Time froze.
The world turned ice-blue.
Esdeath swept her gaze around, confirming the situation in the stillness.
[Looks like Night Raid has emptied their nest. No more reinforcements coming.]
[I set out today to wipe them all out… and yet the cost is this steep.]
[Since when did Night Raid become a lineup that could pressure me like this?]
She strode through the frozen-blue world, raised an ice blade, and prepared to strike Akame.
Among all of Night Raid, the one she warred against most carefully was Akame.
Before any special tools came out—just with secret arts—Akame had already suppressed her in close combat.
If Akame used a tool, Esdeath's odds would plunge.
Esdeath's ice-blue lashes flicked.
Because she saw a living thing moving inside stopped time—!
A pink-haired girl brandishing a holy sword was rushing straight at her!
How can she move in a world I've stopped?!
There was no time to wonder. Chelsea swung the sword gleaming with golden light.
"Holy sword—holy sword that slays the Demon King! Here and now, reveal thy sharpness!"
"Ha-a-a-a-aah!!!"
"BOOM!!"
The holy sword's cannon-light roared forth, and for Esdeath, a dilemma snapped shut like a trap.
Mahapadma has a price.
While she maintains the secret art, her control over ice drops to its lowest point, and the duration is limited.
This holy light wasn't something she could block with that reduced ice control.
[Tch—where do these enemies keep coming from?!]
Faced with Chelsea's light cannon, Esdeath could only cancel her secret art first and pour everything into defending!
If Kurome was Akuto's detonator—there to force Akame's group to use pieces—
then Chelsea was the insurance Akuto installed for them.
The instant Esdeath unleashed her finisher, Chelsea judged the timing perfect: now was her moment to act.
So she charged in holding the holy sword Akuto had given her!
By channeling Phantom Beast Fabrication, Akuto had granted the "Holy Sword that Slays the Demon King" a mobile, beast-like ecology—
normally it remained a sword, but when needed, even if Akuto wasn't present, its manifested spirit Aest could act on her own!
Of course, because Aest is quite pure, Akuto deliberately paired her with the quick-witted Chelsea.
Unaware that Akuto could drag people back even from death with a Pan-World Rebirth Pool, Chelsea panicked the moment she saw Esdeath cast her ultimate—
and jumped.
Relying on the holy sword's anti-demon trait, Chelsea and Aest together broke free of the time bind and hurled that light cannon at Esdeath!
With Mahapadma canceled, time began to flow again—and Akame finished absorbing her Break-Rank Piece.
When time resumed, Akame exploded with even greater power.
Just a footfall—and she was already on Esdeath with invisible speed, attacks coming too fast to guard.
The field flipped on its head.
Esdeath—the one touted by myriad worlds as the queen who beheads Akame—
was now the one being battered, breath driven from her chest!
Just as Esdeath's footing grew more perilous—
"THUD… THUD… THUD… THUD…!"
Heavy impacts rolled in from afar.
Everyone looked—and nearly had their jaws fall off.
Because in the distant sky—
enormous ice pillars dropped like high-speed rail pylons; after each pillar struck, a frozen track kept unfurling, racing straight for Esdeath's battlefield!
Riding atop those icy rails was… an accelerating ice roller coaster?!
"Wooo!! Hahahaha~~~!"
Seated in Akuto's arms on the front car, Furina laughed harder than she ever had in her life.
"Heika—! …and Governor Akuto-sama?!"
Esdeath had not expected her first face-to-face with Akuto to be like this.
A few hours earlier.
Akuto had entered the palace to meet the Little Emperor.
According to the Little Emperor—Furina—she'd summoned him alone to reward the remarkable achievements he'd racked up in the Capital.
At present, the expeditionary forces had split into two columns, heading to Joseon and to Fū respectively.
The Joseon force, being closer, had already shipped the first batch of silver back to the Capital.
"Governor Akuto, the first shipment of silver is in. The Empire's finances are greatly eased—this delights Us."
"This is your accomplishment, Governor Akuto. With your aid, We believe We can attain a reign surpassing all who came before!"
Perhaps from excitement, the young emperor's cheeks were a little flushed.
"Your praise is too generous, Furina-sama. To serve You is my good fortune."
Akuto folded one arm across his chest, every inch the image of a loyal minister.
"No need to be overly modest, Governor. By the way—do you know why We summoned you this time?"
"I do not. Please enlighten me, Furina-sama."
"In truth… We hope you will become Our private tutor."
This was a scheme Furina had mulled for a long time.
As a private tutor, she'd secure long-term time at Akuto's side. Cultivating feelings, sounding him out—everything would be easier.
"We want Governor Akuto to teach Us the principles of statecraft. That way, when We formally take the reins of government, We can act with confidence.
"Governor Akuto—do you have time for this?"
Her eyes brimmed with hope as she looked at him; those clear, water-bright pupils were dazzling.
From her gaze, Akuto read her intention.
So she wants to get close and monopolize the spring, does she?
[Maybe… raising a Little Emperor wouldn't be so bad.]
[The old nobility must be purged—otherwise they'll keep bleeding the new Empire dry. But the Emperor can be retained—to serve as a mascot, a banner of legitimacy…]
Understanding that Furina hoped to make him her "regent-in-all-but-name," Akuto smiled.
"Guiding Furina-sama would be my honor."
"What would you like to learn first?"
"This…" Furina hesitated.
"Is it really fine to start with what I find interesting? Shouldn't study ignore personal interests and follow a set sequence?"
"That's for ordinary students. You are not ordinary, Furina-sama. You don't need ordinary methods."
"In that case… then please tell me how you governed Anvale City!"
She'd always been curious: how had Akuto turned a backwater prefecture into a rising star?
"Anvale City, is it? Very well—let's begin there."
Of course he wouldn't expose all of his secrets, but trimming the numbers a bit and laying out some core concepts was fine.
"In Your view, Furina-sama, what does a nation most need to enjoy long peace?"
"Perhaps… people with food in their bellies? So they don't revolt?"
"Exactly. Feeding the people is the foundation of rule. If the people revolt from hunger, such a state deserves to be toppled.
"But sustaining full bellies for the long term requires more than hard-working farmers and incorrupt officials.
"For example: introduce new agricultural techniques—you'll harvest more grain.
Raise officials' salaries—if those with power are poor, they'll be pushed toward graft.
And build upward social mobility—when those at the bottom have hope, the nation grows prosperous and stable.
Because the pursuit of a good life is everyone's simple, beautiful wish."
"Akuto-sama, slow down! Start with how you grew more grain." Furina pressed her temples—this was a lot to take in.
"Very well. First, survey acreage and evaluate land conditions…"
Akuto began to break things down step by step.
The feeling of raising a girl-emperor—and then eating that girl-emperor—
gave Akuto a brand-new thrill.
He knew he couldn't "raise" her for long; she was still young, and he would soon be away on campaign.
But… that didn't stop him from enjoying the experience for a while.
To watch an Emperor reveal her feminine charm before him—
it stirred him without warning.
An hour later, Akuto granted Furina a short rest.
A brain's focus window is limited; cram too much at once and nothing sticks.
During the break, Furina kept feeding Akuto fruit.
Grapes, apples, pineapple, watermelon—sliced by maids, each piece offered up with delight and slipped past Akuto's lips.
Watching him eat from her hand, Furina felt a brand-new emotion bloom.
This desire to make someone else happy… was strangely novel to her.
After a long pause, she steadied herself and asked the question she'd prepared.
"Akuto-sama, you labor tirelessly for the Empire and for Us."
"So beyond official rewards… We plan to grant you a private reward."
"A private reward? Please enlighten me, Furina-sama…"
Akuto noticed the bright excitement in her eyes.
Why was she so excited about a private reward? Could it be… that kind of reward…?
With his gaze turning a shade odd, Furina's lips parted, cheeks glowing.
"Before the reward, We must ask one question…"
"Do you prefer Us wearing shoes—or with shoes off, wearing only socks?"
Akuto: "???"
Seeing the deepening red on her face, Akuto finally, fully understood what his girl-emperor's "private reward" meant.
(End of Chapter)
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