Paul Is Definitely Someone You Can Entrust Your Life To!

The next day, Zenith looked at Allen with a startled expression over breakfast.

The young man seated at the table had rewashed his hair, his soft brown locks slightly obscuring his newly trimmed, straight eyebrows. At the same time, he wore a pair of square black glasses, from which he'd removed the lenses, though it wasn't noticeable unless you looked closely.

He'd changed into Paul's clothes, which looked a bit loose. The low neckline gave him a somewhat languid appearance.

He smiled broadly at everyone at the dining table.

His entire demeanor had abruptly shifted from sharp and imposing to gentle and amiable.

Allen gratefully nodded to Lilia, who stood dutifully by his side, not joining them for the meal.

"Thank you."

Lilia blinked.

Last night, Allen had suddenly knocked on her door, asking for a pair of glasses. He said his face might be too scary and he was afraid of frightening Rudeus. Though she found it strange, she gave him a pair of her old, unused glasses.

Now, it seemed surprisingly suitable for him.

"You're welcome, they suit you very well."

Allen smiled, nodding inwardly.

This should be much better, right? I spent ages modifying myself in front of the mirror last night. This should make Rudeus less scared of me. Ugh, why do I always feel like I'm playing a dating sim?

He turned to look at Rudeus, but then—

Rudy looked horrified, lowered his head, and began to eat and drink frantically.

"Disguise pervert!"

Allen's mouth twitched, unsure of what to do.

However, this seemed to hit Paul's sweet spot. He stared intently at Allen's glasses, then his gaze dropped to Allen's well-developed chest muscles, and then he turned his head to Lilia, nodding occasionally, as if extremely pleased.

Congratulations, Host. You have once again gained Paul's favor.

Allen smiled, extended his spoon, and stirred away the System's text, scooping up some soup in the process.

This is seriously ridiculous.

Throughout the morning, Allen intentionally and unintentionally gravitated towards Rudeus. Even at noon, he used the Franklin Effect, deliberately dropping his spoon and asking Rudeus to pick it up for him.

And he expressed his gratitude with a deliberately deadpan expression.

But when Rudeus saw him act like this, he made the same expression he'd seen of Orsted, the Dragon God, in the novel illustrations, as if he was even more afraid of Allen.

By the afternoon, Rudeus, who had gone out to survey the terrain, didn't even return home. Naturally, the Swordsmanship lesson fell through.

Instead, Paul enthusiastically engaged him in a true man's 1v1 fencing match.

Rudeus didn't return home until evening, and Paul had a satisfying bout, so much so that he didn't even bother to check if Allen, his nominal teacher, was truly fulfilling his duties.

Lying in bed, accompanied by the System's joyful announcement of Paul's skyrocketing favorability once again, Allen painfully drifted off to sleep.

The next day, early in the morning, Paul came to call Allen out for fencing.

Unable to refuse his enthusiastic invitation, Allen accepted the challenge.

This time, Rudeus stayed home.

But the problem was, this exhilarating fencing match lasted all day for the two of them.

During this time, Allen distinctly felt that Paul's Swordsmanship proficiency, having lived in the countryside for so long, had improved.

At night, Allen again painfully drifted off to sleep.

What is this even?

On the third day, things took a turn.

Rudeus finally had to face his Swordsmanship teacher, and after spending these past two days together, he realized that Allen only looked like he wasn't a kind person; he wasn't actually a bully like those from his previous life.

But he still hadn't gained his favor, which was understandable. Rudy just saw Allen as an ordinary passerby.

The afternoon sword practice was an opportunity.

However, an accident still happened. When an absent-minded Rudy once again dropped his wooden sword, Paul, who had been sitting by, his brows furrowed in a "川" shape, abruptly stood up.

He picked up the wooden sword and started wrestling with Allen!

Allen looked in horror at Rudeus, who was watching Paul with an expression of adoration, as if he were seeing a god descend.

Then Rudeus immediately turned and went inside. Soon after, he darted out, clutching a plant dictionary, and went out to play under Allen's desolate gaze.

In the evening, the System notified Allen that he had facilitated the relationship between Rudeus and Paul, rewarding him with 5 points for his participation in the Mushoku Tensei major event.

That night, Allen painfully slapped his own face, solemnly resolving to complete Rudeus's favorability quest tomorrow.

Allen, Allen, how could you fall so low??

Day Four.

Fencing.

—

That evening, Allen stared miserably at his bowl of food, feeling his mental state teetering on the brink.

Rudeus: Countdown: 9:16:47

Keep going, Host. If you continue like this, Paul will be proposing to you soon.

Allen painfully buried his face in the bowl.

Zenith cast a questioning look his way.

"What's wrong, Allen? Are you not feeling well?"

I'm very unwell. Do you know that if this continues, I'll become your mistress even before Lilia does?

Allen struggled to pull his face out of the bowl, forcing a crooked smile.

"No, I'm fine. The food smells delicious, I really like it."

"Really?! Darling! Allen has been praising my cooking a lot these past few days!"

Paul nodded with a laugh, in strong agreement, while looking at Allen with admiration.

"He often praises my Swordsmanship too."

Brother Paul, please don't do this, I'm scared.

Allen rubbed his forehead, looking at Rudeus, who was engrossed in his meal across from him.

The latter seemed to sense his gaze and looked up, giving him a playful, mischievous smile.

Allen met his eyes with immense frustration, then nodded in acknowledgement.

Just then, Paul suddenly spoke.

"Rudy, I've noticed you haven't been very enthusiastic about Swordsmanship these past few days."

Rudeus's eyes lit up. He quickly glanced at Allen, as if understanding the meaning behind Allen's nod. Then he spoke.

"Father, Allen's Swordsmanship is actually very good, but my talent seems to lie more in magic. And the weather is gradually warming up, so many plants outside are growing very lush. I can't help but want to go out and identify more plants listed in the plant dictionary. I apologize."

Hearing these words, clearly meant to excuse his teammate, Allen actually felt Rudeus was very considerate and couldn't help but feel a little fondness for him.

A complete reversal! Rudeus has successfully gained the Host's favor!

'Damn it, just kill me, right now!'

Paul stroked his chin, looking up at the ceiling. After a long moment, he said something astonishing.

"Honestly, I didn't think much of it before, but with Allen here, in comparison, I really do feel you're not cut out for the sword."

Allen looked at Paul in horror.

'My favorability is already on the brink, Brother Paul, don't you dare harm me!!!'

The steam from the food suddenly surged.

Successfully gained Rudeus's favorability. Time taken: 86 hours, 31 seconds. Evaluation: A miraculous escape, a tricky angle. Paul is definitely someone you can entrust your life to.

Detoxification Magic slot unlocked.

Allen stared blankly at Rudeus. The latter quickly glanced at Allen, showing a look of gratitude, then widened his eyes and feigned innocence as he looked at Paul.

He spoke cautiously, the slight upward curve of his lips barely visible in the lantern light, revealing his true intention.

"Then, Father, can I shorten my Swordsmanship practice time to focus on magic? I think Swordsmanship only needs to be at a level for physical fitness, right? After all, I'm not material for good Swordsmanship anyway."

Paul paused, instinctively looking at Allen.

Allen's mouth opened and closed like a goldfish.

Rudy, you really pull off some slick moves, I'm impressed. But Paul, what the hell do you mean by instinctively looking at me?

When it comes to raising your child, you should be looking at your wife!!