Mushoku Tensei: Life and Strife.

Philip’s POV

…

Eris had been studying things like algorithms and etiquette, things that no one had expected her to be able to. Rudeus really did his job well as her tutor. Not only that, Laurel also had an effect on Eris’s growth.

Thanks to the twins, the house that was once empty had been filled with the chirping noise of the three kids. Not only that, but his wife Hilda’s cold exterior had melted considerably. After all, the way he kept calling Hilda ma’am, which sounded slightly like mom, with such a cheerful tone probably dealt the blow to her.

“I really have to thank Paul this time.”

Philip thought out loud. Really. It was as if nothing could make his day better than it already is. As the thought settled, he saw Laurel climbing down the stairs, which made him frown a bit.

While Philip did say they shouldn’t climb the stairs, he wasn’t really going to nag them for something as trivial as that. Rather, the way that Laurel was acting was making him worry instead.

Heavy footsteps, an uneven gait, unfocused eyes, and a pale look as if he had seen a ghost. That was Laurel. Unlike his more usual cheerful, calm, and carefree attitude, he was afraid. Laurel was afraid of something.

Considering that he had gotten down from the stairs to the tower, the only thing Laurel could have seen was Sauros… Could seeing the deed frighten him? Philip entertained the thought. But then again, Laurel would be blushing instead, not terrified. Philip decided that it was easier to just ask Laurel directly instead.

“Laurel, is something the matter?"

"Ah, Master Philip."

Laurel said. It was as if he were in a bit of a trance, only regaining his scattered thoughts after being called out. Laurel had always been a bit of a scatter brain, but this time it seemed a little abnormal for some reason.

"Again with the titles. Just call me uncle."

"Ah. Sorry, I was... Sorry."

Something was wrong.

"Is something the matter? You looked pale."

"No. None at all."

Something was definitely wrong. Philp thought as he tried to fish out for more information from Laurel.

"… If you did something wrong like breaking a vase or—"

"Oh no. None of the sort!”

Laurel said without hesitation, unaware that his avoidance in the matter had already cracked under Philip's words.

“It's just... It's just a bad dream. That's all."

Philip found it ridiculous. In the middle of the afternoon? It was probably a random excuse to deflect his question. Whatever the case, Laurel was opening up already before he even began applying pressure.

"A bad dream?"

"Yeah. It's just a bad dream. I'll be fine."

Or not. Nor does it seem like it was just a bad dream. What sort of bad dream could scare Laurel to that extent? He certainly didn't lose his composure when being ambushed by Eris in the middle of the night, nor was he so visibly shaken while trying to win against Ghislaine.

Philip stared at the child before him. Laurel was smart. While he wasn’t the sharpest, he was certainly perceptive. More level-headed than his age, sensible, and kind by nature, he was willing to put up an act to brighten someone else’s mood. But he was naïve, inexperienced, and hot-blooded. More mature than his peers, but a child nonetheless.

"Tell me more about it."

In front of Philip, Laurel’s façade had broken. Now gone was the calm and composed exterior, and the lax and carefree attitude had also disappeared. For once, Laurel truly acted his age. Though he was acting more weak, frail, and helpless than Philip had imagined, which unsettled him a bit.

"Nothing, really. It's just it's—it's just nonsense; don't mind me.”

That child had a look of despair and, on the verge of tears, held on by that single rationality that he shouldn’t make others worry because of it. It was like a silent cry for help. Philip would know. Because that face resembled his own when he lost his two sons to Pilemon.

“…”

Philip's always smiling face halted at the thought. For a brief moment, Philip was reminded of a time he would rather forget. For a feeling that he buried deep in his heart to show up out of nowhere… It seems that the twins had grown on Philip more than he had imagined.

“You know? Sometimes saying out loud would help ease the nerves. Who knows? You might find the solution to the problem just by saying it.”

Philip said with a smile. Delicate matters had never been Paul’s strength. Knowing Paul, Laurel would have kept silent whenever an actual problem occurred. But Philips was here, so he might as well handle it here and now before it becomes an actual problem.

Laurel went silent after hearing Philip's suggestions. He was cracking.

“A nightmare.”

“?”

“I had a nightmare about a red crack appearing in the sky, and a light made the entire region vanish.”

Laurel said.

“Is that all?”

“… Yes.”

"A red crack in the sky, hm?"

Philip chuckled.

"Quite the imagination. But if it bothers you that much, I'll go and settle the matter for you. Now rest."

“… Ok.”

Laurel seemed to be a lot calmer, but he was in no state for further interrogation, so Philip sent him back. Philip didn’t completely believe in everything a nine-year-old said, obviously. That said, there have been too many coincidences lately.

Sauros had been praying to a red gem in the sky for three years, hoping that nothing bad would come of it. Not only that, but he had just received a letter from Paul saying that he couldn’t make it due to the sudden increase in monsters crawling out of the forest. And even recently there were reports about a sudden increase of mana density from mages.

All of this had pointed to one thing.

“A bad omen.”

Philips muttered softly. Things weren’t looking so good. Philip wanted to dismiss all this as mere coincidence, but if there truly was danger and he ignored it, the consequences would be disastrous. More importantly, it also brought an opportunity.

“Send a letter to the families. Tell them the possibilities of a disaster appearing and that we’re requesting support.”

He said, calling out to the butler.

“But sir, would they bother to send troops?”

“Highly unlikely.”

Philip said without a single shred of hesitation.

“Huh? But then why—"

“Hmm… How should I say this… I suppose you could call it… justification."

Obviously neither of those families was going to even bother to read the letter; however, the existence of the letter itself would have served its purpose. If nothing happens, then it’ll be nothing more than a harmless prank, done by a coward who was so afraid that he made a dumb mistake. But if not… if he planned it right, Philip might be able to take back his two sons.

“Strengthen the defenses.”

“Understood.”

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