"Lord Takagi, thank you for greeting us in person."
Kaguya's voice remained gentle, but her smile carried an irresistible authority.
"However, according to tradition, once a woman is married, she follows her husband. From now on, please place my lord husband before me in your address."
"And if there is ever any matter requiring my consultation, you must also bring my lord husband into it."
"..."
Souichirou Takagi couldn't understand. Why would the princess he remembered as both intelligent and resolute regard Akuto with such reverence?
Could it be that in just these few days, Akuto had completely conquered her?
"If this is your will, Princess Kaguya, then I shall comply."
"Lord Akuto, Princess Kaguya, please—this way."
Souichirou gestured invitingly.
At that moment, a disturbance erupted.
"Not good! Lord Souichirou! Zombies are surrounding us!" a guard reported, a little too "conveniently."
"What? Zombies? For them to attack while we're welcoming Princess Kaguya... how shameful." Souichirou feigned guilt.
"Perhaps because of the fireworks you just fired," Kaguya replied with her same soft smile. "You know as well as I, sound attracts zombies."
"No need to worry, Princess Kaguya."
"The ones drawn by sound are only low-level zombies. The Takagi estate can clear them out quickly."
With that, Souichirou drew his katana.
As the most strong-willed man in his household, he had awakened to special power not long after the outbreak.
"Is that so? Low-level zombies..." Kaguya's smile curved sharper. So this is what you were waiting for—an excuse to display your strength and test ours.
Very well...
Kaguya turned to Akuto.
"Lord Akuto, would you care to once again display the valor you showed when you saved me from tens of thousands of the undead?"
"Tens of thousands?"
At her words, both Souichirou and Yuriko widened their eyes in shock.
They already suspected Akuto was an "Awakened," but to have rescued someone from within a horde of ten thousand? That was beyond comprehension.
So this was why the princess had chosen him?!
...
"Well, it has been some time since I last saw Uncle Takagi. It wouldn't hurt to show him how much I've grown."
Akuto smiled faintly and drew the katana at his waist, looking toward Saya.
"Takagi-san, didn't you always want to prove yourself to your parents?"
"In this battle, I'll take the vanguard. You take command."
"Yes! Understood!"
Saya replied eagerly.
Watching her daughter so excited to throw herself into command, Yuriko bit her lip.
Just a few days apart, and her daughter now looked like she'd been completely trained.
He said he was leaving command to Saya, but Yuriko knew full well the real reins of battle lay in Akuto's hands.
And yet her daughter was thrilled by this arrangement...
Sigh...
...
"Whoosh!"
Without even invoking the Boosted Gear, Akuto's figure blurred and vanished ahead.
Souichirou arched a brow and spoke to his men.
"Tanaka, Tamura, Nakata, Nakamura... guard Lord Akuto's flank and assist him on the front line."
"Yes, sir!"
The four Awakened broke off, chasing in his direction.
By then, Akuto had already plunged into the horde!
[True Water Breathing — Sixth Form: Twisting Whirlpool!]
Blue-violet Leviathan energy erupted, a spiral of cutting currents whirling around him.
"Shhh—slash—crash—!"
His figure flashed through the masses.
Wherever he appeared, the spiraling torrent shredded zombies clean away!
With each kill, Akuto's recovered power grew, his slaughtering speed escalating exponentially.
From afar, Souichirou watched with approval.
Akuto's strength clearly surpassed his own, as well as that of his estate's Awakened. Such a man truly was worthy to wed Princess Kaguya.
Before long, under Saya's orders, the horde was completely purged.
Back at the red carpet, Souichirou sheathed his bloodied blade and bowed deeply to the returning Akuto.
"Lord Akuto, welcome to the Takagi estate. Please, come within. I have prepared a grand luncheon for you and Princess Kaguya."
...
Led by Souichirou, the group entered the estate.
But on the way to the main residence, Akuto suddenly drew his sword and hurled it into the crowd.
The flying blade pinned a chubby boy with glasses to a distant wall.
It was Hirano, the fat boy who had escaped Fujimi Academy with them!
"Lord Akuto, what is the meaning of this?" Souichirou demanded, his brow furrowing.
"Nothing much. I'm simply purging a traitor to my shelter."
"This one drove off with a cache of our weapons and supplies. If I don't deal with such betrayal, how can I continue to lead?"
"I see." Souichirou nodded firmly.
"Everyone! Witness this! This is the fate of those who betray their community! In this apocalypse, only by obeying the rules can we survive!"
Souichirou did not doubt him.
It explained everything — why these two students had arrived with firearms and months of supplies. They had stolen them from their own shelter!
And Souichirou despised nothing more than traitors.
...
The next instant, Akuto raised his hand. His katana wrenched free from Hirano's corpse and flew back to him.
It was a simple motion — yet it nearly made Takashi wet himself.
He thought Hirano's death meant he was next.
But Akuto made no move to kill him.
Takashi exhaled in relief.
Even though he was now an intelligent advanced zombie, he knew he wasn't Akuto's match.
[But... why?]
[He killed me once already. Why doesn't he strike me down now?]
The answer came quickly.
Trailing at the back of Akuto's group, he spotted her — the beautiful woman.
"Mother...!?"
Takashi froze, eyes wide.
Akuto hadn't killed him... because he didn't want to do it in front of Komuro Aoi.
(End of Chapter)
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