Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Eris's natural talent for magic wasn't particularly remarkable. For her, magic was more of a complement—a handy skill to have rather than a calling. Her aptitude in swordsmanship, however, was undeniably exceptional. Compared to the path of magic, Roy had far more confidence in her future as a swordswoman.

That wasn't to say Eris had no talent for magic; it simply paled in comparison to her gifts with the blade.

Thinking this, Roy considered telling her the truth. But when the words were about to leave his lips, he held back.

Why crush her enthusiasm when she's genuinely interested in learning magic?

Besides, knowing a few basic spells could be quite useful for day-to-day life—starting a fire, boiling water, and so on. Practical skills like these were nothing to scoff at.

It was much like education itself: most of what people learned in school wasn't directly useful in adulthood. Yet, a foundation of knowledge had its value, even if only a small part of it was regularly applied.

Learning shouldn't always be about utility. With that thought in mind, Roy decided not to say anything discouraging.

Instead, he smiled at the girl and said, "Eris, for your first attempt at magic, that was very impressive."

Rudeus, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. His green eyes locked onto Roy with an incredulous expression.

Memories of his own struggles with Roy's mentorship flooded back. Whenever he asked Roy about magic, the man would scoff, saying things like, "Magic isn't some cheap parlor trick. Can't you figure it out yourself?"

The bluntness had left a lasting impression on Rudeus, so watching Roy praise Eris with such warmth felt like an entirely different reality.

She can barely manage a simple water spell, yet you're looking at her as if she's a prodigy, he thought bitterly. And me? You've never once been this kind.

The disparity hit Rudeus hard, stirring a deep sense of injustice. The things I endure, he lamented internally.

Meanwhile, Eris beamed under Roy's praise, her earlier frustration vanishing. She folded her arms, her pride on full display, her fiery eyes gleaming with self-assurance.

Unable to hold it in any longer, Rudeus blurted out, "Nii-san, how about you take a look at my magic progress?"

Roy raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised. "You've made progress in magic?"

After a brief pause, he nodded. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

Rudeus began channeling his mana, picturing the form of a stone. Gradually, a dense rock materialized in his hands. With a deliberate motion, he made it spin rapidly before firing it off like a projectile.

The stone shot forward at incredible speed, tearing through the air. The technique, aptly named Stone Cannon, was one of Rudeus's more refined spells. Its mechanics mirrored that of a bullet—pressure, acceleration, and rotation all combined to maximize impact and precision.

Roy observed as the stone sped into the distance, disappearing beyond sight.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Of course, Rudeus hadn't unleashed the spell's full power; his intent was merely to showcase his skill. There was no need to pierce the heavens or obliterate the landscape.

Eris, however, was visibly impressed. She patted Rudeus on the shoulder, her tone almost sisterly. "Not bad, not bad. Looks like you're not as weak as I thought. Though, let's be honest, your swordsmanship still needs work."

Roy nodded approvingly. "It's good, Rudeus. Quite impressive."

Hearing this, Rudeus's face lit up. It had been so long since his brother had offered him genuine praise.

But then, Roy added, "However—"

Rudeus's smile froze.

If there was one word he feared most, it was however.

Roy sighed, rubbing his temples as if grappling with an oncoming headache. "The problem lies in your close combat abilities. Even if your magic is powerful, what happens when you're caught off guard? Against a mid-level swordsman, you'd likely lose in seconds."

The words struck Rudeus like a blow. Silence followed as he recalled a certain night when a sword had come hurtling toward him. A memory he would rather forget.

The biting chill of that moment was something Rudeus would never forget—it was the closest he had ever been to death.

In that critical instant, his first thought wasn't to intercept the blade hurtling toward him but to flee.

This was simply who he was. Even now, though he had changed in some ways, his core nature remained intact—he was still the kind of person who, when faced with danger, thought of escape first.

Roy, seeing the look on Rudeus's face, knew exactly what was going through his mind. Changing one's nature wasn't something that could happen overnight. Yet for Rudeus's sake—and not just for Paul and the others—this weakness in close combat couldn't be ignored.

The question, however, was how to change it.

Looking back at the trials Rudeus underwent in the original storyline, each step of his growth was an arduous process, filled with pain and struggle.

Roy sighed. This wasn't something he was particularly good at handling. In the end, it would be up to Rudeus to overcome this hurdle.

Still, there was no denying Rudeus's current accomplishments. He had already reached the level of a Saint-ranked magician, and his mana reserves were edging closer to the King-ranked level—a commendable achievement.

Roy's gaze shifted to Eris, who stood brimming with pride. He pointed at the golden-haired figure beside her and said, "From now on, when you spar with him, go all out. Make sure to beat him so thoroughly his parents wouldn't recognize him."

Rudeus froze, his expression a jumble of confusion.

Roy clapped a hand on Rudeus's shoulder, his tone solemn, as though imparting sage wisdom. "It's for your own good," he said with a knowing look.

Rudeus's shoulders slumped, his face falling into a mixture of despair and resignation.

Eris, noticing his expression, scoffed and gave his forehead a firm smack. "Rudeus, why do you always look like that?" she demanded loudly.

Caught off guard, Rudeus glanced at the redhead towering a head taller than him and then at the golden-haired Roy, who loomed even higher.

Inwardly, he let out a silent wail.

Fine, fine! Is this how we're playing now?

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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