Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Roy felt his consciousness being tugged and twisted, as though someone was kneading his very essence. By the time he regained his senses and managed to open his eyes, he was startled by a face suddenly leaning in close to his own.

Reacting instinctively, Roy lashed out at the face, landing a firm smack.

"Ah!" The handsome blond man yelped, clutching his eye as he stumbled backward and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. It was clear the blow had done some damage.

Roy blinked in confusion and then began studying the man on the floor.

He was tall and athletic, with a well-defined yet not overly bulky physique. His short blond hair shimmered like sunlight, and his deep blue eyes radiated sharpness. He wore simple clothing—a white shirt and black trousers—that appeared neat and immaculate despite their plainness. However, at the moment, his confident demeanor was overshadowed by a touch of embarrassment.

Roy blinked again, a hint of innocence flashing across his face.

Well, it's not my fault you got so close.

"Paul, are you okay?" A gentle female voice called out. The man, now identified as Paul, groaned softly as he covered his injured eye.

"I'm fine." He replied with forced cheerfulness, "Our child seems to have plenty of energy, that's for sure."

Paul stood, squinting through slightly swollen eyes at Roy. His handsome face contorted into an awkward smile.

Roy scrutinized him more closely. It suddenly clicked—this was Paul Greyrat.

Turning his attention to the bed nearby, Roy noticed a young woman with golden hair cascading down her back, strikingly reminiscent of an elegant goddess. Her delicate features were flawless, her green eyes exuded grace, and despite her tired expression, her noble aura was unmistakable. This was Zenith Greyrat.

As realization dawned, Roy flexed his chubby little fingers and felt the frail, infantile body he now inhabited. In that moment, it became clear—he had been reincarnated.

But the confusion lingered.

Had I been reborn as Rudeus?

The answer came almost immediately, dispelling his doubts.

"Well then," Paul announced, his tone brimming with pride, "We'll name you Roy Greyrat!"

Roy—no, Roy—blinked, glancing at Paul. His youthful features were far from mature; his sharp green eyes gleamed with confidence, and the slight smirk on his lips betrayed a cocky demeanor typical of his age.

As Roy looked around the room, his gaze settled on a young red-haired woman wearing glasses.

Lilia.

Paul's junior apprentice, now serving as the Greyrats' maid.

Lilia observed the infant intently, her expression a mixture of curiosity and unease. The baby was undeniably adorable, with chubby cheeks and a tuft of fine blond hair. Yet his golden eyes—unlike the green eyes of Paul and Zenith—were so pure and luminous that they seemed to pierce the soul, evoking both warmth and discomfort.

Her instincts whispered that something about this child was... unusual.

Roy met her gaze, his golden eyes locking with hers. For a moment, Lilia felt an inexplicable sense of calm wash over her, as if those eyes could see through her deepest thoughts. She blinked, shaking off the odd sensation. Whatever doubts she had faded; she couldn't bring herself to dislike him.

Roy broke eye contact and glanced around the room again. It appeared the household consisted solely of these four people—Paul, Zenith, Lilia, and himself.

Have I not been reborn as Rudeus?

Judging by the situation, it seemed he had arrived in this world earlier than expected. Rudeus wasn't even born yet.

How bizarre.

The Greyrats seemed blissfully oblivious to the oddity of their newborn child's eerie calmness. Paul carefully picked Roy up and carried him over to Zenith. Gently, he placed the baby in her arms.

A soft smile graced Zenith's face as she looked down at Roy. Even he had to admit she was stunning—Paul was truly lucky.

How does someone like that end up with someone like him?

Paul, meanwhile, was poking Roy's chubby cheeks with an almost childlike glee. "Come on, say 'Mama'!" he encouraged.

Roy hesitated, momentarily taken aback. Then, with effort, he opened his mouth and let out a series of incoherent gurgles and coos.

Paul and Zenith exchanged smiles, their expressions filled with joy and pride.

Well, I guess this is my life now.

Roy sighed inwardly, raising his gaze to the ceiling.

Sometimes, fate is simply beyond our control. Forgive me for playing along.

...

Two years flew by in the blink of an eye. In a small room, a two-year-old boy with golden hair and equally golden eyes lay on a soft bed.

For reasons he couldn't quite fathom, Roy's hair grew remarkably fast. Despite being just two years old, it already cascaded down to his waist.

Looking in the mirror, Roy let out a sigh.

The reflection staring back at him was that of an angelic child. Golden eyes shone with a pure, untainted light, and his doll-like features looked as though they belonged to a portrait painted by a master artist. His long, flowing hair framed his delicate face, lending him an ethereal beauty. As Roy moved, the mirror's version of himself mimicked his every action. He smiled—it smiled. He tilted his head—it tilted its head.

Am I… really a boy? Sure, my age might excuse the lack of defining features, but isn't this look a little too delicate?

Just to be sure, he discreetly checked his "equipment." Relief washed over him.

But still, was this really okay?

Roy's room wasn't large, but it had everything he needed. On the desk sat a hefty book on magic—something he'd requested from Zenith. He thought back to his early days after reincarnation. Paul and Zenith had initially been quite attentive to him, showering him with affection and care. But before long, their enthusiasm shifted to… other pursuits. The two became so caught up in their plans for a second child that Roy found himself largely forgotten.

Typical. Kids are just accessories to a romance.

Roy thought with a sigh.

The softness of his blankets pressed against his cherubic face, the warmth of the bed a stark contrast to the chill in his heart.

Today, I might look delicate, but I have the heart of a true man!

The future could worry about itself.

Roy turned his attention to the faintly glowing orb hovering in his peripheral vision and tapped it. A transparent panel appeared before him, its layout simple yet functional.

It had only three options:

[Character Attributes]

[World Capture]

[System Store]

The System Store, however, was practically useless. Every item in it was grayed out and inaccessible. It seemed the administrator system was still fuming, withholding even basic shopping privileges.

The only silver lining was the fact that during his reincarnation, Roy had managed to exploit the system for everything it was worth.

Scanning through the Store's array of goods, his eyes landed on something familiar in the third row of the first page: The Fool talent.

Its listed price was staggering: 100,000,000 points and S-level purchase clearance x3.

Next to it was his B-level talent, Greed, which, while cheaper, was still eye-wateringly expensive: 1,000,000 points and A-level purchase clearance x2.

Roy didn't fully understand the value of these points or the difficulty of earning purchase clearance, but knowing how ruthless corporate systems could be, he guessed the required amount was a sum that a regular system worker couldn't accumulate in ten lifetimes.

In short, he'd hit the jackpot. He'd bled the system dry, milking it to the point where even it seemed to regret giving him these gifts.

With this haul, I might as well be the ultimate life winner.