"Mr. Akuto… may I have a length of white cloth?"
Tears ran down Scheele's cheeks. Clearly, she was asking Akuto to grant her a death with dignity.
Akuto had already prepared an answer.
"Scheele-san, what if I said—if you take the initiative tonight, I'll spare Bulat's life?"
"Eh…?"
Scheele froze. What did Akuto just say?
"Not only Bulat—the same goes for the rest of Night Raid. So long as you serve me well today, I will not take the lives of any Night Raid member who later falls into my hands."
"How does that bargain sound to you, Scheele-san?"
When facing someone who treasures her comrades, you strike at that very name.
"…All right, Mr. Akuto. It's a promise."
Within seconds, Scheele made her choice and climbed onto Akuto of her own accord.
Though a sheer violet one-piece still separated them, the shame she felt was unprecedented.
One-piece stockings like these… to a girl with a medieval sense of propriety, they were far too daring.
Akuto thought for a moment and willed the slime symbiote to reshape.
He didn't remove the original violet suit, but he added back the light-purple cheongsam she usually wore.
"Eh?"
Scheele stared at the familiar cheongsam settling over her body. So her "clothes" had been shaped by Akuto's special means?
But if he restored her cheongsam, why not also remove the sheer underlayer?
She didn't understand. Perhaps it was simply Akuto's preference. Since he'd put her back in her usual attire, there was no more reason to hesitate. Slowly, she lowered her hips—
Scheele was clearly the type who's not good with… precision.
Thankfully, Akuto's slime symbiote covered her body. Besides forming clothing and aiding offense/defense in battle, it could even adjust a user's posture.
A tremor of pain, crystalline tears at the corners of her eyes; her delicate toes curled as she went limp against Akuto.
Akuto did not rush. He preferred the quiet, earnest way she devoted herself.
Hours later, Scheele's limbs were weak, yet with the symbiote's help, she still moved her slender waist.
At one point, Akuto grasped the purple-haired girl's hips and pressed down. The silky violet fabric stretched subtly across her lower belly—still tight to the skin. Scheele had to admit: this was the finest material she'd ever worn.
Feeling Akuto's rhythm, Scheele smiled softly and, for the first time, leaned up to kiss him of her own accord.
She felt that… she had found her reason.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for completing a Luck Appropriation.]
[Sources of Luck: Pony, Tsukushi, Scheele.]
[Blank Initial Ability Slots +3. Current total initial slots: 10.]
Somewhat to Akuto's surprise, he'd already advanced the "conquest route" this far without even using many methods.
By the next day, Scheele was still clinging to him, refusing to let Akuto leave her embrace.
When he asked her why, she gave her answer:
"Mr. Akuto… you only wanted to give me a reason to live, didn't you? Just like you gave those girls from the Imperial Assassination Unit a reason to live."
"No, Scheele—you're mistaken." Akuto shook his head lightly. "You merely accepted reality. As for Cornelia and the others, living in my domain has elevated their thoughts and understanding. They've found new ideals."
"They came to me last night because they both like me and recognize my ideals." As he spoke, Akuto gave Scheele's soft, shapely hip a practiced pat.
"Eh? So Mr. Akuto… you like me?" Scheele's eyes widened slightly.
"I do like you. And I do crave your body as well. Honestly—who wouldn't like a beautiful girl?"
"I see~ While your words are a bit blunt, I can feel that Mr. Akuto truly likes me."
Scheele smiled faintly. She could read the truth in his eyes—and with just that, she could accept him.
Her values were still medieval; a man's fickleness was easy enough for her to accept.
"Right—Scheele. Remember what I told you yesterday? If you served me of your own will, I'd spare your comrades."
"Mm. You did say that, Mr. Akuto. What about it?" she tilted her head.
"Nothing much. For them to keep their lives, I need you to return to Night Raid's base."
"Eh?"
Scheele was completely confused. Was Akuto… letting her go back?
"I am. Not immediately—but I will. Don't worry, I won't make you my spy. I only need you to deliver a message and bring them a few things."
"As for the specifics…"
After arranging Scheele's task, Akuto returned to the relay manor.
There, while awaiting a summons from the Little Emperor, he handled Anvale City's affairs.
When the day's work was done, he opened the System pane.
[To date, I've used 7 initial slots.]
They are:
Innate Ability — Pureblood Leviathan Lineage (Blue)
Innate Ability — Nameless Grimoire (Blue)
One All-Out Chance — Captured many former heroines
Initial Ability — Succubus Bloodline (to unlock more slots via future "romance")
Initial Ability — Boosted Gear (core combat power-up)
Initial Ability — Demon-Slaying Holy Sword (you always need a melee weapon)
Enhanced Slime Battlesuit (Blue; enhances Teigu and variants, and helps form my private army)
[Now that I have plenty of free slots, it's time to redeem some essentials.]
Soon, Akuto made his choices:
Initial Ability — Irregular Evil Pieces (Purple; true Devil-piece advancement)
Initial Ability — Explosion Magic (Purple; ideal for clearing the board)
True to habit, he didn't spend all three—leaving one slot in reserve.
Akuto waited in the capital for three days.
Only after the trade caravans from Anvale had thoroughly infiltrated and "eaten into" the capital's commerce did a decree arrive from the Little Emperor.
It wasn't a summons—it was a direct appointment.
The herald, late to arrive, cleared his throat and read:
"By Mandate of Heaven:
The Empire's capital governs the realm; rituals pacify the people; talents must not be misapplied.
In Longxi, you governed Anvale with distinction, your character bright as jade, your talent clear and exceptional.
Hence you are promoted to Zhengyi Dafu, appointed Prefect of the Capital (Jingzhao Yin), and entrusted with Imperial Domestic Affairs; prior merits remain.
Govern with diligence and clarity; let civil grace adorn the bureaucracy.
Thus decreed!"
"Mm? So I've been made Prefect of the Capital and Imperial Domestic Affairs Officer?"
After sending off the herald, Akuto was escorted to the residence of the Domestic Affairs Officer.
He studied the seal of office and fell into thought.
"Without a doubt, this is the Minister's handiwork. He doesn't want a former protégé of the previous Grand Minister meeting the Little Emperor. So he broke the rules for reporting to court and… skipped me straight to this."
"No matter how you slice it, 'Imperial Domestic Affairs Officer' is a hot-potato post."
"In rank, it's higher than my Governor of Anvale—but for me, it's the worst position."
"First, the Domestic Affairs Officer is within the Minister's civil system. A local post would be freer; the capital's office is a court post—his suppression will be strongest."
"Second, difficulty. With the Jingzhao Yin mantle, he'll demand I manage the capital itself. That's no easy assignment. Usually this goes to a court official with entrenched factions in the capital. Giving it to a 'local' like me is handing me a thankless job."
"By rights, given my achievements in Anvale, I should have been made Governor of Longxi Province."
"If I'm right, it won't be long before the Minister finds a pretext to trip me up—or even strip me of office."
"I have to act before that happens and break out of this bind."
He still had time before raising the rebel banner—and he didn't mind playing the Minister's game for a bit.
"Sayu, contact Minister Tōri—invite him to return to the stage."
"The former Grand Minister's name still carries weight. News of his return will shake the capital."
"Yes! I'll head to the nearest teleport array at once!"
Sayu dashed for the city outskirts.
Watching her go, Akuto turned to Cornelia.
"Cornelia—go to the Grand Marshal's estate and pay respects to General Budo. We need his support."
"Just tell him Minister Tōri is preparing to return. That should bring Budo to our side. Then we can step out of the civil chain of command and enter the military chain."
Akuto didn't want to abandon the civil route—but the Minister had already marked him as a thorn in the eye.
He would change systems first, then circle back.
"Understood! I'll go now!"
Cornelia knew time was tight and hurried to the Marshal's estate.
——
A month later.
Under Akuto's hand, the situation shifted drastically.
On Akuto's side:
With Cornelia's help, he won over her close sister Taeko and Silver, Black Akame's former teammate—unlocking two more initial slots.
On Minister Tōri's side:
Upon receiving Akuto's letter, the former Grand Minister immediately decided to return.
Even before he formally appeared, word of his comeback swept through the capital, shaking the entire bureaucracy.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]