Mushoku Tensei (WN) - Volume 11 - Chapter 106

Mushoku Tensei:Web Chapter 106 - Baka-Tsuki 
When I went to school with Sylphy, 
I learned that Norn became a shut-in. 

The ones who told me were Rinia and Pursena. 
They waited at the school's front gate first thing in the morning. 
They told me that ever since yesterday, Norn secluded herself in her own dorm room and wouldn't come out. 

"...I'll go see her!" 

When she heard that, Sylphy quickly headed towards the female dormitory. 

When I heard that, I stopped moving. 
Even though I could've gone with Sylphy. 
The fact that 'Norn became a shut-in' made me lose my wits. 

To me, becoming a shut-in has a heavy meaning. 

"Boss...shouldn't you go?" 
"Are you going to leave her alone?" 

I was overcome with surprise. 
What is there to do? What is there that I could do? 
I did not know. 

During my time, I never came out when I was a shut-in. 
Why? 
Because outside was full of enemies. 
If I went to school, I would be bullied again. 

Yes. 
It must be bullying. 
Even if a shut-in was to go outside, she'll just suffer. 
In that case, I need to get rid of the source. 
Instead of meeting up with Norn, I need to get rid of the reason why Norn became a shut-in. 
I instantly started thinking. 

Reason. 
The first and foremost, was she's being bullied. 

My memories of that time were clear as day. 
The cafeteria at high school. 
Waiting in line for 5 minutes, then when I thought it was finally my turn, 
Some scary looking delinquents cut in front of me. 
With my stupid sense of justice, I warned them. 
The delinquents acted dumb, saying 'huh? like I care'. 
I then raised my voice, so that other people around could hear me as I spread word of what they did. 
People then started looking our way. 
I became proud, that my justice was asserted. 

Then, I got beaten to a pulp. 
I got knocked to a point where I couldn't get up again. 
After that incident, everyday life was hell. 

If Norn is experiencing that same kind of hell, 
I wish to rescue her from there. 
I'll beat those misfits down, and give her a place to belong. 

I'll fight those who protect the delinquents. 
I don't care if they are nobles or royalty. 
I'll fight them with all my strength. 
I'll make them regret it for making me fight seriously. 

Even if it was Norn's actions and words that started it. 
In this world there are those who do good, and those who do bad. 

Norn is my sister. 
Even though she hates me, even though she hates Aisha, 
And even though she can't stomach our present situation, 
She's my sister. 

An elder brother is someone that must protect his younger brothers and sisters. 
An elder brother must not abandon them. 
I took along Rinia and Pursena, and headed towards the freshman classrooms. 
Though it would have sufficed to go alone, I do not have any confidence in my own appearance. 
If I am with Rinia and Pursena, no one will make light of me. 

"Boss..." 
"Rinia, stop, he's really angry, it's scary." 

The two had some doubts towards my actions. 
It's not like I don't know. 
Even I am aware that my actions are unbecoming of me. 
It's not like I don't understand the feelings of pity of those that are with me. 

But, right now I am an overprotective parent. 
I throw away my shame. 

In the first-year classrooms, I arrived at the room that Norn attends. 
It seems homeroom has already begun. 

"Excuse me." 

I opened the door, and boldly went inside. 

"Ru, Rudeus... We're in the middle of class." 
"I wish to borrow a bit of your time. Is that fine?" 
"But..." 
"I said, is that fine?" 

I brushed aside the teacher, and stood in front of the podium. 
I surveyed the classroom. 
Everybody had puzzled expressions. 
Surely among them were those that bullied Norn. 
Did they punch her, did they kick her? 
They might also have verbally abused her. 
I came here to tear the person limb from limb, who hurled insults at Norn who was not getting along with her family. 

"Everybody, you may know this already, but there was a person who didn't attend yesterday in this classroom." 
"..." 
"Everybody, whether or not you are aware of it, she is my sister." 

The classroom was murmuring. 

"While I have not heard the circumstances from her,there are not many reasons for her to skip school. 
Like a reason where she doesn't want to come to school. 
A person in here has made that a reason. 
That's what I believe." 

I looked around the classroom as I said that. 
Having met my eyes, many of them turned away. 
With a scary face, even though they're first years they are destroying uniforms. 
Suspicious. It must be them. 
But wait, isn't it perhaps that number one head? 
Though I can't remember her name. 
Could it be...? 
No, it's still too early to tell. 

"To the ones that did, I am not asking for much. 
It may be that perhaps there was a bad flow of events that occurred by mistake while intending to play with her or getting along with her. 
It could be that my sister was in the wrong." 

I kept a watchful eye in the classroom. 
Who was it, who was it that did something so cruel? 
Is it her? That noble that looks like bonbon? 
Or is it her? That demon-race fellow with an evil face? 
No, those normal looking group of girls are suspicious. 
Those who bully look like normal children at a glance, after all. 

"If possible, please name yourself. 
I will not be angry. 
Just that, I want to know why my sister was hurt, and for you to apologize." 

Once they name themselves, I'll tear them apart. 
There are those who are in the same year as Norn in here. 
However there are a lot of those that are her seniors. 
Some of them are over 15. 
Did they pretend they didn't see anything? Or did they participate in the bullying? 
Against a ten year old child? 

"..." 

Nobody said anything. 
They were taken aback in astonishment, and just looked at me. 

"Uh, um..." 

A girl nervously raised her hand. 
I immediately wanted to create a rock cannon and shoot it at her, but I stopped. 
It was a very timid girl. 
She seems to be about 13. A raccoon-type from the Beast Tribe. 
She had a short bob, looked somewhat slow-headed, and round. 
In fact, she seems like a person that would be bullied. 

"D, during this time, I talked with Norn-chan..." 
"Did you say something bad by mistake?" 

If it was just a quarrel, then it can't be helped. 

"N, no, um, I, I know about Rudeus-san. 
But, Norn-chan is a normal girl. 
That's why, when I said she's totally different from her brother, she got really angry..." 

Angry? 
When Norn was told she was different from me? 
What's up with this? 

"Ah." 

Suddenly, the teacher next to me spoke up. 
I looked at her. 
She was a middle-aged teacher. 
Don't tell me, had she said something? 
Bullying does not happen only between children. 
It's possible that the teacher may have been leading it. 

"Do you remember anything, teacher?" 
"The other day, Norn-san turned in some homework..." 
"You gave out a lot of homework, and since she wasn't able to finish them in time so you made her stand in the staff room naked?" 
"N, no way! Just that, her grades were somewhat bad, so I told her to more diligent like her brother." 
"..." 
"Then, with a face that's about to cry, she said 'I'll do my best'." 

Huh? 
This time she wanted to cry? 

"Come to think of it. I too..." 

Beginning from the teacher, other people in the classroom also spoke up. 
We moved from the classroom into the cafeteria. 
At this time, the cafeteria is deserted. 
I sat somewhere, and buried my face on the table. 

I was slightly overwhelmed. 

It was all my fault. 
Norn was being compared to me, and while I was being used as a reference, she revealed her feelings. 

The students in that classroom realized that me and Norn were brother and sister. 
Of course. 
Unlike Aisha, me and Norn come from the same father and mother. 
Our faces are quite similar. 

And, Norn hates being with me. 
Of course, when being compared, she hates it when my name is praised. 

Ah, of course, they were not in the wrong. 
At the very least, it wasn't like they were making comparisons with ill intent. 
There were those who were intimate enough to say those things. 
That she was different from that infamous leader of misfits. 

However, I am a celebrity in school. 
And being famous, it was easy for people to make comparisons. 

However, for Norn, that comparison was painful. 
Even at their previous school, she was always being compared to Aisha. 
Being looked at as inferior, the stress built up must have affected her lifestyle as well. 

Being in a new school, living in the dorms, 
She was finally able to separate from Aisha. 

Or, so she thought, but now she's being compared to me. 
No matter where she goes, she'll be regarded as the most inferior child among us as brother and sisters. 
It must be painful for her. 

Not to mention, that incident with the panties. 
Amongst the freshmen, there wasn't anybody that was scarred by it. 
Thanks to the follow-up Ariel did, it merely became a funny story. 
Although I heard that they were coerced into stripping, rather than such a ghastly tale, it was a cheerful spectacle of Rinia trading panties. 
To those watching from the sidelines thinking there was extortion going on, Ariel reported that story to them. 
I left the follow-up to Ariel. 
She had the ability to do so. 

Even so, Norn must have received an indescribable shock. 
That such a pervert was above her. 

"Haa..." 

What am I even doing? 
Getting ahead of myself, going to the classroom. 
Saying all those things. 
What kind of 'overprotective parent' am I? 
Wasn't I just a big idiot? 

"Thank you, both of you. It seems I am an idiot." 

For now, I thanked them. 
They were following an idiot. 
I had made them do such useless things. 

"You're not an idiot for acting on your sister's behalf." 
"But that was surprising. I've got a better opinion of you now." 

I made a cup, and poured water into it. 
Then drank. 
There was no taste. 
But, I managed to take a break. 

"Hey, Boss. What will you do now?" 
"There's nothing I can do. It's my fault that she became a shut-in." 

She shut herself in. 
Yes, she's confined herself. 
Although it's only been one day. 
She has shut herself in. 

"We must make her attend class by force." 
"That's right nya." 
"If she doesn't come out she'll become a moron." 
"Right nya, Right nya." 
"She'll become a moron like Rinia." 
"It's as Pursena says nya...What!?" 

I have no time for this comedy duo. 

I understand very well the difficulties of a shut-in. 
It's not like anybody likes to decide that they don't want to leave their room. 
To not come out, there's a reason that makes them not come out. 
Even if you forced them to come out, nothing will be resolved. 
It'll just make the situation worse. 

Even so, remaining a shut-in is no good. 
She'll definitely regret it. 
After a month or two, the time where she doesn't do anything just passes by. 
Since I'm the one saying this, I can't be wrong. 

But, even if I explained it she won't understand. 
The words that precisely because you shut yourself in until you regret it, to return back to those days. 
If she becomes shut in for one year, or ten years, no regrets will form. 
And then, when she does begin to regret, it will be too late. 

That's why parents are always making their children do their best. 
Because they will more or less regret it. 

"As siblings, as one with the lowest ability, what can she do when other people say things like that?" 

When I asked them and met their faces, they just shrugged. 

"...I'm not an idiot so I don't understand nya." 
"We do reasonably well." 

Come to think of it, these guys were idiots and not leadership material, so they were sent here. 
The patriarch probably told them to study and be suitable leaders. 

Though they are idiots, if they're that optimistic then it's not a problem, I guess. 
However, Norn is very naïve. 
I'll be troubled to put her together with them. 

"Ah, but, there's one other thing nya." 

Rinia proudly boasted that name. 

"Aunt Ghislaine was a violent person that couldn't do anything well, but when she began swordsmenship she became a Sword King nya." 
"Ah...I see." 

Ghislaine was a bit of an exception. 
However, it was probably an unexpected talent that she had. 

To begin with, there's no need for me and Aisha to do the same thing. 
If you don't want to be compared, just do things that can't be compared with. 
Though I can't of anything like that. 
However, the world is big. 
Be it magic, or swordsmanship, one can discover anything. 

Or perhaps, find a passion to do something despite having no talent. 
Like Zanoba. 
However, even so Zanoba was happily doing it everyday. 
Creating dolls, viewing them, loving them, and even collecting them. 
That alone was fine. 
Living happily like that is fine. 

However, if I said that she wouldn't accept it. 
If it was me, I wouldn't accept it. 

"Be as it may, what can I say?" 
"There's no need to think about it so hard nya. Just say it straight out nya." 
"That's right. Tell her to come right out and take classes." 

You guys can say it so easily. 
But, if that's the case. 
Is it because I always think too hard? 
Thinking about it, Norn is only ten years old. 
She might just be throwing a tantrum. 

In the first case, even though she's still shut-in, it's only been a day, and this is only day 2. 
If it's only to that extent, rather than being a shut-in, isn't she merely secluding herself? 
Anybody would seclude themselves whenever they feel down. 

It's not about talking. 
It's not about taking action. 
Thinking about it, isn't this just <running away>? 

As a brother I should support her, and make her living comfortable as much as I can. 
Isn't that alright? 
To have such gloomy thoughts, isn't that fine? 

Aside from middle school and high school students, Norn is still an elementary third-grader. 

"Alright, let's meet with her." 

Before I realized, I had already decided. 

"Then that's good nya." 
"One slap to the face is good." 

Though I said to meet, will she listen to what I say? 
The cause of this was me. 
What I want to say or ask, I can't think of anything. 
No, I won't think right now, but I should say something when I meet her. 

"Can I meet with her?" 

Norn was in the girl's dorm. 
Even if I walk to the front of the dorms, I will probably not be allowed to go in. 

"We'll just enter by force nya." 
"We'll sneak in. Let us guide you." 

Rinia and Pursena thumped their big chests. 
Infiltrating. 
Though, it wasn't that difficult. 
I have a lot of allies on my side. 
Sylphy and Princess Ariel was here too. 

When I told Ariel about the situation, she willingly became an ally. 
Even so, aside from Goria-de, the girl's dormitory vigilante patrols were not sympathetic to my cause, so we had snuck in. 

The spies were Rinia, Pursena, and Sylphy. 

Sylphy was downcast. 

"Sorry, even though I told you to leave it to me with Norn-chan in the dorms...I hadn't asked her anything..." 
"No, it's not your fault Sylphy, I am the one to blame." 

I explained to Sylphy what happened. 
That it was my fault that Norn became a shut in. 
Sylphy had a dark face, and shook her head. 

"It's not Rudi's fault." 
"But, I..." 

I had... 
No, I hadn't done anything. 
What I should do, I do not know. 
But, I must do something. 
Night time. 
I headed over to the girl's dorm during dinnertime. 
Currently, a majority of the female students are at the cafeteria. 
Ariel is making a speech there. 
In order to hear her, people have gathered at there to listen. 
However, it wasn't everybody. 
The cafeteria can't hold that many people, after all. 

Even so, as a plan to draw out the vigilante patrols as much as possible, it was successful. 
I moved as close as I can to the private window that we established. 
The window frame is decorated with one flower. 
I moved towards that window, then threw a small pebble from below. 
When the pebble hit the window frame, the window quickly opened. 
I used my Earth Magic <Earth Spear>, lifted myself with it, and quickly went in. 
At the same time, I released the earth spear, and it returned to the ground. 

The moment I enter the room, my nose is filled with the smell of an animal. 
Though it smells, it's not a smell that I am revolted with. 
That is to say, it's the smell of beast girl that's in puberty. 
As a living being, for a person who wants to make children with her, it's a smell they are tolerant with. 

"Good work." 
"Welcome nya." 

Rinia welcomed me. 
Her eyes were glittering in the darkness. 
Those were cat eyes. 

I surveyed my surroundings. 
Fundamentally, it's the same as any other room. 
A double-bunk bed, a desk and chair, a closet. 
Although it was dark, I can see things are scattered around. 

"Please don't stare at me like that nya, it's embarassing." 
"Pardon me." 

In the darkness, I fumbled around for the exit. 
My hand felt something. 
The material felt quite soft. 

"Ah, that's Pursena's bra." 
"..." 

Pursena wears this size? 
It's big. 

"Hmm, it's ok if you bring that along, you know?" 
"No it isn't." 

I threw Pursena's brassiere away. 
Normally, I would inhale the smell inside it, but I don't have time for that right now. 

Rinia knocked from the inside. 
A knock was returned. 

"It's okay now." 

At the same time when she said that, I dove into the cart that was prepared for me. 
It was a cart used to carry laundry. 
I slipped into the sheets covering it. 

I understood from the smell. 
These are sheets that Sylphy uses. 
In order to hide me completely, it was packed with blankets, shirts, and underwear. 
All of them belonged to Sylphy. 

However, for some mysterious reason I wasn't excited at all. 
It's about Norn right now. 
Currently, Norn must be feeling quite bitter. 
Being a shut in, secluding herself, being alone. 
I must save her. 
As her elder brother. 

"Alright, let's go nya." 

The cart began to move. 
In the meantime, I thought about Norn. 
It's fine if it's just a child's temper. 
However, if it was something far more deeply-rooted... 

I wonder if I can do anything. 
At the least, before my brothers drove me out, I never went out of the house. 
Now in a position as an elder brother or parent, 
I could not think of a way to make her come out. 

"We've arrived nya." 

Not having collected my thoughts together, 
The cart already arrived at its destination. 

It's Norn's room. 
I went inside. 

It's dark. 
The lights weren't on. 
I lit up a candle that was in the corner of the room. 

The light dimly illuminated the place, and I saw a girl sitting on the bed hugging her legs. 
Within the darkness, a pair of eyes were seen. 
Norn just sat there, and stared at me. 

"..." 
I walked cautiously, and sat on a chair. 

In times like this, what should I say? 
What can I say that would make her listen? 
I do not know. 

The things I thought I wanted to say, were all blown away. 

The only thing I remember was that she'll hate it if I said those words. 
It was something that I did not easily want to say. 

At the very least, it's forbidden to talk without listening to her. 
<Go to school.> 
<Who do you think is paying for you?> 
<Don't cause trouble for others.> 
Those words would have an opposite effect. 

Like Rinia and Pursena said, it might be good to hit her once. 
Norn is still ten, and she might even listen to me. 
However, that won't solve anything. 
Perhaps, in the near future, something like this will happen again. 
And at that time, Norn will become even more stubborn. 

In the first place, the cause of her becoming a shut-in was me. 
What kind of face should I make when saying that? 
Should I hit my arrogant face when I say that? 

Then, should I apologize first after all? 
But if I apologize, would that solve anything? 
Rumors of me won't go away, and Norn will still be compared to me. 

"Norn." 
"Nii-san." 

Our voices were strained. 
I wanted to listen to Norn's words, and kept my mouth shut and stayed silent. 
Norn too, also kept her mouth shut. 
It felt like a once in a lifetime chance went away. 

I decided to speak up first. 

"Norn. I'm sorry. It's been painful ever since you came here, right?" 

Norn didn't say anything. 

"Even though you just entered into a new school, but because of me, all of this happened. I don't know what to say..." 

Norn didn't say anything. 

"I, didn't know what you were going through..." 

Norn didn't say anything. 

I didn't know what else to say. 
Even though I was thinking of various things to say before I came here. 
In the first place, I didn't know a single thing about Norn. 
Being distant, being unfeeling, I did not even try to know about her. 

"...Even though things became like this, I don't know what to do." 

Norn kept silent. 
I don't know what she was thinking. 
Nor do I know whether or not she was listening to me. 

So it's no good after all? 
Should I leave her as is until Paul returns? 

Yes. 
That's right. 
I should withdraw for now, and consult with various people. 
If I ask Nanahoshi for her opinion who is similar to Norn, I might know something. 
If it's Elinalise, she might be able to draw her out. 
It's not like I have to take it upon myself to solve this. 

"...Ah." 

Suddenly, I remembered my past. 
When I was a shut-in, I remembered when my older brother came to my room. 
During that time, he faced me and made logical arguments that hit close to home. 
I had spit on that from the depths of my heart. 

Even so my older brother stayed with me for a while. 
Looking at me, with his eyes that wanted to say something. 
Thinking that he didn't understand my feelings, I rejected him even at the very end. 

...So this is how my elder brother felt. 

Me, who didn't react to anything, and my elder brother who was silent. 
I don't know how many hours my brother was there until he left. 
From then afterwards, my elder brother never contacted me again. 
After that, I didn't know what my elder brother thought. 

However, even though he no longer came, many others did. 
Perhaps that was his way of trying to help me out. 
In the end, I didn't even lend an ear to what the others have said. 

...Perhaps. 
If I leave here, I won't be able to come back. 
Norn will also remain a shut-in. 
I must not leave here. 

Within this dimly lit room, I continued to look at her.