Mushoku Tensei: the Apostle of God

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A ball, as a social event, naturally begins to wind down once the attendees have achieved their desired connections and are ready for more... private discussions.

Groups of people depart in twos and threes, moving on to the next gathering—

Some for power.

Some for profit.

And some simply for... extended negotiations.

"Excuse me, miss... That tall, handsome gentleman in the black tailcoat who danced with you first—do you know where he went? He seemed to vanish after the opening dance. I've been searching everywhere."

A young noblewoman stood before Sylphiette, her cheeks plump and dewy, dressed in a short, water-green floral dress, her hair pinned up simply with a hairpin.

Sylphiette stared at her blankly, silent.

The girl fiddled with the strands of hair at her temple, her knees pressing together beneath her skirt.

"If you don't mind, perhaps we could—"

"—He's mine."

The noblewoman blinked, taken aback by the coldness in Sylphiette's rose-tinted eyes—eyes that should have been soft but now held a sharpness completely at odds with her delicate features.

"I-I understand, but... what I meant was, we could share—"

Sylphiette's gaze didn't waver.

A shiver ran down the girl's spine, as though the night air had suddenly turned frigid. She rubbed her arms.

"Fine, jeez... No need to be so scary..."

With a pout, she turned and left.

Sylphiette watched her go, then dispelled the half-formed [Frost Nova] in her palm.

Eighteenth one tonight.

If any more showed up, she would lose her temper.

Her attention shifted to the side, where Phillip and Hilda were bidding farewell to the departing guests with practiced grace. Alfie supported Hilda, who, despite her radiant energy during the opening dances, had quickly begun to wilt after the second one.

As for Sauros, he had long since drunk himself into a stupor, carrying Eris on his shoulders and running laps around the hall before finally exhausting himself and being escorted to bed by Lilia.

Sylphiette studied Hilda's face, lost in thought, when a nearby conversation caught her ear.

"I know where that young man went."

"Really?!"

Her eyes flicked to the side.

The same noble girl she'd just dismissed was now standing beside a portly, monocled nobleman, who rubbed his hands together amiably.

"Come with me, and I'll take you to him—"

The girl's expression darkened instantly, her earlier innocent act vanishing. She gave the middle-aged noble a once-over, clicked her tongue, and strode off into the night without another word.

The nobleman coughed awkwardly, polishing his monocle before nodding at Sylphiette and retreating as well.

Sylphiette exhaled, watching the thinning crowd.

Behind her, the ballroom was now empty save for the beastgirl servants cleaning up.

Counting the remaining figures, she turned and walked toward Hilda.

Alfie, still supporting the lady, suddenly felt the weight in her arms lighten. She looked up to find Sylphiette's rose-colored eyes fixed on her.

The maid shrank back, as though caught in the presence of the proper mistress.

"D-Does Lady Sylphiette wish to attend to Lady Hilda?"

"Yes."

"T-Then I'll... go help in the ballroom."

She scurried off.

Phillip glanced at Sylphiette, then at Hilda's thinning face, and sighed.

"Sylphiette, I'll leave Hilda in your care. I have some matters to attend to. Please escort her back to her room."

Hilda nodded absently, accustomed to Phillip's busy schedule, then frowned as she scanned the room.

"But... where are Eris and the others? I feel like I haven't seen them in a while."

A faint smirk crossed Phillip's lips as he glanced at Sylphiette before striding away.

Under Hilda's gaze, Sylphiette stiffened, blinking rapidly.

"E-Eris went with Lilia to help Lord Sauros back to his room... A-As for Allen and Rudy, I'm not sure..."

Hilda raised an eyebrow at Sylphiette's strained smile, then chuckled.

"Rudy's absence isn't surprising—he was quite popular tonight. But Allen... shouldn't he be with you?"

Sylphiette's face burned. Normally, she might not have grasped the implication, but after a night of overhearing nobles' indiscretions, she understood all too well what Hilda meant by that pause.

"L-Lady Hilda! Allen isn't—!"

Her earlier icy composure shattered into flustered hand-waving.

Hilda laughed softly and patted her head.

"See? You know what kind of person Allen is. So don't worry. They're probably just discussing Eris' lessons—they resume tomorrow, after all. Have a little faith in him."

Sylphiette blinked.

Hilda was trying to reassure her, thinking her expression was from jealousy.

But Sylphiette remembered the diary.

Remembered the words—

"Mother will watch over you from afar, even if you never know."

She's too kind...

She shouldn't have to hurt like this...

Sylphiette sniffed.

"Lady Hilda... would you take a walk with me?"

Though exhaustion lined her face, Hilda smiled.

"Of course."

——

The mansion's silhouette loomed against the night, its edges blurred by darkness.

Hilda and Sylphiette stepped away from the noise and light, their heels clicking against the courtyard stones.

The sound echoed, hollow and lonely.

"Why the sudden walk? You took a brave step tonight, Sylphiette. There's no need to fret."

Hilda's voice was soft, carried by the breeze as they approached the arched bridge.

She knew exactly what Sylphiette needed—encouragement, reassurance, guidance for the uncertain future.

With her parents absent, who else could provide that but her?

Even if...

Hilda's smile dimmed.

Sylphiette stared at Hilda's exposed feet, her grip on the woman's arm tightening.

"It wasn't me who took the step tonight... It was Allen. He's the one trying."

Their footsteps echoed beneath the bridge.

Hilda recalled Allen cutting through the crowd to ask Sylphiette to dance—

Eyes only for her.

Her gaze grew distant, lost in memory.

"Yes... He's trying. That's good."

"Balls, invitations, conversations... the dance of love."

She chuckled.

"Such things feel so distant to me now. Watching you all... reminds me of my youth."

Sylphiette looked ahead.

Just a few more steps.

One turn, and they'd reach the side garden.

"It's not distant, my lady."

Hilda shook her head, trailing her fingers along the weathered bridge stones.

"When I first came here, these walls weren't yet marked by time."

She glanced at her pale yellow dress—short, not trailing, because it was meant for dancing.

"I'm no longer young. I can only watch your generation's fluttering hearts, your joys and worries. I couldn't dance the dance of love now even if I wanted to. If I mentioned such a thing to Phillip, he'd surely laugh at me."

"Lord Phillip dotes on you. If you asked, he'd agree."

Hilda burst into laughter.

"Dotes on me? It's been so long since I've heard that... Ah, but the truth is, I'm too embarrassed. At my age—"

"Mother was once a girl too."

Hilda froze.

She looked down at Sylphiette, who met her gaze steadily.

For a long moment, neither spoke.

Then Hilda tilted her head, lips curving.

"Where did you hear that? It doesn't sound like something you'd say—your magic teacher, perhaps?"

It wasn't really a question, just a musing.

So she didn't wait for an answer.

Her eyes dropped back to her dress.

She'd seen Allen and Eris dance tonight, at this birthday banquet.

Shouldn't that be enough?

Even from afar, she'd felt as though she'd finally given her child the tenth birthday celebration she'd missed.

So smile. Don't look so gloomy. Don't seem like an old woman.

Be happy. Shouldn't that be enough?

She lifted the hem of her skirt.

One small step.

Then another.

Tap. Tap.

The sound of light footwork filled the bridge.

Sylphiette smiled, taking Hilda's hand—part support, part dance partner.

Their steps were small, restrained.

But they moved together, smiling.

Beneath the bridge, pale yellow and moon-white skirts twirled, brushing against each other in delicate arcs.

Then—

They stepped into the moonlight.

The side garden of Boreas Manor lay bathed in silver, the light catching Hilda's skirt in a soft glow.

She paused, watching the fabric settle, then looked up at Sylphiette—

And froze.

Sylphiette wasn't looking at her.

Her smile was bright, triumphant, yet tinged with sorrow.

Her gaze was fixed on something beyond the bridge.

Hilda turned.

And there he was.

Allen.

Standing in the moonlight.

For a moment, she forgot how to move.

Then Allen stepped forward.

One.

Two.

Three.

Until he stood before her.

His lips parted, but no words came.

He inhaled sharply, as though steadying himself, then extended his hand.

A dance invitation.

Yet for someone who had moved so gracefully at the ball, his posture now seemed... awkward.

Clumsy.

Hilda's breath hitched.

Her lips trembled.

Was this real?

Or just another illusion, another twelve-year delusion?

She turned desperately to Sylphiette, who only smiled and spoke the words Allen couldn't.

"Allen wanted to dance with you. So he asked me to bring you here."

"Mother was once a girl too."

"Those weren't my teacher's words."

Sylphiette's voice was gentle but firm.

"They were Allen's."

"I just repeated them when the time was right."

Hilda's hands flew to her mouth.

She didn't remember taking Allen's hand.

Didn't remember when they'd started moving.

Their steps were uneven, out of sync—nothing like the skilled dancers they were.

But it didn't matter.

This wasn't a performance.

It was an embrace.

One twelve years overdue.

The dance ended too soon.

Allen scratched his cheek, then reached into his coat and withdrew something—

Holding it carefully in both hands, he offered it to her.

Hilda stared, but the moonlight made the object indistinct.

Then—

Small flames burst from the ground nearby, rising into the sky before bursting into silent fireworks.

No noise was needed.

The light was enough.

Rudy stood in the distance, finger raised, while Eris watched, wide-eyed.

And in that glow, Hilda's tears fell freely.

She tried to speak, but only choked sobs escaped.

Her eyes, though—

They shone brighter than the fireworks.

In Allen's hands was a delicate figurine—

Herself, standing behind Allen and Eris, hands on their shoulders, smiling.

Happy.

A spring breeze cut through the night, but its chill couldn't reach her.

Not when Allen's voice, so clear, wrapped around her like warmth.

"Mother."

"Thank you."

[Task One—Respond to Hilda's Hopes: Complete.]

[Next task must be completed within 24 hours.]

[Remaining Task:]

[Task Three—Respond to Ghyslaine's Hopes.]

——

Far from the bridge, Phillip watched from the shadows.

"My lord, shouldn't you join them?"

Ghyslaine's voice was quiet.

Phillip shook his head.

"I don't belong there."

"...Is this really alright?"

"It's fine. Allen values bonds. That's all that matters."

"The plan was already completed ahead of schedule, wasn't it?"

"...You know that's not what I meant."

"It's fine."

——

In the high tower, Sauros gazed at the glowing garden.

"Hmph. Quite the anomaly, for a Boreas."

Lilia's voice was warm.

"But you don't seem to disapprove, my lord."

Candlelight flickered across his drunken grin.

"An anomaly... but a welcome one."

"That brat."

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