Translator: Onii-sama
Editors: Kermit Purple / Duck Duck Goose / Mushoku Tensei Discord
Late night.
I’m tailing a girl in a carriage.
While the North God Style is a swordsmanship school, some factions of it also taught tailing techniques.
Not only tailing visible targets, but also tracking the target from the leftover clues.
There are also techniques for hiding and sneak attacks, and to run straight up the wall.
Even though Sensei’s from a different faction, he’s versed in all the techniques since he’s at
the pinnacle of North God Style.
Sensei used to hate techniques outside of his faction, but he seemed to change his mind after fighting his father and was happy to teach me.
In any case, the carriage circled the Magic University for a while and eventually arrived before the mansion of a high noble.
A giant house.
Someone with a house this big might be a friend of Father.
With that in mind, I decided to separate from the carriage and infiltrate the mansion.
The mansion is heavily guarded.
There are probably many things worth stealing in a large mansion like this.
However, I’m versed in North God Style infiltration technique.
I don't know why such a technique exists in a swordsman school, but I was trained in it along with the tailing technique, which came in handy.
How nostalgic. Back then, Sensei took me along and sneaked into various places.
Noble mansions, trading houses, the mercenary armory...
With some help from the Ranoa Knights, we even slipped past the guards of the dignitaries.
By the way, the most secure location in town is the girls' dormitory at Magic University.
It’s guarded by Father’s Rude Mercenary Corps. The beast race and demon race girls that lived there also form their own patrol within.
While the girls are not professionals, the beast race have sensitive noses, and the demon race have other ways to verify people.
With students from all over the world, some even have demon eyes.
Quite literally eyes all over the place.
However, there are ways to deceive the nose and demon eyes, and demons are easy to deal with if you know the race.
That's why I managed to sneak into the mansion with the smoothness of putting water in the colander.
Looking around the inside of the mansion from the ceiling, I found people rushing to and fro making preparations to welcome the bride.
Whether from the maid's clothes or the ingredients and seasoning, you can see that this is a wealthy household.
Yes, extremely wealthy.
I collected some intel before coming today, and knew that this is a noble family that has been a money lender for many generations.
They earned a huge fortune by lending to the Magic Guild and magic tool workshops, even before the City’s founding.
One of Ranoa Kingdom’s wealthiest.
The head of the house is greedy and lustful.
He lends money to poor aristocrats and merchants who are in need of money, and marries their daughters as collateral.
Quite cunning.
Never the eldest daughter.
But the second or third daughter, even if initially reluctant, the parents would eventually “If so…” and hand over their daughter.
It is difficult to find a marriage partner for their second or third daughters for poor aristocrats regardless.
The daughter will be happier to marry someone with money.
Excuses like that.
On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with this.
It does not violate the law.
It can be said that he is only helping an impoverished acquaintance.
There are many such marriages in the world.
But the head of the house here has already married seven wives.
Like collecting women...
That is a villain.
□
I found him in a bedroom.
I knew it was him right away.
He is in his 40s and 50s.
A fat body is about as long as it is wide.
A villian right out of a story.
There must be no mistake.
A hero of justice does not judge people by their appearance.
However, it is indisputable that with food so costly in the north, only the wealthy are able to put on weight.
And according to intel, the household has no sons.
There are other men in the house, but the only one who can be lazy and rich enough to get fat is this.
If this were wrong, I would not believe in money anymore.
"Phew~, today is wedding day, expense clothes. Bring the most expensive clothes."
Sweating despite not doing much in particular, he ordered a steward-looking man.
The room was scattered with enough clothes to cover a large tree, while the butler folded it one by one.
"Master, rather than expensive clothes, why don’t you do something about your waistline instead?"
"Don’t think I won’t fire you!"
"Anyhow, I don't think expensive clothes would make much of a difference..."
"Listen, phew, let me say it again, today’s wedding day.
She might be a collateral, but a bride is a bride.
It’s a day worth celebrating, and we need to welcome her properly into our house.
The food needs to use expensive ingredients, and I must dress up as well.
Making that effort is our duty to this house.
But shrinking my waistline isn’t. ''
"ure."
His words are boastful but sincere.
The aesthetic of a villian, I suppose?
Even if aesthetics doesn’t include doing something about his waistline.
"Phew~, anyways, I'm looking forward to it. The bride this time is especially young and beautiful.
Such an innocent looking thing.
She probably doesn't know what it means to be an adult yet, so put plenty of aphrodisiacs in her meal. ''
"Aphrodisiacs again...?"
"It’s going to happen anyways, why not make it feel better for everyone involved?”
I can’t listen anymore.
This man seems to have his own aesthetics.
But that girl is just an outlet for his libido to him.
Rather than welcoming as a new family member.
Just as if you were buying a new horse, thinking about it as a tool.
"..."
I thought suddenly.
Maybe I would have been treated that way, if I had married Sariel.
Even if not Sariel herself, those around her would.
That’s why I’m against that marriage.
... Well, that has nothing to do with this.
Let's go.
"Stop right there!!"
My voice echoed through the room.
Surprised by the noise, the fat noble and his butler searched around in confusion.
"Yo, pig face! You sex-crazed villain! With your evil deeds in the shadows, even if you hide from the sun, the eyes of the moon will find you!”
Pig face.
Hearing that, the butler looked to his master in suspicion.
The fat noble purses his mouth and meets his butler’s gaze in confusion.
"What did you do, Master?"
"I wouldn’t know even if I thought about it... maybe, it is about you?"
"I’d like to meet the person, if he would call me fat pig when the two of us are standing together. Must have special eyes."
Ah.
The reaction is different from usual. How relaxed.
Oh well.
"Tou!"
I kicked open the ceiling board, spinned, and landed onto a high shelf in the room.
And, pose.
The fat nobleman stood there dumbfound, but the butler shifted his stance.
This butler looks pretty tough.
"Who are you? Who hired you?"
The fat nobleman regained his composition and asked as if it was not uncommon.
If you can say such a line, you are probably always targeted by assassins.
Even so, good question.
I thought no one would ask this time.
"Fufu, me!? I am the knight of the silver moon which shines in the darkness..."
I responded to the question and posed.
"The Ally of Justice, Moon Knight, has arrived!"
The butler looked at the fat nobleman with a confused face.
Why did everyone have the same reaction when I answered my name?
However, the fat nobleman signed. How rare?
"I guess Ally of Justice Moon Knight is the employer..."
"Hmm. I guess you won’t tell your name or your employer then."
Well, I was planning to...
Oh well.
"Villain! In this town I love, I can't forgive marriage just for money and lust!"
"Against marriage ... are you an enemy of that house or the daughter’s suitor?"
"Or maybe Master’s enemy?"
"I'm going to be a villain with so few enemies ..."
"But still a villain."
"I see, so he’s a so-called ally of justice ... Hey, you, let me give you some advice. I'll let you go this time, so get out. If you touch me, you'll just regret it."
Why the sudden advice, I have no idea.
But I am a friend of justice.
I won’t be persuaded by clever words from evil!
"Quit talking! I’m coming!"
I jumped off the shelf.
At the same time, the butler pulled out two daggers from his waist, thin-and-long.
He positioned himself between the fat nobleman in defense.
Apparently, he wasn't just a butler.
But also serve as escorts.
I felt some considerable ability.
But justice will not be defeated!
"Huh! Moonlight Punch!"
"Mystery Flow”
"Oww."
Hearing his murmur, I abruptly pulled my hand back and took a quick backstep.
At the same time, a butler rushed in.
Even though I fell back, pain pulsed through my thighs.
The butler's right-hand dagger had a little bit of blood.
Looked like a shallow cut in my thighs.
"So you managed to dodge that... Too bad it’s coated in poison."
A cold sweat dripped down when I heard his words.
He got me.
Flow is a technique of the Water Sword Style.
A base counter type that leads to all the techniques of the Water God.
The Water God Style treats it as one of the most important techniques, thus called it Mystery.
In fact, it is even said that even if it is a basic skill, at extreme it can even return any attack.
But today’s different.
I just said it.
He made me watch vigilant with words alone and sneaked in a counter when I hesitated.
"Don't kill him, Laurus. It's a festive day, don't dirty it with blood. Capture him and squeeze out his employer. Once you know your employer, use money to take care of the rest."
"But this man is quite skillful ... Gonna be difficult to capture him alive?"
"... It's unusual for you to call someone skillful."
"If you can avoid my blow, it has to be skill."
Full of confidence.
That slash is good proof.
However, I sparred with various teachers before.
Sword God Style, North God Style, Water God Style, Even spear wielding demons warriors.
A dual dagger-wielding opponent is not impossible to handle.
Daggers differ in speed from long swords.
Time is different and slashing trajectory is different.
The overall range is small and there are few gaps.
In general swordsmen prefer longswords, using daggers only as sidearms.
Although there are dagger techniques in the North God Style, they do not use thin daggers like these.
Dagger users... Assassin's Guild?
"Curses… are you from the Assassin Guild!"
"Obviously, but that was before.”
Rough words, unlike his master.
Knife-like lips indicative of his origin.
"Villian that hid in the shadows and attacked people from... Moonlight Kick!"
By the time I noticed, the butler had already drawn close.
To attack in the middle of a line, how devious!!
I dodged the butler’s sneak attack and returned a strike.
"Moonlight Hook!"
The butler swiftly avoided it, and drew his dagger in a single motion.
The legs do not seem to move at all.
An Assassin's Guild move.
Drawing close without me realizing, I'm already within his range.
The rotation of the butler's attack does not stop.
It is a terrible onslaught.
"Moonlight Kick! Moonlight Punch! Moonlight Flip!"
But some of the guys I've sparred with before also belonged to Assassin's Guild.
Taking advantage of that experience, I handled the onslaught brilliantly.
"Moon ... uh!"
But I had little to spare.
I couldn’t land a hit between his dagger blows.
He had good range management.
Keeping a distance where my fists can’t reach but his daggers could.
My fists won’t land, but his dagger sometimes scratched my body, bit-by-bit landing cuts.
If the dagger is poisoned, I might not be able to move by this time.
Even though I'm barehanded, this butler might be able to reach King Class.
Sometimes I want to use healing magic instead of attack, but there’s no opportunity...
However, I don't feel my life’s endangered.
"Well, someone with power like you ... why help the villain!"
I asked while keeping a distance.
Men who belonged to Assassin's Guild rarely appear like this.
Not to mention this level of skill.
That would not be the case for personal escort.
"Hah?"
The butler stopped with a stern face and glanced at the fat nobleman.
"Well, this guy isn’t much of a villain."
"What!?"
"I don't know if you're moving on someone's command."
"I'm not taking someone else's instructions! I'm on the side of justice! I'm moving on my own!"
"Not the way I see it...!"
Butler's speed increased.
His feet blurred and moved in a disgusting matter, a dagger flew over..
In an instant, my skin tore and pain shocked through my body.
So strong!
Did the fat nobleman not escape because of trust in his ability?
"Moon ...ugh, moonlight ...?!"
I can't even shout my killer move anymore.
Wearing down bit-by-bit, little by little I’m getting cornered.
My hand is shrinking, I understand I’m getting forced into a checkmate.
It would have been easier if I had a sword...
"Die"
A dagger approaches.
it can not be helped. This isn’t an opponent I can win cleanly.
I immediately decided so and prepared to throw away my left hand.
"North God Style Mystery "Swallow"!"
The dagger cut off a few fingers off my left hand.
But at the same time my left hand passed by the dagger.
"!?"
The butler's fist was shattered and the dagger fell to the floor.
An offset technique that crushes the opponent's fist at the expense of their finger. That is Swallow.
For those who don't expect the offset technique, the moment you think you've cut off their finger, you'll suddenly feel your fist shattered. Only those familiar with North God Style could hope to counter it.
In fact, the butler's posture had collapsed, exposing his body unprotected.
"What...?"
"This is it!"
I do not miss it.
Step deep into the butler with all your strength in your right hand.
"Moonlight! Sere~nade!"
Butler tried to evade, but Serenade is an unavoidable special move. It’s impossible.
The whole fist punched through the butler's torso.
The butler was blown away, bounced off to the ceiling and dropped to the ground.
I did not kill him.
The ally of justice defeats evil, but never kills it.
Hate evil but not evildoers.
"Now..."
I looked toward the fat nobleman, who shivered.
A fat nobleman who looks at me and the fallen butler stunned.
"You idiot..."
"Get ready."
Hearing me, the fat nobleman glanced back.
"... If you kill me, those families I lent my money to will go bankrupt! Then that girl's house will be in ruin! No one can be happy! Please, reconsider!"
I Point my fist at the fat nobleman.
Certainly, even if I beat down this nobleman, the girl's tears will not stop.
Yet that is justice.
"I won’t kill you, but do reflect on what happened. Stop trampling on the lives of innocent girls!"
I held my fists against my waist and readied the Serenade pose.
Let me explain. Moonlight Serenade is a deadly straight punch with my entire weight that is released that cannot be avoided.
One punch that destroys all evil.
Just then.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a voice resounded in the room.
I stopped moving and turned to the one who immediately spoke.
A window.
An open window.
There was a weird guy sitting there.
Muscular body. Black clothes.
He had a helmet on his head.
A rugged, black helmet.
The forehead of the helmet was marked with a yellow lightning-like mark.
"W-who...!?"
He immediately laughed.
"Who am I? I'm a ray of light falling in the darkness, call me ... Lightning!"
A familiar voice.
Hearing that simple introduction, I knew who it was in an instant...
But I couldn't understand why he was here, dressed like that, and identified himself as such.
"What was that?"
"A ray of light falling in the darkness, call me ... Lightning!"
He introduced himself a second time.
He did easily what I felt too embarrassed to do.
"No, no, I mean why here of all place--"
"Lightning!"
A third time.
Confidence in his tone.
Apparently, he had no intention of answering properly.
"Are you a friend of his!"
It was the fat noble who shouted.
He stood up in a hurry and tried to escape from this place.
But Lightning stopped him with his hand.
Just don't move, just sit down, and watch.
Strength in his gestures.
You don’t know what might happen to you if you fail to listen, that strength says.
"Huh, oh..."
The fat nobleman sat back on the chair gloomly.
After seeing it, Lightning turned to me.
"Kukukuku, you're the ‘Justice’ that has been rampaging around here recently... Moon Knight?"
"..."
"I've been letting go until now, but if you disturb us, I'm not so merciful."
"Who are ‘us’?"
"We are the secret society of Evil Shadow Corps."
"Shadow? Huh? No, wait, hold on."
I’m confused.
There wasn’t such a thing until now.
It doesn't seem like the story is connected. What is he talking about? I don’t get it at all.
What is Shadow Corps?
When was I in their way?
"Be quiet!"
Lightning shouted, and at the same time kicked off the window sill.
I responded immediately.
At a reaction speed impressive even for me, I punched at approaching Lightning.
"Moonlight Knuckle!"
"Lightning Kick!"
But Lightning was faster.
My fist and Lightning’s fist hit each other.
He said kick but punched instead!
"...!"
My fists shattered and broke.
The fist, already missing fingers, broke even further at the wrist and protrude in a strange direction.
Pain coursed through my body.
This level of pain I could endure, but my whole fist was crushed and my upper body was midair...
I could see Lightning made a pose.
"Haaaaaa! Lightning Kick! Lighting Kick! Lightning, Lightning, Lightning Punch!"
Five shots from Lightning landed on my body.
Four punches and one kick.
All of those shots landed on my vulnerable points.
I was blown away and smashed into a thick brick wall. The impact pierced the brick wall with ease, and I landed outside.
A momentary floating feeling.
I smashed the ground from the second floor.
"Guh ..."
I stood up quickly after spitting blood clots from my lips.
I applied healing magic to my whole body and prepared for the pursuit.
But there was no pursuit.
Confused, I looked up at the mansion.
He was looking down from above.
"Ha ha ha ha! Was that it, Moon Knight?"
"..."
"You can’t defeat me! I'll let you go for today, so go back and practice some more, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Surely, I couldn’t beat him today.
I knew it better than anyone.
I had no way of breaking through him to that fat nobleman..
Additionally, the surroundings had become rowdy.
His escorts began surrounding to seize me after noticing the endangered nobleman.
If I stay here, I would be surrounded.
Numbers weren’t the problem.
The problem was these people were mere recent hires.
In other words, they are innocent civilians. I can't beat them.
"..."
I ran away from the spot.
It was the first defeat for Justice.
□
After that, I continued to flee.
Racing through the noble district, through the markets, round the warehouse streets, got rid of any tail I might have had, and returned to the secret base.
"Well ..."
I took off my helmet and took a breath.
I looked at my cut-off fingers.
I walked up to a wooden box in one corner of the secret base and took a piece of paper out of it.
A scroll of healing magic.
The healing magic that I could use is up to the advanced level, but the advanced level can not cure lost body parts, so I used scrolls instead.
When the scroll was applied to the affected area and magic poured in, the fingers grew back in a flash.
It has been a long time since I had to cure a wound this way.
When I was training with Sensei, injuries like this were more common...
"..."
And the one who comes to mind was the masked man who appeared in the end.
Lightning.
Who are you… those words I won’t say.
Because I knew his identity.
North God Style martial arts, even better trained than me.
Stronger, faster.
There’s no more than a dozen in the world that fit that description.
In addition, a simple naming sense, Lightning...
No doubt.
His real identity is vassal of the Dragon God Orsted, a colleague of my father Rudeus Greyrat.
Head of North God School.
"North God Kalman III" Alexander Ryback.
My Sensei.
[chapter 9 end]
Translator: Onii-sama
Editors: Kermit Purple / Duck Duck Goose / Mushoku Tensei Discord
Late night.
I’m tailing a girl in a carriage.
While the North God Style is a swordsmanship school, some factions of it also taught tailing techniques.
Not only tailing visible targets, but also tracking the target from the leftover clues.
There are also techniques for hiding and sneak attacks, and to run straight up the wall.
Even though Sensei’s from a different faction, he’s versed in all the techniques since he’s at
the pinnacle of North God Style.
Sensei used to hate techniques outside of his faction, but he seemed to change his mind after fighting his father and was happy to teach me.
In any case, the carriage circled the Magic University for a while and eventually arrived before the mansion of a high noble.
A giant house.
Someone with a house this big might be a friend of Father.
With that in mind, I decided to separate from the carriage and infiltrate the mansion.
The mansion is heavily guarded.
There are probably many things worth stealing in a large mansion like this.
However, I’m versed in North God Style infiltration technique.
I don't know why such a technique exists in a swordsman school, but I was trained in it along with the tailing technique, which came in handy.
How nostalgic. Back then, Sensei took me along and sneaked into various places.
Noble mansions, trading houses, the mercenary armory...
With some help from the Ranoa Knights, we even slipped past the guards of the dignitaries.
By the way, the most secure location in town is the girls' dormitory at Magic University.
It’s guarded by Father’s Rude Mercenary Corps. The beast race and demon race girls that lived there also form their own patrol within.
While the girls are not professionals, the beast race have sensitive noses, and the demon race have other ways to verify people.
With students from all over the world, some even have demon eyes.
Quite literally eyes all over the place.
However, there are ways to deceive the nose and demon eyes, and demons are easy to deal with if you know the race.
That's why I managed to sneak into the mansion with the smoothness of putting water in the colander.
Looking around the inside of the mansion from the ceiling, I found people rushing to and fro making preparations to welcome the bride.
Whether from the maid's clothes or the ingredients and seasoning, you can see that this is a wealthy household.
Yes, extremely wealthy.
I collected some intel before coming today, and knew that this is a noble family that has been a money lender for many generations.
They earned a huge fortune by lending to the Magic Guild and magic tool workshops, even before the City’s founding.
One of Ranoa Kingdom’s wealthiest.
The head of the house is greedy and lustful.
He lends money to poor aristocrats and merchants who are in need of money, and marries their daughters as collateral.
Quite cunning.
Never the eldest daughter.
But the second or third daughter, even if initially reluctant, the parents would eventually “If so…” and hand over their daughter.
It is difficult to find a marriage partner for their second or third daughters for poor aristocrats regardless.
The daughter will be happier to marry someone with money.
Excuses like that.
On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with this.
It does not violate the law.
It can be said that he is only helping an impoverished acquaintance.
There are many such marriages in the world.
But the head of the house here has already married seven wives.
Like collecting women...
That is a villain.
□
I found him in a bedroom.
I knew it was him right away.
He is in his 40s and 50s.
A fat body is about as long as it is wide.
A villian right out of a story.
There must be no mistake.
A hero of justice does not judge people by their appearance.
However, it is indisputable that with food so costly in the north, only the wealthy are able to put on weight.
And according to intel, the household has no sons.
There are other men in the house, but the only one who can be lazy and rich enough to get fat is this.
If this were wrong, I would not believe in money anymore.
"Phew~, today is wedding day, expense clothes. Bring the most expensive clothes."
Sweating despite not doing much in particular, he ordered a steward-looking man.
The room was scattered with enough clothes to cover a large tree, while the butler folded it one by one.
"Master, rather than expensive clothes, why don’t you do something about your waistline instead?"
"Don’t think I won’t fire you!"
"Anyhow, I don't think expensive clothes would make much of a difference..."
"Listen, phew, let me say it again, today’s wedding day.
She might be a collateral, but a bride is a bride.
It’s a day worth celebrating, and we need to welcome her properly into our house.
The food needs to use expensive ingredients, and I must dress up as well.
Making that effort is our duty to this house.
But shrinking my waistline isn’t. ''
"ure."
His words are boastful but sincere.
The aesthetic of a villian, I suppose?
Even if aesthetics doesn’t include doing something about his waistline.
"Phew~, anyways, I'm looking forward to it. The bride this time is especially young and beautiful.
Such an innocent looking thing.
She probably doesn't know what it means to be an adult yet, so put plenty of aphrodisiacs in her meal. ''
"Aphrodisiacs again...?"
"It’s going to happen anyways, why not make it feel better for everyone involved?”
I can’t listen anymore.
This man seems to have his own aesthetics.
But that girl is just an outlet for his libido to him.
Rather than welcoming as a new family member.
Just as if you were buying a new horse, thinking about it as a tool.
"..."
I thought suddenly.
Maybe I would have been treated that way, if I had married Sariel.
Even if not Sariel herself, those around her would.
That’s why I’m against that marriage.
... Well, that has nothing to do with this.
Let's go.
"Stop right there!!"
My voice echoed through the room.
Surprised by the noise, the fat noble and his butler searched around in confusion.
"Yo, pig face! You sex-crazed villain! With your evil deeds in the shadows, even if you hide from the sun, the eyes of the moon will find you!”
Pig face.
Hearing that, the butler looked to his master in suspicion.
The fat noble purses his mouth and meets his butler’s gaze in confusion.
"What did you do, Master?"
"I wouldn’t know even if I thought about it... maybe, it is about you?"
"I’d like to meet the person, if he would call me fat pig when the two of us are standing together. Must have special eyes."
Ah.
The reaction is different from usual. How relaxed.
Oh well.
"Tou!"
I kicked open the ceiling board, spinned, and landed onto a high shelf in the room.
And, pose.
The fat nobleman stood there dumbfound, but the butler shifted his stance.
This butler looks pretty tough.
"Who are you? Who hired you?"
The fat nobleman regained his composition and asked as if it was not uncommon.
If you can say such a line, you are probably always targeted by assassins.
Even so, good question.
I thought no one would ask this time.
"Fufu, me!? I am the knight of the silver moon which shines in the darkness..."
I responded to the question and posed.
"The Ally of Justice, Moon Knight, has arrived!"
The butler looked at the fat nobleman with a confused face.
Why did everyone have the same reaction when I answered my name?
However, the fat nobleman signed. How rare?
"I guess Ally of Justice Moon Knight is the employer..."
"Hmm. I guess you won’t tell your name or your employer then."
Well, I was planning to...
Oh well.
"Villain! In this town I love, I can't forgive marriage just for money and lust!"
"Against marriage ... are you an enemy of that house or the daughter’s suitor?"
"Or maybe Master’s enemy?"
"I'm going to be a villain with so few enemies ..."
"But still a villain."
"I see, so he’s a so-called ally of justice ... Hey, you, let me give you some advice. I'll let you go this time, so get out. If you touch me, you'll just regret it."
Why the sudden advice, I have no idea.
But I am a friend of justice.
I won’t be persuaded by clever words from evil!
"Quit talking! I’m coming!"
I jumped off the shelf.
At the same time, the butler pulled out two daggers from his waist, thin-and-long.
He positioned himself between the fat nobleman in defense.
Apparently, he wasn't just a butler.
But also serve as escorts.
I felt some considerable ability.
But justice will not be defeated!
"Huh! Moonlight Punch!"
"Mystery Flow”
"Oww."
Hearing his murmur, I abruptly pulled my hand back and took a quick backstep.
At the same time, a butler rushed in.
Even though I fell back, pain pulsed through my thighs.
The butler's right-hand dagger had a little bit of blood.
Looked like a shallow cut in my thighs.
"So you managed to dodge that... Too bad it’s coated in poison."
A cold sweat dripped down when I heard his words.
He got me.
Flow is a technique of the Water Sword Style.
A base counter type that leads to all the techniques of the Water God.
The Water God Style treats it as one of the most important techniques, thus called it Mystery.
In fact, it is even said that even if it is a basic skill, at extreme it can even return any attack.
But today’s different.
I just said it.
He made me watch vigilant with words alone and sneaked in a counter when I hesitated.
"Don't kill him, Laurus. It's a festive day, don't dirty it with blood. Capture him and squeeze out his employer. Once you know your employer, use money to take care of the rest."
"But this man is quite skillful ... Gonna be difficult to capture him alive?"
"... It's unusual for you to call someone skillful."
"If you can avoid my blow, it has to be skill."
Full of confidence.
That slash is good proof.
However, I sparred with various teachers before.
Sword God Style, North God Style, Water God Style, Even spear wielding demons warriors.
A dual dagger-wielding opponent is not impossible to handle.
Daggers differ in speed from long swords.
Time is different and slashing trajectory is different.
The overall range is small and there are few gaps.
In general swordsmen prefer longswords, using daggers only as sidearms.
Although there are dagger techniques in the North God Style, they do not use thin daggers like these.
Dagger users... Assassin's Guild?
"Curses… are you from the Assassin Guild!"
"Obviously, but that was before.”
Rough words, unlike his master.
Knife-like lips indicative of his origin.
"Villian that hid in the shadows and attacked people from... Moonlight Kick!"
By the time I noticed, the butler had already drawn close.
To attack in the middle of a line, how devious!!
I dodged the butler’s sneak attack and returned a strike.
"Moonlight Hook!"
The butler swiftly avoided it, and drew his dagger in a single motion.
The legs do not seem to move at all.
An Assassin's Guild move.
Drawing close without me realizing, I'm already within his range.
The rotation of the butler's attack does not stop.
It is a terrible onslaught.
"Moonlight Kick! Moonlight Punch! Moonlight Flip!"
But some of the guys I've sparred with before also belonged to Assassin's Guild.
Taking advantage of that experience, I handled the onslaught brilliantly.
"Moon ... uh!"
But I had little to spare.
I couldn’t land a hit between his dagger blows.
He had good range management.
Keeping a distance where my fists can’t reach but his daggers could.
My fists won’t land, but his dagger sometimes scratched my body, bit-by-bit landing cuts.
If the dagger is poisoned, I might not be able to move by this time.
Even though I'm barehanded, this butler might be able to reach King Class.
Sometimes I want to use healing magic instead of attack, but there’s no opportunity...
However, I don't feel my life’s endangered.
"Well, someone with power like you ... why help the villain!"
I asked while keeping a distance.
Men who belonged to Assassin's Guild rarely appear like this.
Not to mention this level of skill.
That would not be the case for personal escort.
"Hah?"
The butler stopped with a stern face and glanced at the fat nobleman.
"Well, this guy isn’t much of a villain."
"What!?"
"I don't know if you're moving on someone's command."
"I'm not taking someone else's instructions! I'm on the side of justice! I'm moving on my own!"
"Not the way I see it...!"
Butler's speed increased.
His feet blurred and moved in a disgusting matter, a dagger flew over..
In an instant, my skin tore and pain shocked through my body.
So strong!
Did the fat nobleman not escape because of trust in his ability?
"Moon ...ugh, moonlight ...?!"
I can't even shout my killer move anymore.
Wearing down bit-by-bit, little by little I’m getting cornered.
My hand is shrinking, I understand I’m getting forced into a checkmate.
It would have been easier if I had a sword...
"Die"
A dagger approaches.
it can not be helped. This isn’t an opponent I can win cleanly.
I immediately decided so and prepared to throw away my left hand.
"North God Style Mystery "Swallow"!"
The dagger cut off a few fingers off my left hand.
But at the same time my left hand passed by the dagger.
"!?"
The butler's fist was shattered and the dagger fell to the floor.
An offset technique that crushes the opponent's fist at the expense of their finger. That is Swallow.
For those who don't expect the offset technique, the moment you think you've cut off their finger, you'll suddenly feel your fist shattered. Only those familiar with North God Style could hope to counter it.
In fact, the butler's posture had collapsed, exposing his body unprotected.
"What...?"
"This is it!"
I do not miss it.
Step deep into the butler with all your strength in your right hand.
"Moonlight! Sere~nade!"
Butler tried to evade, but Serenade is an unavoidable special move. It’s impossible.
The whole fist punched through the butler's torso.
The butler was blown away, bounced off to the ceiling and dropped to the ground.
I did not kill him.
The ally of justice defeats evil, but never kills it.
Hate evil but not evildoers.
"Now..."
I looked toward the fat nobleman, who shivered.
A fat nobleman who looks at me and the fallen butler stunned.
"You idiot..."
"Get ready."
Hearing me, the fat nobleman glanced back.
"... If you kill me, those families I lent my money to will go bankrupt! Then that girl's house will be in ruin! No one can be happy! Please, reconsider!"
I Point my fist at the fat nobleman.
Certainly, even if I beat down this nobleman, the girl's tears will not stop.
Yet that is justice.
"I won’t kill you, but do reflect on what happened. Stop trampling on the lives of innocent girls!"
I held my fists against my waist and readied the Serenade pose.
Let me explain. Moonlight Serenade is a deadly straight punch with my entire weight that is released that cannot be avoided.
One punch that destroys all evil.
Just then.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, a voice resounded in the room.
I stopped moving and turned to the one who immediately spoke.
A window.
An open window.
There was a weird guy sitting there.
Muscular body. Black clothes.
He had a helmet on his head.
A rugged, black helmet.
The forehead of the helmet was marked with a yellow lightning-like mark.
"W-who...!?"
He immediately laughed.
"Who am I? I'm a ray of light falling in the darkness, call me ... Lightning!"
A familiar voice.
Hearing that simple introduction, I knew who it was in an instant...
But I couldn't understand why he was here, dressed like that, and identified himself as such.
"What was that?"
"A ray of light falling in the darkness, call me ... Lightning!"
He introduced himself a second time.
He did easily what I felt too embarrassed to do.
"No, no, I mean why here of all place--"
"Lightning!"
A third time.
Confidence in his tone.
Apparently, he had no intention of answering properly.
"Are you a friend of his!"
It was the fat noble who shouted.
He stood up in a hurry and tried to escape from this place.
But Lightning stopped him with his hand.
Just don't move, just sit down, and watch.
Strength in his gestures.
You don’t know what might happen to you if you fail to listen, that strength says.
"Huh, oh..."
The fat nobleman sat back on the chair gloomly.
After seeing it, Lightning turned to me.
"Kukukuku, you're the ‘Justice’ that has been rampaging around here recently... Moon Knight?"
"..."
"I've been letting go until now, but if you disturb us, I'm not so merciful."
"Who are ‘us’?"
"We are the secret society of Evil Shadow Corps."
"Shadow? Huh? No, wait, hold on."
I’m confused.
There wasn’t such a thing until now.
It doesn't seem like the story is connected. What is he talking about? I don’t get it at all.
What is Shadow Corps?
When was I in their way?
"Be quiet!"
Lightning shouted, and at the same time kicked off the window sill.
I responded immediately.
At a reaction speed impressive even for me, I punched at approaching Lightning.
"Moonlight Knuckle!"
"Lightning Kick!"
But Lightning was faster.
My fist and Lightning’s fist hit each other.
He said kick but punched instead!
"...!"
My fists shattered and broke.
The fist, already missing fingers, broke even further at the wrist and protrude in a strange direction.
Pain coursed through my body.
This level of pain I could endure, but my whole fist was crushed and my upper body was midair...
I could see Lightning made a pose.
"Haaaaaa! Lightning Kick! Lighting Kick! Lightning, Lightning, Lightning Punch!"
Five shots from Lightning landed on my body.
Four punches and one kick.
All of those shots landed on my vulnerable points.
I was blown away and smashed into a thick brick wall. The impact pierced the brick wall with ease, and I landed outside.
A momentary floating feeling.
I smashed the ground from the second floor.
"Guh ..."
I stood up quickly after spitting blood clots from my lips.
I applied healing magic to my whole body and prepared for the pursuit.
But there was no pursuit.
Confused, I looked up at the mansion.
He was looking down from above.
"Ha ha ha ha! Was that it, Moon Knight?"
"..."
"You can’t defeat me! I'll let you go for today, so go back and practice some more, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!"
Surely, I couldn’t beat him today.
I knew it better than anyone.
I had no way of breaking through him to that fat nobleman..
Additionally, the surroundings had become rowdy.
His escorts began surrounding to seize me after noticing the endangered nobleman.
If I stay here, I would be surrounded.
Numbers weren’t the problem.
The problem was these people were mere recent hires.
In other words, they are innocent civilians. I can't beat them.
"..."
I ran away from the spot.
It was the first defeat for Justice.
□
After that, I continued to flee.
Racing through the noble district, through the markets, round the warehouse streets, got rid of any tail I might have had, and returned to the secret base.
"Well ..."
I took off my helmet and took a breath.
I looked at my cut-off fingers.
I walked up to a wooden box in one corner of the secret base and took a piece of paper out of it.
A scroll of healing magic.
The healing magic that I could use is up to the advanced level, but the advanced level can not cure lost body parts, so I used scrolls instead.
When the scroll was applied to the affected area and magic poured in, the fingers grew back in a flash.
It has been a long time since I had to cure a wound this way.
When I was training with Sensei, injuries like this were more common...
"..."
And the one who comes to mind was the masked man who appeared in the end.
Lightning.
Who are you… those words I won’t say.
Because I knew his identity.
North God Style martial arts, even better trained than me.
Stronger, faster.
There’s no more than a dozen in the world that fit that description.
In addition, a simple naming sense, Lightning...
No doubt.
His real identity is vassal of the Dragon God Orsted, a colleague of my father Rudeus Greyrat.
Head of North God School.
"North God Kalman III" Alexander Ryback.
My Sensei.
[chapter 9 end]
