Chapter 41: Rudy’s Field of Carnage?

Not long after breakfast, Allen finally remembered what he had forgotten.

He had forgotten about Sylphie.

As the three of them were summarizing yesterday's battle, with Roxy sitting nearby, listening and nodding in occasional admiration, she arrived.

Sylphie stood outside the courtyard as she usually did, looking like a passerby who had happened to wander by, her gaze fixed on the weeds at her feet. However, when she caught a glimpse of the blue-haired girl in the yard, she suddenly turned around, blinking her eyes as she looked at Roxy.

Roxy, curious, returned her gaze.

The two of them stood there in a daze.

More stunned than them were Rudy and Allen.

Rudy jumped up, clutching his head, his face contorted with the realization that something had gone terribly wrong.

'It's over! I forgot about Sylphie! This is that familiar Galgame trope! What if Roxy thinks Sylphie, who is about my age, is my little girlfriend? It’s over, it’s over! No, wait!'

'Roxy has never looked at me as a potential romantic interest... and now, with a girl my own age appearing, won't that just solidify the impression that I’m nothing more than a child in her eyes?! No!!! Even though I’ve always viewed her as someone to be respected, Allen’s words had given me a glimmer of hope for the future!!!'

Meanwhile, Allen was wailing internally.

'Oh no, I forgot about Sylphie! This is that familiar Galgame trope! What if Sylphie thinks Roxy, who looks quite young, is a little love rival? Oh no, oh no, Rudy’s Shuraba is starting early!! What do I do? No, wait!'

'...What does Rudy’s Shuraba have to do with me, Allen??'

Allen’s mood suddenly brightened. He met Rudy’s gaze—a look clearly pleading for help—with keen interest, then feigned total ignorance. He even propped his chin in his hand, watching the staring contest between Sylphie and Roxy with the delight of a spectator.

'Haha, oh Rudy, Rudy. In the original story, you skillfully dodged every situation that could lead to a Shuraba, and thanks to Sylphie’s doting and empathetic nature, you managed to start your harem quite smoothly... That’s not logical! I finally understand the purpose of this transmigration into Mushoku Tensei! The purpose is to bring me here to flap my butterfly wings and specifically punish you, you scumbag! Haha, welcome the heavens' retribution for toying with the followers of the God Religion! This is the price you pay for your future harem!'

'Though, I have to say, even though Sylphie is young, she’s a woman at heart. There’s even a hint of wariness in that look... Oh, a Shuraba is just too good to watch! Go on! Fight! Fight! I want to see a bloodbath!'

Sylphie stood stunned for only a moment before Paul called out to her. She walked silently to Allen’s side and sat down obediently, though her reddish-brown eyes remained fixed on Roxy.

The latter’s deep blue eyes returned the stare.

Seeing this, Allen quickly looked at Rudy, only to find the boy’s pupils dilating. He covered his mouth with his hand.

He was genuinely afraid he might burst out laughing.

But the next instant, Allen’s expression froze. A translucent system interface floated before his nose.

【Favorability toward the host from both Sylphie and Roxy has slightly increased; contribution score for the Mushoku Tensei major event has risen.】

【Current Stage: Childhood, Cumulative Participation Score: 65.】

【Evaluation: Everyone laughs at Rudeus, yet everyone is Rudeus.】

【What is the meaning of transmigration? This is the meaning of transmigration, Allen-san! What is female competition? This is female competition! (Leans back)】

Allen watched as the system panel dissipated. He looked blankly at Roxy, then back at Sylphie beside him.

'What... what the...???'

The next moment, the voices of Roxy and Sylphie rang out in his ears in perfect unison.

"...Allen, who is she?"

Allen was stunned for a moment, swallowed hard, and looked at Paul in a panic.

The quick-witted Paul, having realized something was amiss, had already retreated at lightning speed and was currently admiring the clouds in the sky.

Rudy, having weathered the storm, reacted quickly. After the shock of his internal role-reversal as a spectator, he couldn't help but chuckle at Allen’s dazed expression.

"Hahaha! Allen, face your punishment! Roxy is destined to be mine!"

He had meant to mock him via telepathy, but his excitement made his voice ring out loudly.

It echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone present turned to look at him.

Paul, who had been watching the sky, could no longer stay out of it. He turned his head in shock to look at his son, his expression quite colorful.

Under the burning gaze of everyone, Rudy’s face changed several times, making even the dazed Allen, sitting opposite him, subconsciously marvel that he hadn't known Japanese people were capable of such rapid mood swings.

A breeze blew through the courtyard.

Rudy continued with difficulty.

"I mean... Roxy is destined to be my... respected teacher."

Roxy recovered from her surprise, blinked in confusion, and turned to look at Allen.

"...Why has the atmosphere felt so strange since just now? Um... Allen... I heard what Rudy said... were you perhaps hoping I would take this pretty Long-eared girl as my apprentice?"

Allen blinked, shot a quick glance at Rudy, who was staring at him intensely, and his brain kicked into gear.

"Ah, yes!"

He placed a hand on Sylphie’s head, who blinked at Allen and Rudy in confusion.

"This child is named Sylphie, and she’s also a magic genius. She can perform voiceless incantations! So I wanted you to teach her for a few days, evaluate her level as a Saint-ranked Water Mage, and then grant her the title of mage!"

He then looked down and smiled brightly at Sylphie.

"This is the teacher who taught Rudy magic—Water Saint-ranked Mage, Roxy. Rudy is a 'feeling-based' learner, but for your magic questions, you can ask Roxy!"

'Get lost with that female competition! I’m taking the original Roxy-Rudy mentor-student bond from the timeline where Rudy didn't transmigrate!'

When Roxy heard the words "voiceless incantation," her expression shifted slightly. She opened her mouth to politely refuse, but Sylphie looked at her and, following Allen’s lead, said obediently:

"Nice to meet you, Teacher Roxy. I’ve... heard so much about you. So you’re Rudy’s teacher. I thought you were just an acquaintance of Allen’s... um... my name is Sylphiette."

Roxy swallowed the refusal she had been about to utter and managed a strained smile.

"Hello, Sylphie. I’m Roxy Migurdia. You don’t need to call me 'Teacher.' All you children can perform voiceless incantations, which is truly disheartening... Although I don't have the ability to be your teacher, I can certainly help assess your current magic level... It shouldn't... be higher than Rudy’s... right?"

Sylphie glanced at Allen, who was frantically signaling her, and nodded in cooperation.

"It’s not higher than Rudy’s. I’ve only been learning magic for two months, Teacher."

Roxy: ......

'Two months and she can already use voiceless incantations? Seriously, stop calling me teacher... I want to die... TT I shouldn't have listened to Allen and stayed. So he kept me here to teach this child... Allen is truly cunning...'

But at that moment, an accident occurred.

"Paul! Is Allen bullying my Somar again? You must give me an explanation this time!"

Allen, who had just been wiping sweat from his brow after surviving the crisis, froze again. He turned his head in shock, joining the stunned Paul in looking at Mrs. Somar, who had suddenly appeared at the courtyard entrance.

She stood by the wall, squinting at Paul and Allen in the yard, but when she caught sight of Roxy opposite Allen, she paused in a daze.

She scrutinized Roxy from top to bottom, her gaze lingering briefly on her chest before she broke into a look of disdain.

Roxy glanced at Mrs. Somar, then turned her gaze back to Allen’s face, watching him quietly.

Allen stammered, emitting a simple, heartfelt inner thought.

'Holy crap.'

【Instant task issued: The disdain of the big-chested woman. Mrs. Somar once felt a sense of crisis when Roxy suddenly moved into Paul’s house, but she later realized that Roxy lacked the necessary appeal to men like Paul and gave up. But at this moment, with Roxy’s sudden return, she seems to think you...】

'Get lost!'

【Oh.】