Reborn in Mushoku Tensei

It's been a couple of months since I first tried creating that black hole, and honestly, I've made no progress. The memory of losing control over my mana still haunts me, leaving me hesitant to attempt it again. I'm not ready to risk going gray this early in life. The fear of failure keeps me away, and for now, I'm okay with that. It's not my priority anyway.

Lately, I've been focusing on my sword practice under the big tree outside. Every day, I've swung my blade, and the effort is paying off. My movements are faster, sharper, and I feel my reflexes improving with each session. Alongside this, I've been experimenting with my magic eye. Although useful, it strains me far too quickly, so I've kept its use to a minimum.

I've also realized someone has been watching me from a distance—a small, green-haired girl. It's Sylphie. This must be the same place Rudeus found her in the original timeline. She keeps her distance, too shy to approach, and bolts whenever she thinks I've noticed her. So far, I haven't seen her being bullied, but I wonder if I should intervene before it starts.

Training with Lilia has been another challenge. No matter how much I improve, she always seems to be one step ahead of me. I suspect she secretly enjoys pushing me to my limits, but her warm, motherly smile makes it impossible to stay mad at her.

As the day winds down, the sky suddenly turns gray, and rain begins to pour, quickly escalating into a thunderstorm.

"Great. Just what I needed," I mutter, summoning a thin layer of wind magic above me to deflect the raindrops. It works like a shield, keeping me dry as I walk home.

But then, I spot her—Sylphie. She's curled up under a tree, trembling and soaked.

"So, that answers that question," I whisper to myself before walking over to her. She flinches when I approach, instinctively hiding her face.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, extending a hand toward her. She hesitates but eventually takes it. As I help her to her feet, her hood falls, revealing her green hair and delicate features.

"Wow, you're so cute," I blurt out before realizing what I've said. Her cheeks flush, and she looks away, clearly not used to such comments.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—uh, I'm Rudeus Greyrat. I think I know you. You're Sylphiette, right?"

"Um, yes, I'm Sylphie," she responds shyly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Well, Sylphie, it's not safe for you out here in this storm. Come back to my house so we can dry you off," I offer, noticing her hesitation.

"How are you not wet?" she asks, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Oh, this? It's just wind magic," I say, pointing above me. "See how the raindrops almost hit me but fly away at the last second?"

Her eyes light up with wonder. "Magic? That's amazing!"

I smile and kneel down. "Hop on my back; I'll carry you. It'll be faster, and you won't get any wetter."

Sylphie hesitates but eventually climbs onto my back. I activate the foundation of Thunder Breathing, focusing my energy, and sprint toward the house at a speed that leaves her clinging tightly to me, clearly unaccustomed to such velocity.

When we arrive, Lilia is already waiting at the door with a towel in hand.

"Welcome back, Master Rudeus," she greets me, but her eyes shift to Sylphie on my back. The girl pulls her hood up, trying to hide her hair.

"It's okay, Lilia. I'll take care of her. Is the bath ready?"

"Yes, Master Rudeus. A warm bath is prepared. Your parents are out on an errand in the village."

"Perfect. Thanks, Lilia."

I carry Sylphie upstairs to my room. "Alright, Sylphie, let's get you warmed up. I'll dry you off quickly." Using a combination of fire and wind magic, I gently blow warm air over her clothes and hair, avoiding direct contact.

"T-thank you," she says softly, looking down as her face turns red.

"Now, I'll step out so you can take a bath and change," I say, turning away to give her privacy.

As she bathes, I sit nearby, reflecting on how easily she's opened up to me. The Sylphie from the original timeline took much longer to warm up. Her shy demeanor is still there, but I sense a stronger bond forming between us already.

Later, as we settle down, I decide to test the waters. "Sylphie, do you want to learn magic?"

Her face lights up instantly. "Really? Can I?"

"Of course. I'll even introduce you to my tutor, Roxy. She's one of the best."

Sylphie's excitement quickly turns to doubt. "But…my parents can't afford a tutor."

"Don't worry. I'll handle it," I assure her, hatching a plan to guilt Roxy into teaching her for free.

The next day, I introduce Sylphie to Roxy during our lesson. "Roxy, this is Sylphie. She's got incredible potential, but her family can't afford lessons. Can you please take her on as your student?"

Roxy hesitates, but after a little pleading (and some strategic puppy-dog eyes), she agrees. Sylphie is ecstatic, and soon, the two of us are learning magic together.

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Finally, I made it home. It's been such a long day, but a good day. It feels good; I've never had a childhood like this, or at all. My previous life was spent mostly in that building, reading manga and isolating myself.

Now, everything feels different. I have friends, goals, and an entire world ahead of me to explore. Moments like these make me feel like I'm truly living this second chance to its fullest.

After washing up and eating dinner, I decided to retreat to my room. As I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, I found myself thinking about the future.

• Sylphie: She's beginning to trust me more, and her potential with magic is incredible. If I can guide her properly, she'll be one of the strongest mages in the world. It's satisfying to watch her grow. I'll have to keep her close, but I can't let her rely on me too much either.

The thought of breathing techniques and pushing my limits also lingers in my mind. If Thunder Breathing or something similar can work here, it could be a game-changer. But clearly, I need to take smaller steps before trying again.

Tomorrow is a new day—more lessons, more training, and, undoubtedly, more surprises.

With that thought, I let myself drift to sleep.