Mushoku Tensei: The Mad Witch's Magical Redemption

After Philip left the library, Ghislaine and I settled in with Rudeus for a casual reading session on the Demon God Language. Since the mayor of Roa took charge of the research, I figured it was a good time to unwind for a little bit.

"Check this out—I've already cracked most of the language basics!"

Rudeus, enthusiastic about his progress, showed us the notes and translations he had been working on, showing a series of unfamiliar letters right above our language. This showed his dedication to mastering a foreign language.

"That's quite interesting, Rudeus," I praised earnestly before pointing to a specific line in his notes. "What does this one mean?"

He leaned in closer, focusing on the spot I had indicated. "Oh, this? It's a common greeting in the Demon God Language, much like saying 'Hello, how are you?'"

"Fascinating," I murmured, though I couldn't help but feel a little lost amidst the unorthodox symbols. "It must be difficult to understand these details."

"It is," he admitted, his tone carrying a mix of pride and weariness. "But it's worth it."

Astonished by his resilience, I found myself smiling admiringly and averted my eyes to avoid getting smitten by his charismatic gaze.

 In doing so, I noticed Ghislaine, who, seemingly uninterested in learning different languages, was comfortably leaning back in her chair. She occasionally glanced at the books but mostly observed me and Rudeus with a hint of amusement.

"Rudeus, I'm curious about how you managed to learn such a difficult language," she asked, genuinely intrigued. "Even experienced mages struggle to master it."

"Ah, that," he replied, picking up a specific book from the pile. "I couldn't have accomplished it without the help of the handbook my master created for me."

"Your master, huh?" I inquired, already suspecting who he referring to. "Tell me their name."

"Well, the name of my master was Roxy Migurdia," he proudly declared.

Roxy Migurdia—one of the essential characters in the story who became Rudeus's tutor. It's about time she has been mentioned in this timeline, piquing my interest.

"So, where was she now, and how she was doing?" I pressed, testing his knowledge of that person's location and well-being.

Rudeus smiled with a hint of irony, rubbing the back of his head. "At the moment, she's in the Shirone Kingdom, working with a new student."

"Well, that's wonderful," I remarked, pleased to hear the characters remained in their rightful position. "But it would have been better if she could assist with the investigation."

Intrigued by my suggestion, he nodded willingly. "That sounds like a great idea—I might write her a—"

SLAM!

Before Rudeus could finish his words, the library doors burst open with a deafening bang. We turned to see Sauros barging in, looking a bit serious.

"Alright, which one of you told Philip that the black orb has mana?" he asked firmly.

Feeling nervous, I took a deep breath and raised my hand. "It was me, Grandfather." 

"Hmm?!" he exclaimed, quickly darting at me as he headed in my direction. "Can you explain why you said that even though you told me it was nothing the first time you saw it?"

As my apprehension was getting worse, I turned to Ghislaine and Rudeus, who both gave me a reassuring nod. Looking back, I regained my composure, ready to explain everything.

"It's because I found the black orb quite disturbing the more I look at it," I clarified, choosing my words carefully. "So, when I brought it up with Ghislaine, she utilized her Demon Eye and discovered a trace of mana."

Hearing my explanation, Sauros turned to Ghislaine. "Is that true?"

"Yes, Master," she immediately confirmed, nodding at him. 

Sauros took a moment to process her words, stroking his beard thoughtfully. 

 "Then this is more serious than I initially thought," he remarked before frowning at me. "Why didn't you tell this to me sooner, Eris?"

"I wasn't certain if I could confide with you, Grandfather," I admitted, feeling a bit awkward. "I didn't want to cause any unnecessary panic."

"Unnecessary panic, you say," he replied solemnly, his brows furrowing. "Well, you've caused one right now!"

I flinched when he yelled at me, closing my eyes shut. But when I opened them again, I found Sauros turned away, his back towards the door.

"Better be vigilant once the investigation begins," he warned.

With that, he stormed out, leaving behind a tense silence. The three of us exchanged worried glances, unsure of what he truly meant.

---------------------------------------

As time passed, I returned to my magic training, shifting my focus from elementary magic to intermediate magic. Rudeus guided me through the incantations for each spell involving the four elements in the courtyard—today, I learned intermediate spells for earth, wind, and fire.

"Good job, Eris," said Rudeus, looking quite proud. "You managed to chant the spells I taught you effortlessly, and you even did it with voiceless incantation too!"

"Thank you, Rudeus," I replied, feeling pleased by his compliments. "It was all thanks to your guidance that I was able to master the magic spells so easily."

"As expected of you, Milady," Ghislaine interjected, prompting me to glance at her casting the same fireball spell as usual. "Your affinity with magic surpasses that of your swordsmanship."

Watching Ghislaine struggle to recite elementary magic while I effortlessly excelled made me feel a pang of guilt. Despite my best efforts to match the original Eris' mastery of the blade, I found myself stumbling each time.

"I'm sorry if I failed to meet your expectations, Ghislaine," I admitted sincerely.

She shook her head, putting out her fireball before placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Worry not—I will be proud of whatever accomplishments you achieve."

"Oh, I see—thanks," I acknowledged her hopeful words.

Tap... tap... tap...

Our sentimental conversation was interrupted when multiple footsteps were heard closing in the courtyard. Ghislaine, Rudeus, and I turned to see a group of hooded individuals marching toward us. They soon halted in front of us, looking quite intimidating.

"Can we help you people?" I inquired carefully, doing my best to sound calm and composed.

The group stood aside to give way to a white-haired woman. Dressed in a form-fitting black dress and adorned with a dark tiara, she exuded an air of authority. In her hand, she held a trident-shaped magic staff that only added to her commanding presence.

"My name is Morgan," the woman introduced loftily. "We are the team of researchers Mayor Philip hired to investigate the black orb in the sky."

"Nice to meet you, Lady Morgan," I replied kindly. "I'm Eris Boreas Greyrat, daughter of the—"

"Yes, I know who you are," she interrupted, stopping my introduction. "You're the daughter of the mayor, correct?"

Surprised by her attitude, I quickly calmed myself and nodded. "Yes, that's right. Do you have anything you need with us before you begin?"

"Since you brought it up, I need everyone to leave the courtyard," she urged instantly. "We'll be taking over the entire space for our operation, so all activities here must come to a halt."

I was shocked to hear her demands, which surprised me even further. It was understandable that they needed a place to do their investigation, but thwarting our training in the courtyard was rather uncalled for.

"Hold on," Ghislaine interjected, stepping forward while her tail flicking in irritation. "This area is our designated training ground. Surely we could share the courtyard with our activities."

Morgan didn't flinch, her expression stern as she replied, "The courtyard is the most suitable location for our equipment and tents. Your activities are merely secondary to the importance of our objective."

"Secondary, huh?" Ghislaine murmured, her posture stiffening. "And who are you to—"

Rudeus and I quickly stepped between them, raising a hand to intercept Ghislaine before she could pull her sword.

"I understand your need for the space, Lady Morgan," I reluctantly conceded. "We'll move our training activities elsewhere."

"Good," she replied, turning to her team. "Begin the preparations immediately."

With her command, the hooded individuals busied themselves in unloading equipment. As for Morgan walked away with an arrogant huff. As I was about to signal Rudeus and Ghislaine to leave, we were approached by another individual—a timid-looking blonde girl.

"Please excuse my sister," she sheepishly apologized. "She's just tired from the journey."

Upon examining her appearance, the girl reassembled a nerdy witch with her round glasses, white robe, and pointy hat. Her addressing Morgan as a sister made sense since their faces looked strikingly identical. 

"And you are?" asked Rudeus, his curiosity piqued. 

"My name is Aesc," she introduced politely. "I'm the assistant leader of the research team. It's nice to meet you all."

"It's nice to meet you too, Lady Aesc," I responded warmly. "I'm Eris Boreas Greyrat, daughter of the mayor, and I hope you find your stay in our place productive."

"Thank you for your understanding, Milady," she replied admiringly, adjusting her glasses. "I'll do my best to ensure my sister doesn't inconvenience you further."

I glanced toward Morgan, who was already immersed in directing her team. Something about the tension in the air felt heavier now, as though the arrival of these researchers marked the beginning of something far greater than we could anticipate.

--------------------------------------

The next day, my curiosity led me to see what the researchers were up to. When I wandered into the courtyard, I noticed that they were still busy setting up their equipment.

The process was thorough as they carefully pieced together complicated components on the eccentric device they had brought along, presumably intended to study the mysterious black orb in the sky.

As I stood there, fascinated by the contraption, I felt torn between my curiosity and a hint of uncertainty. Ultimately, my inquisitiveness won out, prompting me to get a better view of the impressive device.

"Hold it right there!" a female voice called behind me.

Caught off guard, I spun around to see Morgan walking toward me with a prideful stride. She then stopped, placing herself in between me and the device.

With a contemptuous glance, she continued, "This area is off-limits, so step away right now."

"Off-limits?!" I exclaimed, shocked by her refusal of entry. "But why though? I had the right as the daughter of the mayor to know every detail of the investigation."

Morgan, unfazed by my protest, furrowed her brows. "Your affiliation with the mayor doesn't qualify you to access such sensitive information, particularly when it comes to a youthful and inexperienced individual like you."

Hearing her reasoning, I couldn't help but feel annoyed. Just because I was younger than her, doesn't mean I couldn't try to be competent as a researcher.

"That's quite uncalled for, sister," another female voice interjected.

Turning around again, I noticed Aesc strolling modestly towards us. She then halted between Morgan and me.

With a humble tone, she continued, "What would you think the mayor feel if he found out you were disrespecting Lady Eris' decision to be part of this investigation?"

"What an illogical question, sister," Morgan responded coldly. "Mayor Philip wouldn't prioritize his emotions for his daughter over his reasoning for our employment."

Aesc, disappointed with her sister's response, sighed heavily. "I had spoken with the mayor a while ago and found out that it was Lady Eris who requested to investigate the anomaly. Her father respected her decision and hired us, so I hope you would do the same, Morgan."

Hearing her comments, Morgan scowled disdainfully but didn't dispute any further. She could only glare at me as if her reasoning had failed this time.

"Fine," she finally relented, though reluctantly. "You're allowed to inspect our equipment, but I warn you to steer clear if you want us to finish this investigation efficiently."

After that, Morgan turned angrily and walked away with a huff. Aesc sighed and adjusted her glasses before facing me with a weary smile.

"Forgive my sister, Milady," she humbly apologized. "She's quite possessive when it comes to magical equipment."

"I understand," I replied, my curiosity still piqued. "Speaking of which, could you tell me what that device is?"

Aesc followed my gaze to the massive device behind her. "Ah, that's the Arcane Scanner. It's designed to observe and measure any magical activities in the immediate area."

So it functions like Ghislaine's demon eye—but far more powerful and precise. I couldn't help but marvel at the ingenuity behind it.

Satisfied with the explanation, I bowed at her. "Thanks for indulging my curiosity, Lady Aesc."

"No problem, Milady," she replied modestly. "Just approach me if something bothers you."

"Is that so? I'll keep that in mind," I acknowledged gratefully.

With a polite nod, Aesc turned and walked away, leaving me alone with the imposing Arcane Scanner. My thoughts drifted back to the Mana Calamity, hoping this device would show me enough evidence to warn everyone about the impending doom.

-------------------------------------------

As the investigation finally started, I observed the researchers use the Arcane Scanner with skill and precision. Pointing at the black orb in the sky, they carefully examined the anomaly and recorded their findings on paper.

The process, however, was rather sluggish and often unpredictable, dragging on for several months. As a result, we often took our training outside the mansion wall. Right now, we are practicing more intermediate magic.

"This is ridiculous," Ghislaine grumbled. "Why are they taking so long to end their research?"

"Because the investigation takes time, Ghislaine," said Rudeus, trying to pacify her.

"He's right," I concurred, "We need to be patient if we want to see any development."

Ghislaine, hearing our reason, nodded reluctantly. But then, her ear twitched and she darted in a certain direction. We followed her gaze and saw a horse carriage drive passed the gates.

"Who could that be?" Rudeus asked curiously.

Curious, I rubbed my chin before replying, "I don't know, but we're about to find out."

The three of us headed inside the mansion and upon entering, we noticed the courtyard was surrounded by barriers and soldiers stationed at every corner. Confused, we approached the entrance but two soldiers blocked our way.

"Halt—this area is off-limits," the first soldier said firmly.

The second one tightly gripped his spear, chiming in, "Please back away immediately."

Urgh, this again. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Morgan was likely behind this added security, another attempt to exclude me from the investigation. This is getting out of hand.

Before I could voice my irritation, Ghislaine stepped forward, her imposing presence making the soldiers falter.

"Explain yourselves," she demanded. "Why is this area suddenly restricted?"

The first soldier cleared his throat, clearly nervous. "The leader of the research team ordered us to heighten the security after the arrival of the carriage."

"And who arrived in that vehicle?" I asked, my tone sharper than intended.

The soldier hesitated, then glanced at his companion before replying, "A high-ranking official from Asura Kingdom, I supposed. That's all we're able to disclose."

A high-ranking official? The revelation piqued my interest, but it also made me uneasy. What business does an individual from the Asura Kingdom have with the investigation? 

"What seems to be the problem here?" a female voice called out. 

We all turned in the direction of the voice and noticed Aesc approaching us. The two soldiers gave her a salute and one of them stepped forward.

"Madam, these three were attempting to enter the restricted area," he reported.

Raising an eyebrow, Aesc replied, "Is that so? Well, only one of them was permitted to enter, and that will be Lady Eris."

"Really? But what about Rudeus and Ghislaine?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

Aesc adjusted her glasses, her tone calm as she responded, "I can only permit one guest and those two will crowd the area."

With that, she gestured at the two soldiers, who reluctantly stepped aside to let me pass. As I walked closer to her, Aesc leaned in, her mouth hovering close to my ear.

"I need you to do something for me," she whispered, her tone solemn.

Curious but wary, I nodded subtly. "What is it?"

"I'll tell you on the way forward," she replied before glancing at Rudeus and Ghislaine. "Please stay there, you two. We'll be back soon."

"Uh, okay," Rudeus replied hesitantly, concern flickering in his eyes.

Ghislaine remained silent, her expression tense.

As we walked away from them, I pressed Aesc for more information. "What's going on?"

"There's a mole in our operation," she informed ominously.