Mushoku Tensei: the Apostle of God

The task must be completed within 24 hours... I'll set it aside for now and think about it some more.

The panel disappeared.

Allen watched as Rudeus lowered the sacred object in front of his face, almost touching his nose, and quickly interrupted his spellcasting.

"But when you go out to survey the terrain, you have to take me with you."

Rudeus was taken aback and glanced at Allen sideways.

"Teacher, are you interested in plants too?"

Allen pointed at his own face and spoke word by word.

"As I said earlier, it's because I want to be friends with you."

Then, after seeing Rudeus's stunned expression, he turned and left the room.

Rudeus watched Allen's retreating figure.

Friends, huh...

...Come to think of it, this guy named Allen seems more mature than other kids his age. Maybe we'll have some common topics... But he seems like the type who's starved for affection... Paul also seems to approve of him becoming friends with me... And aside from his somewhat intimidating appearance, he's actually quite handsome. He'll definitely be popular with girls in the future. If I become buddies with him, maybe some of the leftovers will come my way...

Even though my looks aren't top-tier, if he's handsome enough, being around him might make me look better by comparison...

Rudeus nodded.

Girls who lack confidence in themselves might see me as a target. Compared to confident, aggressive girls, I actually prefer the more insecure types... They seem easier to... train... no, to nurture~

It could work. Just like how beautiful girls keep less attractive friends around as foils, I'll do the reverse.

——

Allen returned to his bedroom, collapsed on the bed, and let out a sigh.

Today's events were a bit sudden and outside of his control. As expected, even though he had read the novel, adding another person to the mix would inevitably lead to unexpected situations. The plot couldn't unfold exactly as it did in the novel.

Fortunately, the overall direction was still on track. As for Sylphie... should I step in early to save her...? Thinking about it now... she's being bullied every day by her peers, having mud thrown at her, being insulted, and even beaten... It makes my stomach churn...

Her childhood experiences directly led to her later indulgence of Rudeus, even when she was jealous of his harem. She could still put herself in his shoes and help him maintain harmony among his lovers...

All because Rudeus became the light of her childhood... her only friend in the village...

As Allen pondered, he focused his attention on the nascent core of his Dragon Saint Fighting Spirit.

Next to a tree-shaped magic pattern glowing with green light, there was a dull brown groove, empty and unadorned.

The detoxification magic groove... It hasn't been engraved with a magic pattern yet. I remember Zenith knows intermediate detoxification magic and often helps out at the village clinic... I'll try to get the magic pattern when I have the chance...

As for Sylphie... Meeting Roxy for just one night already caused a butterfly effect... If I interact with Sylphie earlier, I wonder if it'll cause any issues... Could it make it even harder for Rudeus and Sylphie to separate?

I'll think about it some more...

As his consciousness gradually blurred, Allen drifted into a dream.

——

The sound of flowing water gently reached Allen's ears.

Mixed with the noise was an unpleasant commotion.

Allen opened his eyes in confusion, feeling disoriented...

The sun was blazing, casting its light over the intersecting fields. Birds chirped incessantly, and the sound of children arguing was right beside him.

He turned his head to look.

The rippling water shimmered like fireflies, and a small river meandered past his legs.

'...What am I doing here... Why am I standing by the river... Am I this relaxed... Is it the weekend...? Did I finish all my work at the company...? I should hurry back and work overtime...'

"Get out of the village, you filthy half-elf!"

"Get out!!"

"Take this!"

"Haha, you missed! My turn!"

"I hit her!"

Cheers erupted.

Allen turned his head in confusion toward the source of the noise. In the rice fields by the river, three mud-covered boys were confronting a boy crouching by the riverbank.

Oh right, I've transmigrated... No more work... How nice... Wait, three people being bullied by one...? No, the three muddy ones are actually the bullies. They're covered in mud because they've been scooping it up to throw...

The shouting started again.

"Now let's see who can hit her head!"

"Yeah, watch me!"

"I got her!"

"Hitting the head is boring, let's aim for her face!"

"Haha, I hit her!"

"Tch, this half-elf brat doesn't even fight back... How boring!"

"Let's go, we'll come back tomorrow~"

Perhaps noticing the tall figure of Allen, the children scattered and ran back toward the village.

Allen felt his mind foggy. He didn't know why he was here, but the scene made his heart ache.

The bullied child was very short, almost completely covered in mud, sitting dumbly by the river.

Allen cautiously approached.

The child's hair was long, completely matted with mud, hiding their face. Beside them was an old basket, its contents covered in mud...

No, not mud. It must have been bread or some other food, now completely ruined.

The child stared blankly at the basket, oblivious to Allen's approaching footsteps. Their hands fumbled in front of their face, but Allen couldn't see what they were doing due to their posture.

Instinctively, Allen wanted to help them up, but as he reached out, his gaze caught the reflection in the river, and his hand froze mid-air.

The water was clear, reflecting a dirty face.

The owner of the face was pulling clumps of mud-covered hair from their head, clutching them in their hands. Occasionally, broken strands fell from their fingers into the river.

The motion repeated over and over, and more and more hair floated on the water's surface.

The strands, washed by the current, gradually revealed their original emerald green color.

Allen snapped out of his daze.

...Sylphie...

"...Stop... Sylphie..."

Allen's hand trembled as he patted her shoulder. Sylphie turned her head.

Her mud-covered face only showed a pair of reddish-brown eyes.

Lifeless, numb, and hollow.

Allen's throat felt dry. He opened his mouth with difficulty.

"...Stop pulling your hair... It's all mud... Let me help you wash it..."

Sylphie stared blankly at Allen, not responding. Instead, she held up the mud-covered hair in her hand.

Allen followed her gaze.

In Sylphie's palm, clumps of hair tangled with mud looked like filthy weeds.

She said,

"...If I don't wash it... the mud covers the green..."

——

"Ah!"

A sharp scream woke Allen, and he jolted upright in bed.

The river was gone, but there was indeed a boy in front of him.

Allen looked at Rudeus, who was sitting on the floor in shock, and let out a sigh of relief.

It was a dream...

"...What's with the screaming so early in the morning?"

Rudeus, who had come to wake Allen up, looked like he'd been wronged. The scream had indeed come from him, but the cause was undoubtedly Allen.

He pointed at Allen's hand.

Allen looked down.

His fist was clenched tightly, and shards of wood were embedded deep in his palm, the wounds almost reaching the bone. A corner of the bed frame had been crushed by the fighting spirit he had unconsciously activated in his dream.

Allen stared at his injured hand in silence for a moment, then turned to Rudeus.

"Can healing magic fix the bed?"

Rudeus looked at Allen's hand, then at the bed, his expression one of disbelief.

"I... don't think so..."

Allen lowered his gaze.

The free instant task—Gain Sylphiette's Favor has been issued.

[Confirm issuance? Please note that the host only has one day. It's best to start the task after meeting Sylphiette, in case you can't find her today...]

Confirm issuance.

[Free instant task—Gain Sylphiette's Favor has been issued.]

[Task begins.]

[Sylphiette: Countdown: 23:59:59. If completed, the Barrier Magic Groove will be unlocked.]

Allen raised his head and looked at Rudeus, placing his bloodied but still clenched fist in front of him.

"Do you know any healing magic, by any chance?"