Chapter 24 - #24 Akame and Kurome (1/2)
”You are exaggerating, heh. By the way, this is Ichika, my guardian.” I said while pointing at Ichika standing next to me who was completely silent ever since we entered the camp.
Gozuki just nodded at her and she returned the gesture.
”Hm? And you are...?” I asked with a smile while looking at the bald man standing near Gozuki.
”You can call me Uncle Bill, I am the one supervising this exam. I heard that you want to participate in it...is there any specific reason for it?” He introduced himself with a slight bow and then asked me with an intriguing expression.
Yeah, the main reason was to recruit one of the survivors to our house and then to show off that our house isn't so formidable just for show. I wanted to say but I stopped myself.
It will be much better if I will act all innocent. This might give them a much stronger impression of me.
”I think that mister Gozuki will inform you of the specific reason later, but that wouldn't be enough for me to come here personally. I simply wanted to go and play with other kids, there aren't many kids in the Capital so I wasn't able to make any friends...Although I am slightly older, I don't think it will pose any problem to make a few friends from here!” I closed my eyes and said with a bright smile.
[”Survive” in the Gifnora Forest inhabited by Danger Beasts]
[Condition: Play around in the forest]
[Bonus: Make at least 1 friend that will actually survive without your help]
[Reward: +2 Free stat points]
[Bonus Reward: +2 to all stats]
[Failure: Impossible to fail...]
When I opened my eyes I noticed that both of them were looking at me with a surprised expression. Uncle Bill's eyes even began twitching for a little while.
---
'This kid...we are trying to find the best candidates for training ȧssassins and he is saying that he wants to play around in that forest?! This makes me want to cough out blood. Plus...what does he mean by the main reason? There is something else other than participating? Why haven't Gozuki informed me about this?!' Uncle Bill thought while glancing at Gozuki who just shook his head.
Whoa! What a nice and easy quest but what does ”friend” mean? Do I have to make that person trust me? It will be kinda hard if I can't even help them but neither the ”help” is specified. Maybe I can save him once but I can't actually lead him out of the forest. Maybe it's ”make him trust me but don't make him dependable on me” kind of quest, hehe.
”Anyway, it seems that you are about to start, here you go Ichika.” I muttered and then handed my family's heirloom sword to Ichika.
”There is no need for you to do that. All kids will be given their weapons so you don't need to get rid of your own weapon.” Gozuki said and jumped down from the top of the dead Danger beast.
...That katana attached to his belt must be Teigu...those strange markings on its scabbard look like a seal. That weapon must be really dangerous.
I thought while taking a quick glance at his katana but this didn't go unnoticed by someone strong like Gozuki.
---
'...Did he just glance at my Murasame? This kid really isn't just a normal kid, those eyes were full of caution before they returned to their usual boring state.' Gozuki thought when he noticed Akashi's quick glance.
---
”No no, I wouldn't want to be in advantage because of a weapon. Others might become jealous and I wouldn't be able to make any friends.” I quickly waved my hands to show that it's unacceptable.
”Alright, you can continue.” Gozuki just nodded at me and then said to Uncle Bill.
----When men lead the children into the forest----
”...Are you sure you don't need to guard him?” Uncle Bill asked while looking at Ichika who was leaning against a tree with closed eyes.
”Hm? There is no need, in this forest, there are only a weaker types of Danger beasts.” Ichika opened her eyes and answered with a confident expression before closing her eyes once again.
”*Why is that kid here, Gozuki?!*” Uncle Bill whispered to Gozuki with an angered expression.
”*I promised his father to give them 1 survivor of the test.*” Gozuki answered with a calm expression.
”*You did what?! So that's why he is here but why would he want to participate in this too? There is no advantage in doing this. Is he doing that because he doesn't want us to think that he is here just to make sure that the one who is sent to them is the real survivor?*” Uncle Bill muttered with a thoughtful expression.
”*I am not sure but that kid is definitely not weak.*” Gozuki replied.
----Akashi's POV----
They even forced us to split up so we wouldn't depend on each other.
I was given just some shitty quality dagger. Are they really expecting those kids to survive with those weapons? Well...I won't need to use it.
I thought and attached the dagger to my belt and then looked in the sky with both of my hands in my pockets.
Who should I try to find? That kid with blond hair and golden eyes looked quite determined, he has a lot of potential but I wonder if I can find him. There were also those black-haired twins, well, at least one of them looked determined, the other one was more scared than determined but she also looked younger so it's understandable.
...As I was thinking about where should I go with an absent-minded expression while looking in the sky, I heard some wailing near me.
I turned my head in the direction of the sound.
...Is that plant type Danger beast? It must have been burned by my passive [Child of Fire]. But really, it must have been really weak that I didn't even notice it attack me. I guess that passive skill is also making me ignore threats that can be countered by this ability.
I started hearing a lot of hissing sounds and other unrecognizable sounds all around me but I didn't feel any danger.
”Hehe, this should have been hell for those kids, I will return the favor and make it also hell for the Danger beasts.” I muttered with a crazy smile.
Let's move!