Mushoku Tensei: The Mad Witch's Magical Redemption

This is terrible.

I couldn't sleep at all.

It's all because of that dream, I'm scared of going back to sleep, fearing that the original Eris will haunt me again. Her bloodied appearance, her angry expression, and her accusation still echoed in my mind.

Unable to rest, I kept replaying the nightmarish vision in my mind, attempting to make sense of what it all meant. Was it just a figment of my guilt, or a warning?

Whatever it was, I started to worry that the real Eris' soul might truly be lost—or even worse, trapped somewhere beyond my reach. I also realized that while I yearned to have her lavish life, I had never considered its true cost.

knock... knock...

While I was dreading these thoughts, a knock on the door snapped me out of my reverie.

"W-who goes there?" I asked nervously.

Silence persisted for a few seconds before a feminine voice answered. "It's me, your mother."

Mother? Oh, right, Eris has one.

"P-please, come in," I responded, allowing her to enter.

creak...

The door opened slowly, and a woman with long red hair entered the room. Given that it was evening and everyone was sleeping, she was wearing a nightgown. But most importantly, her name was Hilda Boreas Greyrat.

"Are you alright, my dear?" she asked gently.

Keeping my composure, I replied, "I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because I just heard you scream in your room," she answered, looking rather concerned. "So I came to check on you."

Oh, I see. It makes so much sense for a mother to check on their own children, especially one in distress. I hadn't experienced that kind of care in my previous life for a very long time.

"Well, I… I had a bad dream," I admitted quietly.

Her face softened, caressing my face. "Would you like to tell me about it?"

I hesitated. It was tempting, but could I talk about it openly? How could I explain a nightmare of being haunted by the original Eris without sounding deranged? I bit my lip, trying to find an answer that wouldn't seem suspicious.

"Well, it's about the incident..." I finally responded, choosing my words carefully. "I can't seem to move on from what happened."

"I see...." Hilda frowned, looking quite mortified. "So, that Paul's bastard son had troubled you so much he deprived you the chance to sleep peacefully? How dare he?"

Ah, mistakes were been made. I didn't realize that Hilda also loathed Rudeus. She and Sauros were practically seething whenever he came up, holding a grudge against him over what had happened to Eris in this reality.

That being said, I corrected myself. "Actually... Rudeus didn't do anything wro—"

"—Shhh, it's alright, my dear. You're safe here," she interrupted, her hand caressing over Eris' long hair. "That bastard child won't trouble you again."

That wasn't exactly the response I wanted, but she appeared intent on comforting me in her own way. It was the first real motherly kindness I'd felt since my own mother passed when I was barely as old as Eris was now.

For a moment, the resentment she harbored toward Rudeus was outweighed by the warmth she showed me. Perhaps, it wouldn't hurt to think of her as my mother too. After all, I was in control here—this life was mine to shape, wasn't it?

"Mother..."

"Yes, dear?"

"Will you stay here so I can sleep?"

"Of course, my dear."

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With Hilda's calming presence beside me, I let myself sink back into the bed, eyelids growing heavy as I drifted asleep. I clung to the hope that the original Eris wouldn't appear this time, or at the very least, wouldn't be furious and throwing accusations my way.

Minutes passed, and nothing happened so far. No scenes or locations emerged—just a deep, silent darkness. But as I began wandering through that void, someone eventually showed up.

It was the real Eris.

She wasn't as bloodied as before, but her expression was no less furious, and her fists were tightly clenched. Ah crap, here we go again.

"Umm, hello there," I greeted her with a friendly tone.

"...."

She stayed silent, her eyes fixed on me with an intense glare. I swallowed deeply, nervous to continue the interaction.

"S-so, what brings you here?"

"Give it back..."

"Pardon?"

Her eyes narrowed as she walked towards me, grabbing my neck with alarming strength.

"Give me back the life you stole from me!" she shouted, strangling me with a force that sent shockwaves through my body.

I couldn't breathe, her grip was relentless.

"D-didn't... mean to..." I managed to choke out, struggling against her hold.

Her expression remained stiff. "You took everything from me! My life! My face! Everything!"

"I only… wanted a new start," I gasped, feeling her grip grow stronger.

Eris furrowed her brows, her face inches towards mine. "Then why take mine?"

"I merely wished... to have a lavish life... like yours," I forced out, choking on my words. "But I never meant… to steal your body..."

She didn't loosen her hold, her anger only making it tighter. But just as my vision was fading, something miraculous happened. 

"Hmm-hmm~ hmm-hmm~"

A soft, melodic hum suddenly floated through the darkness, piercing the silence. The sound was calm and gentle—almost surreal.

The original Eris's grip on my neck broke off, her head turning slightly toward the source of the hum. She appeared to calm her down as if the tune had stirred something within her.

"That voice... it's my mother's lullaby," she muttered. "But how?"

I steadied my footing, soothing my neck. "It's because I told her to stay while I fell asleep."

Eris' eyes snapped back to me, and her face contorted with bitterness again. "Why you? Why should you have her comfort? You! You!"

I backed away, feeling her rage flare up once more. But as I stumbled, I tripped, falling to the ground. Looking up, I saw her standing there, her expression shifting, her body shaking, and her anger dimming, replaced by something else—something raw.

"Umm… Are you… alright?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Eris looked down, her eyes filling with tears. "I want my mother… Give her back!"

Her words cut deep. I couldn't help but remember a specific memory from my previous life. It was when my mother was pronounced dead, and I shouted those exact words to the doctors who failed to save her.

Seeing Eris like this, the anger she'd worn like armor now broke and crumbling, I realized she wasn't just furious—she was suffering.

I reached out, though hesitant. "Look, Eris, I'm sorry... but I can't give your body back."

"What do you mean you can't?" Her voice cracked, clenching her fist.

"I mean, I don't know how," I corrected myself. "If I did, I would have done it already."

Eris glared, the bitterness still fresh in her eyes but she unclenched her fist and got down on her knees, looking defeated.

"So, that means... I can't go back..." she murmured, her voice shaking. "I'm stuck here... while you live my life... It's unfair..."

Hearing her remarks, remorse seized my chest. This wasn't what I'd wanted at all. I sat down beside her, attempting to offer her some comfort.

"It's alright," I whispered. "I'll find a way to give your body back."

"Really?" Eris looked at me, a glint of hope flashing in her eyes. "But how would you do that?"

"Well… I'm not sure," I admitted, scratching my head. "But there must be some kind of magic or technique we can use to give you control again."

Eris's expression wavered, teetering between hope and despair. "And… what if we can't find it? What then?"

"Um, if that happens…" I hesitated, knowing I couldn't make empty promises. " We might try another way. I won't leave you to suffer alone, Eris."

For a moment, she seemed to consider this, her gaze softening. But then, her face hardened again, and she looked away, conflicted.

"Just… don't get too comfortable," she muttered, irritation creeping back into her tone. "I may be powerless now, but don't think you can keep what's mine forever."

"I won't," I complied, understanding the pain behind her words. "This was never about taking what's yours. I promise I'll find a way to help you."

She didn't respond, just stood and walked away, her figure fading from view. The emptiness around us grew darker and colder.

And as she disappeared, Eris left one last haunting yet sad words.

"Remember, you don't deserve this life."

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I opened my eyes, waking from the dream. Looking around, I noticed it was already morning, and Hilda was nowhere to be found. She'd probably left after I had fallen soundly asleep.

Anyway, I sat up and reflected on what had happened in my slumber. That meeting with the original Eris—It was more intense than I expected. The weight of her words, despair, anger, and suffering... it all felt too real. 

Sighing, I got out of bed and stretched my body, or should I say Eris' body. I recalled making a promise to her, vowing to give her body back. It would be a difficult task but it's something I would keep to myself, so revealing it to anyone is not an option.

However, I could investigate any literature regarding souls and how to give them control over the body. To do that, I would need to learn how to read, and there was only one person who could teach me—Rudeus.

Walking towards the door, I ready myself to confront him... and request his expertise.