Notes: Happy New Year 🎉🎆 🎊everyone, I hope your winter vacation was great these past few weeks.
I just wanted to notify you all that Rudeus and Sylphiette are currently five years old right now and they'll be turning six years old in the next chapter. Now sit back and enjoy the story. Lastly, leave a comment and share your thoughts or feedback on chapter itself.
Several days have gone by since Master Roxy left the village. Things have been going pretty well.
Every morning I walk to Laws and Rose's house to pick up my cute childhood friend Sylphy. When we're strolling hand-in-hand, the villagers would exchange greetings with us.
Although I did see a few jealous faces among the younger and older children. Probably because of my reputation for putting on a fireworks show every year for the harvest festival. Along with the fact that Roxy, Sylphy, and I used our magic to help the villagers' wheat fields and other crops.
Yup, we are quite popular in Buena Village and the people already knew I was the son of Paul and Zenith.
At the same time, Sylphy is the daughter of Laws and Rose—the disciples of the incredible magician, Master Roxy.
When we run into people, I always greet them properly and introduce myself. Then everyone would greet us back with bright smiles on their faces; sometimes they would even praise us.
It's peaceful moments like these that make me feel happy to be back in Buena Village. Where I can be social, carefree, and act like a child anytime.
It's a little embarrassing to say this, but after my Second Rebirth. When I was a baby, I occasionally walked and crawled around in the front yard of the house, wearing either an infant onesie or a shirt and a cloth diaper at the time.
Because I wanted to get some fresh air and see Buena Village's natural beauty, before it was struck by that mana disaster all those years ago.
Someday I will find out the origins of the mana disaster. And learn how exactly Nanahoshi and I were transferred into this world in the first place. It could've been a natural disaster or a mysterious figure may have triggered it.
Theorizing about it won't help…In the meantime, I'll just continue my contingency plan for the mana disaster and spend time with my family and Sylphy.
Currently, Sylphy and I are exploring the village. Sure I already knew the lay of the land. But it's good to let Sylphy know her way around if she gets lost.
Now that she's strong enough to handle the bullies on her own now and doesn't need me to protect her all the time.
I also took my botanical encyclopedia and Textbook of Magic and put them both inside my satchel to keep them safely inside.
I'm using my botanical encyclopedia to teach Sylphy which plants were edible and which weren't, which could be used as medicine, and which were poisonous.
As her master, it's my responsibility to educate her and raise her IQ. Roxy had only taught both of us the basics, but the village wasn't very large, and we didn't have particularly notable flora.
After two days had passed we stopped searching for flora and fauna in the village. So I suggested we go to the clinic where Mother worked, and asked the doctor if we could see the wide variety of herbs he has in stock.
I didn't want to take Sylphy inside the forest to find flora and fauna. Sure I'm a very powerful magician. But Sylphy on the other hand is still just a five-year-old girl who lacks combat experience against actual monsters.
Even though she reached "advanced rank" in water, wind, earth, and fire magic. Along with being a "beginner rank" in healing magic and detoxification magic.
It would still be very reckless and irresponsible of me to take her into the forest. She could get hurt or tell her parents that we both went into the forest and will both be in deep trouble.
Rudeus POV
Then one fateful day, when I left the house to go see Sylphy again. I heard a familiar voice…
"You're not so tough when there's a bunch of us."
"Hahahaha, give it another pull, I wanna hear him scream like a girl again!"
"Take this!"
"Yeah! We don't need any glory hogging demons in our village!"
I saw a field, muddy from the rain yesterday. Ten boys, their clothes had mud stains on them. The oldest and tallest among them stood in the center of the circle.
He had a menacing smile on his face while his right hand was gripping the waistband of Sylphy's white bloomers, yanking them high while she struggled helplessly.
Meanwhile, the rest of them pointed their fingers and laughed at her. Each of them was taking turns giving Sylphy a wedgie.
"Hahahaha, look he's crying like a baby!"
"Hahahaha! Look at the little demon squirm like a worm. He's not so tough when there's a bunch of us!" The tallest and oldest boy laughed maniacally with sheer pleasure.
"Yeah, that puny demon's magic was no match for the knights of Buena Village."
"Uh-huh, too bad we couldn't sneak attack that demon from behind. He hit us pretty good with those magic attacks…Too bad it wasn't enough to stop us huh demon boy!"
"Kyaaa!" Sylphy screamed in pain.
"Heehee, that's gonna hurt in the morning."
They were pulling so hard that she was lifted from the ground. As tears streamed down her face, she begged for them to stop.
Every cruel tug made Sylphy's small body jerk forward, her face, hair, and hoodie jacket had mud stains almost everywhere. Meanwhile, her black shorts were lying on the ground ripped apart.
My blood began to boil and I snapped…The mere sight of those bastards torturing my precious Goddess of Love in a sadistic way. Infuriated me to the point where I unleashed my immense bloodlust with hatred-filled eyes, burning like a raging inferno.
Due to my massive mana pool being greater than the Demon God Laplace. My Killer Intent is so dense it feels physically heavy to those around me. It often paralyzes weaker opponents with pure fear.
"Hey!" I shouted, gathering their undivided attention. "Let…her…go!" They all turned around and stared at me, looking quite frightened and shaking in their boots.
As I walked towards them with murder in my eyes they immediately stopped wedging Sylphy and dropped her on the floor.
Whilst, the younger boys hid and crawled behind the teenagers that were among the group, like a bunch of scared little bitches.
Every step I took looked like I was a mighty dragon trying to crush a bunch of puny humans underneath my foot.
"So; you think it's funny—bullying the weak like that, huh!" I shouted with murderous green eyes glaring directly at them and clenched my fists as purple electricity sparked around me in an attempt to scare the living shit out of them.
"You motherfucking snot-nosed brats are gonna pay for hurting my Sylphy like that!" I blurted out loud with an angry demonic tone in my voice. That scared them shitless.
Next, I raise my right hand and hit all the boys with gravity magic, their bodies pressed into the mud beneath the weight of my spell. Make them unable to move an inch.
Their faces looked completely terrified as they quivered in absolute fear. Hmph; it seems like the crybabies pee on themselves too.
After that, I raised my left hand and shot a spark of purple electricity at them. The mere shock slammed into their bodies like a physical blow.
They didn't fly backward; instead, their entire body felt slightly numb and a jolt of pain as the low-grade static danced across their skin.
I made sure my electricity magic wasn't too lethal that it would cause deep burns or severe damage to their bodies. The shock felt like seven or ten stinging needles around their body. As they cried and screamed in pure agony.
In that brief moment, the gravity magic and electricity magic subsided. I had them held there for a few minutes. That punishment is enough for them to learn their lesson and never hurt Sylphy again under my watchful eyes.
"If I catch any of you laying a finger on her again; I'll paralyze you from the waist down!"
"NOW GET OUT OF MY FUCKING SIGHT!"
Then I pulled out my wand and released a weaker version of the wind magic spell Sonic Blast where I fired a powerful, high-frequency gale force that ripped their clothes apart until they were stripped down to their underwear and thrusted backward. They flew a couple of feet away from Sylphy and me.
At that moment Somal and his troublemaking friends stood up, grabbed their scattered muddy clothes off the field and bolted away while stumbling on the ground when they ran away.
(Rudeus: I didn't use my wand for electricity magic and gravity magic spells. Because I was afraid it might break the magic stone that was attached to the wand itself and I didn't wanna risk destroying the birthday gift Roxy gave me.)
Anyone who dares to hurt my precious Goddess of Love like that, deserves no mercy from the likes of me.
I stood there for a moment to calm myself down, then I walked over towards Sylphy, still cowering on the ground, covered in mud. Then, I quickly ran and hugged her compassionately.
"Sylphy, are you okay?" I asked with a concerned facial expression.
She released the hug; slowly turned her head up, stood up, and looked at me, with tears in her red eyes, and responded.
"Uh...Yes...I'm fine now, thanks to you Rudy,"
I also noticed a basket a short distance away, I guess her mother asked her to deliver her food to her dad at the watchtower.
It looks pretty intact for the most part. But I don't know if the food got squashed when those brats attacked her. Either way, I'd better heal her.
"Hold still Sylphy, I'm going to use healing magic on you."
"Okay."
I raised my hands and spoke the incantation. "O goddess of motherly affection, close up this one's wounds and restore the vigor to their body—X-Healing!" I chanted a mid-level healing spell, curing my childhood friend's internal and external injuries.
"Now that's all settled; Sylphy, could you lean forward a bit, and close your eyes. I'm going to pour some warm water on you to clean the mud off your hair."
"Okay," Sylphy replied and followed my instructions earnestly. Then I used melded magic to conjure warm water and gently poured it over her head, washing away the mud from her hair.
She winced slightly but didn't protest, evidently trusting my intentions.
"There we go. Your lovely hair is all better now." I said lightheartedly as I gently patted her head.
"Thank you, Rudy," She still stuttered a little.
"No problem, now hold still please. I'm going to dry your hair next." I said. After I removed the mud from her face and hair. I used fire magic and wind magic to create a hot wind, like an air dryer, then took a handkerchief to carefully wipe the rest of her face.
I decided to use this opportunity to give her a piece of advice. "Listen Sylphy, you're already at, advanced rank in all combat magic spells. You should be able to defend yourself alone without my help. I won't always be there to save you ya'know."
"Yeah I know, I'm sorry Rudy…I tried my best but there were so many of them, I got scared when they jumped on top of me."
I see so they basically dog piled her then she panicked in the heat of the moment. Somal must have asked the "big kids" to assist him in attacking Sylphy and me if I were there too.
"Anyways, let's get you back home. So you can put on a new pair of shorts or something. As for the ripped ones, I'm sure your mother can sew them together. Then we can drop off that basket of food to your dad's."
"Okay," Sylphy answered and we went back to her house while holding hands.
I also gave her my light brown jacket so she could cover her white bloomers.
The last thing I want is a bunch of bystanders and other children laughing at her because she's walking without any pants on. I don't wanna crack any more heads, than I have to😒.
Once we reached her house I waited outside. I told her I'll stand here while she puts on a new pair of clothes inside.
Afterwards she entered, walked to her bedroom and changed her clothes. She returned, wearing a white short-sleeve shirt with a blue overall dress and brown boots.
"How do I look?" Sylphy asked.
"That dress looks very cute on you." I answered, complementing her attire.
"Oh, thank you very much." Sylphy replied and turned her face around, in an attempt to hide her flustered facial expression. But her long pointy ears blushed crimson red. "Uhh we should get going, father is probably starving by now."
"Agreed." I responded and gently grabbed Sylphy's hand when we left her front yard.
Eventually, Sylphy and I reached the watchtower to deliver the basket of food to Laws.
Buena Village's watchtower was set up as a lookout post to keep an eye out for any monsters or predators coming out of the forest, and was staffed by men from the village around the clock.
Including Paul and Laws, who are tasked with protecting this landmark almost every morning and night. He stood guard at a watchtower on the edge of the forest, with a bow in one hand.
"Father," Sylphy called. "I've brought your lunch."
"Ah, thank you, Phi, as always. Wait a second, why did you change your clothes? Did the bullies attack you?"
"Yeah, but Rudy saved me again, he's my hero." Sylphy replied and turned to look at me with affection.
"Aww🥰, thank you Sylphy." I responded, with a bright smile and blushed a light shade of red when she praised me like that.
"You have my gratitude once again Rudy. Thank you for protecting Sylphy from those bad boys."
"It was my pleasure, sir," I said and bowed my head to my future father-in-law.
Sylphy's eyes glimmered with admiration. Then she postured and waved her hands as she explained:
"You should've seen him, Father. Rudy scared those guys half to death with his cold stare and amazing magic powers. It went all boom, zap⚡and whoosh💨."
"Wow, really Phi?" Laws let out a sound of astonishment and continued. "I must say Rudeus, your silent spell-casting will definitely make you become a world-renowned magician someday." Laws said, looking somewhat impressed by my magical skills. He's probably pretending due to Sylphy's childishly cute reaction and explanation of the magic spells I used moments ago.
I decided to explain everything that happened to Laws. He was furious at first, but then calmed down with a satisfied look on his face. When I told him that I retaliated in full force on those bullies, without a shred of mercy.
While we were talking, I suddenly felt a tug at the hem of my shirt. I looked, and Sylphy was clutching it, her head cast down. I guessed a grown-up conversation like this was boring for a five-year-old like her.
"Mr. Laws," I asked, "can the two of us go play for a bit?"
"Oh, sure you can. Just don't get too close to the forest okay."
Well, that was pretty obvious. But he should've laid down more ground rules for children like us at least. It's not like this village is 100% safe.
"Sylphy and I are gonna play at our usual spot. That hilltop with the big tree. I promise Sylphy will head back home around sunset. If it looks like we haven't gone home, there's a good chance something's wrong. Then you should set up a search party to come find us okay?"
After all, there weren't any cell phones in the world. Establishing proper communication was important. It was impossible to avoid all potential trouble, but bouncing back quickly from problems was also important. This village seemed fairly safe, but there was no telling what dangers might be lurking.
With one look back at Laws, who was a bit dumbfounded, Sylphy and I headed back for the tree on the hilltop. "So, what do you wanna do today, Sylphy? Magic training or hide-and-seek."
"I want to practice my magic, Rudy. I wanna get stronger so I can learn to defend myself and be brave like you someday." Sylphy declared with determination in her eyes.
"Very well, let's continue your training, so you can reach your full potential," I announced in my teacher's voice.
"Uh, by the way, could you teach me how to shoot lightning out of my hands like you and that other spell that causes those guys to fall on the ground, and without moving," Sylphy asked.
"Sorry, but I can't teach you that Sylphy. Those are very powerful, unique, and unclassified magic spells. You're not mature, strong, and confident enough to learn electricity magic and gravity magic yet." I said in a serious tone in my voice.
"Oh come on, Rudy." Sylphy pouted. She looks so adorable with her cheeks puffed up like that. "Then when am I ready?" She asked, looking quite displeased about not being able to use gravity magic and electricity magic yet.
"First you must conquer your fears by defending yourself against those bullies on your own, second you must become a Water Saint magician by learning the spell Cumulonimbus. Third, you gotta gain combat experience by fighting monsters and dangerous enemies on your own. Fourth, becoming a magic tutor to teach slight spell-casting and other educational subjects to your students. Fifth, becoming a Water King magician by learning the spell Lightning. Lastly, I'll teach you how to create a miniaturized version of Lightning that shocks and paralyzes opponents with electricity, then learn electricity magic by shooting lightning from the palm of your hands, and finally gravity magic."
"B-b-but that will take years Rudy!?" Sylphy exclaimed.
"Then I suggest you hop to it fast, by staying focused, smart, and bold when fighting with magic against your opponents. And also have fun along the way." I replied.
Thus, Sylphy and I practiced with our magic until sunset. Then she gave me a goodbye kiss on the cheek at the hilltop. After that I took her back home safely.
When I returned home, I was surprised to see that Paul wasn't waiting for me outside. I had expected to get a scolding for scaring the shit out of those bullies.
Oh well, they got what they deserved nonetheless and I don't feel a hint of regret. I guess those children were too scared to tattle on me.
When I walked into the house, I was greeted by Paul, Zenith, and Lilia. After eating dinner, I went to my bedroom and practiced magic for a while before drifting off to sleep. I'm really looking forward to seeing Sylphy reach her full potential in the distant future.