Mushoku Tensei III Episode 9: Nanahoshi’s Heartrending Cry and Insert Song Overwhelm Viewers; Kishirika Returns

The summer 2026 anime Mushoku Tensei III: Isekai Ittara Honki Dasu aired its ninth episode, “Doukoku” (Lament), on August 23 at 24:00 JST. Even before the broadcast, fans were already uneasy about the title, with comments like “The subtitle ‘Doukoku’ is too worrying” and “I looked up the meaning and it’s bad!”

The series is based on the web novel by Rifujin na Magonote, which began on Shousetsuka ni Narou in 2012. It follows Rudeus Greyrat, a 34-year-old shut-in who is reborn in a fantasy world and decides to live his new life to the fullest. The first season aired in January 2021, the second season covered the “Doro no Numa” (Mud Swamp), “Ranoa Magic Academy”, and “Transfer Labyrinth” arcs, and the third season began in July 2026 with the “Eris Training” arc before moving into the “Chaos Breaker” arc featuring the Dragon King Perugius.

Note: The following contains spoilers for episode 9. Proceed with caution.

Nanahoshi’s Illness

Three days have passed since Nanahoshi Shizuka collapsed and vomited blood in Perugius’s floating fortress, Chaos Breaker. Nanahoshi, a Japanese girl who was transferred from the same world as Rudeus’s previous life, shows no signs of external interference other than detoxification magic, and the cause remains unknown. Rudeus recalls a movie about aliens who die from a cold on Earth, and wonders if she will die too.

It is revealed that Nanahoshi is suffering from the “Draine disease,” an ancient illness from a time when human magic was much weaker. According to the literature, anyone who could not neutralize the magic entering their body died without exception. There is no cure, and the disease was eradicated about 7,000 years ago when human magic became stronger.

Perugius decides to use the power of the Time Scale Coat to stop Nanahoshi’s time while he searches for a treatment on the ground. However, he states that since she is a guest and a trading partner, he will help her minimally but not to the fullest. His cold attitude stems from his sole purpose of finding and defeating Laplace, who is destined to revive.

Nanahoshi Regains Consciousness

When Rudeus asks if she is okay, Nanahoshi replies weakly, “Do I look okay?” Viewers were heartbroken by her appearance, with comments like “Nanahoshi is suffering…” and “Are you okay, Nanahoshi?” Cliff and Zanoba’s words of encouragement fall flat.

Alone with Rudeus, Nanahoshi begins to speak softly about how she was never physically strong. She talks about the differences between this world and her original one, noting that medicine is not advanced here, and that she had to take precautions herself. She admits that she was excited about a world of swords and magic at first.

“I don’t want to die. Not here, not in this strange world!” she cries, tears streaming down her face. She reveals that in the eight years since she was transferred, her height and hair have not grown. She eats and excretes, but her nails don’t grow and she doesn’t have periods. “I’m not a human of this world! I’m not alive here! I’m like a corpse!” She angrily tells Rudeus, “I envy you!” as she thinks of her parents she can never see.

Fans were deeply moved: “Nanahoshi’s lament is too sad,” “My chest was squeezed the whole time,” “Her desperate cry made me want to cry too,” “Her exhaustion was so heavy it affected me,” “The scene where she is mentally at her limit is brutal,” and “The truth she only tells Rudeus, who is in almost the same situation, is cruel.”

Many also praised Wakayama Shion’s performance: “Wakayama Shion’s passionate acting is incredible,” “Her emotional shift from sadness to anger was great,” “Her acting when emotions explode is amazing,” “Another masterpiece performance,” “Her crazily high acting skill is too much,” and “Her voice as Nanahoshi was so painful it hurt my chest.”

During the scene, the insert song “Shuuen no Honoo” (Flame of the End) plays. Unlike the previous cover of Under Graph’s “Tsubasa” used in season 2, this is an original song with lyrics by Oohara Yuiko and composition/arrangement by Fujisawa Yoshimasa, both familiar to the series. Fans noted that the song’s lyrics perfectly express Nanahoshi’s feelings, with comments like “This will make me cry,” “I didn’t expect an original song instead of a J-POP cover,” “The lyrics are too real,” and “I got goosebumps. I definitely don’t want to be isekai’d.”

Rudeus and the Others Head to the Magic Continent

Rudeus decides to take action for Nanahoshi and asks Perugius to send him to the Magic Continent to visit the Demon Emperor Kishirika Kishirisu, who was a central figure in the Human-Demon War 7,000 years ago. Elinalise, Zanoba, and Cliff, who insists on helping, join him.

Perugius knows where Kishirika is: the town of Rikarisu, which Rudeus has visited before with Eris and Ruijerd, though he has some unpleasant memories there.

In the town’s exchange office, Rudeus’s usual behavior is on display, with viewers noticing his quick glance at a three-breasted demon’s chest. Comments include “Rudeus glancing at the three-breasted demon is funny,” “I know that look, Rudeus!” and “Eyes speak louder than words.”

A Familiar Face

While asking around, Rudeus is greeted in the demon language by Nokopara, a horse-faced former party member of Roxy. Rudeus recognizes him but introduces himself as “Dorunuma” and asks for help finding someone. The demon language is fully constructed, and fans praised the voice acting, with comments like “The demon language is well-crafted” and “Nokopara’s voice actor is too good at it.” Nokopara is voiced by Saitou Hirohito, who also appears in the game “Mushoku Tensei: Chronicle of Echoes” released in July.

While Cliff and the others are buying food, a hungry person asks for a meal and is told to go away. Cliff kindly shares his food. The person eats eagerly, and Rudeus feels a sense of déjà vu. After being satisfied, the person jumps up and declares, “I am Kishirika Kishirisu! Known as the Demon Emperor!”

Kishirika, voiced by Iguchi Yuka, makes her return from season 1 episode 12. Fans were amused by the casual appearance: “I didn’t expect her to show up so easily, and again for food,” “This annoyingness can only be expressed by Iguchi Yuka,” “I haven’t seen her since season 1 and I burst out laughing,” “The seriousness of Nanahoshi in part A and the comedy of Kishirika in part B are from the same episode,” and “Her appearance is just like in season 1, funny!”

Next episode is titled “An Audience with the Immortal Demon King.”

Mushoku Tensei III airs every Sunday at 24:00 on TOKYO MX and BS11, with additional broadcasts on KBS Kyoto, Sun TV, and AT-X. Streaming is available on ABEMA and d Anime Store at the same time as the terrestrial broadcast, with other services following.

Staff and Cast

(C) Rifujin na Magonote / MF Books / “Mushoku Tensei III” Production Committee