagine?! They said. Starting the very next day I had to live a life where I couldn't even eat my fill. The nerve of them; they literally decided to prevent me from eating too much food after my fifth birthday." Zenith said with an annoyed tone in her voice.
"Oh I see, I'm sorry that happened to you, Mrs. Zenith. Uhh, what about you Ms.Lilia?" I asked.
"My family runs a Water God Style dojo…So I got a sword on my fifth birthday." Lilia answered.
"Ooh! Now that's what I'm talking about. I knew master Augusta. Would have his priorities straight." Paul said cheerfully, rooting for his former sword teacher.
"The girls in the Holy Land of the Sword received new ribbons for their birthdays and would lord them over the rest of us. I was so jealous…" The redhead maid responded with a depressed and annoyed look on her face.
Whoa!…Those girls are cruel.
"Well…I'm going to give him a sword, you think that's a good present, Roxy?!" Paul shouted passionately at me.
"I'm going to buy Rudy a book—he likes reading books, right Roxy?!" Zenith proclaimed, with excitement in her voice.
"I already made my gift for Rudy. It's a red scarf that I handmade myself. I'm sure he'll like it. So I'm not worried." Lilia said calmly. She isn't afraid of the possibility that Rudy may not like the present she made for him.
"EEK!! I'm pretty sure his parents and maid would know better than me!!" I replied with a surprised expression on my face. Due to Zenith and Paul raising their voice at me when they revealed the gift they were gonna give to Rudy.
"HMN…It'd help us feel more confident and comfortable if you helped us pick something he'd definitely like." Paul explained.
"Personally, I can't imagine a child not being happy with whatever his parents gave him," I answered honestly.
"In an ideal world, sure…From what I saw in my travels most children who dislike their gift will cry and scream saying…They hate it or this isn't what I wanted on my birthday. But you know how it is." Paul said, looking somewhat worried that his son might not like his gift, along with everyone else's presents.
"If you promise to be fine with whatever I pick, I'll do my best to find a good gift for Rudy's birthday," I replied and then sipped my cup of red wine at the dining table.
"Thank you so much, Roxy. Come to think of it, what did you get on your fifth birthday?" Zenith asked, looking quite curious. With a cheerful smile on her face.
"My race does not have that kind of celebration," I answered her with an unconcerned look on my face.
"What?" Zenith and Paul said simultaneously with a surprise look on their faces.
"We do have our own coming-of-age ceremony."
"Oh, that's a relief…" Zenith replied with a glad facial expression.
Then I continued my response further. "But I ran away from the village before I became an adult so…I've never had a chance to experience anything like that. Sorry, I can't offer any more advice on that subject."
"Oh, ROXYYYY!" Zenith shouted, after she walked towards me and gave me a heartfelt motherly hug.
The next day—Greyrat Household Outside~
I was currently outside the Greyrat Household teaching Rudy magic. During the middle of the morning as usual. While I was deep in thought about what type of gift to give to him.
What to get, what to get? Mmm, maybe I should flat-out ask him myself.
"Hey Rudy."
"Yes, Master Roxy? Do you need something?"
"What do you like?" I asked bluntly.
"I like you, Master!" He said without hesitation.
"Ugh is that so." I sighed.
"That's a pretty negative response, Master, I said that confidently out of love and you took my words like a grain of salt." Rudeus retorted with a sad look on his face, looking quite displeased with my reaction and reply.
"Oh, I'm sorry Rudy." I apologized while gently patting his head and explained what I was trying to ask him earlier. "I'm happy that you love and appreciate me. But I was trying to ask you what you wanted on your fifth birthday."
"Oh, I see…You should have been, more specific Master. Anyway, I don't mind whatever present you give me; as long as it's from the kindness of your heart. Although I would appreciate a useful tool as a gift. Something related to magic or knowledge from a book." Rudy explained.
"Ahh, I understand. I'll see what I can do." I answered and went back to training him.
Mmm, I should ask Sylphy and the other children in the village. About what gift they would want on their birthday. It'll probably help me get a good idea. About what type of present to give to Rudy.
I went straight to Laws and Rose's house and knocked on the door a few times. But nobody answered. Maybe they went out to buy a gift for Rudy too.
So with no other option, I asked Somal, Teo, and Arlo who were fishing in the river near the water wheel. I questioned them about what gift they received on their fifth birthday.
(Author: P.S. In this story Somal, Teo, and Arlo are one year older than Rudeus and Sylphiette.)
"What did you guys receive on your fifth birthday?" I asked them with a friendly smile on my face so they won't retaliate too early. As I sat down on the grass beside them.
"A wooden carved amulet!" Teo responded.
"I got a cool dagger just for me," Arlo announced.
"Wow, you are so lucky Arlo," Teo replied.
"I wish I had gotten a sword, what about you Somal?" Arlo asked with a curious facial expression.
"H-HUMPH! I got something amazing, you know! But telling you losers about it would be a waste of time!" Somal answered somewhat confidently.
"Oh, come on, tell us!" Arlo said.
"What did you get Somal? Is it better than a sword?" Teo asked.
"Shut up! Besides…What's more important is that today's the day we finally slay the demon!" Somal declared, as he raised his wooden stick in front of me.
"Yeah, yeah…Upsy-daisy." I responded and stood up. So I can play pretend with the troublemaking trio.
"UGH!...I am...SLAIN!" I said pretending to be killed by Somal and his friends when they struck my body with their wooden sticks.
"НА НА HA! Once again, we've defended Buena Village from the evil demon."
I spent the entire day playing Human Vs Demon with the boys, until sunset. Eventually, I walked back to the Greyrat household, looking completely tired, sweaty, and dirty.
"Excuse me, Ms.Lilia. Could you please get the hot water ready for me?" I requested.
"Yes, right away," Lilia answered.
Afterwards, I gathered my pajamas, towel, soap, and washcloth inside my bedroom, and Lilia handed over the washtub, so I could bathe myself.
Then I undressed and put my dirty clothes in a woven basket and entered the stream washtub.
First I grabbed the washcloth and rubbed it with the bar soap. Next, I used the soapy washcloth to gently scrub around my breasts, underarms, armpits, butt, pussy, and the rest of my body.
Later I continually splashed a handful of hot water on myself to wash away the soap suds. Finally, I relax in the washtub for a period of time.
AAH…
The slightly hot water flowed over my skin. I couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief as my arms and backside leaned on the washtub.
Mother…Father…Master Kent.
Maybe I should give him something special too. He is my first pupil, after all.
Rudeus POV
Damn, it never gets old, peeking at Roxy while she is bathing. She possessed a lovely and sleek junior high school student's body with beautiful thick thighs.
Her pale skin paired well with her drenched blue hair. Currently, her back was slightly turned when she began washing her body with the soapy washcloth. So I managed to crack the door open and get a captivating little view of her small breasts and puffy nipples dripping with water.
My eyes started to ogle her cute sexy ass and smooth hourglass figure streaming with water droplets. Those vanilla features shone even more brilliantly without the rest of her private parts upstaging them.
Aah, I really have to say, what a splendid view to behold. Her exquisite curves are a mesmerizing sight to behold from the goddess of wisdom herself.
Oh what's this, she's washing below her armpits now. Okay, okay. Where is she cleaning next? Aah, she's standing up to scrub around her butt, eh? That makes sense—gotta clean those private parts too. If she turned just a little further, I'd be able to see her pussy…
"Hmm? Hey, who's over there?"
"Oh, shit!"
Okay…Even if children got away with a lot of things, no child wants to be caught being a peeping-tom.
That didn't just apply to children; I was pretty sure nobody liked getting yelled at or blamed for things. No matter your age, it's just horrible.
When you sensed trouble coming your way, it was natural to scatter and look for an escape route. There were exceptions, but most people wanted to avoid being scolded, even if they'd intentionally done something wrong.
Those were my wise thoughts as I escaped through the front door of Roxy's bedroom when she was bathing.
The Next Day, Buena Village~
"—Quagmire!"
The ground in front of Roxy Migurdia's staff instantly transformed into a bottomless muddy swamp. Then she turned around and said flatly, "Now, pull."
At her words, the men of the village slapped the farm horses on their rumps and started pulling on the rope themselves.
The net tied to the draft horse tightened with a creaking sound.
As the men chanted in unison, "Heave-ho, heave-ho," The object tied to the rope began to slowly rise from the mud.
It was a large tree stump.
Upon closer inspection, the roots of the stump were tangled around a large rock.
However, the combination of the horse and the men managed to haul the stump, rock and all, out of the mud and onto the ground with a thud.
"Is that it?"
"Yeah. Thanks a lot, Ms.Roxy. Here's your payment as promised."
"Oh, how kind of you. Well then, I'll take my leave."
"Yeah! Come help us again sometime!"
Even on her days off, she didn't laze around. She helped the villagers and earned some pocket money.
Sometimes Rudeus and Sylphy join her so they can earn their own pocket money.
"Hmm hmm-"
Each payment wasn't particularly high.
However, due to the lack of adventurers in the village, there was a high demand for a magician's skills, and the villagers, who were relatively well-off, paid well.
With a now heavier purse, Roxy walked home with a pleased expression.
"Oh, if it isn't Roxy.~"
Someone called out to Roxy.
"Yes?"
When she turned around, she saw two horses. One was a fine horse with a good coat and well-developed muscles, clearly well cared for. It was Caravaggio from the Greyrat household. The other horse was unfamiliar. The voices came from the two people on horseback.
"Hello, Roxy.-"
"Helping with the farm work again? You're always so diligent." Paul said, complimenting me for being helpful to the villagers.
"But, you always help with the farm work on your days off...Could it be that our payment isn't enough?" Zenith said, looking a little concerned about Roxy's finances.
"I've been paid more than enough. This is just a side job to earn some extra spending money. One can never have too much money. By the way, where are you two headed?"
When Roxy asked, Paul enthusiastically tapped the sword at his waist.
"It's almost Rudy's fifth birthday, right? I commissioned a gift from the town's blacksmith. We're going to pick it up now."
"I see. A blacksmith, which means a sword? Isn't that a bit early?" Roxy responded, showing a delightful smile on her face.
"In the Sword God Style, advanced disciples are given a real sword when they turn five. We're following that tradition. It might be a bit early, but he needs to learn the reliability and fear of a blade from a young age."
"That makes sense."
"Speaking of which, don't magicians have a similar tradition?"
"Huh?"
"When a disciple becomes capable of using beginner magic, the master gives them a wand, right?~"
"Oh..."
Roxy remembered. There was such a tradition. When a mage disciple became capable of using beginner magic, the master would handcraft a beginner's wand for them.
Roxy considered it an important tradition.
After all, when she received her first wand from her master, she was overjoyed, feeling like she had truly become a magician.
"Y-Y-Y... Yes, that's right! Well, such traditions exist in some places...Um...in our school, we give one at the beginner level...though that might be a bit late…..Um..."
Roxy was flustered. She had completely forgotten. She could excuse herself by saying Rudeus could use intermediate magic from the start, but it was true that she had forgotten this important tradition.
Zenith spoke to her.
"Hey, Roxy…~"
"Y-Yes!"
Roxy shivered. She felt utterly unqualified as a teacher. Zenith could have been angry, accusing her of slacking off or not liking their child. It would be no surprise if she were scolded like that.
Roxy feared she might lose her job.
But Zenith understood Roxy well.
"Shall we go buy the materials together?"
"Yes..."
Roxy could only nod weakly at Zenith's kind words.
"Mmm...Ah!"
There was a snapping sound as the wand broke in Roxy's hands.
"Sigh...another failure..."
Roxy was at a workbench in the corner of a tool shop, trying to craft a beginner's wand. On the desk were magic stones, wood, and metal fittings.
All of them were high-quality items that Roxy had run all over town to gather.
A magician's staff becomes more powerful with higher-grade magic stones and wood.
Additionally, carving a magic circle on the metal fittings that connect the magic stone and the wood can further increase its power, but this isn't necessary for a beginner's Wands.
Even the magic stone could be of the lowest rank, and any wood would suffice.
Since it was a beginner's wand, it was intended to be a disposable item. However, Roxy had resolved that if she ever had a disciple, she would use at least this level of material.
Rudeus was Roxy's first disciple, and Roxy herself had received a reasonably good wand from her master. She had learned at the Ranoa Magic Academy that the better the master, the better the wand they would give.
Therefore, Roxy had decided from the start to use a magic stone one rank above the lowest and wood from a Lesser Treant Sapling for the staff.
"Listen, little missy, I understand how you feel, but it's impossible for a beginner to work with Lesser Treant Sapling wood. Use this red oak instead."
"No! It has to be this." Roxy
responded, while the corner of her eye glared at the tool shop owner. Because he called her 'small.' Then she let her anger, subside and focus on her main task.
Lesser Treant Sapling wood is the best among the inexpensive woods available.
Compared to using magic barehanded, the difference in quality is clear. Some magicians focus solely on the magic stone, but to Roxy, they were amateurs. The quality of the staff is determined by the wood.
It's essential for the wood to efficiently transmit mana to the magic stone with minimal waste. The wood determines how well the mana flows and how much power can be sent to the magic stone.
Among lower-grade woods, only the Lesser Treant Sapling wood is said to offer these qualities.
Since magic can be used barehanded, any magic stone is a bonus for the user. Thus, the quality of the staff is determined by the wood.
Roxy was particular about this, but there was one thing she didn't know.
Lesser Treant Sapling wood is fragile and difficult to work with.
"I'll buy another one!"
"Sorry, but we're out of stock."
"What!?"
"Recently, the town's population has been growing, and new houses are being built, so wood is in short supply..."
"I-I see."
"It's not particularly rare, so it should be back in stock soon."
As the name suggests, Lesser Treant Sapling wood is obtained by cutting down a Lesser Treant Sapling. Since Lesser Treants wither and die where they stand, the wood must be harvested while they are still alive.
Despite this, it is not particularly challenging to obtain. Often, the wood is accidentally cut down during a fight.
Whether waiting for restock or putting in a request at the adventurer's guild, it wouldn't take long to obtain.
"Hmm..."
However, Rudeus's birthday was approaching soon. Waiting for a restock might mean missing the date.
Using another type of wood was an option, but Roxy didn't want to use anything cheaper than Lesser Treant Sapling wood. On the other hand, more expensive woods were too luxurious for a beginner's staff and were better suited for staffs used by intermediate or advanced magicians. It would be a waste.
This was the first beginner's wand for her first disciple. It was a special occasion for Roxy too, and she didn't want to compromise.
"Oh, here you are. Finally found you."
"Hey, I've been looking for you," a voice called out from the shop's entrance.
It was the voice of a man and a young woman. For a second time today, Roxy turned around with a wry smile.
"Oh, sorry. I've been having some difficulties."
As expected, it was Paul and Zenith. Each of them was holding a carefully wrapped package, indicating they had finished their shopping.
"If it's a price negotiation, I can help! Believe it or not, I learned a thing or two from a thief friend back in the day," Zenith offered.
"No, actually, it seems the item I need is out of stock," Roxy explained.
"Can't you use something else?" Paul suggested.
"Of course not! A magic wand is very important to a magician, isn't it, Roxy?" Zenith quickly replied.
Roxy smiled a bit at Zenith's eagerness to defend her. "Well, it's not that I absolutely can't, but...a beginner's wand is a special item that signifies the first steps of a magician. I don't want to build a cheaper and weaker wand for Rudy's birthday. He deserves better than that. I want to give him something proper. I've heard that the fifth birthday is a special occasion for humans."
Roxy felt a mix of enthusiasm and guilt. After all, she had almost forgotten to prepare the gift in the first place.
This was her way of making amends. Using cheap materials was not an option.
"Roxy..." Zenith covered her mouth with her hand, visibly moved.
They had come to think of this young magician as part of their family, and she was responding in kind. That made her very happy.
"So, what's the problem?" Paul asked.
"I wanted to use Lesser Treant Sapling wood, but it's sold out," Roxy replied.
"I see!" Paul exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Well then, let's not waste any time! Let's go!"
"Go where?" Roxy tilted her head in confusion.
Paul responded with a confident grin, patting the sword at his waist. "To get it ourselves, of course."
Roxy and Zenith exchanged looks.
"We can't seem to find any..." Roxy sighed.
"Indeed. It's been a while since I entered the forest, but I remember Treants attacking almost immediately," Zenith remarked.
"When you think of forests, you think of Treats. Normally, we should have encountered several by now…" Roxy agreed.
They were in the forest near the town, searching for a Lesser Treant.
All three of them were formerly high-ranking adventurers. It was faster to retrieve the material themselves than to wait for it to be restocked.
That was Paul's proposal.
However, an hour had passed since they entered the forest. While they had encountered other monsters sporadically, they had yet to come across a Lesser Treant.
"Still, you both have some impressive skills," Roxy commented.
"Of course! Even though I look like this, I used to be an S-rank adventurer!" Zenith replied proudly.
"Well, Zenith's actual skill level is probably around A or upper B at best," Paul added.
"What do you mean? You were the one who rushed to get my rank up so I could join your party! Even if my skills don't match, S-rank is S-rank!" Zenith retorted.
"Please don't fight. Zenith, you're doing quite well. Many healing magicians tend to be timid, but you're not like that. You handle the enemies coming at you until Paul can come to your aid, making it easier for an offensive magician like me to operate," Roxy complimented.
Roxy praised Zenith, but she thought inwardly that Zenith's proficiency was likely because she was with Paul.
Healing magicians like Zenith, who have limited offensive capabilities, often dislike taking on even one monster alone. They reason that if they fall, the chances of the entire party being wiped out increase significantly.
In reality, this reasoning is sound. Healing magicians must prioritize their safety above all else. If they can't manage that, they shouldn't face enemies one-on-one.
However, this doesn't mean they should pass off the monsters targeting them to others, such as offensive magicians not currently under attack.
Offensive magicians are most effective when they can cast spells freely without concern. Healing magicians should endure until a swordsman or warrior can help, or until the magician can incinerate the enemy. While this approach isn't always correct, it's a good general rule that requires flexibility.
Zenith had this basic understanding solidly ingrained in her.
If she were at a party with other S-rank members, she would perform admirably without hindering the others.
Therefore, saying she had S-rank capability wasn't an exaggeration.
However, Roxy thought this might only apply when she was paired with Paul.
It was a matter of trust.
Zenith believed that even if she took on an enemy alone, Paul would come to her aid before she was overwhelmed. That trust allowed her to handle situations calmly.
…Thinking this, Roxy felt a pang of envy.
If she struggled, her loved one would surely come to her rescue. And that person loved her back. It was the ideal situation. She couldn't help but dream of finding someone like that for herself someday.
"Hey!" Paul's voice snapped Roxy back to reality.
Instinctively, she pressed her back against a nearby tree and looked towards Paul. He, too, was hiding behind a tree, observing something in a specific direction.
Her reflexive action had been the right move.
A massive figure was moving through the dim forest, making a rustling sound.
Roxy peeked out from behind the tree to get a better look.
"Is that..."
There, she saw a Lesser Treant…Despite being called 'Lesser,' it was an impressive specimen standing about two meters tall.
However, something was clearly wrong with this particular Treant. Typically, a Treant would stay still until its prey approached, but this one was sluggishly wandering around the forest. Moreover, its bark was dried out and cracked, and its once lush leaves were now dry and brown.
It was on the brink of death.
"Is it a Vampire Treant?"
The cause was the vine coiled around the Treant.
The vine had wrapped around the Lesser Treant, siphoning its sap and magical power.
Due to this, people referred to such a sight as a 'Vampire Treant.'
"It's a good thing we came here. If we hadn't, they might not have restocked."
In forests where Vampire Treants appear, the number of Treants drastically decreases. This might also explain the scarcity of Lesser Treant saplings.
"Indeed."
Roxy drew her staff to kill the Vampire Treant.
"In the end, this is all we got..."
They hadn't found a Lesser Treant.
However, Roxy was holding a thick sapling.
Yes, it was a sapling of a Vampire Treant.
Roxy didn't know how suitable Vampire Treant saplings were for making staffs.
However, from the feel of it in her hands, it seemed quite decent.
It was lighter and harder than a Lesser Treant Sapling, but it had slightly worse mana conductivity. In short, it wasn't perfect.
While Vampire Treants were rare monsters, their materials weren't necessarily top-notch.
"I wonder how Master Kant made my wand..."
Roxy muttered.
She had met her master in her hometown, learned magic from her, and received a wand.
But thinking about it, Lesser Treants didn't inhabit the region where she grew up.
Thus, her master must have made the staff with whatever materials were available in the Demon Continent. She didn't choose the best materials; she used the best she could find.
The magic stone was commonplace, and the fittings were made of stone, not metal.
Presumably, all of it was made from materials that were readily available at the time or sourced from the nearby area. Despite this, it was a well-crafted wand that had saved Roxy's life numerous times.
She didn't know how suitable Vampire Treant saplings were for a beginner's wand, but…
"I'll try making it with this."
Roxy pulled out a knife and began shaving the sapling. For a while, the room was filled with the sound of wood being shaved.
As she listened to the sound, Roxy thought about her time since arriving in Buena Village.
At first, she thought it was a typical village. Small, laid-back, yet prideful and wary of outsiders. Especially towards demons like her, the villagers were unwelcoming.
In reality, the villagers often cast unconcealed glances at Roxy.
In the Asura Kingdom, the teachings of the Millis Religion, though not as pervasive as in the Holy Kingdom of Millis, were still well ingrained.
Many disliked demons simply because they were demons, and even those who didn't outright hate them still had a tendency to avoid them.
Knowing that the lady of the house where she was employed, Zenith, was a follower of Millis. Yet she didn't treat her badly for being a demon. Not even Rudy's childhood friend Sylphy, despite being born with green hair, which is a well-known demon trait to most races around the world.
Because it relates to the Superd Tribe, the ferocious and bloodthirsty warriors from the demon continent that unleashed death and chaos and fear during the Laplace War.
Roxy had thought, "This might not be a very pleasant place to live."
However, whether it was the kingdom's nature, the people's personalities, or their life experiences, Paul and Zenith were kind to Roxy.
They treated her as family or a friend and never mentioned anything about her being a demon.
Perhaps because of their attitude, the villagers' behavior towards Roxy began to change as well.
They started to smile at her. "Good afternoon, Ms.Roxy. Are you going out today? Ms.Roxy, we've just harvested some fruits, would you like some? Roxy, thank you and your disciples for giving water to my crops the other day. Thanks to you, it looks like we'll have a good harvest this year as well."
It felt like a nice place.
At the same time, she wondered if her master had experienced something similar.
Once, she had been born in a closed-off, dull village, and her master had come there, showing her the wider world and giving her the chance to set off on her own journey.
Roxy didn't remember clearly how her master had been treated when she first arrived in her village, as she had been a child at the time.
But by the time she left the village, her master had certainly been accepted by the villagers.
"Could it be that I managed to do the same as Master Kant...?"
Roxy hadn't intentionally set out to do so, but if she had managed to do the same, she felt happy.
One day, her master had left the village.
At that time, the young Roxy had felt a bit resentful. There was still so much to learn, she wanted to spend more time together, and if possible, she wanted to travel with her.
But surely, it was because her master had taught her everything she needed to teach and believed that she could walk on her own.
She decided that she was no longer needed, and that Roxy could continue on her own, so she stepped back to return to her own studies and duties.
And now, Roxy felt the same.
She was nearing the end of teaching everything she could to Rudeus.
At the same time, she felt that there was still so much more she herself needed to learn.
"...It might be time for me to set off on my own journey." Roxy voiced her thoughts.
It was a good village. The people were kind because she made an effort to help their crops and establish a good reputation with them. She felt she could stay longer.
But it seemed it was time to move on.
"I'll leave this village after I teach him this last spell."
There was one spell she hadn't yet taught Rudeus.
A spell that even she had struggled to master. When she first came to the village, she never even considered teaching it.
The Water Saint-level offensive magic: "Cumulonimbus."
"Hehe, but Rudy will probably master it in no time."
Roxy attached the metal fittings onto the finished sapling wood. Lastly, she inserted the magic stone with a click.
The sapling wood of the Vampire Treant, perhaps due to its nature, had a nice flexibility and fit comfortably in her hand.
Holding the finished wand, Roxy opened the window and pointed the magic wand at an empty space outside.
"Let the vast and blessed waters converge where thou wilt and issue forth a single pure stream thereof — 'Water Ball!" A water bullet, with its power suppressed, flew and burst with a small popping sound upon impact.
The flow of magic was perfect.
It was complete.
"So, will this be farewell...?"
Once Rudy mastered this last spell, she would leave as well.
Looking at the newly completed magic wand, Roxy made up her mind.
"Mmm, maybe I should make a magic wand for Sylphy, during Rudeus's birthday. I still have some materials leftover…I'll simply make it tomorrow since it's getting pretty late."