Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Rudeus felt a strong grip on his collar pulling him backward. The force yanked him just in time, and Eris's slap landed harmlessly in the air where his face had been moments before.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Rudeus turned, about to voice his gratitude, but Roy's sharp glare stopped him in his tracks.

Truthfully, Roy had no idea how to handle this problem child. Yet, here he was, tasked with becoming her tutor.

After all, Paul's arrangement for him to train under Ghislaine wasn't without strings attached. For Ghislaine to accept Paul's request, Paul had to agree to hers in return.

Roy sighed inwardly. Dealing with a headstrong young lady like Eris, meeting force with force was undoubtedly the wrong choice—at least for now. But bowing and scraping before her wasn't an option either. That wouldn't just leave Roy dissatisfied; it would also be utterly pointless. Eris, with her personality, would only see such behavior as her due.

Eris's fiery red eyes locked onto Roy, brimming with defiance. "Are you sure you want to interfere?"

Roy let out another sigh. This girl was their benefactor's daughter, after all. Inhaling deeply to steady himself, Roy replied evenly, "Eris, please don't hold a grudge against Rudeus."

Eris's expression remained furious, her petite frame bristling with anger. Had she been taller, Roy had no doubt she would have charged at him by now.

Watching her glower at him, Roy suddenly reached out and patted her head.

He tried to project a benevolence, hoping to subdue her spirit. For a moment, Eris froze, staring up at him in stunned disbelief.

Roy offered what he thought was a warm smile and said, "Eris, enough of this. Be good and focus on your lessons."

Before he could finish, Eris's fist came flying toward his stomach.

Roy's smile froze slightly, but he made no move to dodge. To his mild surprise, Eris packed quite a punch—stronger than he'd expected. Her strength was easily five times that of Rudeus.

Still, compared to Roy's own power, which was more like fifty times Rudeus's, her efforts were negligible.

He instinctively channeled a thin layer of mana to shield the point of impact, rendering Eris's punch completely ineffective, like an itch barely worth scratching.

Eris, on the other hand, recoiled sharply. Her hand throbbed as if she'd punched solid stone. Pulling it back, she noticed her knuckles were already red and swollen, and her eyes glistened faintly with unshed tears.

Roy sighed deliberately, reaching out again to pat her head. Eris dodged instinctively, but Roy's hand landed on her fiery red hair with unerring precision.

As his fingers gently ran through her soft locks, he said once more, "Eris, trust me. I'll make you stronger. I promise I won't let you down."

Eris swatted his hand away, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "I don't care about getting stronger! Just leave me alone!"

A small, knowing smile tugged at the corner of Roy's lips. Eris probably didn't realize it, but her reaction was a clear sign that she had no way of truly dealing with him.

Had it been one of the household staff, they might have cowered in fear of her status.

Had it been Rudeus, he likely would've bent over backward to avoid her wrath—after all, a careless word might result in her chasing him around the house.

But Roy? Did he look like someone who could be intimidated by her?

Not in the slightest.

In truth, Philip had anticipated this dynamic.

He had, in fact, harbored hopes that Roy might be able to discipline Eris to some extent.

As long as Roy and his group didn't go overboard, Philip was more than willing to turn a blind eye to their methods.

"Eris..." Roy said casually, "Since I'll be your teacher, make sure to find me after your swordsmanship lesson tomorrow morning. Actually, knowing you, expecting you to come find me might be unrealistic. I'll come to you instead."

Eris huffed, dismissing him with a sharp turn of her head. She stormed off without another word, but not before throwing Rudeus a withering glare.

Rudeus blinked in confusion.

What did I do? Why are you glaring at me?

Roy stifled a yawn and turned his gaze to Philip, shrugging nonchalantly. "Well, you saw that. I think my part of the job is done."

"Oh?" Philip replied, arching a brow but offering no further comment.

Shifting his attention to Rudeus, he added, "Your task, however, might still be far from over. I hope you both manage to live up to expectations."

With a wave of his hand, Philip summoned the butler standing nearby. "Prepare rooms for the two of them. Make sure they each get a proper guest room."

The butler bowed slightly toward Roy and Rudeus. "This way, please."

Roy followed without much thought, hands in his pockets, as the butler led them out of the room.

As they climbed the stairs and moved deeper into the house, Roy glanced around casually, growing increasingly impressed.

So this is what it means to come from an influential family, the wealth and heritage are practically dripping off the walls.

The grandeur of the mansion was undeniable. Ornate carvings adorned every corner, and the second-floor hallway featured plush red carpets that felt soft and luxurious underfoot.

The butler gestured toward the farthest door down the hall. "That will be your room, Sir Roy."

Then, pointing to the second-to-last door, he added, "And this one is yours, Sir Rudeus."

He retrieved two keys from his pocket and handed one to each of them.

Roy nodded in acknowledgment, casting a sidelong glance at his younger brother. "Well, Rudeus, see you tomorrow."

"Oh."

Rudeus nodded back, muttering an absent-minded as he headed to his room.

Though their rooms were adjacent, the spacing was generous, ensuring a significant gap between the two.

Inserting the key into the lock, Roy pushed open the door to reveal a spacious and immaculately clean bedroom.

A massive bed nearly two meters wide dominated the space along one wall, with crisp white linens already in place. The wooden floors gleamed, and the room smelled faintly of fresh polish. Beside the bed stood a nightstand, perfectly aligned, with an oil lamp mounted on the wall above.

In the corner sat a sturdy desk, its surface completely bare but polished to a shine.

Roy scanned the room, appreciating the simplicity yet undeniable quality of the furnishings. It was easily twice the size of the large bedroom he had back home. The window provided a clear view of the manicured lawn outside, completing the room's charm.

Not bad.

Stepping back into the hallway, Roy flagged down the butler and listed the additional items he needed for the room.

The butler nodded efficiently, relaying the instructions to a maid standing nearby.

The perks of dealing with a noble family.

Roy mused as he watched the well-oiled operation unfold. It wasn't long before a cat-eared beastfolk maid arrived, carrying fresh bedding in her arms.

After that, Roy was busy unpacking his belongings, methodically sorting through each item in his bag.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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