Daiki Greyrat
Exactly one day had passed since my brother's graduation, and Roxy was already at the entrance, dressed in her traveling gear.
My brother and I stood side by side, watching her without saying a single word. To be honest, I couldn't formulate one. This was a sensation I never experienced in my previous life, and now, thanks to this new world, I had the opportunity to feel it.
Aside from that, I had hit a growth spurt; my height slightly exceeded my brother's, though the difference was truly minimal.
"Roxy-chan, you don't have to leave just yet..." Zenith said in a pleading tone. "I still have so many recipes I haven't taught you..."
"Exactly," Paul added. "Even though your job as a tutor is finished, you helped us a lot during the drought last year. I'm sure the villagers would gladly welcome you and support you."
"I appreciate that very much, but..." Roxy paused, and for a moment, her eyes rested on us. "After what happened, I realized how little I am worth in comparison. I am going to travel for a while to continue perfecting my magic and my skills."
I clenched my fists at my sides... I knew exactly what she meant by that. Both Rudeus and I had achieved incredible things with magic. Rudeus reached the Saint rank, and I mastered voiceless healing in a single night and conscious body reinforcement in weeks.
We were "monsters" disguised as students.
"I see... well, sorry then," Paul said awkwardly. "It seems our sons made you lose confidence in yourself."
"Paul..." Zenith murmured.
"No, on the contrary," Roxy replied with a slight, forced smile. "It is I who should thank them for helping me stop believing I am more than I really am."
"Come on, don't say that," Paul insisted. "Reaching Water Saint rank isn't an everyday occurrence; it's an extraordinary achievement."
Roxy stepped forward, first towards Rudeus. She reached out and placed her hand gently on his head.
"Rudy. I did everything within my power to teach you, but I wasn't capable enough to be your ideal instructor, to take you further."
"Don't say that, Sensei," Rudeus replied. "You taught me a ton of things, invaluable knowledge I wouldn't have obtained any other way."
"I am relieved to hear that..."
Roxy rummaged inside her robe and pulled out a pendant tied with a leather strap. It was made of a greenish metal and shaped like three crossed spears.
"It's a graduation gift. I didn't have time to prepare it properly, so I hope this serves as a good memento."
"Is this...?"
"An amulet of the Migurd tribe. If you run into any demon with a difficult or troublesome temperament, show them this and mention my name. Perhaps they will show you a little more consideration."
"I will cherish it with all my heart."
I noticed Rudeus's hands trembling as he held the amulet.
"I said 'perhaps', Rudy. Don't get too confident, okay?" Roxy smiled. "It's just a little help."
Then, she turned toward me.
For a moment, we just looked at each other. Teacher and student. The small Migurd mage and I, a boy with unsettling red eyes.
"Daiki..." Her voice sounded different when she spoke to me. Softer, perhaps. Or maybe more cautious. "You were... a very unusual student."
I didn't answer; I didn't trust my voice at that moment.
"When I arrived, I expected to teach normal children. Maybe somewhat talented, considering your mother insisted so much..." A small laugh escaped her lips. "But you... you two weren't normal at all."
"I know," I finally managed to articulate, though my voice sounded strange. "I am aware that I was... complicated."
"No," she shook her head. "Not complicated. Extraordinary." She paused. "But never complicated."
She extended her hand, but instead of placing it on my head like with Rudeus, she placed it on my shoulder.
"You walk a path that few have traveled. Magic and sword, combined consciously... It is a solitary road, Daiki."
"I know, Sensei."
"But if anyone can do it..." she squeezed my shoulder, "I believe it will be you."
She rummaged in her robe again and pulled out another object. It wasn't an amulet like Rudeus's. It was a small book, thin, with worn leather covers.
"This is a personal diary I kept during my years at the Magic University," she explained. "It has notes on battle magic, on how combat mages coordinated with warriors in real scenarios. Techniques, tactics, common mistakes. I thought that... it might be useful to you."
I took the book with both hands, as if I were receiving something sacred.
"Sensei, this is... this is too valuable."
"You gave me something valuable too." Roxy smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes. "You showed me that there is still much to learn. That magic can evolve in ways I never imagined. Your way of understanding healing... all of that is new knowledge."
She paused.
"Daiki, may I ask you something personal?"
"Of course, Sensei."
"When I met you... there was something in your eyes. Something... empty. As if you were looking at the world from very far away. But now, when I look at you, I see someone present. Someone alive. What changed?"
I remained silent for a long moment. Beside me, I felt Rudeus's gaze on me.
"Family."
I didn't elaborate further. I didn't need to.
"Then take care of it. Protect it with that sword you love so much and with that magic you master so well." She paused. "And Daiki... thank you."
"Why are you thanking me, Sensei?"
"For reminding me why I became a teacher. It's not just to teach spells or techniques; it's to see students grow, transform, find their own unique paths. You found yours. And it was a privilege to observe it."
I felt something break in my chest. Something I had been holding back for years, protected only by analytical walls and emotional distance.
She never treated me like a freak. Not even like a monster... I was never something terrifying to her that had to be kept at a distance.
She treated me like a student, like a friend; simply that. One with a unique path, but a student nonetheless.
And that... that meant more than I could express with words.
"Sensei. You also... taught me something important."
"Yes?"
"You taught me that it's okay to be different. That I can walk my own path without apologizing for it. That being extraordinary does not mean being monstrous."
"Daiki..." she whispered.
I saw that she was close to crying too.
"Well." Her voice sounded falsely cheerful. "It is time for me to go."
She looked at us one last time.
"Rudy. Daiki. You were the best students I could have asked for. Take care of each other, okay? And if we ever meet again... show me how far you have come."
"Yes, Sensei," we answered at the same time.
And with that last smile, Roxy departed on her journey, walking away down the road.
Rudeus was crying.
"Rudy..."
"She took me outside. She freed me from my prison... She healed a trauma. Just by crossing the village with me, she gave me back something I thought I had lost forever..."
I understood. For him, Roxy had been his salvation. The proof that he could be different, better, braver than in his previous life.
"And for me... she reminded me that I can be human. That it's okay to feel. That I don't have to be a perfect machine all the time..."
I felt moisture on my own cheeks. I raised a hand, touching the tears with surprise.
I was crying. Really crying. Not tears of pain or trauma, but of... something else. Something that didn't have an exact name.
[CATHARTIC CRYING] [YOU ARE BEING HUMAN, DAIKI]
The analysis in my head was reminding me of the situation, making everything worse.
"Am I...? Crying?"
"I know," Rudeus replied, his own tears falling. "Me too."
Rudeus looked me in the eyes.
"The best tears are the ones that hurt good."
I nodded. Because he was right.
Paul and Zenith approached, curious about our murmurs, and placed their hands on our shoulders.
"She was special, wasn't she?" Zenith said softly.
"Yes," we both answered in unison.
"Then honor what she taught you. Live in ways that make her proud."
I looked at the book in my hands. Then at my brother holding the amulet. And finally, at the empty road where Roxy had disappeared.
"We will," I promised. "We will, Father."
Inside, I engraved a deeper promise to myself:
Sensei, I will show you. I will show you that your faith was not misplaced. I will walk this unique path wherever it takes me. And when we meet again, you will see how far I reached. Thank you. For everything.
...
Rudeus Greyrat
I decided to go outside. After all, it was thanks to Roxy that I could now do so. I wasn't going to waste the effort and courage she had instilled in me.
"Father, can I go play outside?" I asked one day, holding the botanical dictionary in my hand.
At this age, children tend to disappear as soon as one looks away. Even if it was just around the neighborhood, leaving without notice would probably worry my parents.
"Outside? To play? Not in the garden?" Paul asked.
"Yes."
"O-oh. Of course."
He gave me permission without much resistance, which surprised me.
"Now that I think about it, we never gave you any real free time. For our convenience, we made you learn magic and swordsmanship at the same time... but a child also needs to play, to explore."
"I am grateful for having had the luck to find such a good teacher as Roxy."
I thought he was a strict father regarding education, but it seems he has a more flexible mindset than I believed. I had even considered the possibility that he would force me to train swordsmanship all day, but it was easier than expected. Although my brother helped with that.
"Still, to think that you want to go out... I always believed you were a weak child. Time flies."
"You thought I was weak?"
I hadn't heard that before. I've never been sick even once since I arrived here...
"It's just that you never cried. Like your brother, but he demonstrated a lot of strength from a young age."
"Oh, really? Well, as long as I'm okay now, it doesn't matter, right? I'm growing up healthy and charming. Look, biiirón~!"
I stretched my cheeks making a funny face, and Paul let out a bitter smile, somewhere between amused and worried.
"Precisely that, that lack of childhood, is what worries me."
"And what's wrong with me being mature?"
"No, I have no complaints... it's just..."
"With that face full of complaints, you could tell me that I should become someone more worthy of being the heir to the Greyrat house, you know?"
"Not to brag, but at your age, I was obsessed with lifting girls' skirts. I was a real rascal."
"Lifting skirts, huh?"
Does that exist in this world too? Well, he said it himself: he was a problem child.
"If you want to be worthy of the Greyrat family, at least bring home a girlfriend."
Huh? Are we that kind of lineage? Aren't we supposed to be just knights protecting the surroundings, a low-ranking noble family?
"Understood. Then, I'll go to the village to look for skirts to lift."
"Ah, treat the girls well, okay? And don't take advantage of the fact that you're stronger or that you can use magic. A man's strength isn't for showing off, Rudy."
Oh, that was good. A very good phrase, a valuable lesson.
"I know, Father. Strength is for showing off in front of girls, right?"
"...No, that's not exactly it..."
Huh? Wasn't that the direction of the conversation? My bad, my bad.
"It was a joke. Strength is to protect the weak, isn't it?"
"Exactly, that's it!" Paul exclaimed, relieved.
It was then that I heard footsteps from the stairs.
"I'm going too."
Daiki appeared, already with his practice sword at his belt.
"Someone has to make sure you don't do anything foolish."
"Hey!" I protested. "I'm not going to do anything foolish!"
"You said you were going to look for skirts to lift."
"That was a joke!"
"Uh-huh."
Paul watched the exchange with an amused smile.
"Good thinking, Daiki. Look after your younger brother."
It was true. Daiki had been going out regularly for the last few years, getting to know the outside better.
After that chat, with the botanical dictionary under my arm and the staff Roxy gave me hanging at my waist, we prepared to leave. However, just before crossing the threshold, Daiki stopped and turned around.
"Ah, right, Father. We will probably go out frequently from now on, but we will always notify someone in the house when we do. We won't stop practicing swordsmanship and magic daily either, you can rest easy. We'll be back before dark and, of course, we won't go near dangerous places."
"A-ah..." Paul blinked, unable to process so much responsibility at once.
Seriously... that was something you should have told us, you know?
"Then, we're off," I said.
"...Have a good time."
And so, I took the first step and left the house, with my older brother by my side.
-
Several days passed.
The outside wasn't scary. Everything was going well. I could even exchange cheerful greetings with the people passing by us.
People knew us as Paul and Zenith's sons, and as Roxy's disciples.
To those I met for the first time, I greeted them and introduced myself. To those I saw for the second time, I simply said "hello." Everyone returned the greeting with a smile on their face. I hadn't felt this spirited in a long time.
Daiki already knew most of them, so he introduced me to people when necessary.
"Good morning," Daiki would greet with a slight bow.
"Oh, good morning boys!" she would reply warmly.
I awkwardly imitated my brother's greeting.
"G-good morning."
More than half of that was due to Paul and Roxy's fame. And the rest, absolutely all of it, was thanks to Roxy.
Right. The main goal of going outside was to walk the terrain with my own feet and memorize the geography of the place. Knowing the terrain well would ensure that, even if I were suddenly kicked out of the house one day, I wouldn't get lost.
At the same time, I wanted to conduct a little research on the local plants.
Having a botanical dictionary on hand, I considered it useful to learn to distinguish between edible and non-edible, medicinal and poisonous.
Daiki turned out to be a useful companion for this. While I identified plants with the dictionary, he added information he had learned from Mother about medicinal herbs.
"That one there is poisonous," he pointed to a harmless-looking plant. "It looks like the Sana medicinal herb, but the leaves have a different pattern."
"You're right." I searched the dictionary. "False-Heal Grass. Causes temporary paralysis if ingested."
Apparently, in this village, they cultivated wheat, vegetables, and raw materials for perfumes. Among them stood out the Batyrus flower, a plant very similar to lavender, of a soft lavender color, and which, it was said, could even be eaten.
With that in mind, I began to identify the plants that caught my attention one by one, meticulously comparing them with the illustrations in the dictionary.
That said, the village wasn't very extensive and didn't offer a great variety of interesting flora. Within a few days, our exploration radius expanded, and soon our steps led us, naturally, toward the forest, as there was much more plant variety there.
"Wait." Daiki stopped me before crossing into where the trees became denser. "Beyond this point, the appearance of monsters is more likely."
"I know. Roxy explained it to me."
Forests tend to accumulate mana, which makes them dangerous. Environments prone to forming mana clusters, by nature, have a high monster spawn rate.
Anyway, in this region, monster appearances were uncommon and, furthermore, periodic hunts were carried out, making it relatively safe. Monster hunting took place once a month, when all the men of the place—knights, hunters, and members of the neighborhood watch—ventured into the forest to exterminate the creatures.
Even so, it was said that, from time to time, a particularly dangerous monster could suddenly appear deep in the forest.
While I was thinking about all that, we were climbing a small hill. At the top stood a huge tree, the largest in the entire area, standing out in the landscape.
"Good observation point," Daiki commented, evaluating the terrain.
"I want to identify that tree too," I added.
It was then that, suddenly...
"Demons aren't welcome in the villageee!"
That voice, carried by the wind, reached us. That tone made me relive unpleasant memories. My life in high school, the origin of my seclusion. The time when they nicknamed me "Hōkē". That mocking tone was very similar to the one they used to call me by my nickname.
"Get out of here, demonnn!"
"Take thisss!"
We turned our gaze toward where the voice came from. There was a crop field that, after the recent rain, had turned into a mud pit. Three kids were throwing mud balls at another who was walking along the path, defenseless.
"Ten points if you hit him in the head!"
The bullied child advanced slowly, protecting something in his arms. A basket he was guarding from the projectiles.
"He's carrying something!"
"Surely it's a treasure of the demons!"
I ran toward the boy. As I ran, I quickly formed a mud ball with magic. Daiki moved beside me, slower but deliberate, his hand near the wooden sword even though he knew he wouldn't need it. As soon as I entered the appropriate range, I threw my projectile with all my might, aiming with precision.
"Wah! What was that?"
The mud ball impacted directly on the face of the biggest one of the group, who seemed to be the leader. It splashed with force, and I could clearly see how part of the mud went straight into his eye.
"Ouch! It got in my eye..."
"Who are you?!"
"Don't meddle if it's none of your business!"
"Are you on the demon's side or what?!"
In an instant, the target of their hostility shifted completely toward us.
"I'm not on the side of demons. I'm on the side of the weak."
I said it with a proud expression. Daiki simply placed himself half a step forward.
The kids looked at us with faces that said, "we are the good guys."
"Don't act like a hero!"
"They're the knight's sons, aren't they?!"
"Look at him, the rich little kids!"
"It's fine, huh? We're going to say that the knight's sons defend demons!"
"Let's go get our brothers!"
"Hey, brotheeer! There are some weirdos here!"
The boys began to call for their reinforcements. Although... no one came to their aid.
Even so, my legs trembled slightly from fear.
"S-shut up! Three against one and attacking him at the same time, you are the worst!"
They put on a look of astonishment.
"Look who's talking, shouting like an idiot, idiooot!"
I got angry and threw another mud ball at them. I missed the shot.
"You...!"
"Where is he getting that mud from?!"
"Doesn't matter, return fire! At both of them!"
They responded with triple the projectiles, launching a barrage toward me and Daiki.
I used the footwork Paul taught me and my magic to dodge. Daiki, for his part, moved with a fluidity that visibly disconcerted the children. It wasn't spectacular or flashy, he simply slipped between the projectiles as if he knew exactly where they would fall. A side step here, a minimal tilt there. The mud balls passed centimeters from him, but none touched him.
"I can't hit him!"
"That other one doesn't move much either but we can't hit him!"
"How does he do that?!"
The three continued throwing for a while, increasingly frustrated seeing that none of their projectiles reached us. Finally, they stopped, panting and clearly bored with their failed game.
"Aaah, how boring!"
"Let's go already!"
"We're going to tell everyone that the knight's sons get along well with demons!"
With that arrogant tone, the three brats walked away toward the other side of the field, disappearing from our view. The leader was still rubbing the eye where I had hit him with the mud.
I did it! For the first time in my life, I beat some bullies!
"Good shot," Daiki commented. "Right in the eye."
As I turned around toward the boy who was receiving the mud barrage...
Whoa...
There stood a beautiful boy who didn't seem to be my age. Long eyelashes, straight nose, thin lips, defined jawline, skin like white porcelain. All that, added to a frightened expression, like that of a rabbit about to run, created a beauty impossible to describe with words.
"Y-yes... I-I'm fine..."
The boy looked at us with a scared expression. He had an air of a defenseless little animal that awakened a strong protective instinct.
Although right now that beauty was ruined by all the mud he was wearing. His clothes were a mess.
No other choice...
"Put your load there and kneel in front of the irrigation canal."
"Eh...? Ehh...?"
The boy opened his eyes in surprise, but still obeyed without complaining. He got into a position on all fours, leaning over the canal.
"Close your eyes."
I adjusted the water temperature with fire magic, randomly. Not too hot nor too cold, approximately 40 degrees. I threw the warm water directly onto his head.
"Wah!"
As he tried to escape, I grabbed him by the nape of the neck and started removing the mud carefully. Daiki, meanwhile, remained vigilant, occasionally looking toward where the bullies had gone, ensuring they didn't return.
At first, the boy resisted, but upon getting used to the water temperature, he stayed still again.
"Done, that's good."
With all the mud off, I regulated the wind with fire magic and used it like a hair dryer, while I carefully wiped his face with a handkerchief. It was then that pointed ears like an elf's were revealed, and emerald green hair that shone in the sun.
Seeing that color, I remembered Roxy's words:
Don't approach the race that has emerald green hair and a red jewel on their forehead.
...
Daiki Greyrat
I watched as Rudeus finished cleaning the boy. My brother had always been like this: too kind, but in a genuine way that I respected.
As the water fell on the boy's hair, my eyes focused automatically. It was a habit by now.
And I noticed it. By her bone structure, by her breathing pattern.
It was a girl pretending to be a boy. In a village where they had just attacked her for being a "demon," it made sense. It was perfectly logical, in fact.
Rudeus hadn't noticed. He was too concentrated on helping, checking that no mud remained, probably already thinking about what plant to identify next. It was typical of him.
But I wouldn't say anything.
[DECISION: DO NOT REVEAL INFORMATION]
If she had chosen to present herself as male, she would have her reasons. Good reasons, surely related to safety. It wasn't his business to ruin that.
The boy's forehead was smooth and white. Nothing out of the ordinary. Good. Everything was fine. He wasn't from the dangerous Superd race.
"Ah... thank you..."
He thanked my brother, and the latter seemed to suddenly wake from a trance. Then, to my surprise, Rudeus began giving him advice with an unusual air of superiority.
"Hey, with guys like that, you have to hit them back. Otherwise, they'll walk all over you."
"I can't win..."
"The important thing is to show them you're going to resist."
"It's just that... sometimes there are older kids too... I don't want it to hurt..."
Rudeus fell silent for a moment. He was surely thinking the same thing as me: that's how the world worked. If you resisted, they called their friends. It seemed that was the same in any reality. Although thanks to Roxy's efforts the adults had begun to accept the Demons, among children things weren't so simple. Children could be cruel.
"You have it rough too, huh?" continued Rudeus. "Getting picked on just because your hair looks like a Superd's."
"D-doesn't it... doesn't it bother you?"
"Well, my teacher was a Demon. What race are you?"
I assumed Rudeus was asking him thinking of the Migurd, like Roxy, since they resembled the Superd. But the boy shook his head.
"I... I don't know."
He didn't know? Well, I supposed that at his age it might be normal not to be clear about his ancestry.
"And your father? What race is he?" my brother insisted.
"Half... Elf. And the other half is Human... or so they say."
"And your mother?"
"She's Human, but she has a little blood of the Beast Race... or something like that..."
I saw Rudeus processing the information. Half long-eared Elf and a quarter Beast race? And that resulted in that hair color?
As they spoke, I noticed her eyes filling with tears.
"...That's why Dad says I'm not a demon. But... my hair color isn't like Dad's... nor like Mom's..."
She started to sob, so Rudeus reached out and gently stroked her head, trying to console the crying child.
"Is the hair the only thing different?"
"...My ears too... they're longer than Dad's..."
A few minutes passed, we said our names and now all that was left was to calm her down.
I just took a step forward. Sylph, out of curiosity, looked up at me, and for a moment, our gazes crossed.
She had red eyes. Like me.
"I was also born different from my family."
"Eh...?"
"I mean... While my father had brown hair and my mother blonde"—I pointed to my hair—"mine is completely black."
"Ah..."
I decided to continue.
"When I was born, my father doubted... He thought my mother had betrayed him, that I wasn't really his son... Because neither of them has hair like this. I mean, neither of them has eyes like mine."
Even so, she had eyes like mine, so I wasn't so alone in this. To prove my point, I pointed to my eyes and then hers.
"But you... you have the same eyes as me."
Sylph touched her own face, as if just realizing it.
"Red eyes..." she whispered.
"Exactly. Neither my father nor my mother have them. My brother Rudy doesn't either."
Rudeus watched in silence, letting me continue.
"But that doesn't matter anymore... You know why? Because in the end, it didn't matter. Because when Rudy was born, looking so much like Father, it became clear that we were both his sons. It's just that I... well, I turned out different."
She twitched her ears subtly, confused.
"But... how? If your parents don't have that color..."
"Sometimes it happens. Whether it's from grandparents, great-grandparents, people we never met... Or simply, something new. Something we can say is ours alone."
Sylph looked at me with wide eyes.
"Does it... does it really not bother you being different?"
I looked at her more intently.
"At first, I didn't even know, I was very small. But now... I think it's okay because my family accepts me as I am, and the people who matter don't worry about something as mundane as hair color."
Sylph hung her head.
"The people who matter..."
"Your father defends you, right? He protects you."
"Yes..."
"Then he is someone who matters. And your mother too... And now, us too."
Rudeus nodded.
"Exactly! We don't care that you have green hair. In fact, I think it looks cool."
"And your eyes," I added, pointing to them again. "They are the same as mine. So in a sense... we're alike, aren't we?"
Sylph touched her own green hair, then looked at my black hair, then at our shared eyes.
"Alike..." A small smile appeared on her face. "Yes... we are alike."
Something in my chest shifted. It wasn't exactly the kind of warmth I had read about in romance books. It was something I couldn't describe, or rather, something more... protective. Exactly like when I looked at my brother.
"Hey, Sylph... I already have a younger brother." I pointed to Rudeus. "How would you like it if I had another younger brother?"
"B-brother...?"
Rudeus immediately caught on to what I was doing.
"Yes! We officially adopt you as our younger brother! Although... Wait, who is older between Sylph and me?"
"That doesn't matter," I interrupted. "I am the oldest of the three."
Sylph looked back and forth between us.
"Can I... can I really be your brother?"
"You already are," I said. "Starting now. Is that okay?"
"Y-yes! I want to! I want to be your brother!"
And then she did something I didn't expect.
She threw herself at me, wrapping me in a tight hug.
Just for a moment, I froze. It was physical contact I hadn't expected at all. Everything was...
‹I know what this is.›
I closed my arms around Sylph, returning the hug with care. Just as I would with Rudeus.
"It's okay," I murmured. "You're not alone anymore. Now you have two big brothers."
"Technically I could be younger," Rudeus joked. "We don't know Sylph's exact age."
"It doesn't matter." Sylph spoke against my shoulder. "You two are older. The best big brothers."
Rudeus joined the hug, wrapping his arms around both of us.
"Then it's decided. We are officially three brothers now."
"Three brothers," I confirmed.
Sylph sobbed between us, but this time they were definitely happy tears.
...
Rudeus Greyrat
We walked toward the watchtower. Sylph walked between the two of us, occasionally glancing at Daiki out of the corner of his eye, as if he still couldn't believe what had happened.
"Hey, Daiki," Sylph said finally.
"Yes?"
"Do big brothers... protect the little ones?"
"That is correct."
"So... if those kids come back..."
"They won't dare." Daiki's voice came out colder than usual. "Because now they would have to go through me first. And I won't allow it."
Sylph looked at him with something resembling awe.
"Daiki is scary when he gets serious," I commented with a smile. "But only with people who hurt his family."
"Family...?" Sylph repeated the word as if it were precious.
"That's what we are now."
Sylph took our hands.
"I never had brothers before..."
"Well, now you have two." I squeezed his hand. "And we're a package deal. You can't get rid of us even if you wanted to."
"I don't want to." Sylph squeezed both our hands back. "I would never want to."
Sylph's father was a handsome man. He had pointed ears, shining blonde hair, and although his build was slender, he didn't lack muscle. He was the clear example of the best of both worlds: a successful hybrid between Elf and Human, worthy of the name "Half-Elf."
He was stationed at a watchtower on the edge of the forest, holding a bow while observing the surroundings attentively.
"Dad, I brought lunch..."
"Ah, thanks as always, Luffy[1]. They didn't bother you today?"
"Everything's fine, they helped me."
With his gaze, Sylph pointed us out. I gave a slight bow. Daiki simply nodded his head.
"Nice to meet you. I am Rudeus Greyrat."
"Daiki Greyrat."
Lawls observed us with interest.
"Greyrat-...? Are you Paul's sons?"
"That's right. Paul is my father," I replied.
"Wow, I'd heard about you two. The brilliant one and the dedicated one, isn't that right? You're a polite boy, Rudeus. Ah, sorry, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Lawls. I usually work as a hunter in the forest."
From what he told us, that tower served to watch for monsters appearing from the forest. The men of the village took turns 24 hours a day to stand guard. Paul also had his assigned shift, and it was during those rounds that he met Lawls. apparently, they had shared advice on how to raise their respective children.
"My son looks like this, but it's just a case of atavism. I would appreciate it if you got along."
"Of course. Even if Sylph were from the Superd race, it wouldn't change my attitude. I swear it on my father's honor."
Lawls let out an exclamation of surprise.
"At such a young age, you already speak of honor...? Paul must be proud."
"A brilliant child doesn't always grow up to be a brilliant adult. You might envy me when Sylph grows up, not before."
I said that to give Sylph some credit.
Daiki added, "Appearances do not define character. Only actions do. Sylph has already shown us he has a good heart."
Lawls looked at us with an expression somewhere between surprised and pleased.
"I see... Just as Paul said. That talking to you two makes a father lose confidence in himself."
"Wow... then maybe I should start misbehaving so he can scold me more often," I joked.
While we conversed, I felt someone tugging at my clothes. It was Sylph, head down, holding my sleeve.
"Mr. Lawls, can we go play for a while?"
"Sure, but don't go near the forest."
That was more than understood, but...
"On the way here, we saw a hill with a big tree. We'll probably play around there. I'll make sure to bring Sylph back before nightfall. If we aren't home by then and you don't see us on the hill, it's probable that an incident has occurred. Please organize a search if that happens."
"Ah... uh-huh."
Leaving Lawls still stunned, we headed back to the tree on the hill.
"Right, what should we play?" I asked once we were there.
"I don't know... I've never played with a friend before..."
When saying "friend," Sylph hesitated a little.
"I was also shut in at home until recently, so I don't have many ideas."
Daiki, who had been observing the landscape, spoke up.
"We could train."
"Train?" Sylph looked at him, confused.
"My brother and I practice magic and swordsmanship. We could teach you the basics."
"Yes!" Sylph suddenly perked up. "Teach me that thing from before. The warm water that came out of your hands and the warm wind that blew afterwards."
‹Ah, combined magic.›
"It's hard, but with practice anyone can do it... probably."
"Alright! Then we start training today!"
Daiki nodded.
"First, the basics. Feel the mana."
And so, the three of us spent the afternoon on the hill. Me explaining magical theory with enthusiasm. Daiki demonstrating precise control. Sylph absorbing everything with shining eyes.
At one point, while we were resting, Sylph looked at Daiki shyly.
"Hey, Daiki. Did people... did people ever bother you because of your hair?"
"No," he answered honestly. "But that's because I rarely go out. And when I do go out, I'm usually with my family or training."
"Ah..."
"But," he added, "if anyone tried... I wouldn't care. Because I know who I am. And I know that the people who truly know me don't judge me for that."
"How... how can you be so sure?"
"Because my brother reminded me." Daiki looked at me. "When I had doubts about myself, he told me it was okay to be who I am."
Sylph looked at me, then back at Daiki.
"You're good brothers..."
"We try." Daiki smiled faintly. "And now you are our brother too. So we will remind you too when you forget."
"Remind me of what?"
"That it's okay to be yourself. Green hair, long ears, everything."
Sylph touched his pointed ears, then smiled.
"Red eyes... like you."
"Like me," Daiki confirmed.
When the sun began to set, Daiki spoke.
"It's time to head back."
"Already?" Sylph seemed disappointed.
"We promised to return before nightfall." I stood up. "But we can come back tomorrow."
"Really?"
"We're brothers, aren't we?" I smiled. "Brothers spend time together."
Sylph looked at both of us, and that shy smile returned.
"Yes... brothers."
Sylph was practically glowing with happiness as we walked back.
"Rudeus! Brother Daiki!"
We walked him to his house.
When we returned home, Paul was furious. With his hands on his hips and planted in front of the entrance, he had the bearing of someone who was clearly upset.
I exchanged a glance with Daiki. My brother had that characteristic neutral expression, but something in his eyes told me he was already assessing the situation.
"Father, we're home," we said almost in unison.
"Do you know why I'm angry?"
"I have no idea," I replied.
Daiki simply waited in silence, observing.
"A while ago, Eto's wife came by. She said you hit her son, Somal."
‹Eto, Somal... who the hell are they? Ah. The three brats. One of them must be Somal.›
"I didn't hit him. I just threw mud at him," I explained.
Daiki added, "I didn't hit him either. I dodged his projectiles and blocked some with my practice sword. At no moment did I make physical contact with any of them."
"Do you remember what I told you the other day?" Paul looked at both of us. "That a man's strength isn't for showing off?"
"Exactly," I agreed.
Paul turned to me first. "Rudeus, I don't know exactly what lie that kid invented, but—... No! When you do something wrong, the first thing you should say is 'sorry'!"
He interrupted me forcefully. This was starting to annoy me.
"The truth is, while we were walking along the path..."
"Don't make excuses!"
I felt frustration rising. He didn't even want to hear my side.
"..."
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Because if I speak, you'll just yell at me to stop making excuses."
"What!?"
Paul's eyes widened with fury.
"Yelling at a child before letting him speak and forcing him to apologize... how easy it is to be an adult. I truly envy you."
"Rudy!"
Smack!
A hot blow crossed my cheek.
...
Daiki Greyrat
When I saw Paul's hand move, my body reacted before I could think. With a step forward, I was already in the middle of the conflict.
"Father."
My voice came out colder than I intended. More like the Daiki from before. The one who only analyzed without feeling.
But now I DID feel.
I felt anger.
Paul looked at me, surprised by my sudden intervention.
"Daiki, this isn't—"
"Respectfully, Father, I believe you should listen to our version before continuing."
I didn't raise my voice. I didn't need to.
"The facts are simple: Three children were attacking one. Rudeus intervened verbally and with non-lethal projectiles of equal level to those they were using. I ensured that none of the aggressors suffered real harm while protecting my brother."
"Aggressors? Somal has—"
"Injuries, I know," I interrupted, keeping my tone calm. "But we didn't cause them. If Somal has injuries, he either inflicted them on himself to frame us, or he received them from another source. Possibly from his own clumsiness while throwing projectiles."
Paul blinked, clearly disconcerted by my cold analysis.
"Furthermore... striking Rudeus without hearing him out first directly contradicts the teachings you yourself have given us. 'Strength is not for showing off.' Applying physical force against someone weaker than you, especially your own son, without allowing him to defend himself verbally first..."
I left the sentence hanging in the air.
...
Rudeus Greyrat
I looked at Daiki in surprise.
My older brother, usually so contained, so analytical, was DEFENDING me with an intensity he rarely showed.
And then, he continued:
"Father. You taught us to protect the weak. That is exactly what we did today. If that is wrong, then your teachings are wrong. And if your teachings are right, then your reprimand is wrong. Both cannot be correct simultaneously."
Implacable logic.
Paul opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"I... I didn't..."
I touched the cheek where he had hit me. It still stung. But seeing Daiki there, protecting me with words instead of force, with logic instead of emotion...
It made me feel less alone.
"Brother," I said softly in Japanese. "It's okay. Let me finish this."
Daiki looked at me. For a moment, I saw conflict in his eyes.
Finally, he nodded slightly and took a step back, though he stayed close.
I turned back to Paul.
"Father. Until now, I have always tried to be a good son. I have never disobeyed your instructions, and I have always put my best effort into what has been asked of me."
"T-that has nothing to do with it..."
Clearly, he hadn't intended to hit me. His expression was one of pure confusion.
"Yes, it does. Everything I have done has been to earn your trust and give you peace of mind. But now, without even hearing my version, you blindly believed the words of someone I don't even know, yelled at me... and on top of that, you hit me."
"But Somal does have injuries..."
‹Injuries? No idea. Did he do them to himself?›
"Even if those injuries were my fault, I don't have to apologize. I haven't disobeyed your teachings, and I can say with my head held high that I did the right thing."
Paul made a bitter grimace.
"Relax, Father. Next time, when I see three kids attacking a defenseless one without him fighting back, I'll simply ignore them. Better yet: I'll join them so it'll be four against one. That way, I can go around saying that the Greyrat tradition is to abuse the weakest. And when I'm older, I'll leave home and never use the name Greyrat again. Because I would be ashamed to share a name with a family of wretches that ignores physical violence and tolerates verbal abuse."
Paul was left speechless.
His face turned red, then pale. The internal conflict was obvious.
"...I'm sorry. I was wrong. Tell me what happened."
Paul lowered his head.
I also bowed my head and told him everything as objectively as possible. I told him we were going up the hill when we heard voices. That three kids from a fallow field were throwing mud at another. That, after throwing one or two projectiles at them, we convinced them to stop and they left shouting insults. That afterwards I washed the boy with magic and we played with him.
"I understand..." he murmured finally. "So, the boy you defended is named Sylph?"
"Son of Lawls, the hunter. Green hair, pointed ears. Attacked for his appearance, which resembles the Superd race."
"Lawls..." Paul frowned. "I know Lawls. He's a good man. And if his son was being attacked three against one..."
He rubbed his face with both hands.
"Dammit. I really screwed up, didn't I?"
"Yes," Daiki replied without softening the blow. "But recognizing the error is the first step to correcting it."
Paul looked at me with a strange expression.
"When did you become so mature, Daiki?"
"I always was, Father. It's just that now I'm also more honest about expressing it."
I let out a stifled laugh.
Paul sighed deeply.
"You're right. Both of you. I acted rashly, without listening, and on top of that... on top of that, I hit you, Rudy."
"As a father, as a man, as a Greyrat... I am sorry. to both of you."
"There is no need to apologize," I said. "If in the future you believe we are wrong, please, do not hesitate to reprimand us severely. Just that I would also appreciate it if you listened to our version."
"And that you evaluate the evidence before applying physical punishment. Especially considering we are five-year-old children against accusations from unverified sources," Daiki said.
"Yeah, Lawls was right. Talking to you two makes one lose confidence as a father."
"Don't lose confidence, Father." Daiki tilted his head slightly. "Simply... grow along with us. We are all learning."
Paul looked at both of us, and something in his expression softened.
"You know? Sometimes I wonder who the real adult is here."
"Well..." I smiled. "Technically you are still taller, stronger, and have more experience. That counts as being an adult, right?"
"I guess." Paul stood up, ruffling both our hair. "So, about this Sylph..."
"Can I bring him home next time?" I asked.
"We," Daiki corrected. "We both want to bring him. We adopted him as our younger brother."
"Adopted...?"
"Yes." Daiki nodded. "Sylph needed brothers. We have room in our family. It seemed logical."
Paul looked at both of us, then let out a genuine laugh.
"Of course. Any friend of yours is welcome. And if you consider him your brother... then I suppose that makes Lawls something like extended family too."
"Exactly." I smiled.
We entered the house together. Zenith was waiting for us, and when she saw my red cheek, her expression changed immediately.
"Rudy? What happened to your face?"
Paul stepped forward, clearly ashamed.
"That... was my fault. I made a mistake. I already apologized to both of them."
Zenith looked at Daiki and me. We nodded in confirmation.
"It's already resolved, Mom," I said.
"Besides," Daiki added, "we have something to tell you. About a new friend. Well, new brother, technically."
"Brother?" Zenith blinked.
And so, during dinner, we told them everything about Sylph.
That night, after Zenith tucked us in, we were left alone in our room.
Some time had passed in silence when I heard movement.
Daiki had gotten out of his bed.
"Brother?"
"Give me your hand."
"What? Why...?"
Daiki simply extended his own hand, waiting.
Confused, I gave him mine.
He took it with care, guiding it toward my swollen cheek.
"Keep it there."
Then he placed his own hand over mine.
An emerald green light began to glow softly between our fingers. Warm. Comforting. The pain began to fade like mist under the morning sun.
"Brother..." I whispered, surprised. "Are you using healing magic?"
"Yes."
The glow continued for a few more seconds. When Daiki finally withdrew his hand, the swelling had disappeared completely. The skin was smooth, with no trace of redness.
As if I had never been hit.
"Why...? Mom already checked me. She said I was fine."
"I know." Daiki returned to his bed. "But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."
"Besides..." Daiki lay down, looking up at the ceiling. "I didn't like seeing him hit you. I know Father regretted it. I know he learned his lesson. But even so..."
I felt something warm expand in my chest. It wasn't the healing magic. It was something else.
"Thank you, brother."
"You don't have to thank me."
"Yes, I do." I turned toward Daiki's bed. "In my previous life, no one... no one ever did something like that for me. When my brothers beat me, when they kicked me out of the house... no one healed my wounds. Neither the physical ones nor the others."
Daiki didn't answer immediately.
When he spoke, his voice sounded different. More... human.
"I didn't have anyone to heal me in my previous life either. So now that I can do it... I'm going to make sure you never feel that emptiness."
"Brother..."
"Sleep, Rudeus. Tomorrow Sylph will probably be waiting for us."
...
Zenith Greyrat
Paul was sitting on the edge of the bed, head in his hands, in that posture of defeat he adopted every time he knew he had screwed up big time.
I sat opposite him, running the brush through my hair, but my eyes didn't leave his reflection in the mirror.
"Paul."
"..."
"I know, Zenith. I already apologized. I apologized to them, I apologized to you during dinner..."
I set the brush down on the wood with a sharp clack.
"It's not just about apologizing, Paul." I turned on the bench to look directly at him. "It's about trust."
Paul looked up.
"Mrs. Eto came screaming. She said Somal was hurt. My instinct was... to react. I thought Rudeus was following in my footsteps, being an arrogant bully. I just wanted to correct him before it was too late."
"Rudeus isn't you, Paul... And neither is Daiki."
I stood up and walked toward him. Paul tried to take my hand, but I crossed my arms. I needed him to hear this without the distraction of physical contact.
"Rudeus admires you. He looks at you as if you were the greatest hero in the world. And Daiki... Daiki studies you, he respects you as his master." I paused, letting the words sink in. "And today, in a second, you almost destroyed all of that. Not because you scolded them, but because you didn't trust them."
"I know... When Daiki stood in front of me... Zenith, I was scared."
"Scared?"
"His eyes. There was no fear in them. There was disappointment." Paul ran a hand over his face. "A five-year-old child looked at me with disappointment and gave me a lesson on morality using my own words. I felt... small."
I sighed, feeling my anger beginning to give way to sadness. I sat next to him on the bed, but kept a small distance.
"You have extraordinary children, Paul. And I'm not talking about their magic or their swordsmanship. I'm talking about their hearts. Rudeus defended a discriminated child. Daiki defended his brother from his own father." I looked him in the eyes. "Do you realize what that means? Daiki, our son who barely spoke a few years ago, physically interposed himself to take a blow meant for his brother."
Paul grimaced in pain at remembering the moment.
"If he hadn't stopped the blow... if I had hit Daiki too..."
"But you didn't. And that is the only thing saving you tonight." I put a hand on his knee. "Listen to me well, Paul Greyrat. You are a good father. You love them, I know. But you are impulsive. And your children are too intelligent to be treated with impulsiveness."
"They're too smart for their own good..." he murmured with a sad smile.
"No. They are smart for your own good. Because they force you to be better." I squeezed his knee. "If you ever raise a hand to either of them again without listening first... If you ever doubt their honor before the gossip of a neighbor..."
I didn't finish the threat. There was no need. My expression, the seriousness of a mother of Millis protecting her children, said it all.
Paul nodded slowly. He took my hand and kissed it.
"I swear to you, Zenith. I will learn. Daiki was right... I have to grow along with them."
I softened my expression. I leaned in and rested my head on his shoulder.
"You'd better, dear. Because those two are going to change the world someday. And we have to be up to the task of guiding them... or at least, not getting in their way."
Paul wrapped his arm around me, sighing deeply.
"They made a new friend, right? That Sylph."
"A new brother, they said." I corrected with a soft smile. "They have huge hearts."
"Yeah... they got that from you."
"And the courage to defend it they got from you, even if it hurts you to admit it."
Paul chuckled quietly.
"Thank you, Zenith. For... straightening me out."
"Always, Paul. Always." I kissed him on the cheek. "Now blow out the candle. Tomorrow you have to train Daiki, and after today, I suspect he'll demand double to make sure you're 'up to the task'."
"God... that kid is going to kill me."
"You deserve it a little."
Paul let out a resigned laugh and blew out the candle.
[1] Author's Note: Luffy appears in the light novel. Nickname