After hearing Allen's words, Rudy's expression became even more troubled.
He felt a surge of jealousy. Lokkishi had clearly only run into him once on the road, so why did she seem to tell this guy everything?
No, this won't do. If this keeps up, I'll be in trouble. I have to work hard for the next two months. Even if I can't beat Allen, I need to at least make it look like we can trade blows. That way, when Lokkishi sees it in the future, she won't fall for someone else. Though it doesn't seem like she's in love with me in the first place...
Allen, however, anxiously interrupted his thoughts.
"How about it? You definitely still have enough mana, right?"
Rudy pinched his nose.
"I have enough. But will this really make her interested in magic?"
Hearing that, Allen turned to Sylphy with a solemn expression.
"I'm absolutely certain that you're more talented at magic, which is why I've been doing everything I can to get you to learn it. Maybe our little scuffle just now didn't look impressive enough, but the next spell can alter natural phenomena. It's also the highest-level magic Rudy knows. Watch carefully, okay?"
Sylphy blinked as she looked at Allen's expression.
"Ac-actually, if Allen really thinks I'm not talented at swordsmanship, learning magic is fine too. I'm not picky, because you're both thinking of what's best for me..."
Before she could finish, Allen had already stood up. As though he had not heard the latter half of Sylphy's words, he eagerly spoke to Rudeus.
"Come on, Rudy! It's time for us to witness the legendary scene of Water Saint-tier Magic!"
Rudy's mouth twitched.
Hey, hey, I get it now. You're clearly the one who wants to see it!
Still, complaints aside, seeing Allen—the person he had been helpless against just moments ago—now wearing such an inexplicably expectant expression gave him an undeniable sense of accomplishment.
Thunderstorm Cumulonimbus meant more than just magic to Rudy.
It was one of the most vividly painted strokes of Lokkishi's childhood.
Behind that stroke of divine inspiration—
Was Rudy's release from the knot in his heart, and his growth into someone capable of accepting the outside world.
It was courage rekindled from dead ashes, a determination to start over.
It was Blue Mom's adorably error-prone face, and her gentle, deliberately stern encouragement.
It was—
The stolen underwear.
Ahem. Since Allen kept my secret, I'll generously show him this once.
Thinking of the item enshrined in his shrine, Rudy stretched out his hand and made a little earthen fortress for Sylphy and Allen before running down the hill.
"You have to chant it! Don't leave out a single word!"
Looking at Allen, who had poked his head over the hilltop and was cheering like a fan waving a banner, Rudy took out the Amulet Necklace Lokkishi had given him from around his neck.
The metal pendant formed of three connected spears gleamed in the sunlight.
Watch closely, Allen. This is proof of all the precious things Lokkishi has brought me!
He took a deep breath, raised both hands, and looked up at the sky. With every word, he began chanting with utmost seriousness and reverence.
"Mighty water spirit, son of the Thunder Emperor who ascends to the heavens!"
The clouds in the sky twisted and gathered, obscuring the blazing sun and casting patches of shadow over the hill.
"Grant my wish, bring forth your savage blessing, and let insignificant beings such as us witness your towering might!"
The gentle breeze vanished. A violent wind battered Allen and Sylphy's hair. In Allen's eyes, the wild grass bent low, as if paying homage to the small figure below the hill.
"Strike the anvil with the hammer of God, reveal your dread power, and let the flood engulf the entire earth!"
The clouds pressed down over everyone's heads, having entirely turned into dark, gloomy thunderclouds. Faint flashes of lightning hissed within them. Allen was so excited that he rose to his feet on the spot and involuntarily grabbed Sylphy's hand.
Sylphy was already dumbstruck. She lowered her eyes in shock to look at Allen's hand, her palm immediately breaking out in sweat.
The chant below the hill had reached its end. The dark clouds were like tangible darkness, covering everyone's heads.
"Rain! Wash away all things and drive out everything!"
"Thunderstorm Cumulonimbus!"
The gloomy, dim clouds seemed to fall silent for an instant. Then countless streaks of rain shot down from the sky and abruptly struck the ground. The violent pounding echoed for miles around the hill as lightning swayed through gaps in the clouds.
The next instant, a bolt of lightning pierced the air like a sword, turning the world white.
For an instant, the small figure below the hill was clear in Allen's pupils:
Between heaven and earth, Rudeus faced the sky. A smile gradually bloomed across his childish face, wilder and freer than the thunder and lightning.
There was none of his usual timidness left.
This was his domain of magic.
It was also the "mark" he had left upon this world.
You have brought about Rudeus's "cry." Your participation score in the major events of Mushoku Tensei has increased. Current stage: Childhood. Total participation score: 60 points. Congratulations, Host. Thus far, your participation in the major events of Mushoku Tensei's childhood arc has reached a passing grade. The advanced mission has automatically begun. Please keep up the good work and achieve a perfect evaluation. Additional rewards will be available then.
Allen did not pay much attention to the system notifications. He merely looked at Rudy below the hill and smiled from the bottom of his heart.
The rain was heavy and fierce.
By the time Rudy ran back up the hill, the earthen fortress had turned into a mudslide, drenching Allen and Sylphy from head to toe. Rudy had tried to maintain it midway through, but the rain was simply too heavy. Before the fortress could form again, it had all turned into muddy water and poured over everyone's heads.
Allen interrupted Rudy as he was about to dispel Thunderstorm Cumulonimbus, grabbed the two of them, and fled toward the Greyrat Family home.
The latter said that dispelling Thunderstorm Cumulonimbus would take quite a while. Rather than standing there getting soaked, they might as well quickly activate battle qi and flee this place at light speed.
Sure enough, when they got home, all three of them were thoroughly scolded by Paul.
They were simply too filthy, completely covered in mud like little clay dolls.
Lilia hurriedly boiled water and prepared the bath basins in Rudy's room. She then bowed and left, while Allen went to the kitchen to help because the amount of hot water prepared at once was not quite enough.
It was worth mentioning that Rudy's house only had one bathroom. Therefore, when washing up at night, whether it was Lilia or Rudy, they would boil water, pour it into wooden basins, and bathe in their bedrooms, consciously leaving the bathroom to the Greyrat couple.
At that moment, Zenith was somehow bathing in the middle of the day, so the three of them could only boil water and bathe as usual.
Bare-chested, Allen looked at the busy Lilia beside him. Her hands seemed to be trembling slightly, and he did not know whether she was tired from the day, so he thoughtfully told her to rest and prepare to help Zenith make lunch later.
Yet as he stared at the pot bubbling and steaming away, he kept feeling that he had forgotten something important.
Allen scratched his head.
"Strange. Why do I feel like I forgot something? The sparring went normally, I saw the famous scene, and Sylphy and Rudy went to bathe normally... Wait, don't tell me..."
His eyes widened.
"Fuck, I almost forgot this plot point. No, is this another Butterfly Effect from the story happening early? Rudy still hasn't realized Sylphy is a girl! He's not going to pull down her pants, is he? Huh? This kind of melodramatic perverted development makes no sense, right? And Rudy and Sylphy have only known each other for one day. That would only ruin his favorability! Mm, mm... Rudy probably isn't that unreliable..."
"Aah!!!"
Just as the thought flashed through his mind, Allen heard Sylphy's cry from upstairs. He hurriedly threw aside the pot that was still boiling water, turned, and ran upstairs.
Taking three steps at a time, he rushed to Rudy's room at lightning speed and violently pulled open the door, peering inside.
But before he could see what was happening in the room, he felt a chill below his waist.
Rudeus's excited shout, following close behind, arrived a moment later.
"Sylph, watch closely. This is how Allen uses it! Uh... This..."
Allen looked at Sylphy, who was still fully clothed and unharmed. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Allen, who had burst through the door. Then a blush crept over her pointed ears. She spun around on the spot and pressed herself tightly into the corner, facing the wall.
She even hugged her head and covered her ears.
Allen swallowed with difficulty and lowered his head.
Rudy, who had successfully ambushed him while crouching by the door, was looking up at him. A firm shadow covered his face, which had gone blank with shock.
Allen had rushed upstairs in a panic after activating "Dragon Saint Battle Qi."
At that moment, his entire body was engorged with blood.
Yet he only felt as though he had fallen into an ice cave.
.
It has been detected that the Host is intimidating Rudeus. If this continues, Rudeus's favorability may be reduced to zero. The Host is advised to behave accordingly.
Before you continue