Multiverse: Starting with Mushoku Tensei

After washing up in the morning and having breakfast in a hurry, Roxy stood by the door, taking a deep breath.

The morning lessons were under Roxy's supervision, and Sylphiette had already arrived early.

This delicate and adorable child didn't have many friends in the village. Fortunately, Roah noticed this early on; otherwise, she might have been bullied by others.

Under Roah's intentional guidance, Sylphiette enjoyed spending time with Rudeus, starting her "childhood nurturing plan" alongside him.

Roxy's knowledge was vast, having traveled to many countries. She explained that her homeland was in the Demon Continent, where the environment was harsh, and many terrifying monsters roamed. When she came to the Kingdom of Asura, she was deeply envious of the fertile lands and abundant resources.

Roxy began her lessons by explaining the principles of magic, the source of magical energy, and finally moved on to teaching advanced spells.

To her astonishment, Roah managed to cast the advanced spells after just a few attempts. Even Rudeus and Sylphiette, after a morning of practice, could barely manage to cast them.

Forcing a smile, Roxy muttered quietly to herself, "At this rate, it won't be long before all of you surpass me."

Roah and Rudeus exchanged glances, both understanding that their rapid progress must have dealt a significant blow to their teacher.

Roah tried to console her. "Don't worry, Roxy-sensei. Rudeus is a bit of an idiot, so you'll still be teaching us for a while."

Rudeus: ???

After the morning practice, they invited Sylphiette to stay for lunch before Roah took his daily afternoon nap.

Roxy, who didn't have the habit of napping, went out to help the villagers with rain spells for their fields.

During this downtime, Roah checked in on his other self in Sword Art Online.

Still gaming.

"Seriously?" Roah sighed.

The other version of himself seemed to lack discipline, spending the entire day playing games.

"Naoki-nii, what are you playing?" Four-year-old Kirigaya Kazuto peered at the computer screen, where a violent, zombie-filled game was playing.

Naoki considered for a moment before picking up little Kazuto and setting him beside him. On the screen, a grizzled man with a gun was expertly mowing down zombies with precise headshots. Despite the overwhelming horde, Naoki effortlessly cleared a path.

"Wow, Naoki-nii, you're amazing!" Kazuto's eyes sparkled as he watched.

"Do you want to try?" Naoki asked in his smooth, calm voice.

Kazuto nodded eagerly.

And so, the two began gaming together.

Back in the world of Mushoku Tensei, Roah was fuming. He cursed under his breath, "This is ridiculous! What kind of lazy autopilot is this?"

"You're not even trying! How am I supposed to live a good life in the future if you're slacking off?"

Roah tried to give commands to his alternate self. "Go study."

But his other self continued gaming, ignoring the order.

"So I can't even give direct tasks? This AI just does whatever it wants?" Roah grumbled. "I'd at least take a nap between games…"

Frustrated, he closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

---

In the afternoon, Paul began his sword training session.

"Idiot! You're stepping forward with a 'heh and stomp' when it should be a 'huh and slash.' Your movements need to be lighter and more precise!" Paul barked at Rudeus.

Rudeus pouted, his face full of grievance. "What does 'huh and slash' even mean? Can you be more specific?"

Paul smirked and pointed at Roah, who had just sliced through a rock. "Then why can your big brother do it?"

Rudeus retorted, "That's because he has talent! Don't act like it's because of your teaching!"

Paul feigned a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on his forehead. "Ah, so it's your lack of talent then?"

Rudeus turned red with embarrassment, opening his mouth to argue but ultimately saying nothing.

His frustration grew as he caught sight of Roah smirking slightly. Gritting his teeth, Rudeus turned to him. "Big brother, say something! Don't let Paul get away with this!"

"What? How dare you call me by my name?!" Paul shouted, grabbing a wooden sword and chasing after Rudeus.

Watching the commotion, Roah sighed and muttered, "Idiots, both of them."

After Paul finished disciplining Rudeus, he turned to Roah. "Let's see how much you've improved."

Roah nodded and took his stance, holding his wooden sword before him. Paul mirrored his actions, his muscular arms tensed and ready.

The two exchanged a glance before launching their attacks simultaneously.

Both executed moves from the Sword God Style—swift, powerful strikes that collided with a sharp crack.

Paul's eyes widened slightly as he realized Roah could withstand his initial blow. Increasing his strength, Paul pushed harder, only for Roah to narrow his eyes and channel magic through his veins.

In an instant, Roah's previously slender arms bulged with muscle, his small frame radiating an imposing aura. His enhanced strength forced Paul's sword back.

Rudeus and Roxy, who were watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but grimace. The sight of the delicate Roah transforming into a muscled "mini-hulk" was both impressive and jarring.

Paul, momentarily caught off guard, quickly adapted. Roah's next swing was faster than before, a blur of movement aimed directly at Paul.

But Paul was ready. With a swift motion, he blocked the attack, grabbed Roah's wrist, and, in one fluid movement, flipped the boy over his shoulder.

Roah landed on the ground with a thud, wincing as he rubbed his back. "That was cheating, Father! You said this was a sword match, not a wrestling match!"

Paul blushed slightly, clearing his throat. "That's called a counterattack from the Water God Style. It's completely valid."

Despite his complaint, Roah couldn't deny his father's skill. For Paul to resort to a secondary style so early in their sparring session was a testament to Roah's rapid progress.