When I finished thinking it over, my son had gone back to being a hikikomori.
Even rubbing it had no effect.
It's better than the past 2-3 years in which he would not even react to anything, at least he stood up this time.
Apparently, he seems to be far from a complete recovery.
Well it’s better than nothing.
Let’s head back to my room and take it slowly.
Yeah, let’s start by remembering the feeling from just now. [13]
--- Ariel's Perspective ---
Again, Sylphy came back crying.
“I said I am a boy, ughu... though it was my chance, even though Rudi took the initiative to ask me...”
"............That's rough."
Well, how many times have I calmed her down while saying that.
Every time something happens, Sylphy comes to me crying.
But to me, it’s like she was bragging about her lover.
One time it was, she went to the slave market with Rudi and he showed her his manliness, it was the first time she saw a man totally naked, she even got along with Zanoba-ouji of Shirone Kingdom.
Another time, she reported that Rudi was angry at Pursena and Rinia saying even if you win a duel you can’t go breaking other peoples' stuff...
Another time, she was saying that Rudi asked her to help with research while sighing.
The other time, when Rudi asked her about love counseling, she was afraid that he might have fallen in love with someone else and had said some high handed things to him.
Another time she said, I was allowed to look at Rudi’s staff, the magic stone in it was so big, I bet it’s very expensive.
And she said that she was allowed to transport it to him with an excited expression.
The other time, she was talking about how cool Rudi was in his fight against Badi-sama.
Sometimes, she said with a sad face, Rudi was doing research with the “Silent”-san [Nanahoshi].
And today, she came crying about lying to Rudi about her gender and then running away. [14]
(Sigh ...I wish she would just reveal her identity to him already)
By this time, I had my own impression of him as well. At first I thought he was just a scaredy-cat, but I now know that's just his front, and he is very strong.
He had Shirone Kingdom’s miko Zanoba as his underling...
He managed to tame the 2 princesses from the Beast Race, Rinia and Pursena...
As well as getting along with Cliff, the grandson of the pope of Milis Kingdom...
He had Badigadi-sama as his acquaintance and all that is without mentioning the cooperation from the grumpy “Silent” who even refused to cooperate with me.
And all the Special Students who I was planning to have on my team, those were isolated people, are now his allies.
If he was a scaredy-cat, he wouldn’t have been able to do this.
Regarding the talk we had about “The rumors being strangely clean”, now I have no doubt they were all correct...
His magic blew up the Demon King Badigadi.... Blew him up!
The existence that I could only stand in fear and watch, unable to do anything about, he blew him up with one move.
He is too strong.
Well after seeing that, I believe he could beat one or two stray dragons by himself.
Even though he has such strength, he is extremely good-natured.
Even when he was threatened by female students and was falsely accused of being an underwear thief, he did not get angry.
Since he came to this school, the only time he got angry was regarding the matter of Rinia and Pursena.
As to what he did, I heard he kept them captive for a day and doodled on their faces.
However, even those Rinia and Pursena were totally frightened and became obedient.
Surely, they received his anger up close and personal.
The anger of someone who beat that Demon King with a single blow.
Of course, even they didn’t spread bad rumors about Rudeus.
I mean, they were so afraid that they wouldn't spread such rumors.
Rudeus had been careful not to make a mistake, and had been living while he was hiding his power.
Even though he has that much power, and he can do anything he likes. I don’t know why he lives like this, but no matter how much I think, I get the feeling that he is planning something bad no matter what.
But, according to Sylphy, he is not a bad person.
I met him for the first time when he was dueling Fitts, I felt he was a warm person.
Though his appearance was suspicious, he was a friendly person.
Having been beaten with one attack, Sylphy was a bit on guard at first, but after that I don’t see any change in his[15] attitude.
So I think it’s good to have a connection with him and through him, all the Special Students.
Maybe it’s time to bow my head fair and square and ask for his cooperation.
But....... I should admit it.
I'm afraid of him.
I am scared.
I wonder, is it because Sylphy is strong that she is not afraid of him.
Or maybe it’s because she saw his true nature? After seeing Sylphy’s happy face, I would feel bad about getting Rudeus tangled in my struggle for power.
I want Sylphy to be happy.
It does not seem likely for me to be able to grasp happiness, but she is just a child who got tangled up in my struggle for power.
She has no responsibility as a noble, nor like Luke who has sworn loyalty to me.
She is just helping me out of friendship.
She has no need to go as far as to lie in her blood for my sake.
She better leave at some point and have a happy life as a girl.
Sylphy may not accept it.
She, being aware of her position as my ally, did her best, but her love for Rudeus might be a good opportunity.