Roxy's Everyday Life

Unsurprisingly, Rudeus got beaten black and blue. Rubbing his arm where Paul had hit him, Roa grimaced and said, "You went way too far."

"What do you mean, too far? Boys need to be toughened up."

"This is how you toughen people up? I'm only six."

Even Lilia couldn't stand by and watch. With a stern expression, she said, "The children are still growing. Family Head, you should be more careful."

Paul knew he was in the wrong, so he forced the matter aside with a sheepish grin.

Roxy watched the harmonious scene with a bright smile. When she was little, her parents had been like that too. It had been a while since she'd returned to her village, though. She wondered how they were doing.

Whenever Roxy thought back to the past, she always felt a little dazed.

When she came back to herself, Roa's cold little face was right in front of her. From a distance, he'd called, "What's wrong, Master Roxy? You look a little lonely."

"Nothing. I was just thinking about how close you all are." Looking at the adorable boy before her, Roxy couldn't help sighing with emotion.

"Is that so?" Roa said thoughtfully.

Back at home, he continued running simulations of Sword Art Online.

In another world, Kazuto Kirigaya calmly taught little Kirito how to play games. Kirito picked it up quickly, and Kazuto had to admit that he really did have a talent for gaming.

His control was nearly flawless when it came to the finer details.

"Not bad. You're pretty good, Kirito!" Kazuto Kirigaya said seriously, patting the adorable little boy in front of him.

Praised by his big brother, Kazuto Kirigaya scratched his head shyly and puffed out his chest with pride.

But from nearby, Sugong Zhiye let out a disdainful snort. She shouted, "All you two ever do is play games! And, big brother, how could you let second brother play such a scary game? I'm telling Mom!"

Kazuto Kirigaya's mouth twitched. Kazuto Kirigaya hurried over to Sugong Zhiye and tried to reason with her. After a great deal of coaxing, he promised to include her in their games from then on. Only then did she reluctantly agree not to tell their mother.

Thinking it over, Kazuto Kirigaya felt he could try getting in touch with Asuna. The young heiress would make a very capable ally in the future.

If he reached out now, he could also carry out his virtual nurturing plan. Ahem, not that he meant anything by it. He just wanted to try raising someone virtually in real life.

But he still had things to do, so he couldn't devote himself entirely to Sword Art Online. He had a mission tomorrow and needed to rest up. The automated mode wasn't very reliable and couldn't lead him down a path of self-improvement, but there was nothing he could do about that.

He'd make do with it for now.

The next morning, when the boy woke up, he instinctively looked beside him. Unfortunately, Roxy wasn't there.

Roxy was a very cute girl.

You could tell from the original story that she was a little childish, but also very kind.

Every afternoon, whenever she had no classes, she went to cast magic for the farmers and bring down a gentle rain.

Today was no different, except that she had a little follower behind her.

Roa didn't mind. With a piece of straw he'd found somewhere between his lips, he leisurely followed behind Roxy.

Roxy sighed and turned around. "Roa, why are you following me?"

"Because I'm bored," Roa answered matter-of-factly.

He really was bored. Rudeus was making too little progress, so Paul was giving him one-on-one lessons. Roa's fundamentals were solid, so Paul had given him a day off.

"Then why are you following me?" Roxy asked, looking a little displeased. That had nothing to do with him following her around.

Roa thought for a moment, then smiled with his cold, cherubic face. "I just want to see what Master Roxy usually does when she goes out."

Roxy sighed, turned around, and tugged at the brim of her hat. She didn't say anything more, letting the boy follow her.

Autumn was a beautiful season.

In every way.

Golden ears of rice swayed gently in the autumn breeze, giving off a faint fragrance. That fragrance was the farmers' hope, the fruit of their labor.

"Do you know, Roa? Seeing their smiles makes me happy and relieved. Magic isn't just for fighting. It has many other uses and can solve all sorts of problems." A smile tugged at Roxy's lips.

The farmers they passed greeted Roxy with smiles.

It was clear that they were very fond of her.

And Roxy seemed to enjoy their kindness, too.

Every day, she came by to inspect the fields and was there for everyone whenever they needed help.

Her small frame concealed a kind heart.

Roa silently watched Roxy smile. Every time she helped someone, she wore that same innocent smile.

He felt a little dazed.

A little surprised.

The past was like a dream, hazy and indistinct, impossible to see clearly.

Was it Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming it was Zhuangzi? Perhaps when he woke up, he would find it had all been a dream.

Roa didn't know.

It had been nearly six years since he'd crossed over. Time seemed capable of changing everything, yet somehow it seemed to change nothing at all.

Roa liked Roxy, but he only liked the Roxy from the anime. Now that she was really here, he could discern her personality through every gesture and the slightest change in her expression.

She was a somewhat tsundere girl. Though she never said so, she did her best to seem mature.

She wasn't perfect. On the contrary, she had plenty of flaws.

She hated trouble, liked being praised, and could be a little childish.

But this slightly flawed Roxy was even more captivating than the Roxy in the anime.

Roxy's smooth hair, her soft figure, the faint scent about her, her rather bad temper.

All of it made her who she was.

She wasn't the Roxy from the Jobless Reincarnation anime. Now that Roa had come to this world, everything would change, and everything was heading toward an unpredictable future.

If that was the case, why not make this Roxy his?

Honestly, the Roxy of this world was even more captivating.

Roxy walked into the middle of the rice fields. The golden ears swayed in the wind alongside her mage's robe.

Golden morning light, golden ears of rice, a girl's face. The Magic Wand in her hand glowed azure. Clouds gathered, and raindrops began to fall. A fine drizzle started to descend, droplets running down Roxy's clothes to the ground.

Feeling the rain patter against his cheek, feeling its cool touch, Roa snapped out of his daze.

When Roxy had finished her work, Roa came up beside her and reached out to take her hand.

Looking at Roa, Roxy felt that something about him was strange. The boy seemed to have a faint smile on his lips all the time.