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"Kurome, don't forget this."
Right before Kurome left, Akuto tossed her an Irregular Chess Piece.
"Mm…"
Kurome didn't say much. Face growing rosier by the second, she turned and slipped away.
As her figure vanished, the system chimed in Akuto's ears.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host. Main Quest triggered: The Return of Former Minister Tōri.
Quest Grade: Purple
Quest Details: Per your agreement, Minister Tōri is returning in the loudest, most conspicuous way. Such fanfare will draw enemies from everywhere—that is exactly what you and Minister Tōri want. Use him as bait and move across the Capital.
Objective: During Esdeath's assault, keep former Minister Tōri alive.
"Time to reel it in, old man Tōri. Let's see how many big fish we net this time."
By Akuto's estimate, Esdeath's Jaegers and Night Raid would both be dragged in.
Perfect moment to clean house and make the hostile crowd taste reality.
After Kurome left, the Bug Queen Mera arched her back in a lazy stretch. The dancer's sway of her hips, the Egypto-chic silhouette, and the single black tear-mole at her eye's edge blended into a singular allure.
"So Kurome agreed. Akuto, you win. But how did you know she would?"
She had lost the wager, but Mera didn't care. Losing meant using her mouth on Akuto once—hardly the end of the world. After witnessing so many of his win-streaks, she already understood: the first streak is the one that drags you under.
"If I said I can see the future, would you believe me?" Akuto smiled.
"Oh? Foresight? Don't tell me in that future you conquered me too?"
Mera shot him a languid side-eye; she was used to the thrust and parry.
"Not just you. To be precise, I don't only win you—I win the whole world."
"The whole world, huh? Hahaha—figured someone like you would never kneel to the Empire."
Her laughter was bright.
"Having grand ambition is good, Akuto-kun. Still—conquering me might be harder than conquering the world," she said, eyes proud and ever-so lazy, like that would never change.
Akuto's eyes narrowed.
"The prouder, nobler, and stronger a woman is, the more she provokes a man's urge to conquer. Mera-san, you've led assassins long enough—don't tell me you don't know that much."
"Mmm?"
Her lashes dipped the instant the words landed.
Akuto had already caught her wrist—and pulled her sharply into him.
Before she could react, he had stolen her lips.
"You—"
She opened her mouth to speak, and he slipped past that opening, stealing even the power to talk.
The high-born, languid Bug Queen showed a rare, delicate side as Akuto took his fill. Mera lifted her hands—intending to push him away—yet halfway there her palms settled on his shoulders instead… then slid, then clutched, then turned into something perilously close to holding on for dear life.
A dozen minutes later, Akuto let the dazed queen breathe.
"Mera-san, when did I say I needed your heart? Your body works just fine."
His fingers drifted beneath her gauzy dress, tracing the snowy smoothness of her thigh.
"Relax. I won't force you—right now.
"Later though? No promises. I have limits too. Who asked you to strut in front of me every day spouting big words even after becoming my captive?"
"Akuto… you—!"
Feeling those searing hands on her legs, Mera took several hurried steps back. She looked again—emerald snake-pupils flickering through shock, killing intent, then a glint of realization.
"Did your 'ascension' make you… impatient? If so, go to those little girls who adore you. Most of them are thoroughly brainwashed. Ask, and they won't refuse.
"So stop wasting effort on me."
Even after he'd taken "payment" outside the bet, Mera chose not to strike him—she even pointed him to an easier path.
But Akuto knew this clock was close to striking.
"Mera-san, are you saying there isn't a single chance between us?"
"Exactly. None!"
Her voice was sharper than ever, firm as iron.
"Then why were you so… responsive just now?"
"..."
Could she say it felt… pretty good?
If she said it, wouldn't that mean admitting she enjoyed being that close with him?
"It's fine—you don't have to answer. Your silence told me enough." Akuto smiled.
He saw the wobble in her resolve. Which meant… he only needed to fan the flames.
He changed the subject with a soft smile.
"Mera-san, have you considered a problem?"
"What problem?"
"With your current strength and resources, you will never get Akame or Esdeath. You know my plan—after this, Akame will very likely use a devil piece. You, who refuse to, will never catch up to her again, much less to Esdeath.
"So if you stay the way you are, your dream will never happen. Even if I let you roam the Capital, it won't change a thing."
Mera fell silent, thinking—while the aftertaste of that kiss shimmered up her spine. She admitted he was right: as she was now, she neither resisted his touch nor abandoned the girls she desired. Given that, a best-case path seemed to be right before her.
Seeing Mera sink into thought, Akuto drew her gently into his arms. The languid queen didn't resist; she even looped her arms around his neck of her own accord.
"Akuto-kun… it may be just a method to win me, but I admit—you make sense."
"Show me then—how far you can go walking both hegemony and kingly virtue."
Her hips sank; Akuto tipped his head up to meet her.
It was easy only because Mera's attire was lavish and daring—made for duels anywhere, anytime. As the symbiote deepened its link, Akuto's Bloodline Infusion Method activated, remodeling Mera's body and nudging her life pattern toward evolution.
At the same time, a tingling like a thousand tiny insects bit and nibbled across Akuto's nerves—not from Mera unleashing bugs, but from the peculiarities of her own physique.
"If it were Esdeath… would it feel different?"
The thought flitted across his mind. In the next second—before he could make the next move—Mera's legs hooked around his waist, drawing him in.
"Going this far and still not moving… what, am I not enough for you?"
Her eyes narrowed to slits. Without giving him time to answer, she took back his lips. She admitted it—he gave her something she'd never felt before—deeper, more primal than cuddling up to a cute girl: the pleasure of being opened and explored.
Her mind turned muzzy, melting at the edges. In that haze, instinct took the reins; before Akuto could press forward, she flipped the board and rode him down.
Night drained away. Morning crept in.
The Irregular Chess Piece—plus one night of bloodline infusion—pushed Mera's life tier up a rung. She shattered the half-step wall and stepped through the gate of the Demon Lord-class. Thanks to the piece, she also patched the world's common shortcoming: mana.
In the world of Akame ga Kill, most people are body-cultivators; only after obtaining a devil piece and opening the door to mana do they truly fill in that missing track. No exaggeration—Mera now could thrash dozens of her former self.
For the first time fighting someone Demon Lord-tier, Akuto poured in everything. Near the end, he even called upon the Boosted Gear to bolster his physique.
At last—when the eastern sky paled fish-belly white—the system chimed again.
Ding!
Fate Plunder complete.
Source of Fortune: Mera (Merad) Oberge.
Initial Ability Slot +1. Current total: 15.
Winning over Mera hadn't required clever tricks—only grind. Time-grind, value-grind, letting her grow used to the fact that he had other women. And, most crucially… last night's grind.
Mera did like girls—but that didn't mean she disliked men. All the more when Akuto fully ignited his succubus bloodline, guiding her neatly into the most fertile, most receptive state.
After a night's tilling, Mera coiled around him like an anaconda, as if her solid, sinewed body could crush the symbiote he'd poured into her.
"Alright. Furina needs me today—I'm heading to the palace."
Akuto kissed Mera's brow and murmured.
The system chimed once more.
Ding!
Former-Life Objective complete: Subjugate the Bug Queen (Gold).
Reward granted: Longinus — Evanescent-Instantaneous (Ice Emperor of the Instant).
(End of Chapter)
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