Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race

Rygar slowly opened his eyes, feeling a gentle pulse coursing through his body, as though he were being wrapped in a comforting warmth. His vision was blurry, but his ears caught a familiar, kind, and warm voice:

"...and let him recover with a healthy body. X-Heal."

The magic radiated over him, gradually restoring his strength. As his mind cleared, he saw Verdia crouching beside him, her gaze fixed on him with evident concern. When she noticed that Rygar was regaining consciousness, her expression softened, though worry still lingered in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Verdia's voice was soft, but it carried a subtle note of concern that Rygar rarely heard from her. She watched him intently, probably waiting for any sign that the healing had fully taken effect.

Rygar forced himself to sit up, feeling his energy returning. He used a healing spell on himself and gave a faint smile as he felt his strength spreading through his body. "Yes... I'm feeling better now."

"Thank you, Master."

Verdia stood up, relief crossing her face. "That's good. I came looking for you after you were gone all night. I was so worried. You still need some time to recover, but the worst is over."

"There were some complications," Rygar admitted. "That wolf over there was a mutation. It had already killed the Silver Mist Wolf when I arrived. I had to fight for my life." He paused, reflecting on his near-death experience. "But... maybe I should thank it after all."

He grabbed the blue blade and focused on the touki flowing through his body. A moment later, he smiled. Moving forward, he accelerated rapidly, far faster than he ever had with his previous Flash Step technique. He shot past a tree like a bullet, leaving only a deep slash at its base. The trunk toppled over with a resounding crash in the silent forest. This was the true signature move of the Sword God Style—the Longsword of Light.

Verdia observed him for a moment before clapping excitedly. A joyful smile spread across her lips as she congratulated him, her pride for him shining even brighter than his own.

"Congratulations, little Rygar! You're now a Sword Saint," she declared, stepping closer. "I hope the sword has been useful."

Rygar's eyes focused on the blade. Its elegant blue design was both sleek and aggressive, emanating an almost predatory aura.

"I bought it from an elf who had kept it in his collection for years. It's one of the 49 blades crafted by Yulian Jalisco, the Demon Realm artisan, using the bones of the Dragon King Kajakut. It's yours now."

Rygar's eyes widened, feeling the weight of the gift.

"I was torn between giving you a staff or a sword," Verdia continued with a faint smile, "but I chose the sword because you can embed a magic stone in it. That way, it can act as your casting focus. However, to do that, you'll need to visit the dwarven territory. Only they can modify such a blade without compromising its properties."

Rygar blinked in surprise.

"Properties? What kind of effect does it have?"

Verdia smiled, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Tsukikage becomes sharper and more durable the hotter its surroundings get."

For a moment, Rygar was speechless. His mind raced with possibilities, imagining the potential of such a weapon.

"That means..." He trailed off, gazing at the blade in awe. "I can use my fire magic with it almost without limits, can't I?"

Verdia nodded. "I haven't confirmed it with your level of magic, but when I tested it with an advanced spell, it seemed to handle it perfectly."

Rygar's heart raced as he gripped the Tsukikage tightly, feeling the energy it exuded. The blade seemed attuned to something within him. "Thank you, Master," he said, genuine gratitude evident in his voice. She had spoken casually about it, but finding a sword that perfectly matched his combat style surely hadn't been simple.

"Let's return to the village. You need to truly rest now."

Rygar agreed, and the two began walking back toward the village. Along the way, they continued their conversation. Rygar couldn't help but ask about the future of the Iron Legion and, more importantly, the sharing of magical knowledge he was developing.

"Master, what do you think about making knowledge of chantless magic and the idea that mana can grow during childhood public?" Rygar asked, studying Verdia closely. He already knew this was a delicate subject, but her answer felt crucial to his plans.

Verdia pondered for a moment, her eyes focused on the path ahead. "I agree that this knowledge should be shared, but it must be done gradually. We can't just throw it out into the world unprepared. There are too many implications. It's not something to be rushed."

Rygar nodded, understanding her caution. "Do you think it could be taught more widely someday?"

"Yes, eventually. But for that, you'll need to be stronger first. If you intend to spread these methods, many will come after you. Your strength, both magical and physical, must be unquestionable. And I'm telling you this because I know you have that potential." Verdia looked at him with a soft smile, as if appraising him. "When you decide to focus on your magical research and developing your potential, Ranoa would be a good place. There, you can delve even deeper into your studies. I'll stop by at some point to visit a disciple."

"I've already decided I'll go there at some point," Rygar replied, "but first, I need to ensure the Iron Legion is ready for the future."

Their conversation shifted to other topics. Verdia spoke of her own future, revealing that she would leave the Great Forest in a few years.

"I'll be leaving the Great Forest soon too, young Rygar. Perhaps in five years or so. I've been here a long time, and my journey will eventually take me elsewhere. Perhaps we'll meet outside the forest if fate allows."

Rygar already knew Verdia was a free spirit, but hearing it aloud made him feel that their time together was drawing to a close. The sense of impending loss was inevitable. The Great Forest wasn't his ultimate home, just as the tribe wouldn't be his permanent origin.

Rygar nodded, and Verdia continued sharing stories and offering him advice about the world beyond the Great Forest.

When they arrived at the village, the scene before them was familiar and welcoming. Warriors and villagers moved about, greeting Rygar with respect. He waved back with a smile, though his mind was elsewhere, contemplating what was to come.

Soon, they reached his home. Training outside were Hontar, Garu, and Fendrel. Before he could say anything, Rygar was caught off guard by his mother, who ran to him, her face filled with concern.

"Rygar!" She wrapped him in a tight hug, almost knocking the air out of him. "Are you alright? You left without saying anything—you drove me crazy!" Her voice shifted between relief and scolding.

Rygar, still being crushed, responded with a tired smile.

"I'm fine, Mom. And… I did it."

She let him go, frowning in confusion.

"Did what?"

He raised Tsukikage and said proudly:

"I am now a Sword Saint!"

Fendrel was the first to react, letting out a hearty laugh.

"HA! I knew you had it in you, kid!" He walked over to Rygar and gave him a strong pat on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance.

Hontar and Garu nodded enthusiastically, Rygar's father looking at him with a conflicted expression.

"A Sword Saint at such a young age…" Garu murmured, clearly impressed. "You're going to make history, kid."

"You're already far beyond the rest of us." Hontar smiled, his voice filled with fatherly pride, mixed with a touch of unease. "Our tribe has never had a warrior of Saint rank so young!"

While Rygar's mother announced she would prepare a special dinner to celebrate, Fendrel stepped forward.

"Well done, Rygar. With this, my goal here is complete." His voice was clear and direct, but there was a trace of satisfaction in it. "I'll leave the Great Forest and return to my kingdom. Erina and I have our own paths to follow."

The announcement caught many by surprise, but Fendrel raised a hand to silence any objections.

"This has already been decided. The time I've spent here will stay with me forever, but I also have Erina, and I want to have children of my own. And Rygar…" He stepped closer, placing a hand on the young man's shoulder. "I know the whole world will hear your name one day. I truly recommend that you visit the Sword Sanctuary to refine your skills further. To my knowledge, the current Sword God became a Sword Saint at 15. You've already surpassed him in that regard, and I'm sure your potential can take you even further than he has gone."

Rygar nodded, absorbing the farewell words. Even though Fendrel wasn't his master, he had still been a teacher, imparting almost everything Rygar knew about the Sword God style.

Meanwhile, his mother crossed her arms, looking at him with a half-maternal, half-playful smile.

"Sword Saint or not, you're still my little boy." She pinched his cheeks, eliciting laughter from those around, while Rygar contemplated how to salvage his dignity.

Verdia, who had been silently observing until then, finally spoke:

"This is just the beginning." Her voice was gentle but carried a note of pride. "Honestly, I've never seen anyone with as much talent as Rygar. I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a legendary figure like the Armored Dragon King or Kalman I."

They then headed inside to celebrate the occasion. Verdia also informed him that his final graduation would take place in five months.

As days passed, Rygar began training in new techniques he had devised after learning to consciously control his Touki. While observing the tribe, he realized that as they grew in scale, they would need a better hierarchical system for organization. Thus, he began working on it.

One day, while walking to the training field where the members of the Iron Legion were exercising, a sense of pride welled up within him as he watched how the tribe and its allies were evolving. The terrain, shaped with earth magic to be more resilient, was perfect for training. The magically reinforced soil not only created a robust field but also increased durability, allowing warriors to train without worrying about damaging the environment.

He paused for a moment, watching the warriors' movements. Some were engaged in hand-to-hand combat, practicing the tribe's unarmed style; others were using magic or training with swords and other weapons, showcasing skills inspired by the North God, Sword God, and Water God styles. The Iron Legion had grown impressively since its foundation, uniting members of the tribe and others from surrounding tribes under a common purpose: defending the Great Forest. Some were seasoned fighters, while others were just beginning, but all seemed committed to becoming stronger.

Kilian spotted him and approached, noticing Rygar's contemplative stance.

"Chief, do you have something in mind? Anything else for the training?"

Rygar turned to him. "Yes, Kilian. We need to be more versatile. The Iron Legion currently has four combat methods available: the tribe's unarmed style, North God, Sword God, and Water God styles." He paused, watching the warriors practicing these styles. "I want you to guide the warriors in testing their aptitude in each of these styles, even the more experienced ones. Some may naturally excel in one over the others, but this will help us better utilize everyone's potential."

Kilian nodded, understanding the logic behind the proposal. "I see. Should I do the same with magic?"

"Exactly," Rygar confirmed with a nod. "It's important for them to become more adaptable. We can't rely on a single style in combat. Our ultimate goal goes far beyond that. Each warrior needs to be capable of reacting in different ways."

He approached one of the warriors training with a sword, observing their movements. "I've also gathered information about the surrounding tribes. Many of the warriors here, whether official members or not, are already part of the Iron Legion. We need to expand it, Kilian. Extend the Legion to the neighboring tribes. To do this, I've prepared a hierarchy system to be implemented once the number of members exceeds a certain limit."

Rygar pulled a notebook from his clothes and handed it to Kilian. The notebook was filled with detailed records of various styles, spells, and tactics he knew. It also contained information about the neighboring tribes, with suggestions on integrating new members and establishing a more efficient command system. "This notebook contains everything you need to implement this hierarchy. It will help make our Legion more structured and ready for the future."

Kilian flipped through the pages attentively. "Alright, I'll start working on this immediately."

"As second-in-command, you need to be strong, Kilian. Don't try to do everything alone—delegate tasks. You're already an excellent magician, but you still need physical training, especially in the Water God style," Rygar added, tilting his head slightly. He knew Kilian had impressive magical abilities but also understood that physical training was crucial in this world—a pure mage was as fragile as paper against Saint-ranked warriors.

Kilian nodded seriously, a hint of determination in his eyes. "I know. I won't let my magic be my only strength. I'll improve in everything to meet the Chief's expectations for the future."

Kilian seemed to regard him as some kind of deity, taking every decision he made as absolute. While Rygar didn't see this as inherently bad, he knew he wasn't infallible. One day, Kilian would realize he was just another person, with flaws and strengths.

Rygar turned his gaze back to the training field, his eyes landing on Lisena, who was training in the distance. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away, as if caught in the act. Rygar felt a small smile forming on his lips but refrained from commenting. He had already deduced it was a childhood crush, but he saw her as nothing more than an adorable kid.

He turned to Kilian, who had also noticed the silent exchange but said nothing. Rygar decided to share his future plans. "When Linia and Pursena leave for Ranoa, you and Lisena should follow them. By then, the Iron Legion should be more stable, and you'll also need to gain experience. We can't afford to halt growth."

Kilian looked at Rygar with a thoughtful expression. "Understood. We'll follow your lead. The Iron Legion needs to be strong, but it also needs time to mature. When the time comes, we'll be ready to go."

Rygar nodded. This would certainly not be a small project, but he was confident. With the hierarchy system in place, diversified training, and the integration of neighboring tribes, the Legion was on its way to becoming a formidable force.

"Ask me about anything you're unsure of while I'm still here," Rygar said, refocusing on Kilian. "My master told me I'll learn Saint-level Water magic and King-level Earth magic on the same day. That will also be my last day in the tribe."