Chapter Text
Standing before a Being shrouded in shadow and feeling its non-existent eyes on you, looking through your very being. It made you shudder.
How you managed to get into this situation, you weren’t entirely certain. One second you were at home, lazing around on the couch. The next second, white had completely clouded your vision and you were no longer at home. You were here, in this weird space. It was strange, unable to tell if you were dreaming or not because you were positive that you were awake.
Right?
“Hey uh-“
“Oh, good you aren’t frozen in disbelief!” The voice invaded your brain, like you couldn’t block it out even if you wanted.
What?
“Most mortals never survive the pull,” sorry, the what now? “But you survived! Congrats you’ve been randomly selected to partake in the…” it trailed off, the fake enthusiasm fading from its voice, “oh, this is your…sixth attempt.”
“WHAT?” The Being groaned, clearly not wanting to do or explain more than it had to.
“You’re going into another world,” it said slowly, “why do I even bother, you already know about it I’ll send you on your way.”
“Hold on!”
“Oh, and don’t forget you’re supposed to help the main character and stuff, there’s like different routes you can do…and you already chose your route last time, why am I explaining this?” The floor beneath you opened up and everything went dark.
The next time you saw light, you were opening your eyes to see some strange people. They looked massive and when you reached out to see your hand was tiny. What in the Mushoku Tensei was this shit? You were still focused on what that Being said to you, something about your sixth attempt? How could it be if you didn’t even remember any other supposed attempts? Not to mention different routes? This was so stupid. Everything was stupid. Your dumb baby hands and your stupid baby body.
As you grew up it had become obvious with time just what world you had been tossed into. Gachiakuta. Not the absolute worst but you certainly knew it wasn’t the best either. Of all the worlds, why the trash one? With the beasts and the trash and the-gah! At the very least you looked like yourself, so that was a relief. Also, the previous you had picked some bougie ass route because you were on the Sphere of all places. Surely there was a catch. There was always a catch. Help the main character was obvious but you couldn’t shake the feeling that the route thing was important. Not only were you a Sphereite but you had been born into what seemed like a pretty important family. Not that you minded, the ability to move around freely without people or guards questioning you was pretty nice. Even when they did question you, being a kid meant you could say something stupid and they would believe you and let you carry on. It was a pretty sweet gig.
You didn’t forget about Rudo though. Able to find the trash receptacle he cried in front of after Regto adopted him you made sure to watch from a distance every day around sunset. Despite the lessons you had to endure, thankfully they weren’t that hard since…well you technically weren’t a kid, just had the body of one. It took years of sitting under a tree, pretending to be reading until Rudo had finally shown up. Running over to that receptacle to grab a mask that had gotten stuck. Watching it play out in person really hit different. This small child you couldn’t do anything for. Not yet at least. Covering your face in your book unable to stop the ugly tears coming from you. That’s right Rudo, that mask was still good and so are you dammit.
When lying in bed that night you couldn’t help but try to formulate some kind of plan. You could take trash out, bring it to that garbage chute, set aside some stuff you think he would like. Thus, your plan to bring Rudo trash was a go. The first time you brought it up to your parents they looked at you like you had a second head, that’s what having servants was for. It wasn’t until you said you just wanted to experience it that they let you. So, you would collect your own small bag of trash, things that weren’t really trash but that just meant more stuff for Rudo. You were determined to get this odd bag of stuff to Rudo. Despite the odd looks from people and the Guards asking you why you were lugging around a bag of trash. You pressed on, the silly explanation of ‘this trash chute is lucky’ made the guards laugh and leave you be. It was too easy. Every time you brought a bag you made sure nobody was watching when you set the bag to the side of the chute rather than in it. Was it a really round about way to make contact with Rudo? Yes? But you had to gain his trust first, the look he gave others was scary and you did not want it pointed at you. Your efforts had finally bore fruit, after leaving another bag you had turned to leave like usual only for your sleeve to get tugged. When you looked back you noticed it was Rudo. You just wanted to squish those cheeks and ruffle his hair, but you resisted.
“Rudo!” Regto had come darting through the gate, “you can’t just grab people, I’m so sorry about my son.”
“It’s okay,” you looked at Rudo, putting a finger to your lips, “it’ll be our secret, kay?” He nodded slowly and you took off, giving the two a wave before disappearing around a corner.
That was the start of your relationship with Rudo and Regto. The kid really was sweet. If socially awkward. Regto was like a father to you, more of a father than your current one anyway. Even if you could only visit in the evenings, after your lessons and socializing with the friends your parents had picked out for you, you made time to see them. A getaway from the stuffy, snobbish environment. Your own secret, a double life even. Rudo had become more than just a character in some story to you, he was your rambunctious kid brother. One you snuck trash and rich people food to.
It was maybe a few months after you first met Rudo that you met another prominent figure in Gachiakuta. Your mother had gotten you all dolled up, even buying a special outfit for you to wear. Though all the outfits on the Sphere looked the fucking same to you but that was besides the point. The white fabric was restrictive, all gold embellishments and trim with a high neckline. It’s not that you were unable to move, your mother ensured that you could still dance in these clothes, but the shit felt very tight against your skin. Your parents had dressed themselves up as well, much fancier than you'd ever seen at least. Questions piled up in your mind, but the answers came later on. As you walked together towards the castle in the center of the Sphere. It wasn't a long walk, but you were very confused. Were your parents richer than you thought? What kind of route did your previous self choose?!
Once arriving your parents went to go off somewhere else. It wasn't until you rushed to join them that they laughed in that way. Pushing you back the other way. One of the guards coming to your family to help.
“This is just a fun ball for you to enjoy with your friends and other kids your age.” Your mother's explanation was simple, but you needed more context.
“Where are you going though?” Watching their faces, they seemed rather giddy about something. You just didn't know what.
“Us adults are going to be talking with the other adults,” your father joined in, “don't worry sweetheart, we won't be far.” He removed his hand from your shoulder once your mother cleared her voice. The looks they gave you told you to go, the same look you got when asking too many annoying questions or when they noticed your odd behaviour.
This was just for politics, wasn't it?
“Okay.” You waved them off before the palace guard guided you to where you needed to be.
The ballroom. Large, extravagant, everything you would expect from Sphereite royalty. Dessert tables lined with some of the tastiest things you’ve ever seen. Tapestries lined the walls as grand crystal chandeliers hung from gold plated chains. An orchestra played in the background. Your friends were also there and chatting away with each other. It was rather boring, talk of what boy they wanted to dance with was the talk of your little circle. Though for a bunch of kids teetering on teen-hood it wasn't all that surprising. What caught your attention was when the supposed prince was announced, your friends all squealing in delight and excitement. You pretended to as well, at least until you saw said prince. It was fucking Tamsy. You forgot all about that, the time you had spent focusing on Rudo made you forget all about him. How could you forget about that fucker? When he was twenty-three and hot and also fictional it was one thing. But seeing him here, as a kid in the flesh made your skin crawl. He seemed to adore the attention he was receiving before going to join his own little gaggle of friends. All of your friends had started talking about how cute he was and how princely. As the orchestra switched to dancing music you watched as your friends all got dance partners. There was a gentle tap on your shoulder when you were grabbing another chocolate off one of the many dessert tables.
“Would you care to dance?” A shy voice coming from an equally shy boy. He held out his hand for you to take. You figured why not; all those dancing lessons your parents made you take could finally be useful. Just as you placed your hand in his, the kid got decked in the face before getting tackled to the floor. The music continued to play, the few guards that were around ignoring the scene playing out before them. Other kids watched on in horror but continued dancing. The culprit was Tamsy. His fists raining down on the poor boy, rage clouding his eyes. All the kid could do was accept it, terrified while doing his best to shield himself.
“Stop it.” Your voice was firm and you know he heard it but the fucker ignored it, “I said stop!” Fist raised high before you brought it down on him. Decking him square in the face. There was a stunned silence even as the orchestra continued. In his daze the kid he had been beating on scrambled away. Tamsy, wiping the blood from his nose stood up, his gaze turning on you. Other kids watched with bated breath wondering what would happen next.
Oh boy.
He tackled you but you weren't just going to let him beat you up. Pulling on his hair he yelled out, grabbing your face in response since all of your hair was up. If that’s how he wanted to play. Using all the strength in your small body you pushed him off, using the chance to then kick him right in the gut. He didn't like that. His hands found your throat, pushing against one of the dessert tables. You clawed at his face, pulled at his hair, nothing. Reaching behind you and grabbing a plate off the table you smashed it into his head. He finally let go of your throat. You coughed as you regained the ability to breathe again.
What a little prick.
Just as the orchestra reached its crescendo you lunged at him. Another round of hair pulling, swatting and clawing at each other. Your scuffle caused you to bump into a suit of armor, the thing toppled and the sword in its hand came down. Slicing through the air and clattering onto the marble floor. There was a brief moment, you watched his eyes land on the sword before he went for it.
Oh hell no.
You smacked his hand with the sword making him drop the thing. Just when you were fending him off again, bodies hitting the floor, you had been scooped up and carried off elsewhere. Watching as the guards had finally stepped in to help Tamsy up. Gazes locked onto each other until it was forcibly severed, a wall between you and him. Your father had set you down, then began reprimanding you. Not letting you get a single word in. He brought you to another room, sitting you on one of the couches before heading off somewhere. A nurse came in shortly after, checking your wounds, giving you ice for the bruises that were starting to form. You could only imagine what your mother would fuss about, your face getting ruined? Your fancy clothes? They were more worried about appearances than anything else. After the nurse patched you up you were left alone, left to think about what was going to happen next.
What happened next was…interesting to say the least. After everyone had gone home for the night, you were standing face to face with Tamsy. His cuts and bruises also patched up. His parents stood behind him as yours stood behind you. Both parties apologizing to each other for their children but not making their children apologize. They talked about the deal they had but you didn't bother paying attention, too focused on not tackling him a second time. Once apologies and understandings were met you were sent home, your parents quiet the entire way home. It was always bad when they didn't even say anything on the way home, even after getting home they just sent you to bed.
Oh it was bad bad.
You found out the next day that your lessons had been increased. You were also forbidden from going to any future events like that one. Which was fine by you. The less you had to see that jerks face the better. Other parents had labelled you violent and you had been barred from even talking to their kids. Fine. It was fine. Not like you needed them. You knew that in the future you would be following Rudo to the ground anyway, you didn't need them. The next time you met up with Rudo and Regto, the man observant as always, noticed how you were a lot quieter than usual. After minimal prodding you spilled the beans.
“So, you beat up a kid because he was beating up another kid?”
“Yes.” You purposefully left out the fact that it was the prince. Details y'know?
“Your heart is in the right place, I think that’s all that matters, though I don't condone violence.”
“I know,” you avoided his eyes, “nobody else was doing anything, I wasn’t just going to stand there.” Fiddling with the fabric of your sleeves you bit back tears. Hearing the disappointment in Regto's voice was worse than hearing it from your parents.
“Chin up kid! Most people wouldn't step in, you did.” He pats your head while Rudo just hugged you, not saying a word but it was enough to make the tears finally fall. You may have the mind of an adult, but you were still in the body of a kid. You could act as cool headed as you wanted. It wouldn't change the fact you still had bruises around your neck.
Years of harsh tutors and lessons getting drilled into every fibre of your being. Dance, piano, manners, history, politics, everything your parents could hire a tutor for they did. It kept you busy but was it exhausting. If they found a flaw you would have to restart, it was like some form of torture in the beginning. A punishment for doing the right thing. It was all so you could be rebranded your mother said, to make everyone forget about your violent outburst. She was waiting for the perfect opportunity to show you off, as if you were her magnum opus. It had taken maybe a year for her to convince other parents you were safe to be around, though some were still weary. Your only saving grace was your act of rebellion. At least that’s what you liked to call it. Helping Rudo steal trash was what you would call a passion by now. Directing the guards the wrong way, sneaking him things your parents would've thrown away, covering for him. After your lessons, after your studying, the moment you were granted an ounce of free time you spent it with Rudo and through extension Regto. If you could live with Rudo and Regto you would have. But it seemed like your parents still had a use for you. Why else would they spend so much money on tutors and the like. There was no sign of that strange Being either. Seventeen years of being in this world and nothing, not a peep. It was odd, you almost started to believe you had imagined it all. The life you once had felt like nothing but a distant dream yet you knew it was real. Rudo being your reminder. How else could you know about the events that would happen in the future? It was dark out when you had returned from hanging out with Rudo, teasing him about his crush on Chiwa, to find your parents waiting for you in the foyer. Noticing the fancy letter in your mother’s hand, gold cursive lettering catching the light.
“We've been waiting for you,” her heeled foot tapped against the marble, “you've received an invitation.” She held it out to you. Taking it carefully, as if it might bite you, you scanned the page. A personal invitation to the prince’s engagement ball, written and signed by the prince himself.
“You’re going to let me go?” Sceptical you really looked over the letter, the thick white paper and- was that real fucking gold? Why were you even surprised at this point?
“Of course you’re going.” Her voice was filled with excitement, “I didn’t spend all that time and money making you perfect for you not to go.”
“But what about-“
“You are going.” His voice was firm, delivering your fate like a sentence. It’s like he knew you were going to bring up the fight.
Needless to say, you weren’t looking forward to it. You’d been fine having others over for tea and the like, it kept you up to date on events without needing to attend yourself. You didn’t have to see Tamsy and he didn’t have to see you. Not having to worry about fancy parties also meant no uncomfortable clothes. Either way it just screamed cliché. Especially if the last ball you went to was just a simple fun with friends. You could only imagine they’d be pulling out all the stops for this one considering the occasion. His engagement. It almost made you laugh, knowing what you know. Even he couldn’t escape those stupid noble type obligations. You feared for the girl he would be marrying, wished her the best of luck.
“Hey, you’re staring off into space again.” Rudo’s hand waved in front of your face.
“Sorry,” the two of you were having an impromptu picnic near the wall, “I’ve been very distracted lately.” You had brought some of the leftovers from lunch, food that was going to be tossed away despite being untouched.
“With what? Fancy rich people stuff?” He teased but you nodded.
“Fancy rich people stuff.” You affirmed before groaning, “I don’t know what to do man, I’m supposed to go to this party, but you remember when I beat that kid up right?” He nodded, “He’s going to be there, and I can’t skip this one out.”
“Just use the excuse you always give.”
“I tried! My parents didn’t want to hear it,” you just wanted to jump into the pit, “I’m so screwed.”
“Why not skip out anyway? Show up but then just…leave?” His words made a lightbulb go off in your mind.
“Rudo you genius!” You gave the boy a hug, “I’ll have to figure out the layout of the place, but I think I can pull it off,” then you remembered it was tomorrow, “shit, I gotta go but I’ll talk to you after and tell you how it went.”
“Good luck!” He waved you off and you shot back a thumbs up. You were heading home as quickly as possible, scheming required time, time you had very little of.
After your parents had gone to bed you made your move. Creeping through the house to your father’s study, shelves full of books lined the walls. It took some searching, but you had found just what you needed, the layout to the castle. Why your father had that of all things you didn’t want to know, you just knew that it was useful to you now. Scanning through the pages about the history of each room, trying to find somewhere you could escape to after arriving. The library seemed like your best bet, it was on the same floor as the ballroom, and it looked like you could get there fairly easily. Public enough that you could explain your way out of the situation. It was perfect, the perfect plan. Doing your best to map out the route in your mind it took some time, but you think you could manage. Honestly the more you looked at the layout the more it reminded you of the Palace of Versailles. The grandeur and sheer size of the castle, its gardens and estates were something else. How the hell all of that, plus an entire inner city and outer city, simply floated in the clouds like it was nothing made you question just what kind of technology the sphere was packing. You heard the grandfather clock chime twice; it was two in the morning.
Fuck.
Hurriedly putting the books away and going to bed. Playing out your plan in your head like a mantra, not wanting to forget. Sleep found you, after what felt like too long. All while dreading tomorrow.