The flames licked at the letter, crackling as it burned.
The 'telepathy' continued.
Allen leaned lazily against the chair, chin propped on his hand, eyes half-lidded in a smile as he watched the paper turn to ash.
'Since my childhood arc score is maxed, does that mean I can already step into the next phase of the system task — the youth tutor arc? Or does it have to follow the original timeline, where Rudy heads to Roa next summer?'
[According to the original story, it would be next summer. But you've cleared the childhood arc with full marks, so you're free to enter the youth phase early.]
[Like I said — this is your own journey.]
'So I can advance early? How? And the score resets?'
[Same way you triggered the Sylphy affection quest — by contacting key characters of the next arc. The moment you interact with them, you step into it.]
[And yes, the score resets. Aim for at least 60 points.]
'Will there still be a full-score reward?'
[Of course.]
'What is it?'
[Just like before. You'll have to earn it. But having gone through childhood properly, you should already understand the core logic of earning points.]
Allen stared at the system panel and murmured.
'That step toward a perfect score was when I decided to save Zenith and Paul.'
'Every ripple from the butterfly's wings is proof that I existed.'
'The greater the ripples, the deeper the mark I leave in their eyes.'
'And the more proof that I'm alive.'
'The butterfly effect shouldn't be avoided just for the sake of 'future sight.' And my own feelings shouldn't be suppressed just for risk avoidance.'
'Doing what I want, meeting who I want… living freely as a person.'
'That's what makes this my Mushoku Tensei.'
[Heh… been holding that in for a while, huh? You've always known, but you just wouldn't act.]
The flame was about to touch his fingers, and he reflexively shook the burning letter off. The ember fell, still burning.
Allen watched the falling fire reflected in his grey eyes and spoke each word with deliberate calm.
'From the heart, word and deed as one.'
As he watched, it was as if something invisible split the flame in mid-air and let it fall in two halves.
He smiled faintly, the firelight illuminating his face.
'Sword God Style really does rely on epiphanies.'
[Oh?]
'…The moment I burned that letter, my heart told me—'
'Silent Sword.'
'I've already reached the peak.'
[Pretty cool line.]
'Not bad, thanks.'
[Your desk's on fire.]
'Huh—? Thanks, wait what?!'
Allen's eyes widened as he saw the flames creeping across his desk and sprang up. The chair fell over with a thud as he scrambled to slap the fire out.
Yeah.
That must be what 'the peak' looks like.
From the next room, Zenith's concerned voice called.
"Allen? Is everything alright?"
"All good!!"
'Yeah right!!'
Allen looked at the two black burn marks on the desk, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
'Guess I'll apologize tomorrow.'
'They'll probably forgive me.'
'But I'll have to think of a good excuse.'
'At least the fire didn't reach the Roxy figurine.'
He glanced at it — the little Roxy raising her staff with a stern face.
Cool enough.
But it didn't feel quite real. Too stiff, really.
In Allen's memory, the real Roxy wasn't like that.
This figure was too much like something mass-produced, too proper. A panicked expression, or scratching her cheek awkwardly… that would have felt more personal.
Just like that little wooden doll he carved.
Allen's eyes lingered on the figurine.
'From the heart, word and deed as one. That's the right path, isn't it?'
[Yes. Why?]
Allen smiled faintly at the figurine.
'System.'
'Activate location search. Target—'
'Roxy.'
It might've been his imagination, but the system panel seemed to pause, as if caught off-guard.
Then the smoky letters flickered wildly, almost gleefully.
A huge world map condensed in the air in front of him.
Allen's grey eyes scanned it. He didn't even need to search — the southeast of the Central Continent, 'Shirone Kingdom,' glowed with a pulsing black dot at its heart, rippling like water.
He focused on it, and the map zoomed in, even showing the palace outlines.
That was a pinpoint within a hundred meters, huh.
Allen propped his chin, smiling wryly.
Even if he couldn't actually see Roxy, knowing she was there… was something.
This locator wasn't something he could use recklessly — it was on a week-long cooldown.
Too bad. Even if he wanted to act, he couldn't just recklessly charge to her now.
After all, his current arc still demanded a passing score — below 60 and he'd risk erasure. Acting on impulse didn't mean courting death.
Still, these damn systems and their threats of erasure…
That's what it means to transmigrate, huh.
As Allen drifted into idle thoughts, his eyes caught on something new.
Below the map, words shimmered faintly.
[Focus to 'observe.' Time limit: 10 seconds.]
Allen stared, his throat going dry.
'System.'
[Yes?]
'What does observe mean?'
[Location Search: a panel-based rendering of the Clairvoyant Eye.]
[So what do you think 'observe' means, Allen?]
(End of Chapter)
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