Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

With nothing better to do and his body too underdeveloped to wield a sword, Roy decided to pass the time building goodwill with the maid in front of him. Aside from casually practicing magic, there wasn't much else he could do.

Yawning, Roy snatched a cloth from Lilia's hands and began wiping the grime off the table.

Lilia glanced at the aloof, sharp-tongued little boy and gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Lady Roy," she said with exaggerated politeness, a hint of mockery in her tone.

Her words were a playful jab at Roy's earlier behavior.

Roy froze mid-wipe, then slammed his palm on the table. His stoic, boyish face finally showed some emotion as he snapped, "It's Master Roy to you!"

The morning sunlight fell on his doll-like features—delicate, adorable, and impossibly serene. His clear eyes, reminiscent of a secluded mountain spring in midsummer, held an icy clarity that poured forth with his gaze.

To an outsider, Roy might have seemed like a child-sized porcelain doll throwing a tantrum. But those who spent time with him knew better. Beneath the cold, distant exterior lay a gentle and kind heart.

The subtle arch of his brow was telling. He wasn't actually angry—when truly upset, his brows would lift sharply, and the calm in his eyes would give way to a storm.

Watching this endearing yet haughty two-year-old, Lilia couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

This child was nothing like Paul.

She'd expected Paul's son to inherit at least some of his father's roguish, flirtatious nature. But this boy? He was methodical, conscientious, and always, in his own way, considerate of others.

Since Roy had learned to walk, he'd often helped her, albeit unintentionally.

Still scrubbing the table with some effort, Roy glanced at her and asked, "Lilia, how did you and Father meet?"

Lilia hesitated. Her golden hair shifted slightly with his movements, brushing his shoulders. The faint, sweet scent unique to children lingered in the air—a delicate floral fragrance, soothing yet invigorating.

"I suppose it was during sword training," Lilia finally replied, her voice soft. "Back then, I was his junior apprentice."

Whenever Paul came up, her expression inevitably grew complicated.

Roy gave a sage nod, his tone carrying the weight of someone far older than two. "Figures. Paul's always been a handful."

Lilia cast a sidelong glance at him. Though Roy dutifully addressed Paul as "Father" in his presence, he casually called him by name in private.

It was cheeky, but Lilia could tell he meant no disrespect.

Returning to her task, Lilia dipped a cloth into the bucket, wrung it out, and began wiping the floor with practiced efficiency.

Seeing she had no intention of continuing the conversation, Roy spoke up again. "So, do you think it'll be a boy or a girl this time?"

Lilia paused, considering. "I hope it's a girl. That way, we'd have one of each."

Their brief exchange gave way to silence once more. After they finished tidying the living room, Roy wiped the sweat from his brow, waved at Lilia, and retreated to his room.

Sprawled lazily on his bed, he started to mull over his impending meeting with Rudeus.

...

Autumn was a beautiful season. Outside, blue skies mingled with fluffy white clouds. A gentle breeze stirred the golden rice fields and carried the faint fragrance of unnamed flowers.

The sunlight was warm, the air crisp—everything felt perfect.

Today was undeniably a joyous occasion.

Zenith had given birth again.

Unsurprisingly, it was another blond baby. Roy even made a point of inspecting the newborn up close.

The baby, with its oversized head and chubby body, blinked around at its new surroundings, its expression oddly dazed. It was eerily reminiscent of how Roy had felt when he first reincarnated into this world.

Despite their generally carefree attitudes, Paul and Zenith couldn't shake a slight unease.

For a moment, they fell silent. Why did both their children seem... off?

If Roy could hear their thoughts, he would have laughed and said, Both of your sons are reincarnators.

Still, the joy of a safe delivery outweighed any nagging doubts.

Paul, beaming with pride, leaned in closer to the newborn, only to remember his mishap two years ago. He quietly backed away.

His green eyes glinting, Paul studied the swaddled infant. "He's healthy," he reassured Zenith warmly, placing Rudeus into her arms.

Roy watched the tender scene from the sidelines, his well-shaped brows furrowing slightly.

Rudeus Greyrat.

The protagonist of the original story. But while the main character, his life was far from smooth.

In his previous life, he'd been a shut-in. Reincarnated into this world, he was constantly manipulated by Hitogami. To be honest, Roy wasn't particularly fond of him.

Sure, Rudeus gradually overcame his flaws, but Roy's impression of him remained lukewarm.

Mushoku Tensei was an incredibly realistic story. No one is born perfect, and even in a fantasy world, life leaves its scars.

That said, Roy hadn't finished the novel. He'd only read the first two volumes and was hazy on the later events.

Still, since fate had brought him to this world—and made him Rudeus's older brother—he decided he'd give the protagonist a better ending.

Teleport incident. The Demon Continent. Hitogami. Dragon God Orsted. All these terms swirled in Roy's mind, deepening his frown.

By logic, he should aim to thwart Hitogami's schemes, ally with Orsted, and work toward a happy ending.

But what if defeating the Dragon God yielded a massive amount of temporal power? Could he defeat Orsted first, make him his subordinate, and then crush Hitogami to secure the ultimate happy ending?

The question lingered in his mind: could he even beat the Dragon God?

The Strongest Person in This World.

Roy silently reflected on his talent.

Immaculate Soul.

The Fool.

Greed.

Perhaps he could take the gamble?

But as things stood now, it was impossible. Charging in recklessly would only get him killed.

As Roy pondered, the sound of Rudeus's wailing pierced the air. Glancing over, he saw the baby blissfully enjoying his milk. Roy curled his lips in disdain, inwardly mocking the "shut-in" lying there so contentedly.

Not like me, I have dignity and self-restraint.

Aside from the awkwardness of the first forced feeding, Roy had resolutely stuck to bottles and milk ever since.

Watching Rudeus revel in his shameless comfort, Roy sighed inwardly. It's my damn integrity that's to blame.

After finishing his meal, Rudeus's initial fascination with his close proximity to "the source" began to fade. His curious gaze shifted to the two-year-old child standing quietly nearby.

Suddenly, Rudeus's eyes lit up.

Standing next to him was a stunning little boy with soft, golden hair cascading to his waist. His delicate features and doll-like face were a vision of innocence, his cherubic expression stealing Rudeus's breath away.

In that moment, a bizarre thought crossed Rudeus's mind: What if I made this beautiful little boy my future bride?

But the glint in Roy's eyes stopped him cold.

Roy's golden pupils reflected Rudeus's lying form with an icy detachment. His flawless, doll-like face was utterly devoid of expression, as if silently asking, Who the hell are you, and why are you here?

Rudeus swallowed hard.