Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [142]

Eris blinked, as if a realization had just struck her, then suddenly turned to look at Hiramune in Ghislaine’s hand.

The blood-hued blade gleamed with a peerless sharpness.

Allen’s equally sharp voice followed.

“By pushing my [Perception Flow] to its limits, I did manage to catch Ghislaine’s killing intent—and from that, deduce the trajectory of her blade. I barely managed to guide mine into position using [Intent Flow], just in time to intercept.”

“But unfortunately, that’s all I could do.”

He lifted a finger, pointing to the nick in the blade.

“I’d reinforced the sword with aura, and I used [Flow Technique]. Even so, the concentrated impact point of Ghislaine’s [Longsword of Light] still cut into it—left a notch.”

Rudeus stared, stunned, at the sword in Allen’s hand. His voice came out dazed.

“Wait… does that mean… it exceeded the limit of [Rock Strikes Water]?”

Allen nodded.

“Exactly. If my [Flow Technique] can’t deflect Ghislaine’s [Longsword of Light] or alter its arc, then [Rock Strikes Water] becomes meaningless.”

“That last slash—strictly speaking, only [Perception Flow] did its job. [Flow Technique] failed. And the [Twenty-Fold Slash] I’d prepared as a counter? Ended up just an illusion in the air—pure killing intent with no substance.”

He paused, took a long breath, and exhaled slowly—

Snuffing out the blade aura he’d been holding at the ready.

In that instant, his killing intent—solid as if it had form—dispersed into the air.

Only then did the tension in Rudeus and Eris’s shoulders ease.

Allen continued, his voice now back to its usual calm and gentle tone.

“So, Ghislaine’s [Longsword of Light], when unleashed with full force… With my current skill, I still can’t handle it.”

Ghislaine shook her head.

How could a Water Saint possibly handle a full-force [Longsword of Light]?

Let alone predict the strike point in advance.

Eris blinked again, as though piecing it all together, and gave a slow, dumbfounded nod.

“So that’s how it is!”

Allen shrugged.

Not bad.

He’d achieved what he set out to do.

From the moment he decided to receive that strike, his only goal had been to see the path of the [Longsword of Light].

And he had.

So far, it seemed that when he pushed [Perception Flow] to its very limit, he could see even the trajectory of a peak King-level [Longsword of Light].

And as long as he could see it—

Then in a few more years, when he fully mastered the integration of [Intent Flow] and [Flow Technique], and stepped into Water King rank…

Then [Rock Strikes Water] might bring a completely different outcome.

Ghislaine looked at Allen. Her tail swayed lazily back and forth—apparently in good spirits. But then, she seemed to notice something, and her sharp ears twitched upright.

She turned toward Eris and asked, completely serious:

“That last strike—did you see it?”

“Nope! Not at all!” Eris answered with absolute certainty.

Ghislaine blinked, then exchanged a glance with Allen.

The two of them shook their heads in perfect sync.

They’d gotten carried away.

Forgot this was technically supposed to be the ojou-sama’s swordsmanship lesson.

One of them using two of the five secret Water God techniques.

The other wielding a king-level [Longsword of Light].

For a beginner swordswoman like Eris?

There was no way she could’ve seen a thing.

Ghislaine gave a dry cough, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

“What about the Sword Saint-level [Longsword of Light] earlier? Did you see that one?”

Eris pouted, arms crossed, and turned her face away, cheeks slightly flushed.

“I—I saw most of it!”

“Got it. So you didn’t see it,” Allen cut in immediately.

Eris opened her mouth, about to argue—but one glance at Ghislaine’s strict eyes and she deflated, muttering grudgingly:

“Fine! I didn’t see it! But it looked really cool! Let’s do it again, a few more times!”

Allen scratched his head.

“How about… theory class instead?”

“No way!”

Eris’s eyebrows shot up.

“We agreed—no theory class today!”

Rudeus gawked at her.

Eris stared Allen down with blazing red eyes, her face deadly serious. For a moment, she looked surprisingly like Ghislaine when she was scolding someone.

Who agreed with you about that?!
Why don’t I know about this?!
Reject her! Reject her, you cowards! Both of you!

He turned his gaze to Allen and Ghislaine.

Allen was watching Eris, lost in thought.

Ghislaine was watching Allen, also lost in thought.

...?

Rudeus twitched.

Unreliable...
If only Sylphy were here. Guess it’s up to me to talk sense into them.

“You can’t just skip theory. Theory and practice complement each other. If you neglect one, you—”

“Alright. No theory class then,” Allen cut in without hesitation.

Ignoring the suddenly ecstatic Eris, Rudeus turned in disbelief to Allen—who was rubbing his chin and nodding along in total agreement, not a trace of resistance in sight.

She’s your little sister, sure, but this level of pampering is absurd!!

Since when is explosive rage considered adorable?!

No. No way. Allen’s spoiling Eris too much. Gotta rely on someone else—

He snapped his head toward Ghislaine.

Ghislaine! It’s time for you to unleash your inner strict teacher! You have to—

“No theory, huh? Hm… Well, Water God Style is quite different from Sword God Style. If Allen’s fine with it, I don’t mind. He’s got a clear teaching plan in mind, I’m sure.”

Ghislaine nodded solemnly, face expressionless.

The brilliant mind that had just demonstrated high-level sword pedagogy had seemingly vanished—replaced by a muscle-powered, steel-forged brain.

Seriously?! You too?!

You can’t tell he’s spoiling her rotten?!

This is the Mobius Strip of pampering!!

Allen spoils Eris because she’s his cute little sister, and he can’t be strict with her.

Ghislaine spoils Allen because he’s too talented—and she can’t be strict with him.

Therefore—

Ghislaine can’t be strict with Eris either.

Seriously?! What’s wrong with all of you?!

Sylphy, please come back and fix these sword-addled lunatics!

They’ve all caught the Eris meme!!

While Rudeus was stuck in brain-crashing overload, Allen suddenly spoke.

“Maybe… the [Longsword of Silence] would suit Eris’s current level better?”

Ghislaine narrowed her eyes in thought.

“That might work.”

Rudeus was stunned. He hadn’t expected the two of them to actually come up with a real solution on the spot.

But the problem was—even learning the [Longsword of Silence] required theory lessons! Allen, have you forgotten all those sessions where you asked Paul for guidance at home?

…Then again, Paul’s theory was never all that reliable to begin with…

“Watch closely, Eris.”

Allen’s voice sliced through Rudeus’s thoughts.

He felt a breeze brush past his cheek.

And in his line of sight—

A blade silently pressed itself into existence through the air in front of him.

The familiar [Longsword of Silence].

---

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!