Even if Linda was a villain who had done many bad things, she was now a member of my party. Seeing her being beaten up by some insignificant small-fry, heat rushed to my head.

'How dare those bastards hit our Linda.'

But there was someone who shot forward even before me, and that was the Shadow Phantom, Shushruta.

"You bastards! Who do you think you're hitting!"

Shushruta, who had rushed in like a gust of wind, kicked the face of a man who was stepping on Linda.

Thud!

"You've lost your mind! Do you know who this is!"

As the guy who had been happily beating up Linda was sent flying, the others, who had hesitated for a moment, immediately rushed in after confirming that the attacker was a small-statured woman.

"Get that bitch too!"

The guys threw their fists at Shushruta.

"How pathetic!"

But Shushruta easily dodged them and beat them up well. Then, one of them pulled out a dagger.

"Die!"

First, after confirming that she was a relatively small-statured woman, they launched a group attack. Second, seeing that they didn't hesitate to pull out a knife when they thought they were at a disadvantage. Third, I could tell the level of these guys.

I immediately shot my body towards them. When a large number of these small-fry attack, it's inefficient to beat them up one by one. In times like these, you just have to grab one and beat him hard.

I ran like the wind and kicked the leg of the guy who had pulled out the knife.

Crack!

"Aargh!"

The sensation of a bone breaking was clearly felt. I immediately grabbed the wrist of the hand holding the knife with one hand, then struck his elbow with my elbow and bent it backwards.

Crack!

"Aaaaaargh!"

At his desperate scream, the guys flinched and their attention was drawn to me. This was the highlight.

I grabbed the collar of the guy who was about to collapse as if to show off, and then beat his face until it was a bloody mess.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Then I threw the limp guy against the wall.

Thud!

The guy collapsed, covered in blood.

As I looked around at them...

"R-run away!"

The guys abandoned their bloody comrade and ran away.

I watched them run away, then looked at Linda, who was crouching and clutching her bag.

The dust-covered Linda jumped up, then grinned and handed me the fattened bag.

"Devil, here. I bought a lot of beef jerky and dried fruit!"

"...You."

Just as I was about to say something, Shushruta grabbed my arm.

"We should leave this place first. People are coming."

People were murmuring and gathering in the alley.

I slung the bag Linda had handed me over my shoulder and said.

"...Let's go for now."

***

Clatter, clatter—

We got out of the city gate before getting caught up in any unnecessary trouble. The carriage Shushruta had gotten was one that seemed to have been converted from a freight wagon, but it was quite clean and not in bad condition.

Daryl sat in the driver's seat, holding the reins and driving the carriage.

Neyman, who was sitting next to Daryl, turned around and asked.

"What happened?"

I pointed at the dust-covered Linda and explained simply.

"This one was getting beaten up by some guys in an alley."

"Oh dear. What did they look like?"

"I don't know. They looked like growing teenagers. They didn't look to be twenty."

Neyman clicked his tongue.

"They're Justin's gang. They're bad guys who only pick on people who look weak. She must have entered their territory."

"Territory?"

Neyman nodded.

"There are a few alleys, and the villagers don't go there."

"Hmm."

"They're the town's troublemakers. There are endless requests to get rid of them, so mercenaries like us deliberately go through those alleys, but at those times, it's quiet without a single ant. They're cunning bastards."

"I see."

Neyman glanced at me.

"What did you do?"

"I didn't kill them."

"You didn't kill them?"

"I just grabbed the one who bravely pulled out a knife first and beat him to a pulp. He won't die. Probably."

Neyman nodded.

"That's probably Justin. He's the town's troublemaker anyway, so they'll probably just hush it up. They're guys who are good at running away, so they'll probably be grateful."

"Then that's a relief."

I said that and looked to the side. Shushruta was busy dusting off Linda's dusty clothes and hair, and nagging her.

"I can't believe it. What is this mess?"

"Heehee."

"What are you so happy about? Why did you just let those good-for-nothing guys beat you up?"

"Because the Devil told me to."

I couldn't just let that slide.

I sat down opposite Linda and looked at her straight.

"Linda."

"Yeah."

"You were just getting beaten up because of what I said?"

Linda nodded.

"The Devil told me not to kill or injure anyone. Not to use poison. So I didn't kill them. I did well, right?"

"...."

I sighed deeply and then said.

"No."

"No?"

Looking at the tilting Linda... I said, somewhat emotionally.

"If a situation like this happens again."

"If it does?"

"Then just kill them. It's better than just getting beaten up. Use poison at times like that."

"Ooh."

"But don't just kill them at the drop of a hat. The best way is to just get out of there. Got it?"

"Heehee."

"Are you listening to me?"

"Yeah, I get it, Devil."

I roughly brushed the hair of Linda, who was smiling at me, wondering what was so funny, and then checked the bag she had brought.

"Let's see. Did you do your errand well?"

Linda said confidently.

"Yeah! Check it out!"

When I opened the bag, it was full of beef jerky and dried fruit wrapped in clean paper.

"How is it? How is it?"

I picked up a piece of beef jerky and put it in my mouth.

"Hmm."

It was salty and tasted quite good.

I also took out a handful of dried fruit and handed it to Shushruta, who was peeking from the side, and said.

"With this much, we won't starve to death."

"Hehehe."

I frowned at Linda, who was smiling brightly despite having been beaten up by some good-for-nothing guys.

"What are you grinning about?"

"Heehee."

"...Tsk."

My feelings are complicated.

For some reason, I felt awkward looking at Linda, so I grabbed a few pieces of beef jerky and went up to the roof.

"Ah, he's running away!"

"Be quiet."

I went up to the roof of the carriage, then tore at the beef jerky nervously and muttered.

"Shit. What's so funny that she's grinning like that?"

The Heavenly Demon, who had been watching quietly, asked.

[Are you angry?]

"Not really."

I chewed on the beef jerky, listening to the Heavenly Demon's low laughter.

***

The carriage moved smoothly without any trouble. The two mercenaries in the driver's seat would greet passersby and exchange light jokes, asking how far it was to the next village. It was a peaceful scene.

I sat on the roof, feeling the wind, and took in the scene for a moment... and then gently closed my eyes. A man doing energy circulation on a running carriage. That's me.

The carriage would sometimes shake or rattle, but that's all. To me, an expert in energy circulation, it was just a light obstacle.

I played around in my mindscape, where the night sky was up, moving the moonlight here and there. It wasn't literally playing, but studying its characteristics.

The moonlight of the Full Moon was different in some way. It wasn't as dazzling as sunlight, but it didn't feel lacking at all. Sitting under the quietly pouring moonlight... I feel my heart becoming infinitely full.

It's quiet. Is it quiet because it's full? It feels like I'm floating on a calm lake. Full of leisure.

And so, as I was lost in the moonlight in a state of self-forgetfulness... I suddenly heard the Heavenly Demon's voice.

[That's enough.]

I gently opened my eyes. The Heavenly Demon, with his hands behind his back, was staring at me from across the pond.

"What is?"

[The basics are done. I'll teach you another martial art.]

I let the moonlight that had settled on my body like snow flow away and blinked at the Heavenly Demon.

"Didn't you say you would tell me after I had completely conquered the realm of the Full Moon?"

[That's absurd. There is no such thing as a complete conquest of any realm. It is foolish to set an end to something that has no end.]

I asked with a bewildered face.

"You told me to master the Night Sky Star Moon Art?"

[As I said, there is no end to martial arts. I just set a benchmark of 'this is enough,' there is no other reason.]

I looked at the indifferently sitting Heavenly Demon and asked.

"So, Master. Did I pass the benchmark?"

[You did.]

The Heavenly Demon slowly nodded.

[It doesn't mean you should stop training. Continue to train the Full Moon and truly make it your own.]

"Hmm."

[It would be good to consider that you have mastered the Night Sky Star Moon Art. It's just that your internal energy is not deep enough, so there are restrictions on its use.]

The Heavenly Demon quietly raised a hand. At that, the moonlight that had been flowing all over my body slowly flowed to the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon gathered the moonlight that had gathered in his hand into a single point, then flicked his finger.

Ping!

The moonlight, which had shot out like an arrow, hit the full moon in the night sky, and then soon began to pour down like snow.

"Wow..."

It was a beautiful sight. I watched, mesmerized. The gently shining snowflakes were fluttering down. They scattered here and there, embroidering the night sky with moonlight.

I held out my hand and caught a falling moonlight snowflake. How can you make moonlight fall like snow? If you could make moonlight pour down on someone's head like this... he would have to receive hundreds or thousands of sword ki falling slowly on his head.

I looked at the Heavenly Demon opposite me. He was looking at the scenery he had created with an indifferent expression.

"Is this even not the completion of the Full Moon?"

The Heavenly Demon, still with indifferent eyes, answered as he stared at the sky.

[As I said, there is no end to martial arts. There is only a beginning.]

I watched the pouring moonlight and the Heavenly Demon looking up at the sky in it. He was transcendent. I felt an indescribable class. If a god were to descend, would he look like that?

"...."

But, it was a strange thing. For some reason, that Heavenly Demon looked lonely. He was noble, but at the same time, he looked lonely. He seemed to have no emotion even after unfolding a mystery that could be called a miracle with just a light gesture.

...Why?

I remembered what the Heavenly Demon had said once. That watching me fight was a hundred times more interesting than watching the cultists bow their heads all day. Then it means that no one had challenged the Heavenly Demon. They just feared him and bowed their heads.

Was the absolute being who had no rival lonely because there was no one who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him? Was he bored because there was no opponent with whom he could clash swords to his heart's content while unfolding such a miracle? Was he steeped in ennui because there was no one who dared to speak to him carelessly?

I guess... a man of the Heavenly Demon's level would have few who could even receive his gaze, let alone speak to him carelessly. Most would not dare to make eye contact and would lower their eyes or bow their heads.

What would that feel like? When you look around and can't find any eyes meeting yours. It's a place so far away that I can't even imagine what it would feel like.

I came up with a hypothesis. Didn't the Heavenly Demon also have a time when he was weak like me?

"...."

I'll correct myself. It wouldn't have been as much as me, but wasn't there a time when he was ridiculously weak compared to now? Wasn't there a time when he was weak, but he would kill strong enemies one by one with just his fighting spirit and move forward? Didn't he reminisce about the time when he would throw himself on the line and clash with his whole body, looking at the cultists who bowed their heads?

So, wasn't he happy watching me fight, remembering himself at that time?

I remembered the image of the Heavenly Demon looking down at the cultist who was bowing his head, with his hands behind his back.

I humbly resolved.

"I will devote myself even more, Master."

The Heavenly Demon's indifferent gaze came to me. I did not avoid his eyes.

[Do as you please.]

"...."

I felt a little deflated for a moment, then asked the Heavenly Demon.

"Then, are you going to teach me a new martial art?"

[I am.]

I immediately knelt on both knees.

"Master. I am ready."

[I am not yet.]

"...."

Seeing my expression, the Heavenly Demon let out a small laugh.

[Isn't this on a rattling carriage? It's difficult to impart it right now. Have you forgotten how delicate a task it is to learn a martial art?]

"I have not."

[Let's do the full-fledged learning after we get off the carriage.]

I felt my concentration rapidly fading.

[For now, I'll just give you a brief explanation.]

I felt my ears perk up.

"I am listening, Master."

The Heavenly Demon paused for a long time, then opened his mouth.

[The martial art I will teach you this time is the martial art of fire and ice.]

"...Pardon?"

The Heavenly Demon raised the corners of his mouth and asked.

[Have you ever seen ice burn?]

(End of Chapter)