Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

In the middle of the mountains, a massive wagon, resembling a sealed stone box, moved slowly. Atop the wagon, three figures could be seen: a tall beast woman with silver hair and an eyepatch, sitting cross-legged; a little red-haired girl apparently trying to mimic the woman's posture; and a young beast boy with golden eyes, seemingly in the early stages of adolescence.

If a traveler were to pass by and witness the harmonious scene of the three talking casually, they might find it unbelievable after noticing the enormous dead blue dragon inside the wagon.

"And so, I decided to start training the children of the tribe to defend themselves. I honestly didn't imagine at first that it would grow into something so significant," Rygar explained to them. He was describing the Iron Legion, recounting its beginnings and the frequent attacks by slavers that had pushed him to start the group.

Ghislaine listened without much reaction, while Eris appeared enthralled, finding the story thrilling.

"Almost everyone in the tribe supported it because, at the time, there was real uncertainty about whether the children were safe. But there were also some obstacles," Rygar said, glancing directly at Ghislaine. "Your brother didn't like me much after I started showing wilder traits. Actually, he didn't like you either. Among the Dedoldia tribe, many don't think of you very positively. Did you know that?"

The warrior remained silent, her expression unreadable as she looked away.

"What?!" Eris practically shouted, jumping to her feet with her hands on her hips. "What do you mean they don't think of her positively?!"

Rygar shrugged, maintaining his calm demeanor.

"Many see her as a wild girl who was supposed to be the next leader of the Dedoldia tribe but was irrational and violent. And that's how it was until she was taken by a wandering swordsman passing through the Great Forest. But no one tried to stop him."

"That's ridiculous!" Eris began ranting, as if it were his fault for repeating what he had heard. "Wild? She's amazing! Strong, fast, smart! She taught me how to fight! And… and…" Eris clenched her fists, fuming. "She always comes to help me when I call!"

Ghislaine finally turned to face them, her single visible red eye resting on Eris.

"They're not wrong, Eris."

The simple statement hit the girl like a bucket of cold water, and her eyes widened.

"What? What do you mean?"

"When I was a child, I was violent," Ghislaine explained with her usual calmness. "I fought everyone, even my younger brother. I respected no one. I'd pick fights over anything. I barely learned to speak the Beast God's language."

Eris blinked, confused, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process this.

"But… but Ghislaine is the most incredible person I know!"

Rygar intervened just in time. "It wasn't her fault she was so wild. It wasn't something she could control."

Ghislaine raised an eyebrow slightly, showing the faintest hint of curiosity.

"And why is that?"

He paused for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts, before continuing:

"It's a theory I heard from an elf named Ilya in the Long-Eared Tribe. She had a theory about us, the beast race. She believed that the more talented someone is, the wilder they tend to be in childhood. She personally met a member of the beast race who managed to control their wildness by mastering and manipulating their Touki. She studied later generations and came up with this theory."

He paused, then added, "Looking at your example, I'm even more convinced that this theory is true."

The warrior crossed her arms, studying Rygar with a mix of interest and skepticism.

"Hm… it makes sense to some extent," she murmured, almost to herself.

Eris was just watching, trying to grasp something from the conversation.

Ghislaine tilted her head slightly, scrutinizing Rygar with a sharp gaze. Her red eye seemed to scan him from head to toe, as if searching for something hidden within him.

"You seem to know a thing or two about Touki, Rygar, so you must realize your theory breaks down with you. You said you're only ten years old this year, yet you seem much more rational than I ever was. And you're also more talented with the sword and magic."

Rygar noticed her gaze and gave a small smile before responding:

"Well… let's just say I'm an exception."

Eris narrowed her eyes, now more curious than confused.

"Exception?" Ghislaine pressed.

"When I was younger, I also had a lot of trouble controlling my instincts. Some instances were even worse than yours. I was closer to being a beast than a person," he admitted, averting his gaze. His voice lowered as he recalled those moments. "But I'm also pretty 'rational,' as you said. I sought a solution when I realized I was losing control, and I found one. It was only after reaching the Saint level of swordsmanship that I stopped losing myself."

Ghislaine said nothing, but there was something in her posture that suggested she was reflecting on his words. Her tail swayed slightly, a barely noticeable gesture that Rygar caught.

Eris, on the other hand, crossed her arms and huffed again.

"I didn't understand any of that! But Ghislaine is amazing, right?!"

Rygar chuckled softly, Eris's straightforward sincerity catching him off guard. He nodded.

"Yes, Ghislaine is amazing."

He glanced at the warrior again and noticed a faint smile on her usually stoic face. His gaze lingered momentarily on the large scar running across her exposed abdomen. The question of how she had gotten it almost slipped from his lips, but he held back.

Ghislaine noticed the glance but didn't react. Instead, she turned toward the horizon.

"Let's train, Eris."

Eris excitedly jumped to her feet to join her, while Rygar stayed behind to practice his control over Barrier Magic, which had proven to be highly useful as of late. While training, his thoughts drifted to Ghislaine and all the stories that had shaped her life. Ghislaine was a formidable warrior, but behind her strength lay much that he still wanted to understand.

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The fresh mountain breeze caressed Rygar's face as he took in the surrounding landscape. They were on a dirt road, surrounded by towering rock formations and cliffs dotted with low vegetation. In the distance, snow-capped peaks stood out against a bright blue sky almost devoid of clouds. The constant sound of wind echoed between the stones, creating a peaceful atmosphere despite the grueling journey. Rygar, his eyes fixed ahead, guided the large stone cart he had created himself. The weight of the dead mutant dragon it carried was immense, but his magic made the task seem effortless.

Atop the cart, Eris practiced with an improvised stone sword, striking the air with determined, repetitive movements. Ghislaine stood nearby, observing her with a serious expression, occasionally correcting her posture with brief instructions. Rygar glanced at the scene and sighed.

'She's really training hard...' he thought. 'Ghislaine told me Eris has always enjoyed sword training, but ever since they left the blue dragon cave, her dedication has intensified. Ghislaine thinks it's because of me—being only a year older and already a Sword Saint—but I'm not so sure...'

He diverted his gaze to his own hands as he tried to form a small whirlwind, experimenting with the wind flow to create a perfect vortex. The magic danced between his fingers, but the vortex lost control. He sighed again, letting it dissipate into the air.

After spending some time with Eris, it was easy to understand her personality. She was a typical tsundere—someone who struggled to express feelings directly and used aggression or violence as a way of communicating. Yet her actions spoke louder than her words. From Ghislaine's accounts, it was likely that the near-death experience in the cave had left her with a sense of helplessness.

'That's understandable. But now… maybe my presence has given her hope that she, too, can become as strong as me.'

He looked back at Eris, who continued to strike the air ferociously. Ghislaine corrected her grip on the sword, and the girl grumbled something unintelligible before adjusting her stance. Rygar allowed a faint smile to cross his lips.

'Maybe it's a mix of everything,' he pondered. 'She wants to overcome what happened in the cave and doesn't want to be a burden to Ghislaine again. But she also wants to surpass me. That's not a bad thing. Strength is never wasted in this world. And her fierce personality… I haven't met another nine-year-old who wouldn't have had their spirit crushed after being surrounded by dragons.'

As he mused, the sound of swift footsteps echoed along the road. The noise grew louder, and Rygar immediately recognized the rhythm. He smiled and leaped lightly from the cart, halting the vehicle with a simple gesture. The ground beneath it shifted to stabilize the load.

A dark figure appeared among the rocks. A large wolf with ebony fur raced toward him with elegance and agility. Its amber eyes gleamed with excitement as it leapt directly at Rygar, who greeted it with a soft laugh. Skoll was imposing, with a muscular frame and a glossy coat that shimmered under the mountain sun. The wolf licked Rygar's face, and he responded by stroking its head.

"You're getting big, huh, Skoll?" Rygar commented as he tried to push the wolf off him. "Soon I'll need to find another way to bring you into the city."

Eris and Ghislaine descended from the cart to watch the wolf. Eris's eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at Skoll, almost bouncing with enthusiasm.

"Rygar! Can I pet him?" Eris asked, trying to contain her excitement, though not very successfully.

Rygar chuckled. "Only if he lets you." He turned to the wolf and made a silent signal, seeking its permission. Skoll tilted his head for a moment, as if considering the idea, before approaching Eris cautiously. She carefully extended her hand and touched his soft fur. Her eyes lit up even more, and a wide smile spread across her face.

Ghislaine, however, remained quiet. Her expression was serene, but her eyes betrayed a slight wariness as she observed the wolf. Despite her trust in Rygar, Skoll was still a wild and powerful creature. She crossed her arms and gave a slight nod, acknowledging the bond between the boy and the animal.

"This is Skoll," Rygar introduced. "He's my companion. I found him attacking a slave market, and he's followed me ever since."

Eris looked fascinated. "Do you have more like him?!"

Rygar laughed again, stroking the wolf. "Unfortunately, the others already have owners. We might need to find him a mate if we want more like him."

As Eris continued to admire the wolf, Rygar glanced around. The mountainous landscape seemed even more beautiful under the sunlight. The tranquility of the moment contrasted sharply with the challenges they had faced in the dragon cave. He took a deep breath, savoring the crisp, fresh air filling his lungs.

Skoll's arrival meant they were close to the Brightstone Forge.

Ghislaine now walked alongside the cart, her vigilant posture unchanged, while Eris laughed gleefully as she played with Skoll, who bounded and twisted with youthful energy, trying to reach her on top of the vehicle.

Rygar smiled lightly as he watched Skoll enjoying himself. He sometimes forgot the wolf was still a pup, brimming with energy. Moreover, it seemed like the first time he had seen Eris act like a normal nine-year-old girl.

Soon, the Brightstone Forge came into view along the mountainside, marked by a massive stone-carved entrance flanked by eternal torches that burned with steady flames. Rygar slowed the cart and carefully parked it, dispersing the magic propelling it.

"We're here," he said as he hopped to the ground. Skoll was already circling them, full of energy.

As they walked toward the cavern entrance, Ghislaine approached and asked, "Why exactly do you want to embed a magic stone in your sword?" Her tone was curious but firm.

Rygar looked at her, choosing his words carefully. "I want my sword to function like a staff," he explained. "My fighting style combines swordsmanship and magic in combat. My magic master, Verdia, gave me this sword, which can withstand extreme heat—a trait that's already proven very useful. I can only imagine what I could do with an integrated casting focus."

Ghislaine merely nodded silently, absorbing the explanation as her eyes returned to scanning the path ahead. Rygar noticed that she seemed to weigh every word carefully before responding, a trait he found intriguing. Meanwhile, Eris continued playing with Skoll.

Rygar advanced toward the entrance of the cave and knocked on the massive wooden door reinforced with metal. He waited a few moments, the sound of his heartbeat echoing off the surrounding rocks.

In his mind, he wondered about the dwarf Fortwind. "Did he return to the dwarven city? I think we stayed in the blue dragon cave longer than planned... Maybe they assumed I had died."

His thoughts were interrupted as the door swung open with a loud bang, and a powerful laugh echoed from the small yet imposing figure of Brightstone.

"I knew it! I knew you could do it! Hahahaha!" exclaimed the dwarf, his broad smile nearly disappearing beneath his thick beard.

Rygar allowed a faint smile as he pulled the blue dragon's magical stone from his bag. Brightstone almost snatched it from his hands, his eyes sparkling with fascination as he immediately began examining it, muttering to himself while performing various quick tests using tools pulled from his pockets.

As the dwarf worked, Rygar gave him a sharp look.

"Your magical concealment items were incredibly useful. The battle would have been much harder without them. And for the dwarves... it would have been almost impossible, even with those items to help."

Brightstone paused for a moment, letting out a short chuckle.

"Things of the past, boy, things of the past..." he said before glancing at Ghislaine for the first time. His eyes gleamed with curiosity as he asked,

"And who's the musclehead? Your wife?"

Rygar blinked, surprised by the question, and glanced at Ghislaine briefly before responding,

"No, I saved her in a blue dragon cave, actually. It's a long story... And I'm only 10 years old, you know?"

The dwarf just laughed and returned to examining the magical stone. After a few minutes, Brightstone seemed satisfied and stood up.

"I'll start working on your sword immediately. Don't bother me."

Before retreating, he cast a glance at Ghislaine's waist, where her sword, Hiramune, was sheathed.

"That one for sale?"

Ghislaine remained expressionless, and her response was curt and direct:

"No."

The dwarf chuckled lightly.

"What a serious woman..."

Rygar then said,

"I'm taking the dragon's carcass and having a feast with Godbard. You don't want to join us?"

"No, I don't like parties, nor am I welcome among those hypocrites," he grumbled as he began to work.

Rygar left the sword and the magical stone with Brightstone and returned to the wagon.

Ghislaine commented,

"What an eccentric person. Tallhand was eccentric too. Are all dwarves like this?"

Rygar chuckled softly.

"Everyone has their quirks."

As they returned to the dwarven city, Eris was riding Skoll, who leapt between peaks and cliffs with boundless energy. It was a scene of pure childhood joy, something that stood in stark contrast to the recent battles and hardships.

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