Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and Romance!

A one-day time limit after activation… Let's hold off for now. I need to think it through.

The interface faded.

Allen looked over at Rudeus, who was currently holding his sacred relic up to his face, nose nearly pressed against it in deep reverence. Allen quickly interrupted his ritual.

"But when you go out scouting the terrain from now on, take me with you."

Rudeus paused, glancing at him sideways.

"Teacher, are you interested in plants too?"

Allen pointed a finger at his own face, enunciating slowly and clearly.

"I told you—I want to be your friend."

Then, catching sight of Rudeus's dumbfounded expression, he turned and walked out the door.

Rudeus stared after him.

A friend, huh…

Come to think of it, this guy Allen did seem more mature than the other kids around here. Maybe they could actually have something to talk about. He probably was the emotionally needy type too… Paul definitely seemed to approve of them becoming friends. And honestly, if you set aside his fierce-looking face, Allen was a decently handsome guy—tall and sharp. The type girls would fall for in the future.

If I buddy up with someone like that, maybe I'll get some of the leftover crumbs.

I mean, I'm not exactly good-looking myself, but if I hang around a handsome guy like him, maybe people will see me in a better light too.

Rudeus nodded to himself.

Girls who don't have much self-confidence… those are more my type. Compared to the aggressive, high-energy ones, I prefer girls who are a little insecure—more suited for "training"—no, more like nurturing~.

It could work. Like how pretty girls keep ugly ones around as contrast, I'll just reverse it.

...

Back in his room, Allen collapsed onto the bed and let out a long sigh.

Today had been… chaotic. Completely beyond his control. It confirmed what he'd already suspected—even if you know the plot from the novel, the moment a new person like him gets involved, events can spiral in unexpected directions. Things would never play out exactly like the original.

Still, the main timeline was holding together. As for Sylphiette… should he step in early to rescue White Mom? It hadn't weighed on him too much before, but now that he thought about it—she's being pelted with mud and fists by kids her age every single day. His stomach churned just imagining it.

Her trauma from childhood directly influenced how she would one day overindulge Rudeus—putting up with his harem antics, getting jealous but still helping him manage things peacefully.

Because back then, he was her only light—her only friend in the village.

Allen turned that thought over in his mind while shifting his focus inward to his [Dragon-Saint Aura Seed].

A dull brown rune socket hovered near a glowing green tree-shaped magic rune. The [Detoxification] Magic slot remained empty.

Zenith knows Intermediate Detoxification Magic. She volunteers at the village clinic sometimes. I should try to get that rune from her if I get the chance…

As for Sylphiette… Allen had only spent one night with Roxy and had already caused butterfly effects. Who knew what an early connection with Sylphy might trigger? Would it make it harder for her and Rudeus to eventually separate?

I'll think about it… a little longer.

His consciousness gradually faded, and he slipped into sleep.

...

The sound of flowing water trickled into Allen's ears.

Along with it, the jarring clamor of children shouting.

Allen opened his eyes groggily, disoriented.

The sun was blazing above, its light spilling across the patchwork of farmlands. Birds chirped in the distance. Nearby, kids were yelling.

He turned his head.

The shimmering ripple of a stream flowed right beside his legs.

...Why am I just standing here? Relaxing by the river? Is it the weekend? Did I finish my company work? Why the hell am I out strolling around? I need to get back and clock in—

"Stupid demon kid, get out of our village!"

"Get out, freak!"

"Take this!"

"You missed! Watch me do it right!"

"Got her! Hahaha!"

Cheers erupted.

Allen turned toward the noise.

In the waterlogged fields beside the stream, three mud-covered boys were ganging up on a lone figure crouched at the riverbank.

Wait… I transmigrated. No job. No deadlines. That's right—thank God…

Those three weren't the victims here.

Despite how disheveled they looked, they were the bullies. Covered in mud because they'd literally gone digging into the field to throw dirt.

More yelling rang out.

"Let's aim for the head next!"

"Alright, my turn!"

"Bulls-eye!"

"Boring! Hitting the face is more fun!"

"Yeah! Direct hit! Hahaha!"

"Lame! This little freak won't even fight back."

"Whatever! Let's bounce—see you tomorrow, loser!"

Then, perhaps noticing Allen's tall silhouette, the children scattered and ran back into the village.

Allen stood frozen, mind hazy. He didn't know why he was here—only that something about the scene in front of him felt… painful.

The bullied child was tiny. Caked in mud from head to toe. Sitting dumbly beside the stream like a statue.

Allen cautiously walked forward.

The kid's hair was long, completely plastered with mud. Their face obscured. Beside them sat a small, battered basket—and in it…

Not dirt. It was food. Likely bread. Just entirely ruined by mud.

The child stared at the basket blankly, not reacting to Allen's approach. Their hands were fumbling at their face, but because of how they were hunched, Allen couldn't quite see what they were doing.

On instinct, Allen reached out, wanting to help them up.

But as he stepped toward the water and extended his hand, he caught sight of the river's surface—and froze.

The water was clear.

It reflected a face—smeared with filth.

And its owner was slowly pulling clumps of hair from their mud-caked scalp, stuffing the strands into their palm. Locks fell through trembling fingers, drifting into the current.

On and on it went.

And little by little, as the muddy hairs soaked in the water, they revealed a faint green hue underneath.

Allen's eyes snapped open in realization.

Sylphiette.

"…Don't do that. Sylphy…"

His hand shaking, Allen reached out and gently patted her shoulder. She turned.

Her face was a mess of dried and fresh mud—but her eyes, those reddish-brown eyes, shone through.

Blank. Numb. Hollow.

Allen's throat went dry. He forced the words out.

"…Don't pull your hair like that. It's just covered in dirt—I'll help you wash it."

Sylphiette stared up at him, unmoving. Then she raised her hand, showing him the strands she had just yanked out.

Allen followed her gaze.

The clump of hair in her palm was so tangled and caked in mud it looked black—like dead grass dredged from the riverbank.

She said:

"If I don't wash it… it won't be green anymore."

...

"AH!"

A scream snapped Allen awake.

He bolted upright in bed.

The river was gone—but there was a boy sitting on the floor in front of him.

Allen exhaled slowly. It had been a dream.

"…Seriously? What the hell are you screaming about so early in the morning?"

Rudeus, who had come to wake him, looked stunned—caught mid-sulk after being scolded for something he didn't understand. But there was no question—the scream had come from his mouth.

And the reason was obvious.

He pointed a trembling finger at Allen's hand.

Allen looked down.

His fist was clenched tightly, blood dripping from his palm. Wooden splinters were embedded deep, and a section of the bedframe had been crushed—clearly shattered by a burst of aura triggered in his sleep.

He stared at the injury in silence. Then turned to Rudeus.

"Can [Healing] Magic… fix a bedframe?"

Rudeus looked at his hand, then at the bed.

"…Probably not?"

Allen lowered his gaze.

[Free Real-Time Quest: Gain Sylphiette's Favor – now available.]

[Confirm quest activation? Reminder: The host only has one day. It's best to start after finding Sylphiette. If she's not located today...]

[Confirm activation.]

[Free Real-Time Quest – Gain Sylphiette's Favor – Activated.]

[Quest Start.]

[Sylphiette – Countdown: 23:59:59. Completion will unlock Barrier Magic Rune Slot.]

Allen looked up, holding out his bloodstained, still-clenched hand toward Rudeus.

"…Do you know any [Healing] Magic?"