Chapter 1: Beginning At The End
I… I can't breathe.
…so this is how I die. You'd think I would be panicking, but I literally don't have the energy to do so.
As I lay on my bed dying I think these useless thoughts. There was nothing wrong with me, at least I didn't think there was. Clearly I'm no doctor. One moment I was sleeping, and then I woke up having troubles breathing, granted I was tired after a bit of exercise, but that's it. It was just some casual exercise It's supposed to be good for you.
…and now I'm dying..
Well, more specifically I woke up in a panic; breathing hard, and mild fever. But only for a moment. I try to scream, but it comes out as a weeze, and than nothing at all. If theirs any consolation on dying of suffocation it's that I don't have the energy to panic, so It's probably less painless than other ways.
Lord knows it's less painful than getting hit than a truck…probably.
In any case, painless or not, I'm not accepting it. Granted, my life isn't the most distinguished. Weak, injured, unemployed, apparently sick, and didn't know it, and dying without friends. Well, unless one can count a laptop their friend.
Of course not.
I'm a loser; no work, no friends, no lover. The only thing I have is family, but… even then, I've only become a burden. But I'm not delusional. Only lonely.
Someone… anyone… please save me…
I can not say those words. I hope that whatever this is passes, and I wake up in a hospital bed resuscitated. But I need to make some noise.
My vision is getting blurry, and I don't have the energy to get of the bed anymore. I fell asleep reading lightnovels, like usual. Go figure, I died as I live, a total weeb. That said I reach towards my laptop, and get ready to tip it of the corner of my bed, and hopefully the sound of it falling over, can get the attention of my parents that sleep next door.
I open it up, and…
"Ahhhn!" an erotic moan escapes the screen.
Crap it's porn. PUNCH!
I punch through the computer screen, making a small computer screen, and making some small smoke.
Ah, I think my heart just gave out. And those were my final thoughts as I embraced oblivion.
"..."
"…pahail…"
Zenith! Anipa bayhebu! La took!
"AHHH!"
What's with all the noise… can't a man rest in- WAIT A MINITE!
"Epabuhia! Tauwka seio kwa! Pahail za!"
"Ah…" someone makes a more relax noise as I raise my… hands.
"Ivin kav Zenith! Pahail za! Zevaiah bazalfben kifu zivaikah kwav!" a gibbering man says to me. Did not think that would be my first sight, after waking up. I should be telling him off for waking him, after I had a heart attack…probably, but…
He is ridiculously tall, and I am ridiculously small…
I am…
"Evun on. Nora iv aihen kap." says a blond beauty as I am put onto her lap.
Placed onto her very large lap, looking up at her as well…
AH! I see. I must be a bit delusional because of the loss of oxygen. Because, there's no way that I've been reborn as a baby, right?
That was my final thought, on the first day of my new life.
AN: So, this is my first time writing a story in a loooong time, am a bit rusty, and can't promise I will finish all the way through. BUT! I can promise that I'll end it on an arc, and even had my old Naruto end on one as well. So I will try not to leave you readers wondering if this story is dead or not. Hate it when it happens to me as a reader, and would try to avoid that to my readers as well. In the event that I get writer's block, or know I won't be able to continue, I will write HIATUS, so U the readers know whether to wait on or not. Anyways, hope you enjoy.
Chapter 2: Awakening
A week later.
It seems I have reincarnated.
Needless to say, I took it pretty well. Fainting, that is. I mean it's because I was tired of course. Being just born is very tiring, it's not like a little old thing like dying would get me down. Not like the shock of being a baby all of a sudden would perturb me a little. Nope, nada.
Who do you think I am!
I have reached akasha, and drowned myself with the knowledge of other worlds(internet web novels). There is no way death would hold me down. What doesn't kill you only gets you isekai!
HAHAHAHA… but I freaked the f out.
I've never been so thankful to not having teeth, than at the moment of my birth.
I panicked for a bit, and screamed out the generic one liners anyone would say in that situation. Who are you? Where am I? Etc.
What the hell was I thinking?
If I had been reborn in a world with the same language I would have surely been thrown in the garbage, and/or exorcized as some demon child. Luckily thanks to the combination of new unused vocal cords, no teeth, being tired, and knowing a completely different language; it all came out as an unintelligible dribble. Cute baby drible, but I digress.
In any case, odd beginnings aside, I am thankful. I don't know how this situation came to be, but I'll gladly take advantage of it.
A second chance at life…
I guess Truck-kun isn't responsible for all the Isekais in the worl-Multiverse.
Still though, what is a baby to do?
/
Nothing, the answer was nothing.
I can safely say reincarnation is not as exciting as it's put up to be. I envy transmigrators. The ability to walk around, talk, or you know… proper bowel control, I miss it all.
It's been a couple of weeks, and I can decisively say; Being a baby is boring!
The fact that I have a concept of myself is a godsend I suppose. How my brain is even functioning right now, I have no idea. I remember learning that a baby's brain is still in development for the first two years, so I should have the cognitive ability of a young puppy.
But hell if I'm going to complain! I'm adorable.
I'll take what I can get.
My body on the other hand…
My body is just embarrassing.
Honestly, I could die of embarrassment.
Anyways, talking, moving, it's all a pain, but I have to keep moving and persevere.
Don't remember when was the proper time to learn potty training, but needless to say, this young master will master the toilet immediately! It would be nice if my body wasn't so tired though. An infant's body is just so tiring. On my first day, passing out excluded, I could only stay awake a few hours.
Probably, there are no clocks here.
Day after day I was able to progress a bit each time. With these never ending boring days, there is nothing to do. The only thing I can do is just eat, and poo. Well, that and learn the language, but that is difficult as expected.'
Luckily, or unluckily, depending on your point of view, I can vaguely make out some words. It sounds like Spanish, but it definitely isn't. I knew Spanish in my past life, as well as English and a bit of french. Basically the romance languages.
Why the romance languages?
Because… Rrrrommmance~
Anyways, they most assuredly aren't speaking any of them. Every once in a while they will speak a word sounding similar to it, but just a little off. Honestly it's a bit worrying. I feel I might mess up and get sold away.
These past few days of observing have made it quite clear that this is your standard medieval world. No electricity. Simple clothing. And I'm pretty sure we're farmers, or at least living in the country. A person can't choose where they are born, and all that, but I do hope I can speak the language properly in a few years. In these medieval type worlds there's always a chance of being labeled a retard, and being thrown away as a disgrace, or something along those lines…
Honestly I'm going mad with paranoia.
The middle ages are a time of paranoia, and I can only hope this world is on the kinder end of things, and not the 'dark ages.'
It didn't help that one of the last stories I read before I died was a Xianxia protagonist, who got disowned by his family for being retarded. In actuality he just had trouble learning their language.
"Grrr," my stomach growled.
Ah, it seems I am hungry.
"Wahh! Wahh!"
Crying baby noises. The initial embarrassment of this baby act is gone now. A person has to do what he has to do to survive.
"...ber. Han an er Rudy?" Comes the sounds of a blonde beauty after hearing my calls. She comes, practically dashing, straight into the room.
Sorry, young miss, I still have no idea what you're saying, but the answer is probably yes.
Turns out my name is Rudy by the way, and… that is all I understand.
There she stands, a beautiful young lady. Blonde hair tied up behind her in a ponytail. With the bangs on opposite sides of her face going down it. She is wearing simple clothes, but it suits her fine. Or rather, with a figure like hers it would be difficult to look unappealing in anything.
"Anber guten avers. Mama es aki Rudy." She says lovingly as she comes and picks me up from my fortress of solitude (Read as crib).
Honestly, it's hard to tell that this woman indeed gave birth a couple weeks ago.
Yep, as you can guess. This woman is indeed my mother.
She gets close to me, unbuttons her shirt, and reveals her breast. My meal is ready. I had mixed feelings about this at first, considering I have an adult mind, but I literally need to feed. So those feelings of shame, of deceiving a young lady, were ruthlessly pushed down.
The actual act of feeding itself doesn't really bother me. I need what I need. I even remember it being necessary up to the age of two.
Or was it 3?
Unfortunately there is no google search in this world, and I had no kids in my past life to know.
It-it's not like I like you, or anything, Ba-baka. Just your milk. Hmph.
Still, though, why did it have to be so delicious?
I-I-I'm not a pervert, you're a pervert!
I'm just stating an objective fact like the color of the sky.
I can add this to one of the many reasons a person should not reincarnate into another world with their memories. Honestly, at this rate I might develop a complex in a few years.
Mother, huh…
I have mixed feelings about this. I have feelings of gratitude, and happiness. But along those feelings I also have feelings of guilt. This woman is my mother, but…
She isn't.
She is breast feeding me, while mumbling things about her day( I assume; can't understand her and all that). But at the end of the day; she isn't my mother.
This woman showers me with love and affection. She, and her husband have given me a roof over her head. She changes me, bathes me, etc. I am her child. But at the end of the day, I'm also not.
These feelings of guilt are really torturous on one's soul. It makes one wonder if I'll age faster at this rate.
Am I going to have Itachi eyes or something at age of 4?
But indeed, I can see why reincarnated protagonists usually time skip, or just go full transmigrate into the later years of life. The guilt those protagonists must have felt must have been too real for your generic escape fantasy.
I am sorry. But I have stolen the place of your son.
I am truly sorry.
Unfortunately, emotions aren't something so easily overwritten. Especially paternal ones. I am 24 years old at heart, madam. The time I wanted and needed a mother has come and gone. I am not a bird. I don't have an in-built instinct to love the first person I see. I don't recognize this woman as my mother.
It's simply hard to recognize someone younger than you, in heart, as your Mom, I simply can't.
Not even with all the affection she gives… and seeks.
And for that I am truly sorry. For your 'son,' can't truly return his affection towards you the way a baby should.
That's not to say I dislike her though.
I am eternally grateful for this second chance, and I can only hope to return these feelings with time. I don't know how I will return such a favor, but I will return these feelings ten fold, one day.
"Ah, Bisimo courtsein," This buxom beauty says to me, as she gently removes me away from her chest, and places me back in my crib. As usual, I have no idea what she is saying.
Still though… This feeling of guilt proves one thing to me. This isn't an illusion. If it were, these feelings wouldn't exist.
I think such thoughts as I raise my hand towards her. She lowers her finger, and I catch in my grasp as well.
Indeed, this is real. Thank you.
I think such thoughts as I can feel my body start to drift to sleep. Honestly, us babies are truly selfish beings, once our needs are met we simply fall to sleep simply enough. Hope tomorrow will be pleasant.
Still though, something about this world is keeping me on edge. Like, it's trying to tell me something, but I can't quite pick it up. I don't know what it is, but it feels like I'm forgetting something. Similar to when you are trying to remember something important, and know it's important, but can't quite remember what it is.
I do hope I figure it out, I don't need any more worries keeping me up at night.
I already have enough rude awakenings, due to this loving couple, making a ruckus at night. I don't need anymore.
/
Speed… I am speed.
It has now been six months since then. I am speeding down the hallway. My everyday boring days went as one would expect. No incidents. Just your everyday slice of life. Even if it is medieval. Nothing to do now but zip around the house.
Well crawling really fast, but the point still stands.
Gas, gas, gas, gotta step on that gas…something something… tonight, tonight.
But finally, I can move. One can only think back on their past life for so long before they go mad. At this rate I might develop an imaginary friend. Sorry, but I have no intention of speaking to Blue.
"Rudy? Whe are you?" A voice calls out to me from a different room.
Sorry, Zenith, but this body was made for speed. I think while moving my chubby little legs.
Deja-vu!
And so I continue to speed around the house, going from room to room. I can safely say I am ready to start moving on with my life.
…probably…
I mean my memories of home have never truly faded, and I do miss my parents, as well as some luxuries from the 21st century.
Anime!
But I wasn't exactly a kid. All birds have to leave the nest and all, and I was 24 years old. Oldest of a family with 3 siblings. Yet the only one that hasn't started a life for himself as well. Younger brother: 21, married, and with kid. Young sis, 18 the same.
Honestly Explode! What, were you guys reincarnated from a medieval society? Have families at age 30 like a true modern american.
Anyways, digressing: I was 24 years old, and without any true connections in that world, and the only ones I talked to were my parents, who I still live with, but considering my age, I was going to have to move on eventually.
The fact that meant dying was unpleasant, but nothing you can do about that.
But I already knew that dying was a possibility. Even before my accident. My parents had already ingrained it into me how dangerous the world could be. You just have to keep moving forward. It is a lesson I didn't learn 'till the very end. I know my parents would weep, but they have 2 children, and 2 grandchildren on the way. They are fine.
By now my funeral has come and gone. The only thing to do is move on. I'm not worth remembering.
Can't afford to make the same mistakes of the past.
When I was 19 I broke my leg. I also didn't have health insurance at the time, so I went with the cheaper option of going to a chiropractor. 'An unlicensed one…
Little details aside, it worked. I was healed. Mostly… But I was still injured, still feeling it, so I did it. By it meaning nothing. I was 19 at the time. My friends, had moved on with their lives, and there I was, a bird with a broken wing.
Yes big Shocker I had friends. Die!
Sigh, who am I even talking to? I guess it's true one does go mad if you have no one to talk to. At least in my past life I could distract myself with anime. Although, in the end that turned into a mixed bag.
That's just the way life is. Especially in a worn down neighborhood. You either die young, getting involved with the wrong crowd, or you move on. Go to college, get a career, and more importantly go away.
I did not have such a luxury, or at least I didn't take advantage of it. 19 and injured, and lonely. I was barely able to move the first six months.
The 'Guy,' I went to did his job, but… let's just say there's a reason people go to professionals.
Anyways, the mind numbing boredom was getting to me, and that is when I got introduced into the world of lightnovels.
I sat down one day, started reading light novels, and other things that suit my interest. One thing led to another, and I became a full blown Otaku. Told myself: "I'll take a break. I deserve it. Nothing like a good rest before moving on."
That break lasted 5 years. When I finally decided to move on with my life (kicked outside, and told to move you lazy bum). I did just that. Honestly I was even a bit impressed with myself.
Although I wasn't an athlete anymore, I was able to push myself like one.
Then I died.
Don't know when it happened. But my body, the original, had gotten to a point where some light exercise could give it some serious stress.
Not making that mistake again. Made my peace with that over these 6 months. Now, let's go.
Speeeeed! Give me freedom! Le Revolution!
"Where are you Rudy?" A certain blonde beauty yells out.
My humble apologies Lady Zenith, but this young master can't be tied down, the One Piece, she calls to me.
I crawled around, recklessly moving along, viewing anything and everything. After staring at the ceiling, and walls of my room for so long, anything and everything is a breath of fresh air.
Ah, I found someone. It's the Maid.
A real beauty. It makes me wonder if the standards of beauty in this world are rather high, or if I am just lucky in this life, or rather I guess it's Paulo that got lucky, hiring such a beautiful maid.
Oh, Paulo is my father's name.
She is rather taciturn. Keeping a cold visage at all times. As well as having maroon hair, not that big of a deal, but it really stands out. When you're only used to brown, black, and blonde such a new shading of hair is beautiful in its own right. Still though, there is one issue.
"Eep!" She yells out in surprise.
Stare. Stare. We just stare at each other for a while.
Yeah… she doesn't like me much.
Honestly she seems a bit weary of me. Everytime she holds me up. She mumbles things in her native language, and is always a bit nervous. I swear I can hear her heart beating across her chest when she places me on top of it.
I am convinced she was trying to exorcize me.
No, she literally was holding a stick with some petals attached to it as she shook it once.
"Gao," I growled at her.
I don't know what about me she is scared of. I can only guess that as a maid she has some childcare experience, and can tell I am not an ordinary baby.
That said it's been 6 months, and she hasn't left. Nor has she tried to physically harm me, so I think she has gotten used to me.
"Eee, et canis," she whimpers a bit while squeezing a plate. It shattered in her hand, sending the pieces everywhere.
Honestly, do you think I'm gonna eat you or something.
…well, baby steps I suppose. I turned away from her, and…
Ouch.
I step on a shard.
Hmm, I wonder how I should deal with this.
As such thoughts go through my head Lilia, that's the Maid's name, picks me up carefully and carries me with one arm, while using the other to inspect for damage. She looks at me with worry, before inspecting my bloody hand with a frown.
"Master Rudeus! Oh, no what to- Miss Zenith, let's-let's go to lady Zenith. There, there, don't worry mama Zenith is a great healer. She'll Alivare you in no timpo" she says. I got the gist of it.
To which, I raise my bloody hands towards her, and "Gao!" tease her just a little. It's just a cut. I couldn't help but tease her a bit. Even in a medieval society I wouldn't die from this. Probably.
I placed a bloody finger on her lip, and gave her hopefully a mischievous smirk.
There are no mirrors, I have yet to figure out how I look, beyond blond. I can only Imagine a toddlers body being expressive, and hence I hope my mannerisms come across as playful, and nothing demonic.
She looks at me for a moment, the worry on her eyes gone for a second, replaced with one of shock as her eyes bulge a bit in surprise. She then smiles kindly, and looks at me with equally kind eyes.
Ah, so you are capable of such expressions.
Mission raise Maids affection stat complete. Ding Ding. Reward; you will not be murdered in your sleep. Banzai~
Jokes aside, I hope we can move forward together.
After that was over she whisked me away, and took me to Zenit.
"Ah! Rudy, what happened?!" Zenit exclaims.
"It is my euro, lady Zenit. He actrapar the floor, quando…" Miss Lilia gets across the story of what happened.
I do hope she doesn't get punished. In all actuality, she is the normal one in this household, and is reacting normally to this other-worlder. It is just Zenit, and…what was his name again, Paulo? That seems to be lacking some common sense. Thank god for little miracles.
"...jeez. My little Rudeus. Va ater problems already, alright here goes," Lady Zenit says as she takes me away from Miss lilia, and holds me with one hand while the other hovers over my body, and…
"Let the power of Dio be excantanter into a grant crop, and rezaker unto those who have lost the furerzen to stand once more, HEALING!" She yells out, and… it did just that. I am healed.
Well, I'll be… It really hits hard, that this is definitely not home. I really have been Isekaid.
So magic really is a thing huh. Hmm, theirs that nagging feeling in the back of my head again.
As I think these thoughts Lilia and Zenit keep talking, with me only being able to get every other word. Lilia just seems to be bowing her head repeatedly, but Zenit is understanding, and seems to accept her apologies, and doesn't hold it over her.
I'm pretty sure I'm being chastised.
I guess this will be the topic of the day between her, and Paul later tonight.
…Wait a minute…
Paul, his name is Paul not Paulo. Her name is Zenith not Zenit as I've been calling her. And they have a maid named Lilia.
I turned my head, and looked at Lilia, and I mean truly looked at her, as she is. No sideway glances, no teasing, no looking away.
Maroon Hair; almost red. Beautiful Violet eyes.
Because yes that's a thing in this world.
And complete with a maid outfit and glasses.
Ah…
I should have noticed it sooner, but my interactions with Lilia are minimal, and my understanding of the language is still at beginner. Combine that with the fact that both Paul and Zenith, in the flesh, look like a pair of beautiful people. I never would have seen them as…
2d characters I used to read about.
Well, shit… Perhaps I am delusional after all, because… this isn't… isn't this a…
Well, there's no running away from it. My name is Rudeus Greyrat after all.
I now know what exactly was bothering me this whole time.
What's been in the back of my mind, and that was the fact that this all seemed familiar. Besides the fact that it follows the Isekai tropes.
That's right. I haven't just Isekai'd into any world, but the cubed world I read about a long time ago.
This is Mushoku Tensei. A web-novel.
I have been reincarnated into a work of fiction.
Okay… wow… just… What should I say?
Existentialism crisis aside, there is actually another problem I have on top of that.
What exactly was the plot again?
Wow… Just wow…
I don't-I don't even know… I mean… Mushoku?
I'd like to say I was real cool about all this, that I was a true chad, but no, even I was a little flabbergasted at that revelation. Being reborn is one thing, but this…
This really makes you question one's sanity.
At the very least I could say I didn't panic, or rather, what the hell are you supposed to do with that information.
…
On that night of that revelation I was just a really quiet baby, and for once I didn't feel like interrupting a certain couple's love making session.
I wasn't gonna get any sleep anyway.
Hitogami, huh…
/
"...hah…hah…" I breathe heavily. Morning exercises, and all that. Kind of normal for another world, but you gotta start somewhere. Can't ignore the basics. Gotta make Goku proud, haha.
Swing. Up. Down. Up. Down… 136…137…
It's been 2 years since then. I swing a branch up and down, or sword swings as I prefer.. Besides the standard running, and crunches I am familiar with.
My body isn't ready for anything heavy. I've only just been able to walk around without stumbling. So no push ups and no "Real," sword training.
I make sure to avoid any preeing eyes, specifically Paul's, at a time like these. Common sense they do not have. If they were to see me swinging my practice blade(stick). I would probably be subjected to sword training that this body is not ready for.
Probably.
I'd like to say that meta knowledge of this world would give me an advantage, but no. At least not at the moment.
Once the wave of existentialism faded, I thought I could take advantage of that, and take a few steps early.
A.k.a; early magic training. Insert training montage!
Too bad that was a bust.
After traversing the walls I finally found the books, or more specifically the chest they were in.
Forget it though,I couldn't even open the chest let alone read the books inside it.
So despite my eager attempts to jump into the moonlit world, I was hampered by my own biology.
148.. 149…
Still though, at least I made quite a bit progress with Lilia and Zenith until this point. Spending plenty of time around them learning the language, as well as learning the 'common sense,' of the world.
Honestly, it makes me wonder if I can still be called human, or more specifically, a Homosampian. This body just doesn't make sense.
150! Done, I can't take a breather now. Uwaa, muscle ache go away, go away.
Being unable to push myself physically until now, due to my age, I could only leach onto others, Zenith and Lilia… sometimes Paul, and learn as much as I can. I was already doing it a bit to a certain extent, but now that I was fully focused on the contents of their lips, my knowledge went up by leaps and bounds.
I was able to speak at the age of 1.
Though I talk very little as possible, for obvious reasons. Didn't spend all that time raising Lilia's affection stat just so she can drown me in a river.
And was then able to read at the age of 2.
Truly this brain is good. Like "too," good. As in, questionable this is even a human brain, good.
I suppose I shouldn't be looking a gift-horse in the mouth, and all that, but human brains really don't work like that. I wasn't a medical expert, or anything similar in my past life, but I do remember that the human brain takes a while to develop. It takes a while for an infant brain to be at the same level of an adult. Hell, I'm pretty sure I remember a study on earth that said; a puppy is technically smarter than an infant 'til the age of two.
Simply put, all humans are born prematurely.
Even simpler, infants are idiots.
If nothing else, at least this life won't be boring in the coming years.
Once upon a time, before my before, before I was a jobless neet. I had potential. I had average looks, above average grades, above average physique, pretty well off. I was never the best, but always at the top. Too bad it was all a waste of potential.
Story of my life. In the life before this one that is.
I had potential. Heard alot about that in life. Somewhere along the way I noticed that was enough.
Being first place was easy enough. When you're in elementary. Then it got slightly less easy when you entered middle school, and even more so when you're in highschool. The bar gets higher and higher as you get older, and so do people's expectations, but funny enough you don't actually have to be first to be recognized.
Something I found out around my highschool days.
So I stopped working. Did enough to get through, and that was fine. It's not like anyone cared anymore.
Once upon a time, in that short life I had friends. They left. Had lovers they left. And somewhere along the line I just started thinking, why was I trying so hard?
Then my ankle snapped.
Following that, on a night like any other, I decided to run. No particular reason why, just because. It's a good form of stress relief. Although, running away from your troubles seems to be a habit of mine.
In any case I ran during a night one day, and seriously injured myself. It was the first time in a long time that I could just rest for a while. No one was there to care, but at the same time, I didn't have to care as well. I could rest. I got slothful.
It was addicting.
Biggest mistake of my life. Paid for it with my life.
But yeah, inserted into Mushoku Tensei. Did not see that coming. That certainly does sound like the delusions of a hikikomori, but the truth lay before me. Such thoughts went through my head over the years.
Other worldly reincarnation really pushes the realm of believability, but being inserted into a fictional world… That really tests one's sanity.
Da-hell is with that. Is someone up their fucking with me. God of Isekais? Where are my gods of romantic comedy?! Refund! Is this an izanami, am I going to wake up, and realize it was all a dream?
Well, it doesn't seem like it. Fight on Rudeus!
Oh, wait, that's me. Honestly…
A person's name, as well as their birth, is not something that can be chosen, only gifted. When I was reborn in this world I thought whether I should go by old name, or current one, but when I looked at Paul and Zenith smiling faces, I remembered that a person's name is a way of honoring one's mother and father. So I kept it. It was the least I could do.
And yet it took me 6 months into this life to realize why everyone's names sounded so familiar. Why, his name sounded so familiar. It was the name of the first Isekai character I have ever read.
That was 5 years ago.
This is going to be troublesome.
"Hah, hah… hah…"
I more or less get my heavy breathing down. And now…
Standing up on the clear field tilting my hand above my head, and
"Water Ball," Cast a water spell. And then:
"Water ball, water ball, water ball," 3 more times for good measure, just before that headache starts setting in.
Ah, refreshing.
I take a moment to enjoy the scenery. Rural life may be dull, but you can't deny its beauty. Standing before a green pasture with a lake in the distance one can't help, but enjoy this peaceful scenery.
As he thought, concentration really was the key.
The original Rudeus casted only one, before succumbing to mana fatigue, I've been pushing myself a bit before casting, for a week now, and decided to start casting not in a busy state of mind, but one where my mind is 'looser,' I didn't meditate in a past life, so I can't enter a zen state of mind like certain spellcasters you read about, but I do know fatigue, and so I try to find a work-around in the form of exhaustion.
And try casting from there.
It was just a theory, and needs work, but the thought holds potential. The fact that I started at 3 water balls rather than 1 is proof of that.
That said; it's only now that he's realizing how heavy his bones feel. Now onto the long walk home. He grabs the stick he was using for practice swings, places it behind the tree, and prepares for the long walk home.
He can practice his "Trace on," Imitation magic when he can cast 100 water balls.
/
The maid is currently rubbing me off.
"Master Rudeus, please stand still," Lilia says.
The water that is..
I don't mind, but I'm old enough to do it myself. I can run around safely outside, I think I'm old enough to dry myself off with a towel. It's very uncomfortable.
You'd think I was still a baby.
In this life, if I am to have any peace, I am going to need to get strong. Strength isn't just something I want, but a necessity. If I am not in the top 10 of the world's strongest, then this life will be truly short indeed.
That is my first goal, my other is much simpler..
Finding happiness.
"Thank you miss Lilia,"
I think happiness differs between people, but to me it's the smile of those around me. Something I had forgotten about once, something I want to hang onto in this one, but…
…Miss Lilia doesn't really smile.
"Now master Rudeus, running around and having fun is good and all, but one should do all things in moderation," she stated.
"Ofcourse,"
She ruffles my hair a bit harshly."And yet master Rudeus seems intent, on running himself to death,"
"I ah-" I prepare an argument, but get interrupted by a sharp glare.
"Sigh, master Rudeus Lying is a bad trait for one to have, do not disappoint your parents, they will be saddened to know that their young son is lying so easily,"
Sighing is also a bad trait. You'll grow old, you know?
"..." It seems Lilia can see through me better than I thought. "Um…perhaps Lilia can…help me?"
She lowers the towel off my head and wraps it around my neck. She only responds with a raised eyebrow. As if saying, she will not help me lie.
Lilia… My feelings towards Lilia… are complicated to say the least.
Lilia is a kind, beautiful woman. She is loyal, hard working, endearing, and makes wonderful meals, as I can attest. She is a beauty on top of that; long flowing hair maroon, and violet eyes.
Don't know if such features are attractive in this world, but for someone like me, that came from a 'normal,' world, she has an otherworldly beauty about her.
Although, technically I'm the otherworlder.
And she deserved better.
Lilia was raped young, by my…
Sigh…
By my father; Paul Greyrat, and since then her life has gone to hell.
Her and my fath-Paul, had history with each other, they both learned under the same school for a time. A school in which Paul Hated being there. Somewhere along the way Lilia developed an attraction towards him, because Ikemen I suppose, but those feelings were definitely not returned. Not in a way that is acceptable.
One night, Paul had enough of it all and decided to enact one final act of revenge before he left the dojo, and go off and become an adventurer.
So he decided to violate the place's idol, Lilia.
Don't know how much he thought about HER as a person, but I doubt Paul ever thought that her life would go down the platter, because of one night. She was simply a means to an ends.
But yes of course it did. This is a medieval patriarchal society, and 'used,' goods are a great shame towards one's family.
Go fuck yourself Augustas.
Anyways, crappy thoughts aside, Augustus sent away his child in shame, and some way or another found a job, it was that of a maid.
The details are a bit murky from there, don't think it is from my lack of memory, and more of the author choosing not to focus on it. But the hints were there. Lilia had nowhere to go, and had to pick up a job, a job as a maid, and was trained appropriately, in every way that means.
Rape is still a crime, but with enough power you can get away with it, hence Paul. But in this world you wouldn't even need to resort to force, in the physical sense, as you can just do as you want, by asking. It might not be a crime, but an employer still has a right to fire an employee for disobeying an order.
Lilia had nowhere to go… I don't need to say more to get the idea, what orders she probably followed.
In the original work she often talks about sexual harrasement, but when you get a peek of her thinking process, combined with the fact that Asura is famous for perverted nobles, than you can get an idea of what her life went like.
She probably had a reprieve from it when she had to work as the princess maid, as there's somethings you wouldn't do around a princess.
Perverted nobles or not, being executed by the king is a nice deterrent.
Unfortunately such a venture also ended tragically as well.
She was gravely injured during an assasination attempt, and could no longer fight to the same ability she once had, combined with the fact that she might be eliminated for knowing too much, her options were limited.
Then I was born.
Paul being a young father decided he might need help, and decided to hire a maid, Lilia saw this notice, and decided that, her feelings of Paul aside, she could get a fair paying job their by the countryside, and if Paul was hesitant, she could always reveal his past actions towards his wife, and give him a hint as to the type of guy she married.
That never came to be. Paul, although scum, does have 'some,' sense of honor, and gave her the job.
If that was it, although tragic, it probably wouldn't have pist me off so badly, that despite my memories of mushoku being limited, Lilia's backstory left an impression.
But no… She married her fucking rapist.
…it reads like bad porn…
Lilia was envious of Zenith's and Paul's love. She was also a little horny, understandable, those guys are quite loud. Pretty sure if I had to listen towards my neighbors' rigorous love making sessions for 5 years I would get horny too.
But yeah… combine those two factors, as well as a mix of low self-worth due to her past, and you have the foundation of an unhealthy relationship, with no Love, not even lust, but duty.
It was disgusting. It was tragic.
At least, it was never expanded on, but I can safely say Lilia never experienced love in that life, even if Paul probably thought she did through him, but no, that was never the case.
Lilia deserves better, that's why…
"Lilia, are you by chance experienced in swordsmanship?"
She narrows her eyes a bit, I can see her thinking: what are you thinking?
"...I was taught a bit in the water god school…why?" She asked hesitantly.
Causing me to smile. Perfect.
"That's perfect! I would like to start training in the water god school, as well," I reach my hands towards her, and give them a light squeeze. Not that I could hurt her anyway.
I look her right in the eye."Please teach me?" I 'ask,' but I'm not taking no for an answer.
Consider this your master's selfish wish, but I have no intention of having you live such a life. You will find happiness Lilia, true happiness, of that much I promise you.
Hands in position, tight on the blade, and then…swish.
On an open field by a lake a young boy and a maid can be seen practicing the blade(stick).
A swing of the blade, up. A tilt to the blade(stick) to allow another's blade to slide along its edge. One foot forward moving in conjunction with the swing, the other ready to pivot, if the position needs to be changed, for an oncoming attack.
And finally return to form. Repeat.
Swing, horizontal variant, same principals, but the body is ready to tilt in the direction of where an attack would come. Return to form, and repeat.
And so on, and so on. For about an hour.
Now onto the practical part.
Swing. Clang clang. Swing. Clang clang.
Again and again. All the while staying true to form, I continued these repetitive movements I had remembered. Again and again. Clashing as I try to hit her.
Emphasis on try.
All the while still making sure to return to the proper stance when possible, so as not to let month's of repetition go to waste.
The process repeats.
One Rudeus Greyrat, and one Maid are having an epic battle, of legendary proportions. One boy swings a stick again and again, all the while a cool beauty parries such attempts at her person, again and again.
Swing, and parry. Swing, and miss.
Surely bards will tell the tale of the young sword genius, first prodigal steps at the hands of his maid.
As if.
I try to stay true, but can only handle failure for so long. Mostly, sadly, all I can do is swing wildly at times, in a vain effort to land one hit. That said; even when losing my cool, I still make sure to mimic the techniques I learned, and try to adopt them into my style. Trying to engraine them into my body.
An upward swing comes from down below. It comes towards my side, changing direction, and striking, poking at the shoulder.
Oof.
Downward thrust towards her legs. A clang of our blades, followed by a bop to the head.
Ouch.
Horizontal swing at the waist. No clang this time, just the sound of a wooden stick sliding up another-
"Ouch," I can't help but yell out this time as my fingers are smushed behind another stick.
"It seems you have just lost your fingers master Rudeus. I believe this is the end of today's lessons," Lilia replies nonchalantly.
I'm gonna feel all that tomorrow. I have a long way to go.
It has been a week since I asked Lilia for tutelage. At first she was against it, and suggested Paul. He is technically my father. And, misgivings aside, he is "technically," a genius, but… well…he sucks. As a teacher that is.
Besides that defeats the whole point of this exercise. Operation, raise Lilia's self-worth.
Anyways, Lilia was against teaching me at first, coming up with every decision under the sun to avoid me. You should learn from Paul, I can not teach you much, you are too young to be training, I have other duties. Etc. etc.
Nope.
Needless to say, I shot such talks down immediately.
Just nope.
Being a child does have its advantages at times, such as then, and as such I made sure to take advantage of it mercilessly.
So… nope.
Sorry, Lilia (not really), but you will have to entertain this spoiled master.
Now if only she could hit me a little gently.
"Now then, shall we?" After the sparring section part of training, Lilia enters sensei mode, and starts going back to the previous techniques she used during the fight, and reproducing them in a slower motion. After that, it's simply an hour of repeating the techniques slowly, and trying the body to get used to them. The next day will start the same as this, where I will train my body for a short while(warm up), followed by a short break, and then casting a water ball or two. Always, half my limit, and never more.
Can't enter the training session following it after, with my mind being out of it. What good is having a genius brain, but being absent-minded.
"Ah, thank you sensei."
"...I'm not a sensei, young master," she whispers, looking off to the side, with feint annoyance, and half embarrassment.
"Nope~"
"Sigh, young master is incorrigible. In any case, let's get you home. I have to finish my 'maid,' duties," she emphasizes the maid part.
Yes, yes. I am aware you are a maid. You are still wearing the outfit.
"I will be moving on ahead master Rudeus, I will wait for you in the kitchen," she walks away in the direction of my house. This routine has already been set after a week.
"...whew, I wonder if she still thinks i'll of me," I mumbled.
Now having a breather I decided to finalize my training period, and casting the water balls for the day, before setting out to help Lilia in the kitchen.
Unfortunately, playing the spoiled master role could only go so far, so in order to convince Lilia to hang out with me, I had to offer something. So when she gave the excuse of having her maidly duties, I offered to help her with them, and consequently giving her time..
I suppose she thought she was being smart, and that it would work as a deterrent, or that I would tire of menial work, but nope, that wasn't going to happen.
Haha, you fool. You've fallen for my plan. Kuku. All according to keikaku.
Truth be told I was going to offer that anyway. Eventually. My 'life,' skills leave little to be desired, so I was planning on asking her help in the future. It would also work as an excuse to hang out with her more. So when the opportunity to expedite my plans for a few years, I went for it.
Lilia [pov]
"...now you, wait a few minutes 'till the grain changes color before you can drop the veggies,"I explained to master Rudeus.
"Why?'
"Because the veggies, and the grain have two different boiling points, and placing both at the same time wouldn't be wise. You will end up eating a delicious meal, with a side of overcooked veggies. Possibly burnt," I explain to master Rudeus.
With a shake of his head, he responds that he understood.
Similar lessons have now become customary now. The young master, as usual, absorbs everything like a sponge. He is Zenith's and Paul's pride, and joy, an exemplary child…
If only they knew how much.
That child… he has never been nothing, but exemplary.
It was frightening.
The child was born several years ago, drawing out amniotic fluids when he was born, I cleaned him, and brought him out into this world peacefully. Or more accurately quietly. He didn't make a sound.
He simply laid quietly in my arms with an expressionless face, and still.
It looks like this is it. I wonder where I go from here? I hope the young miss takes the loss well.
I had such thoughts at the time. Worried about my prospects of how to acquire new work, while also wondering how I should break such news to the young miss.
"Hmmm… argh…"
Such thoughts were to never reach a conclusion, as they were interrupted by the sounds of a young baby groaning. The baby was alive.
I… made a mistake?
I remembered thinking at the time. I don't know how I made such a mistake, but I was thankful for it. I carried of the baby to its mother's waiting hands, and threw my previous worries to the side.
The baby continued to make unintelligible babble. It looked like my worries were for not, and the young couple's lives could continue. If he is this lively, he is surely healthy.
I really underestimated his liveliness.
After he was born, he was quite a lively child, and yet strangely quiet when not. It was a paradox. The baby was always quiet, never making a sound, nor a mumble. Only making sounds when needing changing or eating.
A baby would usually make some unintelligible, baby talk, as he imitates his parents and grows, getting particularly vocal when eating, or in need of some cleaning.
But this baby was simply odd…
That was only where the irregularities began though, another was he was always on the move. Kitchen, cupboard, fireplace, always moving. How he even made it to the second floor with his stubby limbs remains a was 6 months old at that time..
Although, both of these notes made him unusual, that is not what made him frightening. Just… livelier than one would expect of him.
No, that wasn't it, rather it was his eyes. His eyes were… those weren't a child's eyes.
Those eyes were simply too clear. When the baby started crying to have his needs met, one would enter the room, and then he would go quiet, and look at you. As if he knew why they were here.
When a person enters a room he would turn their head towards them, acknowledging they were here. When you hold him he looks at you in the eye. When you read to him he focuses on the words, and not the speaker. When Lady Zenith would unbutton her blouse for feeding he would look at her breast for a moment. A moment too long in my opinion.
Everytime.
At first it was unnoticeable, but as he got older, his childish features changed from baby to a young child. It became apparent that he is aware of the world… and women. Perhaps it was nothing, but he just seemed 'too,' aware from my point of view.
For a moment I thought it was my own experience with men distorting my view of the young master, and I was imagining things, but my intuition was telling me otherwise.
So I decided to test him.
One evening I asked Zenith If I could wash the young master today, so as to give lady Zenith a reprieve. I made sure to change clothes, and changed to a bathrobe. In front of him.
He definitely stared.
I rubbed the master from top to bottom, and made sure to 'accidentally,' push my breast against his arm from time to time. As well, bending over, and letting him have a look, as I reached for a bar of soap. I made a 'show,' and made sure to take things off slowly. Not once did his gaze waver.
He even blushed. He wasn't even 2 at the time. He was clearly aware of the opposite sex.
I never had a shower with the young master after that.
From time to time, I would notice those irregularities. He would look at my 'assets,' when he thought I wouldn't notice. He would inhale your scent if you were to hold him close. Whether it's me or lady Zenith, doesn't seem to matter. He only didn't do it with Paul.
Just as strange, he would go up and read, from time to time, without a parent, alone.
And to top it off he would mysteriously disappear from time to time, coming back wet and breathing hard like a beast.
With such thoughts I was weary of the day he would attack me. My heart was beating heavily inside my chest when I thought the day came and he asked me to train him.
Of course no was the only answer. On my mother's name I would not want to stay in a room alone with him if at all possible.
He kept insisting though. As such I kept making logical responses to deny him, but he would quickly come up with a rebuttal. I almost had it when…
He squeezed my hands, and looked me straight in the eye. Pleading to me once more.
…those eyes.
Somehow, my rejections died in my throat.
I think I am a pushover.
And so I relented and decided to teach the young master swordsmanship.
We started at the beginning, with exercises, and techniques. Any excuse not to spar.
It was fool-hardy.
He already knew the basics. I already saw him stare at his father's own practice, so I guess it's no surprise he knew how to grab a sword.
I could only stall him with techniques for so long however, and like any technique you need to practice them.
Sparring was inevitable.
I taught him some forms, and prepared myself.
I don't know what excuse I'll make for Zenith, but if my life is forfeit, I'll at least defend myself.
And as such thoughts went through my head, I taught him a few beginner forms, had him go through some drills, and finally went into practical application.
I waited for him to attack, he did, and…
I parried.
Then he attacked again. I parried once more.
Again, and again, after a while I struck back at the end of every parry. and this process would go like this for the next weeks.
He was sloppy, clearly a beginner. Seems he at least got the basics, as he knows how to grab a sword. However, I would still beat him down.
By the time we were done the young master would be laying in a pile of his own sweat on the prairie, every time, exhausted.
His sweaty drenched form comes to mind, as he lays on the floor.
He would tell me to walk away, and that he'll follow me in a second. After repeating this event again, and again, the truth finally set in.
He's just a child.
I don't know what I was expecting, but after a few beatdowns, my apologies to lady Zenith. It became apparent that the young master was just a child.
He is precocious. He is lively. He is aware… perhaps too aware, of women, specifically.
But he is not a bad person.
At this time a scene of a young baby holding a bloody finger towards my lips comes to mind. And then the image of the heavy breathing toddler on the floor.
An abnormal child indeed, but not evil.
"Miss Lilia, I'm done slicing the veggies."
"Thank you, Rudy, please set them aside, and I'll put them with the rest," I stared at the young child.
If nothing else, an extra pair of hands is always nice to have.
/
Rudy [pov]
I say operation raise Lilia's affection is a success. Don't know exactly where I am going with this, but one taking things one happy day at a time, can't be wrong. I hope.
Anyways, weeks turn to months, and I am now 3 yrs old. Have been training with Lilia for a while now, and I feel I might be nearing my limits of what I can learn by myself.
My swordsmanship is going well.
I can at least act appropriately, and react in time, rather than pause with attacks. It is now apparent to me how kind Lilia is. Seeing as I am not a pile of mush.
She could have struck me way more than once in between pauses.
She's a good teacher, but as for magic…
I'm not quite sure where to go. In the magic department I'm all by myself, and unlike a certain 34-yr old isekai neet I am an 'average,' person. My understanding of physics starts and ends at a fifth grade level. The water cycle; condensation, evaporation, precipitation, yeah, I can work with that. Making a bog, or lightning, a little beyond my expertise.
Where is my explosion magic?!
Can I do this by myself?
I stood by the pond, turned out it wasn't a lake, and took out the book I hid behind a tree, and started wondering if it's time to move forward with the next step. Unlike my other actions, that were generally along the plot line, not including Lilia and swordsmanship, this decision would have general repercussions.
The question is do I learn by myself, or do I go down the Roxy path.
Going down Roxy-
That doesn't sound right.
I have been thinking for some time whether I should go down the 'plot,' or not, for the most part I've completely disregarded that, and decided to live true to myself, but ultimately in the end I haven't really changed much.
But my magic lessons are a real turning point.
On one hand I could tough it out, and go at it by myself, take the swordsmanship lessons I can take from Lilia and Paul as much as possible, learn magic by myself and move on.
Too bad Hitogami exists.
Unfortunately all my future knowledge is only usable, during this 10 year window, after that it's practically useless. The 'man,' is a clairvoyant after all.
And that is the crux of the issue; the core of the series was written about a character, me I suppose, reacting towards the machinations of a clairvoyant by the name Hitogami. In essence; I am in the palm of his hand, or will be at the very least.
So the situation I find myself in is; Clairvoyant, and telepath, because of course he is, versus me… a guy with future knowledge.
For a moment I wondered If I just avoided Roxy, that could be it, I could be free. Free from the plot, and free to live my life as I please. No Roxy, no romance, and hence no Laura, no threat to Hitogami.
That is too hopeful.
As soon as that naive thought entered my head, it was quickly extinguished as I recalled the rest of that story, specifically an event about a time that never was.
Sometime, during his academic years, the protagonist of Mushoku Tensei had a visitor from the future, himself, and through that a possible future became apparent, one where Hitogami won.
In that timeline Roxy was the first to die, and consequently Laura was to never be born. You would think that would be it, bad guy wins, roll credits. No, Hitogami is not that type of person.
He is thorough. Unfortunately all of my descendants, children and/or grandchildren, are blindspots for Hitogami, their nuisances, something outside his control. Something he could not allow to exist. So he didn't.
Unfortunately, I can not remember the details, it was a novel to me back then. Probably for the best, I do not want to picture my loved ones dying, now that I have an actual face to associate it with.
But I remember that they died, all of them. Roxy, my would be wife, died first. Followed by Slyph, then the others, the order is murky, but I remember enough to know that all my lovers died first, then my friends and family. Kept going until there was no one left, and why? Because he can.
It makes sense when you disassociate from the characters.
Because to him, our lives are nothing, simply pawns on a board, and we were simply living outside of his control. An uncontrollable variable, and as such had to be removed from that board.
…
…funny enough, he didn't kill that version of Rudeus. Instead told him everything, and left him to 'live,' a life of misery.
Quite a comic book villain isn't he.
But yes, ultimately Hitogami is cruel. Peaceful coexistence is impossible.
And so the decision of avoiding Roxy, or not becomes simpler than expected.
The answer was easy.
"Splash Flow…"
If I have to go down paths, where the same dangerous beast lies across both paths. Then you would go down the one you know best. Don't know about lover, but a powerful friend and ally is just too attractive an option to let go.
"Hah, ha…This is why I need a teacher," I don't remember the original breathing this hard. This is why I need a teacher. "I'll see you soon Roxy sensei,"
Become my strength. Clairvoyant and telepath vs self-insert, the equivalent of future knowledge. It's like being gifted a gun with one bullet that can shoot down god.
Well then, better make that shot count.
I go home. I have some intermediate magic to perform.