Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

Luciel Greyrat
I walked home with Roxy after a long afternoon discussion in the quiet fields. The evening air had begun to cool, and the sky shifted colors—from orange to purple with streaks of red. A gentle breeze rustled Roxy's short hair beneath her wizard's hat.
We walked side by side, not saying much. Somehow, words felt unnecessary. Our conversation earlier had given us both plenty to think about.
As we arrived home, I saw my mother hanging laundry in the front yard. She smiled as soon as she noticed us approaching.
"Oh, you're back! Roxy, thank you for looking after Luciel," she said warmly.
Roxy returned the smile with a small nod. "It's no trouble, Lady Zenith. Luciel is a good child."
I could only offer a small smile at that. If only Mother knew what we had really been doing out there…
"Luciel, sweetheart, wash your hands and help me set the table, okay?"
"Alright, Mother."
I stepped inside and headed for the small sink in the kitchen. The sound of running water filled the space, calming me. As I washed my hands, I reflected on our discussion earlier.
About magic. About understanding. About how I had to keep all of this a secret.
Just as I finished, my father—Paul—appeared in the kitchen doorway, looking tired but grinning widely.
"Hey, Luciel! How was your day?" He patted my shoulder with his large hand.
I smiled at him. "Good, Father. I learned a lot from Master Roxy."
"Oh yeah? That's great! Smart kids like you and Rudeus should take every chance to learn."
I knew Father wasn't particularly knowledgeable about magic, being more focused on swordplay and combat. But he always supported us in whatever we pursued, and I appreciated that.
I helped Mother set the table, arranging the plates and utensils neatly. Rudeus entered with his usual bright expression, looking excited.
"Luciel, Roxy, where have you two been?" he asked as he plopped down onto a chair.
"Relaxing in the fields," I answered simply. "Enjoying the view."
Roxy gave a small smile, glancing at Rudeus. "And discussing magic a little."
Rudeus's eyes immediately lit up. "Magic? Did you guys figure out a new trick?"
I chuckled softly. "Maybe."
We all gathered as Mother served dinner—warm soup, soft bread, and fragrant roasted meat.
As my family ate, laughter and conversation filled the small dining room. It felt… warm.
Even though there were many things I had to keep hidden, many secrets I had to protect, moments like these reminded me that I wasn't alone.
That amidst all the mysteries and great powers I was exploring, there was a home waiting for me. A family that loved me.
And perhaps, that was what kept me moving forward.
Because to protect them, I had to become stronger. To understand this world better.
And to make sure… that I could keep the smiles on their faces.

###

That day, Father asked me to train with the sword.

To be honest, close combat never really interested me. Magic was my domain—something I could grasp and refine through logical approaches. But I also understood that this world couldn't always be faced with theory and spells alone.

There were times when a sword was faster than a spell.

There were moments when there was no time to form a magic circle or gather mana.

And in this world, mastering both was never a bad idea.

The problem was, I had never trained with a sword before.

I had no prior experience with kendo or any other martial arts in my previous life. But there was someone who did—Ryusei.

Back in high school, he was our nation's kendo champion. I often watched him compete, observing how he swung his sword, how he read his opponent's movements, how he understood the flow of battle.

I never directly learned from him. But I watched.

And now, I had to put that observation to use.

Of course, I didn't want to shock Paul with sudden, suspicious proficiency. But I also didn't want to deliberately fail without effort.

So, let's make this as natural as possible.

We stood in the front yard, beneath the mid-morning sky. A fresh breeze swept through, rustling the grass as the wind passed by.

Paul stood before me, a wooden sword in hand, a wide grin on his face.

Beside him, Rudeus sat on a wooden crate, eyes gleaming with curiosity.

"Alright, Luciel," Father said, raising his wooden sword. "From today onward, I'll teach you the basics of swordsmanship."

I gripped my wooden sword with both hands, feeling its weight in my palms. It wasn't entirely unfamiliar, but it wasn't exactly comfortable either.

"How does it feel?" Paul asked.

I weighed it for a moment before answering, "A bit heavy, but not too bad."

Paul chuckled. "Haha! That's normal. Now, let's start with the basic stance."

He pointed at my feet.

"Bend your knees slightly, distribute your weight evenly, and don't tense up."

I followed his instructions, adjusting my stance.

Paul nodded in approval.

"Not bad. You're picking this up faster than I expected."

I offered a small smile.

Of course, this wasn't the first time I had seen a proper sword stance. I had watched Ryusei do this countless times.

Still, I had to be careful.

I couldn't let Paul get suspicious over rapid progress.

Training began.

Paul had me practice basic swings—slashing downward, sideways, and thrusting forward.

I executed them with stiff, controlled movements, as if it were my first time holding a sword.

But gradually, I adjusted my rhythm.

I remembered how Ryusei moved—not just with his arms but with his entire body.

I recalled the patterns and began incorporating them bit by bit.

Before long, my movements became smoother.

Paul narrowed his eyes, watching me with mild surprise.

"Hey, hey, you're adjusting pretty quickly," he remarked with a grin.

I shrugged. "Maybe I have a bit of talent."

Paul laughed. "Hahaha! Good! That makes me even more excited to teach you!"

I kept my expression neutral.

Good. I wasn't being too suspicious.

But I could feel Rudeus's sharp gaze from where he sat.

As if he noticed something unusual.

I ignored it for now.

After the basics, Paul suggested a light spar.

"Don't worry, I won't use my full strength," he said. "I just want to see how you respond to an attack."

I nodded slowly, taking a defensive stance.

Paul stepped forward—not too fast, but not too slow either.

I could read his movements.

But I couldn't dodge too easily.

I let his strike meet my sword, allowing my hands to feel the impact.

I stepped back, adjusting my balance.

Paul nodded. "Good, you're not stiff when receiving an attack."

I remained silent, focusing on my next move.

Paul swung again—a horizontal slash from the side.

I knew the best way to avoid it.

If I tilted my body slightly and shifted my step, I could evade the strike entirely.

But I didn't.

Instead, I raised my sword to block.

CLACK!

The sound of wood clashing echoed in the yard.

Paul grinned.

"Nice! You've got decent reflexes!"

I gave a small smile.

I knew the balance I had to maintain.

I knew I couldn't show too much… but I also couldn't appear too weak.

The training continued for a few more minutes before Paul finally lowered his sword.

"That's enough for today," he said, rubbing his chin.

I let out a slow breath, steadying myself.

Paul studied me with an unreadable expression.

"You really are a quick learner, Luciel."

I merely gave a small smile.

"Master Roxy says I have a good grasp of theory," I replied casually.

Paul nodded before clapping me on the shoulder—hard.

"Hahaha! Good! If you keep training, you might even catch up to me one day!"

I let out a small chuckle, though deep down, I knew…

I wouldn't be focusing on becoming a swordsman.

But mastering the sword wouldn't hurt either.

In this world, both sword and magic could save lives.

And I had no intention of becoming a mere pawn in this world's game.

I needed to understand everything.