I'm Paul Greyrat, a man who isn't quite on the verge of losing to his seven-year-old son, but if things keep going like this, that gap is going to close fast.
I'm not kidding, and this isn't some idle warning. I mean it right now, as sweat stings my eyes and the hilt starts slipping in my grip, my son is finding a way to beat me, and he's doing it with that same quiet, calculating calm he's had since he was a toddler.
I'll admit I was an idiot of a father. During labor, not only did I suspect Zenith had cheated on me, I actually accused my wife while she was spending every last ounce of her strength just to defend herself. Why? No real reason other than me being an idiotic, indecisive, deeply insecure bastard. I was always letting my fears and past misdeeds take the wheel, jumping straight to the worst conclusions.
I tried to project my own filth onto Zenith, but all I got in return was a look of pure disappointment. One I still remember to this day. Not that it stopped me from sleeping with Lilia, either.
"Come on, Father! Attack!"
I parried his thrust.
The moment this kid picked up a sword and showed what he could do, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was mine. Well, I'd known ever since he was a baby. I'm a man driven by what he can see with his own two eyes, and the moment I saw we shared the exact same birthmark on our hip, I knew just how dead wrong I'd been.
Still, if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that with a sword in hand, he's nothing like me. By age five, he had already figured out how to wield Touki like a natural extension of his own body. It made me proud, but it also scared the hell out of me thinking about the toll it could take on a growing kid.
"Not enough!!"
Daiki lunged at me as if our sparring match had only just started. On pure reflex, I deflected his strike and stepped aside, deliberately lowering my blade to make it clear we were done.
Daiki had already lost plenty of times before. This was his twentieth defeat this morning alone. But even though I was twenty wins ahead, each victory felt more... hollow? Difficult. That was the word. Beating him was getting as tricky as trying to balance sand on the edge of a blade. It was as if he were memorizing my every habit, predicting where I'd step next, even if his small body couldn't quite keep up with his mind.
"That's enough. Your mother's going to have my head, so take a breather."
"I can keep going."
"Well, I need a break."
"But—"
"Dai..."
"Listen to your father, sweetie!"
When did she get out here...?
Her shout made my son jump and drop his practice sword on the spot.
"Oh, so you listen to your mother, huh?" I huffed. "Hmph, you're breaking my heart, kid."
Zenith stepped outside, shooting me a look that plainly said, I win, darling. She walked over to Daiki with a towel and started dabbing the sweat from his forehead and damp hair.
"...Son, what did we say about pushing yourself too hard?"
"...I'm sorry, Mom..."
"'Sorry' doesn't cut it."
I let out a soft chuckle. Seeing someone as solemn and introspective as him get handled like the seven-year-old boy he actually was, struggling to keep his little grown-up mask from slipping... I had to admit, it was endearing. Pretty funny, too.
"Look at him, total mama's boy..."
Zenith glared daggers at me.
"Do you want to sleep in the tool shed tonight, darling?"
I shut my mouth. I didn't have the guts to push my luck. When she passed judgment, my only safe move was to play dead.
"That's what I thought..."
She turned her attention back to our son, pulling him tight against her chest.
Little rascal...
"I've set some food out for you, sweetie. Go eat. You need it if you're going to grow big and strong."
He nodded and headed inside immediately. He'd tried to hide it during practice, but his stomach had been growling with the ferocity of an A-Rank beast. Though, if we're talking pure threat levels, an angry Zenith was an S-Rank menace.
I waited until the door clicked shut before dropping the playful tone.
"Zenith."
"Yes, darling?"
"When does the reply get here?"
"About the letter?" She paused. "It should arrive today or tomorrow."
I looked at Zenith, then glanced down at the practice blade Daiki had left in the dirt.
"That boy... if he stays here, he's going to plateau. There's almost nothing left I can teach him. That's why we need Ghislaine."
"And Rudy needs this job so he can cover Sylphiette's tuition for the academy..." Zenith sighed, a faint smile touching her lips. "He was so excited about the whole thing that I just didn't have the heart to tell him no."
---
A few hours slipped by, three, maybe four. I couldn't be sure. Looking after two babies at once has a way of completely wrecking your sense of time.
Rudy and Daiki had spoiled me rotten. Raising them was a walk in the park. Because they never cried or threw tantrums, they warped my idea of what babies were like. But these little girls, Norn and Aisha, cried over every little thing.
Now that the room was finally quiet, both of them had their tiny hands wrapped tight around my fingers.
"Father? Did you send for me?"
Daiki walked over to the shared crib.
"It's very warm in here today, Father."
Saying that, Daiki placed a hand on each girl's forehead and cast a gentle healing spell. As usual, he was checking to make sure they were all right, even though they weren't sick at all.
Norn let out a happy little giggle at the floating light particles and the familiar touch of her older brother. Aisha, on the other hand, watched with wide eyes, kicking her feet back and forth against the blanket.
"I called you in to talk about your future, Daiki."
"My future?"
"If I talk it through with you first... I trust you'll understand where I'm coming from, right?"
"Understand what?"
"You're heading to the city of Roa to train."
"...What?"
"And you won't be able to stay in touch with us while you're there. You'll have an exceptional instructor waiting for you. In exchange, you have to teach her how to read and write. She can push you far past whatever limits I can offer. She's a Sword King. I'm only Advanced in the three styles, after all."
Once Aisha and Norn finally drifted off, I sank into my chair and let out a heavy sigh, so loud I winced, worried I'd wake them right back up. But glancing over, they were still out cold while their brother gently drew his hands away.
"As for Rudy... He's going to Roa too, but for a different reason. His job will be tutoring the local lord's daughter in magic, arithmetic, and a bunch of other subjects I honestly can't remember. But listen, here's the catch: I'm going to have to knock him out cold."
I paused, looking right into his eyes so he'd know I was dead serious.
"All right, Father. I understand. Rudeus is too attached to Sylphie. He'd probably refuse to leave."
"Ah... Yeah. That was my read on it, too."
Daiki looked up, his red eyes brighter than usual.
"Will you at least let me say goodbye to Mother, Lilia, and my sisters?"
"Of course..."
Whew. Thank god he didn't fight me on this. I couldn't just put this kid to sleep with a quick tap to the chin. Putting him down would've meant hurting him more than I had any right to.
"Just keep your mouth shut around Rudy. You know how he gets."
"Understood."
---
Daiki Greyrat - Days Later
A few days have passed since Paul offered to send me to Roa, and I accepted like a man taking the only road open to him. In hindsight, it was the only real choice if I wanted to get stronger and protect my new family's future.
That was why, with my departure drawing near, I went to find Zenith to say a proper goodbye. This wasn't going to be like my past life, where departures were sudden and left hanging without closure. This time, I had the chance to see her again.
"Mother. Do you have a moment?"
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"You already know. Father told me you were in on it. Today is the day. I have to leave for Roa with Rudeus to train. It's for five years. But it has to remain a secret, Rudeus doesn't know a thing. Still, I... I wanted to at least say goodbye to you."
"My boy..."
The moment she wrapped her arms around me, whatever armor I had put up crumbled to dust. I couldn't stop the tears.
"My baby... My sweet boy."
"Mother... I don't really know how to put it into words, but I'm going to miss you."
"Five years is such a long time..."
"I'll come back, Mother. And when I do, I'll be much stronger. I'll become someone you can be genuinely proud of."
She pulled back slightly, brushing away her tears with her fingertips.
"I've always been proud of you, Daiki. Ever since you were a baby, reaching out toward your brother with your clumsy little arms..."
"Mother..."
Just then, Lilia stepped into the room with Aisha resting in her arms.
"Young Master Daiki... is it true?"
"Yes, Lilia."
She stepped forward and shifted Aisha to her other arm so she could place a gentle hand on my shoulder.
"It has been an honor looking after you. Please take care of yourself. And look out for Young Master Rudeus."
"I will. I swear it."
Next, I walked over to Norn's crib. She just stared up at me, far too small to understand what was happening.
"Take care, Norn."
From Lilia's arms, Aisha babbled something unintelligible, though I could have sworn there was real intention behind the sound. Her tiny fingers reached out and grabbed a lock of my hair.
"You too, Aisha."
Zenith knelt down and wrapped her arms around me from behind.
"Do you really have to leave today? Couldn't we...?"
"Father is right. If we wait, Rudeus will just find ways to stall."
"I love you so much, my baby..."
"I love you too, Mother."
---
Rudeus Greyrat
It happened right in the middle of sword practice.
"Hey, Rudy."
"Yes? What is it, Father?"
I did my best to put on my most dutiful, serious expression, listening intently to whatever Paul had to say.
After all, this was going to be my very first job, even counting my previous life. I was determined to give it everything I had.
"Tell me... if someone ordered you to separate from Sylphy, what would you say?"
"Huh? I'd hate that, of course!"
"Figured as much."
"What are you getting at?"
"Nothing. In the end, even if I tried talking you into it, you'd just talk circles around me."
The moment those words left his mouth, Paul's demeanor shifted completely. Even an amateur like me could feel the suffocating bloodlust pouring off him.
"Wait, what?!"
With silent, crushing pressure, Paul lunged straight at me.
Death.
That single word flashed across my mind.
On pure instinct, I tapped into every drop of mana I had and braced for impact.
I fired off Wind and Fire magic at the exact same time, triggering a blast right between us. Propelled backward by the heat and the shockwave, I put as much distance between us as humanly possible.
I'd run this simulation in my head countless times. Against Paul, I didn't stand a prayer unless I created space right off the bat. The explosion singed me too, but if it bought me a split second of hesitation, it was worth it.
Yet Paul charged straight through the smoke and fire as if the explosion hadn't happened at all.
I knew it wouldn't stop him! Even though I'd planned for this, panic still spiked in my chest. I had to dodge! Falling back was suicide; his footwork was way too fast. Moving purely on reflex, I fired a shockwave right beside my ribs, essentially blowing myself sideways. The violent jolt threw me out of his path.
A chilling, razor-sharp hiss cut past my ear. I watched Paul's blade slice through the exact pocket of air my neck had occupied half a heartbeat earlier.
Good. I'd avoided the opening blow. That alone was a miracle. Even though he was still on top of me, I'd bought myself a sliver of room. I could see a sliver of hope.
I immediately collapsed the earth right under Paul's lead foot.
His foot sank into the hole—or so I thought. In a fraction of a second, he shifted his weight to his back leg and surged forward without missing a single beat.
Do I have to take out both legs at the same time?!
I turned the earth beneath me into a quagmire. Before I could sink, I fired twin jets of water from the soles of my feet, skimming backward across the mud like a water bug.
Damn it, too slow...!
By the time I realized it, my fate was already sealed. From the edge of the pit, Paul dug his heel into the ground with enough force to churn the soil. In that single, explosive step, he closed the gap and crashed down on me.
"W-whoaaa!"
Out of pure desperation, I swung my wooden sword. It was an ugly, desperate swipe with zero form. Striking with brute force sent an awful, jarring vibration straight up my arm.
He parried me using a Water God Style technique. I recognized the redirect instantly. And if he had parried with the Water God Style, the counterattack was already on its way. My brain knew what was coming, but my body couldn't keep up.
As if in slow motion, Paul's blade swung in a clean arc straight for my neck.
Ah... thank god it's just a wooden sword...
The impact cracked against my neck, and the world went black.
---
When I opened my eyes, I found myself crammed inside a wooden box.
From the relentless shaking, I realized I was inside some kind of vehicle. I tried to sit up, but I couldn't move an inch. Looking down, I realized I was bound head-to-toe in coarse rope, wrapped up like a rolled straw mat.
What in the world is going on...?
I strained my neck and saw a woman sitting across from me. She had rich chocolate-brown skin, wore leather gear, and boasted a muscular, battle-scarred frame, complete with an eyepatch over one eye. Everything about her posture screamed "boss lady." She was quite literally the spitting image of a fantasy warrior. On top of that, she had beast ears and a thick, striped tail like a tiger's.
Is she from the Beast Race...?
She must have noticed me staring, because our eyes locked.
"Pleased to meet you. My name is Rudeus Greyrat. Forgive me for greeting you in such an undignified state."
I decided to introduce myself first. The cardinal rule of any negotiation is taking the initiative. If I control the opening, I control the room.
"For Paul's son, you're surprisingly polite."
"I am also my mother's son."
"I see. You take after Zenith, then."
She seemed to know my parents, which took a little bit of the edge off my panic.
"I'm Ghislaine. Starting tomorrow, I'm in your care."
Starting tomorrow? What is she talking about?
"Uh... well, likewise. Pleasure to meet you."
For the time being, I used Fire magic to burn cleanly through the ropes and free myself. My whole body throbbed, probably from being tied up in such an awkward knot. I stretched out thoroughly. What a relief.
I took in my surroundings. We were inside a carriage cabin with facing bench seats, and I was sitting directly opposite Ghislaine. The windows on both sides revealed unfamiliar countryside rolling past. Just as I'd suspected, we were moving. The carriage rattled violently, accompanied by the steady clatter of hooves up front. Horses, most likely.
So for reasons unknown, I was trapped in a carriage with an intimidating, muscular beast-woman.
"Rudy."
That voice.
I turned my head.
Daiki was sitting right beside me, looking back with his usual unreadable expression.
"Brother?! Were you kidnapped too—?"
The words died in my throat when I noticed the small bag resting by his feet. And the way he was sitting. Relaxed. Unbound. Not the least bit surprised.
"You came willingly." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"I see."
I held my tongue for a moment. I needed time to process this.
Calm down. Breathe. Think logically.
"How did I end up like this?" I muttered under my breath.
First, Paul ambushes me and knocks me unconscious. Then, when I come to, I'm tied up inside a carriage. He clearly beat me senseless, hogtied me, and threw me in here for a reason. And riding along with me is this buff warrior woman telling me, "Starting tomorrow, I'm in your care."
Not to mention my brother, who clearly knew all about this from the very beginning.
Come to think of it... right before Paul attacked me, he said something strange. Something like: "Separate from Sylphy"...
That bastard...! Is he trying to move in on my Sylphy?! No, wait. Hold on. Paul wouldn't sink that low. Probably.
"Um, excuse me..."
"Ghislaine is fine."
"Ah, then feel free to call me Rudy-chan."
"Understood. Rudy-chan."
She's definitely the type who takes jokes with a straight face.
"Ghislaine, did my father give you any instructions?"
"Just Ghislaine. No need for titles."
With that, Ghislaine pulled a folded sheet of paper from her chest and held it out to me. I took it, but the outside was completely blank.
"It's a letter from Paul. Read it out loud. I can't read."
"Sure."
I unfolded the messy piece of paper and began to read:
"'To my beloved son, Rudeus. If you are reading this letter, I am probably no longer in this world—'"
"What?!"
Ghislaine gasped and shot straight to her feet. The carriage ceiling turned out to be higher than it looked.
"Please sit down, Ghislaine. There's more."
"Mm. I see."
She complied and settled back onto the bench without another word.
Beside me, I heard Daiki stifle a quiet chuckle.
I kept reading.
"'—is what I've always wanted to write at least once. Just kidding! Truth is, after I beat you to a pulp, you were groveling on the ground like a pathetic wimp, so I tied you up like a damsel in distress and chucked you into a carriage. You're probably scratching your head wondering what's going on, so your best bet is asking that walking slab of muscle sitting across from you. Then again, her brain is pure muscle too, so don't count on a coherent explanation.'"
"He said what?!"
She jumped right back up with a furious growl.
"Ghislaine, please, sit down. He sings your praises in the very next line."
"Mm. I see."
She sat back down.
"This is great," Daiki murmured under his breath.
"Quiet, you."
I went back to the letter.
"'She's a Sword King. If you want to learn swordsmanship, you won't find a better instructor unless you hike all the way out to the Sword Sanctum. Her skills are guaranteed, I've never beaten her once in my life... except in bed.'"
Quit writing garbage, you old pervert.
Still, Ghislaine looked surprisingly smug at that line. You really get around, Dad. And you really are a monster, Ghislaine.
"'Now, onto your job: you're going to tutor the daughter of a noble house in Roa, the biggest city in the Fittoa region. You'll be teaching arithmetic, reading, writing, and elementary magic. She's an exceptionally spoiled brat, to the point that the local school begged us to keep her away. She's already scared off a whole string of tutors, but I trust you can handle her.'"
Is that actual trust, or is he just dumping his garbage onto my lap?
"'As for Daiki, he's coming along too. He'll teach other subjects where needed, but more importantly, he'll be training in swordsmanship during his stay. Ghislaine agreed to take him on as an apprentice. Think of it as a nice little bonus perk.'"
I glanced over at Daiki.
"So that's why you came."
"Paul has nothing left to teach me," he replied flatly. "Ghislaine can take me beyond his ceiling."
"Fair enough."
It made sense. Especially after Daiki beat him yesterday... or was it two days ago? I honestly couldn't tell how long I'd been out cold.
I continued reading.
"'That meathead sitting with you works as a bodyguard and sword instructor for the young lady's family. In exchange for training Daiki, it turns out she wants to learn reading and math. Daiki can help her out with that. Try not to laugh at her, even if her brain is made of meat. She's dead serious about this (lol).'"
"He said what...?!"
A thick blue vein popped on her temple.
"This letter feels tailored specifically to piss her off," Daiki noted.
"No kidding. Just what kind of history did those two have?"
"'Her memory is probably terrible, but look at it this way: at least you're getting free lessons.'"
"Ghislaine, how much do you normally charge for sword lessons?"
"Two Asura gold coins a month."
Two gold coins?! Roxy charged five silver coins a month back when she taught me. That's nearly four times as much!
"That's steep," I muttered.
"She's King-tier," Daiki pointed out. "The price reflects her caliber."
He had a point. That earned him a pleased grin from Ghislaine, finally, someone who gave her the respect she deserved.
"'The two of you will be living at the young lady's estate for five years, tutoring her the entire time. Five years. And during that time, I am forbidding you from coming home or exchanging letters. Rudeus, if you stay glued to Sylphy, she'll never learn to stand on her own two feet. On top of that, you two are getting way too codependent, so I'm tearing you apart by force.'"
My breath hitched.
"Wh-what?!"
Hold on... I can't see Sylphy for five whole years? Not even letters?!
"What's the matter, Rudy-chan? Did you leave your little girlfriend behind?"
Ghislaine asked with an amused smirk, clearly enjoying the look of pure despair on my face.
"No, I just got utterly humiliated by an immature father."
I didn't even get to say goodbye. You really pulled a fast one on me, Paul...
"Don't look so down, Rudy-chan."
"Hey..."
"What?"
"Just call me Rudeus, please."
"Ah. Got it."
I looked back at Daiki.
"Did you get to say goodbye?"
"To Mom and our sisters, yes. Paul let me do that this morning before you woke up."
"I see."
There wasn't any bitterness in my voice. Just quiet acceptance. It made sense, and I couldn't really fault him for it. If they had given me the chance to say goodbye, I would have dragged Sylphie and run off somewhere. I would have stalled, bargained, or found some excuse to wiggle out of it.
Paul knew me all too well. And honestly...
"Then again, looking at it objectively, Paul has a point."
Daiki gave me a surprised look.
"If Sylphie grew up like this, she'd end up as a hopelessly dependent childhood friend. Normally, going to school and making friends breaks that habit, but with her hair, Sylphie can't make friends. Five years from now, she'd still be clinging to my coat tails."
Shaking that thought off, I went back to the letter.
"'As for Rudeus's pay: you'll be getting two Asura silver coins a month. It's less than standard tutor rates, but plenty for a kid's allowance. Daiki gets one silver coin a month for helping out as an assistant instructor. Take this chance to learn the value of money in the city. If you don't practice handling coin now, you won't know what to do with it when it counts. Then again, you're my sons, so I'm sure you'll manage... Oh, and don't even think about blowing it on women.'"
Meddlesome old bastard.
"That last line was definitely aimed at you," Daiki chimed in.
"Shut up."
"'If you make it through all five years tutoring the young lady without throwing in the towel, as a special bonus, you'll receive enough money to cover tuition for two people at the Magic Academy.'"
My eyes went wide.
"Two people?"
"For you and Sylphiette," Daiki confirmed. "Father promised that earlier."
"I see. So if I pull this off, I get my freedom."
I'll actually be able to take Sylphy to the Academy with me.
"'Of course, five years from now, Sylphy might not even want to go with you, or maybe your feelings will have cooled off. But don't worry—I'll take good care of her.'"
That "take good care of her" sounds downright terrifying, old man...
"'Watch each other's backs. Daiki, I have nothing left to teach you, but I trust Ghislaine will take you to heights I couldn't reach. Rudeus, learn to stand on your own, but don't be too proud to lean on your brother when you need help. I pray that over these next five years in an unfamiliar city, you learn plenty and come back twice the men you are today. With love, your brilliantly intellectual father, Paul.'"
"Brilliantly intellectual?!" I yelled, dumbfounded. "He resolved the entire situation by beating the crap out of me!"
"Technically, his plan worked," Daiki pointed out. "He reached his goal without giving you a chance to resist."
"That doesn't make him an intellectual. It makes him a conniving thug."
"That too."
In spite of everything, I couldn't help a dry laugh.
"Paul really does care about us."
"Yeah. In his own clumsy, reckless way."
The carriage fell quiet for a beat.
"Though, Ghislaine, there's a note for you here too..."
"Hm? What about me?"
I read out the final postscript.
"'P.S. You have my permission to make a move on the young lady if she's willing, but keep your hands off the walking slab of muscle: that woman is mine.'"
"That's what he wrote."
"I see. Forward that letter to Zenith."
"Will do."
And just like that, I was on my way to the largest city in the Fittoa Region: the Fortress City of Roa.
My feelings were a tangled mess, but looking back, maybe this was for the best. It shook me awake. Yeah. This was the right call. I couldn't keep hovering over Sylphie forever. It wasn't like I had some unhealthy obsession or anything. Definitely not.
Or at least, that was the lie I told myself.
Still... I wish I could see her at least once a year...
And just like that, my resolve wavered.