Jobless Reincarnation: Live Seriously Even Without Transfer Events

Dongjia looked at the wine in the glass, the candlelight flickering in the amber liquid.

"His Majesty is only fifteen years old. But I saw him on the battlefield, and I felt that he might become a good emperor in the future, rather than dying at the age of fifteen in conspiracy and betrayal..."

“Almost all the men in Buena village are dead, and perhaps not just in Buena, but in other villages as well… People need a good emperor, and perhaps Duke Ars is one too, after all, his father, Lord Rudius, made the Asra Empire much stronger than ever before…”

“What I mean is… I just feel… if His Majesty dies on the battlefield… that would not be a just act… Duke Yars or his descendants will also face this day… then anyone can kill the emperor of the Boreas family… the war will never stop…”

Donga drank more and more wine, and his words became increasingly rambling: "My name... comes from a knight named Donga, who made me his squire... After he died... I inherited his name... I grew up in the flea nest of Ars... He told me... a knight... must... must use righteous means... for people to accept him..."

York stared at Donga for a long time, then finally sighed: "You're a fool, Donga Grerat. But maybe...maybe the Empire needs more fools like you."

"Tomorrow, I'll be in the stands. Whatever the outcome, don't die."

Having said that, the Earl of York left.

After the door closed, Dongjia sat alone in the candlelight. He looked at the corner of the wall, where his long sword, which he never used, leaned against. The dust and bloodstains on the scabbard had been wiped away, and it reflected a dim luster in the candlelight.

This is the sword that Duke Ars bestowed upon him; it is a symbol of his knighthood…

Tomorrow, he will take this sword to fight against the younger brother of the man who gave him the sword: Sieghart Boreas Grerath.

……

As the first rays of dawn pierced the horizon, thousands of people had already gathered on the grasslands outside the city of Roya.

The battlefield was cleared into a circular area, about fifty paces in diameter, which was simply enclosed by ropes.

A viewing platform was set up on the east side, where nobles such as the Duke of Arles and the Earl of York were already seated.

On the west side was the emperor's seat, where George Lant sat with a thick bandage wrapped around his left shoulder, but his back was ramrod straight.

Civilians were not allowed to approach, but many people still climbed the city walls or looked out from the distant hillsides.

When Dongjia entered the dueling arena, he felt countless eyes on him.

He wore a half-body plate armor, covered by an unmarked white cloak, and in his hand he held a standard legion-issue longsword, two fingers wide and three feet long, without any decoration.

"He didn't use the sword the Duke gave him..."

A murmur of discussion arose from the audience. A knight wielding ordinary weapons was actually going to face the legendary Duke of the North…

When Sieghart entered from the other side, everyone immediately fell silent.

The Duke of the North wore his signature black plate armor, the plates adorned with intricate vine patterns that reflected a dark luster in the morning light. He wore no helmet, his long, emerald-green hair tied back, revealing his perfectly sculpted face. In his hand lay the legendary Phoenix Dragon Sword, once wielded by the sword god Gar Farion!

The two met in the center of the arena, bowed to each other, and then returned to the end of their respective arenas to mount their warhorses.

Dongga's warhorse had died in the previous battle, and the horse breeders around Roya City were all vying to give him their best horses. He picked the cheapest one and told the horse breeder that he would return it to him after the battle.

Sieghart rode a tall Donadi horse with a red mane, strong and proud, which had accompanied Sieghart in many battles and had experience in hundreds of battles.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

As the bugle sounded, their horses charged forward simultaneously. In what seemed like an instant, Sir Donga Grellatt fell from his horse to the ground, his sword broken in two.

……

When Dongjia woke up, he found himself lying on a soft bed.

Sunlight streamed in through the windows, illuminating the exquisite furniture and tapestries in the room. This was neither a military camp nor an inn, but the mansion of a nobleman.

The door opened, and Ryan walked in carrying a basin of water.

"Sir! You're awake!" the boy exclaimed in surprise.

"Where am I?" Dongjia asked, his voice hoarse.

"The Earl's Mansion in Royal City, the home of Lord York."

Ryan helped him sit up and fed him water. "You were unconscious for two days. The army doctor said you lost too much blood, your ribs were broken, and several of your internal organs were cut open, but you still survived."

Dongjia drank a few sips of water and felt better: "Where is His Majesty? Where is Duke Sieghart?"

"His Majesty has abdicated in favor of Duke Ars and returned to the capital."

Ryan lowered his voice, "Lord Sieghart left yesterday, taking his Northern Legion back to the Northern Continent."

"Lord Sieghart came to see you before he left, and said that you are a true knight and that he has great respect for you."

……

One month later, in the village of Buena.

Autumn has arrived, the wheat in the fields is golden yellow, the windmills are turning slowly, everything is the same as when Dongjia left, yet it seems different.

He rode a newly bought horse slowly into the village. The villagers were surprised to see him, and then they all gathered around him.

"The knight is back!"

"Sir Donga! Are you alright!"

"I heard you saved the emperor!"

The news has spread.

Donga's deeds in the city of Roya were sung by bards, and now the whole territory of Fituia knows of them:

It is said that a legendary knight emerged from the village of Buena, saving the former emperor at a crucial moment. The emperor then demanded a trial by combat with Duke Ars to face Duke Sieghart of the North, but no one was willing to fight for the emperor. At this moment, the tall Sir Donga stepped forward, and he fought Duke Sieghart for three days and three nights, almost resulting in Duke Sieghart's defeat...

Dongga listened to the untrue rumors without offering any explanation or saying much. He walked through the crowd and saw the miller's wife sitting alone at her doorstep, husking corn. Tom's blacksmith shop was also closed, and his wife had been bought by the nobleman of Roya to work as a servant. There were also several young wives who had recently married sitting at their doorsteps waiting for their husbands to return... Dongga could only glance at them from afar before leaving.

Until they reached their own front gate...

Aisha stood there, still holding a broom, looking at him with tears welling up in her eyes.

Dongjia dismounted and ran towards his wife.

[Side Story] The Love of the Water God (Part 1)

Even without the transfer event, I'll still take this Mushoku Tensei fanfic seriously [Side Story]: The Love of the Water God (Part 1)

Sometimes, we think we need a tangible ending to let go, but many farewells in life are actually completed unconsciously...

……

In the year 445 of the Ankylion Calendar, under the leadership of Robin Notos Greirat, the senior minister of the Personnel Department of the Asura Empire and lord of the Black Dragon Territory of the Three Ridges of the Royal Dragon, an educational reform was carried out. This reform broke with the past practice of uniformly grouping students regardless of age. Instead, the Asura Royal Academy was divided into three departments—Elementary, Middle, and Higher—based on students' age at enrollment and academic level. It offered multiple disciplines, including magic, theology, literature and history, natural sciences, ethnography, and martial arts. To further recruit talent, the classes were expanded from noble and commoner classes to include outstanding students from various disciplines in the "Advanced Scholars' Class." Those who entered the Advanced Scholars' Class could directly rise to the rank of middle noble, while middle and upper nobles could enjoy a three-year tax exemption on their territories. The members of the "Advanced Scholars' Class" were not fixed and their stay or departure was determined by their examination results.

……

It was the year 446 of the Kokuryū calendar, the season when cherry blossoms were falling.

Siegharut Boreas Grerat stood by the window of his classroom in the middle school's Imperial Examination Department, gazing at the century-old tree in the courtyard. Petals fell onto the bluestone slabs, carpeting them with pale pink velvet. A year had passed since he entered the Imperial Examination Department, yet he still hadn't felt at home.

The title "Imperial Examination" sounds impressive, and nominally it is to forcibly gather the best students from various disciplines together to compete with each other and select talents for the Silver Palace. However, in reality, Rudeus also had some considerations for the stability of his rule after the bloody purge that had just ended in his country and the war against the Dragon King Kingdom.

Zieg knew very well that he was able to sit here entirely because of a single sentence his father had said:

"Even if he's my son, his grades matter."

This statement sounded selfless, but in reality, it made all the examiners hesitant to reject him easily, even though Rudius's original intention was not to let Sieg enter the imperial examination.

Sieg's strength is undeniable: although he only came of age last year, he has reached the Saint level in all four types of attack magic and can cast them without chanting. Even though he is completely ignorant of the Water God Stream, he has still earned the titles of Northern God and Sword Emperor.

With such abilities, he achieved a superior level in magic, an above-average level in literature and history, and a terrible level in theology at school. Although he had tried his best to be lenient due to his father's expectations, the examiners kept his overall score in an awkward position: not enough to be kicked out of the imperial examination, but also never enough to be among the top students.

"Zig, spacing out again?"

Light footsteps sounded behind him, but Zieg didn't turn around; he knew who it was.

Livia Hyperion Grerat, the legitimate daughter of the Hyperion family, a collateral branch of the Boreas family, is one of the few people in the scholar Cori who is willing to speak to him. She has dark red curly hair and eyes that are always smiling, and her personality is cheerful to the point of being noisy.

"Thinking about something," Zieg replied briefly.

"What are you thinking about? You're not thinking about how to surpass me in the next monthly exam, are you?"

Livia leaned closer and deliberately bumped him with her shoulder. "Don't dream about it. I'm second in the class for literature and history."

"And what about your magic?"

"...Let's not talk about this, we can still be friends."

Zieg's lips twitched slightly, which could be considered a smile. Livia was the first person he met after arriving at the Imperial Academy.

On the first day of school, he stood alone in front of the bulletin board looking for his classroom. Livia walked over smugly, pointed to the map on the wall and said, "You're a freshman, right? The classrooms for the Imperial Examination are in the East Campus. I'll take you there."

At that moment, Sieg was even a little flattered. At the Asura Royal Academy, there were many people who took the initiative to show goodwill to the son of the Regent, and almost everyone knew him. But Livia was a little special. She didn't seem to regard Sieg as the son of some great person at all, but just as a kind-hearted person.

Later, Sieg learned that this young lady from the baron's family in the border town of Fituia had grown up in the territory and knew nothing about the intricacies of the capital. By the time she learned of Sieg's identity, she had already become familiar with him and simply pretended not to know.

“By the way,” Livia suddenly lowered her voice, “have you heard? A new girl has transferred here. She’s supposedly a commoner who grew up in the magical city of Sharia, but she has amazing swordsmanship talent and was specially recruited into the Imperial Academy as an international student.”

Zieg frowned slightly: "Commoners were specially recruited into the imperial examination?"

Since the reforms at the Asura Royal Academy a year ago, it has become common for commoners to be admitted to the Imperial Academy based on their academic performance, but no one, not even a noble, has ever been specially recruited into the Imperial Academy.

"Surprised? I find it unbelievable too. But I heard it was your father who personally approved it, saying something like 'talent doesn't care about background'."

Livia shrugged. "This is getting interesting. Who knows, maybe he's a Water God Style user. Your title as the best swordsman in the grade might be challenged."

Zieg didn't respond. He didn't care about the title of "first in the grade". He just muttered to himself: How much stronger can he be?

But he was indeed curious about what kind of commoner his father would make an exception for and recruit.

Until the Water God Style swordsmanship class that day, the swordsmanship training ground was located on the east side of the academy. It was a huge stone building, with the interior divided into several areas, each used for training different styles.

The Water God Style swordsmanship course for the Imperial Academy is taught by Augut Ekel, the Imperial Swordsmanship Instructor. He is the son of the contemporary Water Goddess, Lieda Lia, and a Water God Style Emperor-level swordsman who has mastered all Water God Style techniques. He made great contributions on the battlefield of conquering the Dragon King Kingdom.

"Today, I'd like to introduce a new student to everyone."

Augut’s voice was loud and clear, “Izoruna, born into a commoner family in the Kingdom of Lanoa, has an exceptional talent for swordsmanship. With the special permission of the Regent, she has been admitted to the Imperial Academy. From today onwards, she will train with you in the Water God Style swordsmanship.”

Zig's gaze passed over the shoulders of the students in front of him and landed on the figure standing next to Augut.

She was a girl about his age, not very tall, but with a straight posture. She had long, dark blue hair, which was casually tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head, revealing her well-defined profile. Her skin was fair with a hint of rosiness. Her face, which had been exposed to the wind and sun of the three magical kingdoms in the north for many years, was in stark contrast to the pampered noble children around her.

Her eyes were light gray, clear as the spring snowmelt that formed a stream on the Red Dragon Mountain range, but the beauty mark under her right eye was particularly eye-catching.

“Izoluna,” Augut gestured to the line, “you go stand over there.”

She nodded and silently walked to the end of the line. The noble students around her automatically made way for her, but Izoruna didn't react at all. She just stood quietly, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

"Alright, today's training will be live-fire sparring."

August clapped his hands. "Two people per pair, free pairing. Nobles against nobles, commoners against..."

He paused, looked at Izoruna and then at Sieg, "You'll be paired with Sieghart."

Before the words were finished, a low chuckle rippled through the ranks. Everyone knew that although Zieg was of noble birth, he had always been a marginal figure in the imperial examinations. Although Zieg was powerful, which noble young master or young lady would dare to show their true strength to Zieg in actual combat and challenge the son of this important figure?

For these noble children, pairing a girl from a commoner background with Zieg was the best thing that could happen.

Sieg didn't move. He watched as Izoluna walked out from the end of the line, steadily approached him, then slightly raised her chin and looked directly at him with her light gray eyes.

"Please give me your guidance," she said.

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, and her tone was neither cold nor warm. Most of the noble students around her cast gloating glances, as if they had already imagined what kind of shocked and timid expression Izaluna would show when she learned that the other party was the son of the Regent.

After all, no one had ever seen what it was like for a commoner to offend the Kanpaku (chief advisor to the emperor).

Zieg nodded: "Please guide me."

The two picked up their wooden swords and walked to the center of the training ground.

[Side Story] The Love of the Water God (Part 2)

Jobless Reincarnation Fanfic: Live Seriously Even Without Transfer Events [Side Story] Water God's Love (Part 2)

The two picked up their wooden swords and walked to the center of the training ground. The surrounding noble students quickly retreated and formed a circle, waiting to see a good show: let's push the plot to the point where a commoner's daughter offends the son of the regent, and the son of the regent is furious and bullies the commoner's daughter!

"start!"

Augut gave the order.

Zieg quickly got into position. Although he knew nothing about the Water God Style, he still knew the most basic starting stance. He held the sword in one hand, with the tip pointing diagonally to the ground, shifted his weight back, and placed his other hand on the sword belt at his waist. The essence of the Water God Style lies in using stillness to control movement.

This is what Sieg couldn't understand the most. They could have taken the initiative, but instead they chose to defend and counterattack. While they were sensing the opponent's killing intent and waiting for the opponent to make a move, the Northern God Style swordsman had already thrown his sword at the opponent, and the Sword God Style swordsman had already cut the opponent's body in half with his sword. Only the Water God Style... was so slow and passive.

However, this rigid and outdated swordsmanship was extremely popular among the nobles in the capital. It was truly baffling that they would give up the opportunity to strike first in order to achieve a seemingly respectable battle!

Izoruna didn't move either. She just stood there, her wooden sword hanging casually at her side. She looked like she was full of openings, but Sieg felt a strange pressure. Her light gray eyes were staring at him intently, as if trying to probe his inner doubts and confusion.

"Swordsmanship is not just about the clash of swords; more importantly, it's about having a strong mind..."

The water goddess Lyda Lia often taught Sieg this when she visited Rudeus, but Sieg still did not understand the meaning of her words until she died five years ago.

"A swordsman who doesn't cultivate martial prowess but instead cultivates mental strength—no matter how strong his mental strength is, he can't withstand a single sword strike!"

In the end, he disregarded the sword techniques of the Water God Style, took a step forward, and swept his wooden sword horizontally towards Izaluna's waist. This move was fast and ruthless, and even though he had already restrained a lot of his strength, it was still very fast.