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Chapter 91 - Mushoku Tensei: Swords, Magic Hats, and Romance! [91]

Outside the window, wind and rain howled.

Zenith cast a worried glance toward the front door—it had already been quite a while since the two had gone out.

"You think… Allen will say yes?"

Paul, who had spent the entire afternoon looking tense, now seemed to have come to terms with something. He slumped bonelessly in his chair like a discarded puppet.

"If he doesn't, that's probably for the best."

He winked at his wife, raised two fingers, and gave her a look full of mischief.

"But if he does—isn't that a good thing too?"

Zenith's face froze at the gesture. She quickly glanced toward the children across the room, caught Rudeus's twitching expression, and promptly stomped on Paul's foot.

"Agh—ow! What was that for?!"

Lilia sighed and covered her face, while Zenith's cheeks turned bright red.

"N-Nothing, dear. Please, go on."

Paul realized what she'd been thinking, and his mind immediately began to wander too—but when he saw Rudeus's face spasming like a kicked puppy, he quickly reined himself in.

There are kids present. Better stay proper.

He began counting on his fingers.

"First, even though Allen comes across as more mature than most kids his age, I've always thought he's a child who craves affection. We've treated him like family, sure—but before last winter, he was always kind of distant. It wasn't until what happened in Snow Valley that I felt the change—when he truly began to accept us."

"I still believe… putting him next to someone who's actually blood-related to him, no matter the outcome, will help him grow."

"Second—we can't afford to pay him anymore. I've already fudged the books several times."

Zenith and Lilia exchanged knowing glances.

Raising children takes energy—and money.

Paul used to earn a little extra from odd jobs in the village, and Zenith brought in some income from her clinic, but now, with two new gold-eaters added to the household, neither parent had time for side work.

Naturally, their family income had dropped sharply.

"Honestly, letting Rudeus go out and make a little money isn't a bad idea."

Rudeus looked like he'd just seen the family dog eating out of the toilet: ???

Wait, what? So I'm not the one who's love-starved? Are you saying I was adopted, Sir Paul?!

While the grown-ups were talking, Eris sat pouting across from them, swinging her legs rapidly under her stool. Her red eyes kept flicking toward Sylphy beside her, but every time, she forced herself to stare straight ahead at nothing, blinking nonstop.

Yet her sharply arched brows clearly gave her away.

The young lady was in a great mood!

"Sylphy! Can you do magic?!"

Sylphy answered gently, in her usual soft tone.

"…Yes, I can."

"Who's better—you or Rudeus?!"

"He's stronger."

"Huh??? That little shorty is that good?!"

Rudeus: ??? She's half a head shorter than me, thank you very much!

Eris shot him a glare, and Rudeus—clearly fed up—immediately turned back to focus on his family's conversation.

Smooth as silk.

Eris huffed and carried on questioning.

"And that guy taller than me—Allen? What about his sword skills? Ghislaine told me he was really good before we came, but he looks pretty normal to me! Hmph! I called him and he didn't even dare show up!"

In Eris's mind, height was a direct measure of power.

Her dislike for Rudeus in the original story began for that exact reason—her new "teacher" was shorter than her.

Sylphy frowned slightly at the question and looked over at Eris.

"Allen is the strongest."

A statement, not a suggestion. Her voice lost its usual warmth—it was serious, almost grave.

Eris had been about to snap, but when she saw Sylphy's honest expression—no hint of provocation or pride—her mouth flapped open for a moment, then shut with a grumble.

"Whatever! I won't argue with you. We're heading back together anyway. Ghislaine can spar with him, then I'll see for myself if he's really that strong!"

Sylphy looked like she wanted to say something more, but in the end, her lips just moved slightly, then fell silent. She looked down, running her hand across the dirty hem of her white dress.

Her eyes were dim.

Eris caught the motion in her peripheral vision. She glanced over at Sylphy, eyes narrowing. Then her face shifted—confused, and just a little guilty.

Almost immediately, she whipped her head toward Rudeus and barked:

"What the heck! You're so annoying!"

Rudeus slowly turned to face her, looking thoroughly exasperated.

"What does this have to do with me? You're projecting. Can't you reflect on your own actions instead of blaming other people?"

"What do you mean, 'my own actions'? You're just arrogant!"

"Oh? You gonna hit me again?"

"Huh? You think I won't?!"

Eris sprang to her feet with a loud whoosh, her brows rising with glee at the sight of Rudeus flinching.

But then—

The door opened.

A gust of wind blew into the room, snuffing out the brewing chaos like a candle in the rain.

At the threshold stood Allen, shrouded in a faint misty aura of moisture.

And the moment he stepped inside—

The aura collapsed.

Droplets of rain fell from his body like crystal beads, scattering across the floor in gentle plaps. He shook off the nonexistent water and walked into the room.

In front of him, the system panel flickered into view like drifting smoke.

[Expectation (2/2) – Response Logged | Time Elapsed: 4 hours, 37 minutes, 21 seconds]

[Philip originally planned this "expectation" discussion to take place in his Roa City study. He viewed it as a crucial step and didn't want to conduct it in some backwater village.]

]However, he hadn't anticipated that pulling the "family" card would fall completely flat. Not only that—you exposed his intentions on the spot. With no better option, he had no choice but to engage in this serious conversation right here on a dirt road in Buena Village.]

[With your "response," you've now chosen your path for the Tutor Arc.]

[Expectation I – Philip's Ambition: Declined. "Power draws strength in its wake"? You clearly disagree—and aren't interested in wasting your time fighting for influence.]

[Expectation II – Philip's Offer: Accepted. A transmigrator like you would never pass up a free perk, not even from your biological father.]

[Reward: Participation Score +10]

[Current Arc: Childhood Tutor Period]

[Total Participation Score: 17]

[Evaluation: You needed an excuse to join the Tutor Arc anyway. Now you've also scored a free instructor. This is a freebie win. Victory to the Freeloader King.]

The smoky screen slowly faded from Allen's vision.

Philip's tasks still include one unfinished assessment.

If I had to guess… it's about strength.

Ghislaine didn't come with them, huh?

Allen glanced over his shoulder.

Philip stepped into the room, trailing rain, his clothing soaked through.

But his expression was radiant.

There was a strange, infectious energy in his eyes.

"I've spoken with Allen. He's agreed to return to Roa with me! Paul—surely you have no objection this time?"

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