Chapter 118 - #117 Exchanging prisoners (2/2)

”Bu-?!” The cloaked guy was surprised to hear his comrade's words and when he was about to call his name, he quickly covered his mouth and kept quiet when his friend gestured to leave it to him.

”Hoo? It seems that there is a misunderstanding between us.” Kurome replied with a cold smile but her eyes never changed a bit, they kept their gray hue.

”? What do you mean?” The armored guy sensed something bad but he still asked with a confused tone.

”You see, my offer has never been an offer to begin with. It was an order!” Kurome replied with the same cold smile while pressing her blade harder against Najenda's neck.

”This black haired girl must be your sister, no? I have seen how you two look at each other, you also look similar. Do you really think that you are in advantage here? Or are you telling me that you don't care about your sister?” The armored guy asked with a confident tone. He was sure that Kurome cares about Akame so using her, he might be able to trade her for Najenda.

”Someone dear to me once taught me that the dearest people to you are your biggest weakness. At that time, I was still a little girl so I asked if I should just not make any people near me dear to me...” Kurome said with a completely emotionless voice and expression.

Two guys just listened to her without saying anything but they have been getting a bad feeling about this and while Kurome was speaking, they felt chill down their spine. Nevertheless, they agreed with the fact that the dearest people are the biggest weakness for anyone who truly cares about them.

”He shook his head at that time and told me: 'It's not a sin to have such people around you, you will be only happier with them around so never abandon them if you can save them-” Kurome continued her story.

”Then-!” The armored guy finally saw the hope and even though he didn't feel good about doing such a thing as exploiting small girl's feelings by using her sister as a hostage, he was still determined to save Najenda. He was even determined to let those two go but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by Kurome once again.

”However, never let your enemies exploit your weakness!” Kurome shouted and her eyes finally became dull and completely gray. Her blade created a slightly deeper nick on Najenda's neck.

”?!” Both guys were taken back by the change in her eyes and aura.

”This woman for both of them! If you don't want to, tell me so I can already kill her without wasting any more time.” Kurome said.

”Grr, are you aware that your own sister and her friend will die if you will kill our leader?!!” The cloaked guy shouted back at her while gritting his teeth.

”I am already prepared for that and once that happens, I will slaughter both of you like pigs!” Kurome took dagger into her left hand and placed it on Najenda's neck while she pointed her katana at the armored guy with an emotionless expression.

'!!! She is completely serious about this!' He thought when he looked deep into her eyes. He couldn't see any hesitation, for him it looked like she was looking at everyone here as dead people, including her own sister.

'....Is this what Akashi taught you, Kurome...?' Akame thought with a shocked expression but she was also feeling a bit sad. She didn't want her to abandon Green but to hear her own sister say that she is already prepared for her death was still a little blow.

”Alright, alright! Don't kill her! No one has to die.” The armored guy finally gave in and jumped away from Akame, towards Green.

”Now, both of us will let go of our prisoner, alright?” He said. He let go of Akame first to gain some of Kurome's trust.

”Wait” However, contrary to his expectations, Kurome said.

”! Are you planning to back on our deal?!” The armored guy said with an angered tone and his aura also got more ferocious like a Danger Beast.

”No, but I am sure that you won't just let us go so I want to offer you another deal before letting Najenda go, so you can at least listen to me.” Kurome said.

”...Talk” He replied shortly since he truly doesn't want to let them go and reunite with the rest of their group.

”A fight, one on one. You against me. You know that you are stronger than me so don't even think about refusing, I imagine that you still have some kind of pride as a man.” Kurome said which completely shocked Akame.

”You can't, Kurome! He is too strong for you to take on alone!” She tried to talk her out of it but Kurome ignored her.

”Fine, what are your winning conditions and mine?” He decided to take this into his own hands and act without the leader's instructions but Najenda also didn't make any objections.

”As long as I can injure you in that armor, it's my win and you will leave us alone. You will win once I am unable to fight or once you kill me.” Kurome replied with a small smile, seeing that everything goes according to her plan.

”I accept, now let's release the prisoner” He accepted with a surprisingly excited tone. Under his helmet, it was visible that he was astonished by Kurome's determination. Although he couldn't say that he likes her side where she can ignore the death of her own sister, at least enemies can't use her dearest to exploit her which can be sometimes a good thing. Hesitation is sometimes what truly kills your dearest.