The masked woman and the airhead (5.5K) (continued)
Each of them had prominent muscles, and with their robust physiques, they wouldn't suffer too much damage even if stabbed with a knife.
This is how it should be.
But neither the bodyguards nor the nobles expected this.
He only managed to block one strike!
Swish--
A flash of white light appeared, followed by a gust of sword wind!
Warm, fresh blood gushed out, instantly staining the ceiling, walls, and floor red.
Everywhere were severed limbs, as if cut off with a single stroke.
Kill that dangerous creature along with it!
The three little girls stared blankly at the scene before them, which resembled a slaughterhouse, and then couldn't help but vomit on the spot.
The nobles, however, only realized the gravity of the situation when the guards' blood splattered on their faces.
"Yotsuba Mahiro! You... you dare to attack us openly! Do you intend to rebel against the Empire?!"
Bacchus stepped forward and shouted.
But Mahiro ignored him, tilted his head, frowned slightly, and said to the woman:
"Didn't you understand my order? I mean, leave no one alive."
"..."
The woman remained silent.
But the gaze revealed beneath the mask was filled with a chilling coldness.
"... I am the aura of Death God Oarburgh, the wind of impermanence, leading you to the underworld!"
This was the first time the woman had spoken.
Although the voice was somewhat deep, it couldn't hide its crispness.
Words that sounded like a eulogy quietly reached their ears.
Among them, the bald-headed Suka, with his powerful hairstyle, seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly widened his eyes, pointing at her.
"You... you are--"
Swish--
Before he could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared.
The heads of Suka and the others flew into the air, then landed silently amidst the splattered blood, rolling a few times.
His face still bore the marks of shock and resentment he felt before his death.
"... Mission accomplished." The woman sheathed her long sword, turned back to his side, and said with a hint of respect.
"Hmm, good job. You can go back and rest now."
With his permission, the woman left.
Meanwhile, Mahiro strode forward, step by step, toward the heads of those nobles.
The hard leather shoes echoed crisply as they stepped on the marble floor.
"Let me see... There are four people this time! Wow, what a great day!"
He looked down at Bacchus's head, a mocking smile on his face, his eyes slightly cold.
"You call me a traitor? Do you think you're qualified? Besides, don't you know that only the living have the right to defend themselves? The dead are only fit to take the blame."
Shortly afterward, the security forces arrived.
It consisted of several members of the Elite Group, several team leaders, and the new recruits they led.
Nahashu, Cornelia, Tsukushi, and the other captains didn't seem to find anything wrong with the bloody scene. Kurome was even leisurely eating cookies.
I also asked Mahiro a question.
"Yotsuba Clan, would you like some?"
After he politely declined, it was the newcomers who immediately vomited.
Especially the overwhelming stench of blood, coupled with the sight of severed limbs and dismembered bodies...
That's absolutely terrible!
"Yotsuba Clan, what should we do next? Should we follow the old rules?" Nahashu asked after confirming that everyone present was dead.
"Hmm, the same old routine, raid their property."
"So what charge will they pin this time?"
"Let me think... Let's say they colluded in the Night Raid, betrayed Imperial intelligence, and committed treason against the Empire, plus the attack on the Chief of Staff, so they should be executed on the spot."
Mahiro quick thought, Makoto gave a very reasonable explanation.
Wasn't this man named Bacchus accusing him of treason?
Therefore, it is quite reasonable for this title to be bestowed upon these nobles.
After all, their security force is there to uphold the laws and justice of the Imperial Capital!
"Then, Lady Yotsuba Clan, what should we do with the three of them? Should we kill them all?" Pony asked, pointing to the three little pink, blue, and yellow girls slumped in the corner, trembling.
That idiot still speaks so bluntly.
Even though orders have been repeatedly issued, that's called handling, not killing!
But this stubborn idiot still couldn't remember, and look how scared those three little girls were!
"They must have been slaves bought by these nobles. Now that you've witnessed the whole thing, Yotsuba Clan, I think they shouldn't be kept," Nahashu suggested.
"But... that's too cruel, they didn't do anything wrong."
"I can't speak, "Tsukushi said weakly.
"Shut up, you trash! That's just your opinion!" Nahashu snapped coldly.
Although they are now all captains, Nahashu is still the captain of the Elite Group assassination squad, so he has always done everything he can to protect the team's safety.
We must not allow even the smallest mistake to lead to a crisis.
Unfortunately, many people don't understand his thinking; they just think he's cruel and harsh.
"Waaah... Mom and Dad, the Imperial Capital is so scary! We really want to go back!"
Ai hugged Luna and Far, whose legs were still a little sore.
Before they came, they were full of anticipation, but now that they've seen the darkest side of the place, all they want is to go home, even if it's back to that poor countryside, it's better than here.
That's absolutely terrifying.
One moment they were immersed in happiness, the next they were trapped in a hell of despair. And with the appearance of this seemingly gentle older brother, everything turned into a cruel purgatory. Were they really going to die here?
"Fine, let the three of them come back with me." Shinji said, Mahiro at the three trembling little girls.
"But Yotsuba Clan- sama..."
"It's alright, they're just three little girls, what threat could they possibly pose?"
Mahiro waved his hand, interrupting Nahashu.
Since he had made this decision, Nahashu naturally had no reason to object further, and could only leave with a somber remark:
"They're lucky."
Then the on-site handling and subsequent search of the house began.
And just like that, the fate of the three little girls was forcibly decided.
However, Cornelia squatted beside the severed limbs, looking at the smooth cuts with a sense of familiarity.
She felt like she'd seen that sharp, deadly swordsmanship somewhere before.
She knew Yotsuba Clan's fighting style very well; it was the kind that could eliminate enemies silently, leaving no trace.
There would never be a scene like this, with blood everywhere and severed limbs strewn about.
Moreover, this is not the first time this has happened.
In her memory, only three people could create such a smooth incision: Taeko, and the Akame and Kurome sisters.
But Taeko died two years ago, Akame is currently lurking in the Night Raid, and Kurome was just shopping with her.
So, who exactly is it...?
At the same time.
The masked woman has returned to Yotsuba Mahiro's mansion, but she doesn't live inside the mansion, and she even moves around unnoticed by everyone.
She quietly sneaked into the mansion's vault where the gold coins were kept.
After locking the door, she went into the depths of the vault, where a soft, large bed and several matching pieces of furniture were placed at the very back.
The area was surrounded by several huge treasure chests, through which glittering gold coins could be seen.
She was like a giant dragon guarding a treasure.
As if it were a routine, she walked to the full-length mirror, placed her weapon on the shelf beside her, and took off her pure white kimono, revealing her fair and alluring slender figure.
After changing into simple, loose-fitting clothes, she removed the mask that concealed her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful face.
If Cornelia were here, she would be very surprised to see the woman's face.
Because this woman was none other than Taeko!
However, she is different now than before. She is no longer an assassin of the Oarburgh Assassination Group, nor is she Barbara's apprentice or Chelsea's senior.
Her body, soul, even her life and everything she had belonged to Yotsuba Mahiro.
Faced with such unfair treatment, she would naturally have resisted.
She did the same thing two years ago.
He was defeated in his first attack on Yotsuba Mahiro.
She then tried to run away from the mansion, but as soon as she left the Imperial Capital, the man blocked her way.
She still remembers that scene clearly to this day.
In the darkness, bathed in moonlight, the man sat on a tree branch, watching himself with a mocking gaze.
"Hey, going for a night run? Want me to join you?"
That man was completely mocking me!
They couldn't win in a fight, nor could they escape, and each time they failed, they would experience different degrees of punishment.
The first time was the one she remembered most vividly.
I don't know where this man got those really strange, vibrating pendants, but he covered her whole body with them!
The hellish torment I endured still makes my body tremble when I think about it now.
At that time, her cherry-pink lips were deeply bitten down by her pearly white teeth.
Her slender fingertips crumpled the sheets, her blushing cheeks turned slightly to the side, and her beautiful, black-pearl-like eyes gazed indifferently elsewhere.
Despite her best efforts to resist mentally, her body was constantly being eroded.
Ultimately, he was the first to betray her.
Left with no other choice, she had to compromise and submit herself to Yotsuba Mahiro.
Fortunately, the man only did those things to him, and she usually just helped him with some dirty work; she didn't do anything else outrageous...
"Well."
Taeko sighed softly, slumped onto the soft bed, her pale arms shielding her eyes as she gazed intently at the towering ceiling.
Although this kind of life was already happy enough for her, and even this man never restricted her freedom, she was almost free to come and go as she pleased.
He even gifted her an Imperial Arm, a mask that allows her to unleash her full potential [Superpower Burst - Balzac].
But...