Mushoku Tensei: A different path

{Third POV}

In a designated room at the Fittoa-region's refugee camp, Ruijerd was telling Ghislaine and Alphonse about their journey until the event at the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw.

"Someone that frightening? No wonder Rudeus had to go that far."

Ghislaine had a hard time believing what she just heard.

"It certainly confuses me over how he managed to safe us back there."

Ruijerd himself wasn't sure how Rudeus managed to not only hold off Orsted, but also cover a distance that should have taken another month in just a few hours.

He felt ashamed of himself to be defeated with only three hits while not dealing any damage at all.

"Although knowing how much the young master was praised for his talents, this form does put some questions about his current race."

Alphonse doubted that Rudeus was still a human. But he received only murderous glares from Ghislaine in the process.

Even when she saw that monstrous form of him, she still believed that he was the same Rudeus from back then.

"I wonder how Eris is doing." Ruijerd muttered.

Eris wasn't leaving Rudeus's side ever since he transformed back into a human.

They were in another room meant for the Boreas family, should they have survived.

However, Eris was the only one of her family to have survived the Metastasis-Event. Both her parents and her grandfather are dead.

She was already told this information, but couldn't respond in any way since she was more concerned about Rudeus's current condition.

She only vaguely told them about what happened after Ruijerd blacked out, so all of them were worried about her mental health as of now.

Having to witness a loved one's death before your own eyes is most likely a mind chattering experience.

All three of them could do nothing but wait for something to happen next.

Ghislaine was gritting her teeth, Ruijerd was looking down to the floor, and Alphonse was looking out the window.

And then-

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME." A loud scream that made all of them snap their eyes open.

"That's coming from their room." Ghislaine said.

Readying her sword, she dashed out of the room. Ruijerd was close behind her, gripping his spear as well.

Although, he knew through his third-eye that there was no one in that room except Eris and Rudeus.

In mere seconds, Ghislaine arrived in front of Eris's door and kicked it open, breaking it in the process.

"Rudeus calm down."

"Fuck off already!"

Before her eye stood Eris and Rudeus, seeming to be in an argument.

Both of them look at the now broken door and then Ghislaine.

"Ghislaine, help. He is out of control." Eris begged Ghislaine for assistance on Rudeus's current state.

"I already told you. Get away from me before I'll kill you!"

Rudeus was seemingly angered. He was shirtless and revealed the spot Orsted previously launched his hand into.

The wound healed and was now glowing in a constantly color-shifting rainbow.

The glowing scar is forming on his lower sternum, expanding in a few inches with the ribs.

"Haven't I made myself clear already?! I told you to leave me alone!"

Rudeus screamed at not directly towards Eris but to everyone who heard him.

His eyes were pulsing between the dark and light shade of green and blue. He was breathing heavily from both screaming his head off and enduring the pain coming from his chest.

Suddenly, a loud pulse that rang into the room came from Rudeus. A white wave expanding from his chest scar coursed through his entire body.

Clutching his chest with both hands, he kneeled to the ground. Foam came out of his mouth as he pushed his forehead against the floor.

"Rudeus. What is happening to you?" Ruijerd asked, knowing that whatever is happening to him has to do with his ominous form from earlier.

Rudeus wasn't answering and instead used his mana extensions to form multiple arms to grab everyone in the room and throw them out.

Ruijerd and Ghislaine were trying to break free from his invisible grip, but couldn't grab on to anything but air.

Eris simply didn't do anything as she was just afraid over what is happening to Rudeus.

She didn't want to make things worse, whatever it was.

As all three of them were thrown out of the room, Rudeus slightly moved his head to the side to look at the still open door, his mouth still having some foam on the corners.

"Get away from me before I end up trying to kill you all again."

His face was a mix of furry and worry, something that all of them never saw from him.

In the next second, the opening where the door used to be was now sealed with a stone wall.

The hallway stayed silent for a few seconds.

Ghislaine was confused, and questioned how the calm and collective boy turned into this.

Ruijerd was concerned over Rudeus's mentality more than ever. He thought that it's worse than when he saw him getting enraged over what his Paul told him in Millishion. But the fact that there was no killing-intent coming from him was the only thing he could see as a relief.

Unlike the other two, Eris was not only worried, but ashamed. Not about Rudeus's attitude, but herself.

Grinding her teeth and clenching her fist while looking down to the floor, she remembered how Orsted easily defeated her and Ruijerd.

Not only did he suffer no severe damage from them, he fought her as if just playing with them.

However, Rudeus was able to fight him. Not only damaging him more than she and Ruijerd could, but also lasting longer than her.

And just when he had a chance to beat him, Rudeus was killed. At that moment, Eris could do nothing but watch as the person she admired was being murdered.

'I was just a burden for him. Even when he transformed and killed Orsted, he had to carry me. Like this, I won't be able to stand by his side. I will just drag him down again.'

***

{Rudeus POV}

It's already been an hour since I threw all of them out of the room.

After waking up, my chest still burned, and I wasn't able to keep Eris and Ruijerd at my side.

Looking at Eris, I was reminded that I intended to kill her and Ruijerd with me trying to kill Orsted.

That attack arose from nothing but furry over how I had to see two of my most important people get hurt.

But I should have stopped after my overcharged [Stone Canon] wasn't able to kill him.

I don't remember ever using so much mana in that spell before. Even my [Fireball] was incredibly strong.

Never in this life have I ever used so much mana in two different spells before.

And the results were me getting something in a form of a full-body muscle spasm. All I could do was cower in pain while that damn Dragon God mercilessly killed me in cold blood.

It was thanks to Kagami showing me my past life's traumatic memories that I was able to let loose of some astonishing mana manipulation, even if I had to see all the horror I've been going through in my past life.

Healing my chest wound and a new left hand was incredible. I never knew that Healing Magic could go so far.

How I managed to do that doesn't matter. Because it didn't just stop there.

The multiple extension arms, Voice Magic, [Electric], Gravity Magic, and lastly, [Bright Sky Wave].

All of it seemed so natural that I can even vaguely understand [Bright Sky Wave].

But as a result, I know just how risky that spell is.

The input of my mana is just to start of its actual power source. The ambient mana around it.

While forming its shell with my own mana the openings of said shell suck in a vast amount of ambient mana until I seal it by curling my fingers inwards.

But to use all that I have to let my body absorb mana while simultaneously manipulate it into the shell.

That puts a massive strain on my body, which I'm currently experiencing.

Although I am not certain whether it's from using that spell or an overall after-effect of fully turning into that monster.

The flames on my arms, legs and forehead were not burning like normal flames. They were burning from something different than mana.

But thinking all that right now won't matter. I cannot allow myself to use that form near bystanders.

People will be almost as terrified of me as they would be if Ruijerd revealed his true identity to them.

I am a monster. One that stole an unborn child's body, robbing two loving parents their happiness from them, and destroying other life's.

A monster that is capable of destroying entire continents if it let loose of its immeasurably power.

And a monster deserves nothing but death.

However, this monster has a task to do. The only thing he has to do to before sealing its own fate eventually.

Find Zenith Greyrat.

I don't have to particularly save Zenith, but letting her see what the body of her undead son has turned into will definitely horrify her.

She and Paul would understand if they knew who the person inside their son truly is.

And then there is the Goddess. The one who helped suppress my pain for a moment.

I have no doubt that she was the one who brought me to this world and revived me after I died again.

A mystical deity that surpasses Hitogami in being magnificent merciful by far.

Throughout my whole thought process, I have been enduring the pain without the help of Healing Magic.

It's not like I couldn't use it, though. This is my punishment for all the sins I have committed in both this life and the previous one.

Yet no pain imaginable could redeem me from all of it.

In what seems like hours, the pain started to dwindle, and I was able to stop my body from cowering.

It took a while until I was capable of moving my body to get me dressed again.

The old clothes I wore were all having a hole on both back and front, as well as missing part of the left sleeve.

But there was a spare shirt next to the bed, so I took that.

Even with the two hole and the uneven sleeves, I put on the robe anyway.

I went over to the stone wall and used Earth Magic to completely turn it into dust.

Using my presence-sensing I located what might be Eris and Ruijerd. They were in another room with two other people, close from this room.

Walking down the hallway, I arrived at a room that probably was a meeting room.

When I reached for the door knob the door opened before me.

Right before me was Ruijerd, and he looked at me angry. In the next second, his left fist was flying against my face.

Letting his fist hit me, I was sent off flying backwards, hitting the wall on the other side.

His hit didn't hurt much, and there was nothing broken.

"Ruijerd, what was that about?"

I could hear Eris's voice calling out to Ruijerd as her presence neared me.

Slowly opening my eyes, I saw Eris trying to help me.

Looking at Ruijerd he had a conflicted look on his face. Guess he feels bad for hitting me even with the unknown reason over why he was doing it.

"Careful, you-"

Pushing Eris away, and standing up again and passing by Ruijerd, I went into the room.

Once I stepped in, I saw two people that I haven't seen in nearly 3 years. The bodyguard Ghislaine and the butler Alphonse.

Both of them were standing and looked astonished at me.

"Phillip and Hilda. Where are they?" my tone was unnerved.

I couldn't care less about these two. Even knowing with their speculated motives, they were about to give away their daughter while plotting to turn me into their politic tool.

"They unfortunately passed away in the Strife Zone." Alphonse said while looking at me sad.

"Is that so?" Guess I won't be able to reprimand them for their actions.

Whatever. Hope their souls burn in hell for that. I might find out in the future since I will surely be sent there as well.

"What's with that face of yours? Do you not care that they are dead?"

From the sound of Ghislaine's question over my retort, she wasn't included into Phillip's plan to engage me with Eris.

I didn't look or answered her and asked my next question to Alphonse.

"And Lord Sauros?"

Alphonse face turned even uneasier than before.

"He was executed for taking responsibility over the calamity."

".....by whom?"

"The king of the Asuran Kingdom."

Something in me was starting to boil up, but I suppressed it. Nothing I do now will bring him back.

Sauros, the man who I acknowledged as a lord is no longer with us.

He cared a lot about his people while also giving his granddaughter the love she deserved, albeit making her a bit too rotten now.

Even if I wanted to avenge him, killing the king of the largest kingdom in the world will bring nothing but disaster.

Looking at Eris, she looked like she was about to cry. I honestly wanted to cry as well over his death, but there is a place I want to visit first.

Looking back at Alphonse, I narrowed my eyes.

"In which direction is Buena Village."

"Buena Village doesn't exist anymore, Master Rudeus."

"I am well aware of that. Still, I need to see it myself."

"There are actually something you might be of great help her Master Rudeus."

He isn't thinking about how I feel at all. Only thinking of how I can be of use for the region. Just like Phillip.

Stepping away from him, I exited the room and proceeded towards the main doorway.

"Rudeus wait."

Eris was calling for me, but I didn't stop.

I could sense that Ruijerd and Ghislaine were following me soon after as well.

Finally getting outside, I saw a bunch of people staring at me. Which I gladly repaid with a glare mixed with some killing-intent.

All of them ran away from me, not even wanting to be in my sight.

Turning around, I looked at Ghislaine.

"In which direction is Buena?" It wasn't a request. It was a demand, so my voice was slightly sharp.

She was startled at my tone of voice but initially guided me to the right direction.

Her, Ruijerd and Eris were following me. None of us said a thing on the entire walk.

We passed by some tiny fields in the meanwhile. Memories about how these fields were just filled with lushes plants came rising.

On our walk, I tried to concentrate on the mana in this region and noticed how low the density here actually is.

It may have been because of the low danger level of this continent, so I can't make a proper comparison to it.

"You probably wanted to come to this place right?"

"Yeah. You guessed right."

To anyone else this certain place is just like any other in this region. A plain grass field with nothing special to it.

But to me, it's the place where the house I was reincarnated in was. The start of my second life.

However, that house no longer stands, and this is only a rough spot where it used to be.

It's gone like any other house in this former village area.

Taking a few steps before the group, I looked over the horizon with an empty gaze and sat down. Hugging my knees to my chest I kept looking.

I remembered the good old days.

How me and Paul trained in the front yard. He always seemed to go easy on me, thanks to my lack of talent in swordsmanship.

The days when I was taught magic by Roxy.

When me and Sylphy were playing at the hill with the single tree on top.

Those times when life was simple and peaceful.

A breeze pushed behind me and my now white hair floated before me. It was longer than it should be.

Grabbing it, I trailed it back to my head.

From what I could tell, the hair on the back of my head has grown long, while the rest of my hair stayed the same length.

Which means my hairstyle is identical to Paul's.

I didn't ask for this, but I can't complain about it, now that it's done.

"I'm sure this land was once beautiful." Ruijerd said, sitting on the ground to my right.

Looking to my left, Ghislaine and Eris were sitting as well. All of them were looking at the wide grass field with me.

I was so induced in my own memory that I haven't noticed them sitting with me at all.

Turning my head back to the front, I was watching the view again.

"Yeah. It used to be. And now the only thing that makes this place special to me is the recollection of my past here."

Even if we find Zenith again, the place we once called home doesn't exist anymore.

And there is the problem of my guilt over the original Rudeus's death.

I can't see myself as anything but an intruder for this family.

"Rudeus. Do you know why I hit you earlier?"

"Because I keep on lying to you." The answer was simple enough.

"What?" Eris exclaimed.

Correction. The answer was simple for me.

I already knew the moment he looked at me that he was tired of me keeping secrets from them while they followed my orders.

"As a warrior and a leader, I had to make sure that my comrades and I could trust each other.

Without balanced trust there will be failures that could lead to casualties.

Because of the betrayal of Laplace, I didn't know if my leadership and judgment of whom I can trust was still right.

But ever since our meeting that day and your guidance so far, I thought I could have a solidified trust in someone again.

However, that encounter the other day made me rethink."

He is right. He has all reason to distrust me as well as his own judgment on people.

Without him showing who he really is from the inside, people will forever be afraid of his sight.

And when he finally met someone who wasn't terrified of him immediately, he didn't know what to do.

His warrior heart just craved to bring back the glory of his tribe that was once respected.

"Who is-"

"Hitogami?"

Knowing what he wanted to ask me before, I cut his question short.

"He is a self-proclaimed god. Calling himself the Human God." Not knowing why, I confessed.

I told all three of them everything that from the first time Hitogami came into my dream until even the last meeting with him.

Even my presumable death at Millishion and the curse that possibly accumulated within me because of my first [Bright Sky Wave].

Ghislaine was startled that it was me who caused a worldwide chain-explosion, but such a reaction was to be expected.

I deliberately removed the parts of Kagami, since the time of telling my previous life hasn't come.

Sometimes both Ruijerd and Eris were exclaiming how some of my actions were making sense now.

But they were most upset about the fact that Orsted is the Dragon God and that he had a curse as well. Eris got even more upset when I told them that he survived my last attack.

I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but she must've been upset about being defeated so easily.

"I'm sorry. If it wasn't because of me, you two wouldn't have been involved into this whole mess."

Tears started flowing down my face as I begged them both for forgiveness.

"You have no need to apologize. You did what anyone would've done." Ruijerd tried to reassure me, but it didn't work.

"I put you in danger and nearly killed you with me. There is a need to apologize."

"But in the end, you saved them." Now Ghislaine started to help Ruijerd build up my confidence.

"And I can confirm it. There is some abnormal mana in your chest. Might be the scar spot that you have."

Looking at her, I saw her eye-patch lifted, revealing her Demon-Eye.

If I recall correctly, Kishirika did say that there is a Demon-Eye with which you could see mana.

What Ghislaine is referring to is most likely my curse lingering within me.

If what I saw in the white void, it's fusing with my soul. The chains must be the connection to its manifestations.

And now with Ghislaine confirming it, there is no doubt about it anymore.

All this time, I relied on so many people to help me fight, to get me walking, to make me work on myself.

It as if they hold my hand while I'm walking on a rope hanging above the ground.

But not this time. I will go my path alone now.

No one assisting me, while I try to get my own balance done. Struggling, learning and falling will be the rest of my path.

And to begin that, this place will set as my start.

Standing up and walking a few steps, I charged a lot of mana into my right hand.

Crouching down, I put my charged hand on the ground and manipulated the earth with Healing Magic.

Through it, my senses told me that there were some seeds beneath the ground here that slowly started to grow.

Releasing the mana from my hand, a green light emitted from me.

Soon, multiple saplings grew out of the ground and formed into one large tree.

Once I was finished, I inspected my own work.

The tree's branches that were adorned with lushes green leafs that reached about 30 meters in height, and the trunk was a spiral of numerous thinner trunks pushing together.

Some of its strong roots looked out of the ground and pushed some earth beneath me.

There were no fruits on it, nor could I see any other type of plant growing on it.

This may be a tree that just is a symbol of nature itself. But for me, it's the memorial of the place I once called home.

It could also be seen as a rebirth of the tree Zenith used to grow in the garden with such love and care.

The memory of how Roxy broke it once on her first day as my tutor popped into my head.

Having finished my work, I turned around and walked past my audience.

Ruijerd looked at the tree with amazement. Although I am uncertain if there are any people who could do what I just did, but it seems he never saw something like it.

Ghislaine was… trembling? She still had her eye patch lifted, so I was able to see fully the fear in her eyes.

Her reaction confirms my speculation. Something like this hasn't been seen anywhere.

However, Eris's reaction was entirely different. She is hanging her head down while clenching her fists.

The previous me would have asked what's wrong. But I can't involve myself into her life anymore. I have already ruined her life enough. She will have to resolve it herself.

Now that I think about it, isn't her 15th birthday soon? I have to get her a present before I leave for the Northern Territories.

Now that these things are set, let's move on to some Magic-Training.

///