Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [149]

Letter from Roxy —

Dear Sylphy,

Winter seems to have stretched unusually long this year. Even the flow of letters slowed to a crawl.

The last time I heard from you, you described the snowy scenery in Buena Village.

And now, it's already late spring.

Time truly flies.

How have you been recently?

In your previous letter, you mentioned your hair had grown to shoulder length.

Is it even longer now?

You said you were waiting until it reached your shoulders to try braiding it into pigtails.

I don’t think you need to wait, you know.

Allen also mentioned in one of his letters that straight hair at shoulder length suits you better—it makes your long ears look especially charming.

That image has left me curious to see Sylphy with long white hair.

I hope the next time we meet, you'll have grown your hair out gracefully.

I imagine it must look lovely.

My life lately has been very different from last year’s constant dungeon diving and monster slaying. Now I live quietly in the royal palace, with palace maids bringing me daily necessities, and most of my work involves teaching magic to the prince.

In doing so, I often find myself thinking of all of you.

And I’ve come to a conclusion:

People truly differ in their innate magical talent—it's an objective fact.

Compared to you all, the prince's magical aptitude... well, there's a significant gap.

It’s become especially clear during these past lessons.

I can’t help but feel disappointed at times, and every so often I end up snapping at him.

Naturally, his reactions are intense, and he talks back often.

But I’ve adjusted now.

I remembered the time I spent teaching you.

If Rudeus had been my only student, I might have stayed stuck in those expectations. But teaching you reminded me—it shouldn’t be that way.

Your talent and Rudeus’s were different to begin with, weren’t they?

And Allen? I’ve never seen him use magic, but he once wrote that his magical aptitude is quite poor. And yet, his swordsmanship talent is truly unforgettable.

So yes.

Everyone’s gifts are different.

Allen once told me not to be too hard on the prince—he seemed worried I might hurt his confidence.

After reflecting for a few days, I decided to change my approach. Rather than mock his shortcomings, I began focusing on his strengths and praising those.

The results?

Undeniable.

The prince’s attitude has changed dramatically. He now shows me the kind of respect a teacher should receive, even calling me “sensei” instead of just “Roxy.”

His interest in magic has grown steadily, too.

And he’s become a little more composed.

Thanks to that, my teaching job has become much easier.

Still, nothing compares to how easy it was teaching you and Rudeus.

But in a way, that just proves—Sylphy, you’re a genius too, aren’t you?

So have confidence in yourself.

And you know I don’t just mean in terms of magic~

Speaking of magic, allow me to fulfill my duties as your mentor.

Have you been keeping up with your magical studies?

I imagine your already-impressive healing spells must have improved even more.

This reminds me of how you used to follow Allen around as he practiced swordsmanship—tending to the injuries he got from his Twenty-Fold Slash.

As I write this, that scene rises unbidden in my mind.

It’s such a beautiful memory.

I wonder, as I write this letter, are you two already serving as private tutors for the young lady in Roa City?

Ah, that’s right—Allen mentioned in his last letter that he was taking you both to the lord’s manor in Roa.

To be honest, I was a little surprised to hear that.

I thought he might send you to Magic University after a few years of training, and then go off to… do whatever it is he wants to do.

But I didn’t expect him to bring you along to the lord’s estate instead.

Still, it makes sense. The educational resources there are probably better, and the salary might ease the burden on Sir Paul’s household quite a bit, no?

Though he didn’t mention how long you’ll be staying.

One year? Two?

Maybe even longer?

The lord’s estate...

It’s Allen’s home.

That thought reminded me—I haven’t been home in quite a long time.

Allen doesn’t seem to have a great relationship with his parents either...

No, perhaps it’s not that their relationship is bad—more that he feels nothing toward them.

Lately I’ve been wondering: when he weighed the cost of education and finances, was there, deep down, a kind of “hope” for the parents he’s never met—the kind he often mentions?

But I couldn’t tell from his letter. His tone is the same as always—casual and carefree.

Still, one thing stuck out:

He referred to the younger sister he’s never met as—

“the young lady of the lord’s house.”

That… worries me a little.

If you can, could you keep an eye on him for me?

Today is April 11th. The Shirone Kingdom is bursting with spring.

The back garden is full of flowers—it’s quite the sight.

But I haven’t had the heart to enjoy them.

Maybe life in the royal palace has just been too dull lately. Or maybe it’s something else.

Memories of the past keep rising to the surface.

I find myself longing for the days back in Buena Village.

Sir Paul’s house;

That room I stayed in for two years—and where Allen stayed for nearly two more;

The hillside outside the village, full of lush green trees;

That “territory declaration” with my name added to it;

The times I told you two about my old adventuring days during our cohabitation.

It was only two short weeks we spent together, but somehow... it feels like it took up a much larger part of my life.

Do you think it’s because I’m getting old? That I’ve become sentimental?

With any luck, this letter will arrive in Fittoa faster than it would have in winter—perhaps around two months.

The snow has melted, after all.

That alone should make correspondence much easier.

All in all, good news.

—Roxy

Reply from Sylphy —

Dearest Sensei,

I hope you’ve been well lately.

I received your letter yesterday—it made me very happy.

Thank you for your concern.

About my hair—thank you for the suggestion. I’ve been realizing lately that perhaps it’s better to stick with a style that truly suits me.

Honestly… I wanted to try braiding it because of you. Everyone always praises your sky-blue pigtails, and it made me want to try them too.

But lately, after spending more time in front of the mirror in Madam’s room, I’ve started to think shoulder-length straight hair might suit me better.

Next time we meet, you’ll be able to see it for yourself.

I’ve even grown taller! Quite a bit, actually.

I wonder if you’ll be surprised when you see me again?

Back then, I was just that short little Sylphy with green hair.

As for my magic aptitude... being called a genius so plainly—it’s a little too much. Rudy and Allen are the real geniuses. I still have a ways to go. But… hearing your praise made me genuinely happy.

My magic has steadily improved, and you’re right—my healing magic has made the most progress.

I suppose it’s because I really don’t like seeing people hurt.

Yes, just like back then, healing Allen under the tree after his Twenty-Fold Slash.

I don’t know why, but every time I write to you, I find myself able to express all the shy little feelings I usually can’t say aloud. I become so much more honest with you.

But I still can’t do that around others.

Seems I need to become a little braver. A little more honest.

In fact—

Why not start right now?

I want to say...

Next time we meet, could you praise me too, like you do with the prince in Shirone?

My hair, my magic, even... my ears.

Any of those would make me very happy.

Writing this really does make me feel embarrassed...

But I won’t rewrite the letter.

Letting you see this side of me—there’s nothing shameful about it.

Because you are someone I hold in the highest regard.

It’s already June here in Fittoa.

It’s been two months since we arrived at the Boreas estate as tutors.

A few days ago, Allen, Rudy, and I went back to Buena Village. I asked Father and Mother if they’d received any letters from you. To be honest, I felt a little disappointed when they said no.

But then, just a few days after we returned, your letter arrived.

Only then did I realize—you already knew we’d come to the Boreas household.

Thinking back, Allen must have written to you in winter...

I didn’t expect he had already made his decision so early. (ink smudge)

Sorry! My mind wandered a little...

Allen really is meticulous in his planning. You can’t help but trust him.

As for our move to Boreas—

From what Allen wrote to you, it seems he’d already planned to bring us to Roa City.

But the truth is, we weren’t brought here by his choice.

It was his biological father—Lord Philip—who suddenly came and took us away.

It caught even Allen off guard. The situation was abrupt and stifling.

Yet, in just one afternoon, he still managed to carry out the plan he’d had all along. (ink smudge)

Sorry again, Sensei. My thoughts keep drifting...

What I wanted to say was—

Allen’s identity is now mostly known by Lord Philip and the lord himself, Sauros-sama.

That’s where things stand for now.

Just as you suspected—on the surface, Allen shows no change. His words and behavior are the same as ever.

But there’s a clear discomfort in him. It first showed up on the second day we arrived here.

He handles Lord Philip, Lord Sauros, Miss Eris, and Ghislaine with ease.

But when he faced Madam Hilda...

There was a rare look of hesitation.

It’s not that Madam Hilda is unkind.

On the contrary—she’s elegant, witty, charming, and very kind to others.

I’ve had a wonderful time with her over the past two months.

And maybe that’s exactly why Allen feels so unsettled—because she’s the one among the Boreas nobles who treats him most like family.

That’s what leaves him unsure how to react.

It’s even affected his state of mind—Ghislaine says his Sword God Style has suffered because his heart is no longer firm, his “desire” no longer burns.

Rudy came to me, wanting to help Allen.

But I turned him down.

Because I believe in Allen.

Still, two months have passed, and the situation hasn’t improved.

I’m starting to get worried too.

Every time I try to talk to Allen privately, just the two of us, he looks nervous and uncertain... and when I see that face, I don’t know what to say anymore.

I know this might sound like I’m tattling...

But—

Could you try praising Allen in your next letter too?

I think...

Maybe, in some way, it might rekindle that “desire” inside him.

Lastly,

According to Lord Philip, we might not stay at the Boreas estate for just one or two years...

We might remain here for four whole years.

So, Sensei—

If you find yourself missing us...

Why not come visit us?

We miss you just as much.

And I’ve never forgotten our adventurer’s promise.

—Sylphy

---

August, Shirone Royal Palace.

The flowers mentioned in the earlier letter had long since withered in the back garden—replaced now by leafy green shade.

Night had fallen as usual.

Roxy sat at her desk, just as she always did.

After a long day of work, she let her sky-blue hair fall freely over her desk like a waterfall.

Between those strands, her normally cool expression...

Looked a little stiff.

In her hands—

Sylphy’s reply.

And on her desk—

Allen’s already-opened letter.

Roxy stared at the final lines of Sylphy’s letter, stunned for quite a while.

The wind from outside leapt through the window, brushing gently against her face.

Roxy gave her cheeks a firm pat, as if to shake off her daze.

Then reached for a fresh piece of paper.

The scratch of pen on parchment echoed quietly.

Dear Sylphy,

I received your letter today.

Good thing I brought up Allen in my last letter—his own didn’t mention anything about what’s happening at the Boreas estate.

What a guy... always quick to share good news, but never the bad.

It sounds like things are a little complicated right now. I want to offer some useful advice, but it’s already August, and I’m here in Shirone. By the time this letter reaches you, it’ll probably be October.

Whatever’s meant to happen...

May have already happened.

But still—why do you want me to praise Allen?

What’s this about rekindling his “desire”?

What does that even mean?

Why is the Sword God Style so weird?

Anyway—

Even though I can still picture our time living together, when I count the months, it really has been quite a while since we last saw each other.

Maybe being forty has warped my sense of time—two years feel like they vanished in the blink of an eye.

Sylphy, you’ve grown so much more mature than before.

I’m sorry—my last letter’s tone still treated you like a child, written with that air of a teacher addressing a student.

Maybe I need to be a little more honest too.

Today’s letter has gone on far too long again. I wanted to keep it short, so you wouldn’t call it long-winded, but I didn’t manage to finish.

I’ll have to continue tomorrow...

T_T

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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!