Achoo~

Nacita had returned this time with a secret medicine from Rebel Army headquarters that could rapidly heal injuries.

Mine was fine; she had mostly recovered during this time, but Tatsumi's injuries had been far too severe.

Multiple muscles across his body had been damaged, and three ribs had been broken. Fortunately, Incursio's defensive power was exceptionally strong, so his internal organs had not been injured. He had only suffered a mild concussion.

Under normal circumstances, injuries of that severity would take at least several months to heal.

Yet Nacita's round trip to Rebel Army headquarters had taken only a few days at most.

Tatsumi was still bedridden.

The secret medicine Nacita had brought back was remarkably effective. Even his bones, which healed the slowest, had fully mended in just half a month.

Tatsumi was once again full of vigor.

And once he had recovered, Tatsumi began rigorous training.

No, he had actually started training before his injuries had fully healed.

It was just that the others had worried about his injuries worsening, and Tatsumi himself had feared that aggravating them would delay his recovery, so he had held himself back.

But once he had completely recovered, Tatsumi let loose.

His dedication to training was so intense that even Lubbock, another man, felt too embarrassed to slack off.

He had no choice but to train alongside Tatsumi, and then the difference became apparent.

He discovered that his physical condition was actually inferior to that of Tatsumi, a country boy!?

Afterward, Lubbock came to terms with it. So what if he could not compare? Tatsumi possessed armor-type Imperial Arms. Wasn't it only natural for its wielder to have a strong body?

After Tatsumi recovered, the members of Night Raid continued their special training in the mountains for another half month. It was not that they did not want to keep training and increase their strength.

The situation simply no longer allowed them to remain hidden.

During the more than month they had been gone, the newly established "Hunters" had rooted out quite a few of the spies they had planted in the Imperial Capital.

There were not many spies left in the Imperial Capital now.

They had no idea how much manpower and resources they had invested to plant spies in the Imperial Capital. They could not simply let them all be sacrificed.

And the only ones capable of tangling with the "Hunters" were Night Raid.

Night Raid returned once more to their secret base outside the Imperial Capital.

The base was extremely well hidden. Lubbock inspected the surrounding area and found that none of the small traps he had left behind had been triggered. Apparently, no one had visited this abandoned base during that time.

And while cleaning the base that had been left unattended for over a month, Susanoo—the Biological Imperial Arms Nacita had brought back—did most of the work.

He cleaned nearly the entire base himself.

More than once, everyone marveled that Susanoo really could do anything!

In truth, Susanoo might really be able to do anything.

Susanoo was originally a humanoid Biological Imperial Arms created to serve as a bodyguard for important figures.

Aside from his formidable combat strength, he could do laundry, clean, and cook—he could do it all!

After Susanoo arrived, all of Night Raid's meals were handled by him.

Tatsumi even felt that part of the reason he had recovered so quickly was the nutritious meals Susanoo had specially prepared for him.

During dinner that evening, everyone in Night Raid gathered together to discuss their plans going forward.

No matter what, they were bound to clash with the "Hunters" next. There was no avoiding it.

But the "Hunters'" combat strength was beyond question. With Esdeath among them, Nacita believed it was undoubtedly impossible for Night Raid's few Imperial Arms users to kill Esdeath.

"Come to think of it, Boss has always said that Esdeath is incredibly powerful. So how exactly are we supposed to deal with and kill her?"

Tatsumi could not help but ask.

Nacita recalled the sight she had never been able to forget: an entire river frozen solid. Such overwhelming power...

Nacita took a deep drag from her cigarette and heavily exhaled a cloud of smoke. "At least fifty thousand elite soldiers, plus more than ten Imperial Arms users, including Akame!"

Hiss—

Everyone besides Akame, who was focused on her food, and the meticulous Susanoo, sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Isn't that way too exaggerated?"

Lubbock could not help asking.

Just how powerful did someone have to be to require such a massive force of soldiers and Imperial Arms users?

With that many troops and Imperial Arms users, they could probably conquer an entire country!

Nacita took another drag from her cigarette but did not answer Lubbock's question.

Exaggerated? Not at all!

Nacita, who understood Esdeath's terrifying strength, had left one thing unsaid.

In truth, those fifty thousand elite soldiers and ten Imperial Arms users would all be disposable pawns, meant to create an opportunity for Akame to land a fatal blow...

If Akame's Imperial Arms had not been the special One Cut Killer: Murasame, the number of Imperial Arms users joining the siege might have needed to double!

Nacita raised her head and looked at the Night Raid members, all of whom were watching her.

"No matter what, it's still too early to face Esdeath. From here on, we won't confront the Hunters head-on. Preserving our strength is the top priority. Of course, if an opportunity arises, we won't pass up the chance to eliminate Esdeath's wings!"

Especially Lilith!

It wasn't merely because they needed to avenge Bulat, but also because Lilith possessed an Imperial Arm capable of controlling water.

Esdeath was already incredibly powerful. If she gained the aid of an Imperial Arm user who could control water...

Nacita recalled the sight of Esdeath freezing an entire river. Then, for some reason, she wondered whether, if Lilith remained alive, Esdeath could easily freeze the entire Rebel Army.

At that thought, Nacita made up her mind. Lilith had to be eliminated first!

"Achoo~"

Lilith covered her nose with her hand and let out a soft sneeze.

"What's wrong? Did you catch a cold?"

It was Esdeath's first time seeing Lilith sneeze, and she thought something might have gone wrong with Lilith's body.

"No. Someone's probably talking about me."

"Mm, that's normal too. After all, Lilith is quite the little beauty. It's only natural for people to talk about you."

Esdeath put extra emphasis on the word "little."

Lilith caught the mockery in Esdeath's tone, but she didn't retort.

She only felt that Esdeath was a little pitiful. Lilith had an endless lifespan, while Esdeath would grow old and die within a few decades—or perhaps be killed by someone someday in the future.

In short, Esdeath would die, but she wouldn't!

She had a long life ahead of her, so her body simply grew a little more slowly.

That was perfectly normal. She wouldn't care about Esdeath's words.

She wouldn't!