Mushoku Tensei – Jobless Oblige

My father is someone I looked up to and greatly respected.

I thought of him as an ally of justice, wielding great power.

As I grew older and became more aware, I realized that Father wasn’t an ally of justice.

But my respect did not diminish.

Rather, it had only grown.

For family, for those he must protect, he cast aside even his pride and kowtowed to a hated enemy.

The same humility and generosity that allowed Father to build strong relationships all over the world.

By no means an easy task.

Not a fantastical ally of justice, but a realistic, hard worker.

And the results speak for themselves.

Although I haven't seen it recently, nowadays in public, Father looks rather dignified and cool.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

That father was laughing.

Standing up high atop a staircase above me, loudly laughing.

He was imposing.

"I'm the leader of Shadow Corps, knight of the moon’s shadow, Shadow Knight! The greatest villain of the land!”

He was laughing loudly and saying stupid things.

It wasn't cool at all.

After coming out of the bar, I followed the map around town.

"Shadow Corps’ Secret Base".

Seeing it written so plainly on the map caused me to lose a little motivation.

The location was a warehouse in a corner of the warehouse district.

A nondescript warehouse.

After searching for a bit, I found a stairway to the basement.

I found a Teleportation Circle after descending down the basement stairs to the basement.

Taking the Teleportation Circle, I arrived in a different stone building.

A dark, gloomy jail-like place with candlelights flickering.

Was the atmosphere for the final battle a suggestion from Sensei?

I walked down the hallway thinking like that.

While walking down the hallway, my mood was complicated.

What does Father want to say to me?

Will you scold me or not?

Some harsh words for certain.

What would he say first?

How harsh could it be?

I couldn't imagine.

I wanted to escape from here right now.

Why am I here? Why did I come?

With that thought, I walked, arriving at an audience hall-like place.

A high ceiling supported by six tall pillars, lit by bonfires, making the room as bright as day.

In the back of the room, a long set of stairs led to a huge stone relief.

At the top of the step, there was a huge stone relief.

A giant skull with protruding horns, a campy bad guy.

In front of the relief was a stylish throne, on which a man sat.

Father.

He’s wearing a black mask and a black cloak, but there’s no way I’d miss him.

The gray robe, which can be seen through the cloak, was picked out for him by white mama a year ago.

And that armor underneath the robe.

Impervious to physical attack below Saint Rank, it also multiplies the users’ physical and magical strength many fold.

It’s called "Magical Armor".

Only one person in the world can wear it, because its magical power consumption is too high.

That is why its bearer came to be known as

"Mage King" Rudeus Greyrat.

"Ha ha ha ha ha!"

When he found me, he stood up and laughed loudly.

"I'm the leader of Shadow Corps, knight of the moon’s shadow, Shadow Knight! The greatest villain of the land!”

The first words I was so worried about...

They’re harsh words alright.

Too harsh.

Too embarrassing.

It sounds cool for yourself.

Honestly, when I'm doing it myself, I think it's cool.

But when I see the father I respected so much doing it… Well, it's hard to watch.

My father is over 40 already...

Yet... He’s...

I can feel my mental statue of a respected father shattering and falling.

The father who stands by Orsted and offers intelligent and sage advice.

The father who travels the world on Orsted’s behalf and interacts with leaders of each nation.

Sometimes, when he meets an enemy, his father uses his magic to scatter.

Such a statue of my father is crushed and turned into powder.

And Sensei?

He’s okay. That’s the kind of person he always was.

"Dad... please stop.”

“I’m not your father.”

He said as he flipped his cloak.

"Call me Mr. Shadow."

"No~!"

Embarrassing.

Shameful.

Why do I have to be treated like this?

Why does the father that I so respect want me to see him like this?

Ah, this must be my punishment.

Because I’m unemployed.

I didn't get married or work, living a rotten life.

Because I bullied the weak in the name of justice.

Is that why Father appeared like this?

"Dad!"

"Haha, you must be the one rampaging in our territory lately, Moon Knight? I’m impressed that you managed to come this far…”

"Dad, enough!."

"Why are you hesitating? Hahah, are you scared?"

"Please, that’s enough. Dad, I can’t look anymore, it’s painful to look at. Honestly, it’s too embarrassing to watch. I know I was wrong, so please stop…”

My father stopped to listen to my words.

"Embarrassing?"

"Yes. really, I can’t handle it anymore.”

"…I see"

Father drooped his shoulders lightly.

Then he removed his helmet.

Revealing my father underneath, Rudeus Greyrat.

Perhaps there was a different face under that helmet... Even that ephemeral hope was gone.

"Why are you dressed like that?"

"Because you been avoiding me, I thought I had better hide my identity.”

Avoiding him.

That was true.

I have been hiding from Father in the past year.

Even now I want to run away, but for a different reason.

"If so, please disguise yourself better."

"But if you didn’t notice, I would feel hurt as well.”

So is that halfway?

Atypical for father.

"...Sure, if dad disguised yourself seriously, I might not have figured it out.”

"Dad does have a talent for disguise.”

Father often had to wear disguises for work.

I've never seen it personality, but I haven't heard of a failed disguise yet.

"So what happened to Sensei?”

I might as well ask first.

To be honest, I expected Father here.

But I expected to have a confrontation with Sensei - Lightning - first before our meeting.

There is no reason to fight, but Sensei is the type that does that.

“Ha ha ha, Lightning? He’s not here!”

"Why? Also, please stop talking like that."

“He said he didn’t want to disturb a heart-to-heart between father and son and refrained himself.”

"Ah, is that so?"

So Sensei intended to confront me initially.

But after the daytime conversation we had, he felt it was enough.

He probably thought I needed another point of view.

After our talk, he knew he said all he needed to say.

"...So, there is something to talk about after all this setting up, right?"

Hearing that, Father swallowed nervously and glanced around.

“Ah, well, Sieg. I know you don’t like talking with me. The Mothers told me too, that it’s about time we… Well, no, I’m not blaming you. If you don’t feel like it today, we can take a raincheck?”

"Dad!"

"Yes?"

"Please settle down a bit, I have always respected you.”

"...Really?"

"Yes! Since my childhood till now.”

He looked dumbfound.

That’s not the look I expected.

But the children of Greyrat house have always respected Father.

Big sis, big brother, and little sis as well.

Lara might have a slightly different feeling from respect, but she never looked down on Father as well.

We all are a little different, but we all respected Father.

"Well, I was respected... hehe?"

“Don’t you have something to say?”

"...Oh, yeah. I do."

“How about we take it somewhere else?”

When I said that, my father nodded,

“Sure, I know a good place.”

He flipped his cloak.

Please stop.

□

We ended up rechasing my original bar back to the bar.

The Drunk Goblin.

I was fine with anything, so Father settled on here.

It’s somewhere I’m familiar and comfortable with, he figured.

The store was full, but when we entered the store, some of the goblins were frightened and left.

They’re probably afraid of Father.

If it wasn’t for today, I would have been one of them.

Father took the innermost seat.

He ordered the nervous waiter to bring some food and alcohol.

"Sieg... do you drink?"

"I do drink, but I haven't drank since the graduation ceremony"

"Well, let's drink a little. If it gets hard to talk, maybe a little alcohol would help us out. Yeah?"

Father is sitting before me.

Just two of us.

It makes me nervous.

I don't think I ever talked to my father alone.

No, maybe a couple times.

But if I get cold feet now, then...

However, Father seems to be nervous as well.

Can’t stay calm.

Must have something difficult to say?

"..."

"..."

As we sat silently across each other, the food and ale arrived.

"Well... a toast?"

My father raised the cup and said.

"What should we toast to ?"

"...Anything is fine."

“Then a toast to... anything."

We drank our cup and shotgunned the full drink.

It tasted pretty awful since this bar only served cheap ale.

“Ah, food and ale are pretty great here!”

"I think Dad eats better food on a daily basis."

"Mama does make a delicious meal, but because of my business trips I rarely get to enjoy it.”

"What about during the trip?"

"...I don't really enjoy cooking on a business trip. It’s pretty bad."

To Father, there’s little difference between a royal banquet and bar grub for thugs?

"The best food is the meal you eat with your family, so this food is good too, although it doesn’t taste as good as Mama’s..."

Father says, yet he still ate.

I played with roasted beans with a fork while observing him.

No choice, I cut to the chase.

"So... why the farce?"

"I want to talk to you."

"So, what about? I hope you'll get into the subject soon."

When I said that, my father stopped for a moment.

Then I was convinced by myself, "Oh," and said again.

After an “Mmm” he settled on something, and turned it around.

"Before that, I have something I want to hear from you.”

Not talk, but listen.

“So Dad has nothing to tell me?”

“Well, I don’t know yet until I hear your story.”

Does that mean Father thought nothing of my current situation?

Didn’t marry Sariel, didn’t find work.

I wandered around town by day, fighting evil by night.

This current situation.

"Because Dad expects nothing from me anymore?”

I asked after making up my mind.

And Father looked at me dumbfounded.

As if he couldn't comprehend my words.

Or maybe he didn't listen seriously, too busy shoving roast beans into his mouth instead.

"Why would you think that?"

"Why..."

Do you want to hear it from my mouth?

"Because Dad wanted me to marry Sariel, right? That’s was the expectation.”

“I thought it was a good idea.”

My father then chugged his ale.

"Do you not want to hear why I refused to get married?”

“Why not? Sariel seemed like a good girl. Big breasts, and being Her Majesty Ariel’s daughter, she’s probably pretty wild in the bed--”

"Dad!"

"Oh, sorry, why? Why didn’t you like that girl?"

Reason for not getting married.

I thought often about it in the past year.

I wondered again and again.

"I don't hate her. She’s a good friend. But with Sariel... What should I say, we just don’t hit off. When we’re alone, the conversation tends to die, and staying silent gets painful too.”

"Oh."

“Maybe if we get married, that pain would only continue, so it’s hard to imagine getting married like that… Anyways, it’s impossible, marrying her.”

“Sounds like you’re just looking for an excuse…”

My father said, still chewing on beans.

Probably.

I’m just finding excuses retroactively.

"But, that’s fine too?"

As I held that thought, Father said.

“No need to force yourself to get married.”

So casually.

With a relaxed tone.

"But didn’t Dad want to strengthen his relationship with Asura Kingdom?”

"Well, saying I don’t would be a lie. Ariel-sama thought so too. Truth be told, if our families form a marriage alliance, it’ll increase our influence with the Asuran Royal Family. That’d make work easier in the future.”

"In that case!"

"But..."

Blocking my words, Father continued.

"If you don't want to, you don't have to."

As if it’s matter of course.

“Rather, you should prioritize what you want to do instead. Ally of Justice. The Moon Knight. Isn’t that good too? Your Mothers might get on your case about it, but Papa is on your side!”

Father spread his hands to exaggerate it.

"To be honest, when I first heard it I thought it was kind of childish, but everyone was like that at first.

No one can do amazing things right off the bat.

Right now, it's just a small villain in town,

With your abilities, it could be bigger and bigger, and eventually defeating the greater evil.'

I wasn't thinking that far.

There’s no need to fight evil if I was just trying to be a good samaritan.

Like helping people on the side of the road.

Fighting evil, it’s as Sensei said.

It’s just venting.

"No."

"No? Oh, do you want to keep peace nearby?"

"Dad, no."

I forced this out of my throat..

"I gave up on being an ally of justice."

Yes, I have already given up.

The day at Asural Royal Academy, when I realized that I was borrowing from Dad.

I'm not justice, I can't be justice.

“Yes, I wanted to become an ally of justice.

I wanted to be Cheddarman.

But it’s impossible. I already gave up.

What I am doing is mockery. It's just play-pretend.”

The trigger was simple.

After graduating and coming home, while wandering around bored I fought off some thugs pestering a Magic University student.

She said "Thank you" for helping her.

She didn't know me.

She was a freshman at Magic University. Having just arrived, she probably didn't even know Father.

Sooner or later, she would have heard about Dad and me, but hadn’t yet.

Even not knowing, she still said "Thank you" to me.

Despite being frightened by my strange green hair, she still offered her “thank you.”

"Even if you're playing pretend, there are still people who have been saved, so I think it's good... Well, Basteel was angry..."

Dad looked around nervously, then leaning closer he asked, peering into me.

"But, what do you really want to do?"

"..."

I can't answer.

What I really want to do is contrary to what Dad wants.

"..."

I was silent for a while.

I was not looking for words.

I was just silent.

Then he drank the ale and ordered a refill.

I drank too, imitating him.

No matter how much I drank, no words spilled out.

I had not been drunk for a long time.

"...When you came back from the Royal Academy, you seemed to be having a hard time, back then."

Dad suddenly said.

My gaze was on the plate. Only a single bean leftover.

He rolled that bean with his fingertips, making a not quite crunchy or mushy sound.

With that sound as a backdrop, dad continued.

“Living in this world, you get hurt sometimes.

And that can cause you to withdraw.

Even Papa has been there. Many times.

Especially that one time.

Blaming the world for everything, regretting why I couldn’t do anything.

But now I think I’m where I am today, because of experiencing that episode of regret.

So when I saw you were hurt, I told your Mother that we should leave you alone for a while. Let you be.”

The ale came.

Dad picked the bean and put it in his mouth.

Chewing it loudly, he washed it down with ale.

Dad seemed drunk already .

Unlike me, Dad is not a strong drinker.

But his mouth is looser than usual.

"And then you somehow started to do the ally of justice thing.

I remembered that you had longed for justice as a child, so I thought it was really what you wanted to do.

But somehow recently... well, I didn't see it personally, but when I listened to the people around you. Well, you were having fun, but not making any effort, like you were going through the motions.”

"What people around me?"

"The Mothers, Lara, Lily... and Georges. Aside from Lara and Georges, the rest didn’t know about the justice stuff, but they felt something was off.”

Dad said, finishing his ale.

He took a big burp, sighed.

"So I came today to hear about your troubles."

Not answers, but my worries.

That was the true purpose for today.

"Well, can’t you call me out like normal…” "I thought you wouldn't be honest with me.

You have always avoided me, and now you have reached an age where you too have worries that you don’t want to share with your parents, right?

So I set up a small play.

As a show of understanding that I appreciate what you’re doing.”

I see, so that’s why you did all that?

Dad was lost and unsure of how to approach me about my worries.

His solution after much consideration, an evil mastermind and three large glasses of ale...

"I was surprised to hear that you respected me. That made me happy."

"I was surprised that Dad would act like that."

"Ah, haha, sorry, sorry. I should have taken it more seriously.

You might not see it, but Papa is pretty confident with my acting ability.

I've once played the villain and hooked up a country knight and his princess.”

"I remember. Knight Lynhard and the evil Great Magician Rudo? That story at Ronumer?”

A Nostalgic story.

One of Dad’s heroic tales.

In order to hook up a knight and his princess, he acted as an evil magician, kidnapped the princess, and the knight came to her rescue.

If Dad had acted on that level, I certainly wouldn’t have recognized him. He would certainly have fooled me as well.

"And so..."

My father rolled the beans around.

Is it a habit?

"Your worries... is that you want to do something else, right?"

Saying it with some difficulty, once a while he’ll sneak a peek at me.

Despite seeing him in such a state, I still respect my father.

Great, hardworking, strong, gentle.

That’s why, please be a bit more resolute, Dad!

But why?

The way Dad’s acting, it’s the most familiar I saw him.

Perhaps how I liked him the best.

"…Yes"

"Can you tell me?"

Taking a breath.

Breathe out.

I can hear my heart racing with my hand on my chest.

Until now, something I could never say out loud.

Dad.

Something I would never have told Dad, that I will now.

"I wanted to follow Pax."

I said.

"Follow Pax... to the Kingdom of the Dragon King?”

"On Graduation Day, Pax asked if I would follow him. I wanted to, too. Maybe if I had a few days to think it over, I probably would have.”

When I finished, Dad opened his eyes wide.

His mouth opened as if saying something, but after a brief pause, he asked calmly.

"Why didn't you?"

"It would be betraying Dad. Dad wished to strengthen his relationship with the Asuran Royal Family, but Pax is from the Kingdom of the Dragon King. He is also isolated there. If I went there, we would have no more eligible bachelors left, and we would not be able to strengthen our connection with the Asuras. On the contrary, our relationship with the Kingdom of the Dragon King will likely deteriorate instead.”

I said in one breath.

Dad, his mouth ajar, a face of sadness.

But it quickly returned neutral.

“What? For that poor excuse?”

"What poor excuse..."

What has been troubling me all this time, cast as a poor excuse… kind of pisses me off.

"Well, Sieg. Sure, Papa and Her Majesty of Asura Kingdom are friends. In particular, it won’t be a stretch to call White Mama and Her Majesty best friends. Certainly I hope we can get along like family. But that's it. "

"That’s it?"

"Strengthening our bond with the Asuran Royal Family, increasing our voice within Asura Kingdom, those don’t really matter.”

"Don’t matter...? But just now…”

“I did say it would be nice. But haven’t I said it before? Put on the balance against your futures, things like strengthening bonds with Aura don’t truly matter as much?”

Shocking.

What truly matters.

Then, why I have been...

"But the thing about helping Pax is true. It’ll be a bit difficult for my position.”

Dad gave a rough breakdown of my concern.

He was deeply involved in Pax's father's death. Pax’s guardian also requested Dad’s help if anything arose.

However, interfering with the internal politics of the royal family is a challenge.

Furthermore, the royal family of the Kingdom of the Dragon King doesn't treat him poorly, at least on the surface.

As proof, even granting him a title and territory.

But a title and territory implies obligations and responsibilities.

Thus, with their superficial obligations fulfilled, there’s little Dad could speak out publicly for.

In father’s position, even providing financial support would formally have to go through the royal household.

If passing through the royal household, after various interferences nothing would come of it.

Of course, we could provide money and resources on the down low, and in fact we had in the past year. But compared to what it takes to run a territory, it’s insignificant.

If you provide support at a level where you can run a territory, it’ll be discovered by the royal family.

If found, there will be a major crack in the relationship with the Kingdom of Dragon King that has been built thus far.

"I wish I made preparations before it happened, but it was all settled before I noticed it... I thought they’d be content with the destruction of the Shirone Kingdom, yet they’re still willing to kill if someone’s deemed ‘troublesome’.”

After explaining so much, Dad looked at me.

“But it’s difficult only because of my position. In your position as a dear friend, if you rush over alone... On your own initiative, nobody will say no. Actually, if you go and help Pax, it’d be a big help as well, Sieg.”

Oh, I see.

It’s the same.

For Dad, marrying Sariel, helping Pax, they’re the same.

Dad could have said, "Help Pax."

But Dad didn't.

Just as he never said, "Marry Sariel."

Using his rights as a father to keep from burdening me.

"But is it OK? Really?"

I asked to confirm.

Dad nodded, of course.

"Oh, but I can't give you much public support. It's the same even for my son.”

"Rather, if I went, won't the Kingdom of Dragon King make trouble with Dad? Even though I went on my own, I’m still a North King."

"Well, a little... no. Sieg. You don't have to mind that."

He took another big swig of ale.

He wiped his lip... no, faked-wiping to hide his lips, he said embarrassingly.

“What Papa wants to protect isn’t peace or connections, but you guys.”

I couldn't understand the meaning of the word.

But the nuance was transmitted.

"Don't worry about Papa. It’s okay, even if you become Papa’s enemy,”

"I don't want to be Dad's enemy."

"Well, becoming enemies would be too unfortunate. Let’s avoid that at all costs… Still.”

Dad ate the last of beans and drank the ale.

His face was already red.

"If you avoid doing what you wanted to do everyday, and you heard about Pax's death one day , you'll regret it for the rest of your life. You'll never be able to recover again. That’s more tragic than becoming an enemy, because it means Papa failed to protect you."

In short, Dad wants me to be free.

And I am free.

So what is it?

Do I go to Pax?

It was okay from the beginning?

"...I see. Dad, thank you."

I said my thanks.

Then with a rattle, Dad moved his chair besides me.

He patted my back loudly.

“Before you go, make sure to say proper goodbyes to everyone.”

"Yes"

“But for today, you drink with Papa. Because you keep avoiding me, Papa was feeling lonely.”

"…Yes"

The conversation ended.

It was exactly as Sensei said.

Talking to that person would solve my worries.

It was simple.

"Hick... Mis, please more ale!”

In exchange, my father got completely drunk.

□

On that day, Dad continued to drink ale merriedly.

Getting drunk, praising how wonderfully cute the Mothers are, singing strange songs, screaming loudly, getting admonished for stroking the waitress’ buttocks. By the bar’s closing time, he was hurling in front of the store.

I offered to use detoxifying magic for him, but was rejected.

Dad was merry all the way home.

With his arm around my shoulder he sang red-faced.

It is Moon Knight’s theme song.

I was told to sing along, so I sang too, out loud without regard for the neighbors.

Dad that let himself go is rather tacky and embarrassing.

I never thought my father had this side to him.

I probably wouldn't have respected him if he had always been like this.

But why?

Somehow it’s the most I ever liked him.

Totally uncool, so I don’t know why either.

"Oh, yes Sieg"

When we came home and stood in front of the gate, Dad called out to me.

"I will answer your first question."

He leaned over, with alcohol in his breath, Dad quietly said.

"Good luck, I expect much from you."

"…Yes."

I nodded, feeling refreshed.