Well... my build might be similar to the school bullies from his past life, triggering Rudeus's PTSD. That's going to make this favorability quest difficult... If only Rudeus were a girl... no, that's not right. A girl with the mind of a 34-year-old perverted NEET uncle... hiss... mind-blowing.
Allen sighed silently and walked to the study door.
The study door was open. Inside, Paul was hunched over, clutching his hair as if deep in thought.
Allen knocked on the side of the door.
"Master."
Paul looked up. Several sheets of paper were scattered on the desk.
"Oh, have a seat."
Allen glanced at the chair—it was very far from the desk where Paul was resting his chin. The latter then picked up a pen and looked at Allen.
"Because your origins are unknown... before you become our family's swordsman, I need to conduct a simple investigation of you."
Hearing this, Allen's eyebrows shot up, and he stared straight at Paul's face.
Paul quickly waved his hands, then scratched his head, looking up at the ceiling with a troubled expression.
"Don't worry, I know the adventurer's code. I used to be in this line of work myself... It's just a very rough investigation. After all, it involves the safety of my child. Please understand."
Allen's expression changed. As if suddenly interested, he leaned back in his chair with a hint of a smile.
"Please, ask away."
"Uh... name?"
"Allen."
Paul's hand holding the pen paused for a moment, then he slowly nodded and continued.
"Is it okay to ask your age?"
Allen looked at the pen in Paul's hand and smiled nonchalantly.
"Nine years and four months."
Paul blinked.
"Frequent area of activity?"
"Around the Asura capital."
Paul seemed to feel his throat was dry and swallowed.
"Swordsman rank?"
"The only title I've been granted is Water God Style—Advanced."
Paul scratched his head with the pen. After a long moment, he smiled.
"I see your clothes are quite tattered... You must have been without an income for a long time. When did you lose your money in the labyrinth?"
Allen replied with a cheerful smile.
"To answer the Master, last November."
After hearing this, Paul took a deep breath and his expression relaxed, as if a heavy weight had been lifted. He looked up at Allen, his expression softening, and his words took on a strangely friendly tone.
"Alright then... Allen... you can stay here for now... Let's have dinner together later. Zenith's cooking is quite good."
Allen looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"Are there any other questions you want to ask, Master?"
Paul seemed to want to say something but then shook his head.
"You... um, no, that's all. You can go back to your room and rest for a while, or go play with Rudy. Speaking of which, although you're tall, you're only four years older than him..."
Allen stood up.
"Then I'll be leaving?"
"Yes, go ahead."
After Paul spoke, his eyes seemed a little dazed. Seeing Allen's back reach for the door, he lowered his head and took out a blank sheet of paper.
Click. The door closed.
Paul immediately began to write.
But before he had finished half of the first word, a lazy voice floated from in front of him.
"Uncle Paul... who are you writing to?"
Paul's pupils constricted. He looked up in shock.
Allen was leaning against the closed door, quietly watching him.
Several months ago, Allen's system prompt had suddenly popped up, informing him that his Mushoku Tensei major event participation had increased by 2 points. At the time, Allen had been very surprised.
He had just started heading towards Buena Village. The people and events he had encountered in the capital before that had nothing to do with the major events of the Childhood period. How could it increase his score for the Childhood period?
Now, he had found the source of the problem.
It seemed someone had 'known' him for a long time.
Allen walked towards the slightly flustered Paul. When he reached him, he looked at Paul's desk with great interest.
On the desk was a letter filled with writing. The handwriting was neat, the ornate script commonly used by nobles, but the paper itself was somewhat old, looking as if it hadn't been written recently.
Allen narrowed his eyes and, quite impolitely, reached out to pick up the letter.
Paul's expression changed, and he subconsciously shot up to grab Allen's hand.
The moment Paul was about to grab his wrist, Allen pressed his index and middle fingers together and, using the side of his fingers against Paul's palm, slid them lightly.
His fingers, like a nimble fish, escaped Paul's grasp, flinging his hand to the side. Paul grabbed at empty air, his body stumbling forward and landing on the desk. He watched helplessly as Allen picked up the letter with two fingers, lifted it from before his eyes, and muttered. "Water God Style—Flowing Secret Art..." Allen held the letter up in front of him, his eyes moving as he read its contents with a serious expression.
Paul,
How have you been lately? I imagine life in the countryside with your wife is quite pleasant.
I am writing to you now to ask for a favor.
It concerns my eldest son in the capital—Allen Boreas Greyrat. I don't know if you still remember, but I wrote to you when the child was born.
Back then, shortly after he opened his eyes, he was taken by James to be raised as his own biological child. This is the price a loser in the succession struggle must pay.
This is also a Boreas tradition, to avoid excessive internal conflict within the family.
But I couldn't help but use the pretext of my mayoral duties to secretly visit him behind my father's back.
After all, he is the first child that I, Philip Boreas Greyrat, have left in this world.
Ironically, I don't even have the right to give him his name...
You can take this opportunity to laugh at me. After all, it is usually I who look down on you. This is only fair.
But back to Allen. This child is different from me. He is exceptionally talented, showing remarkable aptitude for the way of the sword at a young age.
When I saw him from afar, he was the center of attention, receiving praise from James, yet his expression showed no trace of pride or timidity. He was very composed.
His contradictory aura of calmness and sharpness left me in a daze. His expression is somewhat similar to my father's, yet not entirely the same. I can't help but wonder, is this really the child that I, Philip, have produced?
But one thing is certain.
He should grow up amidst such flowers and applause, not follow a failure like me and remain in the Fitoa Territory as the son of some damn mayor.
But when I look at him, I can't help but think... if I had won the power struggle against James for the position of heir apparent back then, would it be my figure standing before him now?
I am jealous of James. He shouldn't have...
I seem to have strayed off-topic. Let's get back to the matter at hand.
A month ago, Allen went missing on his way to the University of Magic.
At least, the official news released to the public has ruled it a disappearance.
James seems to have no intention of searching for him, but I am very worried about his safety.
Therefore, I asked my family's guard, your former teammate, Sword King Ghislaine, to investigate the location where Allen disappeared—the Upper Jaw of the Red Dragon.
But now, ten days have passed, and there is still nothing.
I smell a conspiracy.
I had originally intended to ask Ghislaine to use her contacts from her adventurer days to make some inquiries, but she very apologetically told me that such things were beyond her capabilities and suggested I seek your help...
Here, I would like to ask you to use your contacts from your time as an adventurer to help me inquire about his whereabouts.
His features are very sharp, his eyebrows almost identical to my father's. He has inherited my brown hair and Hilda's grey eyes. He is very conspicuous in a crowd and easy to identify.If there is any related news, please be sure to inform me. If anyone sees someone similar, please also help me pass on a message, telling them to hold on to that person and then send word to me to wait for my confirmation.Please understand, I cannot openly hire people to search for him. It does not suit my position.After all, his 'biological father' is James.I'm sorry for letting you see my weak side.I look forward to hearing from you.Philip.
Allen looked at the familiar yet strange name in the last line and fell silent.
Beside him, Paul just looked at him, scratching his head, not knowing what to say.
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