-----
-----
"How does it feel to become a demon?"
Minato looked at Akame as he asked.
"It feels... honestly amazing!"
Akame retracted her wings and tail, lightly clenched her fists, and said, "It's like... I've gotten way stronger."
She felt like she could easily kill her old self from just a few hours ago.
Minato chuckled. "Of course. You've awakened magic power now."
As he spoke, he handed her a magic book. "This has some basic techniques for controlling magic. Take a look and try to figure it out yourself."
He had high hopes for Akame.
She was already a top-tier assassin, forged through countless battles.
Now that she'd become a demon, her potential was practically limitless.
In a way, Akame had just become his strongest follower.
Sure, her magical rank was still considered a low-level demon—but power level? That's a whole different story.
"Akame, are you okay?"
Najenda walked up to her, hesitated for a second, then asked, "You're... still Akame, right?"
"Of course I'm Akame."
Akame looked confused. She touched her face. "Did my appearance change?"
"Haha, yep, you're still Akame."
Seeing her clueless expression, Leone examined her carefully. "Aside from the wings and tail, everything else looks the same."
Honestly, if that's all there is to being a demon... it doesn't seem that bad.
Her eyes shifted toward Minato not far away.
And now that she really looked at him...
He's totally my type.
"So, Mr. Demon, what's your plan to change this country?"
Now that Akame was clearly fine, Najenda snapped back into Night Raid leader mode and turned her attention to Minato.
"Relax. Akame's my follower, so whatever happens to her is my business too."
Minato smiled slightly. "If I want to create the ideal country Akame dreams of, the first step is ditching the Revolutionary Army."
Najenda was stunned. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"
"Because they're rotten too…"
Minato explained, "At the end of the day, the so-called Revolutionary Army is just another alliance of noble factions. Do you really expect them to treat the people any better?"
As soon as he said that, the three women all fell silent.
Even though Night Raid operated somewhat independently from the main army...
They'd still heard about the shady stuff.
The revolution wasn't even successful yet, and people were already fighting over power.
Back then, they had no other options.
But maybe now... they did.
Akame asked seriously, "Master, what should we do next?"
Smart girl.
Minato was very pleased with how she addressed him.
He replied, "First, we make the Empire obey our will. Rebuilding a whole new nation from scratch is way too much trouble."
Najenda furrowed her brows. "That makes sense, but how exactly?"
That had been her original plan too.
But she failed.
The whole Empire was rotten to the core.
"If anyone refuses to obey—kill them."
Minato said it calmly, but his words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
In that chaotic multiverse, he'd been cautious and restrained.
But here?
He doesn't eat beef.
…
"Are we really okay showing up here like this?"
Leone looked at the imperial palace ahead and couldn't stop twitching her mouth.
Najenda paused, then asked, "This your plan, Demon Lord?"
Take over the Empire?!
She'd thought there would be some genius, master-level strategy.
But instead, here they were, waltzing straight into the palace.
Their wanted posters were still plastered on the walls next door.
Just four people, storming the palace... seriously?
Wait no—two demons, two humans. Still crazy!
"That's right. Let's go."
Minato pointed toward the palace and just started walking.
When you've got overwhelming power, you don't need to play games.
No need for complicated schemes.
Just look at Superman—he always uses the same playbook.
Leone followed behind Minato. As soon as she saw the guards noticing them, her eye twitched hard.
"We can still change the plan. It's not too late."
"You're not seriously afraid of those nobodies, are you?"
"Of course not! But there's a lot of them."
Leone sighed.
If storming the palace were that easy, Night Raid would've taken out the Emperor and ministers ages ago.
"Akame!"
Ignoring Leone, Minato called out.
"I'm here, Master!"
"Clear the way."
"Got it."
Akame was never one for small talk—she was already taking the lead.
That's just how she was. Once she made up her mind, she'd carry it out to the end, no hesitation.
Najenda and Leone's eyes widened, surprised.
This demon...
He actually sent Akame in first?
What a jerk… oh wait, right. He is a demon.
They glanced at each other, then followed behind Akame.
No matter what, they weren't letting her face this alone.
"Who are you people?!"
"Wait, isn't she one of the people on the wanted posters?"
"Haha! Finally, my chance to earn a promotion!"
The palace guards saw them and got all riled up.
Swords were drawn left and right in an instant.
Akame didn't even blink. She kept walking at the same calm, steady pace.
Then—
Shing!
Her cursed blade, Murasame, slid from its sheath.
A chilling arc of steel lit up the air like a white crescent moon.
That one slash had already broken the sound barrier.
It was Akame's first move as a demon—and her eyes lit up with a flicker of thought.
She really had gotten a lot stronger.
Splurt! Splurt!
Akame moved like a shooting star, cutting through dozens of soldiers in a flash.
Her blade left behind a trail of severed limbs and fountains of blood.
So fast!
Seeing this, Leone and Najenda held their breath.
So this is Akame after becoming a demon?
She's terrifyingly strong.
They both instinctively looked at Minato.
If this is Akame… just how powerful is he?
"Looks like you haven't adjusted to your strength yet."
Minato glanced at the blood-soaked ground and shook his head. "You don't need to use that much force against them."
With Murasame, Akame only needed to cause a small wound.
That was the weapon's true strength—and the fighting style that suited her best.
"Yes, Master."
Akame nodded.
Even without being told, she'd already been reflecting on her performance.
She hadn't expected the human body to be this fragile now.
"Quick, we've got intruders—Night Raid members!"
"How dare they barge into the palace! They've gone too far!"
Shouts and the sound of combat echoed from every direction.
This was the heart of the Empire. Every guard here was elite—and their reaction time was nothing to scoff at.
But—
Akame leapt into the air like a shooting star.
Her next strike was clearly much lighter.
Wherever she passed, no blood sprayed. Only one body after another collapsed silently.
From behind—
Watching Akame slice through enemies like a goddess of war, Leone and Najenda were frozen in awe.
They could tell:
Some of those enemies were captains—maybe not Imperial Arms users, but still way above average.
Didn't matter. One swing, and they were gone.
And the craziest part?
Akame's breathing never even changed.
It was like this slaughter was as normal for her as eating or drinking.
Normally, this would've been unthinkable.
"So this is what it means to be a demon... doesn't seem too bad."
"Leone, don't get any funny ideas."
Najenda warned her, but… even she had to admit—
She was tempted too.
"....."