Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [154]

“Looks like they’ve skipped class again today?”

Sylphy, sitting before the small round table, looked slightly awkward as she faced Hilda, who sat with graceful posture and a cup of black tea in hand.

“…Looks that way, Madam.”

Beside her, Rudy—visiting Hilda’s tearoom for the first time—was staring out the window in pure disbelief, his expression a masterpiece.

Beyond the window’s rain curtain, on the eaves just opposite, were two very familiar figures: one tall, one small.

The truant Boreas siblings—Allen and Eris.

On their way upstairs, Rudy and Sylphy had been stopped by the cat-eared maid Lier, who invited them to a top-floor room that served as a kind of tearoom.

Originally, Rudy had been mortified, already thinking of an excuse to politely refuse—after all, being caught in front of the lady of the Boreas house for “incompetent teaching” was painful enough. But Sylphy, entirely well-behaved, simply turned her steps and followed in Lier’s wake.

Which left Rudy with no choice but to follow, nerves written all over his face.

And here they were.

Seeing a scene almost impossible to keep a straight face at.

Even though the rain veiled most of the view, he could still tell—Eris was leaning back in an exaggerated pose, hands in her hair, unleashing the “Boreas family’s special request technique” on Allen.

Because he’d seen it before.

So it was burned into his mind.

Months ago, during a swordsmanship class, as an onlooker he had witnessed Eris use that move on Allen for the first time and it had stunned him.

No! How could that overbearing ojou-sama pull such a cute pose?!

It was like Star Platinum meowing like a cat—unthinkable!

He remembered jolting to his feet, ready to stop her from making such an absurd gesture, only to be silenced in two lines by Allen.

The first line was delivered in a bizarre tone, fusing two words together:

“Wo, cao?”

The first was the human-language pronoun for “I,” the second was “grass” outside the house.

Completely baffling.

Before he could ask why, Allen had immediately followed up with a second line—this one perfectly clear, fluent:

“Again!”

That had left Rudy wordless for the rest of the class.

Much like right now.

Through his view, Allen stood with arms folded, seemingly lecturing Eris with righteous seriousness.

But before he finished speaking, Eris shifted through several different “cute” poses.

And the two fell into a long, silent stare-off.

Then, Allen quietly drew his sword and began demonstrating how to swing it for her.

So earnest.

You two are unbelievable!!

And this was supposed to be Allen “bringing Eris back to class”?!

He turned in shock to Sylphy.

But she, avoiding his “interrogation” gaze, was calmly sipping her hot tea, following the rim of the cup with her lips in slow sips.

Looking completely unfazed.

In that instant, Rudy understood why she had gone from flustered at first to this morning’s unruffled composure.

She’d seen it countless times, hadn’t she? All those early teas with Hilda these past months—this scene was nothing new to her!

So I’m the only one, the actual reading-and-arithmetic teacher, kept in the dark!!

Hilda too was watching. Seeing Allen once again swayed by Eris’s offensive, she smiled faintly.

Turning to Rudy, her tone carried apology.

“Sorry to trouble you, Rudy.”

Rudy flinched slightly, instinctively sitting straighter and bowing his head.

“I’m sorry, Madam! It’s all my fault—”

“No. This is the result of my deliberate indulgence. Sylphy had mentioned persuading the two back at the start, but… I don’t know why—seeing them like this always feels amusing to me, and makes me happy. So I told her not to disturb them.”

“Eris has never been interested in reading or arithmetic since she was young. There’s still plenty of time—letting her relax a little isn’t bad. And it’s rare for her to cling so closely to a human who isn’t a beastfolk, aside from Ghislaine.”

Rudy opened his mouth helplessly.

“Madam… but… on the eaves like that, isn’t it dangerous…”

“I asked Ghislaine. She says that with Allen there, Eris is actually safer on the eaves than on the ground. Something about Allen having a North God Style sword technique called Four-Legged Form, which lets him move on rooftops as if on flat ground.”

Rudy gave the window a blank glance, then looked back at Hilda.

“…All right then.”

With that, he too sat back down, imitating Sylphy in drinking his tea.

And that was that.

If the masters said nothing, what could the hired tutor say?

Though, he stared into the tea’s rippling surface.

Seven straight days of lessons… was that really “heavy coursework” for Eris? Maybe adding one more rest day would help her refocus…?

Silence settled over the group.

Hilda simply kept watching the window.

Lier quietly replaced her cup of tea again and again.

Morning tea couldn’t fill the stomach.

Though there were a few exquisite, tasty pastries, by the time they left Hilda’s “tearoom” an hour later, Rudy still felt hollow with hunger.

After tutoring Ghislaine in reading and arithmetic a while longer, they headed to the dining hall.

Choosing a quiet spot by the window, they sat down.

Halfway through the meal, Rudy finally felt full. Glancing at Sylphy, who had been intermittently lost in thought since morning, he slowed his eating, chewing his bread as he spoke around it.

“Looks like you were right, Sylphy.”

Sylphy blinked, lifting her eyes to him.

But Rudy didn’t meet her gaze—he kept looking down at the bread in his hands, tearing at the crisp baked crust as he continued slowly.

“I mean half a year ago, when I wanted you to help Allen with me—seems like he’s adjusted on his own now.”

“So your judgment was correct.”

Sylphy blinked again, lowering her head.

A moment later, she spoke.

“No, that’s wrong.”

“Oh? How so? Isn’t it fine now? Ghislaine says Allen’s Longsword of Silence has already returned to its peak.”

“…Rudy, are you doing this on purpose?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ghislaine clearly said Allen’s Longsword of Silence may be back to what it was before, but that’s only from a technical build-up compensating for lost talent—it has nothing to do with his stagnant desire.”

Rudy swallowed his mouthful of bread and set the rest down on the plate.

He lifted his eyes, looking at Sylphy, his expression turning grave.

“Then why aren’t you worried?”

Sylphy stirred the soup in front of her and answered quietly:

“I am working on it.”

“Is that so?”

Sylphy blinked; the handwriting in Roxy’s letter of advice surfaced in her mind.

She looked up at Rudy, eyes unblinking.

“But as things are now, I think it’d be better if I took action myself to help him.”

Rudy, startled by her resolute look, froze for a moment—

Then his expression suddenly brightened with excitement. He slapped the table with a sharp thump.

“You’ve realized it?!”

Sylphy flinched, opening her mouth in surprise, but before she could ask why—

He stood from his chair, spreading his hands, eyes narrowing in a look of total confidence.

His voice was firm, words landing like a hammer:

“Tonight, you go to his room.”

“Wearing your favorite—no, Allen’s favorite—moon-white dress.”

“Don’t forget the garter stockings Lilia gave you, and the black leather shoes from Madam Hilda.”

He nodded, chin in hand, thinking.

Then suddenly clapped his fist into his palm.

“Oh! And the cat-eared pajamas! The ones Madam Hilda gave you but you’ve never worn in front of anyone. They have cat ears, right? I remember seeing them.”

“Double the anticipation!”

“One night—no! Not even a night. The moment he sees you, he’ll be back to his old self!”

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This is a fan translation of 无职转生：剑，魔法帽与恋爱系统 by 意外火灾 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!