Reborn in Mushoku Tensei

"Rudeus… Rudeus… Turn back now. #%€£ is going to die. Leave now…"

A faint voice drifted through the haze of my half-conscious mind. It felt distant, yet strangely familiar.

"Rudeus… Rudeus…"

Before I could grasp its meaning, a sharp smack stung my cheek, dragging me violently into the waking world. My eyes fluttered open, and the blinding sunlight filtering through the forest canopy made me squint.

Pain throbbed in my skull, and as I shifted slightly, I became aware of something or rather, someone resting against me.

Eris.

Her head lay on my chest, her crimson hair cascading over my arm. My hands were loosely wrapped around her back, holding her close as though protecting her. The memory of the previous night flickered in my mind—healing her wounds, ensuring her safety.

"What the—"

"Wake up and let go of me!" she hissed, her voice sharp and trembling.

I blinked rapidly, and before I could move, her fist collided with my gut.

"Ugh!" I gasped, the force knocking the air out of my lungs as I crumpled against the base of a tree.

Eris shot to her feet, towering over me with a fierce glare. Her hands were balled into fists, and though her cheeks were flushed, her expression screamed fury rather than embarrassment.

"Don't tell anyone about last night," she growled, her voice low and threatening. "Or I'll kill you."

I gulped, my heart skipping a beat. There was no doubt in my mind—she meant it.

"Y-Yeah, sure. Not a word," I stammered, raising my hands in mock surrender.

She huffed, tossing her head as she turned to leave, but her steps faltered. She froze mid-stride, her posture rigid as though caught in a silent debate with herself.

"Which way is the carriage?" she finally muttered, her voice quieter this time.

I blinked. Her question caught me off guard not because of the content but because of how awkwardly she asked, her back still turned to me.

"Uh…" I scratched the back of my head, laughing nervously. "The thing is… I don't actually know."

Her head whipped around, her fiery eyes staring into me.

"What do you mean you don't know?" she demanded, stomping back toward me. Before I could even think of an answer, her hands grabbed my collar, yanking me to my feet.

"Are you telling me we're lost?" she snarled, shaking me slightly for emphasis.

"Lost is a strong word," I managed, wincing as her grip tightened. "Let's say… temporarily misplaced."

Her glare intensified, and for a moment, I thought she might slam me against the tree again. Instead, she let go, letting me fall back to the ground with a thud.

"Ugh…" I groaned, rubbing the back of my neck. "You really need to work on your anger issues."

"Don't test me," she snapped, storming off in frustration.

"Wait!" I scrambled to my feet, grabbing my staff. "I'll use my demon eye to find the carriage!"

She paused, turning slightly. "Demon eye?"

I tapped near my right eye, grinning. "It lets me see mana. Pretty handy for tracking people."

Her brows furrowed in thought, but she gave a curt nod. "Well, hurry up and use it already."

Pouring mana into the eye, I focused, letting the magical energy expand my vision. Glimmers of light and trails of mana illuminated the forest, revealing faint traces of mana in the distance.

"There!" I pointed. "They're not far."

Without waiting for a response, I started walking. Eris fell into step beside me, the silence between us heavy but not entirely uncomfortable.

"Do you even know why we're on this mission?" I asked after a while.

"Training," she replied with a shrug. "That's all Ghislaine told me."

I sighed. "We're here to deal with a noble who's been kidnapping young girls. Those kidnappers we fought? They worked for him."

Her steps faltered, though she quickly recovered.

"That could've been you," I added quietly, gripping my hands tighter. "If I hadn't been there… it could've been you."

Eris didn't respond right away, her face unreadable. Then, out of nowhere, she punched me hard in the shoulder.

"Ow!" I yelped, rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"

"For being an idiot," she said, looking away with a faint blush creeping up her neck.

"If I'm an idiot, that makes you a moron," I retorted, smirking.

Her face turned red, and she lunged at me, shouting. I laughed, dodging her swings as we wove through the trees.

Our playful chase came to an abrupt halt when a fireball shot into the sky, its blazing light cutting throughout the forest.

"That's Sylphie!" I said, recognizing the mana signature instantly.

"What?" Eris looked confused.

"She's signaling us," I explained, grabbing her hand. "Come on!"

We broke into a sprint, pushing through the underbrush until the carriage came into view. Relief flooded me, but it was short-lived.

A blur of green tackled me, knocking me to the ground.

"Rudeus!" a trembling voice cried.

I looked up, dazed, only to see Sylphie clinging to me, her face buried in my chest as sobs wracked her small frame.

"You promised… you said you'd never leave me…"

Her words were muffled, but the pain in them was clear. My chest tightened, guilt washing over me as I gently placed a hand on the back of her head.

"I'm here now," I whispered, stroking her hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Sylphie."

She cried harder, clutching me like a lifeline.

A voice echoed faintly in my mind, it was familiar. Yet felt so foreign and distant.

Eris's POV

"Tch. She's such a crybaby," I muttered, crossing my arms as I watched Sylphie cling to Rudeus.

"She's just worried," Ghislaine said calmly, tearing into her meal. Her eyes glinted with quiet understanding.

I scoffed. "Worried? He was gone for a few hours. That doesn't explain… all that." I gestured at the pair with disdain.

Ghislaine smiled faintly. "You'll understand one day."

Her cryptic response only irritated me further.

"Understand what?" I snapped. "She's acting pathetic."

Ghislaine didn't answer, instead offering me a piece of meat. "You should eat. Training starts again soon."

I hesitated, my stomach growling loudly. Reluctantly, I sat down, grabbing the plate.

"Whatever," I muttered, though my gaze lingered on Rudeus and Sylphie.

Something about it annoyed me.

Something I couldn't quite put into words.