Chapter Twenty: Increasing Engagement Scores, Friends, and Names

Rudeus watched Sylphy, who still looked timid, and couldn't help but curl his lip.

"I'm telling you, if you don't fight back against people like that, they'll just keep pushing you around."

"I... I can't win."

"...The important thing is to have the will to resist."
*Although I'm not really one to talk,* he thought.

"Usually, when younger kids come, I... I resist, but today there were older children..." She glanced toward Allen as she spoke.

Allen was standing far away, and Sylphy's voice was quite soft, so he couldn't hear her clearly. However, that didn't stop him from nodding with a bright, radiant smile on his face. Seeing this, Sylphy quickly looked away, her ears twitching.

Beneath the tree, Allen’s expression suddenly changed. He waved his hands frantically in front of his face, as if shooing away something unclean. Rudeus, missing this strange behavior, continued speaking earnestly to Sylphy.

"See? You heard what Allen said earlier. If they dare to bully you again, Allen will twist their heads off."

Allen heard this part clearly. Having just dismissed the system panel that had alerted him to a change in favorability, he slumped his shoulders and shot a glare at Rudeus, thinking to himself:
*Are you kidding me? Your mental age is five years older than mine! Is it really appropriate for you to hide behind me and bark like a dog relying on a tiger's might? Wouldn't magic be more intimidating than me waving a sword around? You could just cast a big fireball like a firework—it would impress the girl and scare the bullies at the same time. Killing two birds with one stone, yet you choose to cower there...*
*Forget it... I share some of the responsibility. The timeline for this event was moved up. Rudeus has only just emerged from Roxy’s protection, and he probably still has psychological shadows regarding older kids... After all, in his past life, he was tied to a school gate and humiliated while naked; that’s not something easily overcome.*

Seeing that Sylphy didn't answer and was just tilting her head to peek at Allen, Rudeus shrugged helplessly.

"...But honestly, it’s tough for you, getting bullied just because your hair color looks like the Superd tribe’s."

At these words, Sylphy shrank her neck and murmured, "Do... do you guys not mind?"

"Well, my teacher is of the demon race. I’m not sure about him, but it sounds like he never thought you were a Superd from the start. How should I put it? Maybe that’s just the sharp observation of a swordsman."

"I see... a swordsman..." Sylphy nodded.

Rudeus looked at her long ears and asked curiously, "By the way, you have ears like an elf. Are you not human?"

"No, I’m not. My father is only half-Long-Ear tribe, and the other half is human."

"Oh? And your mother?"

"Human, but she has a little bit of beast-kin blood."

Before Rudeus could ponder any conclusions, Sylphy suddenly began to sob.

"Father... although he says... I’m not a demon, but... my hair color is different from... from everyone else’s..."

Rudeus was stunned, not knowing how to handle Sylphy, but when he caught a glimpse of Allen, who looked equally dumbfounded under the tree nearby, inspiration struck.

"No crying! Allen hates it when kids cry. Be careful, or he’ll chop your head off!"

Allen: "???"

The sobbing stopped abruptly, and Sylphy’s expression turned instantly terrified.

[Sylphy’s favorability toward you has slightly decreased.]

Allen was delighted. *Ah, yes! Just like that. Keep it up, keep going. Get the storyline back on track!*

[......]

Rudeus chuckled inwardly at Sylphy’s expression.

"Is your father strict with you? You don't seem like the type who handles strictness well."

"...Yes, my father is scary when he’s angry, but as long as I’m obedient, he doesn’t get mad."

"Ah... what about your mother?"

"Mother is... very gentle..."

"Ah... by the way, were you on your way to bring food to your father? I see the basket you're carrying is full of bread. Oh, it’s all dirty with mud now. It’s all Allen’s fault!"

Sylphy, who had only just calmed down, immediately panicked again.

"Ah!... I... I’m sorry! I’m truly sorry! Please forgive me!"

Rudeus: "???"
Allen: "????"

Rudeus wore a blank expression. "Why are you apologizing... never mind. How about this: you take me to your father, and I’ll apologize to him on Allen’s behalf. As for that guy Allen, he’s terrible at getting close to people; he only knows how to stare coldly and smile at you, which is really creepy."

Allen: "?????"

Sylphy nodded, then looked hesitantly at Rudeus before turning to face Allen. She twisted her fingers together and lowered her head.

"Thank you... for protecting me..."

Then she looked back at Rudeus. "And thank you, for washing my hair..."

"But, if you keep doing this, everyone in the village will hate you too, and you won't have any friends... Why don't you just leave me alone from now on? I can... I can handle it myself."

Sylphy was on the verge of tears as she said this, but she held them back. After all, Allen didn't like it when children cried.

Just then, Allen walked over, reached out to pat both Sylphy and Rudeus on the head, and brushed past them. His indifferent voice drifted on the breeze.

"Rudeus and I aren't going to be friends with them anyway. But speaking of friends..."

Without looking back, Allen held up two fingers and waved them, speaking as if coaxing a child.

"Right now, the three of us each have two friends, don't we?"

Rudeus watched Allen’s retreating back, blinked, and then grinned. He patted Sylphy on the shoulder, as she was still staring blankly at Allen, and said in a gentle tone.

"Let’s go. Don't let his fierce look fool you; he’s actually a pretty good guy. He’s helped me before, so his scary face is just a facade. Don't be afraid."

Sylphy blinked her long lashes and gave a heavy nod.

Allen, walking in front, didn't hear what Rudeus was saying; he was just smiling and waving away the dust in front of his face.

[Participation score for the Mushoku Tensei major event increased. Current stage: Childhood. Cumulative participation score: 50. You have gained the recognition of Rudeus and Sylphiette and earned their friendship.]

Behind him came the faint, wind-scattered whispers of the children.

"...I forgot to ask your name."

"Syl... phy..." The voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, the tail end swallowed by the wind.

"...Sylphy, that’s a good name. Like a wind spirit."

"Tha... thank you. Is... is his name Allen? And yours?"

"Yeah, that scary-faced one is Allen, and I’m Rudeus."

"Allen... that’s a good name. Like... like a savior who will destroy the world..."

Rudeus: "???"

"I’m the one who praised your name, you know... though, your description is quite fitting. It would be even more fitting if your surname were Yeager."

"Huh?"