Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [150]

Maybe… I need to start being more honest too.

Allen…

The scratching of the pen stopped.

Roxy stared at Allen’s name on the page, pausing for a long moment.

Be honest...

She blinked, pulled out a fresh sheet of stationery, and took a deep breath.

Should I really praise Allen?

This “desire” they keep mentioning—if it manifests in swordsmanship, maybe it’s like… confidence?

Hmm.

Might as well ride this wave while it lasts.

Dear Allen! (flamboyant handwriting)

The moment she finished that line, Roxy sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth and immediately grabbed a new piece of paper.

Dear Allen,

How have you been lately?

From what you wrote, it seems like these two months at the Boreas estate have been… lively.
Honestly, I’m a little envious.

That notoriously difficult-to-handle young lady—are you saying her proud and reckless demeanor is just a front?
You mentioned that once she accepts someone, she’s surprisingly honest... even a little cute?
Color me curious.

And Ghislaine—the famed fourth-ranked Sword King in the Sword God Style—is apparently a bit of an airhead in daily life?

But… why are you comparing her “blankness” to my “clumsiness”?

And saying mine is... more charming?

Allen, what are you even talking about?

If you keep this up, I really will get mad, you know?

...Fine.

I’m joking.

Anyway.

You described Lord Philip as a fox-like, cunning politician—truth be told, I’m not great at dealing with people like that.
As for Lord Sauros, the territory lord, he seems to fit the image I had of him. You said in your letter that when he walks, he reminds you of a sabertooth or a mane wolf...

Hmph. Comparing people to magical beasts sure does paint a vivid picture.

Roxy stopped writing.

Allen’s latest letter hadn’t mentioned the lady of the house at all.

That… lined up with what Sylphy had written.

She paused, shook her head, and muttered inwardly:

Don’t get sidetracked. Just praise him. Praise him.

She blinked, and the image came to her instantly.

She picked up her pen again and continued.

That reminds me of when we all lived together. Do you still remember the story I told Sylphy and the others about the Red Dragon and the Direwolf?

Maybe you’ve forgotten by now.

Back then I said—“The dragon’s fury sets the forest ablaze; the DIrewolf leaves not even bones behind.”

Funny enough, just two weeks later, outside of Rygart in the “Red Dragon’s Beard” region, I feel like I saw that scene play out for real.

Only later did I realize it.

That night in the forest, the flames left behind by Exodus Flame were still burning on the ground, thick with the stench of charred corpses.

You were standing there beside the fire.

I looked at you—and I couldn’t smell anything. (blacked out)

It reminded me of that line.

If I had to compare you to a magical beast…

You’d be a Red Dragon.

At least, that’s how I see you.

Roxy scratched her cheek, embarrassed.

Her eyes flicked to the blacked-out sentence earlier and her expression turned slightly sheepish.

Her deep blue gaze shimmered.

The sound of her pen filled the quiet air again—this time faster, as if no longer carefully deliberating how to praise Allen.

Sorry, I’m rambling again.

Let me tell you how life’s been here as a royal tutor.

Last time I mentioned how I changed my teaching method for Prince Pax—thanks to your suggestion.

It’s been wildly effective.

He’s become more composed, and much more respectful toward me.

So it seems…

Allen, you’re not only talented in swordsmanship—even when it comes to teaching, you’re probably more gifted than me.

I’m a little jealous.

Though, seriously—why do you keep telling me to recognize the prince’s potential in one breath, and in the next, constantly remind me not to hesitate to use Burning Place on him?

Haha...

Well.

I did use it.

Quite a lot, actually.

Why? Simple—because these past two months, the prince’s… interest in sex has started to bloom.
He’s been extremely distracted in class. Though thankfully, because I now present a respectable and admirable teacher figure in his eyes, he hasn’t made any inappropriate advances toward me.

But something else happened that left me utterly dumbfounded.

He—

He started sexually harassing passing maids right in front of me, in my classroom. Boldly, and to multiple people.

Allen, you used to blush just from holding my hand at that age. (blacked out)

What is wrong with this boy?

Does he have no shame?

According to the contract I signed with the royal palace, I’m allowed to administer necessary punishment at my discretion if the prince acts out.

So, remembering your advice, I stuck to using Burning Place.

Resisted the urge to use something more destructive like Icicle Break.

Only now do I realize—you must’ve anticipated this would happen and warned me in advance, just to keep me from overreacting.

As expected, Allen—your foresight is... impressive.

You really are something else.

No. I have to stop thinking like this. Or I’ll end up resenting Prince Pax even more.

Speaking of “punishment”—

Oddly enough, after being “punished” multiple times, Pax has noticeably curbed his behavior.
He still gives passing maids this unpleasant predatory look, like a leopard eyeing a rabbit, but he has... reined it in.

And now, instead of harassing many maids, he’s fixated on just one.

Sigh.

I don’t even know what to say anymore.

But—

The King of Shirone actually praised me for my teaching. Apparently, compared to the other princes—who are all womanizers—Pax now looks downright “disciplined.”

He commended my guidance.

Totally unexpected.

Now, the other palace staff look at me with new respect too.

Seriously, though—is switching from preying on a bunch of maids in broad daylight to fixating on one in the dead of night something to be praised for?

Whatever. In the end, this was all thanks to you, Allen.

Maybe, in the eyes of some, Pax’s behavior is even considered a “talent.”

Speaking of talent—can I tell you something?

Back before I taught Rudeus, I used to be… a little conceited about my magical skills.

That arrogance led to arguments with the Magic University faculty—and eventually, I left.

Then I met Rudeus.

And he shattered that confidence of mine with ease.

His magical prowess was astonishing.

But after that, I met you. And Sylphy.

More and more gifted people came into my life—but rather than feeling defeated, I finally understood something:

“Talent differs from person to person.”
Perhaps my own teacher, who must’ve seen all kinds of prodigies, once looked at my arrogance with helpless resignation.

If I ever meet him again, I owe him an apology.

Maybe I have some talent for magic—but I’m still a long way from being a true genius.

Looking back, I met so many gifted people in just two short years.

In magic—Rudeus is the real genius.

Sylphy’s gifted too.

And you?

No doubt about it.

You’re a prodigy in swordsmanship.

Even though I know next to nothing about that field—

I think a nine-year-old Sword Saint definitely qualifies as someone who stands at the pinnacle.

Roxy paused, scratching her bangs a little awkwardly.

Was that too much praise?

Feels a little... self-indulgent somehow.

Weird... why do I feel this way?

Frustrated, she raked her fingers through her hair and stared at the letter.

Is it because I subconsciously favor Allen too much?

Maybe he’s not as exceptional as I think?

But Allen did mention that Ghislaine treats him with unusual warmth—and she’s the fourth-ranked master of the Sword God Style. Her judgment should be reliable.

So perhaps... my opinion isn’t too biased.

Even if someone says I’m playing favorites, it wouldn’t be wildly off the mark.

Yeah.

Roxy nodded, pen in hand, about to continue—

But her eyes drifted to something on her desk, and she froze.

Then let out a long sigh.

Using [Burning Place] to punish Pax—it wasn’t really her style.

Before taking the tutoring post, Allen had warned her about the absurdities of palace life.

She’d already suspected what to expect.

In truth, this “punishment strategy” had another purpose:

If I go too far… maybe the King will deem me unfit to teach and kick me out.

Then I’d have a reason to leave the palace.

And I wouldn’t have to break contract or pay a penalty.

And best of all, it’d give me an excuse to reunite with Allen and the others.

She’d realized this herself while replying to Sylphy last time.

Back when she wrote those lines—“One year? Two? Or maybe longer?”—she knew.

Those moments spent reminiscing weren’t just because she was “getting old.”

It was because...

She missed Allen.

Roxy had been genuinely worried about him.

So she took action immediately.

But now—two months later—

Reality was harsh. Cruel, even.

Before her on the desk—

A full bag of gold coins.

One hundred of them.

For someone who once earned two silver coins a month—

It was an overwhelming amount.

And yet, all she felt now was...

Dread.

“Ugh.”

Roxy messed up her hair in frustration and slumped over the desk.

The coins had been given as a royal reward for her "outstanding instruction."

In other words—

Her strategy of strict discipline as a means of self-sabotage...

Had failed.

Completely.

Now that she had accepted such a hefty reward, it was even harder to breach the contract and leave.

If she did, wouldn’t it seem like she’d just taken the money and run?

Roxy wasn’t thick-skinned enough to pull something like that.

And it wasn’t like things at the Boreas estate had reached a crisis point yet...

She slumped on the desk for a long while before finally sitting up, staring at the letter again.

Unconsciously, she began to tug at her bangs.

Her tone with Allen in letters really was way more casual than with Sylphy.

Why did she always end up writing so colloquially when it came to him?

Come to think of it—

They’re not comparing letters, are they?

Ugh. Being honest is so hard...

Sylphy’s much better at this than I am.

Roxy blinked, then picked up her pen and neatly finished the letter with one final line.

Lately, my mind has been filled with memories of you all (crossed out).
Of the time I spent with you, Allen.

How have you been lately?

—Roxy

After finishing, she recopied the entire letter, omitting all the blacked-out lines.

The new version was cleaner. More formal.

She let out a long sigh of relief.

Then turned her gaze to the half-finished letter to Sylphy still on the desk.

Half-lidded eyes studied it for a long moment—

And then she smiled.

Allen really is so charismatic.

That Sylphy girl’s head is just full of Allen these days.

Come to think of it, Allen’s turning twelve in just two months.

Time flies.

Wait a minute...

Prince Pax started showing interest in sex at age twelve.

Then wouldn’t Allen, who blushes just from holding hands—

Roxy stiffly swallowed.

She looked down at herself.

After twenty-six years, her figure hadn’t changed a bit—still modest.

Her expression froze.

After a moment, she sniffed slightly.

“This body of mine…”

“In another year or two, Sylphy might surpass me.”

“Ah...”

“What should I even do...?”

Her voice—flat and cold as ever—muttered to herself.

Moonlight from Shirone streamed through the window.

And before long, the soft scratching of pen on paper filled the room again.

Time passed by in the rhythm of ink and brush.

Moonlight and sunlight alternated across her desk.

A blink later, even the grain of the wood looked different—

No, not the desk.

This was now Fittoa Territory, the Boreas estate—Sylphy’s bedroom.

The white-haired girl rose from the desk, holding the letter she'd just received from Roxy.

Her hair had fully grown to her shoulders, silky and neat—clearly tended to with care.

She’d grown nearly half a head taller than she was ten months ago.

Her demeanor was far more mature.

A knock came at the door.

“Sylphy! Eris skipped lessons again!!”

It was Rudy’s voice.

Sylphy set the letter down and stepped toward the door.

Sunlight swept across the final lines of the page.

Written by Roxy, one August night in Shirone.

Amid the sounds of horses and wheels,

October had arrived.

Sylphy, why did you think me praising him would help?

Putting feelings into words always feels so inadequate.

I can’t see his expression, and he can’t see mine.

And letters take so long to arrive.

How much can they really do?

I miss you all dearly.

But… for now, I still can’t leave Shirone.

So I’m asking you.

You, who are by Allen’s side—

Who can see him anytime—

Please… help him.

Because—

Don’t forget: the adventurer party belongs to all of us.

Whether it’s you, Rudy—

Or Allen, who’s struggling right now—

There will come times when we can’t all be together.

And the rest of us have to step up, right?

Though saying all this kind of feels like I’m shirking responsibility...

But still, please believe—

I’m with you. Always.

I miss you.

I miss Rudy.

And I miss Allen, too.

---

T/N: Roxy: Sylphy NTR me! (LMAO JOKES JOKES! it was a cute chapter)

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!