Esdeath / Kuro's Excitement

Although Koizumi said she did not know Kurome, for some reason, Koizumi did not sound distant at all when speaking to her.

Feeling the warm breath from Koizumi's mouth, Kurome's cheeks flushed slightly, but she still explained.

"Because I once participated in the selection for the Imperial Assassination Squad. Although I was not chosen, I still obtained Imperial military registration. Even if my sister betrayed the Empire, the law will not punish me for it. They do not dare hurt me, so they only dare throw little stones..."

Koizumi was speechless. Because I do not have Imperial military registration, they dare swing wooden clubs and hoes at me?

Forget it. Pretend I said nothing. The more I talked about it, the more my mentality felt like it was about to explode.

She suddenly felt like bursting into tears. What else could she say? Wasn't this just discrimination?

But then again, do not silently endure it just because they only threw little stones at you.

As though she sensed Koizumi's gaze, Kurome froze slightly before revealing a heartwarming smile.

"Thank you for your concern, but my sister betrayed the Empire. It is normal for them to be angry about it, and normal for them to act this way. Imperial soldiers cannot casually attack civilians. That was an edict once issued by His Majesty the Emperor, so I cannot fight back!"

"So you just stand there and let them attack you? You're way too stupid!"

Koizumi felt indignant. If this had happened to her, she would have given them a Gungnir.

"Hehe..." Kurome scratched her head and gave a foolish laugh.

That left Koizumi speechless. I was not complimenting you, idiot!

"Mr. Koizumi!" At that moment, Aerya, Ieyasu, and Sayo, who had come out from the military enlistment registration area, also noticed what was happening here.

They hurried over, but the instant Aerya saw Kurome, her expression turned grave.

She more or less understood what had happened...

"This must be Miss Kurome, the younger sister of Traitor Akame, that Imperial traitor..."

As she said this, a trace of hostility flashed in Aerya's eyes. Even Ieyasu and Sayo showed intense hostility after hearing Aerya's words. Though they did not know what had happened, the other girl was the younger sister of an Imperial traitor.

Koizumi's heart sank. She finally understood the strange atmosphere she had sensed from the moment she entered the streets.

It stemmed from a fanatical loyalty. Koizumi could feel it: everyone present possessed blind loyalty toward the Empire.

Not only the civilians living in the Imperial Capital, but even Sayo and Ieyasu, who had just arrived from the countryside.

They had only heard that Kurome was the younger sister of an Imperial traitor. Kurome had not betrayed anything, yet they still felt intense hostility toward her. It was almost instinctive...

She had been to the Imperial Capital before. The Imperial Capital she had seen had not been like this.

The people's lives did not seem particularly prosperous, and it was as though dark clouds hung above every person's head. The atmosphere was oppressive, though it was still lively during the day. The greatest difference from the current Imperial Capital was that the citizens' loyalty toward the Empire had absolutely not reached such fanatical heights!

There was something wrong here!

Esdeath

At this moment, Koizumi shielded Kurome behind her. Even Aerya, Ieyasu, and Sayo were now people Koizumi felt she should be wary of. Their fanatical loyalty to the Empire made it impossible for her to see them as allies.

Sure enough, the distortion existing in this world was related to this Empire. Koizumi had come to the Empire twice, and the differences among the people before and after were enormous. So what exactly was going on? It seemed Reimu had been right that making contact with Night Raid was necessary. After all, Night Raid was responsible for assassinating high-ranking Imperial officials. Since that was the case, they must have had plenty of contact with the Imperial Capital and possessed much information about it.

If she could make contact with Night Raid, she should be able to obtain quite a bit of information.

After all, Reimu had said that Night Raid belonged to the Revolutionary Army. The Revolutionary Army existed to overthrow the Empire, so such a major force should have plenty of intelligence. She could use that information to locate the point of distortion.

Hmm... Reimu did seem to be somewhat useful after all. At least she had done a great job in this matter!

Koizumi had to admit that ever since Reimu followed her into this Singularity, this was the only time she had been of use. Sure enough, that shrine maiden was quite capable when it came to selling herself. She had actually picked such an excellent buyer.

Hehe, but then again, if Reimu knew Koizumi spoke of her like this, she would probably be furious to death.

Kurome could not help revealing a timid expression. For some reason, without her sister, she seemed very cowardly.

Hmm, perhaps she had not experienced anything cruel, which was why she had this kind of personality?

Compared to her, Koizumi had experienced death, so her mental fortitude was much stronger.

Even with Reimu and Hata no Kokoro not by her side, Koizumi would not feel fear or anything of the sort.

She really was a young girl raised in a greenhouse... Koizumi could not help sighing sincerely for Kurome.

"Mr. Koizumi, could you please stop protecting a traitor's relative?" Although Aerya wore a smile, Koizumi felt a chill run through her heart. It was not because Aerya was stronger than her, but because of another, deeper feeling.

More precisely, it was the cruelty in her personality. That was why Koizumi felt chilled.

"She is my friend. I should have told you that. Although I have forgotten the relevant details, I cannot stand by and watch my friend be bullied." Koizumi spoke calmly, already prepared to summon Gungnir and fight.

It would not matter even if she caused another commotion in the Imperial Capital. It was not as though this would be the first time.

If that did not work, she would probably have to use a Command Seal to summon Reimu and Hata no Kokoro to her side for help.

With Reimu and Hata no Kokoro there, Koizumi was fairly confident she could leave the Imperial Capital without a scratch.

Though she did feel guilty about dragging Reimu into this kind of battle again.

After all, she had been inexplicably dragged into this herself. In a sense, she could be considered dead weight.

Koizumi had been doing her best to avoid holding Reimu and the others back, yet she still could not escape it.

She clearly already had the corresponding strength, yet she was still inexplicably dragged into things. For some inexplicable reason, her memories had vanished too. It really left her speechless.

Suddenly, a chill spread through the surroundings, and bewilderment appeared on the faces of the civilians.

Aerya seemed to think of something, and her expression changed abruptly as intense fear welled up within her.

There was only one person in the entire Empire who could create such an icy aura.

This coldness pricked Koizumi like needles merely upon touching her. This was what it meant for cold to pierce one's bones.

Kurome hugged her arms and trembled slightly. She could not adapt to this coldness at all.

"Was it because of the different experiences that your personality differed so much from before? Still, your tendency to meekly accept everything remains unchanged. I never expected us to meet under such circumstances. What a thoroughly disappointing reunion, Kurome..."

A clear, cold voice arrived alongside the sound of footsteps. Slowly, an icy-blue figure entered Koizumi's sight.

Even though this was their first meeting, Koizumi had to admit that the person before her made an exceptionally deep impression on her.

Silver-white boots, a blue-and-white military uniform, sky-blue long hair cascading down her back, and a smile that was breathtaking yet terrifying at the same time.

It was a bewitching smile, yet her eyes held a frightening excitement.

Her aura was that of a general, a queen, an assassin, even... a Dangerous Beast!

The instant she saw the other woman, alarm bells rang madly in Koizumi's heart. Her instincts warned her that this woman was extraordinarily dangerous. She absolutely could not confront her head-on. Even with a vampire's powerful vitality, she would only be tortured by the woman until her mind collapsed.

Koizumi clenched her teeth tightly and did not retreat even one step, merely watching the other woman advance.

Who was this person? Koizumi had never seen her before. Without a doubt, she was a high-ranking figure in the Empire, because only someone like this could give Koizumi such an intense sense of danger.

Three high-ranking officers with several stars on their shoulders followed behind the woman. All three wore black, and without question, they were this woman's trusted subordinates.

"You are?" Kurome, whose strength was insufficient, naturally could not sense the danger of the person before her. She merely looked at the woman in confusion.

Do I know her? Why would she say something like that? Kurome felt deeply puzzled.

However, the woman's exceptionally conspicuous icy blue gave Kurome some idea.

Although Kurome could be somewhat airheaded and adorable at times, she was not stupid.

"Catch this. It is your Teigu. From now on, you will stay by my side. My orders cannot be defied. If there is anyone you cannot bear to leave behind, bring them to the palace as well!"

As she spoke, she handed a katana to Kurome. The instant Kurome grasped it, she felt an unusual sense of comfort. The katana before her seemed to be calling to her.

Instinctively, Kurome tightened her grip on the katana slightly.

"This Teigu is called March of the Dead: Yatsufusa. Remember it well! You should already know its ability."

The icy-blue-haired woman's voice was exceptionally cold, as though devoid of any emotion.

The surrounding civilians looked at her with reverence, while Aerya did not conceal her fear at all.

However, Ieyasu and Sayo looked at her with respect and excitement, as though they had seen her before.

"Yes!" Kurome nodded heavily. Though she was slow to react, she knew the person before her was an Imperial general.

"Once you have settled your affairs, come to the palace and simply give them my name!"

"My name is—"

"—Esdeath!"

Kurome's Excitement

"My name is—"

"—Esdeath!"

The moment the icy-blue female general spoke those words, almost everyone except Koizumi and Kurome bent forward, as though they had been subdued by the female general's overwhelming presence.

Even Koizumi could not help taking a deep breath. From these people's actions, it was not difficult to see that Esdeath held an extremely high status within the Empire. Since Koizumi had not spent much time in the Empire, she did not know that Esdeath was the Empire's strongest general, nor did she know anything about the other strongest figure in the Empire.

She did not even know that the person who had intercepted Reimu that day was General Bude, one of the Empire's strongest.

Therefore, when facing Esdeath, Koizumi merely felt that the woman's aura was exceptionally powerful and gave her an extraordinarily dangerous feeling. Beyond that, she had no other impressions. But that could not be helped, since Koizumi did not know her identity.

However, while Koizumi did not know, Kurome certainly did.

After all, Kurome had once wanted to participate in the Imperial Assassination Squad selection. Though she had failed, she possessed Imperial military registration, so Kurome and the others knew many things ordinary people did not. Koizumi did not belong to this Empire, nor was she even from this world, so naturally she did not know Esdeath's identity.

As someone from the Empire, how could Kurome not know what even ordinary people knew? Thus, she was completely aware of Esdeath's identity. Though she had never met her, she could infer it from that striking icy blue.

Even though she had mentally prepared herself, when she truly heard Esdeath announce her name, she could not help taking a deep breath.

The Empire's strongest general, Esdeath, had personally come to recruit her and had even personally chosen a Teigu to give her. Kurome suddenly felt that none of this was real.

It could not be helped. It was like something she had always sought suddenly, inexplicably falling into her hands one day.

That was how Kurome felt right now, and in truth, it was normal for her to feel that way.

However, compared to the joy of joining Esdeath's ranks, the worry in Kurome's heart was even more apparent.

Akame had betrayed the Empire, while she herself was being promoted within it. But what if one day she had to subjugate her sister?

Kurome suddenly felt deeply lost again. Should she swing the blade in her hand at her sister? Or should she stand by her sister's side and betray the Empire? Kurome became as tangled as someone suffering from indecision.

For that very reason, when faced with Esdeath, Kurome merely stood there without moving, as though stunned.

In reality, Kurome was hesitating over whether she should obey Esdeath. Although Esdeath had said her orders could not be defied, Kurome also had a stubborn side, and that stubbornness ran extraordinarily deep. Once she decided something, it was as though she had set her mind on it completely and would listen to nothing else.

Unless someone could enter Kurome's heart, break through the walls around it, and make her change.

Otherwise, Kurome would never make even the slightest change.

As though she could see Kurome's conflict, Esdeath slowly walked toward her and looked directly into her eyes.

"Are you thinking about Akame?"

"My sister..." Kurome's tone was hesitant as she considered whether she should plead with Esdeath.

However, before Kurome could continue, Esdeath revealed an excited expression instead.

"Akame is a rare opponent capable of fighting me. I remember that time, she had to enter the realm beyond humanity just to barely fight me. But when I encountered her last time, she could barely match me in her normal state. If she had not been anxious to leave and lost her composure, she could probably have held on longer. After that, she must have gone elsewhere to train, and her strength must have increased. What a pity. If she had not been rescued, I would have captured Akame."

At this point, Esdeath's icy-blue eyes fixed upon Kurome.

"Do not worry, Akame is still alive for now. But whether that remains true in the future is another matter. If you want Akame to live, then work hard and grow stronger. Become strong enough to find Akame before I do and capture her alive. If she becomes your trophy, then how you deal with her will be up to you. Naturally, I will not interfere. At the very least, as your superior, I would not be so shameless as to steal my subordinate's trophy."

At this point, Esdeath revealed a smile.

"What do you think?"

Kurome's black eyes seemed to ignite with flames as she stared directly at Esdeath without the slightest fear.

That was right. As long as she captured her sister before Esdeath did, as Esdeath had said, then as her trophy, Kurome would have the right to decide how to handle her sister. She only needed to make her sister stay by her side forever!

At that thought, a trace of hope immediately appeared in Kurome's eyes.

At the same time, the eyes she turned toward Esdeath filled with profound gratitude.

Without Esdeath, she probably would not have found such a concrete path. Though her earlier conversation with Koizumi had made her understand that she could find her sister and resolve everything through words.

But Esdeath before her would undoubtedly not let her do that. Esdeath would kill her sister before she could, so before persuading her sister with words, she still needed to grow stronger. Strong enough to find and defeat her sister before General Esdeath did, then persuade her.

However, Kurome would not thank Esdeath, because Esdeath wanted to kill her sister.

Kurome placed the bond between herself and her sister first. It would always come first.

Sensing the passionate fighting spirit in Kurome's eyes, Esdeath was in an excellent mood as well. However, out of kindness, she still had to remind Kurome, "It will be very difficult for you now to catch up to Akame as she is now, because Akame now has the ability to compete with me for the title of the Empire's strongest. Perhaps Akame will hold back out of sisterly affection, but the gap between you two is still as vast as heaven and earth. Do you understand?"

Kurome nodded heavily. "I understand, so I hope the general will train me!"

"Oh!?" A trace of surprise flashed through Esdeath's eyes, but upon thinking about it carefully, it was only natural.

Kurome had not received formal training yet, so she was naturally still very weak. However, if she wanted to become stronger, Esdeath could be said to have countless methods to help Kurome.