Mushoku Tensei: A different path

(Third POV)

The night air was cool, a stark contrast to the warm glow of the campfire. After days of exhausting travel, the group had finally taken a much-needed rest, setting up camp just off the beaten path. Their journey to Millishion had been anything but easy, urgency pressing them forward with little time to recuperate. But with Elinalise's condition worsening, they had no choice but to stop.

Ginger stepped out of the tent, letting the flap fall back into place behind her. Her brows were drawn together in frustration as she clenched her fists. She had tried to use her Healing Magic on Elinalise, but it had done little to ease her condition. A sigh escaped her lips as she made her way toward the campfire, where Roxy and Ghislaine sat in quiet discussion. The flames crackled softly, casting flickering shadows on their faces.

"Any progress?" Roxy asked, looking up at Ginger as she approached.

Ginger shook her head. "Nothing. My Healing Magic isn't helping her. Whatever this curse is doing to her, it's increasingly weakening her body."

Ghislaine exhaled through her nose, arms crossed as she stared into the fire. "If we don't find a way to deal with it, it will slow us down further."

Roxy nodded, deep in thought. "We can't afford to delay any longer than we already have. We've pushed ourselves hard just to get this far."

Ginger hesitated, glancing back toward the tent. "I… I get what this curse demands to keep her alive, but is there anything else we can try?"

There was an awkward pause. Roxy and Ghislaine exchanged glances.

Ghislaine broke the silence first. "Talhand can't help her."

Ginger blinked. "Talhand? What do you mean?"

Roxy cleared her throat. "He's… not an option. So instead, we'll have to find someone on the road tomorrow who can help her."

Ginger frowned in confusion, still not quite understanding what they were getting at. Ghislaine, however, knew the truth well enough. Talhand simply wasn't interested in women. Roxy had long suspected it but never felt it was her place to ask.

Before Ginger could ask further, the flap of another tent shifted, and Lilia emerged. She stepped toward them, rubbing her arms slightly against the night chill. "Is everything all right?" she asked, her voice gentle but concerned.

Roxy looked up at her and offered a small, reassuring smile. "Everything's fine. You should get some rest, Lilia. You and Aisha have been through enough."

Lilia shook her head. "Rest can wait. This is the least I can do. After all, you saved us. If there is anything I can assist with, please let me know."

Ginger shifted uncomfortably, guilt pressing down on her. She lowered her head. "Miss Lilia… I'm sorry. About everything. The prince's actions, your captivity… If I had been stronger—"

Lilia raised a hand to stop her, her expression calm. "You were under duress. Your family was being held hostage. There was nothing you could do except wait for someone else to help you and the others."

Roxy nodded in agreement. "None of this was your fault, Ginger. We all understand that."

Still, Ginger looked unconvinced. Before the conversation could continue, Ghislaine's ears twitched. She sat up straight, her muscles tensing as she reached for her sword.

"We're not alone," she muttered, eyes scanning the darkness.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Roxy and Ginger stiffened, and Lilia instinctively stepped back toward the tents. The sound of movement—subtle but unmistakable—echoed from the trees surrounding their camp. The night was no longer silent.

Ghislaine rose to her feet, her sword glinting in the firelight. "They're getting closer."

A shiver ran down her spine, her instincts screaming that something was off. "No… this isn't just a simple ambush," she muttered under her breath. A different presence—far more dreadful—loomed in the distance. Her grip on the sword tightened as she bared her teeth, her body coiling like a predator ready to strike.

Then, the silence was shattered.

Screams erupted from the darkness. A sudden crash echoed through the forest as trees fell rapidly, each impact shaking the ground beneath them. The horrifying wails of men filled the air, followed by the sickening sound of bodies hitting the earth.

The distant wails sent a shiver down Ginger's spine. She swallowed hard, her fingers curling into fists. "What… what the hell is happening out there?"

Ghislaine was already on her feet, sword drawn, muscles taut like a coiled spring. "Something is killing them." Her ears twitched, scanning the darkness. "Fast. Brutal."

Roxy gripped her staff tighter, eyes darting around the tree line. "We should prepare for an attack. Whatever's out there might not stop at them."

Talhand frowned, stepping forward with his axe-like staff in hand. "Hah. Not often you see assassins being hunted instead." He spat to the side. "Serves them right."

Lilia, still standing near the tents, was ready to prepare Aisha. "Should we run?" she asked, keeping her voice steady despite the tension in her eyes.

Paul shook his head, his gaze locked on the shifting shadows beyond the firelight. "No. If we run blind into that, we might end up just like them."

The screams turned into gurgles. Then silence.

For a moment, no one moved. Only the crackling fire remained, flickering in the heavy stillness.

Then—

A branch snapped.

Everyone turned as a lone figure stumbled forward from the trees, arms trembling, his breath ragged with sheer terror. The firelight illuminated his face, twisted in a mix of pain and desperation. His body was streaked with dirt and blood, his clothing torn but obviously made for camouflage.

His wide, frantic eyes scanned the camp. "P-please… have mercy!"

His plea barely left his lips before a streak of white light cut through the air—

A flaming sword sliced cleanly through his neck.

His body crumpled before he could even process his own death, head rolling lifelessly across the ground.

The group tensed as the figure behind the strike stepped forward, his breath heavy. The white fire on his sword flickered before dimming, and steam curled from his mouth in the cold air. He stood tall, his posture strong but weary, his presence heavy and imposing.

No one moved. No one spoke.

The fire crackled. The figure stood there, shoulders rising and falling with each breath.

Then—

Lilia gasped. Her hand flew to her mouth as realization dawned.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Paul…?"

The name cut through the stillness like a blade.

The man stiffened. The firelight finally revealed his face, bloodstained and lined with exhaustion. His breathing slowed. His grip on his sword faltered. The white fire flickered out entirely.

He turned, eyes locking onto Lilia's. Recognition dawned in his gaze, and the haze of violence seemed to fade. His lips parted slightly as if struggling to find words.

"…Lilia?" he whispered, his voice rough, as though he hadn't spoken in days.

The camp remained deathly silent, the weight of the moment settling over them all.

Before anyone else could react, a small figure darted from the group. Aisha, wide-eyed and trembling, suddenly sprinted toward him. "Father!"

Paul barely had time to react before the girl threw herself into his arms, clutching onto him with all her strength. Paul caught her instinctively, his arms wrapping around her as he dropped to one knee. His breath hitched as Aisha buried her face into his chest, her small frame shaking.

"You're back...!" she sobbed, gripping onto him tighter. "I thought—I thought I'd never see you again!"

Paul held her close, his expression softening as he rested his hand on the back of her head. His shoulders, tense from battle, slowly relaxed as he closed his eyes. "Aisha... I'm here. I'm here now."

The rest of the group stood in stunned silence, watching the reunion unfold under the flickering firelight.

Then, a slow, mocking clap echoed through the trees.

"Aww, what a touching family reunion!" a voice sneered from the darkness. "It warms my cold, dead heart to be able to witness it personally. No novel could ever top the real thing."

Immediately, everyone tensed, weapons drawn. But Ghislaine was the most on edge. Her instincts screamed danger, something beyond the assassins. She yanked off her eyepatch, her Demon Eye scanning the area—but whatever lurked beyond the fire's reach was unlike anything she had seen before.

Though the most composed member of the group, Paul was still furious. His voice was sharp with anger.

"You had me continue that ridiculous training while knowing assassins were after them?!" he barked.

The voice chuckled. "Hey, it's not my mother-in-law who goes batshit crazy. Be glad I warned you in the first place." Then, after a brief pause, it added, "Besides, look to your left."

Paul hesitated but did as instructed. His eyes widened when they landed on a pair of familiar ears and an exposed chest.

"Wait… Ghislaine?" he muttered, dumbfounded.

As he continued to survey his surroundings before setting Aisha down, he even spotted another member of his old party, Talhand of the Clifftop, and Roxy Migurdia, his son's former teacher—someone he hadn't considered at all when Kagami mentioned that some of his friends were coming.

"Even if I hadn't told you," the voice continued, "your little solo slaughter spree wasn't necessary with her and the others here. My motivational words must've worked too well if you went all rampage on those assassins."

"YOU SON OF A—"

"Paul!" Lilia's voice cut through his rage. "What is happening? Who is behind this voice?"

Paul forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to formulate a response. But before he could, the voice spoke up again.

"Apologies for not introducing myself first. My name is Kagami, and some of you may know me as the masked man with the feathered hat. I'm a demon from a tribe of sentient slimes. I have been living inside little Rudeus's body for most of his life." The voice was almost casual, as if discussing the weather.

"My goal is to create a god no one can defeat. And after 600 years of searching and waiting, I've finally found my perfect specimen. Rudeus Greyrat, the soon-to-be Magic God."

"What?!"

Paul's fury reignited. To him, this was no different from some noble exploiting his son for power—using his talent for their own gain. His grip on his weapon tightened.

"Anyway," Kagami continued, as if their rage was nothing more than a minor inconvenience, "just go back to Millishion and wait for me to finish my work. Should take about a month or two."

"Wait a minute!" Ghislaine growled, her hair bristling. "What about Rudeus and Eris?! You promised you'd tell us where they are!"

"That would have been the case if you had stayed with Phillip and Hilda," Kagami replied coolly. "I had to check up on them between my work, delaying my plans even more than they already were."

"This is bullshit!" Ghislaine snapped. "You specifically chose the word 'recommend'! That means I was allowed to choose!"

"And your choice put a lot more work on my plate," Kagami said, unimpressed. "And might I remind you, Rudeus is the one who needs rescuing, not Eris?"

"How the hell am I supposed to trust a trash bag like you?!" Ghislaine snarled. "If I find you, I'll cut you in half."

"Joke's on you," Kagami said with a smirk in their voice. "I made myself immortal. So… tough luck killing something gelatinous."

A tense silence followed Kagami's words, the weight of their declaration settling over the camp like a suffocating fog. The flickering fire cast eerie shadows across the weary travelers, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the face of this unexpected confrontation.

Paul tightened his grip on his sword, his jaw clenched in barely restrained fury. "You expect us to just stand by while you toy with my son's fate?"

Kagami let out an exaggerated sigh. "Paul, Paul, Paul… You make it sound like I'm some evil mastermind. I mean, sure, I may have manipulated a few things, but let's not get dramatic. You should be thanking me!" Heyelled out. "Without my interventions, you would never be able to save your son and instead die trying."

Roxy's gaze sharpened, her fingers twitching near her staff. "And yet, here you are, boasting about your control over him. If you truly had his best interests in mind, why keep us in the dark?"

A soft chuckle echoed through the trees. "Because none of you would have understood. The things I've seen… the future he is destined for. Rudeus' role in this world is greater than you'd think. I had to ensure he was ready." Kagami's voice turned playful again. "Besides, I didn't think you'd all get so worked up over a little detour."

Ghislaine bared her teeth. "You act like you're untouchable, but nothing is invincible. I'll find a way to carve through whatever Magic you think makes you immortal."

"Oh, Ghislaine," Kagami purred, their voice dripping with amusement. "That's what I love about you. Always so… direct. It's honestly refreshing."

Lilia, who had remained quiet, finally stepped forward. Her expression was calm. "If you truly care about Rudeus, you will tell us where he is."

A pause. Then Kagami sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you a little hint. But only because Lilia asked so nicely."

A low hum vibrated through the air, almost like a pulse of energy rippling through the surroundings. The fire flickered violently before steadying, and a faint whisper curled through the wind—a single phrase spoken with an eerie weight:

"The Labyrinth's name Rudeus is trapped in is... White Fire Coffin."

Silence.

Roxy frowned, exchanging glances with Paul and Ghislaine. "I've never heard of such a labyrinth."

Talhand stroked his beard, deep in thought. "Neither have I. And I know most of the famous ones."

"That's because it is new and had only recently been evaluated and given a name. It was estimated as S-rank and has a high mortality rate."

"Then where is it?" Paul asked.

But the reply was, "I'll tell you soon."

Ghislaine narrowed her eyes. "Then what's the point of telling us if we have no way of finding it?"

"Oh, you'll find it eventually," Kagami teased. "And when that time comes... I'll be sure to make you ready for it." Their voice took on a sing-song quality before fading into nothingness.

The oppressive energy that had loomed over them vanished, leaving only the sounds of crackling fire and the distant chirping of nocturnal creatures.

For a long moment, no one spoke.

"What now?" Ghislaine asked away, still furious.

Paul exhaled through his nose, his grip on his sword relaxing slightly. "So we wait."

Roxy crossed her arms, frustration evident in her expression. "We have no other choice."

Lilia's gaze remained fixed on the fire. "Then we rest and prepare for whatever may come."

The group exchanged glances before murmuring their agreement. Despite the tension, they knew there was no other choice.

As the fire crackled softly, Aisha remained close to her father, still clutching onto him as if afraid he'd vanish again. Paul gently ran a hand through her hair, his gaze distant as he processed everything that had just transpired.

One thing was clear: whatever awaited them in the White Fire Coffin… they would have to be ready.

A few hours passed in uneasy quiet, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on them. Then—

"Wait… Elinalise is gone!" Ginger's voice cut through the night, panic lacing her words.

The camp stirred instantly, all eyes snapping toward her. "What?" Roxy was the first to react, striding over to the tent where Elinalise had been resting.

Ginger held up a small slip of paper, her hands trembling. "This was left in her place."

Paul snatched the note, his eyes scanning the crude, hastily written words:

'I'm borrowing her for a while.'

His grip on the parchment tightened. The fire crackled behind him, casting long, flickering shadows across his face. He gritted his teeth, his voice low and seething as he uttered the newly acquired name of the man behind the mask.

"Kagami."

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