Mushoku Tensei: A different path

(Rudeus POV)

It was over. The insects were defeated. The queen was defeated. We won! 

...

Why am I not as excited about this? Oh, right. We have experienced significant mass casualties, resulting in a very high loss on our side.

Additionally, the total collateral damage to the city is substantial. Sharia's infrastructure would have to be rebuilt completely, leaving the city practically defenseless.

After everything that has happened here, I wasn't even sure if there were any other associates of people who would wanna kill me. Then again, wherever I go, that wannabe god would hunt me down to the ends of the world as long as I'm a potential threat to him.

But in the meantime, I was keeping myself from falling unconscious again through sheer willpower. At least that's what I think I'm trying to use.

Taking a deep breath through my nose, I opened my eyes to reassess my surroundings, only to find that nothing had changed since my previous moment of awareness, I was still being held by Sara while sitting on the ground.

"What just happened? How long was I gone?"

"You were only out for a second," Soldat replied. "But geez, kid, you scared us there for a sec. It's like the dragons incident all over again."

"Give him a break," Sara shot back. "Of course he would get exhausted after all he did to save us."

"Come on, you gotta admit, the kid runs solely on luck."

"Try living in my shoes for once, and let's see how you hold up after all this," I grumpily said.

"No thank you," he instantly replied, knowing very well what would await him.

"Didn't think so."

Honestly, I can be happy right now that I'm in Sara's arms. THAT is the highlight for me today.

If only there wasn't a white-haired man I immediately recognized standing before me.

He was about to get closer when Sara pulled me back into her embrace, shielding me from Paul. Since they are brothers, I'm guessing his face reminds her of Philemon.

Her way of protecting me is also killing me from how broken my body feels. A killing protection so to speak.

On the one hand, this does feel kind of nice, but on the other, she is hugging me a little too tight.

Then again... a hug! How can something feel nice and painful at the same time? I am so conflicted right now! Is this the work of the Greyrat blood mixed with Zenith's tendency of skinship?

And her odor. I don't know what it is about it, but she just smells so soothing that I couldn't resist letting this lift off the weight I was holding.

Until people looked at me with a smirk on their faces, mainly speaking of Paul and Soldat.

Great. One was already bad, but now two of my guardian figures are smirking at me.

And then there was Eris, glaring at me or maybe Sara from a further distance with Ghislaine. This is fueling her anger at me.

Begrudgingly removing myself from the archeress's embrace, I got my mind back on business.

"Just so I'm in the clear, the queen is dead. Like, she won't be crawling back fully healed and start another colony in the future."

"Seems like it," Sandor answered. "I don't know what that white fire did, but her entire body got turned into ashes."

"But is there a possibility she could recover from this?"

"I may not know the details or the possibility of a return," he turned his head before saying, "but it seems to me that this is the end of the insect queen."

Good. I don't know about anyone else here, but I have had it for today and all these immortal struggles. Who would've known these things would be this annoying?

Speaking of struggles, Hiryū seems on the verge of collapsing, shaking slightly from trying to stand with his wing claws and hindlegs, signals of fury and humiliation just going off him.

The blood stains on him have dried up from his flames. He had numerous small injuries that appeared trivial individually but were lethal due to their sheer quantity.

"What happened to Hiryū? And where have you been, Sandor?"

"A hoard of bloodsucking insects carried the two of us away from the scene and sucked our blood out of our wounds. If it wasn't for this guy," Sandor said, pointing at Paul, "we would have gotten turned into shriveled corpses."

That sounds horrific. I guess Sandor over here survived thanks to his Immortal body and Hiryū because of his body mass.

But for the mighty dragon over here, getting nearly killed by a bunch of smaller monsters that grouped up against him, it must be the greatest humiliation he experienced since his defeat against me.

"Hiryū. It's alright. You did a good job. You can rest now."

Once the words reached his ears, the feathered dragon relaxed and let himself drop to the ground, dust flying off and a little scorching air exhaling from between his teeth.

Seems I'm not the only one who didn't come out unscathed. But in Hiryū's case, no one knew Voice Magic was his weakness.

"Ha. That dragon really is your pet," Paul commented, amazed by the sight of a dragon obeying me.

"Hate to break the moment of peace, but," I said, getting up and dusting myself, "maybe we should inform the citizens before the silence makes them assume the worst."

"That's right," Sandor said. "Me and the others will go announce it. You take rest for today. You look like you've had quite the day."

"Yeah. You might want to leave the announcement to someone else and take care of... him," I said, pointing at North God, who was holding the remains of the once strongest sword in the world and glaring at the poor, benevolent culprit that was Paul.

"By the way, he got it stolen twice today just by the queen herself," I added for clarity.

That makes it three times if you count Hiryū's theft a while ago.

"Yeah, I had it stolen from my luggage once during my time with it. Made a revengeful Sword Saint go up to Emperor level. Part of the reason why I opted for a different weapon after that."

Ah, so it runs in the family. I probably shouldn't be saying that, but a quick warning after the first time would have been nice.

Anyway, now that it's destroyed, it won't ever hurt a fly again.

"What are we going to do about your hands, Rudeus?" Ghislaine asked away.

At the mention of it, most of the attention went to my currently greyish-black hands.

The glowing veins were gone, and only the casing was left. I still could use them without consciously moving them myself, but it will take a while before I can form new veins and heal back one arm at a time.

Now, everyone awaited for an explanation. It would have to include how I lost my hand to anyone who didn't witness it. 

"Ummm... so..."

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