Mushoku tensei: A New Path

Rudeus's Growing Mastery

It had been almost three months since Roxy's arrival. In that time, I had carefully shown my ability to cast Elementary-Rank Wind, Water, and Earth magic. While I had already mastered these spells long ago, I intentionally chose to make it appear as though I needed time to learn them. First, I would perform them with full chants, practice diligently for a few days, and then finally display chantless incantations. This was a deliberate strategy to avoid being labeled as a prodigy, though my immense mana reserves and natural affinity for silent casting made it increasingly difficult to conceal my true capabilities.

The reason for my caution was a particular conversation between Roxy and my parents about my chantless casting. They were already shocked by my ability to perform Intermediate-Rank Water Magic despite not being formally taught how to read or write. Learning that I could also cast spells silently left them utterly stunned.

Paul had given me a bewildered, almost wary look, while Zenith's worry was evident. Lilia, on the other hand, looked both shocked and strangely proud. After their discussion, I pretended to be tired and excused myself to bed, leaving the adults and Roxy to continue their conversation.

I hadn't anticipated this reaction. Perhaps it wasn't mentioned in the web novel I read in my previous life, or maybe such everyday events couldn't have been recorded in detail. Either way, I decided to tread carefully.

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Roxy's Perspective

It's been almost three months since I started teaching Rudeus magic. Initially, I thought this would be a simple babysitting job—a chance to earn some money and secure lodging until I could move on to better opportunities. Being an adventurer without a party or political backing made finding work incredibly difficult, even with my A-Rank status. As a demon, securing a trustworthy adventuring group in this region was near impossible.

Even with my credentials as a Saint-Rank Mage, I had little success finding respectable jobs. The Royal Court was an option, but without backing, entering that realm would be a political deathtrap. Many nobles in Asura Kingdom were notorious for their lecherous tendencies, seeing my youthful appearance and treating me as an object of exploitation. At almost 40 years old, it was disheartening to face such prejudice despite my abilities. This teaching job was supposed to be a brief, uneventful assignment, but now… I find myself increasingly intrigued.

The source of my intrigue? Rudeus.

I've never seen anyone like him. A mere three-year-old human child capable of silent casting with vast mana reserves—it's extraordinary. Lilia, the family's maid, suggested he might be a MIKO, a child blessed by divine power. While I avoided bringing this up with Zenith, who dotes on him too much to think rationally, I could tell Paul understood the potential implications. To ease their concerns, I downplayed his talent, reassuring them that such children are rare but not unheard of. After all, they see me as the highest authority on magic they know.

Rudeus's ability to master magic is remarkable. He learns spells with full chants quickly, practices for a few days, and soon performs them without incantations. When I asked him how he achieved this, he spoke of understanding the imagery behind the spells and controlling the mana flow within his body. This level of mana control is an Advanced-Rank technique, and it is typically only taught at official magical academies or by highly qualified instructors. Yet, this boy deciphered it on his own.

Normally, such understanding requires years of specialized training, as improper control can harm the caster while attempting Advanced-Rank spells. Despite his modesty, I sense he's hiding something. But I can't pinpoint what.

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A New Challenge

One afternoon, I found Rudeus practicing an Elementary-Rank Wind spell.

"Rudeus, come here," I called.

He paused his casting and walked over. "Yes, Roxy-san. Was I casting the spell incorrectly?"

"No, you were doing fine," I replied. "But I think it's time to move on to Intermediate-Rank spells. You've already mastered Elementary-Rank magic in all four elements. You should be proud—not every mage can achieve that at such a young age."

"It's thanks to your instructions that I was able to do it. Please accept my respects," he said, bowing his head.

Again, I felt that strange sensation. This child is hiding something, but I can't figure out what.

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Late-Night Intrusions

At night, the house wasn't always peaceful.

From my room, I often heard muffled sounds from Zenith and Paul's quarters:

Zenith (moaning): "Oh Paul… Ah, ah… Slow… I can't… Ah…"

Paul (grunting): "You're all mine, aren't you…"

Zenith: "Yes… ah… yes…"

Paul: "Then I'll do whatever I want to do with you…"

The squeaking of their bed became rhythmic, accompanied by Zenith's continued moaning.

Rudeus's POV: Again with these noises. Don't they realize there are three other people in this house and the walls aren't soundproof? Thank goodness my body is that of a child, or this would feel a lot more awkward. I've made it a habit to release any remaining mana at night to exhaust myself and drown out these sounds.

There was one night, however, that left me particularly mortified. I had caught Roxy… relieving herself to the sounds coming from their room. She noticed me and froze, her face turning beet red. Flustered and embarrassed, she begged me not to tell anyone. I promised her I wouldn't. Since then, she's seemed a little more self-conscious around me.

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Progress Over Six Months

Six months have passed since Roxy's arrival. Under her guidance, I've mastered Intermediate-Rank spells in all four elements, as well as an Intermediate-Rank healing spell. My growth has been steady, and I've begun exploring Melded Magic and preparing for Advanced-Rank spells.

Beyond magic, Roxy has started teaching me about the outside world. I've also begun learning the Demon language from her. It came as a surprise to everyone, including Roxy and Lilia, that Zenith could speak the Beast-Race language fluently. Paul wasn't surprised; he revealed that they had been in the same adventuring party for over a year.

One evening, I overheard Zenith recounting her story to Roxy. She had been a noblewoman in the Milish Kingdom before leaving her privileged life to become an adventurer. Milish nobles are required to know both Human and Beast-Race languages due to their proximity to the Great Forests. Inspired by this, I decided to learn the Beast-Race language from Zenith after mastering the Demon language with Roxy.

Roxy created a makeshift dictionary and a set of alphabet-like characters to help me learn the Demon language. Not to be outdone, Zenith began crafting a similar resource for the Beast-Race language. The rivalry between them is subtle but amusing.

These six months have been transformative. From mastering magic to learning new languages and uncovering more about my family's past, I feel like I am laying a solid foundation for the future. However, a nagging doubt lingers: will all this effort truly pay off in the end? Or will the challenges ahead prove too overwhelming? Only time will tell.