Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

"Roxy-sensei, aren't you afraid of this?" Roy asked, tilting his head with a curious expression.

Roxy squinted her vibrant eyes, her face slipping into a bored look. "What's there to fear? If you really intended to use it on me, you'd have done so ages ago."

She wasn't wrong. The two had been living together, even sharing a room, for two years now. During that time, Roxy had let her guard down completely around him. If Roy had truly harbored any ill intent, there would have been ample opportunity to act.

Roy scratched his head, considering her words. "But what if I only developed this spell recently? After all, it is a technique for controlling others."

Her eyes widened for a moment before her face flushed red. The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, and anger quickly followed her embarrassment. "You little brat!" She shouted, raising her hand to deliver a sharp knock to his head.

This time, Roy was ready. He dodged her strike effortlessly. However, the momentum caused Roxy's hand to graze his chest before he instinctively caught her slender wrist. The motion brought them face-to-face, their gazes locking.

Roy's golden eyes reflected Roxy's image back at her, glowing with an intensity that momentarily took her breath away.

The teasing grin faded from Roy's lips, replaced by a rare seriousness. "It does have side effects." He admitted. "What I told you earlier is true. But you're my teacher, and I've altered the spell to remove those risks for you. In exchange, its power will be weaker. This…" He lifted the dark, shimmering seed in his hand. "…is my gift to you."

Roxy looked at him, her expression complicated. She hadn't expected someone so young to develop a spell of this magnitude. A spell capable of altering someone's very magic foundation—it was the kind of thing that could spark chaos if it ever became public knowledge.

Roy gently placed the magic seed into her hand. As soon as it touched her skin, it dissolved into a web of dark threads, rapidly wrapping themselves around her wrist.

The threads didn't stop there. They crept up her arm like living things, their movements swift and precise. In the blink of an eye, Roxy was encased in a cocoon of black strands.

Even Roy was taken aback by the speed and intensity of the reaction.

Roxy, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by the alien sensation spreading through her body. An unfamiliar force coursed through her veins, wild and ravenous. It devoured her magic greedily, tearing through her system without restraint.

Her muscles tensed, and a sharp, searing pain exploded in every nerve. Her mana channels felt as if they were on the verge of bursting, and her knees buckled under the strain.

Unable to suppress the agony, Roxy let out a choked cry. Her face turned pale, beads of sweat forming along her brow.

Watching her struggle, Roy's chest tightened with guilt. He hadn't foreseen this level of rejection from her body. Tears streaked down Roxy's cheeks, her vulnerability stark and raw in that moment.

"This wasn't supposed to happen." Roy muttered, cursing himself for his oversight. He had underestimated the complexities of altering someone's magic foundation. Without proper guidance, the unleashed mana was rampaging within her, wreaking havoc.

Roxy gripped his hand tightly, her voice trembling. "Roy… it hurts…"

Her plea snapped him out of his daze. Gritting his teeth, an idea formed in his mind.

Mana could be stabilized through physical contact, especially if the source and recipient shared a direct connection.

There was no time to hesitate. Acting purely on instinct, Roy leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.

Roxy's lips were soft and warm, but Roy didn't have the luxury to dwell on the sensation. The moment they connected, his mana flowed into her like a steady stream. The chaotic storm within her began to subside, the threads of his magic weaving themselves into hers.

Gradually, the volatile energy calmed, becoming as gentle as a spring breeze. Roy placed his hands on her shoulders, carefully guiding the mana into alignment.

With him acting as the anchor, the magic seed began to integrate more harmoniously with her body, enhancing her mana without further pain.

As the tension eased, Roy let out a relieved sigh.

His mind wandered briefly, recalling certain… educational works he'd encountered in his past life. He couldn't help but smirk to himself. Turns out those so-called mana transfer rituals weren't entirely baseless after all. Different world, same logic.

Though, he quickly rationalized his actions. This isn't taking advantage—it's a necessary measure.

…Okay, maybe there was a part of him that had enjoyed it, just a little.

Hey, it's perfectly normal for a guy to appreciate a girl's softness, right? Nothing wrong with that.

As Roy's touch established the connection, the mana began to circulate, calming the storm raging within Roxy's body. The searing pain dissipated, replaced by a comforting warmth that radiated through her arm.

The soothing sensation spread like a gentle current, flowing along her right arm and coursing through her entire body. Almost instantly, Roxy's pale face flushed a deep red.

The warmth was so overwhelming, so blissful, that a soft moan escaped her lips.

The sound was so unexpectedly enticing that Roy instinctively glanced toward the wooden door, his heart skipping a beat. He had already cloaked the room in a barrier to ensure no sound leaked out, yet the subconscious guilt lingered.

With the immediate crisis resolved, Roy quickly withdrew his hand, stepping back to avoid further impropriety. Though Roxy's lips had been surprisingly soft, he reminded himself that their relationship hadn't reached the point where such intimacy could be taken lightly.

Roxy's chest heaved as she gasped for breath, her eyes glazed and unfocused. Her white blouse, now soaked through with sweat, clung to her skin, highlighting the sheen of heat-induced perspiration.

Roy frowned, a mix of concern and discomfort washing over him. Roxy's disheveled appearance was unexpectedly captivating, her flushed cheeks and trembling figure radiating a vulnerability that tugged at him in ways he wasn't prepared for.

Unable to resist, he leaned down and gave her cheek a light pat.

Her skin was soft—so soft, in fact, that even the act of patting felt oddly satisfying.

Realizing that his actions might come across as disrespectful, he quickly withdrew his hand when she didn't respond. Yet, upon closer inspection, he noticed her face remained bright red, her body still trembling slightly.

The realization made him falter. Did I go too far?

For a few moments, Roy sat in silence, averting his eyes from Roxy's figure as he processed the situation. It wasn't as though he could undo what had happened, but the weight of his actions gnawed at him.

Pretending nothing had occurred, he straightened up and moved to a nearby chair. Grabbing a book, he feigned interest in its contents while discreetly monitoring the flow of mana between them.

He soon noticed something remarkable. His mana had fully synchronized with Roxy's, the two energies blending seamlessly. Any lingering incompatibilities were gradually being refined, reshaped by the spell's effects.

This was a good sign. It meant the magic seed had been successfully implanted.

It took Roxy several minutes to recover. When she finally came to her senses, she looked around the room in a daze, her expression one of pure bewilderment.

Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?

Feeling the newly enhanced mana surging through her, she froze. Compared to before, her magical capacity had doubled, maybe even tripled. The realization left her stunned, as though an impoverished homemaker had just won the lottery.

Her gaze shifted to Roy, who sat quietly on the chair, lost in thought. The boy's gift, though well-meaning, was undeniably overwhelming.

Noticing her sweat-soaked state, Roxy grimaced. Her clothes clung to her uncomfortably, sticky and damp. Yet, as her mind replayed the earlier events—Roy's bold actions, his unhesitating kiss—her cheeks flushed anew.

She pressed her lips together, feeling the faint warmth that lingered from their contact. Does… does that count as a kiss?

Probably.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself, stealing a glance at Roy. The boy sat upright, his posture composed, as if nothing had transpired.

With a sigh, she stood and turned toward the door. "I'm going to take a bath." She said softly, avoiding his gaze. Without waiting for a response, she slipped out of the room and headed downstairs.

As the door closed behind her, Roy let out a long sigh, placing the book down. The tension in his shoulders eased, though guilt still gnawed at him.

I'm lucky she didn't press the issue.

The whole ordeal had been reckless on his part. The gift meant to help her had nearly spiraled out of control.

Taking advantage of the quiet, Roy focused inward, sensing the state of the magic seed and its integration with Roxy's mana.

But as he extended his awareness, his attention was drawn to something unexpected—another connection.

...

In Sword Art Online world, a blond-haired boy strolled along with a golden-haired girl, his hand gently holding hers. The girl, with her adorable braided ponytail, looked about ten years old—strikingly reminiscent of Asuna at that age.

The blond boy was strikingly handsome, his features perfectly chiseled. On closer inspection, it was clear that his face bore about a seventy percent resemblance to Roy's own. However, unlike Roy's softer, more delicate appearance, this alternate version had bold, sharp features: arched brows, piercing eyes, and a perfectly sculpted jawline. His golden eyes glowed warmly, complemented by a perpetual, sunny smile that exuded effortless charm.

This blond version of himself was ridiculously good-looking—so much so that it made Roy's teeth clench in frustration.

Why am I stuck as a boyish little runt while he gets to be the handsome heartthrob?

"Is it good?" Roy asked with a gentle smile, glancing down at Asuna.

In her right hand, Asuna held a skewer of candied fruit, clearly savoring the treat. Her expression was one of pure delight.

Roy huffed internally, setting aside how the proxy had managed to grow so close to Asuna in such a short time.

But is this really appropriate?

Sure, the proxy was modeled after his own personality and acted autonomously most of the time. While Roy occasionally checked in on its progress, he had largely left it to operate independently.

Still, wasn't this moving a bit too fast?

***

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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