Mushoku Tensei (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter 1.2

Rudeus

I NAMED THE BABY Sieghart. The names for my girls, Lucie and Lara, came from their mothers, while my son Arus was named after a famous hero in history. I decided to take inspiration from the invincible hero in my old world, Siegfried. I considered leaving it at just Siegfried, but Ranoa had a lot of names that went “[something]-hart,” so I tagged that on at the last minute.

We’d call him “Sieg” for short.

Sieg seemed like a perfectly normal child. He did all the crying, sleeping, peeing, and pooping you’d expect. Well, given that Lara barely cried at all and Arus would bawl the second I held him, Sieg seemed plenty normal in comparison.

As for being a reincarnation of a certain someone… Well, there’s no reason to be vague. I mean Laplace. And no, Sieg didn’t look like him.

“Not as far as I can tell, anyway,” I told myself. “Seriously, though. What’s going on with my kid?”

Three days had already passed since Arumanfi appeared and told me about the summons from Perugius. Right now, it was the middle of the night. Sitting across from me was Orsted. Between us lay Sieg, who snoozed peacefully in his cradle; he’d been crying until just a moment ago, but now he was fast asleep. Orsted seemed a bit tuckered out himself.

Eris was standing behind Orsted. Showing far more caution than necessary, she held a hand on the sword hanging from her waist.

“Hmph. Did you not understand me the first time?”

“Oh, no! Of course, I absolutely understand, and I believe you! Laplace hasn’t been born yet, so our child can’t be Laplace! Right, absolutely! I understand full well!”

“…”

“But, you know, you said it before, no? Now that Pax is dead, you don’t know how Laplace would be born anymore. Meaning! Maybe my presence threw a wrench in everything. Maybe Laplace will appear earlier, or maybe it’s the Man-God’s interference… And that, well, maybe that’d make it possible…”

I shrank into my seat as my begging continued. Orsted simply sighed; he looked exasperated at having to explain things again.

“Pax’s death means that I no longer know where Laplace will be born…but the Laplace Factors have yet to be fully gathered. It could happen in about fifty years’ time, but Laplace wouldn’t be born now. Not under any circumstances.”

I didn’t recall hearing about the factors needing to be “gathered”…but for now, if I believed him…

“Then what is my child?”

“Simply your darling infant son,” Orsted said while offering a hand out to Sieg. He pulled it back, however, after hearing the clink of Eris’s sword being flicked up from its sheath. C’mon, Eris, you could let the guy pat the baby’s head. No need to be a helicopter parent.

“So, what about the green hair?” I asked. Sieg’s hair was green. It was a similar shade to what Sylphie’s once was. The hair was still thin and fluffy on account of Sieg being a baby, but it was definitely green.

“It’s simply green. It could be due to the Laplace Factor, or it could be mere genetics, but there’s nothing more to it than that.”

So…just a green baby, huh?

“This child is not Laplace,” Orsted continued. “That I can assure you.”

“Got it… Thank you.”

I thanked him, but I still had room for doubt. Orsted wasn’t infallible. It might not have happened in prior loops, but this loop had proven that there was a first time for everything. Orsted had made his share of miscalculations already. That was why I couldn’t shake the possibility of Perugius examining Sieg, concluding he was Laplace, and deciding to kill him on the spot. That, or the possibility of Perugius making a mistake.

There were no guarantees when it came to how people could act. Even legendary heroes messed up sometimes.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” I asked, “could you perhaps come with us when we go to Lord Perugius’s castle? And maybe protect us if he says that Sieg is Laplace?”

“Hmm… Very well,” Orsted said with yet another sigh. He was irritated that the jackass he was trying to talk some sense into would propose something this pointless.

I mean, to be clear, I knew asking Orsted to tag along to calm my own frayed nerves was out of line. Okay? As they say, to err is human. On the other hand, Perugius would know to be careful if I had Orsted backing me up. You don’t wanna mess with me if you know what’s good for ya, punk!

Anyway, that settled that. For now, at least.

“…”

“Quite the glum look. What, you’re still worried about something?”

“Well, a bit…”

Ever since the birth, Sylphie was dejected. Nothing about how she acted changed, but she hung her head a little more often. Maybe she felt responsible for Seig’s green hair.

Nobody in the family blamed her. The most I saw was Roxy giving Sylphie some counseling. But Sylphie’s gloom persisted. I tried to strike up a conversation with her plenty of times myself, but I had no idea how to bring her smile back.

“But that’s a family matter,” I admitted.

“I see. So, when will we be leaving to see Perugius?”

“We’ll go once Sylphie’s recovered a bit more.”

I told Arumanfi to wait. That we couldn’t go immediately after my child had been born. Arumanfi said he understood and left without another word, but Perugius was probably getting impatient. He didn’t waste any time in sending a messenger, after all…

Orsted said that my son wasn’t Laplace, but Perugius wouldn’t be satisfied by our word alone. He’d want to see for himself to be sure.

It wasn’t going to be easy, but I’d have Sylphie come with us. I had a feeling that it’d be for the best.

***

Twenty days passed.

For now, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong with our child. He seemed perfectly healthy, if anything.

Sylphie, on the other hand… While her health had recovered, her mood hadn’t. She constantly had a glum look on her face. But during the day, she would hold the baby tightly in her arms. I saw many flashes of determination in her eyes as she did, as though to declare that she wouldn’t hand this child over to anyone.

“Sylphie, I think we should let Lord Perugius look at Sieg,” I suggested to her. Sylphie looked stunned, holding Sieg even closer.

“I don’t want to…”

She pouted weakly in response, sounding as though she’d regressed to her childhood. The look on her face reverted as well, but not to one she’d ever shown to me. This must be the face she’d shown to her bullies.

“Why… Why would you say that?” Sylphie asked.

“Because we need Lord Perugius to understand that our child isn’t Laplace.”

Sylphie hung her head.

“But… If he is Laplace, what then?”

“Huh? I already told you, Orsted said he isn’t Laplace…”

“But he could’ve made a mistake…”

Orsted wasn’t perfect. He could have been blinded by Sieg’s cuteness and claimed that he wasn’t Laplace despite all the signs being there. Not that I think he’d do that…

“If that happens…”

“Then?”

“Then I’ll protect Sieg, even if I have to bring the floating fortress crashing down to do it.”

Sylphie hung her head at this answer, too. Her voice lowered to a murmur as she said “Okay.”

***

We set off for the floating fortress. Our group consisted of me, Sylphie, and our baby Sieg in her arms, in addition to Eris, Orsted, and Zanoba. I brought Zanoba because I figured it couldn’t hurt to have more people who Perugius couldn’t ignore.

“Greetings, come right in.”

Sylvaril’s response to our sizable party was the same as ever. The show of heartfelt respect to Zanoba, Eris, and Sylphie. The show of superficial respect to me. The attitude of downright disgust at Orsted. Yep, same as ever.

I felt that she should really learn to make her opinions of others a bit less obvious…but had I said that out loud, she probably would’ve snapped at me and said that the floating fortress Chaos Breaker wasn’t in the business of customer service.

“Now then, this way. Lord Perugius awaits.”

She guided us along the usual route to the audience chamber. There was no conversation.

Sylphie walked alongside me, treading lifelessly as she clutched Sieg. To the other side of me walked Eris, who rested her hand on her sword’s hilt, ready to defend Sylphie at a moment’s notice. Zanoba walked behind me. He’d been told of the circumstances and looked mildly anxious as a result. Orsted walked with Zanoba and wore a helmet to keep his face hidden. 

Our party passed beneath the gate that Zanoba once breathlessly praised. Illusory beads of white light suddenly emanated from Sylphie and Sieg; they were probably coming out of me as well. The only thing I thought strange was that no such beads rose from Orsted; maybe he didn’t have that Laplace Factor thing?

“…”

Sylvaril looked our way but stayed silent. She swiftly led us inside. I took her lack of reaction as a sign.

“You see, Sylphie?” I assured her. “It’s gonna be no big deal.”

“Okay…”

No reaction was far from proof. Sylphie had hardly reacted, either.

Sylvaril continued walking without looking back at us. We passed through halls lined with luxurious decor until we found ourselves standing before a grand, tastefully designed door. Maybe seeing castles all around the world had changed my perspective… I was starting to understand why Zanoba had such glowing praise for this castle back then. Saying any of that out loud here would probably come off as brownnosing, though.

Sylvaril opened that grand door.

“Enter, if you’d please.”

At Sylvaril’s request, we entered the audience chamber. It was unchanged from when I saw it last. The pillars as wide as tree trunks, the giant chandeliers, the curtains emblazoned with the emblems of humanity and dragonfolk, and the twelve masked men and women standing on both sides of the red velvet carpet. Sitting on the throne was the silver-haired Dragon King.

The aesthetics of this place might be described as grand, glorious, or even divine. You could search the world over for an audience chamber that inspired half as much awe and never come close. The addition of Sylvaril would be the final piece in the puz—wait, was there someone extra here? Ah, Nanahoshi was mixed in. What was she doing here? Did she have a side gig as one of the spirit aides?

“Rudeus. You’ve arrived.”

“I have. It’s been some time, Lord Perugius.”

I bowed my head but remained standing. Sylphie, Eris, and Zanoba all took a knee. I normally would have kneeled as well, but I’d recently learned that, as Orsted’s subordinate, I shouldn’t be so quick to kneel before others.

I checked their reactions to be sure; Sylvaril seemed a bit ticked off, but Perugius didn’t say anything about it. I couldn’t attribute this to his mood, however, which was foul.

“You certainly kept me waiting.”

“Well… My son had just been born.”

“I’ve heard as much from Arumanfi, hence my willingness to wait. I wouldn’t be so forgiving had your reason been any more trifling than that.”

He might dismiss the birth of a child as “trifling,” but he wouldn’t castigate me over my choice. Truly a magnanimous monarch. He kept anxiously tapping on the dragon-shaped armrests of his throne.

“I take it from the look on your face that you know why I called you here.”

“Yes, I do.”

“And I take it from your party that you’re prepared to fight depending on how this conversation goes. Some commendable resolve.”

“Yes… I am.”

Perugius glared bitterly at Orsted. I couldn’t see Orsted’s expression from beneath the black helmet, but I could guess that it was as intimidating as ever. Good ol’ reliable Orsted.

“However, Lord Perugius, I believe it won’t come to that.”

“Well, now! It won’t lead to a fight, you say? I see, so you have that much confidence in your position!”

“We don’t have any reason to fight. Now, then… Sylphie?”

I had Sylphie stand and show Perugius the baby she carried.

“Lay your eyes upon my fourth child.”

“Hmm… Well? What of it?”

“Well, everything. Were you not the one who requested I bring the child born between Sylphie and me, Lord Perugius?”

Perugius stopped moving. His irritated tapping on the armrest stopped too. I continued regardless.

“I had Orsted look at him as well, and we can confirm that this child is not Laplace. However, I presumed that you wouldn’t be satisfied unless you saw him with your own two eyes. I considered declining to show him to you, but to maintain our amicable relationship, I decided it best to allow it.”

“…”

Perugius remained silent.

“However, if Orsted was perhaps wrong, and if this child really is Laplace…”

“Well? What then?”

“Then I’ll fight.”

Perugius’s eyebrow twitched.

“Have you not been traveling the world for the sole purpose of defeating Laplace in battle eighty years from now?”

“I have.”

“Yet you would fight to defend that very same Laplace?”

Now that he mentioned it, I was contradicting myself. I would protect this child, despite knowing he was Laplace. It would completely waste everything I’d spend these past few years doing.

“If my child grows up, and if he truly does bring about a war against all of humanity…then I’ll respond the way we’ve been preparing for all this time.”

“You wouldn’t consider nipping this problem in the bud?”

“I…would not.”

If my son were Laplace… A terrifying thought. I avoided thinking too deeply about it. In eighty years, Laplace would start a war. In response, I was negotiating with countries around the world to help ease Orsted’s burden. If Laplace were to appear right this moment, I’d probably fight in the war myself.

Stop for a moment and think it through. If a war never broke out, what then? If Laplace were to regain his senses and swear off of war, what then? Let’s say Laplace had just been born; there should be plenty of time to make him see reason. His schooling could make a difference. If we taught Laplace about everything that happened and everything that would come to pass, he might even become Orsted’s ally…

No. Orsted was clear; Laplace had to be killed. He must obtain the treasure of the dragonfolk. Which meant that the day would come where Orsted took my child’s life… Damn. No other conclusion.

Hold on, Rudeus. Caaalm down. If I took each thought one step at a time, I could find the path I wanted to take.

“My family will always come first in my priorities. I became a subordinate of Orsted’s because there were forces at work to harm them. If Orsted were planning to harm my family, then he’d have to do so over my dead body.”

“Even if the cause were your own son?”

“My plan…is to thoroughly teach him the difference between right and wrong. My children may be young, but while they’re still children—that is, until they turn fifteen—I will protect them. If they were to turn away from my advice after that, then I’d own up to my responsibility and deal with them.”

“Well, now. ‘Deal with them,’ you say. Might I ask how?”

“I’ll…teach them again. As best as I can.”

As best as I could. For what I couldn’t, well, being a child would be no excuse… Or, wait…

“So… You won’t say you’d kill them.”

“Everyone makes mistakes, so I’d like to give my children a second chance.”

That was the most I could say. I didn’t want to put anything beyond that into words. I didn’t want to think about a future in which Lucie, Lara, or Arus made enemies of Orsted and were ruthlessly killed.

But however lofty my lessons might be, there were times when that just wouldn’t be enough. Children rarely grow the way their parents plan. Heck, my own life barely went the way I planned it. They might have been my children, but I couldn’t expect them to live up to every hope I had for them. They were their own people. That’s why I wanted to give them a chance, if nothing else. A compromise.

“I have no children. As such, I fail to understand these ideas of yours. Ideas of allowing the seed of misfortune to grow only to weed it out yourself.” Perugius laughed at his observation.

“But you, you’re a foolish enough man to pick a fight with death for the sake of protecting your wives. Of course I wouldn’t understand. I can’t understand…but I can tell how strong your conviction is.”

Perugius descended from his throne and slowly walked toward us. He soon stood right in front of me, with his height demanding that I tilt my head upward.

“In light of this, I shall grant you a chance and a trial.”

“What do you mean?”

“Take your baby and travel to the shrine upon Aluce Hill, so that he may be baptized.”

“Aluce Hill?”

It was a landmark I’d never heard of. I looked around; almost everyone was tilting their heads in befuddlement. Orsted wasn’t, but I couldn’t make out his expression from under the helmet, either. Not that I thought that name was news to him, of course.

“Will that do, Nanahoshi?” asked Perugius while I was still processing the previous command. Curious as to why Nanahoshi’s name would come up here, I looked her way.

“I still haven’t wrapped my head around all of this…but I owe Rudeus a lot, so I’ll be fine.”

Nanahoshi sighed as she responded, like she was kinda let down. Maybe she had some other business here? She would need a good reason to stand among the familiars.

Sorry, but I had to steal the spotlight here. Family came first.

“Lord Perugius, where is this Aluce Hill?”

“Look for it yourself…is what I’d like to say, but I shall tell you. It’s hardly worth keeping secret when Orsted surely knows.”

“Ah, right. My apologies, but I appreciate the effort.”

In a clear, booming voice, he uttered the name of the one continent I had yet to set foot on.

“The Divine Continent.”