142 Mushoku Tensei

In a blink of an eye a year has passed.
The season changed, and winter returns.

I am 18 already.
On the school side I safely advanced a grade and will be a 4th year soon.
Research has been going well, nothing major to report.

Even though I successfully advanced, Elinalise was forced to repeat a grade.
Because she left for half a year even though she's a regular student.
Even though she doesn't really mind, but because it was for my family troubles, I feel a little responsible.

By the way, Sylphy has poor attendance too, but her grades are the best in school.
And since she's also Princee Ariel's personal guard, she successfully advanced a grade as well.

Of course, everything's fine on the family side as well.
Luci is growing well.
The girl weans really early and is now wolfing down baby food.

And a few days ago, out of no where.
She call me "Ru- Di-" for the first time.
Not "papa," not "daddy," not "Mr. Bubbles," <ref>Bioshock reference</ref> but Rudi.
Well, no one call me papa at home, so it can't be helped.
Yet she calls Sylphy "Ma- Ma-," but that's because of Sylphy's parenting skills.
Maybe I should change my first name to "papa."
No, in the end the girl is learning to talk.
I shouldn't be impatient.
When she grows a bigger she'll definitely call me father.
Ah, say, why is the girl already talking after barely a year?
Is my daughter a genius?
No, even I know this is normal.
Sooner or later kids start to talk.
Sylphy and Lilia have been diligently teaching her to talk, so this is the fruit of their labor.
But still, my girl is talking already, I can't help but think "amazing!"
But, at this rate, soon she'll start saying stuff like "I don't want my panties washed with papa's."
I can't wait!

With Luci grown, Sylphy has stopped lactating as well.
That sweet, delicate flavor that tastes of excitement, is gone.
A pity, but it can't be helped.
At the same time, her enlarged bosom have returned to their normal size.
Small isn't bad either, but I feel a tinge of loneliness that the bonus time is over.

Also, since we no longer need a wet nurse, our contract with Suzanne ended.
This too is fate.  If she ever is in need, I will try to lend a hand.
Like if her children are to attend school, then I'll help where I can.
But by then, I might have graduated already.  I might have to ask Norm instead.

Norm and Aisha are both doing well.
They both exclaim in one voice over how cute Luci is.
From their perspective, she definitely feels like a little sister.

I also overheard them having a strategy session behind the ladder, "don't fight in front of Luci."
Besides that, they also have various other plans.
Mostly about how to show off as cool big sisters, something like that.

Recently, things have rarely gone ugly between them.
People naturally becomes more respectable once they have someone looking up to them.
If because of Luci, they're willing to make up, that'd be wonderful.

Roxy's teaching career is going well.
For some reason regular students are a little scare of her.
She doesn't seem to have any bad students in class, and for now enjoying a happy teaching life.

Zenith remains the usual.
Sometimes eating with Norm, sometimes weeding with Aisha.
Sometimes holding Luci's fingers and smile.
Also, after Aisha's and Norm's birthday party, Zenith starts to smile quite often.
A small, delicate smile, barely twitching her muscle.
But anyone can tell that it's a smile.
She still can't talk, and otherwise almost expressionless.
But indeed she's recovering well.
That I believe.

---

Today is the Graduation Ceremony.

Even though the Entrance Ceremony was outdoors, the Graduation Ceremony is indoors.
Until today I have yet to enter such a large lecture hall before.
In it a large stage is installed, and one by one each graduate receive their graduation certificate.
Around 500 in total at most.
Even though the student body exceeds 10,000, graduates only number in 500.
I'm afraid this 7th year class was almost 2000 to begin with.
As they advance each year, one by one students quit, until only these remain.
Easy to enroll, hard to graduate.
Advanced Rank Magic and Melded Magic are very difficult, so many people failed to advance due to low magic power.
And for others, even those with talent, think just learning Elementary Magic is good enough.
And there're probably plenty of others quitting for various reasons.
But since I'm a Special Student, the school has been taking good care of me.

Teachers line up beside the graduates.
Around a thousand in all.
Feels like there're more here than the graduates.
Realistically, there're two, three hundred teachers at most.
But that's already plenty.
Makes sense that the faculty rooms to take an entire building.

Among them, that particularly small figure is Roxy.
Even from afar she seems to glow, and I spot her immediately.

By the way.
Regular students have today off.

Entrance and exit ceremonies are both voluntary.
Not just that, attendance needs special permissions.
As if the ceremony itself is a special privilege.

I stand besides the Student Council.

The Student Council is in full attendance.
But I only know 4 among them: Luke, Ariel and her two attendants.
Also Sylphy too.
At work Sylphy looks so forbidding as always.
Not long ago Sylphy was often mistaken for a boy.
But now her hair has reached shoulder length, and maybe because she has become a mother, her feminity has really begin to show.
Like a career woman.
Cute and cool.
Makes me want to loudly declare to the world, that she's my wife!

But there's a surprise too.
Norm is sitting at the back with the Student Council.
I never heard about this.

Don't tell me she joined the Student Council?
Not official this year, but officially in the next term?
If she plans to announce it at the Entrance Ceremony, as brother I'll be very happy.

"Graduate representative!  Rinia Dedorudia!  And Pursena Adorudia!  It's an honor to bestow you two these graduation certificates and Magic Guild D Rank confirmation."

Rinia and Pursena were selected as graduate representatives.
Even though they gone astray at times, but they end up with excellent grades in the end.
Besides, they're Beast Race princesses of Dedorudia Village.
Status-wise there's no complaints.

It's only expected.
When selecting graduate representatives, high social status is an obvious criteria.
If between commoner and nobility, the choice is obviously nobility.
This way there's less trouble, and it won't hurt the noble's feelings.
Of course if a commoner's grades are better by a wide margin, then that's another story.
Roxy was outstanding too, but I don't think she was selected as representative.

Officially, the Magic University takes pride in welcoming all kinds of students.
But as a human enterprise, informal rules still exist.

"Rinia Dedorudia.  It's an honor."
"Pursena Adorudia.  It's an honor."
"May you venture on the path of magic."

Rinia and Pursena stand up looking majestic.
They step up the the stage and receive their graduation certificates with class.

During mating season, males pop up all over to declare their love, but all the suiters were

During mating season, suitors pop up everywhere to confess their love, but they're all beaten senselessly.
Standing atop countless corpses, murmuring "We are too strong ~nya" "merely empty words ~nano," that awe-inspiring sight still floats vividly inside my head.
The image of a king.
I see shadows of king of beasts behind their silhouettes. <ref>Unsure: 　俺は二人の背後に百獣の王を見たものだ。 </ref>

That night they spend their time in the tavern saying, "We don't need no man ~nya!" "That's right, man can go fuck ~nano!" and drowning themselves in alcohol.

---

After the Graduation Ceremony wraps up, I drop by Nanahoshi's research lab.

"Cough, cough"

Nanahoshi is coughing and wrapped up like a ladybug.

"Another a cold?"
"Cough... looks like it."

Nanahoshi's health has been pretty bad this past year.
Always with a dry cough or a fever.
Every time I will cure her with Detoxification Magic.
And soon after she'll get sick again.

"Maybe you should start living a bit healthier."

Nanahoshi basically never leave the room.
She will go outside when necessary, but she basically spent the whole year in the lab.
She'll go to the cafeteria for lunch, but that's about it.
Breakfast and dinner are just leftovers, everyday a repeat of this unhealthy lifestyle.
Of course eventually her immune system will deteriote, and she becomes easily sick.
I don't want to tell her off, but she needs to take better care of herself.

"At least until your cold gets better, how about a little break?"
"Research is going well, so I shouldn't stop right now."

After she said that, she turns towards a magic circle.
Nanahoshi's research has indeed been going well.
Few months ago Phase 2 was successfully completed.
Summoned matching cap for the PET bottle from Phase 1.

Now is Phase 3.
Summon a "living being" like a "plant" or "small animal."
That's currently underway.
Just a bit more, and vegetable from the previous world may soon appear in this one.
Going well indeed.

"Today let's begin the Phase 3 experiment."
"Shouldn't we wait for Cliff and Zanoba to be here?"
"Ah, right.  Then, can you go get them?"

I shake my head.

"Sorry, they have the day off."
"Both on break?  How rare, what's the occasion?"
"Graduation Ceremony."
"Graduation... Ah, is it that time already?"

Nanahoshi frowns.
She don't want to hear about no graduation ceremony.
Because that marks another year she's stuck in this world.

"Rinia and Pursena both graduated.  They both plan to head home, so I want to have a farewell party for them.  Please come as well."
"... Eh, fine."

Rinia and Pursena are among Nanahoshi's few female friends.
Even though friends might be pushing it, but as farewell, she should participate as well.
They seem to get along better than before.

"They will probably become princesses when they get back."
"I can't see it."
"True."

Will Dorudia Clan really be alright with those girls as matriarchs?
Well, even if they don't look it, it should be fine as they're recognized as such.
They should be fine.

Knock knock!

While I was thinking, a door knock.

"... Em?  Come in."
"Excuse me ~nya."
"I'm coming in ~nano."

Two familiar faces come in.
A cheeky cat and a drowsy dog.
Rinia and Pursena.  Walk in majestically in their uniforms.

"Boss, we're looking for you ~nya."
"Please allow us your presence ~nano."

But they feel different than usual.
What's different?
Is it because Rinia looks a little jittery?
Or because Pursena isn't chewing some meat her mouth?
The same feeling as our initial meeting.
Their usual self would be joking around like "Flirting in another girl's room when Fitts and Roxy-sama are not looking again ~nya.  They'll get angry ~nano."  But right now they don't feel so light-hearted.

Another duel?
Settling the score before graduating?
... I don't really like to fight to be honest.

"Boss, please ~nya."
"Please ~nano."

Simple words, but I can feel their determination.
From their eyes I can see their conviction.
They won't leave if they lose.   Don't tell me that's what they have in mind?

They have their own pride.

Well, fine.
Since this is the end.
I'll play along.
I too am a man.
It'd be bad if they decide to do something to Sylphy instead.

"I understand.  Nanahoshi, I'll leave for a bit."
"Wait, what about the experiment?"

Nanahoshi looks obviously angry.
But Rinia grabs her shoulder.

"You come too ~nya.  Special permission ~nya."
"Permitted ~nano."

"Wait, hold on.  Why?"

They want Nanahoshi as their witness?
I doubt Nanahoshi plans to testify for anyone.
But Silent Seven Star is pretty famous.
Having her as witness is definitely trustworthy.

---