Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Rudeus suddenly felt a wave of dread. He glanced at his father, who was grinning foolishly, then at his quietly seated mother.

He wanted to shout, Your other son looks like he's planning to kill me.

But Paul, oblivious as ever, grabbed the visibly impatient Roy and pushed him toward Rudeus with a cheerful smile. "You two need to get along, okay?"

Their eyes met—Rudeus's apprehensive gaze clashing with Roy's cold, golden irises. Overwhelmed by the intensity, Rudeus quickly averted his eyes.

At that moment, he realized something: he was scared.

Paul, noticing the awkward tension between the two, knocked on Roy's forehead and said sternly, "You have to get along, Roy. As the older brother, you need to be patient with your younger sibling."

Roy sighed in exasperation but nodded reluctantly.

Seeing his son's resigned expression, Paul chuckled and patted Rudeus gently. Whether the baby understood or not, he said, "Don't let your brother's attitude fool you—he's actually very kind."

Then Paul made a goofy face, as if trying to entertain Rudeus.

Rudeus, however, found no humor in it.

After some time, Paul returned Rudeus to his crib, leaving Roy and Lillia to look after him while he and Zenith enjoyed some quiet moments together.

Rudeus lay in the crib, feigning sleep while covertly observing Roy.

The child was undeniably beautiful—golden hair flowing down his back, doll-like features almost too perfect for reality—but his expression was blank, devoid of emotion.

Looking into Roy's cold, detached eyes, Rudeus was reminded of the bullies from his past life.

Because of his traumatic past, he had always been wary of strangers. Now, Roy's youthful face began to morph in his mind, overlapping with the faces of those who had tormented him.

They used to look at me like that too, didn't they?

The fear crept back, gripping his chest. He began to shrink into himself, curling up instinctively as waves of panic surged over him. Will this so-called family treat me the same way?

The uncertainty gnawed at him, and his body began to tremble. Unknowingly, he had reverted to the habits of his previous life.

While Rudeus was lost in his fears, Roy approached the crib, pulling over a chair to stand on so he could see him better.

The sudden movement made Rudeus's pale face go stark white. His body shook uncontrollably as he struggled to convince himself: This is a new life. Everything has changed.

But no amount of self-reassurance could stop the phantom grip of fear that tightened around his throat.

Roy noticed everything.

He observed Rudeus's trembling body and the way he curled up like a frightened animal.

With a soft sigh, Roy thought to himself, I might not think much of the old Rudeus, but even I have to admit... he's just a pitiful soul.

Reaching out, Roy gently touched Rudeus's chubby, tear-streaked cheek.

The sight of Roy's hand moving toward him sent Rudeus into a panic. The memories of schoolyard abuse surged to the surface, suffocating him in an inescapable wave of terror. Tears welled in his eyes as he braced for pain.

But the expected slap or pinch never came.

Instead, Roy's fingers lightly pinched Rudeus's cheek, their touch cool and soft.

The unexpected gentleness left Rudeus stunned. He opened his teary eyes wide, his mind reeling from the disconnect between his fears and reality.

Roy didn't miss the tears spilling from Rudeus's eyes. He chuckled inwardly. Good thing it was me and not Paul. That guy would've been clueless.

With another sigh, Roy muttered under his breath, Why do reincarnators have to make life harder for each other?

Pretending not to notice Rudeus's distress, Roy gently brushed a hand over the baby's forehead and said in a soft, childish voice, "You're my little brother now. I'll protect you."

Though his words carried no great force, their clarity struck a chord deep within Rudeus.

He couldn't fully grasp their meaning, but the tenderness behind them was undeniable.

Rudeus's heart quivered, tears streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks.

Ashamed of his vulnerability, he instinctively tried to wipe his tears away—only to remember that his tiny baby hands couldn't manage the task. Panicked, he attempted to cover up his emotions by bursting into loud cries.

It had started as an act, but now his sobs were genuine.

Roy stared at him, bemused, until Paul's hurried footsteps echoed from outside the room.

Paul rushed in, his gaze darting between Roy, still standing on the chair, and the bawling Rudeus. "What happened?" 

Roy's expression remained indifferent as he replied, "I might've woken him up. I'm sorry, Father."

Paul sighed, used to Roy's stoic demeanor. Shaking his head, he said, "You really need to smile more, you know."

Roy thought for a moment and attempted an awkward, forced smile.

Paul winced. "On second thought, maybe just stick with your usual expression. Don't hurt yourself trying."

...

Two years had passed since that unexpected moment.

By now, Rudeus had come to terms with the fact that the doll-like, stoic boy before him was, indeed, his older brother.

But there was something undeniably peculiar about his big brother.

Whenever Rudeus tried to use his young age as an excuse to indulge in less-than-innocent mischief, he would inevitably feel the weight of Roy's cold, disapproving gaze.

And then Roy would speak, his tone detached but cutting.

"Rudeus, boys who do things like that are considered perverts."

Every single time, Rudeus's mischievous little hand, mid-reach for some ill-fated pair of underwear, would freeze in the air.

Thinking quickly, Rudeus would plaster on his most innocent, baby-like smile, hoping to bluff his way out of trouble.

But his brother wasn't buying it. Without hesitation, Roy would grab him by the back of his collar, give him a light flick on the forehead—just enough to sting—and then unceremoniously toss him onto the bed.

With an unyielding, no-nonsense tone, Roy would add, "Stop looking at other people's private things with such lecherous eyes. Do you want to end up like Paul?"

Rudeus wanted to retort—Honestly, being like Paul doesn't sound half bad—but under the weight of Roy's stern, doll-like expression, he couldn't bring himself to say it. Instead, shame overcame him, and he lowered his head.

Seeing Rudeus sulk in silence, Roy softened ever so slightly, though his voice remained firm. "If you're going to act indecent, at least do it openly and with dignity."

Rudeus's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He stared at Roy, who was perfectly serious, and desperately wanted to say: Do you even hear yourself right now?

But Roy continued, undeterred. "In any case, stealing panties is wrong. Understand, Rudeus?"

His expression remained utterly solemn, as if delivering a life lesson of great importance.

Rudeus could only sit there, a thousand questions swirling in his mind, as he tried to process the absurdity of his brother's so-called wisdom.