Multiverse: Starting with Mushoku Tensei

Under Roxy's stunned gaze, everyone present successfully cast the Water Ball spell on their first try.

Roxy fell silent.

Roxy was in deep thought.

Roxy was shaken.

She sighed, her small face displaying a mix of helplessness and disbelief. It was hard to imagine that all three members of this family were geniuses.

"Can you cast intermediate-level magic?" she asked.

This time, Roah didn't hide anything. He nodded and replied, "The books only go up to intermediate magic. There's nothing beyond that."

"Is that so?" Roxy let out a quiet sigh of relief. She silently cheered herself up and, in a mature tone, said, "It's nothing special for someone your age to use intermediate magic. Especially you, Roah—don't let it get to your head."

She then began explaining advanced magic and its intricacies. Roxy's teaching style was straightforward and easy to understand, showing her talent as a lecturer.

---

By lunchtime, Sylphy returned home after sharing the meal at Paul's house, while Roah and Rudeus were dragged outside by Paul for sword training.

"A man must always have a sword to protect those important to him," Paul had said.

Though the speech was longer, this was all Roah remembered.

---

The afternoon was spent practicing swordsmanship, focusing on basic movements and techniques.

They trained against wooden dummies in the yard to refine their form, or sparred with Paul to practice footwork and balance.

In this world, swordsmanship was highly revered. Most legendary heroes wielded swords, with a few exceptions who used axes or hammers. However, spears were almost non-existent, as they were associated with the notorious Supard tribe, known for their tridents. Spears were thus considered the weapons of demons—a common prejudice in this world.

Because of this cultural backdrop, the sword techniques here far surpassed anything Roah had seen in his previous life.

At higher mastery, it was said swordsmen could cleave rocks in two or send sword energy flying to attack distant enemies.

Paul, for example, could effortlessly split a boulder with a single strike.

Roah, curious about the mechanics behind it, shamelessly flattered and praised Paul into performing the feat multiple times. Seeing his prodigious son clapping enthusiastically seemed to have put Paul in a great mood.

However, no matter how many times Roah watched, he couldn't grasp the underlying principle.

When Roah asked Paul for an explanation, his father simply said, "You just step forward with a humph and slash with a swoosh!"

Paul, while undeniably talented, was a terrible teacher.

Still, through trial and error, Roah slowly began to develop his own understanding.

Each time he swung his sword, an inexplicable intuition guided him on how best to strike, move, or recover.

It was as if his body instinctively knew the perfect balance, like naturally dividing a line at its golden ratio.

With each swing, Roah's strikes consistently found his opponent's weak points. Over time, this intuition became deeply ingrained in him.

Confused by this innate sense, Roah asked Paul, "I don't know why, but I always feel like I instinctively know the best way to swing my sword."

Paul remained silent for a long time, his eyes glistening slightly before he finally said, "Your talent for swordsmanship is extraordinary."

Fortunately, there was Rudeus, whose talent, while present, wasn't as monstrous. This provided Paul some relief—having a son who was too exceptional could be an exhausting blow to a father's pride.

---

Swordsmanship in this world was divided into three main schools:

1. Sword God Style: Focused on offense and speed, it emphasized striking first and relentlessly until the opponent was defeated. Its core philosophy was "attack is the best defense." This style resembled the Jigen-ryu swordsmanship of Roah's previous world.

2. Water God Style: The polar opposite of Sword God Style, it prioritized defense, counterattacks, and disarming techniques. Masters of this style could counter anything, including magic and ranged attacks. It was often practiced by court knights and nobles.

3. North God Style: More akin to strategy than pure swordsmanship, it lacked standardized techniques and focused on adapting to the situation. North God practitioners often employed clever tricks and unconventional methods to gain the upper hand. It was especially popular among mercenaries and adventurers, as it allowed those with injuries or disabilities to continue fighting effectively.

Paul himself was a high-level swordsman in all three styles. Though not at the level of Sword Kings or Sword Gods, his abilities were nothing to scoff at. Unlike magic, swordsmanship relied solely on relentless practice and refinement over time.

---

By the time their training ended, the sun had already set, and twilight blanketed the sky.

Today wasn't just the day Roxy arrived; it was also the day Roah's Temporal Power had reached its threshold.

[Temporal Power: 100/100]

[One-star minor world available for capture. Capture?]

---

That evening, Paul and Zenith prepared a sumptuous dinner to welcome Roxy.

Golden roast chicken steamed enticingly under the warm glow of the oil lamps. Soft, buttery bread and hearty vegetable soup complemented the spread, filling the dining room with a tantalizing aroma.

"This smells amazing," Roxy murmured, her eyes shining with hunger. This was easily the best meal she'd had in a year.

Everyone began eating, and Roah gracefully chewed on a piece of chicken. The tender, flavorful meat practically melted in his mouth, leaving a satisfying aftertaste.

Midway through the meal, Paul suddenly spoke up, "It seems we don't have an extra room available."

It was true. Roah and Rudeus each had their own rooms, but the house wasn't particularly large, and space was limited.

Hearing this, Roah's eyes lit up. He subtly signaled to Rudeus with a glance.

Rudeus, mid-bite, paused and blinked at his older brother. Then, understanding dawned on him, and he returned a knowing look.