Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

-Third Point of View-

The silence in the room felt suffocating.

Paul stared at Luciel, his expression unreadable—yet there was something in his eyes that couldn't be ignored.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he finally spoke.

"During your journey… did you look for your mother?"

Luciel blinked, caught off guard by the question.

His mind immediately raced—

"Is this really a question you ask an eight-year-old child?"

Did Paul not understand how difficult their journey had been?

Luciel took a deep breath, pushing down the irritation rising within him.

Then, in a calm but firm tone, he answered.

"Dad… how could I have searched for Mom when my first priority was keeping Norn and Aisha alive?"

Paul flinched slightly, his expression shifting, but he remained silent.

Luciel continued.

"It's not that I didn't think about anyone else. But at that time, my focus had to be on them. I had to make sure they survived… so we could reunite like this."

His words weren't a defense. They were simply the truth.

But for Paul, the truth was too bitter to accept.

And within seconds—

BANG!

Paul slammed his fist against the table, the impact echoing through the room.

Luciel didn't flinch.

He remained seated, calm, watching as his father clenched his jaw, his entire body tense with barely contained rage.

And before Luciel could react further—

Paul grabbed him by the collar.

"You…" Paul's voice was heavy, shaking with emotion. "You can say that so easily?"

Luciel remained silent.

Paul's exhausted, furious, and desperate eyes bore into him.

The eyes of a man who had lost everything.

He needed someone to blame.

And right now, Luciel was the only one in front of him.

But—

Luciel didn't show an ounce of fear.

He was not a child who would cry when scolded.

His voice remained steady as he spoke again.

"Dad… you were the one who taught me to survive."

"You were the one who told me that in desperate times, I need to prioritize what's most important."

"So why are you angry at me… for doing the exact same thing?"

Paul froze.

His grip on Luciel's collar was still firm, but his hand trembled.

Luciel met his gaze without wavering.

"I know you want to find Mom."

"I know you feel guilty for not saving anyone yet."

"But does that mean you can take out your anger on me?"

"Just because I didn't do what you wanted?"

"Or because I'm not Rudeus?"

It was a direct strike to Paul's heart.

His grip loosened.

His eyes widened, as if those words had pierced deeper than he expected.

He realized—

Luciel was right.

He was still being selfish. Still acting like a fool.

And worse—

He was trying to dump his frustration onto his son.

Paul took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.

But before he could fully regain control—

His hand moved.

BAM!

A solid punch landed on Luciel's cheek.

Luciel was knocked to the side, nearly falling off his chair.

The room fell into a dead silence.

Paul stared at his own fist, as if unable to believe what he had just done.

Luciel didn't yell.

Didn't cry.

He simply rubbed his stinging cheek… and let out a quiet chuckle.

A chuckle that sounded more like mockery.

"Hah… So you still prefer using your fists over your brain, huh?"

Paul remained silent, guilt flooding his face.

But Luciel wasn't finished.

"If that makes you feel better… go ahead.

"If hitting me makes you feel like you haven't completely failed as a father… go ahead."

Paul's breath hitched.

Those words cut through him like a blade.

Shame. Regret. Self-hatred.

It all swirled inside him.

He wasn't just a failure as a father.

He had just struck his own son because he couldn't accept the truth.

And finally—

Paul could only lower his head, burying his face in his hands as he let out a long, shaky sigh.

Luciel watched him with an indescribable expression.

He wasn't angry.

Just… disappointed.

###

Paul's tight grip on Luciel's collar had yet to loosen. His emotions were uncontrolled, raw, and teetering on the edge of violence.

And just as the heavy silence threatened to explode again—

"ONII-CHAN!!"

A child's voice pierced through the tension like a blade.

Paul's entire body froze as he whipped his head toward the door.

Standing in the entrance—

Norn and Aisha.

Their faces were filled with shock and fear.

But they weren't alone.

Behind them, standing tall with an unreadable expression, was Ruijerd.

His piercing gaze scanned the room, taking in everything in an instant.

Paul's tightened fists.

Luciel seated on the floor, his cheek reddened from a fresh blow.

And the horrible truth behind what had just happened.

Ruijerd understood.

Instantly.

The scene before him… was something he had witnessed far too many times in his life.

A father who had succumbed to his own weakness.

A child who had endured something no child should.

Aisha, with no hesitation, rushed toward Luciel, immediately kneeling beside him.

"Onii-chan! Are you okay?!"

Her small hands trembled as they cupped Luciel's bruised cheek, checking his injuries with teary eyes.

Meanwhile, Norn stood frozen at the door.

Her eyes were locked onto Paul.

But it wasn't a look of joy.

Not the eyes of a daughter seeing her father again.

No.

It was a look that could not be described.

A look filled with disappointment.

Paul's entire body turned cold.

"Norn… Aisha… They weren't supposed to see this."

He tried to speak, to explain, to justify.

But before he could—

"WHY DID YOU HIT ONII-CHAN?!"

Aisha's furious scream rang through the room.

Paul flinched, physically recoiling at the sheer anger in her voice.

And then—

Norn finally moved.

She stepped forward.

Her expression remained emotionless.

And when she spoke, her voice was colder than Paul had ever heard before.

"You're… disappointing."

Paul's breath hitched.

"Norn… No, you don't understand, I just— I lost control for a moment!"

His words sounded weak even to himself.

And none of them accepted that excuse.

"Lost control?" Norn repeated, her voice sharp with disbelief. "You lost control… on your own son?"

Paul had no response.

Aisha clutched onto Luciel's arm, holding him as if afraid he would disappear.

"You said you were looking for us…" Aisha's voice wavered, tears forming in her eyes. "But if this is what happens when we find you… I'd rather have stayed lost."

Paul's heart shattered.

His hands clenched, his knuckles turning white.

"Aisha, don't say that! I—"

"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!" Aisha screamed. "YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER! MY FATHER WOULD NEVER HURT ONII-CHAN LIKE THIS!!"

Paul staggered.

And then—

Norn delivered the final blow.

"You're not my father."

Paul's world collapsed.

"W-what…?" he whispered.

Norn stared straight at him.

"The father I knew wouldn't do this."

"The father I knew was supposed to protect his family, not hurt them."

"So… I don't know you."

"And I don't want to know you."

Paul felt light-headed.

It was as if the ground beneath him had vanished.

Everything he had been fighting for—

The guilt, the endless search, the desperation—

It had all led him to this moment.

And the ones he loved the most…

Had just rejected him.

Amidst the heavy silence, Luciel sighed softly.

Unlike his siblings, his expression wasn't filled with rage.

It was filled with understanding.

And yet, that didn't make it any less painful.

"This is what you get, Paul."

"This is what happens when you let your weakness control you."

But instead of letting the situation spiral further, Luciel did something that stunned everyone.

He smiled.

A small, knowing smile.

"That's enough, Norn-chan. You too, Aisha-chan."

Both sisters turned toward him, their expressions still filled with disappointment.

But Luciel remained calm.

"Whatever happens, he's still our father."

Norn and Aisha hesitated.

Luciel continued.

"And besides…" His tone softened. "You weren't supposed to be here. Didn't I warn you not to follow me?"

His words weren't scolding.

Just understanding.

But it was enough to make Norn and Aisha fall silent.

In the corner of the room, Paul's companions who had witnessed everything remained speechless.

An eight-year-old child was handling this situation with more maturity than the grown man who was supposed to be his father.

Behind them, Ruijerd finally spoke.

"Forgive me, Luciel."

Luciel turned to him, his expression still calm.

"I brought them here to find you because I wasn't sure if this place was safe. Given what's happened to you before… I couldn't take any risks."

Luciel nodded.

He understood.

"That's fine."

Luciel let out a slow breath before gently patting Aisha's head.

She was still visibly upset, but she didn't resist his touch.

Then, he did the same to Norn.

She hesitated for a moment—

But in the end, she didn't pull away.

Even if she was angry…

Even if she was hurt…

Deep inside, she still wanted to trust Luciel.

After ensuring his sisters had calmed down slightly, Luciel turned toward Paul.

Paul still sat in complete silence.

His head lowered.

His body trembling slightly.

The weight of everything that had just happened crushing down on him.

Luciel's voice was gentle as he spoke.

"Dad…"

Paul slowly looked up.

His eyes were filled with guilt.

But in Luciel's tone, there was no hatred.

Only truth.

"I'm taking Norn and Aisha away for now."

"Cool your head."

"I'll meet you again tomorrow. Same place. Same time."

Luciel's words weren't a request.

They were a decision.

Paul didn't respond.

But strangely, he felt a small sense of relief.

Luciel turned to Norn and Aisha.

"Let's go."

Though still reluctant, both girls followed their brother.

Before leaving, Luciel glanced toward Ruijerd.

Ruijerd gave him a small nod.

A silent promise.

Luciel understood.

With that—

They left.

And Paul remained.

Alone.

Sitting in the wreckage of his own mistakes.

Trying to understand how everything had come to this.