"Rabac!"
Najenda's chest tightened—but she also knew he'd brought this on himself. If you strike, be ready to be struck back.
She hesitated only a heartbeat.
"Everyone else, pull out. Now!"
It was the right call. With Akuto in person, lingering was asking to be farmed for achievements.
As for Rabac…
With him under Akuto's heel, the result spoke for itself.
"Hmph. Think you're getting away?"
Akuto snorted.
Susanoo swung Kusanagi again, trying to pry Akuto off Rabac. Akuto raised a finger and pinched the god-blade as if it was a toy—then the emerald jewels on his gauntlet flared.
[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! …Boost!!]
The pressure climbed. In the beat Susanoo lost balance, he flashed in—[Yasakani no Magatama!]The magatama burst; Susanoo instant-stepped in close.
Not a great idea.
[Secret Sword II — Armor-Shear]
Force surged from Akuto's legs through his waist and arms in a brutal point-blank slash—like an inch-punch shaped into a cut.
Not enough to finish Susanoo… which was why—
[Secret Sword VI — Venom-Edge]
A vibration-laden edge made to tunnel through armor and ravage the core.
"Najenda, go," Susanoo rasped, locking Akuto down with his own hands, choosing to be the wall.
"Susanoo!"
Najenda bit her lip, glanced back one last time—and ran even faster.
"Done yet?"
Akuto hated maudlin scenes. He snapped his fingers.
[Explosion!]
Dark, prismatic mana flowered. When it cleared, only a charred plate and a shattered magatama remained.
Akuto turned to give chase—when a silver figure barreled at him with a bestial roar.
"Red-backed Shrike!"
Bulat had chosen to stay.
"Bulat!"
Akame's eyes burned, but she knew the only thing she could do was honor his will—by living.
Half a minute later, Bulat lay pinned in a crater, utterly spent.
That met Akuto's goals. He didn't chase the retreating backs. One look, and he headed for Budo's position.
Budo, propped by his guards, had managed to stand. Armor torn, body battered—still, not disabled. Seeing Akuto approach, he spoke first.
"Akuto. With strength like yours, the post of a mere civil official is beneath you."
"You've done great merit tonight. I'll report your month's achievements together with this to His Majesty—and see you rewarded commensurately."
He promised the plea before the Emperor because he could feel his own condition. Not crippled, but credibility dented—and Esdeath was still about ten days out. They needed shock value to cow Night Raid. Promoting Akuto fit.
"Much appreciated, General Budo."
Akuto smiled, faintly soothed—only faintly.
After all, the man had ignored a "gift" before. If virtue failed, he'd just take what he needed.
"Your injuries look severe, General?"
"Life not in danger… but my body and Teigu are heavily damaged. It'll take a long time to recover."
He hadn't expected anyone to wield Pumpkin to that extreme.
"Don't worry. I've made a rough diagnosis. With a certain secret medicine from Anvale City, I estimate you'll be good as new in ten days."
"Oh? You have it on you?"
"I don't. But I can dispatch someone immediately. It's rare and expensive, so there may be… procurement delays."
"No matter. Whether you get it or not, the intent is noted. I'll remember this favor, Akuto."
He understood the subtext well enough. Whether the medicine appeared would depend on how fast he moved for Akuto—who politely claimed the bottle was "in Anvale."
(Originally I wanted to temper him more before giving him weighty office… but he's already reached this level, even before the literary path is done?)
(Indeed—only a civil official with power like his has the qualifications to confront the Minister head-on.)
"I'll seek audience tonight and petition for your merits," Budo vowed.
Elsewhere, at Night Raid's hideout, Najenda tallied up the loss.
First—Bulat. They'd just gotten him out, and he'd turned back to hold the line.
Susanoo—she could sense he wasn't dead, but locked, unresponsive. Restarting him would likely take one—maybe two—more secret techniques.
And Rabac…
Najenda's brow creased. He'd had it coming; had he not lunged at Akuto out of jealousy and fear that she might "owe" Akuto, he wouldn't have paid so dearly.
"Rabac was my fault," Najenda took the blame. Mine had already used a Piece. Najenda herself would sooner or later be forced to use another secret technique. To head off that path—and the thought of the woman he liked in another man's bed—Rabac had gambled.
Everyone understood that much.
"Alright. Next phase."
She spread a hand-drawn portrait.
"Reliable intel says Esdeath returns in ten days. Before she does, we cut down as many of the Minister's cronies as we can."
"Akuto will be happy to see that, so—"
"And when Esdeath's back?" Mine asked.
"Of course… we find the chance to kill her."
In Najenda's view, Akuto had the right to live into the new Empire; Esdeath did not.
"Another grand general for a target? Now I'm fired up!" Leone cracked her knuckles, lioness-like.
Then, as if offhand:
"If we need to use Pieces, let me go first."
Akame blinked.
"You know as well as I do: we can all use Pieces, but only you and I would see massive gains."
"So—let me go."
"Don't let the looks fool you. I'm sturdy."
"And… I think Akuto's not half bad. If I had to lose my first time to someone, ending it with him wouldn't be the worst."
Akame said nothing. Half of that was true; the other half was to ease Akame's burden.
"Tsk, don't get gloomy before a fight," Mine propped one boot on the table. "Right now, I'm strong."
With her reincarnated mental might, she'd just helped topple Budo. If she could beat Budo, she could beat Esdeath—so she told herself.
"Great. I'll look forward to your performance." Leone smiled lightly.
(Or maybe tomorrow, Mine will be turned into a real woman by Akuto… This might be the last time I see her as a pure girl.)
Her feelings tangled.
"Leone, Mine—barbecue tonight?" Akame raised a thumb; her eyes went beady-cute.
"No problem!"
Leone and Najenda returned the thumbs-up in sync.
"Meat-eaters… so annoying!" Mine wailed toward the ceiling.
After steak and a soak, Mine went to bed early. She couldn't sleep. She was waiting—for Akuto.
By agreement, using a Piece came with a "price." She knew it. Najenda had thoughtfully set a table for her.
She had bathed carefully, slipped into her favorite pink sleepwear, even tied satin ribbons at the tops of her stockings. Under the moonlight, her delicate, slender form glowed faintly as she waited under the covers like a nervous hamster.
(If you want me to be "active," at least set a time…)
(If he never comes… I can't do this every night, right?)
(End of Chapter)[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"][Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop][Thanks for Reading!]