Mushoku Tensei: The Mad Witch's Magical Redemption

[MC's POV]

A few days after that surprise product reveal, I felt much better. Teasing Rudeus had proven to be rather therapeutic—though I had to admit, it was also a bit embarrassing. I sometimes genuinely felt bad for him, especially since he'd grown visibly wary of my presence.

During tutor sessions and magic training, he would flinch or startle slightly whenever I moved closer to him, even though I had no ulterior motives. It was almost humorous, but also a bit concerning. Had I overdone it?

For now, Ghislaine and I were locked in a snowy morning sparring match while Rudeus stood at a safe distance. My task was to thwart every one of her swings, which, mind you, was no small feat given her incredible speed and strength.

Clank! Clank! Clank!

Solid thuds reverberated each time our wooden swords clashed. My arms ached, and sweat dripped down my brows, but I gritted my teeth and held my ground. Ghislaine's strikes were relentless, her movements fluid yet precise. She didn't hold back—not even once.

"You're hesitating, milady!" she barked, her next swing coming at me like a thunderbolt.

"I'm not!" I yelled back, bracing myself for the strike.

However, Ghislaine suddenly shifted from an overhead stance to a lower stance. The motion caught my eye, and I instinctively moved my sword downward.

Clank!

I successfully blocked a feint, but I staggered slightly. Luckily, I quickly recovered and rushed forward, readying to strike back. Ghislaine also lunged ahead, her stance wide and imposing.

"Hah!" 

Clank!

Our swords met again with a resounding clash, but due to her superior strength, she sent me stumbling backward into the snow. My legs reeled as I fought to regain my balance, the cold biting into my skin.

"To think you could react to my feint just now, I was impressed," Ghislaine remarked, putting down her sword. "Though you still need to work on your hesitancy, I guess you'll become an advanced swordsman soon."

"Really? That's great," I retorted, dropping to the ground while heaving from exertion. "How about you, Rudeus? Do you want to give it a shot with me?"

"Well, I think I'll pass," he declined anxiously, stepping backward. "You seemed exhausted, so I'll take my chances with Ghislaine instead."

There he goes again. He appeared to be avoiding me for some reason. I wonder what he was thinking right now.

"Well then," Ghislaine asserted, grabbing a spare sword from the rack. "Let's see what you've got, Rudeus."

With that, I sat back and watched Rudeus getting whacked senselessly by Ghislaine. He still hasn't fixed his flinching problem, which was rather bothersome and concerning.

I should help him resolve it as soon as possible.

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The next day, things got a little strange. Both Ghislaine and Rudeus were not present during the sword training, leaving the courtyard unusually empty and silent.

As I went to find them, a middle-aged woman confronted me from the hallway. Her face was familiar and I had seen her before, but I couldn't recall from the tip of my tongue.

"Good morning, Lady Eris," she greeted politely, lifting the side of her dress as she bowed on one knee. "It's nice to see you here in such perfect timing."

"Forgive me for being frank, but who are you again?" I asked cautiously.

The woman widened her eyes, taken aback by my question. "Oh dear. It's me, your etiquette instructor, Edna Rayrune."

Ah, I remember now. She's that one person that the original Eris liked but despised the things she instructed to do. That being said, I bowed my head at her.

"I'm sorry for not recognizing you, Miss Edna," I apologized. "My memory was a little foggy."

"It's alright, milady, I understood that you struck your head months ago," she acknowledged, bowing her head as well.

I almost forgot about that. It was the moment that started it all—it was when I took control of the original Eris' body and lived her life, even though I didn't deserve it.

Regaining our composure, I decided to question her. "What brings you here, Miss Edna?"

"Your father ordered me to improve your etiquette and teach you how to dance properly," she explained thoroughly.

Curious by her response, I pressed onward. "Teaching me how to dance? What for?"

"Oh dear, have you forgotten? Your birthday is coming soon," she responded, announcing the reason for her intention.

My birthday? Ah, right, now I remembered. Eris' birthday was an integral part of the story. It's also when she develops a fondness for Rudeus. Speaking of which, where was he?

"Miss Edna, do you know where Rudeus is?" I asked politely. "I've been searching for him and Ghislaine for sword training this morning."

"They've both taken the day off from their duties," she said without hesitation.

Bewildered, I tilted my head. "Day off? Why would they do that?"

"I purposefully asked them to," she explained. "In this way, I could have uninterrupted time to teach you dancing and etiquette before your birthday arrives."

That explained their absence. It seemed I had no choice but to accept Miss Edna's lessons.

"Alright then," I conceded. "where do we start?"

Edna gestured toward the end of the hallway. "We'll start with the proper greetings and basic footwork in the practice room, so follow me, milady."

Reluctantly, I nodded and followed her lead, feeling nervous about what was to come.

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Once we were in the designated room, I was struck by how vast and empty it was. 

The polished wooden floor stretched out endlessly, glimmering under the soft light filtering in through the high windows. This is the kind of room that was perfectly suited for practicing a wide range of motions without any obstacles.

"Come now, milady," Edna beckoned as she walked towards the center of the room. "It's time to correct your curtsy."

"Was there something wrong with mine?" I questioned cautiously.

"Quite a bit, I'm afraid," she acknowledged, gesturing for me to follow through. "Your posture, timing, and grace all need refinement and it's because a proper curtsy speaks volumes about one's nobility."

I sighed internally, bracing myself for the perpetual adjustments she was sure to make. Edna positioned herself gracefully, her movements smooth and thorough as she demonstrated the perfect curtsy.

"Watch carefully," she instructed. "Keep your back straight, set your right foot behind the left, slightly lower your chin, lift your skirt evenly, and lastly, bend your knees slowly."

I followed her instructions to the letter, though my movements felt slightly clumsy compared to hers. Once it was done, she was already circling me like a hawk, pointing out every flaw.

"Your back was arched, your chin was too low, your skirt was a little uneven on one side, and your knees were bent too fast," she critiqued gently. "Nobility demands confidence, milady, not submission."

After assessing me, she adjusted my posture with light taps and guiding hands. I obeyed her careful direction without making much of a fuss. This was a far cry from how the original Eris would have reacted, which she storms out of the room in frustration.

"Alright, try again, milady," Edna instructed, her eyes sharp. "Apply the corrections I made."

Taking a deep breath, I repeated the curtsy. This time, my back was straighter, my skirt was evenly lifted, and the speed of my movements was moderate and more deliberate.

"That's much better," she praised with a slight nod. "Keep practicing this in your spare time, Lady Eris."

Relieved by her comment, I asked, "What's next, Miss Edna?"

"Next, we'll move on to ballroom dancing," she responded firmly, stepping back to give me some space.

The mention of dancing sent butterflies fluttering in my stomach, but I nodded. "Alright, let's get this over with."

With that, Edna proceeded to explain the basics of ballroom dancing—starting with the basic waltz steps, ensuring that I followed her lead carefully. Despite my hesitation, I tried to focus, knowing I had to master this new skill before the birthday celebration arrived. 

The only noticeable problem was that I couldn't dance properly for some reason.

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[Rudeus POV]

Ever since I received the aphrodisiac from Eris, I have been wary of her behavior. It all started when I was caught doing perverted things to her and after that, she became mischievous. 

During our daily schedule, she would stare at me with this intense look, as if she was plotting something devious. I couldn't help but back away from her, wary of what her plan was.

Thankfully, Miss Edna came in clutch and asked to use both Ghislaine's and my schedules to teach Eris how to dance for her upcoming birthday celebration. It was the perfect excuse for some much-needed distance from Eris' increasingly unpredictable behavior.

Now, in my free time, I have decided to do something productive. One of those activities was learning new languages. The only problem is that the books I just borrowed from the Boreas library were difficult to understand on my own. I need someone to help me decipher them.

knock... knock...

Suddenly, I heard someone knocking on my door, breaking my concentration.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Edna. Can you come over here for a second?"

Curious, I stood up from my chair and went towards the door, wondering what her business was with me. But as soon as I turned the knob and pulled it slowly, I was shocked to see Eris standing beside Edna. She made eye contact with me and smiled playfully.

"Oh, hello there, Rudeus. Can I—"

slam

I instinctively closed the door out of fear. What is she doing there? I thought she was learning how to dance somewhere else.

creak 

While processing the situation, the doorknob turned from the other side, and the door slowly opened. Panicked, I pressed against it with all my weight, fighting to keep it closed.

"What are you doing, Rudeus? Open the door!"

"No, you're invading my personal space!"

"Personal space, my ass. You're only here because you work for me!"

Despite my best efforts, her strength was far superior. With a single assertive push, the door swung open, sending me sprawling backward.

"Please! I'm too young! Don't violate me, Eris!" I blurted out in desperation, shielding my face with my arms.

Eris placed her hands on her hips and smirked. "That's rich coming from the guy who fondled my chest that one time."

"Come again?" Edna asked, surprised by what she heard.

My stomach dropped. If she realized what I'd done, Philip would hear about it, and my career—not to mention my life—would surely be over.

"It's nothing," Eris dismissed, waving her hand nonchalantly. "Could you please leave us for a moment, Miss Edna? I want to speak with him privately."

Edna hesitated for a brief while, then gave a polite nod. "Understood, milady. Just return to the practice room once you're done."

With a final doubtful glance at me, Edna walked away, leaving me alone with Eris. The young lady closed behind her, then crossed her arms, staring me down like a cat cornering a rat.

"W-what do you want, Eris?" I asked cautiously, edging toward my desk, ready to use it as a barrier if necessary.

"Pfft... Hahaha," she laughed lightly, amused by my reaction. "Relax, will you? I'm just here to ask you a favor."

"A favor? What for?" I asked, getting back on my feet.

Eris sighed, walking past me to sit on my bed. She patted the mattress beside her, motioning for me to sit. Reluctantly, I followed her instructions and sat on the farthest end of the bed.

Seeing my action, Eris rolled her eyes, but she let it slide. "Look, I need help."

"Help on what exactly?" I blinked, startled by the sincerity in her voice.

She shifted slightly, clasping her hands together in her lap. "You see, I had difficulty dancing without a partner and was told to imagine having one. Yet, it was easier said than done."

"So, you were saying you need me to help you dance," I assumed, trying to comprehend her current situation.

Eris nodded silently, noticing the blush on her cheeks. She was probably too embarrassed to say it herself but was confident enough to ask a favor.

"What is it for me? I can't just help you without compensation," I boldly asked.

She looked at me in surprise, her face was redder than before. "W-well, if you help me dance, then I... do anything you want on your birthday."

"A-anything?!" I exclaimed, realizing the risk behind that response.

My perverted mind started to think of all sorts of lewd scenarios, but my rational self tried to stop me from plotting these intrusive thoughts.

Shaking my head, I decided to give in. "Alright, I'll help you, but keep your promise, okay?"

"Of course, I won't forget this," she consented, standing up while pulling my hand. "Come on, we don't want to keep Miss Edna waiting for us."

With that, Eris ushered me out of my room and headed toward the practice room.