Facing the colossal ice sphere, Furina sprang up from the imperial seat and shot Esdeath a reproachful look.
Tch!
If Akuto-sōtoku couldn't catch that, wouldn't the Capital be obliterated on the spot?!
Of course, complaint was complaint—she didn't truly believe he'd fail.
For some reason, she held a bone-deep trust in him.
Under Furina's gaze, the green jewels on Akuto's crimson armor pulsed faster and faster.
[Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! Boost! ...]
[Explosion!]
Snap.
Akuto flicked his fingers.
A heartbeat later, a massive Explosive Magic Sphere—its diameter rivaling the Heaven-Hindering Ice Star—bloomed over the Capital.
The instant the falling glacial moon touched the sphere, the super-massive ice meteor melted away like snow in the noonday sun—gone where it hung!
Down on the ground—
Wham!
A single savage kick erased the distance; a white flash split the air—the next instant, Esdeath's silhouette rocketed back, smashing into the arena wall and spider-webbing the stone.
With a heavy thud, she slid down from the cracked wall and hit the floor—combat capability fully spent.
Elsewhere—at the Grand Minister's side.
Watching the sky's anomaly, the Minister felt his scalp go numb.
Judging by this… even Esdeath wasn't Akuto's match.
Seriously—what rock did this monster crawl out from under?!
Scowling, he shifted his gaze to the young man kneeling below, one hand resting on the hilt at his waist.
"Syura, do you know why I recalled you so urgently?"
The youth—Syura, the Minister's son—had been exiled for his misdeeds years ago, only now returning.
"Ah, I've heard it all, old man. You were humiliated by a guy named Akuto, right?" Syura narrowed his eyes.
"Hmph! I merely allowed him to 'grow,' so I'd have reason to eliminate him later!"
The Minister still wanted to save face—even now, when passive forbearance had reached its limit.
"While he governed the Capital, the men I sent to Anvale City compiled proof of his intent to rebel. We also obtained crop seeds with ten times ordinary yield."
"If we let him continue, the danger becomes intolerable—even I risk being sidelined. We must move first!"
"So then, how do you want to play it? Your son didn't idle in exile—I've formed a crew of my own."
Syura's mouth curled in a cruel smile.
"Simple. I want you to be the executioner."
The Minister bit down viciously on his meat, eyes turning toward the depths beneath the palace.
At this point—only that thing remained to be used.
Meanwhile, at Night Raid's base.
Upon returning, the mood turned… complicated.
At this point, only one person hadn't used Akuto's pieces: the non-combat specialist, Chelsea.
From here on out, they would have no ability to resist Akuto's orders.
Night Raid… was already inside Akuto's pocket.
Najenda sighed and looked to the last holdout.
"Chelsea. Aside from you, everyone has used Akuto's Rule-Breaker pieces."
"He'll settle accounts soon. Since we accepted his help, we have to accept the price."
At the word "price," a faint blush touched Najenda's cheeks.
She had, after all, seen Scheele and Mine "pay" several times recently. Judging by their expressions, they'd… kind of enjoyed it.
Another sigh; she continued:
"Chelsea, you're a lovely girl. If you don't want this… leave Night Raid."
"If I'm not mistaken, he'll make a move the moment he sees someone as pretty as you."
"Because… after tonight, Night Raid might no longer be the Revolutionary Army's unit."
Najenda truly didn't want to drag Chelsea into the same mire.
But in answer, Chelsea nibbled her lollipop and grinned, amused.
"Leave? Why would I leave?"
"I've belonged to Lord Akuto from the start. Offering myself to him is an honor—why would I run?"
The room froze.
After a long beat, the air creaked back into motion.
Najenda's brows knit, then eased, then knit again.
At last she lowered her shoulders.
"Chelsea… when you broke in during Esdeath's time-stop, you managed it because of… Akuto-sōtoku?"
"Yes. Thanks to Akuto-sōtoku's holy arrangement I could assist in time."
"Otherwise, with just my own strength, breaking Mahapadma would've been… doubtful."
As she spoke, the sword at Chelsea's waist flashed white; a silver-haired loli manifested before the group.
"This is Est, the sword-spirit dwelling in the holy blade. Borrowing Est's power, I was able to shatter the time-stop," Chelsea explained.
Bathing in everyone's stares, Est said calmly:
"To ensure Akuto's plan proceeds, I will act."
Then she went perfectly still—like a wooden doll in standby.
Chelsea smiled helplessly.
"Lady Est doesn't like to talk. But her power is the real deal."
"Now you see why, even though Akuto wanted Night Raid, he still let our ops 'run free,' right?"
Even Leone, who wasn't the quickest thinker, finally put the pieces together, clutching her head and staring upward.
"Because all our actions fit inside his expectations—and even when they didn't, he could calibrate things using his people within the Governor's Office… or within Night Raid itself."
"If you were sent by Akuto on purpose, Chelsea… then Kurome, Akame's sister, was too…"
"That's right. To prevent a lopsided power shift, Akuto-sōtoku dispatched Kurome as well," Chelsea admitted cheerfully.
"Akuto-sōtoku is thorough," Akame murmured, eyes lifting toward the rafters.
"So… we do know what to do next, don't we?"
Leone: "Do what?"
Chelsea: "Obviously—take a proper bath, and put on your favorite outfit~"
"Akuto-sōtoku may specify what he prefers later, but at a time like this, it's best to start with what you feel most confident in, no?"
Absurd as it sounded, everyone felt… she was right.
Soon, Night Raid's girls were soaking—each with her own thoughts—while Chelsea briefed them on intel around Akuto.
"Eh? Anvale City used to be a tiny village? So Akuto-sōtoku poured his entire heart into building it up?" Leone pictured Akuto raising a settlement from childhood.
"Mhm. After he rises higher, I hope he'll govern other lands as well as Anvale," Mine said, eyes quietly hopeful.
If it's Akuto-sōtoku… he might really pull it off.
Hearing Akuto's broader plans, Najenda knocked back a beer and finally eased.
"…So the expeditionary army was to herd the current nobles into one pen. Once he takes the helm, he'll still cut the old nobility down?"
Najenda approved. If those resource-hoarding relics weren't purged, even a new Empire would rot from within.
As the talk drifted, everyone's faces stiffened—then all glanced sideways at each other.
"Heh-heh-heh…"
Seconds later, seeing everyone's identical look, Chelsea couldn't help but laugh.
"From your faces—you all just heard his summons through the pieces, didn't you?"
Najenda: "Eight o'clock—sharp."
Leone: "I'm at ten."
Chelsea: "I'm eleven~"
Akame: "Midnight."
With Akuto's call received, chatter died; tension and excitement rose in equal measure.
"Miss Mine, could you share… some, uh, experience? It's everyone's first time." Chelsea peeked at the very quiet pinkette.
"Eh? Me? Th-this… ask Scheele! She's done it with Akuto-kun the most!" Mine deflected in panic.
"Me?" Scheele tilted her head, fondness softening her eyes.
A few seconds later, she smiled gently. "My advice is… just relax and leave everything to Akuto-kun."
"Akuto-kun is amazing. He was still holding Mine's twin-tails—and he still took great care of me."
Night Raid, in unison: "…"
"Scheele—w-who told you to share that much?!" Mine immediately regretted tossing her under the cart.
Per Chelsea's suggestion, after bathing each changed into her favorite outfit.
As for Najenda—she donned her old general's uniform from her maiden days.
Night fell. By the appointed times, Night Raid's girls came to Akuto one by one.
Through the teleport array embedded in the pieces, Najenda materialized in the Governor's Office first.
Seeing the silver-haired woman in her old uniform, Akuto's eyes brightened.
"Oh? Najenda—you put on your girl general gear again?"
"But short hair… doesn't suit you quite as well~"
Between the looks, Akuto liked her maiden-days' braided style best.
"If you like long hair… I can grow it out again."
Najenda turned her face aside; a strand slid across her cheek.
With her arm restored, both body and heart had drifted back toward her youthful self.
Not identical—but far more girlish than when she'd worn a prosthetic.
"No need to wait."
"I like… ready-made."
Susususu—
Backed by the power of life, Najenda's silver hair surged, growing wildly until it spilled to her waist in shimmering waves.
(End of Chapter)
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