Even as he focused on Roxy, part of Allen's attention remained on the [Dragon-Saint Aura Seed] nestled in his abdomen.
Within his "sight," curls of smoke slowly dissipated from the folds of the core's surface, revealing a tiny, newly-engraved rune.
It was shaped like a small tree, glowing faintly with a soft blue light.
A sudden instinct surfaced—if he so much as thought about activating it, Intermediate Healing would trigger immediately.
[Healing] Magic Rune… usable only on myself, not external targets. Which means… it's basically a built-in healing buff? A pseudo-immortality mod?
Does this mean the physical limitations of North God Style's practical school are now negated?
Wait—casting it consumes mana. And I've got no idea how long my current mana reserves can sustain Intermediate Healing… Damn, I overlooked that. Honestly, low-cost Beginner Healing would be more practical right now. Plus, my mana regeneration rate is ridiculously slow. That cooldown's gonna be a nightmare.
I wonder if the Dragon-Saint Aura's mana efficiency buff stacks with the Healing Rune. Aura is just converted mana, so theoretically, yes… but if that's true, wouldn't it also deplete the aura itself? I don't have much of that to begin with.
Guess I'll have to test it…
Before he could continue that line of thought, a pair of small hands waved in front of his face. Allen snapped out of it.
Right. Not the time for system tinkering.
He turned his attention back to Roxy.
Last night, as he'd trudged along the road, Allen had spent the whole time rehearsing what to say when he finally met Rudeus and Roxy. It was no surprise, then, that they showed up in his dreams—though in anime form, with none of the realism he faced now.
Because now, the real Roxy was right in front of him.
The reality was… even more vivid.
Allen's eyes settled on her face.
Gradually, the cool, blue-haired loli took form in his vision.
Unlike the soft, middle-school moe style of the anime, the real Roxy's features weren't "unfinished." They were sharp, elegant—almost too perfect for a face that looked so young.
Her lips were a little thin but looked soft. Her nose was small and fine, with a shadowy dip that caught the firelight, and her eyelids, half-lowered and colored like her hair, gave her an aloof air.
As the wind stirred the fire, the light flickered in her pupils like ripples across a deep blue lake.
In those ripples were a blend of unease and concern.
"Y-You're not saying anything… Are you hurt somewhere? Does your body feel uncomfortable?"
Allen blinked, then shook his head, still dazed.
Roxy in 3D is even more stunning than her 2D self.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Uncomfortable?
Uncomfortable ✗
Too comfortable ✓
Roxy, noticing Allen staring, instinctively touched her face.
"You don't look injured… so why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my face?"
Allen, still mentally comparing 2D and 3D Roxy, answered without thinking.
"No. Your face is fine. More than fine. Honestly, it's even more beautiful than the version I dreamed of last night. You're… really pretty. In every way."
The moment he finished speaking—
The fire popped.
The woods fell utterly silent.
Allen waited for her reply. Nothing.
He blinked. Then realized what, exactly, he'd just said.
He looked into her stunned, lake-blue eyes—wide, unblinking.
Her hand, still half-raised to her cheek, froze in place. Those half-lidded, indifferent eyes slowly widened under his gaze, a storm of emotion swirling beneath the surface.
They locked eyes. The silence hung thick between them.
Snap.
A burning branch cracked.
The wind stirred the nonexistent dust.
[6.]
Bold. Underlined. In red.
[Maintain momentum. Keep it up. Win Rudeus's favor.]
[Rudeus Countdown: 91:54:02]
Allen short-circuited.
More precisely, the moment he realized he'd just hit on a stranger, his brain stalled—and the system popping up with a "good job!" alert only made it worse.
That counted as flirting?
…Yeah, actually, it did.
This was Mushoku Tensei. No top-tier smooth-talkers here. The culture was medieval, with a kind of charming clumsiness.
Romantic banter between men and women was more blunt than cheesy—and surprisingly effective.
Roxy stared at Allen for a long moment before blinking, then puffed one cheek and glanced to the side—
Right into the angry, glassy eyes of the Terminate Boar's severed head, glaring in silence, as if deeply disappointed in him.
She exhaled, visibly bracing herself, and forced her gaze back to Allen.
Who was now pulling out strands of his own hair, carefully inspecting them for signs of blond.
His slightly sulky expression—like a child who'd just messed up and was now regretting it—somehow matched his supposed age. Despite his height, he looked young. Probably was.
Didn't get the reaction he wanted, so now he's pouting?
Up close, he really does still look like a kid. Just tall. Not because I'm short. T-T…
But his swordsmanship… it was precise, practiced—genius-level.
Another prodigy? First Rudeus, now him. Both of them sharp-tongued and uncomfortably good at charming girls…
Wait, how does he know what I look like in dreams?
Maybe he thinks I'm the same age as him, and he's just trying to flatter me?
Roxy removed her mage hat, shifting into "instructor mode."
"You know, flattery's not the way to go. Don't let my height fool you—I'm old enough to be your mother, actually. Sweet-talking little girls like that won't work on me."
Allen glanced down at his still-brown hair, then up at the single hair sticking up from Roxy's head, trembling slightly.
"Flattery? Hmm… alright then, Mom."
Roxy gaped at him, stunned.
Allen slapped a hand over his mouth instantly—too late. Her expression twisted into barely contained rage, the air around her growing cold.
"I'm short because I'm a demon."
She tugged on a strand of her hair, holding it up to the firelight. At its tips, faint traces of green shimmered beneath the orange glow. She leaned closer, eyes narrowing as she stared Allen down.
"See this? Green-haired demon. I'm from the infamous Superd race. If you keep mocking me with that whole 'mom' thing and pretending I'm a child—"
Her voice dropped into a mock-growl.
"—I'll get mad. And then I'll eat you."
Allen blinked, face inches from hers.
Her expression was serious. Her lashes trembled slightly in the firelight.
"Then…"
"…Go ahead. Eat me. Right now."
Roxy froze.
Before she could react, Allen flicked his fingers—coating them in aura—and snapped them right in front of her face.
A gust of air scattered her bangs. Her deep blue hair rippled in the wind, revealing a smooth, pale forehead beneath.
Still dazed, she watched Allen raise a finger and lightly tap the space just above her brow.
"There's no red eye."
"Gods don't lie."
"Demon. Blue hair. Petite. You're from the Migurd tribe, not the Superd."