(Rudeus POV).
I woke up early today but I didn't get out of bed, I have too many things in mind to consider before moving.
The first thing I need to think of is how to convince Mom and father to let me join them in the monster's hunt. (But I wouldn't push it too far if they refused me the first time I asked I wouldn't try again).
The second thing is to see whether I'm in trouble or not due to the fact that I teached Sylphy magic yesterday. (Without any of our parents consent).
The third thing if I will teach magic to my friends then this means, I know magic myself and for too long too. (I'm pretty sure Mom's reaction wouldn't be one of my likings).
The fourth thing is how dangerous this trip is in our lives as a whole. (Because if anyone discovered my father's true identity).
(I'm supposed to know nothing about this, but father forgot or he didn't imagine I would read the letters he receives and the ones he sent before being sealed. So I think we are in more danger than some overgrown animals who turned into monsters).
For the first I will try to play the cute toddler rule who clings to his family and doesn't want them to leave him. (I will try this just for once, but if it doesn't work I will stop immediately).
For the second I will play the innocent and when everyone leaves us alone I will talk to Sylphy and make her promise me not to tell anyone. (At least until I talk with our parents).
For the third I will hold back as much as I can with Sylphy and Anna in teaching them magic and even if I teached them I will make sure to teach them things that are under control. (If teached them I would focus on healing magic only).
(When I tell our parents everything, I will see if mana increases for everyone or it was just for me and maybe I will try to teach them chantless magic too).
'Idiot you are converting from the original course.'
As for fourth, it's more dangerous for me to participate in the hunt in the first place, because of that I will not participate if I fail to persuade mom, father to let me join them. Of course I will try first to persuade them with my cute toddler acting skills.
(As for the reason I don't want to participate, I'll be the center of attention, because it's not an everyday event where a toddler participates in monster hunting, not mentioning what would happen if I used either sword or magic too).
(As for why I want to participate in the first place is monsters, I want to discover this new creatures, not just from books, not just body parts that returns to the village I want to see one alive, I want to dissect one of the corpses myself, to search it's inside to find maybe the answer for my question. How much of this world is different to earth?)
Anyway, enough time is wasted in thinking it's time to wake-up. I found everyone still asleep and the sun was still rising. I woke up straight at dawn.
(Oops maybe since I slept very early yesterday and I didn't waste my mana all the way through. I slept for too little time).
Anyway training it's, I started by doing 20 laps around the house then 10 of every overall muscle training. (Push-ups, squats, pulls up, etc and finally finished stretching my muscles).
Also if no one realised I created a strong bar and hung it in Mom's least two favourite trees after asking her permission about training on it.
(Of course, I used honeyed words and all of the words were well-mannered. And the answer is perfect agreement).
Also there's another bar made for squats and the other training that needs it. I just left it next to the wall after I finished training.
And before finishing my muscles training I took a five minutes break before starting 10 minutes of jump and shake training.
By the time I finished this training the sun had risen and Lilla had woken up and smiled at me when she greeted me before starting her work.
(They will start to wake-up soon, maybe it's time to focus only on sword training and stop otherworldly muscles training).
But man this body is amazing, what happened is father's training wasn't amazing it was the body itself, any normal training that generates muscles in the former world in about let's say three months in this body it only takes one.
(My body is full of muscles almost like you are looking at the body of kid hulk, the only difference is that kid was a bulk and my body is kind of slim and my muscles are more focused on being flexible).
And all of that while I'm not taking training seriously like I'm not bodybuilding I'm just making sure my body is in shape and trying to make myself as flexible as possible using the fact that when children are young their bones and muscles are not very tough and rough.
(My body is bendable to the point I can look at what's behind me which is amazing as a toddler with all of your limbs are very short).
With this I can bend my body from many angles. Now as for sword training it appears father named me beginner level in Sword God Style early. Because there are still 5 more skills I'm supposed to learn before even being counted as a beginner level swordsman.
(It made me raise my eyebrows and started to raise suspicions so I let him continue until he finally got what I wanted).
I found this out when Paul's mouth slipped yesterday while training about the name of the skill 『Side Step. 』 This skill has three levels, one for beginners level, one for intermediate level, and one for advanced level swordsmen of the Sword God Style.
Of course after interrogating my father about it, I discovered this skill was one of two evasion skills of Sword God Style for beginner level, he skipped training them for me before naming me beginner.
(He said he was going to teach them to me at a higher level anyway, so there's no problem in naming me early, because I'm already as strong as one of them).
Also there is the skill called, 『Sword Slice.』 Which is the lower level of the skill, 『Slice.』 And some dans he skipped all of that and there was much training he doesn't remember.
In conclusion I'm a beginner level swordsman from the Sword God Style. But I'm yet to master all of the skills to be counted as one.
Now to solve this problem I train in the sword with two forms. All of them are attacked by the way.
The first one is this world forms and tries to do the forms of the named skills on imaginary adversaries.
And I think I had mastered the first evasion move called, 『Dodge.』 From the Sword God Style.
As for Water God Style I had to train with someone else to attack me to try the skills so in the meantime I increased my power and my grip by both training in Sword God Style and muscle building.
(And when father wakes-up I will train with him, my best training partner for this is Pete but I hadn't seen him for 4 days).
The second form is the former world sword lessons. I wasn't that interested back then, and unlike this body the last one doesn't have good observation skills nor does it have photographic memory.
(The last one was great, but not like this one. My eyes were slightly damaged during the fire which made me wear glasses and as for my memory weren't bad, but compared to this one it's very bad).
(Because of that, I don't think I will be trying a higher level of [dans or forms as you wish to name it]. From the former world).
After an hour or so of training I found mom coming out from the house and calling me.
"Rudi, the breakfast is almost ready to get inside now." "Yes, Mommy." After mom called I went inside and put my training sword with his friends.
(It was one of my father's training swords, but after I declared the former one mine, he couldn't complain. So he just bought 6 new ones, one of them for himself and four backups, because by the time he bought them, I had already mastered arm chop skill and he named me beginner level in Sword God Style, my spirits were high in the sky and without any reason, I picked one of harshest boulders in the area and I attacked it with another try to do the skill, 『Slice.』 Breaking my arm for the second time in the process and that sword was destroyed and the handle was the last surviving piece of it, in which I gave it to father).
His expression was priceless that day.
(I don't know if it was like that, because of the broken sword I gave him or my dangling broken arm).
And this sword is one of the new wooden training swords dad bought.
Because of my blunder we stayed two days with no training swords.
After promising Mom to not try to do the skill on boulders again, except when father gives me the permission for trying it. Mom finally healed my arm.
(I tried to heal it myself but I couldn't do it, even with overcharging intermediate level healing. The best I could do was easing the pain slightly and healing some of the cracks).
Also I heard mom threatening father, if he dared to tell me, I'm ready to use this skill on a boulder when I'm not. She told him she will do her part of Caravaggio's promise.
(I still can't figure it out yet, but my curiosity will kill me to know what is the threat she told him that day).
After taking a quick bath and returning to the dining table to find extra plates made by Lilla, she answered my unasked question by saying.
"Today is a long day for Lord Paul and Lady Zenith both will need extra nutritions today and you too, young master Rudeus will need extra as well because you were training from very early."
I just smiled before thanking her for her hard work.
(The more I talk with her the more I'm sure she is some kind of robot, but has emotions and I think she cares about us).
After we all sat and when we just started eating, father said in a high prideful voice a shocking joke.
"I'm glad Rudi was born hardworking and loves training like me." When he said that the spoon almost fell from my mouth and we all looked at him with widened eyes.
(He is joking right. When I started training as well I realised he just flexed his muscles more than training).
After the dam me and mom were holding broke and the set of laughter opened, we found him shocked like he really believed I inherited this from him.
(Sorry Paul, but this neither from you nor Mom, this from Issac's character he was a workaholic).
After mom shocked father with a harsh statement that let me discover how come he is strong even though he never trains for real.
(He looked at my side for assistance after flexing his arm muscles with a smirk).
So I pointed out the obvious. (That he can't flex with his muscles if they aren't well balanced).
In which he was more surprised that his muscles are bigger on one side more than the other.
(That really removes the whole dam from mom. She laughed for very long and barely held back. She stayed the whole breakfast laughing and giving father sarcastic words).
Father gave me a look that promised pain. I just gulped. (I wish I live until the end of training).
After we finished breakfast we started training.
"Okay, Rudi today you will feel the real grip of the sword, see this is a blunt sword it's a decoration sword it can't hurt a fly, but it has the grip of a real sword. Take it."
Said father while moving his finger at the edge of the sword carelessly. (And what's with that smirk on his face, at first I thought he would attack me with it).
"Than..." I was about to say "thanks." When I barely saw Paul launching at me with terrifying speed after making his torso look like a ball.
(Oh shit! This Idiot will attack me with a long sword of silence).
I don't know how. But I threw the sword at him which didn't do anything and I barely just barely dodged the attack with the wooden sword in his hand almost ripped off my nose.
(I almost said what the hell are you doing). Before saying that he planted his sword in the ground and smirked at me.
I bit my tongue to avoid bad mouthing him when I calmed down and said this. "Are you happy now kid? Attacking your son with full power knowing he can't do the same."
(Man I wish to blast off his smirk from his face with any magic in hand but not strong enough to kill him. As much as I'm angry at him he is supposed to be my father).
"You are asking if I'm happy? The answer is not yet the beating had just started. And you will see how strong I'm. Or maybe I'm not that strong and my unbalanced muscles gave me this advantage."
He said with a wide mocking smile. (I get it this man is mentally ill; he doesn't have a full human brain).
I muttered under my breath to keep myself from going all out bad mouthing him.
"You muscles aren't the only unbalanced thing. I'm pretty sure your head is missing a screw or two."
He just looked at me with a raised brow. (It seems he doesn't understand what I'm saying).
After two hour of hell called training, Paul started by making me try to block his attacks with a stronger sword in my hand because if we both hold swords on the same level mine will shatter.
(Yes he attacks on that level of power, he does use advanced or lower level skills and he doesn't use his full power on the attacks, but that doesn't mean you can survive it if you take a hit whether you are human or even a rock).
And to make this worse one of those attacks landed in my abdomen. I almost vomited and I don't know how I kept my consciousness.
(And worst of all he was teasing me through all of this).
When he hitted me with this slash he said with a smirk.
"What is it Rudi? Are you going to cry like a little girl? Now, now don't cry uwaa, uwaa. Hahahaha."
(I was very tempted to shoot a full power stone bullet to the head).
But calmed myself down by biting my lips and healing my damaged stomach while he was playing like an idiot.
And he finished the training by making me attack him just for him to do Flow technique on me.
(An advanced level Water God Style. In which you make the two swords touch first, then with a gentle breeze you make the one attacking you dance in your palm. Quite literally).
He moved my sword to the right at full speed which made me dance in the air doing some 360 degrees dancing and he finished it by a hit to my head by the blunt sword in my hand.
(By other means he changed my sword trajectory to make me hit myself after dancing in circles).
(Which hurt more than the last technique. I know well he isn't using his skills in full power to not to kill me but this Paul. I will make you sleep with your eyes open are you hearing me, forget about those nice peaceful sleeps).
After remembering that he doesn't sleep in the first place he and Mom are usually occupied with another thing, I blushed.
Which brought another sarcastic comment from that guy about the girls that will sleep with me in the same house.
(Wait a minute! Is he implying I will do something to Sylphy or Anna when they are sleeping here? Fuck this. I grow tired of that bastard).
After leaving him not even answering him I found Mom at doorstep ready to leave and when she was about to call dad to get ready. I have started initiating plan A.
(The plan is simple, hug Mom's leg as hard as I can using the fact I'm still having the body of a toddler, and going for the second part using Puppy eyes, adding stars would be useful too, finally last steps ignore complementary go straight for the topic).
The plan: "Mommy, please! May I go with you?" I said while doing the final touches of the plan.
(The only answer after this from Mom is: "you know I can't ever say no, to you Rudi." I smiled an evil laughter internally for the plan's success).
"You know I can't take you with us Rudi, you are still very young and we are going to fight monsters. But don't worry, your father and I used to be S-ranked adventurers." My smile disappeared and I pouted.
(That wasn't expected and I executed the plan perfectly for this to be the answer. What a bummer. I don't want you to pamper me Mom, I want to kil– I mean to discover those new animals for science not for my own selfishness).
When Mom found me pouting she gestured to her husband to help her.
"Listen to your mother Rudi, me and your mother used to be very strong adventurers, these weak monsters over there are no threat to us. But a weakling dainty little princess like you will be eaten in a second."
I tried to ignore him and already left Mom's leg until he started bragging and I gave him a look that said: if you want to die, don't marry a young girl like mom and leave her to defend her kid and herself in the medieval world.
(No, wait! He isn't bragging only, this bastard he called me "dainty little princess" again).
Without thinking I left mom and went for his leg, attacking it with my strongest punches and kicks only for him to laugh and say this while waving his hand at my side.
"Hey little princess! Can you stop tickling me?" That made me lose all reason.
I bit his hand with the plan to tear his fingers off. And that made him groan in pain.
Suddenly we both felt danger but we didn't have a chance to react. Because both of us were pinched from our ears.
"Both of you apologise to each other now. Paul didn't you promise Rudi to stop teasing by calling him princess and you Rudi resp– try to tolerate your father and if he teased you like this again call me and I will punish him myself."
Mom said while tightening her pinch on our ears. Which almost made me cry from pain because she almost ripped off our ears. We both looked at each other then nodded.
"I'm sorry." We said in unison to Mom more than to each other.
She muttered the healing spell for our bleeding ears fast before saying.
"Now we solved this. Rudi, me and your father need to see our work. Don't worry, we will be fine and you won't be here alone. Lilla, Ms Ena, little Sylphiette and little Anna will be staying with you here."
Mom said with a genuine smile towards me in which I just nodded in agreement.
When she saw me nodding understanding what happened she came and hugged me then kissed my forehead. And started to get out of the doorstep to close the conversation.
(And because I want a clear answer when they well let me join them I just asked but for some reason I couldn't form a good question and my body was creating tears).
"But.. When can I join both of you in monster hunting?"
(Since the question wasn't good enough). I used puppy eyes.
Mom didn't have a plan in mind or probably she wouldn't let me participate in hunting monsters in the first place. And out of turn father was the one to answer.
"When you are intermediate in Water God Style. So, you can react the right way while fighting monsters and the first hunt will be versus normal monsters with someone as a guide."
I clenched my fist and almost jumped like mom in celebration. This means at the very least four years from now I can partake in monster's hunt.
(But that doesn't mean I wouldn't take revenge for what happened this morning).
I smiled a wide smile when I saw Mom's about to explode so I said this to put father in trouble.
"Then you are saying in two years I will join in monster hunting because today you said in two years I will be an intermediate rank in Water God Style."
And gave Paul a smirk saying with it. "Fix this if you can."
(I dare him to tell Mom the truth and I'm pretty sure he can't figure out a good lie in this tight situation).
His face darkened immediately, he knows well what I'm doing right now.
He feels he will receive the same slap he received the day he put me on Caravaggio.
And if He succeeded somehow. I will initiate revenge plan B.
"You little rascal. When did this happen? I don't remember saying like that, while I was beating you down in traini...."
He tried to defend himself, but that never happened. Mom catches his shoulder like an eagle caught a lamb.
(And am I saying things or there's blood coming out of his shoulder?)
(Oops he said the truth too, farewell father I will miss you. Maybe I'm not sure, anyway I'm proud of him even facing a scary monster like Mom when she's about to explode he didn't lie to keep his advice to me to never lie).
But I didn't do all of this to make mom do all the work. Let's give him a reason to live.
While Mom was pulling him away I gave him the most satisfying smile I have and made a goodbye gesture by putting my hand in front of my face then gestured a very cringy goodbye gesture.
Also I muttered in a very low voice. Enough for him to hear but mom not.
"Let's see how you will survive this father. That's my revenge for the morning beating."
(I hope he learns the lesson and not mess with me again because I'm always capable of asking mom for help). Hmph.
Of course I would like to enjoy the spectacular show so I took the small chair and with gravity magic I put it in front of the window to watch.
(I could carry it but that will take time and I want to enjoy the full show).
Unfortunately for me it ended very fast and without father getting a single hit. And right after he smirked at me.
It happened like this.
Paul scratches his neck while explaining the situation in a very clear red flag that he is lying.
Mom tries her best not to wreck his face with her slaps.
He somehow managed to calm her down.
(Even though he was trembling in fear from her to attack him).
Suddenly he changed the subject to make her shocked and started crying.
He hugged her and they both talked very calmly.
After she calms down she clenches her fist in determination.
Then she tells dad something and dad answers with another.
(Man I wish I could hear the conversation).
But they were stopped by the handsome elf-hunter nearby.
Father immediately gestured to mom to stop the conversation. In which she nodded.
(But he forgot his legs still tremble).
They greeted each other then the elf-hunter passed his sleeping daughter to his wife and gestured to her to put her to bed.
"About time to make an appearance." I said to go and open the door and help Lilla.
"Lilla we have guests, please prepare the guest room and the bed." I said in a high voice for her to hear but not high enough to be counted shouting.
And while waiting for Lilla to come I will try my best to be a good host. When Ms Rose approached the door. I greeted her.
"Good morning! Ms Rose, how's your day?" I said with my most innocent smile.
(Man I'm supposed to learn how to create better conversations).
"Good morning! Little Rudi, it's fine, and what about you fine? There's some stains on your left shoulder, and there's a lot of dirt on your clothes." She said while having a concerned smile.
(Oops I completely forgot to take a shower after my father was beating me and I forgot to clear the blood that fell from my ear).
"I'm fine, thanks for asking. And those? Hehe, let's say dad and I went overboard in training today." I said with an awkward smile.
(Whatever happens I will never tell anyone about family squabbles. Not even Lilla if she wasn't part of it).
"Is that so, then be careful and listen to your parents well, they love you a lots."
She said while giving what appears to be a head pat but I know it was something like a weak hit to the head.
Mom who was behind her watching us was happy about our interaction the most.
(My guesses are two things, the first one is how I answered everything with a well-mannered tongue and respect also the fact that when I was asked something, anyone my age would have fallen badly. But I'm not a normal two years-old in the first place).
(The other thing is how I treated Ms Rose the right way with respect because she is our guest and created nice conversation with her, including taking the blame for immature parents who treated their child like they caught a thief).
Mom after finally regaining her composure she greeted Ms Rose.
"Hello there Rose! Let me take little Sylphiette into the guest's room. Lilla...."
Mom greeted her with a smile then she head patted me before trying to take Sylphy into her hands.
"Already prepared madame Zenith, the young master informed me of the guest."
Said Lilla who appeared from nowhere and she cutted mom by carrying Sylphy herself and going straight to the second floor where the guest room is.
After that mom came to my side and asked me to be a good boy until she returns from the meeting and we can talk all we want about the monster's hunt.
And said her farewells but kissed my forehead.
(It started to bother me slightly that she is kissing my forehead a way too much).
My head is not some kind of monument Mom, stop kissing it please.
(Anyway I should take another bath).
But before leaving I realised something.
(What if she kisses my forehead this much to calm herself).
I looked at her eyes and she had eyes of concern. (Voola! I knew it).
I heard about it, when someone feels stressed the best way to heal it is to be close to someone you love.
(But to me talking with someone you trust is the key to solve any stress).
Which after thinking is the same as the former option.
(But what's your husband's role in this? You picked the wrong person madame).
(Ufff. I will give him a hint to take care of her).
Anyway, bath here I come.
After removing all the dirt and stains from mud and many things that I gulped during the beating under the pretext of training that dad gave to me.
I asked Lilla to wash my clothes and warned her that the one in the shoulder is blood stain. So she will know it won't be that easy to get rid off.
After this I decided to check on Sylphy. And she was sleeping with a smile.
(This girl has a very cute face in whatever the situation).
Anyway, since Sylphy is sleeping, let's focus on a more important matter.
(How to calm Mom down).
Me helping with words will hurt her conscience. So I need to search for alternatives.
I'm trying to say goodbye to her in some way to boost her confidence.
Maybe a flower is the answer, hey that a good one let's visit the garden. As I was initiating the plan I remembered something very important.
When dad was scolded for destroying a branch on her favourite tree she told him. "I love my plants on the same level as my children."
(So if I picked a rose or two from her garden it won't help, I will probably be more in danger than make her happy).
So sneakily I escaped the house towards the meadow field I saw when I visited the watchtower.
It was a 30 minutes trip running back and forth.
(Thankfully almost all the villagers in the village council hall).
I picked two flowers.
One red rose for Mom.
And one white tulip for Dad.
I don't know much about the plant's language but if my memory serves me right, of what Emma was saying.
Then the red rose means pure love. And the white tulip means honest love?
(What I want him to understand is let's forget what happened and be a normal family again).
When I returned I found a very worried Lilla who was running or trying to. She was searching everywhere.
(Oops! I forgot I hadn't told her I would go outside).
(If I gave her the flower that was meant for dad, would she forgive me?)
I will say sorry anyway.
"Lilla are you searching for something?" I said when I reached the garden gate. I played an idiot with a cute smile.
"Where were you, young master? You disappeared suddenly."
Said Lilla who sighed a sigh of relief when I appeared again.
"I was preparing a gift for Mommy and daddy here. (I gave her the two flowers).
The red one for Mommy and the white one for daddy." I gave her the best smile I could master.
"They are beautiful. But where were you?" She had a smile on her face first. But suddenly her face turned serious and asked the same question again.
(Why are you such a persistent woman?)
"Well there's a meadow full of beautiful flowers there. (I said pointing in the direction). Next time I will bring one to you too Ms Lilla."
When I said a meadow her face turned pale and when I pointed in the direction she almost lost her blood stream.
(She didn't even hear the last joke, she wasn't hearing me at all).
"Listen well young master. (I'm listening). The meadow or whatever you are naming it, (hey it's not my problem this world is not advanced to name every land the right way). Is the hill that we border the forest with and you went to the forest. (Heheh, now if I remember right dad said once this is the most dangerous watchtower and that's why he only trusts Laws on it). Where we are afraid of possible stampedes. (Oh right dad didn't do the monthly hunt last month and he said. "If it's more dangerous both on the village and the hunters to go there now let's wait until the hunting problem is solved.") Alone, unarmed and with a carefree attitude to pick a flower. What if you meet a monster there?"
Her expression was grim and serious the whole conversation, the opposite of her stoic fake smile she always has.
(Wait a second, am I getting scolded here? Well she is right about scolding me. But that's way out of character Lilla).
"Sorry Ms Lilla, I was careless. But Mommy felt sad and I thought a flower would help." I said with fake puppy eyes to gain her sympathy.
She smiled at me and not one of her forced smiles, the smile was a genuine one. Before saying.
"Then you should give it to her with a smile. But never go there again. Alone... or with friends." She was smiling and she was advising me and she was going to end the conversation like this.
(Until she remembered I'm the son of Paul Greyrat and he has quite the reputation of being stupid).
"Sure Ms Lilla. Thanks." (Phew, dodged two bullets there).
"Now if you excuse me. I have work to do." And she returned to cleaning the house with a beautiful smile.
(And I have a nice question: how come she is still cleaning the house? If there isn't a single hint of dust?)
"Now let's prepare a little gift." I muttered to myself more than to anyone and I summoned two 『Earth Bullet.』 And I started reshaping them into a heart after 15 minutes of trying. I finally got it right and put them both with a note from me.
The note has one message: return safe and I'm waiting for a hug. From Rudeus Greyrat.
And I put them on the Provisions in dads bag. I hid it on his handkerchief. As for mom I hid it in the magic manual.
(She will take it with her. When I asked why? Mom surprised me by saying she is beginner level on fire and water only).
(And as for the rest of beginner and intermediate spells she can shoot them. But she doesn't know the chants).
(And as for advanced level she never tried any except for earth fortress and she couldn't keep it for more than 5 minutes).
(And that surprised me a lot. Does this mean I'm stronger than mom?)
After remembering the state of my ear this morning. I shut myself up and convinced myself.
(Mom is the strongest person in the entire village).
After three minutes of waiting at the doorstep I found mom and dad coming home.
So I stood up and prepared my best smile and presented the two flowers to the front in the same pose I saw Richard proposed to Eda with.
Until I realized they were very much worried that they didn't see me.
(I almost cried when they both ignored me).
After 15 minutes of them wearing their hunting gear.
I stopped at the door stop with a pout. But I turned it into a smile when I saw them. And said,
"Mommy, Daddy I love you!" I said presenting the flowers for both.
When both didn't answer me and mom almost looked at the garden that made me say this.
"Mom, I swear by the name of Millis, these flowers aren't from your garden."
(Oops I almost swore by the name of Jesus, this was going to create an awkward situation).
Dad picked his flower while smiling awkwardly. He didn't even say thanks.
(Did he want us to continue the pranks we were doing to each other? Or is this the effect of my swear?)
And as for Mom she didn't even take the flower. She ran towards me with unbelievable speed and hugged me very tightly that I heard many cracks from my ribs.
(How many did she break this time 5 or 6 whatever. I'm almost getting used to it).
"Sorry Rudi, mama will fix this. 「Mother of merciful god heal this one's wounds and let the satisfying nourishment regain the lost vigor regaining the lost strength. 」『X-Healing.』 "
Her hand lit brightly while she was healing me and the pain was gone in a second.
"Thanks Mommy, the pain now is gone." I said with a smile but for some reason she had an awkward smile unlike the usual when I praised her.
(She really is thinking hard about something, I won't just give a hint to dad I will tell him about it. But maybe in the form of a whisper).
I looked at dad with a smile. He answered my smile by looking cool.
"Don't slack on your sword training until Rudi. Okay!" He told me with a smile.
I smirked at him while saying this.
"Don't worry dad. You will get beaten up by your son in no time, just you wait." Mom's smile disappeared and turned into a dangerous stern face.
(I swear I was a stoic man in my past life. This man is a bad influence. Wait a minute! There's a more important matter in hand...).
"Rudi! What about being a little more respectable with your father?" Mom said with a very fake scary smile.
(Time to pull up the big weapons).
"Mommy I meant I will beat him in spar in swordsmanship in an honorable duel. And I respect my father, how can't I respect him." I answered with a smile towards mom that made her stop.
(She turned silent because she can't figure out what is the right answer for what I said. The plan was simple: put very hard words that take time to comprehend and at the same time praise father and try to appear respectful).
She just sighed and muttered something.
"All I know it won't be long and I will have another Paul in the house." My smile disappeared immediately.
(What the hell? What does she mean with those words? Am I going to be a perverted womaniser? Or idiot braggart? Or is it worth both of them?)
My mind stopped and she won the verbal fight with a K.O. But it's not the time to get sentimental.
Before they passed through the door I pulled dad's cape and gestured to him to come down for me.
(You have a big head and try to use it for once. I'm a toddler right now. Try to treat me as one, carry me immediately or at least go down to my height. Ufff).
And when he finally knelt down to my level. I pulled him to a tight hug and pulled his ear to whisper.
"Look after mom, she thinks about many things now and she won't be fully alert." I warned him finally and tried not to appear what I'm doing in front of mom. I covered it by kissing his cheek.
(I hope he understands and does the right thing).
After he looked at mom he realised she lost her joyful aura she always has. And she now only has a face of concern.
He answered me by ruffling my hair and whispered this back.
"Focus on your girls Rudi, and leave my girl to me. I will take care of her." He finished it with a teasing wink. I couldn't help but grimace at the thought.
(Two words. Perverted idiot. I'm telling I'm concerned about my mom, so he told me that he will take care of the problem this way. He has 100 better answers and he chooses those words. And if that wasn't bad enough for the 1000th time he or mom or both are always implying something between me and Sylphy or Anna or even both).
(When will they understand I'm seeing the girls as little sisters for two reasons I'm not a pedophilia the second I'm supposed to be loyal to Emma? How will that work again? Even my soul changed because this man is b..)
"Hey Rudi! The village in your care. Okay! So, protect it well." I smiled at this.
(For once something I can agree on).
I muttered this for myself only.
"Anyone dares to hurt the people I love. I will send them to their creator myself." Then smiled.
For some reason Lilla didn't have her stoic face she always has when I saw her again in the kitchen.
She is back to being afraid of me. (Not again. Haaaa. What did I even do this time?)
"Heya there, Rudi!" A sound said suddenly from behind my back made me jump and to see what's behind me.
Just to see Anna was greeting me and behind her Ms Ena who was huff and puffing also she appears to be worn-out.
(Poor Lilla I freaked her out, in every possible chance in the same way, for an entire year).
"Hi! Anna, how are you doing? And can you please not do that again?" I greeted her after calming down.
"I'm fine. But what did I do?" She asked while raising an eyebrow.
(And I swear I saw a question mark raised over her head).
"Not sneaking upon someone, then talking right behind their back. Someone I care about told me, it was scary and after trying it first hand I'm very sorry for him." I explained with the calm voice I can master.
(And I tried my best to avoid either choosing any hard word or saying that I used to freak Lilla out).
"Oh! Sorry Rudi." Said Anna with smile
"Hu ha, good morning little Rudi!" Mrs Smith greeted me with smile making wait a second gesture
"Let me help you Lady Ena." Said Lilla to take Ms Ena's baggage.
"Thanks! And little Rudi, cup of water. Please." She handed her sack to Ms Lilla and asked me for a cup of water.
(Normally she wouldn't ask me, because that's Lilla's job. But she wants to scold Anna for running away from here. So I complied).
After delaying myself for 2 minutes in the kitchen. I brought water to Ms Ena.
And I found Anna frowning heavily and her eyes aimed to the ground.
"Thanks little Rudi! Hey little Rudi! Where is little Sylphiette? Is she still asleep? If so, please wake her up."
Said Mrs Smith while gesturing to me with her eyes to help her regain her spirits.
(What the— with this village? Everyone is dropping responsibilities to me? Who is the adult here people? After signing internally, I nodded)
"Hey Anna! Let's wake Sylphy up with me." I said after pulling her arm and started tugging her to the second floor. But when I was climbing the stairs that I could see Ms Ena's face I gave her a scowl.
"Slow down Rudi! I'll fall." Said Anna who was about to fall.
(I decided to teach Anna a lesson since I'm the only adult in the village, so she doesn't leave herself target to scolding).
"But you were running in before and you were fine." I said after slowing down.
"I can't run on the stairs, that's dangerous." She said with a frown. (And that's the plan).
"But in the village there isn't flat terrain and mom left the village. So we have no healers in the village." Her eyes widened at what I'm implying.
"And if you fall in here I can catch you. But was there someone near you? When you were running in the village?" She didn't answer so I presumed I was pressuring her.
She frowned very badly; she almost had an inverted smile.
"Okay Rudi, I get it I won't run and leave mom alone again." When she said that I smiled and opened the door at Sylphy.
(I already knocked down at the door when scolding Anna).
We went to find Sylphy still sleeping heavily. She didn't wake-up even with nudging.
(Wait don't tell me that's because of me? When I teached her magic yesterday).
"Mommy I want to sleep." Said the cute elf-girl while pushing our hands.
That for some reason made Anna snap and she caught her hand and pulled her to wake-up.
"Sylphiette wake-up! Don't leave me alone." She said while nudging her heavily.
(Is she that mad at me? Well I did scold her when she was already scolded. I really rubbed the wound with salt).
"Let me sleep, Mommy." Said Sylphy while fidgeting under the blanket.
I summoned some 『Waterballs』at the size of water drop and put them on the palm of my hand and washed Sylphy face with them. While saying.
"Wake-up Sylphy!" She sat down immediately from sleeping after washing her face.
(I saved her life from angry Anna who got scolded by her mother than a friend younger than her).
"Huh?! Um, Rudi, Anna, why are you here?" She screamed it in very high pitched voice.
(Which was cute in her own way).
Anna chuckled silently on the scene.
"What do you mean? 'Why are you here?' You are in my house you slept here." I said with smile.
When I finished her cheeks blushed and turned light red with hint of pink.
(She was embarrassed because of her voice and the question she asked).
With silent nod. Anna and I agreed on teasing her.
"Don't you remember anything Sylphy you was sleeping here all night." She shocked and put her hands in mouth.
(Also her dancing ears are cuuute).
"And you were snoring loudly all night Sylphiette. We hardly slept because of it." When Anna said that Sylphy blushed even harder.
(Her face turned pure red).
"Come on Anna it wasn't that bad, but what was funny is how she was sucking her thumb while sleeping." When I said this she transformed into .
(Her green-hair with her turning into beetroot red from ear to ear made her look like tomato no you can really mistake her for a tomato).
"We seen that when we camt to solve your snoring problem you were fidgeting under the blanket and saying. 'Mommy leave me play please.' "
When Anna said that Sylphy covered her face with the blanket and squeezed it and I think I heard some sobs.
We looked to each other and felt bad.
(We went overboard here and forgot that she is toddler and she will cry).
"Sorry Sylphy, we were teasing you didn't even sleep her in the first place. You were sleeping at your house and your parents dropped you here to stay with us." The sobs stopped but she didn't even look at us.
So I continued.
"Listen Sylphy I know we went overboard and we were mean to you but we want to joke with you a bit and we didn't want to hurt you. We were mean to you and made you fell sad. And I fell bad because I started all of that and Anna just followed me. So once again we really are so..."
(I was going to say. "We really are sorry").
But a pillow hit my head adn made fell to the ground and when I tried to stand and say. "What's the big idea?"
I found Anna running full speed and Sylphy running behind her trying to catch her.
I just smiled and removed the cushion from above me and followed them while saying.
"Let's join them before the fun ends."
That's when a bad idea surfaced in my head.
("What if they both don't want me to play with them anymore? Especially after being mean to both of them.")
When I started to slow down and I started to feel this dark idea will just make feel sad with no apparent reason.
I slapped my cheeks to make focus on something else and after inhaling and exhaling. I muttered this.
"No way to know that without seeing them and figure out are they sad or not."
After following them I find them somehow managed to reach the front garden.
"Hey there Sylphy, Anna! What game will we play?" I played innocent and smiled at them and tried to talk like nothing happened.
When I reached I found both of them pouting and when I talked both looked to each other then nodded.
"No Rudi, you are punished and we won't let you play with us until.. until we feel like it." Said Anna with stern face and Sylphy who was nodding with every word and nodded heavily at last part.
"Well that was expected, anyway I'm really sorry Sylphy, Anna I went overboard and hurt you both by being mean, I agree with if you want to punish me and if you ever found it in your heart to change your mind and let me play with you. I will be in the back garden." And I started to do tactical retreat.
(I wasn't really a kid to be sad not being able to play I just felt little depressed that I was left out but I deserved this).
Somehow this made them more sadder, Anna frowned heavily and looked to the ground and Sylphy on the other hand had teary eyes and like the dam will broke at any moment.
(What the hell is happening?)
Before she cried she asked me one question.
"Does.. this.. mean.. you don't... want.. to play.. with... m... us?" I raised an eyebrow.
(What the hell is happening weren't the two girl punishing me right now, then why are they sad that I expected the punishment?)
"No Sylphy, of course I want to play with you. But you are right I hurt you both by being mean and I deserve a punishment." I replied with small awkward smile.
When I said that the dam broke and she started crying heavily.
"Uwaaa, uwaa." (Her voice is too loud).
The problem is before she cried she ran and jumped over me made me can't stand up.
And when I looked at Anna for help I found her sad as well with big frown in her face and huffed when our eyes meet.
(What's happening here by the name of Jesus or Millis since I supposed to be believer of that now).
After 2 minutes of Sylphy crying above me and I'm trying my best to calm her down.
Finally Ms Ena and Ms Lilla responded and after carrying her and calming her down.
Here is what happened:
(The girls are mad at me yes but they weren't planning to punish me this way what they wanted is when they said: "Well that was expected, anyway I'm really sorry Sylphy, Anna I went overboard and hurt you both by being mean, I agree with if you want to punish me and if you ever found it in your heart to change your mind and let me play with you. I will be in the back garden." I was supposed to cry and say sorry and beg for forgiveness and then they will let me play with them).
But what happened is I acknowledged my mistake and accepted the punishment which made the girls think. "Maybe he doesn't care if we doesn't play with him." And that make them sad.
And when Sylphy asked me the question before crying she was expecting me to say something to fix it but they felt I'm saying not playing with them is nothing big so that made them feel even sadder.
And Sylphy thought I will end the friendship between us because of that that's why she cried this hard.
Ms Ena chuckled silently, and had evil smile belongs to mom when she implies something the whole conversation and every time we our eyes meet she winks to me.
(Man women is strange creatures do what they want and they will be sad, do what you want and they will be mad, do what they like and they will be angry, do what you like and they will more angrier. Uffff).
Small problem maybe or maybe not I thinked out loud because I received 4 intense stares and almost been put with the blacklist after saying. "Sorry."
The conclusion we reached after Ms Ena had interfered and asked us about what happened and her way to solve the problem.
First thing I will apologise again.
(Not bad, because I was little cold while apologising the first time).
Second thing I will stop treating Anna like she is my younger sister and don't scold her again. I should leave the adult things for adults.
(On this I agreed immediately, I wanted the people treat me my age for once and thanks to Anna I will get the chance for that).
Third thing I will stop teasing Sylphy because I went overboard and what I did was called bullying not joking with her.
(That was the only thing I refused to do).
(I refused to accept because. "She is cute when she is teased." When I said that I provoked 4 different reactions).
Ms Ena putted both her hands over her mouth and and shooked her head at me like she is chiding me.
Anna widened her eyes then frowned slightly before looking at the ground.
Sylphy turned tomato immediately and her ears were moving up and down she was fidgeting and twitching while stroking her hands together.
Ms Lilla gave me deadpan look before muttering. "Like father, like son. You are womaniser through and through."
My brows twitched and I felt they understood the wrong thing.
(And what the hell Lilla why everyone suspects I will be womaniser. What did Paul do for me to get that reputation).
"Let's stop it right here, because I think everyone got the wrong idea over here." When I said this all of them raised a brow.
"First thing for the 1000th time I'm still a toddler all of you stop teasing me and second thing what I meant Sylphy really looks cute when her face turns red from embarrassment." When I said that all of them made a different set of reactions— no that's the same reactions.
Sylphy blushing, Anna feeling dejected for some reason, Lilla gave me a look like I'm some kind of pervert and finally Ms Ena is winking at me.
"Haaa. This people is hopeless." For the first time I said it loud and all of them looked at me like I'm the stranger person then shrugged before they started laughing.
(As usual Lilla stiff as ever but there was hint of a smile in her face).
My pout was synced with my brows and all was looking towards the ground.
When I found they will continue for a while I sat down cross legged.
Ms Ena was the first to stop and said this.
"Well anyway kids we will be back inside if you need us just call. (She walked toward me and flicked my forehead). And you don't make the girls sad again."
She said with smile and winked at me before patting Sylphy's head and pinching her daughter's cheek. Finally walking towards the house.
(That left the two girls blushing for some reason).
I muttered. "I wasn't planning to." In which she smiled to my face after.
And for some reason both of the girl were blushing even harder.
When I realised they will stay like this if no one broke the tension I decided to talk.
"What will we play then?" I said with a forced smile.
"I know I know let's show Anna the thing you show me yesterday." Said Sylphy while she was still bright red and her ears going up and down.
(You know Sylphy people usually was calling me oblivious man when it comes to sexual hints and when someone have crush on the other. But right know I'm not mad at you because I told you keep magic secret between us. But because the way you are talking will make me feel I showed you something you wasn't supposed to see).
With my eye slightly twitching. I answered.
"Didn't you promise me Sylphy you wouldn't tell anyone?" I asked barely hiding my annoyance.
"What are you two talking about?" Anna asked with some question marks formed above her head but I ignored her and formed a 『Waterball 』 in my hand.
"This Anna. That was a secret I told Sylphy to keep until I take permission from our parents to teach you two." My annoyance was on another level and Sylphy started to form ball and she is about to sob again.
"Oh that's cool. Why did you do that?" Anna on the other hand, she didn't seem to realise the state me and Sylphy in.
"Haaaah well don't cry Sylphy I'm not mad at you, I'm just sad you didn't listen to me. You too Anna, please don't tell anyone about this." I sighed first before calming myself down.
(In the first place I'm the blame to trust a toddler for a secret).
"But mom said when someone tell you that run away from him and tell her or dad immediately." (Oh great that was missing, Anna will make the whole village think I'm a pervert).
"She is right if anyone tell you that run from him as fast as you could toward someone you trust Anna. But the reason I'm telling you not tell anyone is different from the reason your mother is warning you for." I told her with pocker face or emotionless face.
(One can describe my face. 'Bored')
(Man the day from the start is going out of it's way to torment me).
"...Rudi are you still.. mad at me .sniff.."
Somehow Sylphy is crying again and I didn't do anything wrong this time.
"I wasn't mad at the first place Sylphy. Don't worry, but please wait. Until I tell our parents don't tell anyone else, you will only get us all punished if you do."
"Kay."
"Now Anna can I trust you to keep the secret?" I said while looking at her seriously
"Yes." She said with determination.
"Know Sylphy do you remember yesterday chant?" I said turning the conversation to her.
"Yes Rudi here." I without thinking ran toward her and aimed her hand towards the sky.
"「Let the great protection of water be on who seekest I call refreshing bubble stream right here and now.」 『Waterball. 』"
And I don't know why I did that or hoe that happened but the spell. Fly from her hand first try and it reached the sky. Before started falling.
(Somehow I managed to avoid a bullet here).
"And because of that I decided to teach you healing magic only to avoid killing someone by mistake." I said after the water ball hit the ground and made high splash sound.
Anna eyes were widened and full of amusement Sylphy in the main while were shocked by how her 『Waterball.』 Flew and after that she blushed for some reason.
"Is that healing magic as the one your mother Ms Zenith teaches us?" Anna asked curios.
"No and yes. The healing magic mom use is in higher level and I don't know the chant." (Lie but I can't teach them that without permission, because that's Mom's bread winner).
"I will teach you lower level." I explained.
They both nodded.
"Now both of you this spell is lowest mana usage in all the spells I know but if any if you fell tired or can't keep up stop immediately." Also both of them nodded.
"Now say after me Anna will go last try to understand what happens." ( I hope it all works fine).
I poked my finger to make a small hole in it.
"「Oh god of nutrition, heal this one is wounds regain the lost strength.」 『Heal.』"
I changed the spell to 『Healing.』 Midway through to make it heal my finger.
"Wow that's cool." Said Sylphy. "That's amazing." Said Anna.
"Your turn now cute tomato." When I said that she transformed into a real tomato.
(Which was cute, no not just cute it was wholesome).
"Ahem. Sylphy please focus." She stopped blushing slight but nodded.
"Uffff. 「Oh god of.. nutrition, heal this one is... wounds.. regain the lost.. strength.」 『Heal.』"
And a dim light appeared for a second before disappeared again.
"Again Sylphy"
"Yes Rudi. 「Oh god of nutrition, heal this one is wounds regain the lost strength. 『Heal.』"
I smiled happily at her. She did it a lot better this time.
"Nice job here little Sylphy." I said and unintentionally patted and ruffled her hair like a parent to his child.
(Shit this is bad very bad, I treated her like a daughter because of her cuteness and the way her ears go up and down and the redness of her blush from ear to the ear).
"Jeez. Rudi! Didn't you promise me you will stop to tease me." She said while pouting heavily.
"Sorry Sylphy my bad I will not do it again." To prove my point I removed my hand from her head.
"Now sorry for delay but Anna you are up."
"Yes sir.「Oh god of nutrition, heal this one is wounds regain the lost strength.」 『Heal.』"
"Wow Anna that's amazing you pulled it first try." Even though I praised her she wasn't focused like, but she looked like someone who suffers low-blood pressure problems and she started to be all giddy.
(I understood what happened she didn't lose all her mana but a very big chunk been removed in a one go thats why she looked like someone pulled all-nighter drunking).
I shot at her healing magic and detoxification magic from cautious side but no avail so I went for the next choice.
"Anna you gonna need to rake a nap to be fine go ask Ms Lilla or Ms Ena where should you sleep. But I think it will be the bedroom in the first floor."
I said worried. And very fast in the first part and in the later part I offered to send her myself but she refused.
"..Okay!" She said tiredly and with no hint of energy.
"Good night Anna." I muttered but got no response which was acceptable.
For the second time in a row I messed up.
"Now Sylphy do you feel daisy or tired anything like that. If yes go to sleep you too."
"No Rudi, I'm fine see." She jumped many times to prove her point
(Does this mean mana increases? One way to find out.)
"Sylphie please shoot the water spell one last time." I said with awkward smile.
(I probably will hurt my friend to satisfy my curiosity).
"Okay Rudi. 「Let the great protection of water be on who seekest I call refreshing bubble stream right here and now. 」『Waterball. 』"
This time I made her sit and point her and on the ground. It made one quick pond of water which I evaporated immediately with. 『Fireball. 』
When I looked at Sylphy she still had energy in her.
"Hey Sylphy! Are you okay? You don't feel tired or anything?" I asked worried and felling bad for using my friend as lab rat.
"I'm fine thanks you Rudi." She said with beautiful smile.
(This girl has the cutest smile ever).
"Okay Sylphy le—" I was going to say. (Lets go inside and check on Anna). But I found Sylphy looking behind me and screaming. "Ahhhhhh!"
What happened is many thugs or the bandits dad was worried about they were attacking the village.
And the reason Sylphy is screaming is they cut off the hand of the Reeve Ferland.
"Sylphy go inside now." I barked a shout at her. (Two toddlers will make perfect hostages let's get away from their line of sight).
That's when Sylphy fainted.
I looked behind to see why to find the Reeve Ferland headless.
Without thinking I pulled the blunt sword with telekinesis and put it in a hand with the other hand I used telekinesis to to get Sylphy inside the house.
I looked to the one who decapitated Mr Ferland and I throw the sword with maximum power at him and with telekinesis. I gave it extra push.
The sword hit him in the crotch and passed through him.
I heard a shout of someone calling me. "Bastard." But I couldn't care less.
"Today is your last day on your life tomorrow you will sleep in hell." I said with dead fish eyes.