Chapter 9

Chapter 9: Currently, Defeat

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]