On the Way to Buena Village
[Quest: Gain Lilia's favor within one hour. Gain Rudeus's favor within four days. Reward: Healing Magic Groove – Unlocked (2/4).]
"...2 out of 4? Seriously? System, what kind of swordsman's guide gives favorability quests?"
---
Many years later:
> "Mr. Allen, you are known as the scholar of the Sword Sanctum, the Swordsman of the Magic University, the pillar trusted by the Dragon God, the man whose absence the Water God laments, and the rumored heartbreaker Princess Ariel failed to win. What do you think about Rudeus Greyrat being slandered as a 'fame-chasing fraud'?"
"First, please stop fabricating titles for me. I reserve the right to sue."
"As for Rudeus—I've said repeatedly that in my eyes he is like my own child. Yes, he's insecure and timid at times, but that only proves he's real. This era grew alongside him. If we're being responsible, he should be called a legend."
The next day, the Cat and Dog Academy's tabloid published:
> "I have emphasized repeatedly that Rudy is essentially my son. His cowardice and anxieties are entirely my responsibility."
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On the Way to Buena Village
Year 412 of the Asura Kingdom Calendar.
Rudeus Greyrat had just been promoted to Water Saint level in magic.
This was also the second and final year that Roxy Migurdia remained in Buena Village as his tutor.
In the southern foothills of the Red Dragon Mountains—northern Fitoa territory—the forest lay quiet under a pale moon. A cold mountain breeze flowed through the branches and into a small clearing where a young boy sat beside a campfire.
Firelight danced across his gray eyes as he studied a worn map of Asura Kingdom. A vermilion circle marked the northern edge of the Fitoa region, with neat handwriting labeling one location:
Buena Village.
The boy rested his chin on his hand. His sharp, slightly upturned brows gave his face a maturity beyond his age.
"One more day… and I should finally meet Rudy."
His name was Allen, and he was a reincarnator.
---
His Previous Life
Allen had once been a 25-year-old automotive engineer responsible for stress-testing an autonomous driving system. Confident in its safety—far too confident—he tried watching Mushoku Tensei: The Teleportation Labyrinth arc on his phone during testing.
The system interpreted his "overtime fatigue" as a challenge and accelerated to over 100 km/h in three seconds… straight into a stationary truck.
His phone was found lodged between his eyebrows.
Tragic, but effective.
He woke up as an infant in another world—ironically one named exactly like his old world, though the language here resembled the Human Language of the Mushoku Tensei universe. Its grammar, thankfully, felt close to Chinese, making it easy to learn.
But his relief didn't last long.
Before he could clearly see his own mother's face, an illusory screen appeared before his soul:
[Guide to Jobless Reincarnation]
Participate in major events of this era. Influence key characters. Reach a minimum score of 60 at each life stage. Failure will result in disqualification from the Guide… and probable erasure from existence.
The word erasure was bold, underlined, and glowing red.
Very motivational.
---
His Current Status
[Stage: Early Childhood — Cumulative Participation Score: 2]
Choose a career path:
Magician (Abandoned): Laplace magic factor, increased mana pool, doubled magic talent.
Blessing: Green hair.
Cost: Cannot cultivate battle aura.
Swordsman (Selected): Dragon God Orsted's Dragon-Saint Battle Aura Core. Increased aura conversion efficiency, doubled swordsmanship comprehension.
Blessing: Strong, durable physique.
Cost: Mana regeneration slowed to Orsted's level.
Current Sword Style Proficiency:
Sword God Style: Intermediate
Water God Style: Advanced
North God Style: Intermediate
Allen sighed. He still remembered the mental image that haunted him each time he saw the "green hair" option—a goddess holding a punk-haired Laplace wannabe in one hand and a tanned muscle giant in the other, smiling: "Which one is yours?"
He had chosen the Swordsman path for good reasons:
Swordsmen thrived in this world—no job classes, pure skill.
Orsted's aura core was unmatched.
And yes… he preferred a style where each strike hit hard.
"It's 412… which means Roxy leaves Buena Village this year."
He tightened his grip on the map.
"I'm already months late. I must reach Rudy and Roxy before that moment passes."
He had originally planned to travel at the end of 411 but became lost in the Red Dragon Mountains. Several months later, he had finally reached the outskirts of Buena Village.
"If I miss this event too, I'll have to rely solely on Sylphie and Rudy's family for my childhood-stage score. Too risky. Roxy is crucial."
The words dissolved into smoke as he dispersed the system window.
Allen stood. Though only nine years old, he was already about 1.6 meters tall. His patched swordsman's uniform clung to a frame packed with dense muscle, courtesy of the system's "gift."
But he wasn't admiring himself.
He sensed something.
The forest beyond the firelight trembled.
Something approached.
Footsteps. Heavy. Coordinated.
Allen's eyes sharpened.
Four silhouettes emerged from the darkness.
---
Luo Qixi? A Chance Encounter, or Inevitability
Four monsters stepped into the firelight.
At the front was a massive bipedal boar-type creature—a Mutated Armored Boar—standing nearly three meters tall. Its crimson eyes locked onto Allen. Two enormous tusks dripped with saliva, scraping the ground as it panted.
Behind it stalked three Fang Hounds, wolf-like beasts known for their speed and aggression. Their teeth glinted as they tore at the dirt, eager to charge.
The glow of Allen's campfire had drawn the attention of the forest's local tyrant.
The boar halted and grunted, signaling the hounds to fan out in a line. Its gaze swept over the longsword at Allen's hip—recognition and caution flickering in its eyes.
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