mushoku tensei: unplanned reincarnation

It had already been three months since my conversation with Roxy.

Our relationship as student and teacher had evolved. I could even say that we were friends now, but I wasn't sure if she saw me the same way.

As for her training with the silent incantation, I can't say we were doing well. Her control over mana had improved, but casting magic without an incantation was still a huge challenge for her.

The problem was in her mind. Habits cultivated over a lifetime are hard to break, and she was stuck in those thought patterns.

Additionally, Roxy had started giving me lessons at night. The conversations varied — from topics about the world, cities, to demon races. In one of those lessons, she mentioned a race called Superd, which, in short, were villains. It was because of them that she yelled at Sylphie when she saw her.

She also spoke about summoning magic, which allows one to call powerful demons or spirits, as well as create magical instruments, devices with special effects. Some of these instruments had magical circles that even non-magicians could use.

When I asked if she could teach me, she told me she didn't know, which gave me the impression that she'd like to learn more about the subject as well.

Now, as I lay in my room, staring at the ceiling, I waited a bit before going to Roxy's room.

My eyes fell on my own hands. Small calluses and wounds marked my skin, signs of the time I had spent training with the sword. It was proof of my progress... or at least, that's how I liked to think of it.

If someone had asked me directly if I was getting better with the sword, I would probably look away. It didn't seem like I had any natural talent for it.

My swordsmanship was functional, at least. Paul said I still hesitated when attacking, but that I was improving. It was slow progress, but still progress. Training was all about that: one step at a time.

Anyway, it was time to study.

I got up, left my room, and went to Roxy's. I knocked a few times before opening the door. By now, Roxy knew that I would be the only one going to her at this hour, so she had told me to come in whenever I wanted.

But out of caution, I always knocked first. It was a simple measure, in case she was wearing little or no clothes. Not that I cared too much about seeing her like that...

The lighting in the room was dim, the only light coming from the moon, and the night was silent — a blessing, considering we had two rabbits always in their mating period.

Still, there was something odd about entering a dark room. I formed a small flame at the tip of my finger and entered.

That's when I saw something surprising.

There, on the bed, Roxy was sleeping deeply.

I approached slowly, letting the soft light of the flame illuminate her face. Her chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm, and her expression was serene — a rare contrast to the firm composure and seriousness she always tried to maintain when awake.

But sometimes, her seriousness faded. When she got shy from being complimented or frustrated with her progress on the silent incantation. During those times, she would look away, bite her lip, or cross her arms, trying to hide her unease.

Now, however, it was different. There was no contained shyness or quiet frustration — it was genuine serenity. Sleep softened her features, making her even more... beautiful.

Maybe she was exhausted. Or maybe it was so late that I didn't notice? Hard to say — after all, there was no clock in the house.

The weak flame lit up enough for me to observe her more clearly. Her breathing was soft, and her body was relaxed on the bed.

Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing rhythmic and calm. Her blue hair spread across the pillow, and the faint light from the flame created soft shadows on her sleeping face.

If I called her, would she wake up? Or was she so tired that she wouldn't even notice my presence?

'Maybe I should just cover her with a blanket and leave.'

However, as I watched her, my gaze shifted to the desk, where an object gleamed faintly.

It was her staff.

The rough, simple wood contrasted with the blue stone at the tip, which emitted a soft glow in the light of the flame.

I stood there for a moment, staring, before turning my gaze back to Roxy and then again to the staff.

I had seen it used by her, and I realized it considerably amplified her magic when she cast a spell. But Roxy had never exactly mentioned how much her magic was enhanced by that object.

I spent a few seconds staring at it, lost in thought. Then, a question arose in my mind.

'How are staffs made?'

Curiosity took hold of me, and driven by it, I decided to approach and take a closer look. When I reached the desk, I hesitated for a moment before grabbing it.

The weight was the same as when I first picked it up, the day Roxy arrived here.

'How much did she spend on this?'

I knew little about magic crystals and even less about the cost of making a staff. Roxy still hadn't taught me much about that.

As I held it with both hands, I realized it wasn't particularly light nor particularly heavy. Maybe I hadn't noticed that the first time I picked it up. She handled it with ease, but for me, it was different. My size and strength didn't help — being a physically weak boy made it difficult to hold it the same way.

"Maybe I need to improve my physique."

Realizing the obvious, I decided to put the staff back in its place.

But as I tried to place it back, something made me hesitate. In the corner of the desk, a small creature was hiding.

A cockroach.

Its six pairs of red and black legs moved in a repulsive way, its antennas twitching in the air, and its reddish body gleamed under the weak light.

A shiver ran down my spine.

That was a man's greatest nightmare.

Small, resilient, and unpredictable. No matter how much magic I knew, none of it prepared me to deal with this creature.

I swallowed hard, remaining still. If it flew toward me, I'd probably scream.

But what if I woke Roxy up? What if she saw me scared? My pride as a man wouldn't let that happen.

At that moment, I remembered how Sylphie had grabbed a cockroach with her bare hands to throw it out.

'Am I that pathetic? Sylphie, a child, isn't afraid of this... monster. And here I am...'

I took a deep breath and made my decision. I had to grab the cockroach with my own hands. I mentally noted how Sylphie was doing something so simple while I was paralyzed. Maybe if I managed it, she'd even look at me with more pride.

But, as the world is unpredictable, the cockroach didn't behave as I expected. It flew directly at me.

Without thinking, I grabbed the staff and cast the strongest stone spell I could conjure at that moment.

"Fuuuuhhhk."

The impact was immediate, and the sound echoed through the room.

The wall now had a sizable hole, and the cockroach... well, I don't know where it went, but it certainly wasn't there anymore.

I stood frozen, the staff still lightly vibrating in my hands. Maybe I overdid it a little.

The next moment, I heard a sound from the bed. Roxy shifted, groggily frowning.

"…Mmnh… what was that…?"

I stayed still. Maybe if I didn't move, she'd go back to sleep and I could leave without having to explain anything.

But as she opened her eyes and saw the damage to the wall, she blinked a few times before staring at me.

"…Rudy."

She looked tired, but her voice carried a weight that made me sweat cold.

"…Yes?"

A heavy silence settled between us. Then, finally, she asked:

"Why is there a hole in my wall?"

"W-what if I say I don't know either?" Sweat was dripping down my face, but it didn't seem to help.

She sighed, still looking sleepy. Then she slowly got out of bed, rubbing her eyes and yawning. Her expression, however, was much more serious than before.

"Just tell me… what happened?"

I opened my mouth to answer, but hesitated. Should I really admit that I caused the damage because of a cockroach?

The weight on me lightened a little, allowing me to turn my head and look at her.

"…Cockroach."

Roxy blinked.

"…What?"

I swallowed hard.

"There was a cockroach on the desk."

An absolute silence filled the room. With an expression that mixed exhaustion and disbelief, Roxy sighed again and rubbed her face.

"You destroyed the wall... because of a cockroach?"

I wanted to say it wasn't that simple, that the monster attacked me first, but at that moment, any explanation just seemed to make the situation worse.

"…Maybe."

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if trying to stay calm.

"…Tomorrow morning, you're fixing this."

I swallowed hard.

"…Yes, ma'am."

Roxy sighed again, but instead of continuing to argue with me, she flopped back onto the bed.

"…Goodnight, Rudeus."

I stayed there for a few more seconds, waiting to see if she'd really go back to sleep.

When her eyes finally closed and her breathing became rhythmic again, I let out a long sigh of relief.

She was definitely exhausted, and being woken up from sleep didn't help at all.

Still feeling guilty about the damage, I slowly got up, took one last look at the hole in the wall, and left the room as quietly as possible.

'Maybe… I should get over this fear of cockroaches.'

When I stepped out, I saw two people there.

"Rudy, what happened?" Zenith said, approaching.

"I-I don't know?"

Her gaze narrowed, clearly not believing me, and she walked toward the door.

"Mom, Roxy is sleeping... naked in there."

She stopped, narrowed her eyes even more, and raised an eyebrow.

"And how do you know she's naked?"

My gaze shifted to Paul, who was watching me with a smile on his face.

'Why is he smiling?'

"Anyway, mom. Let's go to sleep, maybe the noise was caused by the wind hitting the roof, or maybe a pot fell downstairs. Or, maybe, I was the cause when I stepped on the floor. Mhaahaha."

She narrowed her eyes again and sighed. She crossed her arms and stared at me with a sharp look, clearly unconvinced.

"Rudy."

"…Yes?"

"What did you do?"

I felt sweat trickling down my neck.

"…Nothing?"

Paul, still smiling, put a hand on my shoulder.

"Rudy, if you're going to lie, at least try not to look so guilty."

I looked to the side and saw Zenith, who then slightly opened the door and looked at the destroyed wall behind me. Her eyebrow went up before she closed the door again.

"Rudy." She massaged her temples, looking tired.

"So… you destroyed the wall in Roxy's room and you're trying to hide it from me?"

"…Maybe."

She let out a long sigh and rubbed her eyes.

"Rudy, I just want to sleep. Tomorrow morning, you'll explain to me what really happened, and we'll see how to fix this mess. Understood?"

I quickly nodded.

"Yes, ma'am."

She sighed once more and turned away, leaving without looking back.

When it was just me and Paul left, he crossed his arms and gave me a suggestive look.

"So, Roxy sleeps naked, huh?"

I took a step back.

"…Dad."

He laughed.

"Relax, kid. I just wanted to see your reaction."

I just wanted to get out of there before the conversation took an even worse turn.

"Good night, Rudy."

I ignored him and left quickly, hoping the next day would come without any more problems.

---

Five months had passed since that fateful night. The wall repair was a painful experience. I woke up early and Paul made sure to supervise everything, laughing as I worked. In the end, the wall was just acceptable, but Zenith's look warned me that next time, I would rebuild the entire house myself. Roxy, in turn, reinforced the promise that I would never use attack magic indoors without a good reason. It was a lesson learned the hard way.

As the months passed, I noticed she was making progress with silent casting, although it was still challenging.

She still couldn't cast magic without a chant, but now her incantations were considerably shorter.

Sylphie, on the other hand, had improved a lot. She could now cast all the intermediate-level attack spells without difficulty.

As for me, I could do that too, but my real progress was with advanced magic. My biggest development was in earth and water magic.

Also, I started experimenting with spell combinations. For example, by combining water and earth, I created a thicker and more cohesive mixture than I expected.

The idea came up when, during training, I realized that earth could be shaped more controllably if it were moist. So, I tried something simple: I cast water magic over a pile of stones and loose earth and saw the mixture come together, forming thick mud.

And when I saw that, it gave me the idea to use it as an attack. I thought, "Could this work?" So, I focused, and when I released the mixture, it flew at high speed toward the rock ahead. The impact was surprising – the mud weighed more than I thought, and the effect was much stronger than I expected.

But I didn't stop there. I started testing other element combinations:

Earth + Water → Hardened Mud: By controlling the moisture, I could create durable clay that dried quickly, forming walls or obstacles.

Fire + Water → High-pressure Steam: By instantly heating water, I produced hot steam, which could be useful for distractions or even pushing enemies back.

Water + Wind → Condensed Snowstorm: By quickly cooling the moisture in the air, I could create a snowstorm or form ice spikes on the ground.

Earth + Fire → Ash Explosion: By combining fire and earth, I created an explosion of fragments and ash. The fire heated the earth, causing it to fragment, releasing chunks of rock and hot ash. The technique caused direct damage and left a layer of residual heat, making it harder for enemies to move.

I still hadn't mastered all these techniques, but each experiment gave me new ideas.

Now, I was lying on a hill, leaning against a tree, alone. Sylphie hadn't shown up today, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling lonely.

She used to be my constant companion in these afternoons, always by my side, whether to train, chat, or just share the silence. Today, however, the wind seemed stronger, and the sound of the leaves was the only company I had.

It felt strange. The feeling of being alone, even in a place full of life, made me think more deeply about things. How things change, how people change. Sylphie's presence, her energy, and her shy nature always gave me a sense of stability.

'Maybe I should be more independent...'

But on the other hand, it was hard not to miss her. Every time I saw her, it became clearer how important she was to me. And when she wasn't around, like today, the emptiness felt deeper.

I took a deep breath, trying to push the thought away, and turned my gaze back to the horizon.

"I'll think about Roxy; she would definitely be a distraction... But Roxy wasn't here either."

"Fuuh…" I let out a big sigh toward the sky.

I was really craving some company.

Closing my eyes, I placed my arms behind my head and lay down on the grass. I was sure the afternoon nap would make me stop thinking about nonsense.

---

While Rudeus drifted into the world of dreams, in another corner of the Greyrat house, a certain blue-haired girl was standing in the grass, staring at the sky and murmuring quiet words. Anyone who saw her from afar might think she was talking to herself.

Roxy was sweating as she tried to recreate the Water Ball spell without an incantation. It was something she had been trying for months, but still couldn't master.

Her view of magic had been changing since she arrived at the house. And the person responsible for that change was none other than her own student.

At first, she felt a slight apprehension when she realized that Rudeus could surpass her quickly. Since their conversation about it, that feeling had decreased but hadn't disappeared entirely.

Her status as a Water Saint still gave her a certain pride. A part of her liked to think she had superiority over him. It wasn't something she would admit, but it was there. The problem was that, little by little, she realized her knowledge might not be enough to keep teaching him.

"—Ngh."

Roxy furrowed her brow, clenching her fist tightly as she watched another failed attempt. The water wavered in the air for a moment before losing its shape and falling in drops onto the grass.

She sighed, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"Why isn't this working yet…?"

It had been months since she started trying, but the magic without an incantation was still beyond her reach.

She sat down on the grass, arms crossed, lost in thought. Her progress was undeniable—the incantations were shorter, and her control over mana had improved. But still, the final step seemed unattainable.

Her eyes turned to the hill in the distance.

The one responsible for this change in her was probably lying in the grass, sleeping like a rock.

"…Really, a troublesome student."

Despite the words, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

She knew it was only a matter of time. If Rudeus could do it, so could she... or at least, she liked to believe that.

She lowered her head for a moment, took a deep breath, and raised her hand again.

This time, without haste. Without pressure.

The magic would come. She just needed to keep trying.

---

I shifted a bit on the grass, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. The breeze blew gently, tickling my skin.

I didn't know how much time had passed, but it felt like I had only slept for a moment.

I slowly opened my eyes. The sky was still blue, nothing had changed.

I yawned and stretched, feeling my body relax.

But the sound of grass being stepped on made me turn my head.

There was a small figure approaching.

The green hair swayed slightly in the wind. The red eyes gleamed, alert. The pointed ears made it clear she was an elf.

It was none other than Sylphie.

Quickly, I got up and ran toward her. She was smiling, as always, and seeing her there brought me a sense of relief.

"Hey, Sylphie," I said, with an involuntary smile.

"O-oi... why were you sleeping there?" she asked, a little surprised, but still with a shy smile on her face.

'Oh, so she was spying on me...'

"It's the afternoon nap, to rejuvenate the human body" I explained, but her eyebrow raised. "One day, you'll understand."

"Anyway, why were you late today?"

"Well... the boys, they were—"

"Ah, them again? I think it's time they got a good beating, huh?"

"N-no need!" She quickly shook her head. "They came, but I managed to escape."

The boys started showing up again a few weeks ago, even after that conversation between the men. They really didn't learn their lesson...

"That's right, Sylphie. You can't fight back. If you do, you'll end up being just like them."

She frowned and stared at me.

"What?"

"Nothing."

I dropped the subject and looked up at the sky. The sun was still shining brightly, and a few clouds drifted slowly by. The wind blew gently, swaying the grass around us.

Sylphie, beside me, suddenly looked up.

"Ah, look!" She pointed upward.

I followed her finger and saw a bird flying in circles above. Its wings spread wide as it glided effortlessly through the sky.

"Do you think we could fly too?"

Her question caught me off guard. I flew away into thoughts... flying, huh? If there was a magic like that, it would be a huge breakthrough.

"I don't know if there's a spell like that…" I replied, thinking. "But if there was, I wouldn't try it."

She turned her head to me, curious. "Why?"

"Because in the air, you can destabilize and fall."

Sylphie blinked a few times. "Destabi... what?"

"Destabilize." I crossed my arms, trying to explain in simple terms. "It's when you lose your balance. On the ground, if you trip, you fall forward or to the side. In the air... there's no ground. You can spin, twirl, be thrown up or down without control."

"Ah…" She seemed to think for a moment. "So it would be dangerous?"

"Exactly." I gestured with my hands, as if trying to hold something invisible. "If you don't have a way to stabilize, you could end up spinning nonstop until you pass out."

Sylphie furrowed her brow, looking concerned. "But what if you could control it better?"

"Even then, there would still be a problem."

"What?"

I took a deep breath before responding:

"I'm afraid of heights."

She stared at me for a moment and then let out a little laugh.

I looked at her and ended up smiling too. Moments like this were the ones I loved most when I was with Sylphie. Simple conversations, no need to force anything. Just being myself.

With her, I didn't have to act like an adult trying to teach something, nor like a child playing at anything. But sometimes, I let myself get carried away and tried to act like an adult.

Maybe it was a habit that was hard to break.

The wind blew gently, rustling the leaves around us. Sylphie turned her gaze to the sky, where the bird we had been watching before was now flying off into the distance.

We sat in silence for a moment, just listening to the sounds of nature around us.

"Rudy…"

"Hm?"

"Do you think one day we'll be up in the sky?"

I looked at her and, for a moment, imagined what it would be like. The world seen from above, the wind cutting through your face, the feeling of freedom... and, of course, the absolute terror I'd feel.

I let out a laugh.

"If that day comes, I'll hope you go first."

She laughed too, and for some reason, that made my chest feel a little lighter.

And so, we stayed there, just enjoying each other's company.