Mushoku tensei: A New Path

The golden rays of the afternoon sun filtered into the cozy cottage as Zenith knelt beside Rudeus, brushing his hair back gently. "Alright, Rudy," she said softly, "Mama needs to go to the clinic now. There are a lot of people who need my help today."

Rudeus looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, though his thoughts were far from childish. The clinic, huh? That means the house will be quieter than usual. Perfect.

Zenith smiled, leaning closer. "I know you'll miss me, but be good for Lilia and Papa, alright?" She glanced at the high shelf nearby, where she had carefully hidden the magic book after their demonstration earlier. Instead, she handed Rudeus a thick, colorful book titled Adventures of the Armored Dragon King.

"Here you go, sweetheart," she said with a grin. "This one's full of brave adventurers and dragons. I think you'll like it. It's all about the young Armored Dragon King Pergius when he was just an adventurer, traveling the world."

Rudeus accepted the book with an enthusiastic clap of his hands, masking his ulterior motives. He had already seen the book's contents, and though it served as a decent cover, his mind was set on something far more important—magic.

Just as Zenith rose to leave, the sound of heavy boots crunching on gravel echoed from outside. The door creaked open, and Paul stepped in, his sword slung across his back and his tunic dusty from his patrol. His tired face lit up with a wide grin as he spotted Zenith and Rudeus.

"You're late," Zenith said, narrowing her eyes and placing her hands on her hips.

Paul grinned sheepishly. "Only by a minute or two. Morning patrol ran a bit long. I had to sort out a squabble over grazing land."

"A minute or two can feel like a lifetime to a mother leaving her baby behind," she said, her tone teasing but her expression feigned annoyance.

Paul scratched the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. "You're absolutely right, love. My deepest apologies. Let me make it up to you."

"And how exactly are you going to do that?" Zenith asked, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer.

He encircled her waist with his arms. "By cooking dinner tonight?"

Zenith burst out laughing. "You? Cooking? Don't make me laugh, Paul. You'd burn the cottage down before you even chop an onion."

"Hey, I'm not that bad!" Paul protested, feigning offense. He leaned in, and Zenith let out a mock sigh before meeting him halfway for a light kiss.

From his spot on the floor, Rudeus watched them, his small face wearing a mask of innocence. But his thoughts were less cheerful. They're so happy. So real. And yet… I'm not really their son, am I? The guilt twisted in his chest, but he quickly shook the thought away, unwilling to let it show.

"Speaking of Rudy," Zenith said, pulling away from Paul and crouching beside her son. "He surprised me today, Paul. I showed him a bit of magic—a simple Water Ball spell—and he seemed utterly captivated. He even asked for it by name!"

Paul blinked in astonishment. "Wait. What? He asked for it?"

Zenith nodded, her expression a mix of pride and curiosity.

Paul knelt beside Rudeus, ruffling his brown hair. "Well, Rudy, that's impressive and all, but don't forget: real men are swordsmen. Magic is fine and dandy, but nothing beats the thrill of a good sword fight!"

Zenith gave Paul a playful swat on the arm. "Don't you go filling his head with that nonsense. He can be whatever he wants to be."

Paul laughed. "Hey, what about our promise?"

Zenith smirked, narrowing her eyes. "You always break your promises, so don't even get me started."

The playful bickering continued, with Zenith rolling her eyes dramatically and Paul offering exaggerated apologies.

Finally, Zenith crouched to kiss Rudeus's forehead and stood to leave. Paul lifted Rudeus into his arms, and together they waved goodbye as Zenith walked down the path toward the clinic.

"Bye, Mama!" Rudeus called out in his toddler voice, his mind already racing with plans for the quiet afternoon ahead.

"Be good, Rudy!" Zenith called back with a radiant smile.

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Paul carried Rudeus back into the house, setting him down gently before stretching his arms. "Alright, buddy. Let me put this sword away and clean up. Then it's just you and me."

He placed his sword by the door and headed upstairs to change into more comfortable clothes. When he returned, dressed in a tunic and trousers, he scooped Rudeus back up and plopped him onto his lap.

"Now, Rudy," he began, his tone animated, "how about I tell you some stories from my adventuring days? You'll love them."

Rudeus's eyes widened, and he clapped his hands together, playing the part of an enthralled child. Adventurer stories? This should be interesting.

Paul leaned in, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "There was this one time, Rudy, when I was part of a team hunting a Dire Wolf. Massive beast, bigger than a horse, with fangs like daggers! It took all of us working together to bring it down. And let me tell you, the swordsmanship I learned back then... well, it's saved my hide more than once."

Rudeus listened intently, clapping his hands at the right moments while his mind absorbed every detail.

For a brief moment, he imagined himself standing alongside his father, sword in hand, battling monsters in far-off lands. But as the story ended, he blinked, a strange thought surfacing.

Did I get so captivated by the story that I started imagining things? Is this guy such a good storyteller, or am I losing my mind?

He shook his head slightly, dismissing the thought as Paul transitioned into another tale.

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The smell of freshly cooked stew soon wafted through the house. Lilia called them to the table, where they shared a hearty lunch. Paul and Rudeus sat together, with Paul occasionally feeding Rudeus small bites, much to the toddler's delight.

Lilia joined the conversation, smiling softly as Paul recounted another adventure, this one involving a treasure hidden in a cave guarded by giant spiders. Rudeus listened, gripping his spoon tightly as he pictured the thrilling scenes in his mind.

After lunch, Paul stood, stretching. "Alright, I'm off to the village tower. Need to make sure everything's quiet. It's peaceful here, but being so close to the forest, we can't afford to be careless."

"Be safe, Master Paul," Lilia said as she began clearing the plates.

Paul knelt down beside Rudeus, ruffling his hair. "Take care of your mother & Lilia while I'm gone, Rudy. You're the man of the house now."

Rudeus waved as his father left, his mischievous smile returning. The man of the house? Perfect.

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As Lilia busied herself cleaning the plates, Rudeus seized his chance. He toddled over to the bookshelf and picked up Adventures of the Armored Dragon King. The book was thick and heavy for his small hands, but he had carried it upstairs many times before. Lilia barely glanced at him, accustomed to his routine.

Rudeus climbed to the first floor, entering a room with a window that overlooked Zenith's garden. The sunlight streamed in, casting a warm glow over the wooden floor. He settled by the window, opening the book to a random page before setting it aside. His real goal wasn't the story but the magic.

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to calm himself. Recalling the incantation Zenith had demonstrated, he began to chant softly:

"Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water Ball."

Moisture in the air began to gather, forming a faint shimmer. The spell started to take shape—a small orb of water quivered in front of him. But before it could fully form, Rudeus's head throbbed with exhaustion. The spell dissipated, leaving only a few droplets of water on the floor.

Rudeus panted, his small body trembling from the effort. His thoughts raced: Did I mess up the incantation? Or is my mana too weak? Do I need to move mana inside my body somehow? Before he could contemplate further, exhaustion overwhelmed him. He sat down, leaning against the wall, and closed his eyes. Within moments, he was fast asleep.

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Lilia climbed the stairs to check on Rudeus after finishing her chores. She found him sitting on the floor, soaked and fast asleep. Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer, noticing the small puddle near him.

A smile crept onto her face, though it was tinged with amusement and confusion. "Did he...?" she murmured, shaking her head.

Rudeus had always cried whenever he needed food or to relieve himself, even as a newborn. For him to wet himself now, at over a year old, was unusual. Still, Lilia dismissed it as a rare accident. "At the end of the day, he's just a child" she whispered, gently picking him up.

As she carried him to his room to change him, a flicker of unease crossed her mind. He's a strange one, that's for sure, she thought. But the smile on her lips returned as she looked at his sleeping face, peaceful and innocent.

For now, she decided not to dwell on it.