Peak Between Two: Mushoku Tensei

-Ryu Dedoldia-

"So… I see. I get the general idea."

Our conversation stretched on as Rudeus continued telling me about my aunt. The night grew deeper, but I didn't mind. Listening to his stories about Ghislaine filled my mind with thoughts I had never considered before.

I had always assumed that my aunt was nothing more than a dark legend in this village—a woman who abandoned her people and never returned. But according to Rudeus, she wasn't just an ordinary adventurer. Out in the world, Ghislaine had built an incredible reputation. She was respected, acknowledged as a master swordswoman, and even served as a tutor for a noble family.

Honestly, this changed my perspective on her a little.

Up until now, I had only known Ghislaine through the stories of Gustav and Gyes. They often spoke about how wild she had been in her youth—a troublesome girl, stubborn and constantly causing problems for the village. I remember Gyes complaining about how her presence was like a never-ending storm, always stirring up chaos.

But now, knowing that she had earned respect and recognition outside, I started to wonder…

Had we been too quick to judge her?

I let out a deep breath and looked at Rudeus.

This human child had seen the outside world—something I could only imagine.

"Rudeus," I finally said, "can you tell me more about the world? I've never left this forest, and my knowledge is limited."

I wanted to know more.

Rudeus studied me for a moment, as if deciding how to answer my question. The fire crackled softly, casting flickering light on his thoughtful expression.

"Sure," he said at last. "But where should I begin? The world is vast, and there's a lot to talk about."

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. "Start with something important. What makes the outside world different from this village?"

Rudeus gave a small smirk. "A lot of things. Kingdoms, massive cities, magic academies, adventures… and of course, the various races that either coexist—or clash."

I frowned. "So it's not like here?"

"Exactly," he replied. "In this village, I can tell how tight-knit the Beastman community is. But out there, every place has its own rules. There's the Kingdom of Asura, rich and prosperous, the Milis Kingdom, deeply tied to religion, and smaller growing nations like Shirone. Then, there's the Demon Continent, a land full of mystery—though I haven't been there myself."

I listened carefully.

Some of what he said sounded like fairy tales to me. A world filled with kingdoms, laws, and conflicts between races… it was nothing like my life in this forest.

"What about humans?" I asked. "You know how my people view them."

Rudeus sighed. "I understand why the villagers don't trust humans. To be honest, humans are often greedy and only think about their own gain. The slave hunts that happen around here are proof of that."

I gritted my teeth.

"And what about you? You're human too."

He smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I try to be different. I can't deny that I'm human, but I want to treat everyone fairly, regardless of their race."

I studied his face, searching for any sign of deception.

But all I saw was sincerity.

I wasn't sure if it was just an act or his true beliefs, but for now, I chose not to be overly suspicious.

Our conversation continued, covering various topics—the outside world, his journey, and how other races lived beyond this village. I listened intently, absorbing every bit of information he shared.

However, as time passed, exhaustion crept in.

Eventually, we agreed to continue our discussion tomorrow.

As usual, I started my day with training.

The cool morning air greeted me as I jumped down from my treehouse, landing on the damp ground still covered in morning dew. My muscles felt stiff after a long night, but that didn't stop me from training.

Today, I decided to push my limits a little further.

This wasn't just about building physical strength—I wanted to sharpen my survival instincts. I trained myself to think in difficult situations, to make quick and precise decisions when faced with emergencies. Every second in battle could mean the difference between life and death, and I had to ensure that both my body and mind were prepared for the worst.

As a former soldier in my previous life, I knew that this kind of training was the foundation of survival. I recalled various techniques I had learned and tried to adapt them to this world.

I took my stance, closed my eyes for a moment, and then began my training.

Today, I had to become stronger.

I started with a simple warm-up—stretching my stiff muscles before running through the forest at a steady pace. I deliberately took a more difficult route, weaving through exposed roots and uneven terrain. This wasn't just to improve my endurance but also to train my balance and agility.

As I ran, I sharpened my senses, trying to pick up every change in my surroundings. The rustling leaves weren't always caused by the wind, the sudden silence of birds could be a warning sign, and even the scent of the earth shifting could indicate a hidden danger.

After about an hour of running, my body felt hot, and my heart pounded against my ribs.

But I wasn't done yet.

I had to push myself further.

I made my way to a small river near the village and began endurance training using the water as additional resistance. Walking against the current forced my legs to work harder to maintain balance. Each step felt heavy, but that was precisely the point—to test my endurance and stability in less-than-ideal conditions.

Next, I submerged myself up to my shoulders and held my breath for as long as possible, training my lung capacity. In battle, losing your breath for even a second could mean the difference between life and death.

When I finally emerged from the water, my body felt lighter yet more fatigued.

I rested on the riverbank for a moment, letting the sunlight dry my skin as I planned my next set of training exercises.

I had to keep pushing forward.

I had to become stronger.