Mushoku Tensei: The Fool Magician

Roy silently vowed that if Philip continued making such remarks, he couldn't guarantee the man wouldn't someday find himself ambushed in the dead of night by a masked assailant—and beaten senseless.

The heated argument in the corridor had been loud enough that even a deaf man could have heard it. Naturally, Philip had heard every word. What surprised him, however, was not just that Roy had avoided offending Sauros but that the old man had actually praised him.

Now, as Philip's eyes lingered on the cold, golden-haired "boy" before him, a faint smile tugged at his lips.

There was no denying Roy's appearance was extraordinary. His long, golden hair, tied into a sleek braid, reached down to his waist. A neat center-parted fringe framed his flawless features, perfectly arched eyebrows, doll-like symmetry, and a porcelain complexion. His lips were a soft red, his teeth pearly white, and his overall visage one of delicate, almost ethereal beauty. Placed among women, he would undoubtedly stand out, yet here he was—a boy.

Philip, however, paid no mind to the faint hostility in Roy's gaze. Instead, he gestured toward the sofa across from him. "Take a seat." 

Rudeus hesitated for a moment, then asked nervously, "Does this mean the interview is starting?"

Philip chuckled, his demeanor casual. "Interview? Not really. First, let me ask—how much do you two know about this job?"

Philip's sharp gaze swept over both of them. Rudeus quickly glanced at Roy, silently pleading for help.

Roy sighed, resigning himself to answer. "We are to teach the young lady for five years. Upon completing our duties, we'll receive funding to attend the Magic Academy."

"That's it?"

"Yes."

"I see…"

Philip rested his hand on his chin, his gaze lowering as he stared at the table, deep in thought. After a long pause, he suddenly asked, "Roy, do you like girls?"

Roy's expression darkened. Is this man questioning my preferences?

With an icy tone, he replied, "I'm male, I like girls, and yes, I particularly like beast-eared maids."

"Oh? You're a fan of beast-eared maids, too?" Philip's interest was piqued instantly, and he sat up straight with enthusiasm.

The butler, standing nearby, coughed lightly to regain his employer's focus. Philip, undeterred, grinned. "Ah, you're definitely one of us—a true member of the family."

Another cough from the butler. Reluctantly, Philip sighed. "Alright, as long as you don't take things as far as Paul does, I suppose we're good."

Straightening his posture, Philip's tone turned more serious. "Now, to the main issue. My daughter Eris is… difficult. The only teachers she's ever liked are Edna, who teaches etiquette, and Ghislaine, her swordsmanship instructor. She's already driven away more than five tutors, one of whom was a renowned instructor from the royal capital. Eris's temperament is… challenging, to say the least."

Philip's expression grew weary as he spoke, clearly burdened by the trouble his daughter caused.

Roy, however, remained unfazed. "Don't worry." He said coolly. "I'll make sure Eris learns magic."

Rudeus, though less confident, hesitated before asking, "Um, does she have any interest in arithmetic or academics in general?"

Philip cast Rudeus a strange look before bluntly replying, "I can confidently say that aside from swordsmanship, she shows zero patience for anything else."

Rudeus forced a strained smile. "I see. That… might be a bit tricky."

Philip sighed deeply. "Tricky doesn't even begin to cover it. Honestly, I didn't have high expectations for you two. It's only because you're Paul's sons that I'm even giving you a chance."

Rudeus's face faltered slightly, but before he could respond, Philip added, "That said, if you managed to impress my father, perhaps you'll surprise me as well."

Roy leaned back on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Hmm… unfamiliar ceiling.

Seeing that the preliminary conversation had run its course, he spoke up. "We won't know how to proceed until we meet her. Let's see her first, and then we'll talk about teaching."

Philip narrowed his eyes, studying Roy for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Let's introduce you to my daughter."

He stood and turned to the butler. "Bring Eris here."

The butler nodded and left the room. A short while later, he returned, escorting a young girl with fiery red hair.

Eris's appearance was striking. Her crimson hair matched the intensity of her equally vivid eyes. Her delicate features and refined beauty would be considered exceptional, yet the first impression she gave was anything but welcoming.

Her sharp, upward-slanting brows hinted at her fiery and combative personality. Everything about her—from her posture to the way she scanned the room—exuded an aura of someone who wouldn't take kindly to being crossed.

It was clear at a glance, Eris was not someone to be trifled with.

And, as everyone knows, redheads are rarely known for their calm tempers—especially those who idolize their battle-hardened grandfathers.

The crimson eyes, gleaming like rubies, swept across everyone in the room without lingering on anyone in particular. Only when they landed on her father, Philip, did they momentarily brighten. With unrestrained enthusiasm, she exclaimed, "Father, I don't need tutors. Ghislaine is more than enough!"

She meant every word.

But her declaration was met with silence.

Eris's expression turned puzzled as she glanced around, about to speak again, when Philip cut in with a smile. "These two have come to apply as your new tutors."

Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a scowl of irritation.

Rudeus wore a strained, awkward smile.

Roy, on the other hand, appeared completely indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Philip's face, however, showed a trace of amusement, as though enjoying the tension.

The room fell into an uneasy silence as everyone studied one another's reactions.

Eris turned her sharp gaze toward Roy, seated casually on the sofa, and Rudeus, standing awkwardly nearby. Finally, she jabbed a finger at Roy. "What about you? What are you supposed to teach? You don't even look much older than me."

Roy thought for a moment before replying matter-of-factly, "Hello. I'll be teaching you magic."

Eris narrowed her eyes, her expression turning contemplative. "Magic, huh? That's it?"

Roy nodded, then rose and patted Rudeus lightly on the shoulder. With a faint smile, he added, "And this is your tutor for arithmetic and literacy."

Eris's expression soured immediately, her eyes narrowing further with disdain. "You're joking, right? This guy—who's even shorter than me—is supposed to teach me? What a joke!"

Her words dripped with mockery as she glared at Rudeus, her stance shifting to one of overt challenge, arms crossed over her chest, feet planted wide apart, exuding a sense of condescension.

Roy arched an eyebrow at her display. So, this is her game? A show of force to intimidate us? Does she think this will make us back down?

He shifted his gaze toward Philip, silently questioning him. Yet Philip, entirely unfazed, leaned back in his chair with an air of detachment, as though watching a spectacle unfold. When he noticed Roy's glance, he even smiled, as if to say, Good luck.

***

Bonus Chapter:

100 Power Stones = 1 BC

300 Power Stones = 2 BC

500 Power Stones = 3 BC

700 Power Stones = 4 BC

1000 Power Stones = 5 BC

***

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