Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and Romance!

Rudeus looked more troubled than ever after Allen's words.

All he could feel was a surge of sour jealousy. They only met once on the road, and yet somehow it seemed like Roxy had told Allen everything.

No… this can't go on. I have to work hard over these next two months. Even if I can't beat Allen, I need to at least make it look like I can hold my own. That way, if Roxy ever sees us again, she won't… shift her affections. Not that she has any to begin with…

Allen, clearly impatient, interrupted his thoughts.

"Well? You still have enough mana, right?"

Rudeus pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I do... but are you sure this will really spark her interest in magic?"

At that, Allen turned to Sylphiette, his face unusually serious.

"I'm absolutely certain your magic talent surpasses anything you could achieve with a sword. That's why we've been trying so hard to get you to study it. Maybe what we just showed wasn't impressive enough—but the spell you're about to see now? It's powerful enough to change the very fabric of nature itself. This is the highest-level spell Rudeus knows. Watch carefully."

Sylphiette blinked, eyes wide as she looked at Allen's expression.

"A-actually, if Allen really thinks I don't have a talent for swordsmanship, then learning magic is fine too. I'm not picky—since you two are thinking of me, I—"

Before she could finish, Allen was already standing, brushing off her words and turning to Rudeus with great enthusiasm.

"Come on, Rudy! It's time we all witness the legend of the Saint-tier spell!"

Rudeus twitched.

Dude, just admit you're the one who wants to see it!

Still, despite the internal complaints, Rudeus couldn't help but feel a strange sense of pride when he saw the excited gleam in Allen's eyes—the same Allen who had overwhelmed him just moments ago.

[Cumulonimbus Thunderstorm] wasn't just a spell to Rudeus.

It was a defining moment in his bond with Roxy.

It marked the turning point—the unshackling of his fears and the beginning of his growth.

It was courage reborn, the resolve to begin again.

It was also…

The scene of a certain stolen pair of panties.

Ahem. Ahem. Alright, I'll do him this one favor—for the shrine and the secrets he's kept.

Rudeus thought briefly of the relic enshrined at the foot of his bed. Then, raising both hands, he created a dirt bunker to shield Allen and Sylphiette before running down the hill.

"Be sure to chant every word! Don't skip a single line!"

Allen's voice rang out from the top of the hill like a fanboy at a concert, waving his arms in excitement.

Rudeus pulled out the charm Roxy had given him—the three interlocked metal spears glinted under the sun.

Watch closely, Allen. This is proof of all the precious things Roxy gave me.

He took a deep breath, raised his arms to the sky, and began chanting, word by word, with absolute focus and reverence.

"O mighty spirit of water—son of the thunderous sky, ascended to the vault of the heavens!"

Above, clouds swirled and gathered, blotting out the searing sun, casting shadows over the hilltop.

"Grant my wish! Deliver your violent blessing, and let us—small as we are—bear witness to your might!"

The gentle breeze was gone.

It had become a fierce wind, whipping Allen and Sylphiette's hair. To Allen, even the wild grass seemed to bow down before the small figure below, as if kneeling in reverence.

"Strike the divine anvil with your hammer of storms—show us your wrath! Let the flood cover the land!"

The sky pressed down in heavy silence. All clouds had transformed into deep, ominous thunderheads. Lightning crackled faintly inside.

Allen was practically vibrating with excitement, eyes wide, grabbing Sylphiette's hand without thinking.

Sylphiette was already frozen in awe. She glanced down at their linked hands—his palm was sweaty.

As Rudeus neared the end of his chant, the clouds above gathered like tangible shadows.

"Rain! Wash away all things, and banish the world anew!"

"[Cumulonimbus Thunderstorm]!"

The thunderclouds paused for one still, breathless moment—

Then the sky exploded in sound.

Sheets of rain slammed into the ground with a deafening roar that echoed across the hill. Lightning twisted and danced within the clouds, crackling like living beasts.

In the blinding flash of white light, Allen saw Rudeus's small figure—arms outstretched, head tilted back, smiling with pure, unrestrained joy.

No fear.

No hesitation.

This was his domain—his magic.

And the mark of his existence in this world.

[You have triggered Rudeus's "Cry to the Sky."]

[Major Milestone Event Participation Score increased.]

[Current Phase: Childhood | Total Score: 60 points]

[Congratulations, Host. You have reached a passing grade for the Childhood Phase. Advanced event participation now unlocked. Strive for full marks to receive bonus rewards.]

Allen barely registered the system's words.

He was too focused on the boy below, grinning from the center of a storm.

And for the first time—

Allen smiled purely from the heart.

...

The rain came down hard and fast.

By the time Rudeus scrambled back up the hill, the dirt bunker had long since collapsed into a muddy landslide, soaking both Allen and Sylphiette from head to toe. Rudeus tried to rebuild the wall mid-storm, but the rain just kept washing it into slop.

Allen grabbed them both and hauled them back toward the Greyrat house before Rudeus could even start the spell to dispel the clouds.

He explained that it would take too long, and instead channeled his battle aura to flee the downpour at full speed.

Sure enough, the moment they returned, they were met with a furious Paul and a lecture worthy of three drowned rats.

They were covered in mud head to toe.

Lilia immediately went to boil hot water and set up a washbasin in Rudeus's room. She bowed and stepped out afterward, leaving them to clean up. Since the bath water was limited and the only bathroom was occupied (Zenith was somehow taking a bath at midday), they followed the usual routine: basin baths in the bedroom.

Rudeus and Lilia usually left the main bath to Paul and Zenith at night.

Allen, still shirtless, glanced at Lilia, who seemed unusually shaky. Probably just tired, he figured. So he politely suggested she go rest and help Zenith later with lunch prep.

Still—

As he stood staring into the bubbling pot of water, something kept tugging at his mind.

Something important.

Allen scratched his head.

"Something feels off... The duel was fine, I saw the legendary spell, Sylph and Rudy are off bathing like normal… Wait—"

His eyes went wide.

"Oh no. I forgot about that part of the plot!"

"Wait wait wait—this butterfly effect again?! Rudy hasn't realized Sylph is a girl yet! Don't tell me he's gonna… pull her pants down or something?! That kind of weird, pervy development can't happen now! They've only known each other a day! That would just tank his favorability score!"

"No way, Rudy wouldn't do something that dumb—"

"AAAAAAAH!!!"

A scream pierced the air from upstairs. Sylphiette.

Allen dropped the ladle and bolted for the stairs.

In a flash, he reached Rudy's room and slammed the door open—

Only for a chill to run straight through him.

Too late.

From inside, Rudeus shouted excitedly:

"Sylph! Watch closely! This is how Allen does it—uh, wait…"

Inside, Sylphiette's clothes were still neat and untouched. She stood stock-still, eyes wide as saucers, staring at the intruding Allen.

Then a deep blush crawled up her ears as she whirled around and pressed herself against the wall, hands clamped over her ears.

Allen swallowed hard and looked down.

At Rudeus.

Squatting by the door, triumphant.

Looking up at him—completely still.

And—

A proud shadow cast across his own face.

Allen, having sprinted up using full [Dragon-Saint Aura], was thoroughly blood-charged.

And mortified.

[...]

[Host appears to be intimidating Rudeus Greyrat. Continued behavior may result in complete loss of affection points.]

[Please act with caution.]