Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

The journey through the forest was anything but smooth. Along the way, there were countless insects whose names Roy couldn't even guess.

Perhaps out of a sense of humanity—or maybe game design aesthetics—the arthropods weren't grotesque but rather leaned toward a cute, almost cartoonish design. At least Asuna didn't shriek and flee at the sight of them.

The insects weren't particularly strong, easy enough to squash with a single swipe. Eventually, they reached the center of a valley where the towering trees began to thin out, revealing patches of bare rock.

This area was home to man-eating plants and marked a higher-tier zone for resources and monsters. Here, several unique monsters awaited, scattered across the terrain.

The man-eating plants weren't densely packed, but their levels were high enough that handling more than three at a time spelled certain death—at least, for someone like Asuna, a novice.

As for Roy? Well, you'd have to drain his very last sliver of HP first.

The ground was entangled with thick vines and roots that snaked around like natural traps.

[Man-Eating Plant]

[Level: 4]

A few lines of text floated above the creatures' heads.

The man-eating plants had enormous mouths at the top, some of them adorned with vibrant, scarlet fruits that stood out vividly against their green frames.

Though not particularly difficult opponents, the sight of the red fruit gave Roy pause. Something about it seemed ominous.

He couldn't recall the exact details, though. Sure, he'd watched Sword Art Online a long time ago, but even with his soul seemingly "enlightened" since, his memories were still somewhat blurry.

"Well, it's still the beta," Roy thought, shrugging. Testing things out was part of the process.

Turning to Asuna, he said, "Go for the ones with the bright red fruit on top."

Asuna nodded obediently and engaged one of the fruit-bearing man-eating plants.

Moments later, with a loud bang, the fruit exploded, releasing a pink mist that rapidly spread through the area. The surrounding plants reacted instantly, swarming toward them like sharks scenting blood.

"So that's it—it's a lure." Roy muttered, nodding in understanding.

Asuna, on the other hand, looked livid. Her expression was nothing short of spectacular as she glared daggers at him. "You set me up!"

Before she could say more, Roy grabbed her arm and bolted, dragging her behind him.

As they ran, Asuna made her displeasure known by pinching his arm with a vengeance.

"Ow!" Roy winced, nearly letting go of her. Despite the pain, he managed a sheepish grin. "How is this a setup? Look, we got away, and you didn't even lose a level!"

"Hmph." Asuna's cold glare could have frozen the air around them.

Roy quickly tried to placate her. "It's called trial and error. Mistakes are necessary for progress!"

Asuna snorted. "Next time, you're the one who gets to 'progress.' Don't use me as your guinea pig."

"Fine, fine. Next time, I'll go first." Roy promised, nodding fervently.

Only then did Asuna let him off the hook.

Once they'd exited the man-eating plants' aggro range, they waited for a good while before sneaking back into the area.

The plants that had gathered earlier had dispersed, leaving only three or four scattered in the central clearing.

Roy exhaled deeply, steadying himself. "I'll clear them out." 

Asuna hesitated, her concern evident. "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Roy grinned confidently. "No problem. Trust me."

Drawing his beginner's iron sword, he crept around to the back of one of the plants. With precise timing, he landed a perfect backstab.

Unfortunately, the plant's HP bar wasn't quite as cooperative—it didn't drop as much as he'd hoped. Within moments, the other three man-eating plants turned their attention to him and lunged.

Roy held his sword firmly, inhaling deeply. His body leaned forward, his right foot stepping into position. With a swift motion, he swung his sword in a brilliant arc, a gleaming flash slicing through the air.

The first plant's HP dropped to zero, its body disintegrating into blue particles.

The remaining two plants closed in fast. Roy retreated a few steps, his sword shimmering faintly with a deep blue glow—the telltale sign of a sword skill activation.

Diagonal Slash – Single Strike.

His stance adjusted instinctively, his movements accelerating as an unseen force guided him, sharpening his focus.

Roy's eyes lit up. So this is what the system's assistance feels like?

His body felt lighter, almost weightless. Without hesitation, he thrust his sword forward, his movements ghost-like as he suddenly appeared on the man-eating plant's right side. With a sharp upward slash, the beginner's iron sword cleaved through the air.

Without pause, he chained into another sword skill. A faint blue light enveloped his blade, flickering as he activated it.

Horizontal Slash – Single Horizontal Strike.

Exploiting the plant's momentary stagger, Roy swung his sword again. A cold gleam erupted from the blade, the slash landing squarely on the creature.

The man-eating plant's HP bar dropped rapidly but didn't reach zero.

That was to be expected. After all, Roy's weapon was still the same basic iron sword he'd gotten fresh out of the starter village.

Another man-eating plant lunged toward him, its massive maw gaping wide. Forced to retreat, Roy gripped his sword tighter, repositioning himself.

This time, it has to work.

He was starting to grasp the mechanics behind the system's judgment of sword skills.

Sword Art Online boasted the most realistic physics engine in the world. If a move was possible in reality, there was no reason it couldn't be replicated in the game. The fact that his earlier attempts hadn't been recognized meant only one thing—his execution wasn't perfect.

Sword skills weren't limited to the system's presets. Couldn't the Sword God Style be considered a sword skill? Of course it could.

Roy's golden eyes shone with newfound clarity. His movements became sharper, more precise. Years of physical training in the real world were paying off, not only in his superior stats but also in his unparalleled control over his own body.

He lowered the iron sword to his side, gripping the hilt with his right hand as he assumed a draw stance.

Sword God Style – Quick Draw.

The Sword God Style was a discipline built around the philosophy of striking decisively with a single, fatal blow. This required every action to be executed with absolute conviction.

As a soft breeze stirred the air, his sword flashed from its sheath.

A brilliant blue glow engulfed the blade, growing brighter with each passing moment. The air seemed to hum as the massive strike arced through the air.

The man-eating plant stood no chance. The slash cleaved it cleanly in two, its HP plummeting to zero in an instant.

[System Notification]

[You have unlocked a new sword skill.]

[???]

[Skill: Charging Draw]

[Effect: Power increases with charge time, up to a maximum of 500% of the base attack.

[Cooldown: 10 seconds.]

Roy smirked knowingly. Just as I thought.

This opened up a clear path for exploration. The new skill was solid—quick and deadly, capable of instantly dispatching weaker enemies. The charge time could even be adjusted or canceled as needed.

More importantly, it was only a Level 1 skill. If he could replicate the full suite of Sword God Style techniques within the game and use the system's assistance to hone them, his future progress seemed limitless. His other self would definitely approve of this approach.

Beside him, Asuna stood frozen, utterly dumbfounded by what she'd just witnessed.

Roy had taken on three enemies simultaneously, his movements seamless and fluid, like a seasoned warrior who had fought countless battles.

Dressed in nothing but rough-spun beginner's gear, with golden hair gleaming under the faint light and a sharp, handsome face, he exuded the air of a legendary adventurer.

Well, almost.

He was still stuck in the starter village.

He had tricked her into an exploding fruit trap just moments ago.

And his personality was a little insufferable.

But still, Asuna had to admit, in that fleeting moment, he looked every bit like the heroic adventurer of a grand tale.

***

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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