Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and the Romance System [137]

“You really do look lovely in that, Sylphy.”

Sylphy glanced uneasily down at the slit in her skirt.

The garter clasp of her stockings peeked faintly through the gap.

Her ears twitched. She wasn’t sure if wearing it like this was proper, so she hesitantly asked:

“Should I… take the stockings off…?”

Hilda chuckled.

“Do you want to take them off now?”

Sylphy froze, quickly waving her hands.

“No! No, I just… I meant, does it look strange to wear them like this?”

Hilda tilted her head, then glanced at Sylphy’s feet. She raised a hand to her lips and smiled.

“Not at all. At your age, it’s just right. Once you're older, removing the stockings might feel more graceful—but for now, they suit you perfectly.”

Sylphy blinked in surprise, not quite understanding what Hilda meant.

But before she could reply, Hilda had already guided her to sit down in a chair by the window, gently pressing her shoulders.

In front of her—

A vanity mirror.

Beneath it, Hilda’s dressing table.

Sylphy blinked again, only to see Hilda’s face appear just behind her shoulder in the mirror. Her hand pointed at Sylphy’s hair, still half-damp and disheveled on her shoulders.

“It’s a little messy. Want me to comb it for you?”

As she spoke, Hilda’s hand moved into view, picking up a comb from the side of the vanity.

Sylphy’s eyes widened. She immediately moved to stand.

“I—I can do it mys—mmph!”

But Hilda pressed her firmly back into the chair.

With practiced ease, she began combing Sylphy’s hair.

The white strands slipped through the teeth of the comb like flowing water, brushing softly against her scalp—a ticklish sensation.

It reminded Sylphy of Norah, far away in Buena Village.

The same tenderness. The same familiar rhythm.

It was a mother’s touch.

She hesitated, thinking to offer again to do it herself—this felt far too embarrassing.

But just then, Hilda spoke again.

“There’s no need to be nervous. No need to feel awkward. I’m happy you’re all here at the Boreas estate… You give me a warm sense of familiarity.”

Sylphy stiffened.

Her eyes darted to the mirror, trying to catch Hilda’s expression.

But after picking up the comb, Hilda had shifted slightly, her upper body just out of frame—the mirror ended neatly at the elegant curve of her neckline.

Her face was hidden.

“…It’s our honor, Madam.”

The comb continued its steady rhythm.

“Don’t be so tense. Your whole body’s gone stiff.”

“No, not at all…”

The room fell quiet, save for the sound of the comb gliding through her hair.

Sylphy gradually relaxed.

But then—

Hilda’s voice came again.

And this time, it struck a strange chord in Sylphy’s chest.

“At lunch… when you all left, I noticed you looked back at me.”

The only thing that trembled wasn’t Sylphy’s heart.

Hilda’s voice did too.

“…Was there something you wanted to say to me?”

“No! …No, not really.”

Sylphy stared into her own eyes in the mirror.

Then, after a pause, she softly added:

“I just thought you looked very kind… You reminded me of my mother.”

Behind her, silence.

Sylphy watched as Hilda’s hand, still resting lightly on the comb, went still.

Her fingers were delicate. The back of her hand was pale and soft, with a rosy undertone. But perhaps because of that, the faint calluses on her thumb and index finger stood out clearly—yellowed from years of sewing.

In that moment, Sylphy felt as if time itself had stopped.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before Hilda’s voice finally broke the silence—like a quiet sigh.

“I see…”

And just like that, time began flowing again.

The comb resumed its motion, gliding gently through her hair.

“Sorry—did I make you feel pressured? I suppose my demeanor… My husband and I are used to it, but to outsiders, I might come off as a bit cold.”

“Not at all! You’re very kind. At least… I think so.”

Hilda paused, then let out a soft laugh.

And with that sound, Sylphy felt the tightness in her chest finally begin to ease.

She exhaled quietly.

Her stiff shoulders dropped slightly, and her body relaxed.

In the mirror, Hilda’s sleeve swayed slightly—as if she were shaking her head.

She gently worked through a tangle in Sylphy’s hair, her tone back to its usual calm.

“How old are you this year, Sylphy?”

“Seven.”

“Oh? Younger than I expected. Hm… At your age, I was still attending noble school.”

“You must’ve been very elegant, Madam.”

“You think that’s because of noble school? Not quite. That came later, after I married into the Boreas family—there was specific etiquette training.”

“Really?!”

“Mm-hm. But funnily enough, I met my husband on his tenth birthday. I was only nine at the time. So when I think about it… your age isn’t that young after all.”

“...I-I guess not…”

“Yes. Though we didn’t marry until six years later. My family background wasn’t really a match for the Boreas house, so my father was strongly opposed to it. I heard he even gave my husband quite the scolding afterwards.”

“Ah! Really?!”

“Mm-hm. But he couldn't stop it. My husband was already sixteen by then, and things couldn’t be delayed any longer. In the end, my father relented.”

“So Lord Philip was like that, huh?”

“Surprised?”

“A little…”

Hilda chuckled.

“You really do listen to what I say. Not like Eris. Whenever I talk about things like this, she never listens. All she cares about is finding Ghislaine. You seem very mature, Sylphy.”

“No… I just mimic others.”

“Mimic others?”

“Yes. Like Allen. And Miss Roxy.”

“Oh? But your eyes—your gaze is firm. That’s not something you get from mimicry. I really like your eyes.”

Sylphy’s ears twitched faintly.

“N-no way…”

“No?” Hilda’s voice still carried a smile.

“…Actually, I decided last night I’d stop copying them. I want to become stronger—on my own.”

“Oh? I heard it had something to do with what happened with Thomas. My husband only meant to bring you all here as tutors, but it sounds like you were caught in something troublesome.”

“That’s part of it… but not the whole reason.”

“I see. Then I won’t pry. You have your own thoughts—that’s a good thing.”

“…Thank you.”

“That magic tutor of yours—Roxy, wasn’t it? She taught Rudeus as well?”

“Yes.”

“She must be remarkable, to have taught both of you. Such young and talented magicians.”

“She is! She’s someone I admire very much!”

“And Allen, he’s quite talented as well. I believe my husband said he was also Rudeus’s tutor? Was he brought to the village by Miss Roxy?”

“…No. Allen found his way to the knight’s estate on his own, through a recommendation from Teacher. But Teacher did return to Buena Village afterward—thanks to Allen—and that’s when she took me on as a student.”

Hilda paused, lowering the comb.

“I heard Allen was an adventurer too. Was Roxy one of his companions?”

“…Yes.”

Hilda gently patted Sylphy’s head.

Then she leaned forward—so that her face came into view in the mirror once again.

Sylphy saw her smile.

But perhaps it was the sun dipping lower outside, casting the room into softer shadows.

Or maybe it was just that she hadn’t seen Hilda’s face for a while.

But that smile…

It looked a little dimmer than before.

And just as that thought passed through her mind—

Hilda’s voice came again, close to her ear. Its soft, feminine cadence pulled Sylphy out of her momentary daze.

She asked:

“Do you… resent your teacher?”

Sylphy’s pupils contracted sharply. She didn’t hesitate for a second.

“Not at all! I care for Miss Roxy very much!”

“Oh? How much?”

“Very much! I respect her deeply!”

Hilda seemed to study Sylphy’s expression for a moment, then smiled.

“…Good.”

She set the comb down on the vanity.

Turned—

And opened the window.

The spring breeze flowed into the room, lifting Sylphy’s freshly combed hair.

She moved as if to rise and thank her—

But just as she turned her neck—

Rustle rustle.

A sound like pages flipping.

Sylphy followed the sound instinctively.

Not a book.

A diary.

It sat at the corner of the dressing table.

Its pages fluttered in the breeze.

Faint lines of ink flickered beneath the flapping leaves—

But she couldn’t quite make them out.

The next moment—

Footsteps thundered down the hallway, followed by the panicked voice of the rabbit-eared maid leaking through the door.

“M-Madam! Mister Allen and Miss Ghislaine—they’re fighting!!”

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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!