Chapter 25 - #25 Who to choose? (2/2)
----Akashi's POV----
And as I thought, Gozuki also noticed this and released a sly smile. I noticed him whispering something to the soldier near him and that soldier immediately run to the camp where the kids were waiting and observing us.
”How was it? Were you able to find new friends?” Gozuki asked me with a smile once I stopped in front of them.
”...I guess so” I said with a forced smile.
He already noticed how Kurome was waving at me...if I were to lie here, it would only create unnecessary tension between us. It's not like I am not confident in defeating him in a fight but he still has that strange weapon and not to mention that I can't deteriorate the relationship between my house and the Empire just because of this.
”Here they are.” The soldier came back, bringing Akame and Kurome together with him.
Akame was glaring around with her strong determined eyes while hugging Kurome who was just confused about this situation but the smile she previously had already disappeared.
”I noticed that you already know Akame and Kurome. These two are extremely talented, they got out of the forest pretty fast so you can choose one of them since you already know them.” Gozuki said with a smile and his words shocked both sisters.
”What?! I am not leaving Kurome!” Akame shouted while tightly hugging Kurome.
I couldn't help but grit my teeth.
”That's not very nice of you, mister Gozuki~” I said and started to glare at him while my eyes started to glow a bit.
Trying to use me as a medium to split those sisters apart...I really am underestimated here.
---
'This kid...Is he trying to pick a fight? Gozuki isn't someone who will let himself be ordered around by a kid.' Uncle Bill thought with an amused smile but when he saw Gozuki's reaction, he immediately had shocked expression.
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”I don't know what you are talking about...They are both really talented.” Gozuki said with closed eyes and a forced smile.
It seems like he doesn't want to back down from this. There is no need to agonize the entire Empire for one kid. I don't know Gozuki's connections but since he is also a former member of Rakshasa Demons which means that he must have some friends there. It would be really stupid to start a fight because of those girls.
”Fine, have it your way but don't forget. Phoenix never forgets!” I said with a threatening tone.
”Good! I knew that you would be smart enough not to turn this offer down. Split them up!” Gozuki nodded with a smile and snapped his fingers. The soldiers standing nearby approach the girls to split them up.
”No!!” Akame shouted while looking at the approaching men.
This fuċkɨnġ blondie!
”Stop!” I shouted in domineering tone at the soldiers and they stopped to look at me and then back at Gozuki.
Gozuki just waved his hand and they nodded before walking away from 2 sisters.
...What a tragic fate.
I couldn't help but look at them in pity.
I walked up to them but this time, Akame wasn't shouting and only cautiously watched me while hugging her sister.
I put on a gentlest smile I could muster up and extended my arm towards them with an open hand.
---
'...I wonder who will he choose, heh' Gozuki thought when he saw Akashi's gesture but he couldn't tell who will be chosen.
---
...Akame is definitely more talented at the first sight but Kurome can have a hidden potential inside her. But...the Empire won't bother with finding it out, they will probably make extremely cruel training for the kids with too little talent here. It seems that me running amok inside that forest also caused a lot more kids to survive...I don't know if I can even call it a good deed from my side.
If I will take Akame and something bad will happen to Kurome then she will most likely resent the Empire but she can also harbor hate towards me for splitting them up. If I will take Kurome...Akame probably won't be treated badly due to her visible talent.
Well, I don't need to care that much about talent with my ”party” feature. I can even make a normal kid into a great warrior.
...I have decided.
”Kurome-chan, will you go with me back to the Capital?” I said with a gentle smile while calming staring into Kurome's shaking eyes.
My words surprised both Gozuki and Uncle Bill but they immediately smiled since I took the one who had less talent. I will make them regret that smile in the future.
”I-I, can't I stay with big sis?” She asked me with tears in her eyes.
Although Akame looked extremely angry, having to part with her but she didn't say anything to me.
---
'...Maybe she will be safer with him. I can't judge him because I don't know him but I definitely have a better feeling with him choosing Kurome instead of me.' Akame thought with a sad expression while glaring at Akashi but there was no hatred in her eyes.
---
”Unfortunately, you can't...” I said with a slightly sad smile.
I didn't push her and simply waited for her to take hold of my hand.
If I have to be the one splitting them, then I have to make it in a less forceful way.
Maybe she noticed my sad smile or maybe she felt my sincerity and slowly grabbed my own hand.
”Kurome?” Akame asked with a sad expression after seeing this.
”We will meet again, big sis!” Kurome said and slowly left Akame's side with tears pouring down her face.
”Let's go...Thank you for your ”hospitality” mister Gozuki, Uncle Bill, see you later.” I firmly hold Kurome's hand and said my goodbye before slowly leaving while Kurome was glancing back all the time.
----After Akashi left the camp----
”I actually thought that you are going to teach that kid a lesson. I never took you for a person who would get afraid of a kid with a background” Uncle Bill said with a teasing smile.
”I don't care about his background...You didn't feel the pressure I was feeling at that time.” Gozuki replied with an absent-minded expression.
”What kind of pressure? Are you telling that kid is stronger than you?” Uncle Bill narrowed his eyes and asked with a serious expression.
”It wasn't kind of pressure you use during the battle. It felt more authoritative, domineering. It also felt as if that pressure was hinting me not to go too far or anger him.” Gozuki explained with narrowed eyes.
'Thankfully, he didn't want to make a scene here so he accepted it but to think that he would be able to see through my plan so easily...He really is a monster, it's regrettable that he can't be in our units but it's no problem since his house is loyal to the Empire.' Gozuki thought with a forced smile while he was looking in the same direction, Akashi just felt.