Mushoku tensei: The renegade heir

[give me power stones please!!]

Apparently my display of power on that beach was a bit crude, which is why many locals stared at me in fear as I walked through the city streets.

Although this was not my initial intention, it was welcome that people did not try to mess with me but I also immediately regretted it when I saw that because of this, those from Millis could start looking for me.

this is all really complicated, I hope, and that in the central continent I don't have to keep a low profile or anything like that...

As I walked back to the city I could feel a couple of doubts building up in my mind...

Can I really become stronger? What do I need to do to achieve this? And why do I do it?.

But still, the answers were totally simple: I do this to protect my group.

The main reason why I want to become strong is to deal with the enemies that Millis or Darius send my way.

It's incredible, isn't it? I'm barely ten years old and I'm already the enemy of an entire country and of my nation's minister.

But it's something I just can't help, even if it meant saving my mother or Philemon I would have destroyed Ars whatever it cost me, but that would have to wait for another time.

But for now let's just focus on improving with what little we have.

Me, Hilda and Roxy arrived at the inn after about twenty minutes of walking, I could see that Roxy and Hilda had complicated expressions when talking to me after the lightning I conjured, but I'll let it pass as the shock of the action I just performed

"Hey, buddy! How was your training? Did you make any progress?" Gesee said as we entered the inn and sat at one of the dining tables.

The monkey face sat next to me and looked at me expectantly about what I had to say.

"Paul did... a King rank water spell" Roxy said before I opened my mouth and Hilda's gaze tensed and fell to the ground.

"Huh? King rank?... You're kidding, right?" Gesee said, almost choking on his saliva.

"...no, what Paul did on that beach was definitely a king rank spell...I never thought I'd see one again, much less on you" Roxy muttered dejectedly.

"o-oh, I see...so this kid can already cast such powerful magic and he's barely ten years old huh?..." Gesee muttered and I could feel the sweat running down his forehead.

"Hey you guys, what's so special about me 'casting' King rank magic? Wasn't I training for a reason?" I muttered with a raised eyebrow.

"Y-yes we understand that dear, b-but you can't blame us for not being surprised by it...you're stronger than I thought" Hilda said looking into my eyes with a weak smile.

Wait...did she just call me dear?!

"Hmm, but I still don't see the bad thing, but I still want to continue training with the sword, I'm stuck at the advanced level and I don't know if I can get out of here soon" I said, slapping my hip where my Sakka sword was.

"A sword master?...hmmm, that's a problem, I guess you'll have to look for one once we get to the central continent" Gese said with a smile and the tension was eased.

...

The next few days passed relatively calmly, the next day after my training I started working with the divine spells, but unfortunately those are only effective against the ghosts that inhabit the labyrinths or caves of this world and have no real practice or use outside of this.

I also continued with my sword training, I had to become stronger, more durable and faster if I wanted to reach the saint rank in the Sword God style.

But saying it is much easier than doing it, since my teacher did not manage to teach me the technique...but I was able to witness it several times and many of these were against me.

Obviously it takes talent to get to that level and luckily I consider myself to be talented, after all I am an advanced triple at only ten years old...

Talent plays a key role but even that is not everything, I need balance, balance in both my body and my mind.

The long sword of light, the technique that I want to learn and master, which if you do it perfectly, the tip of your sword reaches the speed of light...

I had my own reservations about this last fact and considering the laws of physics, but this is another world and I think I should stop thinking about it...

But the point is, my body needs to be in complete balance in order to reach the necessary speed.

I need my feet to touch the ground with the same force, my arms to be able to hold the handle of my sword with the same force, my center of gravity to be as centered as possible and that my mind is as clear as possible.

With that and only with that...and a few years of training I will be able to achieve that technique...but for now, all that remains is to train, but I feel it, I feel that every day I become stronger and faster which is why I know it is possible for me to reach that incredible level of power.

This way, and only this way, will I be able to know that I have become stronger...

...

"Okay, everyone get your asses on board because we're about to leave and I'm not turning around for anyone!" The captain gave a shout that was heard throughout the dock and so we began to board the ship.

The three days had passed in the blink of an eye and now we were ready to leave.

We are a group of eight people in total and we will all go on the same boat to the central continent, my home...

With every step I take I'm closer to home... I hope mom and Philemon are safe and according to my calculations the letter should already be leaving the southern territories.

"Ugg...how long will we travel, they said?..." Hilda murmured from my side when she saw the room we were assigned to.

Our group had split into four people in a room obviously since it was a boat, so me, Hilda, Roxy and Lilia would sleep in one room.

But the problem was that the beds were wooden bunk beds that apparently had not been cleaned in a long time...

"The trip to the central continent is a week long, but you'll be fine Hilda" Roxy said and patted the girl on the back

"A week...this place reminds me of where those bastards had me captive" she murmured while hugging her shoulders tightly so I hugged her from behind.

Honestly, the room was totally gloomy and it would have been even more so with the waves crashing when we started the trip...

"This is no time to complain, this is the only means of transportation we will have, if anyone is feeling nauseous please tell me and I will use healing magic on you" I declared and everyone nodded.

So after half an hour the boat set sail and so began our journey to the central continent.

...

"Nnng...a-ah, Honey, someone might see us," Hilda murmured as she squirmed on my lap.

"What are you talking about? Didn't you say you were nauseous?" I muttered with a raised eyebrow at the tone of his comment.

"W-well...I'm just dizzy!" She murmured as she buried her head in my lap more heavily, making me uncomfortable in the process.

It had been a whole day since the ship had set sail and it had been nothing but a vast expanse stretching out above us.

The reason Hilda is acting like this is that a couple of hours into the trip, Lilia got dizzy but I calmed it down with healing magic.

The problem was that Lilia laid on my lap anyway and I healed her from her stomach for better effect, so I think Hilda just got jealous...

(sniff, sniff) "You smell good Paul, considering you haven't showered" she murmured with a giggle.

"Please, I shower every day, just in private," I muttered, sweat dripping from my forehead.

"Hehe...I was joking, I still love you" she murmured and then gave me a kiss on the lips that thank goodness didn't last too long.

"h-hey you know... y-you don't have to hold back with me you know?...I've seen how you look at me and it's okay, you are my partner after all" she said as she buried her head in my chest and gave me a big hug.

"W-well...we are traveling And besides, we're not alone and besides... I didn't want to pressure you into anything after everything you've been through" I said, looking into her eyes and Hilda only blushed even more.

"You are dangerous, you know that?...I wouldn't be surprised if that girl Lilia also had feelings for you" Hilda said looking me in the eyes and I blinked in surprise.

"Lilia? Why would you think that? She's just a friend that I rescued from terrible circumstances," I declared.

"Yes, that's the problem, do you know what I felt when you rescued me from those kidnappers in Ars? I fell in love with you, and I don't think Lilia is the exception" Hilda said getting up from my lap.

I was surprised by how seriously she was speaking so I continued listening to her.

"Just think about it, a handsome, strong and kind man rescues you from the jaws of the enemy while putting his life at risk and carries you out of there like a princess..." Hilda muttered as she closed her eyes and hugged herself, wriggling like a worm.

"I don't know what to think about that...but what would you do if that happened?" I muttered and Hilda crossed her arms.

"Hmmm! I'll be your wife, "So I don't care how many concubines you have as long as I'm your only wife" Hilda said in a tone that was too serious despite what she was saying.

But I quickly remembered that she was raised as a noble and can view polygamy with a different eye...

Although that doesn't make it any better honestly.

"I-I see, I'll keep that in mind," I muttered.

"Yes...but still, I'm sorry I couldn't give you my first time" Hilda murmured and I could see how tears began to form on her face.

"No, don't ever say that again! Don't ever listen to me!" I declared in a firm tone while looking into her eyes.

"eh?, b-but I..."

"No, it's not your fault and it never will be" I said while hugging her tightly.

"I..."

"It's not your fault, it never will be... I love you despite that and I will continue to do so" I whispered in her ear and Hilda shuddered violently in my embrace and then began to cry on my shoulder.

She doesn't admit it...how could she? She's just a child...

A girl who was used as a political weapon from a young age and was then kidnapped and used as a sex toy...

How could she be okay with all that? At least she can cry on my shoulder as many times as she wants, even though I'm not comfortable with being her boyfriend so soon...

At least I can comfort her in these kinds of moments, at these moments I am good at helping these poor children in need...

...

After Hilda poured out her tears on my shoulder she became calmer with me and we just stayed watching the waves from the ship's railing and when it got dark she decided enter the ship's room to rest a little and so I stayed contemplating the horizon until Lilia came to my side.

"Paul...what are you going to do when we get to Asura?..." She asked as she looked into my eyes.

Now that I think about it, we rarely talk and we only do it when Flute is involved, so this would be our first conversation.

"I have nothing decided...I have heard from reliable sources that Ars was completely destroyed...so now my only priority is to find my mother and my brother...political things can wait later" I said with a smile.

"...the life of nobles is really complicated, huh?" She replied with a slight smile and patted me on the back.

"Don't even say it...And what are you going to do, Lilia, after we get home? I asked, looking into her eyes.

Instantly Lilia's gaze went to the floor and she began to fiddle with her dress.

"I don't know either... now that daddy is dead I think me and my mother will try to make a living as maids in some surviving noble house."

The tone in which he said it seemed expectant as if he was implying something, and I'm not stupid.

"Well, in that case, if you don't know where to go and if I keep my noble title... then you two are more than welcome to work in my mansion... if there is anything left of it." I muttered the last bit while shrugging my shoulders but this brought a smile to the girl's face and then a slight blush...

"You're nothing like the other nobles, you know that?" She murmured softly, caressing my arm.

"Well, not all nobles risk their lives for their people so you can say you were lucky to have such a kind Lord like me!" I said, strutting around falsely.

"I believe that...and thank you very much for that Paul" she murmured and then gave me a big hug which I returned gladly.

"And besides... I heard that you didn't have any personal maid yet..." She murmured and I immediately broke away from her hug.

"W-well, let's leave that aside for the moment, shall we? I don't even know if I'm a noble anymore," I said with sweat running down my forehead, which earned me another smile from Lilia.

After a few minutes we continued talking lightly until dusk, and after that I felt like I had become closer to her.