Mushoku Tensei: the Apostle of God

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Just as Rudeus and Allen locked eyes, the tension between them began to escalate.

Suddenly, a soft sob broke the silence. A small hand reached out from the side, firmly grasping the hilt of Allen's sword. It was Sylphiette, her face streaked with tears as she looked at Allen. She struggled to maintain eye contact, something she usually avoided, and stammered with utmost sincerity,

"A-Allen... we're f-friends... we can't fight... please don't..."

As Allen stared at her in a daze, Sylphiette burst into tears.

Watching this scene unfold, Allen hurriedly sheathed his sword. However, having spent two lifetimes only intimidating children and lacking any experience in comforting them, he found himself scratching his head in frustration.

Meanwhile, Rudeus snapped out of his stupor and glanced at the flustered Allen with a hint of exasperation.

'...Allen really is a spirited young boy, isn't he? To think he'd draw his sword on a companion just to prove who's stronger... though it's a reverse-blade sword... So he's still being cautious. That means he's serious about using this duel to show Sylphiette the power of magic, huh...'

'...But it's still terrifying, Allen-sama! Children really shouldn't be carrying weapons!'

'Should I really go through with this duel?... No, now's not the time to think about that. I need to comfort Sylphiette first.'

With that thought, Rudeus sighed and put on the expression of an adult struggling to deal with a child. He walked over to the stunned Allen, took his hand, and—much to Allen's horror—pushed Sylphiette into his arms.

He even thoughtfully wrapped Allen's arms around Sylphiette's back.

Allen watched in shock as Rudeus completed this series of actions, his mind reeling on multiple levels.

Then, he heard Rudeus whisper in his ear,

"Comfort her. You can do it!"

With that, Rudeus stepped back, hands behind his back, and sat down on the grass, resting his chin on his hand as if he were a father watching his children play house.

Allen, on the other hand, looked down at Sylphiette, who was sobbing into his chest, and then at Rudeus, who was enthusiastically giving him a thumbs-up. His eye twitched so hard it felt like it might develop wrinkles.

This was truly unbearable.

——

"Stop crying. We're just sparring, not actually fighting."

Sylphiette peeked at Allen through her fingers, her face still wet with tears, and nodded softly.

'W-Why did I start crying all of a sudden?... Allen doesn't like it when people cry... I mustn't cry in front of him again...'

Having known the two for less than a day and being much younger than in the original story, Sylphiette was naturally timid. Unlike the gentle and mature "White Mama" from the novel, who had already begun to show signs of her future self after spending time with Rudeus, this version of Sylphiette still needed time to adjust to their relationship.

'But... he didn't scowl this time...'

Allen blinked, watching as Sylphiette gradually calmed down, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Just stand under the tree and watch, okay? Rudeus and I will spar, and you'll get to see the power of magic. Once you see it, you'll understand its appeal."

Sylphiette instinctively avoided Allen's gaze again, staring at her shoes as she murmured a soft "Mm."

Allen then led a still-reluctant Rudeus down the hill, stopping about tens of meters away.

"This distance should be good."

Allen swung his gleaming sword to measure the distance, while Rudeus shrank back slightly at the sight of the blade.

"Are we really doing this?"

Allen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

'In the original story, Rudeus only started improving the power of his low-level spells two years after Roxy left. At this point, if we fought at close range, I could probably decapitate him in an instant... So for today, it's more important to show Sylphiette the power of magic. As for the duel, we can take it slow... It's better to guide Rudeus into increasing the power of his spells and developing battlefield-compatible mixed magic...'

"Let's keep it simple today. You'll cast spells, and I'll defend. How does that sound?"

Rudeus's eyes lit up.

"Okay!"

But then Allen added,

"However, in two months, I'll formally challenge you to a duel. So you have two months to study and improve your magic. We'll have a proper match then."

Rudeus's face stiffened.

"Do we really have to duel?"

Allen's expression turned serious.

"Yes. Have you thought about your future?"

Rudeus was taken aback.

'My future?... Maybe marrying a beautiful but insecure girl and living a peaceful life... It'd be great if I could see Roxy again, but who knows when that'll happen...'

"Roxy told me before she left that her goal is to become a Water God-level mage. What about you?"

Rudeus looked up in surprise.

"Water God-level..."

"Do you want to reunite with Roxy?"

Rudeus didn't answer, but his gaze grew more intense as he stared at Allen.

The latter smiled.

"Seems like you have your answer."

Allen held up two fingers.

"Her lifespan is two hundred years, and she's only in her thirties now. In ten years, when you're an adult and entering the prime of your life, she'll still be in the first quarter of her lifespan, just like you... So, how do you plan to face her then? As a married countryside mage? A renowned adventurer? Or an outstanding student at a magic university? Have you thought about it? These possibilities could lead to completely different futures. Have you prepared yourself for that?"

Rudeus didn't respond. Instead, he silently raised his arm, placing his other hand on his elbow, his expression growing resolute.

"I accept your challenge in two months. But for now, shouldn't we show Sylphiette the power of magic?"

Allen, noticing Rudeus's determined look, allowed a faint smile to creep onto his lips.

"That's a good expression."

Allen placed his hand on his sword, his stance lowering as his feet firmly planted themselves on the grass. His expression grew cold.

"Let's begin. You attack, and I'll defend."

Rudeus took a deep breath.

"Alright... Here I go."

'Magic—Water Cannon, size: 10! Speed: 10! Allen-sama, I'm really angry now. Please take this attack filled with my frustration!'

As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Rudeus's chantless magic activated. Crystal-clear water began to gather from the air, swirling like a vortex in front of his hand. In the blink of an eye, the water formed into a raging torrent, ready to burst forth.

In the next moment, the water erupted, kicking up a cloud of dust around Rudeus as a massive water column shot forward! The force of the blast pushed Rudeus back a step, and his heart skipped a beat.

'Oh no, I overdid it! Allen!'

He quickly looked up, only for his eyes to widen in shock.

The scene that followed would be etched into his memory for years to come:

The one-meter-wide water column surged forward like a thunderous wave, completely obscuring Allen from view. For a moment, even the sunlight seemed to pause, casting a fleeting arc of light across Rudeus's eyes.

Before Rudeus's horrified expression could fully form, the water column split apart.

It cleaved cleanly in front of Allen, as effortlessly as if it were a balloon filled with air.

The water column then cascaded harmlessly to either side of Allen, carving deep trenches into the ground.

The grassy terrain was completely torn apart, revealing the ugly mud beneath.

A gentle breeze blew past.

The grass around Allen's feet remained untouched, playfully swaying around his legs. He stood exactly as he had before, his stance unchanged.

The remnants of the water column shimmered around him, refracting the sunlight into a hazy halo that enveloped his figure.

Allen smiled.

"Not bad. Again."

Rudeus could only stare at him, his mind in a daze.

At that moment, he felt that the smile in Allen's eyes was even clearer than the sunlight reflecting off the water.

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 60 on my patreon, go take a look.