Chapter 035: Mushoku Tensei: The Sensation of Not Dying - Rudy's Domineering Declaration (Patreon)

With a bright, brilliant smile on his face, he stood alone, facing the scrutiny of everyone at the banquet.

Rudy, naturally, let his gaze sweep slowly across the crowd before finally speaking, unhurried:

"Everyone, I believe this isn't the first time you've seen me. But this time, please allow me to introduce myself once more. I'm Rudy, an Emperor-rank mage who's rather prone to extremes.

You may not fully grasp just how formidable Emperor-rank truly is, but let me put it plainly — if anyone offends me, I'll answer in the cruelest way possible: I'll wipe out that person's entire clan, down to the very last one!!!

I'm sure you're all wondering why I'd go to such extremes. But... by nature, I really don't want my family to get hurt. If someone offends me and I only take action against the one responsible, wouldn't everyone connected to them end up holding a grudge against me instead??

When would such a cycle of vengeance ever end? To avoid being dragged into endless conflict, I will wipe out that person's entire clan, down to the very last one!!!

Please believe the promise made by an Emperor-rank mage who could annihilate the strength of several Roa Towns in the blink of an eye!! I absolutely have the power to back up every word I say!!!

Until now, Lord Saulos may have shown all of you great leniency, and naturally, I won't do anything to make anyone here unhappy. In the end, this world runs best when everyone gets along, and I'm committed to walking toward a better future alongside all of you.

But many things need a firm line drawn somewhere — and what I just said is exactly that line!!!

As Miss Eris's future husband, I will also become Lord Saulos's staunchest supporter going forward. So — does anyone here have a problem with what I've just said??"

As Rudy's ruthless words rang out, the entire hall fell into dead silence. Except for Saulos and Philip, who already knew everything, everyone else was utterly stunned by the declaration.

When they'd first arrived, they had simply received Saulos's invitation to celebrate the birthday of the youngest Emperor-rank mage. But only now did they begin to understand — this was no mere birthday party. It was a warning aimed at those within the territory who'd been making small moves of their own. And not just an ordinary warning, either.

There was more to it than that. Lord Saulos was also paving the way for the Rudy standing before them. Becoming an Emperor-rank mage at just ten years old, and being able to display it so openly — everyone was astonished, yet none of them believed Saulos would stage such a thing purely for show.

So the Rudy before them undoubtedly possessed genuine Emperor-rank power. And a mage of that caliber stood among those at the very top of the world's pyramid. Wiping out an entire town would be nothing more than a wave of the hand to him. Lord Saulos, it seemed, was truly on the verge of a great rise.

For a moment, countless thoughts flickered through everyone's minds. But no matter what they were thinking, faced with Rudy's overbearing presence, they all put on their brightest smiles, clapping and cheering to play up his dominance.

As for any hot-headed fool who might dare challenge Rudy? No one here was that stupid. Right after making such a declaration, he was practically waiting for someone to make an example of — to kill the chicken and scare the monkeys. Anyone foolish enough to rush forward would only be playing straight into his hands.

And so, amid everyone's bright smiles, the banquet began with fervor and ended with just as much.

Compared to Eris's tenth birthday celebration, everyone was even more enthusiastic at Rudy's — because of the power he'd revealed. Emperor-rank strength, undeniably standing at the very top of the world!

Even though the side of Rudy they'd witnessed was utterly cold-blooded, this world had never lacked opportunists. And once most people had climbed aboard, the few who refused to follow wouldn't live long. So whether they wanted to or not, everyone put on a face of boundless enthusiasm.

Rudy, for his part, graciously accepted everyone's warmth. And in this way, those who got close to him found themselves growing both more afraid of him and more fervent in their admiration.

At only ten years old, with overwhelming strength and a personality calculated to perfection, he was, in every respect, someone absolutely not to be crossed.

The celebration came to an end. But Rudy's name — the youngest ten-year-old Emperor-rank mage — spread by word of mouth through the upper echelons of the Asura Kingdom. As time passed, it even reached the ears of the nobility in other nations. But that's a story for later.

For now, with the banquet over, Eris, Hilda, Philip, and Saulos, along with Rudy, Sylphiette, and Ghislaine — seven people in all — were gathered by Rudy in a small parlor beside the banquet hall.

Since Rudy had already announced his relationship with Eris in front of everyone during the banquet, and with all the knowledge her family had been instilling in her on top of that, Eris now sat there blushing furiously, utterly flustered.

"Rudy, was there something you wanted to gather everyone for?" Philip asked with a smile.

"What if I told you all to temporarily evacuate Fittoa Territory?" Rudy said with a smile.