Because the first tutor of the new year was rejected again, Sylphiette—whom Gawain judged to have sufficient magical talent but severely lacking in battle aura talent—naturally didn’t need to follow her brother to the Greyrat house every day.
As for magic learning, since Rudeus’s progress was far faster, Sylphiette was naturally left behind.
In fact, Sylphiette wished she could follow her big brother everywhere all the time, but in just a few months of close interaction, the green-haired little girl clearly realized one thing:
Her brother was an absolute strength supremacist.
Thus, Sylphiette easily decided to stay home and study by herself.
In everyone’s eyes, her progress was already extremely fast and advanced.
Whether it was her parents or the Greyrat family, they all praised her achievements endlessly.
But Sylphiette understood—this was not enough.
Her brother never lied, so he had never praised her academically.
“Disappointed?
Perhaps not.”
She had never felt any expectation from her brother.
If the expected results from sword training were poor, then she was not allowed to learn it.
If her talent in magic was decent, then she had to specialize in it.
This was Gawain’s plan for her life—completely based on efficiency and results, as if Sylphiette’s entire existence was naturally meant to grow into the state he deemed appropriate.
No matter how difficult the process was, it was only natural and not worth praise.
But Sylphiette wanted to be praised by her brother.
She wanted her brother—who looked so handsome when he smiled—to pat her head and praise her.
She didn’t understand what “only natural” meant.
She only knew that she wanted to make her brother surprised, happy, satisfied—just like how her father and mother had been looking at her recently.
At worst, at the very worst, she wanted to be stronger than Rudeus.
She wanted to discuss things with her brother on equal footing like Rudeus did.
Even though she was slightly older than Rudeus, as the eldest among the three, Sylphiette didn’t want to fall behind that brown-haired jerk who always took up her brother’s time.
Her brother was the best brother in the world.
Ever since her brother came into the family, her father, mother, and herself had all become happier and happier, more and more joyful.
So, she wanted her brother to stay in the house forever, to stay by her side.
Sylphiette practiced writing diligently while her fighting spirit burned.
As for the other side.
“I think Rudeus doesn’t need to learn swordsmanship either.”
Holding a wooden sword, having just knocked the brown-haired, green-eyed boy to the ground, Gawain didn’t even wait for his opponent to stand up before declaring his defeat in another sense.
Paul, who was standing nearby with arms crossed supervising, instantly lost it.
He waved his hands and protested seriously:
“Brat, I told you not to say that!”
Rudeus, who lay sideways on the ground after being knocked down, showed no sign of being discouraged.
Instead, he seemed quite pleased.
Although he wanted to be a filial son in this life, if he could return to being purely indoors with a legitimate reason, he naturally wouldn’t mind.
So, he followed along:
“Father, I believe what Sir Gawain says is quite correct.
After all, I still cannot generate battle aura.”
Paul was quite troubled by his son’s daily betrayal.
He made a motion as if to kick his own son like a ball, while Rudeus rolled away in response.
Gawain didn’t understand this childish daily interaction between father and son.
He simply said rationally:
“I’m not joking.
Rudeus and I recently completed tests on him.
The conclusion is that Rudeus can hardly wrap himself in battle aura.
If he cannot use battle aura to strengthen his body or defend against attacks, then letting him learn swordsmanship is simply sending him to his death, isn’t it?”
Although he didn’t want to admit that his genius son in swordsmanship had no talent for battle aura, Paul had already thought about this issue.
His answer was:
“A mage is just as defenseless, isn’t he?
Learning swordsmanship at least lets Rudeus understand how his most dangerous enemies attack, and how to dodge or block.”
Gawain acknowledged that Paul made sense, but considering efficiency, he still refuted:
“Then wear armor.
Develop magic armor and put it on in advance.
If defense is insufficient, increase defense.
If reaction speed is insufficient, increase reaction speed.
Just like swordsmen rely on the sturdiness and sharpness of swords, mages should also rely on external tools to compensate for their own shortcomings.”
“Moreover, I believe Rudeus and I might develop defensive magic in the future—perhaps even passively triggered defensive magic or counterattack magic.
Relying on learning swordsmanship to increase the chance of dealing with swordsmen is too passive.
Without battle aura or Demon Eyes, such methods can at best deal with swordsmen below Saint rank.
Against a close-range Longsword of Light, Rudeus wouldn’t even see whether the opponent has drawn their blade.
What value is there in understanding it then?”
“Paul, you don’t think Rudeus’s future will be limited to such small-scale matters below Saint rank, do you?
At the very least, he should aim to become a God-ranked mage.”
Gawain had always considered Rudeus a dual genius in intellect and magic.
Perhaps he alone could spark a revolution in magic.
[A/N: Because Gawain does not know Rudeus is a reincarnator]
Paul admitted that Gawain made sense.
But he still couldn’t help his twitching lips, muttering unwillingly:
“Below Saint rank… small-scale…”
Paul sighed, looked at Rudeus who was getting up, and asked:
“Rudeus, what do you think?”
Although young, Paul was indeed a good father.
Thinking this, Rudeus dusted himself off and replied respectfully:
“Father, swordsmanship is also good for strengthening the body.”
Paul sighed and ultimately accepted it.
Completely unaware that his obedient son merely wanted to build muscles like his father’s to attract girls.
Everything according to plan.
Rudeus stood beside Gawain.
He was about half a head shorter than this older brother in terms of physical age.
He couldn’t help but give a thumbs up and said excitedly:
“Magic armor?!
Sir Gawain, you truly are a genius!
Can it triple strength during the day?”
Gawain dissatisfiedly pressed Rudeus’s thumb down, repeatedly correcting his strange form of address:
“I am not your subordinate, Rudeus.”
Rudeus nodded repeatedly in a tone used to appease a chuunibyou child, respectfully flattering him:
“Yes, you are the greatest emperor of the galaxy (the word ‘galaxy’ here is in Viltrumite), my esteemed Majesty.”
Gawain corrected objectively:
“The future emperor.”
“So humble—you are truly a born wise ruler.”
Rudeus had to admit that perhaps he himself had not fully recovered from chuunibyou, because he seemed unexpectedly good at getting along with Gawain.
Although Gawain occasionally displayed knowledge and viewpoints like an old reincarnator similar to himself, after spending time together it was still clear that Gawain was fundamentally just a child—a rather typical twisted tsundere chuunibyou, with a bit of a sister complex and social Darwinism.
He even suspected Gawain might be somewhat racist, yet also seemed to discriminate equally against all races.
A typical popular galgame character.
He understood it too well.
Rudeus patted Gawain’s shoulder and said inexplicably:
“It’s fine.
Once I learn Intermediate Healing, even if Mr.
Laws breaks your legs, I can fix them immediately.”
Gawain, as usual, was confused.
He was completely unskilled at dealing with someone like Rudeus, whose actions and words often lacked logic.
“You understand—unable to hate your sister enough to become Sora.”
“I don’t understand at all.”
“But if you accidentally get cursed into becoming a little girl and join a magical world war, then I won’t be able to help you!
[A/N: Saga of Tanya the Evil reference corresponding to Gawain’s traits]
“I understand that even less.”
Mushoku Tensei Setting Emphasis — Must Read
Below are some settings the author believes need to be emphasized at the beginning.
(Also asking for powertones and reviews)
[Time]
One year in the Human World has twelve months, as supported by the original text, roughly somewhere in the academy arc.
The length of a month is unspecified, but this work assumes 30 days.
That is, one year equals 360 days.
As for the length of a day, the original work mentions hours, minutes, and seconds, so it is assumed to be 24 hours per day, 60 minutes per hour, 60 seconds per minute.
[Seasons]
According to the author’s replies and timeline deductions, this work adopts:
Months 1–3 are spring; 4–6 are summer; 7–9 are autumn; 10–12 are winter.
Thus, the Human World begins the year at the transition between winter and spring.
[Important Dates]
Rudeus’s birthday is officially November 22, Kōryū Calendar Year 407.
Thus, Sylphiette’s birthday is October 22, Year 407.
After estimation, Eris’s birthday is set as July 1, Year 405.
Important timeline points will be marked in the main text.
[Growth Rate]
Humans in this world grow quickly (all intelligent races are treated as human; only Demon World Emperor seems slow, others still reach adulthood around 15).
This follows the original setting as much as possible.
In terms of height and appearance, roughly similar to reality or slightly faster, though sometimes inconsistent.
However, sexual and psychological development is clearly faster, roughly +2 to +5 years.
For example, anime Rudeus grows hair at around 10; Paul experienced his first time at 10; Zenith was about 16 when pregnant with Rudeus.
In short, assume sexual maturity at age 10.
Quite outrageous when you think about it.
[Currency]
The original currency system is… unique.
Please forget it.
Assume nobles are vastly richer than commoners and adventurers.
Roughly:
Commoners barely earn enough to eat.
Adventurers are like working-class.
High-ranking adventurers are like high-income professionals.
Upper nobles are basically conglomerates.
[Fate]
This world strongly emphasizes fate.
Even if birth timing changes, certain individuals will still be born.
This contradicts reality, but is useful for writing.
Thus, if something coincides with the original, it’s “fate at work.”
[Dragon God (Orsted)]
His strength portrayal is inconsistent in canon.
Thus, this work reconstructs it for narrative purposes.
Conclusion: settings serve the story.