Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

As expected, Roy found himself thoroughly defeated in their sparring session. Rubbing his sore arm where Paul's blows had landed, he winced. "You're way too harsh, you know that?"

"What's harsh about it? Boys need to be tempered through hardship!" Paul replied nonchalantly.

Roy scowled, still nursing his bruises. "Tempered? I'm only six years old!"

Even Lilia couldn't remain silent, stepping in with a stern expression. "Paul-sama, the children are still growing. You ought to exercise more restraint."

Paul, caught off guard by the rebuke, offered a sheepish grin and swiftly changed the subject.

Roxy observed the scene with a gentle smile. The warm and lively atmosphere reminded her of her own family. When she was younger, her parents shared a similar dynamic. However, it had been quite some time since she last returned to her village. She couldn't help but wonder how they were doing now.

Lost in thought, she was suddenly brought back to the present by Roy's calm, serious voice. His stoic face was unusually close as he called out, "Roxy-sensei, are you okay? You look a bit lonely."

"It's nothing." Roxy replied softly, her gaze resting on the boy's youthful features. "It's just… you all seem so close. It's nice."

"Is that so?" Roy mused, his tone thoughtful as he mulled over her words.

Back at home, Roy resumed one of his peculiar pastimes—watching his Fool self.

Meanwhile, in the other world, Roy Kirigaya was busy teaching Kirito how to play video games. Kirito was a quick learner, and Roy had to admit, the kid had a knack for gaming.

"Not bad, Kirito." Roy said seriously, patting the younger boy on the head.

Beaming at the praise, Kirito scratched the back of his head bashfully, his chest puffing up with pride.

However, their sibling bonding moment was interrupted by a loud scoff from Kirigaya Suguha, who crossed her arms and glared at the duo from across the room. "You two are ridiculous! All you ever do is play games. And Roy-nii, how could you let him play such a scary, violent game? I'm telling Mom!"

Roy's expression stiffened, and Kirito quickly ran over to Suguha, pleading with her not to tattle. After much coaxing—and a promise to let her join their gaming sessions in the future—she reluctantly agreed to keep quiet.

Watching the exchange, Roy's mind wandered. Perhaps it was time to reach out to Asuna, the young heiress he'd been curious about. She had a bright future and could potentially become an invaluable ally. Besides, building a connection now might align with his… "virtual nurturing" plans. Not that it meant anything suspicious, of course—it was purely a hypothetical exercise.

For now, though, there were more immediate matters to attend to. Tomorrow's mission loomed ahead, and Roy knew he needed to conserve his energy. Even if his system was far from ideal—often steering him toward a leisurely, unmotivated path—it would have to do for now.

The next morning, when Roy woke up, his gaze instinctively shifted to the side, searching for someone. But, predictably, Roxy was nowhere to be seen.

Roxy was, after all, a delightful young woman—kind and earnest, with a touch of childlike charm. It was easy to see her appeal, even in the original story.

Every afternoon, whenever her schedule allowed, Roxy would use her magic to bring rain to the fields, helping the local farmers with their crops.

Today was no exception. But this time, she wasn't alone.

Trailing behind her at a leisurely pace, Roy followed, a blade of straw casually dangling from his lips, giving him an air of carefree mischief.

Roxy let out a sigh and turned around. "Roy, why are you following me?"

Roy replied matter-of-factly, "I'm bored."

He wasn't lying. Paul had given him the day off since Rudeus was making slow progress and needed one-on-one tutoring. Roy, with his solid foundational skills, had little to do for the day.

"Then why are you following me?" Roxy's expression betrayed a hint of irritation, though it wasn't enough to make him stop.

Roy thought for a moment before his normally stoic face softened into a rare smile. "I just wanted to see what Roxy-sensei does when she goes out."

Roxy sighed again, adjusting the brim of her hat without saying much else. She didn't try to stop him and let the boy trail behind her.

Autumn is a beautiful season.

In every sense.

Golden stalks of rice swayed gently in the crisp autumn breeze, their subtle fragrance filling the air—a scent embodying the hope and hard work of farmers, a tangible result of their labor.

"Do you know something, Roy?" Roxy said, her lips curving into a slight smile. "Seeing their smiles fills me with both joy and relief. Magic isn't just for fighting or destruction. It can solve so many things."

As they walked, farmers greeted Roxy warmly, their faces lighting up at the sight of her.

It was clear they held her in high regard.

And Roxy, in turn, seemed to enjoy their kindness.

She visited daily to help inspect the land, always appearing when someone needed assistance.

Her small frame concealed a generous heart.

Roy silently observed her, noting the pure smile she displayed each time she helped someone.

It was... mesmerizing.

Unexpected, even.

The past felt like a dream—a haze he couldn't quite grasp. Was it he dreaming of a butterfly, or the butterfly dreaming of him? Perhaps, when he woke, he'd realize it had all been an illusion.

He didn't know.

Nearly six years had passed since he arrived in this world. Time seemed capable of changing everything, yet some things felt untouched.

Roy liked Roxy—but it was the Roxy from the anime he had admired. The real Roxy was different, more complex. Her every gesture, every subtle expression revealed layers of her personality he hadn't expected.

She was a bit tsundere, trying her best to present a mature facade.

She wasn't perfect—far from it.

She hated trouble, loved being praised, and had a childlike streak.

But these imperfections only made her more captivating than the Roxy he knew from the anime.

Her silky hair, her soft frame, the faint scent she carried, even her occasional bad temper—

All of it came together to form the Roxy standing before him.

She wasn't the Roxy from Mushoku Tensei.

This was a Roxy shaped by this world, by her experiences, and by his presence.

And in this unpredictable future where everything seemed to shift, why not make this Roxy his own?

To be honest, this version of Roxy was far more alluring.

Roxy stepped into the middle of the rice field, her robe swaying as the golden stalks danced in the breeze.

The morning sunlight bathed her in gold, blending seamlessly with the rice fields. She raised her staff, its tip glowing with a deep blue light. Clouds gathered overhead, and soon, droplets of rain began to fall, drenching the earth.

The rain slid down her robes, pooling on the ground below.

Roy stood still, letting the cool drops hit his face, jolting him out of his trance.

When Roxy finished her spell, Roy walked up to her and gently took her hand.

She looked at him, puzzled, her gaze searching his face. There was something strange in the way Roy smiled—an almost imperceptible curve of his lips, teasing and enigmatic.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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