The day after my brother's graduation, Roxy was already at the doorway, dressed for travel with her suitcase in hand.
Our years of learning under Roxy had come to an end. My brother and I stood side by side, watching her without saying a word. To be honest, I couldn't bring myself to speak.
What is this feeling? I had never experienced it before, so I don't have an answer. But thanks to this new world, perhaps I will find one.
That aside, I had grown a bit taller. I was slightly taller than my brother, though thanks to Rudeus's hair, he could seem just as tall as me.
At the front door, my parents were talking to her, trying to convince her to stay one way or another. They had grown deeply fond of her.
"Roxy-chan, you can stay longer if you want," Zenith said in a pleading tone. "There are still so many things..."
"That's right," Paul added. "Even if you're done with the tutoring, you helped us during last year's drought. The villagers would welcome you, too."
Roxy shook her head, a faint smile forming on her lips. It was almost imperceptible, but her gaze shifted back and forth between Rudeus and me. Then, her demeanor changed as she addressed my parents.
"No. I appreciate the offer, but this experience has made me realize my own shortcomings. I plan to travel the world for a while and hone my magic even further. Besides..." Roxy turned her head toward us. "You already have two incredible boys for that."
I clenched my fists at my sides. Not because I was angry or sad, but because I knew exactly what she meant. Both Rudeus and I had achieved incredible things with magic. Rudeus had reached Saint tier, while I had mastered voiceless healing in a single night and conscious body reinforcement in a matter of weeks.
We were monsters disguised as students. At least, that was how I saw myself. Because once again, I excelled at something. Though this time, magic was commonplace.
"I see. Well, sorry about that. It seems our boys shook your confidence."
(Paul, I don't think that's the right way to put it)
Rudeus and I exchanged a look. He just shrugged as if to say, "Well, it's Paul," so I stayed quiet.
"No, I should be grateful that they corrected my arrogance."
"It's not arrogance if you can use Saint-tier water magic."
"I've learned that even if I couldn't, with enough ingenuity, one can reach even higher levels of magic." Roxy said this with a wry smile, then placed her hand on Rudeus's head.
"Rudy. I did my best, but I wasn't capable enough to teach you everything."
"That's not true, Sensei. You taught me so many things."
"I'm glad to hear you say that... Oh, right."
Roxy reached into her robe and pulled out a pendant attached to a leather cord. It was made of a greenish metal, shaped like three intersecting spears.
"It's a graduation gift. I didn't have time to prepare anything proper, so I hope this serves as a good keepsake."
"What is this...?"
"An amulet from the Migurd tribe. If you ever run into a demon causing you trouble, showing this and mentioning my name might make them a bit more lenient... well, maybe."
"I will treasure it with all my heart."
I noticed Rudeus's hands trembling as he held the amulet.
"I said 'maybe,' Rudy. Don't get overconfident."
Then she turned to me. For a moment, we just looked at each other. Teacher and student. The small Migurd mage and me, an unsettling boy with red eyes, who might have gone unnoticed if not for my demeanor and strange black hair.
"Dai. You were a very unusual student."
Should I answer? I don't trust my voice.
"I expected to teach normal children. A bit talented, considering how much your mother insisted, but you were far more than that. Even if you prefer the path of the sword."
"I am aware I was difficult. Quite difficult."
"No. Not difficult. Extraordinary." Roxy paused. "Never difficult."
She reached out and placed her hand on my shoulder.
"I only hope the path you walk is special. Do you promise?"
"I promise, Sensei."
She reached into her suitcase and pulled out another object. It wasn't an amulet like Rudeus's. It was a small, thin book with a worn leather cover.
"It's a personal journal. I kept it during my years at the magic university. It has notes on battle magic, on how combat mages coordinate with warriors in real scenarios. It also covers common mistakes. I thought it might be useful to you."
I took the book with both hands. Without a word, I stared at it as if it were something sacred. It felt too important for someone like me to hold.
"Sensei. I think this is too valuable."
"That's why I'm giving it to you."
She paused.
"Daiki, can I ask you something personal?"
"Of course, Sensei."
"There was something in your eyes when I first met you. Like a void. Like the stories of people who watch the world from afar. But now, when I look at you, it's no longer there. Why is that?"
So she had noticed what I had been doing all these years. It was obvious, but I hadn't expected such an accurate deduction about my current state. I stayed silent for a long moment; even Rudeus was staring at me, waiting for me to say something.
"Maybe... family."
There was no need to elaborate. I didn't have to. Why would I? It was what I felt in that moment, and that was why I said it.
For a long time, I believed family was something very distant. But looking at it now, my previous world is what is truly far away. I could swear I still belonged to Japan, but that was no longer possible. Yet, the mind and memories distort everything.
"Cherish it. Protect your family with that sword you love so much, and with the magic you have mastered so well."
I felt something strange in my chest. A new and different sensation. As if something had broken and refused to repair itself. Like I had been under anesthesia, unable to feel a thing. It was something I had been holding back for years, guarded only by analytical walls and emotional distance.
Roxy never treated me like a freak. Not even like a monster. Maybe she underestimated me at first, and later thought we were too good for our age, but that was common in this world. She treated me like a student, even like a friend. That was it. A student with a unique path, but a student nonetheless.
"Well. It's time for me to go."
Roxy stepped out the door and was gone.
I felt a dampness on my cheeks. Raising a hand to my face, I was surprised to feel tears.
Crying...? Was I really crying? They weren't tears of pain or trauma, but of... something else. Something without an exact name. To be honest, I didn't understand why Roxy had made me cry.
(Sensei, I will show you. I will prove that your faith was not misplaced. I will walk this unique path wherever it takes me. And when we meet again, you will see just how far I have come. Thank you. For everything)
---
Rudeus finally decided to step outside. I believe much of that change was thanks to Roxy, who gave him the confidence to stop locking himself away and start experiencing the world. Before leaving, he asked our father for permission, and Paul agreed without any objections.
Our father even admitted that, by insisting on teaching him magic and swordsmanship from such a young age, he had rarely given him the chance to play like a normal child. Though he was glad to see him take this step, he also confessed he had always viewed him as an overly serious and unexpressive boy. Not because he was physically weak, but because he never acted his age.
Rudeus, as always, responded with a joke:
"And what's wrong with being mature?"
Paul didn't quite know how to respond.
"I don't mean to brag, but at your age, I was obsessed with flipping up girls' skirts. I was a real rascal."
"Flipping skirts, huh?"
"But if you want to be a man worthy of the Greyrat family, bring home a girlfriend or something."
"Understood. I'll go to the village to look for skirts to flip."
"Ah, but be gentle with the girls. And don't get arrogant just because you're stronger and know magic. A man shouldn't use his strength to show off."
"I know, Father. Strength is for showing off in front of the girls, right?"
"...No, that's not exactly it..."
"Treat girls well. And don't take advantage of being stronger or knowing magic. A man's strength isn't for showing off, Rudy."
Rudeus joked for another moment, but quickly corrected himself and said:
"I'm just joking. It's to protect the weak, right?"
"Exactly! That's it!"
Before Rudeus could leave, I stopped him with a shout.
"I'm coming too." I stood by the door. "Someone has to make sure you don't do anything stupid. Sometimes Father goes a bit too far with his words."
Paul whistled, looking away.
"I won't do anything stupid!"
"You're going to look for skirts to flip. I heard that part."
"But I said it was a joke."
"Uh-huh."
Paul watched the exchange with an amused smile.
"Good idea, Dai. Look after your younger brother."
It was true. I had been going out regularly over the past few years, getting to know the outside world and its people. Rudeus had barely seen any of it until his graduation. Other than that, he didn't know anyone.
"From now on, we'll probably be going out frequently, but we'll always let someone in the house know before we do. We won't stop practicing magic and swordsmanship every day, either, so don't worry. We'll be back before sunset, and, of course, we won't go near any dangerous places."
Rudeus said all of this right before we left, leaving our father stunned. Truth be told, that was the kind of speech Paul should have been giving, not Rudeus.
"Ah... right."
"We'll be going, then," Rudeus said.
"...Take care."
And with that, we left the house.
---
Several days passed.
The outside world no longer frightened Rudeus. Everything was starting to go smoothly. He could even exchange cheerful greetings with the people who walked past us. He used to do that rather awkwardly.
People only knew Rudeus as Paul and Zenith's son, or as Roxy's disciple. I, on the other hand, was known because I had gone out quite a bit. In fact, the first time they saw me walking with Paul Greyrat, they assumed I was adopted, or perhaps some distant relative of the family.
To anyone he met for the first time, Rudeus would bow and introduce himself. For those he was seeing a second time, he simply said hello. Everyone returned his greetings with a smile. It had been a long time since Rudeus had felt this uplifted. Socially speaking, at least.
Our main goal in going out was to explore the terrain on foot and perfectly memorize the local geography. While the area wasn't huge, it was necessary so Rudeus wouldn't get lost later. At the same time, I did a bit of research on the local flora using Rudeus's botany book.
With that in mind, I began identifying the plants that caught my eye one by one, meticulously comparing them to the illustrations in the dictionary.
"Wait," I said, stopping Rudeus with my arm. "Monsters can show up past this point, right?"
"I know. Roxy explained it to me."
Forests tend to accumulate mana, which makes them dangerous. Environments prone to mana buildup naturally have a higher spawn rate for monsters.
Even so, monsters rarely appeared in this region. Plus, there were regular hunting parties, which kept the area relatively safe. A monster hunt was organized once a month, during which all the men from the village would head into the woods to exterminate the creatures.
We climbed a small hill.
At the top stood an enormous tree, the largest in the entire area, impossible to miss. It was majestic. Simple. And it was right there, so we climbed it.
"This makes a good vantage point."
That was when we suddenly heard shouting.
"Demons aren't welcome in our village!"
That voice, carried by the wind, reached us.
"Get out of here, demon!"
"Take this!"
We turned toward the voices. Down below was a crop field that the recent rain had turned into a mud pit. Three kids were throwing mud balls at another child walking defenselessly down the path.
"Ten points if you hit him in the head!"
The cornered kid was moving slowly, protecting something in his arms. It was a basket he was shielding from the projectiles.
"He's carrying something!"
"I bet it's demon treasure!"
We ran toward the kid. As we moved, Rudeus quickly formed a ball of mud using magic. I ran beside him, staying a bit further back, my hand resting on my wooden sword. I didn't need it. But it was there. As soon as Rudeus was in range, he hurled the projectile.
"Whoa! What was that?"
The ball of mud hit the largest kid in the group, who seemed to be the leader, right in the face. It splattered violently, and I could clearly see some of the mud go straight into his eye.
"Ow! It got in my eye..."
"Who are you?!"
"Stay out of this, it's none of your business!"
"Are you on the demon's side or what?!"
In an instant, the full force of their hostility shifted to us.
"I'm not on the side of demons. I'm on the side of the weak."
Rudeus seemed different this time. Prouder. I, on the other hand, just stepped half a pace forward and stayed quiet.
"Don't play the hero!"
"They're the knight's sons, right?!"
"Look at 'em, little rich kids!"
"Alright, fine! We're gonna tell everyone the knight's sons are defending demons!"
"Let's go get our brothers!"
"Hey, brooo! We got some weirdos over here!"
Nobody came. Even so, Rudeus's legs were trembling slightly from fear.
"S-Shut up! Cowards who gang up three-on-one are the worst!"
They stared back, dumbfounded.
"You shut up! You're the one yelling, you idiot!"
Rudeus grew angry and hurled another ball of mud.
"You jerk!"
"Where is he getting so much mud from?!"
"Just throw it back at him!"
They retaliated with three times as much mud.
At that moment, I took my hand off my sword and decided to step back from the whole affair. Not because I didn't want to help, but because it truly wasn't necessary. Paul had taught him footwork, and he had his magic; this was no problem for him. So I just sat down on the hill and watched.
"I-I can't hit him!!!"
"Stop dodging!!!"
The three of them kept throwing mud for a while, growing more and more frustrated as none of their projectiles landed. They finally stopped, panting and clearly bored of their failed game.
"This is boring!!!"
"Let's just go!"
"Let's spread the word that the knight's son is a demon-lover!"
"It's not like we lost, you know? We just stopped because we got bored."
With that arrogant tone, the three kids walked off to the other side of the field, vanishing from sight.
When my brother turned around to check on the kid he had just rescued, he stared for a moment. The child had very delicate features, fair skin, long eyelashes, and a terrified expression that made their fear painfully obvious. Still, it was hard to get a good look, as the kid was covered in mud from head to toe.
Rudeus decided to wash him off immediately. He told the kid to set his things aside, kneel by the irrigation canal, and close his eyes. Then, he used magic to warm the water to a comfortable temperature and carefully began washing the mud away. At first, the boy flinched and tried to pull back, but once he realized he wasn't in danger, he stopped resisting.
Meanwhile, I kept an eye on our surroundings, watching to see if those bullies decided to come back.
Once he finished washing the kid, Rudeus used magic to conjure a gentle breeze of warm air, drying off his hair and clothes. Then, he wiped his face with a handkerchief.
That was when a pair of pointed ears and emerald-green hair were finally revealed. Seeing this, Rudeus immediately recalled a warning Roxy had given him a long time ago:
"Stay away from the race with emerald-green hair and a red jewel on their forehead."
Meanwhile, my mind was focused on something else entirely. Or at least, that was what my practical side did whenever it spotted an inconsistency. Where my brother was concerned, I was certain he thought this was a boy. The Rudeus I knew couldn't speak that confidently to a girl, even one his own age.
It was a girl. She wasn't actively pretending to be a boy, but my brother assumed she was one. In a village where she had just been attacked for being a demon, that made sense. They hadn't attacked her for being a girl, but for looking like a monster out of a storybook. However, she didn't have a jewel on her forehead, which put an end to all those concerns.
My dilemma now was whether to tell the truth, or let my brother keep thinking she was a boy. I still didn't know if she was doing it on purpose, so it was best to do nothing.
The girl looked at us.
"T-thank you..."
The girl thanked him and, as if snapping out of a daze, stopped slouching and stood a little straighter. Even so, her posture didn't show perfect confidence, but rather obvious unease and suspicion.
After being bullied, you don't expect to magically receive help.
"Hey," Rudeus began, "with guys like that, you have to hit back."
"But I can't win..."
"The important thing is to show them you'll fight back."
"But... usually there are even bigger kids with them... I don't want them to hurt me..."
I see. That's true. If you fight back, they'll call their friends and gang up on you. That happens everywhere. Even though Roxy managed to get the adults to start accepting demons, the kids still don't.
"You've got it rough too, getting picked on just because your hair color looks like a Superd's."
Rudeus chatted with the girl as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"D-doesn't it... bother you...?"
"My teacher was a demon, you know? What race are you?"
Roxy said the Migurds were close to the Superds.
"I... I don't know."
"And your father?"
"...He's a half-elf. The other half is human."
"And your mother?"
"She's human, but... she has a bit of beastkin blood..."
The girl's eyes filled with tears.
"...But... my dad says I'm not a demon. But... my hair... is different from mom's and dad's..."
When she began to sob, Rudeus gently patted her head in an attempt to comfort her.
"Is your hair color the only thing that's different?"
"...My ears are also longer than my dad's..."
"I see..."
After a few minutes, we told her our names, and now all that was left was to calm her down.
"I was also born different from my family."
I approached the girl, Sylph. She looked up at me with curiosity, and for a moment, our eyes met.
Red eyes.
Like me.
We both had red eyes.
And we looked at each other for a brief instant.
"Huh...?"
"My father has brown hair and my mother has blonde, but mine is completely black. They aren't even remotely similar."
"Ah..."
"When I was born, my father had his doubts. He thought my mother had cheated on him. I heard them talking about it recently... He felt betrayed because neither my eyes nor my hair matched theirs."
Sylph touched her own face, as if just realizing it.
"Red eyes..." Sylph whispered.
"Exactly. Neither my father nor my mother have them. My brother Rudeus 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 Rudeus was born, looking exactly like our father, it proved we were both his kids. It's just that I... well, I turned out different."
She subtly twitched her ears.
"But... how?"
"Sometimes it can happen, whether from the genes of grandparents, great-grandparents, people we've never even met... Or it could just be something new. Something we can call entirely our own."
Sylph looked at me with wide eyes.
"Does it really... really not bother you to be different?"
"At first I didn't even notice, I was too young, but now... I think it's fine because my family accepts me for who I am, and the people who matter don't care about something as trivial as hair color."
Sylph lowered her head.
"The people who matter..."
Rudeus nodded.
"Exactly! We don't care that you have green hair. In fact, I think it looks great."
"And your eyes," I added, pointing to them again. "They're just like mine. We're alike, aren't we?"
Sylph touched her own green hair, then looked at my black hair, then at our matching eyes.
"Alike..." a small smile appeared on her face. "Yes... we are alike."
Something in my chest stirred. 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 how I felt when looking at my brother.
"Hey, Sylph... I already have a younger brother," I pointed at Rudeus. "How would you like it if Rudeus and I became your brothers?"
"M-my brothers...?"
Rudeus immediately caught on to what I was doing.
"Yes! We're officially adopting you! Though... wait, who's older, Sylph or me?"
"That doesn't matter, Rudeus."
Sylph looked back and forth between us.
"C-can you really... be my brothers?"
"You already are," Rudeus said. "As of right now. Is that okay?"
"Y-yes! I do! I want you to be my brothers!"
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 in the slightest. Contact I wasn't prepared for, either.
I wrapped my arms around Sylph, gently returning the hug.
"It's all right."
"Technically, I might be the younger one," 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 older brothers."
Rudeus joined the embrace, wrapping his arms around us both.
"Then it's settled. I am officially a brother to two."
Sylph sobbed between us, but this time they were definitely happy tears.
---
After that, we walked toward the watchtower. Sylph walked between us, occasionally glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, but whenever I looked back, she'd quickly look away.
"Dai-nii..." she said.
"Yes?"
"Do older brothers protect the younger ones?"
I stayed quiet. Then I looked at Rudeus.
"Always. But that doesn't always mean saving them from everything. Sometimes, you have to let them face the consequences and then lend a hand afterward. Being an older brother also means teaching them that I won't always be there."
"Then... if those kids come back..."
"They won't come back. And if they do, I'll train you so it never happens again. Let's see if they have the nerve to get past Rudeus and then me."
Sylph looked at him with something akin to awe.
"My brother is scary when he's serious," Rudeus commented with a smile.
Sylphy took our hands.
"I never had brothers before..."
"Well, now you have two," Rudeus said. "And we're a package deal. You couldn't get rid of us even if you wanted to."
"I don't want to." Sylph squeezed our hands. "I never would."
Shortly after, we finally arrived. Sylph's father was waiting for us there. He had pointed ears and blond hair, and although his build was slender, he wasn't lacking in muscle.
"Dad, here's... your lunch..."
"Oh, thank you, as always. Did they pick on you again today?"
"I'm fine. This time someone helped me."
Rudeus bowed, and I simply nodded.
"Nice to meet you. I am Rudeus Greyrat."
"Daiki Greyrat."
Rawls observed us with interest.
"Greyrat... could you be Paul's family?"
"That is correct. Paul is our father."
"Wow, I've heard about you two. The brilliant one and the dedicated one, right? You're a polite boy, Rudeus. Ah, forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. I'm Rawls. I usually hunt in the forest."
From what he told us, that tower served as a lookout for monsters coming from the forest. The men of the village took turns standing guard around the clock. Naturally, Paul also had his shifts, which was where Rawls met him. It sounded like they talked about their kids and exchanged parenting advice.
"I know how her appearance comes across, but it stems from ancestral traits in our family. I hope you'll get along well."
"Of course. Even if Sylph were from the Superd tribe, it wouldn't change how I treat her. I swear it on my father's honor." Rudeus said
"Speaking of honor at your a ge...what an admirable child. I envy Paul."
"A child who excels when young isn't guaranteed to stay that way as an adult. Others might be the ones envying Sylph when she grows up."
Well said, Rudeus. Those were the right words, and the most rational. Historically speaking, telling a child they are a prodigy from a young age sets them up for crushing self-doubt when they grow up and fail to replicate the awe they inspired in their youth. It's better to take it step by step. Celebrate their achievements, but give them greater challenges.
During my own childhood, before my parents left this world, I often found myself thinking that maybe I wasn't so bad, that a path to greatness lay ahead of me, and that I had simply outpaced my peers. Afterward, I was burdened with the duty to "protect the weak", a duty that, post-trauma, I never let go of.
That's why what Rudeus said makes total sense. Because if I hadn't been fed those words, maybe I would have acted differently. But "maybe" no longer exists. It already happened. That's the undeniable truth. There isn't much I can do about it now.
"Appearances never define character," I said. "Only actions do. Sylph has shown she has a good heart."
Rawls looked at us with an expression somewhere between surprised and pleased.
"I see... Just like Paul said. He mentioned that talking to you two is enough to make a man lose his confidence as a father."
"I see. In that case, I suppose I should start causing a little more trouble so he can scold me properly," Rudeus joked.
While we talked, I saw someone tug on Rudeus's clothes. It was Sylph, her head bowed, gripping his sleeve...the very picture of shyness.
"Mr. Rawls, would it be all right if we go play for a while?" Rudeus asked.
"Ah, sure. Just don't go near the forest."
"There was a hill with a large tree on the way here, so we'll probably be playing around there. I'll make sure to bring Sylph back before dark. If you look toward the hill on your way home and we aren't there, and we aren't at home either, there's a high probability we've run into some kind of trouble, so please come looking for us."
"Ah... All right..."
With Rawls still stunned, we headed back to the hill with the tree.
Once we were a fair distance away, Rudeus turned to Sylphy and asked, "All right, then, what do you want to play?"
"I-I don't know... I've never had a... f-friend to play with before..."
"I see. Well, I was a bit of a shut-in myself until recently. So, what kind of games should we play?"
I watched them for a moment, then said:
"Do you want to train, Sylph?"
"Train?" She looked at me in confusion.
"Yes. Train. Rudeus and I practice magic and swordsmanship. Do you want to learn the basics? If you don't like it, you don't have to keep doing it. But if you do, you could become much stronger than you think."
"My brother's right," Rudeus agreed.
"Yes!" Sylph beamed. "I want to learn how to do that! The hot water that goes 'Splaaaaash!' when it shoots out of your hands, and the hot wind that goes 'Whoosh' too!"
"It's difficult. Not even our teacher could do that. But I have faith that if you practice from a young age, anyone can do it... I think," Rudeus said, matching Sylph's enthusiasm.
Sylph jumped for joy, coming to a halt when we reached the tree.
"All right! Then our training starts today!"
I nodded.
And so, the three of us spent the afternoon on the hill, explaining everything we knew about magic and precise control, while Sylph absorbed every lesson, her eyes shining.
"Hey, Dai-nii. Did people... did people ever bother you about your hair?"
"No. But I can't say it never happened, either. This is a small village where everyone knows everyone. Maybe if I wasn't strong, the other kids would pick on me when I go out. I think, rather than bothering me, I just make them uneasy."
"Ah..."
"But," I added, "if anyone tried to... I wouldn't care. Because I know who I am. And I know the people who truly know me don't judge me for it."
"How... how can you be so sure?"
"Because Rudeus reminded me. When I had doubts about myself, he told me it was okay to be who I am."
Sylph looked at Rudeus, then back at me.
"You are good brothers..."
"We try. And you're a part of this too now. So we'll remind you as well whenever you forget."
"Remind me of what?"
"That it's okay to be yourself."
She nodded with a smile.
---
The sun began to set.
"It's time to head back," I said.
"Already?" Sylph looked disappointed.
"We promised to be back before dark." I stood up. "But we can come back tomorrow."
"Really?"
"We're family, aren't we? Family spends time together."
Sylph looked at us both, and that shy smile returned.
"Yes... brothers."
Sylph practically glowed with happiness as we walked back.
We walked her home.
"Rudy! Dai-nii! Bye!"
And with that, we said our goodbyes.
---
We returned home.
Paul was waiting for us, furious. His arms were crossed, and he had a look that could mean many things... profound disappointment and deep annoyance being two of them.
Rudeus looked at me in surprise. He had a habit of conveying his thoughts through his expressions; Lilia had even mentioned once that his smile was unsettling.
"We're back," Rudeus said. "If you're like this because we're late, I want to say that—"
"Do you know why I'm angry?"
"I have no idea. Isn't it because we're a little late?" Rudeus replied.
"Eto's wife came by a moment ago. Apparently, you hit Somal, Eto's son."
"Are you referring to what happened today?"
"That's right."
"I didn't hit him. I just threw mud at him."
"I was watching from a distance." I wasn't going to leave Rudeus alone in this. "For the latter half, he was just dodging the mud they threw at him. I didn't see any blows that would cause actual physical harm."
"Do you remember what I told you before?" Paul ignored me entirely.
"That a man's strength isn't for showing off?"
"Exactly."
"I don't know what story you heard, Father, but—"
"No!!! If you did something wrong, you apologize first!!!"
Paul yelled. For the very first time, he raised his voice at us. This was something that was bound to happen eventually, inevitably. But that only made this moment far more uncomfortable than I had anticipated.
"Actually, on the way back—"
"Don't make excuses!!!"
"..."
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Because if I open my mouth, you'll just yell at me for making excuses."
"What?!"
Paul's eyes widened in fury.
"You yell at a child before they can say anything and force them to apologize. Everything is so simple and easy for you adults... must be nice."
"Rudy!"
Smack!
The moment I saw Paul's hand move, my body reacted before I could even process it, and in a flash, I had stepped right into the middle of the conflict.
"Father."
My voice came out colder than I intended. Colder than it had ever been since I learned to speak in this world. It sounded more like the old Daiki. The one who only analyzed without feeling a thing. Except this time, I did feel something...anger. Pure anger and frustration at the injustice being projected onto my brother.
"Dai, this isn't..."
"Respectfully, Father, I believe you should hear our side of the story 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, using non-lethal projectiles of the exact same level they were using. I made sure none of the aggressors suffered real harm while I protected my brother."
"Aggressors? Somal has..."
"Injuries? Anyone can get injured. If he has injuries, it's impossible that we caused them. If he's truly hurt, he either injured himself to frame us, or he got hurt somewhere else. Most likely from his own clumsiness while throwing things."
Paul blinked, clearly bewildered by my cold analysis.
"Furthermore... hitting Rudeus without listening to him first directly contradicts the very lessons you've taught us. 'Strength isn't for showing off.' Using physical force against someone weaker than you, especially your own son, without even letting him defend himself verbally..."
I left the sentence hanging. But I 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... They cannot both be right at the same time."
"I... I didn't..."
"Brother..." Rudeus rested his hand on my shoulder. "It's fine. Let me finish this."
I looked at him. Really looked at him. And he really looked at me, likely seeing the deep conflict in my eyes, so I brushed his hand off and stepped aside.
"Father. Up until now, I've tried to be a good son. I've never disobeyed you or Mother, and I've done everything I've been told, always giving it my absolute best."
"T-that has nothing to do with this."
"No, it does. I've been working hard so you wouldn't have to worry, so you could trust me. And despite all that, you didn't listen to a single word I had to say, you blindly believed someone I don't even know, you yelled at me, and you even hit me."
"But Somal was definitely hurt..."
"Even if that injury were somehow my fault, I won't apologize. I haven't gone against any of your teachings, and I can proudly say that what I did was right."
Well said. Those were the right words.
Paul made a bitter grimace.
"Don't worry, Father. Next time, even if I see three guys attacking a defenseless person, I'll ignore it. In fact, I'll join in so it can be four against one. I'll spread the word that bullying the weak is the pride and motto of the Greyrat family. And when I grow up, I'll leave this house and never use the name Greyrat again. I'd be ashamed to be part of a trashy family that turns a blind eye to real violence while relying on verbal abuse."
Paul was left speechless.
His face turned red, then pale, and I could see the conflict in him.
"...I'm sorry. I was wrong. Tell me what happened."
Paul lowered his head.
Rudeus lowered his head and told him everything as objectively as possible.
"So if anyone should apologize, it's that Somal kid to Sylph first. Physical wounds heal fast, but emotional ones don't."
"...You're right. I was wrong. I'm sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. If you think I'm wrong in the future, please don't hesitate to scold me. But I would also appreciate it if you listened to what I have to say. Sometimes I might not express myself well, or it might sound like an excuse, but if I have something to say, I hope you'll take it into consideration."
He rubbed his face with both hands.
"Damn it. I really screwed up, didn't I?"
We both nodded at the same time.
"Ah... the classic twin telepathy."
Paul looked at both of us, and something in his expression softened.
"You know, sometimes I wonder who the real adult is around here."
"Well..." Rudeus said. "Technically, you're still taller, stronger, and have more experience. That counts as an adult, right?"
"I suppose." Paul stood up, ruffling both of our hair. "So, about this Sylph..."
"Can I bring him home next time?" I asked.
Paul looked at us both, then let out a genuine laugh.
"Sylph? Of course. Any friend of yours is welcome. And if you consider him your brother... then I suppose that makes Rawls something like extended family, too."
I'm glad Paul doesn't have any prejudice against demons.
---
From the perspective of Zenith Greyrat.
Paul was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands, in that defeated posture he adopted whenever he knew he'd messed up. This time, he had made absolutely every mistake a father and an adult could possibly make...
And I wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily.
"Honey."
"..."
"I know, Zenith. I already apologized. I apologized to them, I apologized to you during dinner..."
"It's not just about apologizing, honey. It's about trust."
Paul looked up.
"Mrs. Eto came barging in screaming. She said Somal was hurt. My first instinct was... to react. I thought Rudeus was following in my footsteps. I just wanted to correct his path before it was too late."
"I get that. You don't want your son to go down a similar path. But Rudy isn't like you. And neither is Dai."
I sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Z-Zenith, you know what—"
"Hush. I don't want you moving a muscle. Rudy admires you. He looks at you as if you were the greatest hero in the world. And Dai... he studies you, he respects you as his teacher. And today, not only did you betray the very teachings you instilled in them, but you weaponized them against his brother. In a split second, you nearly destroyed all of that."
"I know... When Daiki stood in front of me... Zenith, I was afraid."
"Afraid?"
"His eyes. There was no fear in them. There was disappointment." Paul ran a hand over his face. "A five-year-old boy looked at me with sheer disappointment and gave me a morality lesson using my own words. I've never felt so... small."
I sighed, feeling my anger start to give way to sadness. I sat beside him on the bed, but kept a small distance.
"I guess that's just part of being a parent," I said. "Who would have ever imagined? Honey, we have extraordinary children. Focus on that. And I don't mean because of their magic or their swordsmanship. I mean their hearts. They stood up for a marginalized kid. The older brother defended the younger brother."
I settled back into his lap.
"Do you realize that? Dai... Our Daiki! The one who barely spoke, stepped in to protect his brother."
"...If I had hit Daiki too..."
"But you didn't. And that's the only thing saving your hide tonight. Listen to me very closely. You are a good father. You love them, I know that. But you're impulsive. And your kids are far too smart to be treated so recklessly."
"They're too smart for their own good..." he muttered with a sad smile.
"No. They are smart for your good. Because they force you to be a better man. Do you promise to use this as a lesson to be better for them?"
Paul nodded slowly. He took my hand and kissed it.
"I swear it, Zenith. I'll learn."
I softened my expression. I leaned in and rested my head on his shoulder.
"You'd better, darling. Because those two are going to change the world someday. And we have to measure up so we can guide them... or at the very least, not get in their way."
Paul wrapped his arm around me, sighing deeply.
"They're really brothers, aren't they?"
"That they are," I said with a smile. "They have enormous hearts."
"Yeah... they got that from you."
"And they got the courage to defend those hearts from you, even if you hate to admit it."
Paul chuckled softly.
"Thank you, Zenith. For... setting me straight."
"Always, Paul. Always." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Tomorrow you have to train Daiki, and after today, I suspect he'll demand twice as much from you to make sure you 'measure up'."
"God... that kid is going to kill me."
"You deserve it a little."
Paul let out a resigned laugh.