Complete within one day after activation... Put it on hold for now. I needed to think about it some more.
The panel faded away.
Allen watched Rudy lower his head and hold the Holy Relic before his face, almost pressing it against his nose, and hurriedly interrupted his spellcasting.
"But when you go out to survey the terrain, you have to take me with you."
Rudy froze and glanced sideways at Allen.
"Teacher, are you interested in plants too?"
Allen pointed at his own face with his index finger and said slowly, word by word.
"I already said it. Because I want to be friends with you."
Then, after seeing Rudy's stunned expression, he turned and walked out of the room.
Rudy watched Allen's retreating back.
Friends?
Come to think of it, this guy named Allen looked more mature than the other children his age. Maybe they would have some common topics to talk about. But he seemed like the kind of kid starved for affection. Paul also seemed very supportive of him becoming friends with me. And that face of his—aside from looking a little fierce—was the ruggedly handsome type. He would definitely be popular with girls in the future. If I became sworn brothers with him, maybe some leftovers would flow my way someday.
My looks weren't exactly top-tier, but if he was handsome enough, people would probably think better of me when I was with him.
Rudy nodded.
Girls who lacked confidence in themselves would probably see me as a target. Compared to confident, aggressive girls, I actually preferred the somewhat insecure type. They seemed easier to train... No, easier to raise~
This could work. Just like beautiful girls kept ugly girls around as foils, I would do the reverse.
Allen returned to his bedroom, collapsed onto the bed, and let out a breath.
What happened today had been a little sudden and completely beyond his control. Sure enough, even if he had read the novel, adding one more person to the events would bring different unexpected situations. The plot couldn't possibly unfold exactly as it had in the novel.
Thankfully, the overall direction was still normal. As for Sylphy, should he intervene early and save White Mom? It had been fine when he hadn't thought about it, but once he did, he pictured her being pelted with mud, insulted, and even punched and kicked by children her age every day. His stomach began to ache in waves.
Her childhood experiences had directly led to Sylphy indulging Rudy in every possible way later on. Even when she was jealous of Rudy having a harem, she could still put herself in his shoes and even help him maintain harmony within it.
All because Rudy had become the light of her childhood—the only friend in the village.
As Allen thought, he focused his attention on his Dragon Saint Battle Qi Core Embryo.
A dim brown groove lay beside a tree-shaped magic rune glowing with green light. It was completely bare.
The Detoxification Magic groove had not yet been inscribed with a magic rune. I remember Zenith knew Intermediate Detoxification Magic and usually helped out at the village clinic. If I got the chance, I should go obtain the magic rune.
As for Sylphy... Even just one night of contact with Roxy had caused a Butterfly Effect. If I contacted Sylphy early, would it cause some kind of problem? Would it perhaps make it even harder for Rudy and Sylphy to separate?
Think some more. Think some more.
His consciousness gradually blurred, and Allen fell asleep.
The sound of flowing water trickled into Allen's ears.
Mixed with discordant shouting.
Allen opened his eyes blankly, still dazed.
The blazing sun scattered its light across the crisscrossing fields. Birds chirped without pause, while children's noisy voices rang right beside him.
He turned his head to look beside him.
Rippling water shimmered like drifting fireflies as a small river wound past his legs.
...What... am I doing here? Why am I standing by the river so leisurely? Is it the weekend... Did I finish the company's work? Why am I wandering around here? I need to hurry back to the office and work overtime.
"You stinking demon child, get out of the village!"
"Get out of the village!!"
"Take this!"
"You suck! You didn't even hit him! Watch this!"
"I hit him!"
A burst of cheers followed.
Allen turned toward the source of the noise in confusion. In the paddy field beside the river, three mud-covered boys were confronting a boy crouching on the riverbank.
Ah, right. I had transmigrated. No need to work anymore... Awesome... Wait... Three people being bullied by one person? No, those three who looked miserable were the bullies. They were covered in mud only because they had gone into the fields to grab it...
The shouting rang out again.
"Now let's see who can hit his head!"
"Sure! Watch me!"
"I hit him!"
"Hitting his head is too boring! Aim for his face!"
"Oops, hit him! Hit him!"
"Tch, this demon brat doesn't fight back at all. Boring!"
"Let's go, let's go! We'll come back tomorrow~"
Perhaps because they noticed the tall Allen, the children scattered and ran back toward the village.
Allen's mind felt foggy. He had no idea why he was here, but the sight before him made his heart ache.
The bullied child was very small. Mud covered his entire body, nearly turning him into a little clay figure. He sat stupidly by the river.
Allen carefully walked over.
His hair was somewhat long, but the mud had plastered every strand together and obscured his expression. An old handbasket lay beside him, and the lumps of mud inside it—
They weren't mud. They should have been food, perhaps bread, but they had been completely coated in mud.
The child stared blankly at the basket, deaf to the footsteps right beside him. His hand searched around before his face, but with his body blocking the view, Allen couldn't see what she was doing.
Instinctively, Allen wanted to help her up. But as he reached the riverbank and extended his hand, he caught sight of the river's surface from the corner of his eye. His hand stiffened in midair.
The clear river reflected a filthy face.
The owner of that face kept tearing clumps of hair from her mud-caked head and gripping them in her palm. Strands occasionally slipped through her fingers and fell into the river.
Her hands repeated the motion over and over, and more and more hair floated on the water.
The strands drifting downstream were washed clean, gradually revealing their emerald-green color.
Allen woke up completely.
Sylphy.
"...Don't do that, Sylphy."
With trembling hands, Allen patted her shoulder. Sylphy turned around.
Only a pair of reddish-brown eyes could be seen on her mud-covered face.
They were godless, numb, and hollow.
Allen's throat felt dry. He opened his mouth and spoke with difficulty.
"...Don't pull out your hair anymore. It's just mud. I'll help you wash it off."
Sylphy stared blankly at Allen. She did not respond, merely raising the mud-stained hair in her hand.
Allen followed her palm with his gaze.
In Sylphy's hand, clumps of freshly torn hair had been tangled black by mud, like filthy weeds.
She said,
"...If I don't wash it, and it's covered in mud, it won't be green anymore."
"Ah!"
A scream beside his ear woke Allen. He flipped upright from the bed.
The river had vanished, but there really was a boy in front of him.
Allen looked at the stunned Rudy sitting on the floor and let out a breath.
It was a dream.
"...No, why were you screaming like a ghost first thing in the morning?"
Rudeus, who had come to wake Allen, wore the aggrieved expression of someone being falsely accused. The scream had indeed come from his mouth, but the reason for it had undoubtedly been Allen.
He pointed at Allen's hand.
Allen lowered his head to look.
His fist was clenched tight, with splinters deeply embedded in his palm. The wound was deep enough to expose bone, and one corner of the bedframe had been crushed when he unconsciously activated his battle qi in his dream.
Allen stared at his injured hand in silence for a moment, then turned to Rudy.
"Can a Healing Spell repair a bedframe?"
Rudy looked at his hand, then at the bedframe, his expression full of disbelief.
"Probably... not?"
Allen lowered his eyes.
Free Instant Quest—Obtain Sylphiette's favor. Release available. Confirm release? A reminder: the host only has one day. It would be best to activate the quest after meeting Sylphiette. What if you fail to find her today?
Confirm release.
Free Instant Quest—Obtain Sylphiette's favor. Released. Quest initiated. Sylphiette: Countdown: 23:59:59. Upon completion, the Barrier Magic groove can be unlocked.
Allen raised his head, looked at Rudy, and held his bloodied yet still clenched fist before him.
"Perhaps... do you know a Healing Spell?"
Before you continue