Paul Greyrat
Hey there. I'm Paul Greyrat, a man on the verge of being defeated by his seven-year-old son.
And I'm not speaking metaphorically. This isn't even a warning. I'm saying it right now, with sweat pouring down my face: my son is about to beat me, all while looking at me with that calm he's always had.
I was an idiot father; I admit it. And as a husband, I failed at the most basic thing: trust... During the birth, I lashed out at Zenith right after she had used every last drop of her strength to bring our son into the world. Why? Because I am an idiot—indecisive and insecure. I let my fears and my own past actions take the wheel. I tried to see the reflection of my own filth in Zenith, but the only thing I got back was a look of disappointment. One that I still remember to this day.
However, the moment this kid gripped a sword and showed his potential, I knew immediately he was my son. Deep down I knew it since he was a baby—after all, we share the same birthmark... but seeing him fight confirmed it. Although, I have to admit he views the sword differently. He doesn't have my wild style; he is serious, technical, lethal.
As always.
"Again, Father! It's not enough!"
He didn't say it as a request. He launched himself at me as if we had just started training. On pure reflex, I parried his attack and stepped aside, deliberately lowering my sword to force him to understand that we were done.
This was the twentieth time I'd lost this morning.
I was on a twenty-loss streak. But I could sense that every victory of mine felt more... hollow? Difficult, without a doubt. Beating him was becoming as complicated as trying to balance sand on the edge of my blade.
"Son... Please, your mother is going to kill me, give it a rest..." I said, wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my hand.
"I can continue."
"But I need a break."
"But..."
"Listen to your father, honey!" Zenith shouted from the window.
The shout made my son jump and drop his sword immediately.
"Oh, so you listen to her, huh?" I snorted. "Hmph, you're breaking my heart."
Zenith came out and shot me that look that clearly said: 'I win, dear.' She walked over to Daiki with a cloth and started drying his forehead and his sweat-soaked hair.
"...Son, what did we talk about regarding overtraining?"
"...I'm sorry, Mom..."
I let out a small chuckle. Seeing someone as serious and reflective as him being treated like the seven-year-old kid he actually was, while he struggled to maintain his facade of maturity... I had to admit, it was cute and pretty funny.
"Look at him, quite the Mama's boy..." I teased.
But Zenith glared daggers at me instantly.
"Do you want to sleep in the shed with the farming tools, dear?"
I shut my mouth. I didn't have the guts to talk back... When she handed down a sentence, my only option was to stand still.
"I thought so..." she said, satisfied.
Then, she turned her attention back to our son and squeezed him tightly against her chest.
Little rascal, I thought, watching how he let himself be pampered, milking the situation...
"Son, I left your food served. Go eat something; you need it to grow strong."
He nodded and went into the house immediately. He had tried to hide it during training, but his stomach was roaring with the ferocity of an A-Rank Beast... Of course, if we're comparing danger levels, Zenith when she gets angry is an SS-Rank threat.
I waited for the door to close before shifting my tone.
"Zenith."
"Yes, dear?"
"When is the reply coming?"
"From the letter?" She paused for a moment. "It should arrive today or tomorrow."
I looked at Zenith and then shifted my gaze toward the practice sword Daiki had left on the ground.
"That boy... If he stays here, he'll stagnate. I can barely teach him anything new anymore. That's why we need Ghislaine."
"And Rudy needs that job to be able to pay for Sylphiette's tuition at the university..." Zenith sighed, with a half-smile. "He was so enthusiastic about the idea that I didn't have the heart to say no."
-
A few hours passed... three, maybe four. I'm not sure. Sometimes, taking care of two babies at the same time makes you completely lose track of time.
I had it too easy with Rudy and Daiki. It was a walk in the park.. they never cried, never complained. But these little ones... They cry about almost everything.
Now that there is finally silence, they are both holding onto my fingers tightly.
"Father? Did you call for me?"
He approached the shared crib and placed his hands gently on their foreheads. He immediately applied healing and detoxification magic. He always made sure they were okay, especially today given the unbearable heat.
They let out a little giggle upon seeing the particles. They reacted with joy, just as they always do whenever he is around.
"It's about your future, son."
"My future?"
"That's why I wanted to talk to you beforehand... I know you'll understand, right?"
He seemed to consider it for a moment.
"You are going to the city of Roa in a few days..."
"...What?"
"There, you will have a special teacher. Someone much better than me, capable of truly pushing you forward on the path of the sword." I swallowed my pride entirely. "I can't teach you anything else, son. I've hit my ceiling with you. What comes next depends on you. Besides... you'll have to teach her how to read and write. Let's say it's part of the payment, because her lessons cost a fortune."
Norn and Aisha finally fell asleep. With a sigh, I slumped into the chair across from him.
"And about Rudy... He will also go to Roa, but with a different purpose... His job will be to teach magic, arithmetic, and other theoretical subjects that I honestly don't remember. But listen, this is the important part: I'm going to have to knock him out. He to the young lady and you to Ghislaine."
I paused, looking him in the eye so he would understand that this wasn't a joke.
"Alright, Father. I understand."
He said it just like that. Then he looked up, showing a small crack in his armor.
"Will you at least allow me to say goodbye to Mother, to Lilia, and to my sisters?"
"Of course..." I felt relieved that he didn't put up a fight; I couldn't simply "knock out" this boy without having to rough him up too bad. "Just don't say anything to your brother. You know how he is..."
*
Daiki Greyrat - Days Later
I went down to the kitchen.
"Daiki?"
"Mom... I need to tell you something."
The words barely made it out... I was still struggling to process it.
"What is it, sweetie?"
"You know... Today is the day. I have to leave for Roa with Rudy. It's going to be five years..." I paused. "It has to be a surprise. Rudy doesn't know they're going to knock him out to get him there... but I... I wanted to at least say goodbye to you properly."
She dropped the ladle and covered her mouth with her hands, sobbing. She came over to me and stroked my hair.
"My son..."
"No... please, don't cry... not yet..." I begged.
I felt my own voice crack. I had imagined this moment a thousand times in my head, rehearsing my stoicism, but I never thought the reality would be this heartbreaking.
It was useless. The moment my mother wrapped me in her arms, my "armor" shattered. I couldn't help but cry.
"My baby... My precious baby."
"Mom..." I clung to her, burying my face in her clothes. "I'm going to... I'm going to miss you so much."
"Five years is such a long time... I won't get to see you grow up..." she whispered through her tears.
"I will come back, Mother... And when I do, I'll be much stronger. I'll become someone you can be truly proud of."
She pulled back slightly to wipe away her tears with her fingers.
"I've always been proud of you, Daiki. Ever since you were a baby trying to keep up with your brother with your clumsy little arms..."
"Mom..."
Then Lilia appeared with Aisha in her arms.
"Daiki-sama... Is it true?"
"Yes, Lilia-san."
She approached, shifting Aisha to one arm so she could touch my shoulder.
"It has been an honor looking after you. Please, take care of yourself. And Young Master Rudeus."
"I promise I will. I swear."
Then I walked over to Norn's crib. She just looked at me, not fully understanding.
"Take care, Norn... When I get back, you'll be a big girl, and I'll be able to tell you how proud and grateful I am to have you."
Aisha, from Lilia's arms, babbled something unintelligible, but I could swear there was meaning behind it; then she reached for my hair with her tiny hands.
"And you too, Aisha... I promise to be a good big brother and protect you both."
Zenith knelt beside me, hugging me from behind.
"Do you have to go today? Can't we...?"
"Father is right. If we wait, Rudy will find ways to delay it. And I might start to hesitate too..."
"You are so strong... Stronger than a seven-year-old boy should be."
"I had to be..."
I hugged her one last time.
"I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, my baby."
-
Rudeus Greyrat
It happened in the middle of swordsmanship training.
"Hey, Rudy."
"Yes, what is it, Father?"
I tried to keep my expression as firm as possible as I listened closely to Paul's words.
After all, this would be my first job, even counting my past life. I was going to give it my absolute best.
"Tell me... if someone ordered you to separate from Sylphy, what would you think?"
"Huh? I wouldn't like it, obviously!"
"I knew it."
"What are you talking about?"
"No, nothing. In the end, even if I tried, you'd just talk circles around me."
The moment he said that, Paul changed completely. Even I, a mere amateur, could feel him releasing an intense bloodlust.
"Eh?!"
With a silent pressure, Paul lunged at me.
Death.
That single word flashed through my mind.
Instinctively, I unleashed all my mana and braced myself to face him.
I cast Wind and Fire magic simultaneously, triggering an explosion between us. I jumped back, riding the heat and shockwave to put as much distance between us as possible.
I had run this simulation many times. Against Paul, I stood no chance if I didn't create distance first. The explosion hurt me too, but if I could make him flinch, I could buy some space.
But Paul rushed through it as if the explosion hadn't even existed.
I knew it wouldn't stop him! Even though I had predicted it, anxiety spiked in my chest. I have to dodge! Backing up is no good; his stride is too fast. Reflexively, I fired a shockwave to my side, blasting myself out of the way. The impact threw me violently to the right.
A sharp, icy sound grazed my ear. I saw Paul's sword slice through the exact spot where my neck had been a split-second ago.
Good. I had survived the first strike. That was a huge achievement. Although he was still close, I had created a gap. I could see a path to victory.
Then, I collapsed the ground beneath Paul's foot.
He fell into the hole... or so I thought. In an instant, he shifted his weight to his other foot and powered forward with almost no delay.
Do I have to stop both his legs at once!?
I created a quagmire beneath me. But before sinking into my own trap, I blasted a jet of water from the sole of my foot, sliding backward as if skating.
Damn it, too slow...!
By the time I realized it, it was too late. Paul, standing at the edge of the mud, took a step that crushed the solid ground. With just that single step, he closed the distance. He was right on top of me.
"W-Waaaah!"
Desperate, I brought my sword up. It was a clumsy strike, devoid of form. As I swung with brute force, a sickening sensation ran through my hand.
He parried me with a Water God Style technique... I realized it instantly. If he used the Water God Style, a counterattack was inevitable. I knew it, but my body couldn't react.
As if in slow motion, Paul's sword trailed straight for my neck.
Ah... thank god it was a wooden sword...
I felt the impact, and my consciousness sank into darkness.
---
When I opened my eyes, I found myself inside a small box.
From the heavy rattling vibration, I realized I was inside a moving vehicle. I tried to sit up, but I couldn't move a muscle. Looking down, I found I was completely bound. They had rolled me up in a mat, tied tight like a sushi roll.
What the hell is going on...?
I craned my neck and saw a woman sitting across from me. She had chocolate-colored skin and wore very revealing leather armor. Her body was muscular and covered in scars, and she wore an eyepatch. Her face conveyed a firm, authoritative presence—the "big sister" boss type. She was, quite literally, the picture of a fantasy warrior. Furthermore, she had animal ears and a tail resembling a tiger's, covered in thick fur.
Is she from the Beast Race...?
She noticed I was observing her, and our eyes met.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Rudeus Greyrat. Apologies for greeting you in such a disgraceful state."
I decided to introduce myself first. The basics of conversation: take the initiative. If I lead, I control the situation.
"For Paul's son, you are surprisingly polite."
"I am also my mother's son."
"I see. So you're Zenith's boy."
She seemed to know my parents. That calmed me down slightly.
"I am Ghislaine. Starting tomorrow, I'm counting on you."
Starting tomorrow? What is she talking about?
"Uh... well, likewise, a pleasure to meet you."
For now, I used Fire magic to burn the ropes and free myself. My body ached, probably from sleeping in such an awkward position. I stretched hard. What a relief.
I'm used to moving only my fingers in tight spaces, but being tied up in front of a buxom woman with dominatrix vibes... well, it made me feel weird.
I checked my surroundings: we were in a small cabin. There were bench seats facing each other, and I was opposite Ghislaine. Through the side windows, I could see the outside: unfamiliar countryside. As I suspected, it was a carriage. The rattling was loud, and from the front, I could hear the clop-clop of hooves. Probably horses.
For some reason, I was in a carriage with a muscular woman.
"Rudy."
That voice.
I snapped my head to the side.
Daiki was sitting next to me, watching me with that characteristic neutral expression of his.
"Brother!? Were you also...?"
But I stopped when I saw the small travel bag beside him. And the way he was sitting. Relaxed. Unbound. Not surprised.
"You came voluntarily." It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
"I see."
I fell silent. I needed to process this.
Calm down. Breathe. Think coolly.
"How did it come to this?" I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.
First, Paul ambushed me and knocked me out. Then, I woke up tied inside this carriage. He likely knocked me out to throw me in here against my will. Inside is this muscular woman telling me, "starting tomorrow, I'm counting on you."
And my brother, who clearly knew this was coming.
Speaking of Paul... I remember what he said right before attacking me. Something like: "Separate from Sylphy"...
That bastard...! Does he intend to make a move on my Sylphy!?
No, wait. Calm down. Paul isn't that low. Probably.
Well, best to ask directly.
"Ah, um..."
"Ghislaine is fine."
"Ah, then, you can call me Rudy-chan."
"Understood. Rudy-chan."
...She seems to be the type who doesn't get jokes.
"Ghislaine-san, didn't you hear anything from my father?"
"Ghislaine is fine. No need for 'san'."
As she said that, Ghislaine pulled a piece of paper from her cleavage and handed it to me. I took it; nothing was written on the outside.
"It's a letter from Paul. Read it out loud; I can't read."
"Yes."
I unfolded the carelessly creased paper and began to read:
"'To my beloved son, Rudeus. If you are reading this letter, I am probably no longer in this world──'"
"What?!"
Ghislaine let out a shout and shot to her feet. The carriage ceiling turned out to be higher than it looked.
"Please, sit down, Ghislaine. There's more."
"Mu, I see."
She obeyed and sat back down calmly.
I heard what sounded like a stifled chuckle from Daiki beside me.
I continued reading.
"'──Is what I always wanted to write. Just a joke. The reality is that, after I beat you to a pulp, you were left crawling pathetically, then tied up like a damsel in distress and tossed into a carriage. You probably don't understand what's happening, so you should ask that "muscle-bound meathead" over there. Though, well, her brain is made of muscle too, so don't expect a decent explanation.'"
"What did you say?!"
She stood up again with a furious roar.
"Sit down, Ghislaine. He praises you in the next part."
"Mu, I see."
She sat down again.
"This is entertaining," Daiki muttered.
"Shut up."
I read on.
"'She is a Sword King. If you want to learn swordsmanship, you won't find a better instructor unless you travel to the Sword Sanctum. Her skill is guaranteed by me. I have never beaten her a single time... except in bed.'"
Stop writing stupid things, you old moron.
Although... Ghislaine seemed quite pleased with that line. You really are popular, old man. And strong too, Ghislaine.
"'Now, regarding your job: you will be a tutor for the daughter of a noble house in the city of Roa, the largest in the Fittoa territory. You will teach arithmetic, reading, writing, and basic magic. She is an extremely capricious young lady, so much so that the school asked us not to send her anymore. She has made many previous tutors flee, but I trust you can handle her.'"
Is that trust, or is he just dumping a massive problem on me...?
"'As for Daiki, he will go with you. He will teach other subjects as necessary, but more importantly, he will train in swordsmanship during your stay. Ghislaine agreed to take him as a student. Consider it a perk of the job.'"
I looked at Daiki.
"So that's why you came."
"Paul can't teach me anymore," he replied simply. "Ghislaine can take me beyond his level."
"I see."
It made sense. After Daiki defeated him yesterday... or was it two days ago? I'm not sure how long I was out.
I kept reading.
"'The muscle-bound meathead there works as a guard and sword master in the Young Lady's house. It seems that, in exchange for teaching Daiki, she also wants to learn arithmetic and reading. Daiki can help with that. Don't laugh at her even though her brain is pure muscle. She's serious about it (lol).'"
"What did you say...?!"
A blue vein popped on her forehead.
"This letter seems scientifically designed to provoke her," Daiki commented.
"No doubt. What kind of relationship did those two have?"
"'She probably doesn't have a good memory, but think of it as saving money on tuition.'"
"Ghislaine, how much do you usually charge for lessons?"
"Two Asura gold coins a month."
Two gold coins?! When Roxy taught me, she charged five Asura silver coins a month. That's nearly four times the price.
"She's expensive," I murmured.
"She is King-tier," Daiki replied. "The price fits the skill."
He had a point. That finally made Ghislaine smile; someone recognized her worth.
"'Both of you will live in the Young Lady's mansion for five years, teaching her. Five years. During this period, I forbid you to return home or exchange letters. If you stay with Sylphy, Rudeus, she will never become independent. Besides, I feel you two are becoming too dependent on each other, so I decided to separate you by force.'"
My heart stopped.
"What... what?!"
Wait... Does that mean I won't see Sylphy for five years? Not even letters?
"What, did Rudy-chan leave his girlfriend behind?" Ghislaine asked, amused by my desperate expression.
"No, I was miserably defeated by an immature father."
I didn't even have time to say goodbye. You played this well, Paul...
"Don't get depressed, Rudy-chan."
"Hey..."
"What?"
"Better call me Rudeus."
"Ah, understood."
I turned to Daiki.
"Did you get to say goodbye?"
"To Mother and our sisters, yes. Paul allowed me to this morning before you woke up."
"I see."
There was no resentment in my voice. Just... resignation.
It made sense. If they had given me the chance to say goodbye, I would have tried to escape. I would have begged. I would have used every rhetorical trick in the book to delay, negotiate, avoid.
Paul knew me too well.
And honestly...
"Thinking about it... Paul has a point," I admitted aloud.
Daiki looked at me, slightly surprised.
"If Sylphy grew up like that, she could end up as a dependent 'childhood friend' type. Usually, going to school and making friends breaks that dependence... but Sylphy can't make friends because of her hair. After five years, she might still be glued to my side."
"That wouldn't bother you," Daiki observed.
"No. But it wouldn't be healthy for her. The adults are right about that."
I went back to the letter.
"'Regarding Rudeus's payment: you will receive two Asura silver coins a month. It's less than a professional tutor charges, but a lot for a child. Daiki will receive one silver coin a month for his assistance. Take the opportunity to learn how to use money in the city. If you don't practice spending money, you won't know how to handle it when you need it. Though, being my sons, I'm sure you'll figure it out... Ah, and don't even think about spending it on women.'"
Meddlesome old man...
"That last part is specifically for you," Daiki commented.
"Shut up."
"'If you complete the five years teaching the Young Lady without quitting, as a special reward, you will receive a sum equivalent to the university tuition for two people at the Magic University.'"
My eyes widened.
"Two people?"
"For you and for Sylphiette," Daiki confirmed. "Father had already promised it."
"I see. If I do my job well, I'll have my freedom afterward."
And I'll be able to take Sylphy to the University with me.
"'Of course, in five years, Sylphy might not follow you, or perhaps your passion will have cooled. But I will look after her.'"
That "I will look after her" sounds ominous coming from you, old man...
"'Take care of each other. Daiki, I can't teach you anymore, but I trust Ghislaine to take you where I couldn't. Rudeus, learn to be independent, but also learn to lean on your brother when you need to. I pray that in these five years, in a new place, you learn much and grow even more. With love, your intellectually brilliant father, Paul.'"
"Intellectually brilliant?" I repeated in disbelief. "He solved everything with violence!"
"Technically, his strategy was effective," Daiki pointed out. "He achieved his objective without giving you a chance to resist."
"That doesn't make him brilliant. It makes him manipulative."
"That too."
Despite everything, I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.
"Paul really loves us."
"Yes." Daiki nodded. "In his clumsy, impulsive way."
We sat in silence for a moment.
"Brother," I spoke finally.
"Yes?"
"Did you know he was going to knock me out?"
"Yes. He told me last night."
"And you didn't warn me?"
"If I had, you would have escaped."
"You're right. I would have fled to the forest with Sylphy and hidden for weeks."
"I know. That's why I didn't tell you."
I sighed.
"I'm not angry."
Daiki looked at me with genuine surprise.
"No?"
"Well, I am annoyed," I clarified. "But not with you. With the situation. With Paul. With... everything. But I understand why you did it. Why he did it."
"Really?"
"Yes. Because you're right. Sylphy and I were becoming too dependent. And you... you need a better teacher. Someone who can take you further than Paul could."
I looked out the window, watching the unfamiliar landscape roll by.
"Five years," I murmured. "Five damn years."
"Yes."
"Will you at least be with me?"
"I will always be."
"Good. Because if I have to deal with an 'extremely capricious Young Lady' for five years, I'll need someone to keep me sane."
"That is my responsibility as the older brother."
"Paul really loves you," Ghislaine commented, having listened in silence.
I laughed bitterly.
"He used to be much more distant. But since he noticed we're alike, he started getting closer."
I looked at Daiki.
"And with you too. Since you became so strong."
"It's his way of showing affection," Daiki observed. "Clumsy. Impulsive. But genuine."
"Although, Ghislaine, regarding you..."
"Hm? What about me?"
I read the postscript.
"'P.S. You can approach the Young Lady if it is with her consent, but do not touch the walking muscle: she is my woman.'"
"So he says."
"I see. Send that letter to Zenith."
"Understood."
And so we headed toward the fortified city of Roa, the largest in the Fittoa territory.
I had many mixed feelings, but I accepted it.
"Listen," Ghislaine said. "Since you'll be with me for five years, let me make something clear... I am bad at teaching with words. I am better at showing. So Daiki, expect hard training. Very hard."
"That is what I look forward to most."
"And Rudeus, you will live in the Boreas mansion. That means you will follow the family rules. And the Young Miss... she is difficult."
"How difficult?"
"She bites."
"Excuse me?"
"She bites. Scratches. Hits. Screams. She has made grown men cry."
I stared at her.
"And you expect a seven-year-old to handle her?"
"Paul trusts you. I trust Paul. So I trust you."
"That is some incredibly flimsy logic."
"It works."
Daiki let out what was definitely a laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing. Just... this will be interesting."
"For you, maybe. You just have to train. I have to deal with a feral child."
"I'll help you when I can."
"You better."
And so, silence settled over the carriage as we began our journey to Roa. Honestly, I didn't know what awaited me, but at least I had the comfort of not being alone... Because my brother was here.
That had to hurt... But just like always, he never showed it.
Except... was it just me, or were his eyes a little brighter than usual?
Best not to say anything. If he needs to process this in silence, I'll let him. It's the right thing to do. After all... he's here for my sake, too. Watching over me.
Thank you, brother.
And with that thought, I settled in for the long journey ahead.