Mushoku Tensei: Sword, Magic Hats, and Romance!

The next morning, Rudeus stepped out of his room bright and early, just like he'd promised. The plan was to review yesterday's match with Allen in the courtyard and reflect on ways to improve.

Still rubbing sleep from his eyes, he padded down the hall. Oddly enough, the sounds coming from downstairs were livelier than usual—Zenith and Lilia were bustling in the kitchen, their voices bright with chatter.

Rudeus didn't think much of it.

He stopped at Allen's bedroom door and pushed it open without hesitation.

The door gave way smoothly—Allen had never been the type to lock it.

But inside, the curtains were drawn shut, keeping the room dim and shadowy. Not like Allen, who usually let the light in first thing.

Rudeus glanced toward the bed and saw the familiar lump beneath the covers, the blanket gently rising and falling with each breath.

Huh. Allen's sleeping in? After all that talk about getting up early—guess yesterday's fight drained him more than he thought.

He was the one who suggested the early start. Now he's slacking? Heh.

Grinning to himself, Rudeus tiptoed to the bed, grabbed a corner of the blanket, and yanked it with gusto.

"Wake up, you bare-assed freak!"

The blanket flew into the air.

A breeze stirred through the window, lifting the edge of the curtain.

Moonlight—no, morning light—fell softly on the face of a peacefully sleeping Roxy.

Rudeus stood frozen, staring blankly at her face.

Then, without a word, he slapped himself.

Did I dream too hard last night? I'm hallucinating Allen as Roxy? Hahaha, how weird…

Wait… but why is Allen wearing Roxy's clothes…?

He scrubbed his face hard, then looked again.

Still Roxy.

Still asleep.

And just beginning to stir.

Across the room, footsteps approached.

Someone pushed the door open behind him.

"Roxy? Come on, you really should get up. Rudeus might come by any minute—"

Allen stopped mid-sentence at the sight before him.

Rudeus turned his head slowly to look at the woman in bed—blinking, confused.

Then he turned, even more slowly, to face Allen.

Allen's expression was one of pure horror.

Rudeus stared at him in utter silence, the aura around him reminiscent of that scene in the original story where a child had dared to call the Dragon God "Dad."

He smiled coldly.

"Please. Explain."

Allen blinked rapidly.

"Rudeus. Calm down. I can explain."

From the bed, Roxy stirred again and sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"Huh… Allen? Oh, morning. Thanks for last night. If you hadn't woken me, I wouldn't even remember when I crawled into bed. I do recall us talking by the table… Anyway, I haven't slept that well in ages. You really helped me out. And thanks for heating the bath too—"

Roxy, please. PLEASE stop talking.

A giant red "DANGER" sign might as well have lit up over Allen's head.

Someone save me. Please.

The next moment, Rudeus's enraged voice shook the entire Greyrat household.

"ALLEN!!"

"I can explain!! First of all, she's fully clothed!! Hold on—WAIT!"

"[Water Ball]!!"

"[Flow]—NO NO NO STOP!! The BED! Roxy is still on the bed!!"

"Water… huh?"

Both boys turned their heads in unison to look at Roxy, now drenched by the redirected [Water Ball]. She sat blinking, arms over her head, not quite awake enough to process what had just happened.

Right then, Zenith and Lilia—already informed that Roxy had returned—came rushing to the door.

Zenith took one look at the dripping wet Roxy, then at the two boys wearing matching expressions of panic and guilt.

Her smile was gentle. Her fists were clenched.

Her voice came out through gritted teeth.

"Allen. Rudeus. You two seem to be getting along very well. That's just so reassuring."

At breakfast, Allen and Rudeus sat side-by-side at the table, both sporting matching panda eyes and sitting as straight as pins.

Zenith wasn't done.

"Before Allen showed up, I used to think Rudeus was such a good child. So obedient. But clearly he was just lonely, without a peer to play with. And you, Allen—you're four years older than him. Yet somehow you act more childish."

"We're sorry!!" they chorused.

Both technically the same age, the two exchanged a silent glance—then slowly turned their gaze across the table.

Roxy, who had shifted from wanting a morning bath to being forced into one, now wore a casual outfit from her travel trunk. She sipped tea calmly, eyes on her cup, lips straight. But the subtle lift at the corner of her mouth betrayed the amusement she was doing her best to hide.

Paul, meanwhile, grinned cheerfully.

"Well, since Roxy's here, she should stay for a few days. We'll clear out the storage room next door and give that to, uh… Allen."

Roxy cast Allen a side-glance.

That was the alibi he'd whispered to her earlier that morning. On one hand, it was to keep the Greyrat family from worrying. On the other, Rudeus still didn't know Allen's true identity.

In Roxy's view, Rudeus was still too young to be burdened with the truth about noble feuds.

Allen had a different concern: once Rudeus entered adolescence and headed to Roa, he might casually let slip that Allen was Eris's brother.

He wasn't worried about James targeting him again—what he feared was the chain reaction of butterfly effects that could result from his identity being exposed too soon.

Paul chuckled.

"Getting your money stolen and having to walk all the way here late at night—that's so Roxy."

Roxy choked on her tea. Zenith, ever composed, reached out to gently pat her back.

Roxy shot a sleepy glare at Allen.

That ridiculous excuse? His idea. Said it fit her "character."

Do I really come off as that clumsy?

"Oh, sweetheart," Zenith cooed. "That's part of your charm."

"Mhm, it really is."

Roxy: ...

Allen: …

Rudeus looked between them, devastation written all over his face.

Why is Allen so good with women?! It's not fair! I'm so jealous…

Ugh, I have to get him back somehow—wait a minute!

His eyes went wide. He stared hard at Allen.

He's got dirt on me… the shrine. That damn shrine. He's holding it over me!

Allen felt the heat of Rudeus's glare and sighed, rubbing his temple.

He continued eating, but something tugged at him.

What was it…? I feel like I'm forgetting something important…

He shook his head.

Whatever. If it's important, I'll remember it eventually.