Mushoku Tensei Redundancy - Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Christina Greyrat is my youngest daughter . In our family of six children, we affectionately call her Chris .

Being the youngest child comes with having to endure unfair treatment . Always being on the lowest priority, the last to choose candies and having hand-me-downs for clothes – such is the fate of the youngest child .

However, Chris was different . Maybe because she was too good at acting cute or due to the fact that the eldest child, Lucy, was keeping the rest of the children in line… Chris was able to avoid the fate of other lastborn children . Not needing to endure much of anything, she grew up leading a carefree life .

Maybe I have spoiled her too much .

Not that i had any intentions to spoil her .

I planned to love all my children equally .

But out of all the kids, it was only Chris that i doted on without restraint .

Lucy and the rest of my children were all afraid of me .

I couldn’t understand why at first .

Somehow, it felt like I was being avoided . When they have things on their mind and want someone to confide with, it was mostly with Sylphy or Roxy .

Well if you want advice of course you would go to Sylphy or Roxy…

But aren’t there things only shared between men?

Maybe I am hated by my kids? There are days where I mull over things like that .

Last I heard from Sieg, it doesn’t seem like I am hated though… I am well respected in the house, thanks to all the effort I’ve put in till now . My children are all working hard so as to not disappoint me . Things like coming to me for advice are so absurd to them that it’s out of the question .

Naturally, I am happy about it .

It’s “Respect” after all .

I can’t be unhappy about it .

In my efforts to become a father with dignity, I more or less achieved results like I wanted, after all .

But at the same time, it’s kind of lonely…

Even I want to play catch-ball with my sons on off days, or listen to their troubles over some drinks… Ah –  I did the latter with Sieg the other day . I feel bad for Sieg who has this and that on his mind, but it was one of the happiest times I had . 1

Thanks to Sieg, the misunderstanding with Lucy was also cleared up .

I can’t thank Sieg enough .

And, amongst the children, only Chris wasn’t afraid of me . Speaking of not being afraid, Lara probably wasn’t afraid as well . Anyways, Chris was different from the other kids .

She always calls out, “Papa, Papa!” wanting me to spoil her . Kids like Lucy slowly become independent when they enter the Magic University, but Chris remained a Daddy’s girl even then .

Just when I thought she’d  stop sticking so close to me when she underwent puberty, she still remained the same . Almost everyday, she would talk about what happened in school with a bright smile . When she has issues, she would come to me asking for advice .

Yeah, of course I would end up spoiling her .

With just a bit of pestering, I would have bought cute clothes or other things she wants for her .

It’s not like I am giving Chris special treatment . If the other kids wanted me to spoil them, I would have done so in moderation . Because they don’t come to me wanting to get spoiled, it ended up with my spoiling Chris a little too much .

Truthfully speaking, I’ve also been spoiling Lara recently . Just the other day, she came pestering me for a lump of metal, which I prepared for her . Top quality Rudeus-brand metal bars . They’re made with earth magic, so rather than metal bars, it would be more accurate to call them lumps of rock… But it’s the same quality as the ones used to make my Magic Armor, so it’s almost entirely made of metal .

I don’t know what she’ll be using them for, but since she wanted them, I prepared some for her, to which she said, “Thanks, Papa” in monotone while hugging me .

Lara is, how should I put it… Rather than wanting me to spoil her, she seems to think that I am an easy person…

Well, that’s fine .

I don’t mind being an easy person .

It’s better than not being able to spoil her .

Leaving aside the matter with Lara, now it’s about Chris .

To be frank, Chris isn’t that outstanding as a kid . Mediocre for swordsmanship, also mediocre for magic . She wasn’t slacking off or anything, but she also wasn’t that passionate about it either . She wasn’t the worst of the kids . Just ordinarily graduating from the Magic University, ordinarily becoming an adult and ordinarily attending the Asura Royal Academy .

In our family, after graduating from the Magic University, children have to attend the Asura Royal Academy . This is so that they become independent . Being left in the real world alone, they have to somehow learn to live .

Life comes with its struggles . No matter what kind of lifestyle we lead, it will have its own share of difficulties .

As with most difficulties, overcoming them is possible, either through personal strength, coming up with tricks or even with aid from the friends and comrades we made in our journey .

Naturally, included in those ways of overcoming difficulties would be requesting help from our parents . There probably exist young people who don’t want to ask for help from their parents, but the option is definitely there .

Well, leaving aside matters of other families, if my children want my help, I will definitely try my best to help them, depending on the nature of the request .

Be that as it may, it’s not like I can always be by their side . Though our relationship as parent and child will never change, there are times where it just isn’t possible for us to help – for instance, when i have passed away from my limited lifespan .

That’s why, in school, where they can keep failing without consequence, they can get as much rehearsal as they want . Solving problems by using their head, moving their body, taking on responsibility for all of their actions .

To be honest, even though I said so much, I am still worried .

That is because Chris is so ordinary, honest to a fault, a crybaby and the most child-like out of my children .

…That crybaby going on with life without my protection, I wonder if she can really do it?

My worries don’t end there . Chris has always looked up to dazzling and pure princesses . Even attending the Asura Royal Academy is something she had been looking forward to since a long time ago .

Anyways… Real princesses really do attend the academy and they are indeed dazzling and pure, it’s not necessarily untrue . But the Asura Royal Academy is not as simple a place as that . Just like its namesake, it is a simulation for the actual Asura Royal Palace . A whirling mess of conspiracy – well, not to that extent, but power struggles between students are a daily occurrence .

For the time being, I made sure to properly teach her about that, but it falls on her deaf ears . After a moment of looking at me blankly, she laughed while saying, “Papa is such a worrywart!”

Such a timid and spoiled child going into that harsh place with a mistaken impression… I can’t help but keep worrying . Some incident will definitely occur . Just like how Sieg was hit hard by reality, Chris might become a NEET .

Honestly, we don’t have to force her through the academy . For example, Lily didn’t attend the Asura Royal Academy . Of course, that’s because she had a clear path she knew she wanted to go down . Even when she secured employment, she wanted to be taken into apprenticeship of becoming a craftsman . It was only due to her strong determination that I allowed it . Anyways, I didn’t want to let Chris attend the academy .

However, even with me opposing it, in the end, I couldn’t stop her . She is misunderstood about the academy . Dazzled by the illusion of a pretty and clean Asura Kingdom . She would probably find out soon that it’s all a lie and get a huge shock .

But that is all part of life . Lions would toss their cubs into the abyss and tigers would spend ten years training newbies to become villainous wrestlers . It’s okay if you fail . Even if you become like Sieg, we will look after you for awhile . Even Sieg spent some time being indecisive at home . In the end, he found the path he wanted to go down as well .

That is why I steeled my resolve and sent Chris on her way . Surely, she will come back home as a mature adult, or so I believed…

No, if you asked me whether I believed that, I actually did not really believe it that much . I thought she would come back crying to me in the first year of the academy .

Instead, contrary to my expectations, she didn’t come crying to me . Although there were many complaints in the periodic letters she sent me, there weren’t any nasty rumors .

Ahh, she must be doing well .

That’s what I thought .

Who would have thought that something like this would happen…

一一一

Asura Royal Academy Graduation Ceremony .

The graduation ceremony happens annually at the Asura Kingdom Royal Palace . Speaking of the graduation ceremony, all graduates are aligned in rows while standing up . Amidst the dignified atmosphere, one can imagine a scene where names of graduates are called out one by one, to receive graduation certificates .

Graduation ceremonies in my past life and in the Magic University probably also felt like this .

However, things at Asura Kingdom seemed to have a slightly different feel to them .

The graduates are gathered inside the castle’s huge auditorium and an extravagant party is about to be initiated .

Parties of similar styles like this often occurred inside the castle .

An obligation to be formally dressed up . The orderly lines outside the entrance . Greeting those of a higher social status than you . All of these are seen as an obvious thing to do in the society of Asura Kingdom, and that is exactly what is happening at this moment .

However, this reception party had two differences from the society of Asura Kingdom .

Firstly, the arrangement of having buffet meals while standing .

This arrangement became a common practice after Ariel became queen . The lower to middle aristocracy were praising it, saying “It gives us more chances to interact with people of higher status” while the upper aristocracy gave a different review, saying “This made it easier for us to win over people of lower standing that we had an eye on, denying the edge for other nobles to get ahead of us . ”

Supremacists and other nobles who couldn’t bear with standing due to their obesity were not really happy with this arrangement though…

Either way, it would be no problem if they just host another party in the traditional format . It’s all about segregation .

The second difference is that every single graduate present in the ceremony is deemed to be of equal social status . The students in the Asura Royal Academy come from various different backgrounds . From peasants to nobles, and even the are upper or lower classes of aristocrats within the nobility, there are many levels to the complex social structure .

Even after graduation, the students will differ vastly in their future endeavours . Some will go on to become knights, government officials or maids . Some will be married off to a foreign country and others will become feudal lords and succeed their parents in governing a small piece of territory .

But at the ceremony itself, everyone is equal . They are given the social status of “Graduate” and are allowed to remain standing even in the presence of royalty . Even if you are born in a slum, stole as a kid and had no ambitions after graduation, if you entered this school and survived the entire process, you would be “Graduate” today .

To manifest this equality, everyone was given extravagant ceremonial attire that no peasant could ever hope to afford .

It was packaged such wherever they go, they would not be embarrassed to be recognised as a graduate of the Asura Royal Academy .

Only for tonight, they enjoy a special social position .

They are the guests of honor and have the spotlight for tonight .

Of course, hierarchy still exists among the student population, so they are not necessarily treated the same .

Grades, popularity, contributions to school events… It would have been fine if that was all that mattered . However, if one were to be frank, the social status of a family is what really matters when it comes to determining the hierarchy .

While equality is constantly being emphasized, it was only for appearance’s sake .

Either way, seeing how the graduates would lose their identity as graduates and return to their formal social status the next day, it couldn’t be helped that this was the case .

Differences in social status are callous and unforgiving like that .

Now, the top of the hierarchy .

Among the student population, the most superior . The one who garners the most attention, and contributed the most to school events . Furthermore, the one who carries the lineage of the upper aristocracy .

One such person is now at the graduation party making a speech .

A speech representing all the school graduates .

As it is called, a commencement speech .

This graduation party is attended by Asura kingdom’s well-known aristocrats .

Among them, without a doubt is Ariel Anemoi Asura, the Queen of Asura Kingdom .

Being able to give a speech on how well-performed you are, and how much you have contributed to the kingdom in front of the queen .

It is a role of great honor .

Yet, it is just not for the honour alone . It is also a chance for the upper aristocrats to remember your name, and to show them how superior your house is .

That is why, for the parents who are heavily involved in the power struggle happening in the royal palace, they have placed a great deal of expectation on their kids .

They repeatedly emphasize to their kids, time and time again, the importance of being the top student – and kids, being kids, will try to live up to the expectations of their parents .

In order to attain excellent grades that will not bring shame to one’s family and allow one to confidently graduate from the academy, one has to be earnest; be it in their studies, school events or even in recruiting allies into their factions .

Of course, their parents’ expectations are not the only reason to strive for the top seat .

There is a good chance that people recruited into their factions would become retainers in their family after graduation . Also, it serves as good practice for those in the ensuing power struggle happening in the royal palace .

Being able to take over the top seat also meant that one could work in essential departments in the Asura Kingdom .

Of course, any student with ambition would strive to be the top student regardless of whether their parents were involved or not .

The one who emerged victorious from this intense competition and became the graduate representative was a single young lady .

The eldest daughter from the Asura Yellowsnake family, Viola Yellowsnake .

The Yellowsnake family might not match up to the Greyrats of the four feudal lords in terms of pedigree, but they hold an important post as the managers of the treasury of the Asura Kingdom . They exist to help manage the finances of the country .

In terms of their status, there is nothing to complain about, and no one had any qualms about her holding the post of the graduate representative .

The head of the Yellowsnake house was also extremely proud that his own daughter was able to attain the top rank of the school even in face of competition from the Greyrats or even royalty .

Viola is a beautiful young lady .

Her characteristic brownish-blonde hair was tied up in a braid . . What endowed her body was a deep red dress .

Usually, her thin, slightly pointed eyes leave others with a mean impression of her, yet at the speech her eyes displayed a dignified gleam .

Her manner of speech was bold, and you could tell she was used to speaking in front of a crowd .

Impressive .

[ 一一 From now on, the ability, knowledge and experience acquired from school will be used diligently to contribute to the country . Glory to the Asura Kingdom!]

Her speech ended without any problems and the audience unanimously gave a loud applause . That signals the end of the graduate representative address . What’s left is just for Her Majesty Ariel to give her congratulatory address, a toast with Viola with ceremonial music in the background and it will be time for food, dance and small talk . Then I will be able to go over to Chris and give my blessings . While I have those thoughts, I can’t help but let loose a smile . Chris probably also has her position to consider, so I have to greet her with my smartest face . As I was lost in those thoughts, something unbelievable happened .

[… However, there is someone that is unworthy of being called a graduate from the venerable Asura Royal Academy . ]

Viola continued talking . The speech has ended, but it seems that she still has some things she has to let off her chest… Even though she was delaying Ariel’s congratulatory address that’s happening right after this . She actually did something so disrespectful, but Ariel only made a surprised face while being silent . Since Viola wasn’t reprimanded, she continued what she was about to say .

Viola began exposing all the evil deeds that person has done right from the beginning .

She started the story with trivial harassment, like placing needles on shoes on the day of the dance event, destroying the textbooks of students of higher grades .

She raised her grades by selling favors and engaging in flattery with the teachers . Also, she arranged for students of lower social status to sneak into the staff room and steal the test answers . How cunning!

She bullied the female students who lost their home and used her large  entourage of male admirers to boss people around . Undeniably an underhanded, evil and unpleasant person .

She fed a stray dog that wandered into campus grounds and built a doghouse at the back of the school . She even crushed a cockroach that came out of the staff room with her bare hands . The speech also included things that didn’t make much sense like this as well .

[To kick down others, to give evil such a high evaluation, are such actions appropriate for a graduate from the honorable Asura Royal Academy?]

While carrying herself like she was in a performance, she looked at her surroundings . There sat the highest nobility of the Asura Kingdom . In response to her words, they frowned and began saying things like, “Outrageous!” or “If that’s true, then it is unacceptable that this person is allowed to graduate!”

Well, the so-called evil deeds she brought up are daily occurrences in the Asura Royal Palace, but the nobles continued to comment about this evildoer . Reason being, if people are caught committing crimes in the royal palace, they would be severely punished . In other words, committing crimes without getting caught is their brand of justice .

Viola’s gaze was directed towards the deepest parts of where the Asura Nobility were . There sat the Queen of this country, Ariel . Towards Viola’s stream of accusations and exposure of this evil-doer’s crimes, she listened while keeping quiet .

When Viola looked directly at Ariel, the gazes of the crowd naturally shifted towards Ariel . Following that, the noisy crowd gradually started to settle down . When silence returned to the audience hall, Ariel opened her mouth .

[What is the name of that person?]

Those were quiet words, but for some reason it resounded clearly throughout the audience hall . Viola raised the corners of her mouth without her realising it, and pointed towards a certain place in the venue .

[That person…]

There lies the figure of a girl who had already started eating chicken nuggets with her fingers before the toast was done . Right beside her was a docile girl with brown hair who hurriedly tried to wipe the nugget-eating girl’s mouth .

Opposite of the nugget-eating girl, with a table between them was a handsome guy acting as if he was saying, “Already? What am I going to do with you…” Beside the brown-haired docile girl was another handsome guy with a wry smile . And…

Wait, around that nugget-eating girl, there’s somehow a lot of handsome guys .

Could it be that she’s really popular?

[Is Christina Greyrat!]

[Hm?]

In response to the stares coming from the entire audience hall, she only showed a blank face .

—

1 . Events that happened in Jobless Oblige . I only recalled while translating this arc, but this arc occurs after Jobless Oblige . Personally I do not think any information here will spoil the enjoyment of Jobless Oblige so I will continue to finish up this arc .