Chapter 87 - #86 Aftermath 2 (1/2)

”Sure, if we will have some spare time, I won't refuse a little spar.” I replied with a small smile and while I was speaking with Esdeath, others finally arrived.

”Hm?” Esdeath immediately looked at my shirt with a red tie before looking at Gin wearing a black coat.

”She is nȧkėd underneath it, I just lend it to her.” I said when I noticed her confused expression.

Why am I even explaining myself when she didn't even ask?

”Oh! I see...” She just nodded her head but it looked like she wanted to say more, however, she was hesitating.

”Akashi Nii-sama, what are we going to do now that mission is completed?” Kurome ran up next to me and asked me while glancing at Esdeath with a curious expression.

Esdeath saw her expression so she formed a smirk for some kind of reason. Kurome immediately narrowed her eyes while wrapping her arms around my own arm.

What is going on here?

”Ehm, now that I think about it, you two don't know each other yet, at least not personally. Kurome, this is Esdeath, general of the Empire and holder of the title the strongest within the Empire. Esdeath, this is Kurome, she is like my sister” I cleared my throat and introduced them.

”Hi, it's nice to meet you, Kurome.” Esdeath said with a small competitive smile.

”Hello, likewise. But I disagree with that title.” Kurome said with narrowed eyes.

”Oh? Why is that so?” Esdeath exclaimed and her smile only widened when she heard Kurome's words.

”Akashi Nii-sama should be the one holding that title.” Kurome said with a confident expression while holding my hand and glaring at Esdeath without any fear. Kurome who was a leader together with Ichika of our organization within the Capital obviously knew very well what kind of person Esdeath is.

”Haha, maybe...who knows?” She wasn't offended at all and just laughed while asking and looking at me with a small smile.

I was slightly surprised how the entire conversation took a turn in a different direction than I intended.

...Kurome, you can sometimes be so childish.

I thought and brought my hand in front of her forehead and flicked her forehead with my finger.

”Ouch! Nii-sama?” She looked at me with a surprised expression while rubbing her forehead.

”No need to argue about who should hold which title. No to mention that I am not officially within the Empire's army so I can't hold such title, that title is only for those involved in the military. I am just a noble who knows nothing about fighting or wars” I said with a humble smile and closed eyes and I noticed that once I have said that, a lot of eyes landed on my back.

---

'How the fuċk are you just a noble who knows nothing about fighting?!' Almost everyone shouted within their minds when they heard Akashi's innocent words.

They were also curious about Esdeath but Gozuki already told them not to cause any problems so they kept their distance.

---

”Just a noble, huh? You know nothing about combat, huh? I would really like to meet other nobles who can smile crazily during the fights as you during our last spar.” Esdeath said with a teasing tone while looking at both of us with soft eyes.

”Well, either way, I still need to take over my family so the military is a big no for me, at least not in the future. If you truly want, I can try to apply and take away your title.” I tilted my head to the side and said with a smirk across my face.

Esdeath responded to my provocation with a provocative smile but she didn't say anything and only released her cold aura around her. Kurome immediately started to shiver due to temperature drop but there was no danger, at most it was uncomfortable.

”Hmm” I released my own warm aura making it clash with the cold aura, slowly pushing it back.

”Oh?!” Esdeath opened her eyes wide when she noticed that her aura was getting suppressed.

”Did anything happen to your Teigu, Akashi? I can feel that it's a bit different than usual.” Esdeath immediately asked me with furrowed brows.

”...Something like that. I will need to do some training outside where many Danger Beasts reside. My Teigu is feeling a bit restless as of lately.” I said in low voice.

”?! Are you hearing voices in your head or something?” Esdeath asked me with a shocked expression since if I could be influenced by it, it would also mean that the Teigu got stronger out of nowhere or that my mind simply became weaker.

”...You can say it like that. Although I don't know what voices you used to hear or what they were telling you, I heard that usually, it is simply about destruction and slaughter. My Teigu is a bit different in this aspect, it's trying to help me instead of lead me astray, maybe it is due to my a perfect compatibility with it or maybe due to how long I have it.

”*sigh* I see, then that's fine. As for a good place with a strong and a lot of Danger Beasts, I can only recommend you Gappi Marsh. However, that place is really flooded with a strong Danger Beasts and even I wouldn't enter that place unless I have a clear reason to do so.” Esdeath sighed in relief and then recommended one place to me.

Everyone heard her words and they immediately widened their eyes when they heard Gappi Marsh.