Chapter 120 - #119 Kurome vs "Mysterious" Teigu wielder 2 (1/2)

”Kurome, you are really strong but we have a problem here...Can this be called an injury? Even if your blade was poisoned, from such a small nick, I wouldn't have been even poisoned.” The armored guy finally turned at Kurome while showing his forearm to everyone around to judge.

”...There is no blood so I wouldn't call it injury, however, her blade definitely grazed you despite you wearing armor.” Najenda was the first one to recover from the shock and she quickly honestly replied. After replying, she looked towards Kurome.

”? What? I agree with your reasoning so let's resume the match.” Kurome replied nonchalantly which definitely surprised Najenda.

”You...It's your win, girl. However, it almost seems as if you are disappointed by the result. Did you want this duel for a different reason other than saving your friends?” Kurome's opponent replied without any shame in his voice, no, it even looked as if he was proud of her despite having no reason to.

”It's not every day that I can go all out so it was disappointingly too short.” Kurome nodded her head and replied without hiding anything.

”If you will join us, we can spar every day and you will even meet enemies stronger than you.” He said, thinking that Kurome was actually battle junkie.

”...I already told Najenda, you have to talk to Akashi Nii-sama and not me. Also, I am not a battle addict, don't try to rope me in if you don't even know the reason why I want to gain more experience and grow stronger.” Kurome replied with furrowed brows.

”It's Akashi, isn't it? Not wanting to be left behind, right?” Najenda said in a low voice.

”*sigh* Will you let us go or will we continue our duel?” Kurome refused to acknowledge or refuse Najenda's words.

”They can go” The armored guy said while pointing his spear at Green and Akame.

”You remain...I will give you what you want. I will give it my all this time plus I know from your expression that you aren't satisfied with this ”injury” you have caused me if you can call it so.” He redirected his spear at Kurome and continued.

”Naturally, that was my intention to begin with.” Kurome replied

”Kurome, no! You don't need to do this, let's go back.” Akame immediately shouted and Green supported her.

”She is right, we won't leave you here.” Green narrowed his eyes at the enemy in front of him.

”You are losing your cool, I thought that at least you would be able to see the reason but I guess you are still inexperienced but I also don't blame you since you are just a kid.” Najenda said with a small smile while looking at Kurome with genuine respect in her eyes.

Najenda took a liking to these 3, they cared for each other and didn't hesitate to sacrifice themselves for others, having someone so dependable on her side is essential. Not to mention that one day, they would suffer under the Empire's injustice. One of them could be killed by some noble who saw them just as an eyesore and they wouldn't be able to even avenge their comrades.

She was still regretting a little bit the deaths of those 2 other kids but she still saw hope. They didn't care for them as much as for each other and their strength was also much lower than theirs which could only mean that they were from the other unit. Maybe with some time, they would have forgiven them but either way, if Najenda wants to have this chance, she would have to let them go even if Kurome lost her duel.

”?” Green frowned upon hearing Najenda's words and tried to think about the reason but before he could even start, Kurome interrupted him.

”If we will return without Natala and Gin, it will look too suspicious. We can't tell them that I have ”rescued” you because we would need some kind of proof that we killed them and they will also send a team to investigate. If we will say that we had a deal while exchanging hostages, they won't trust us and...I already know that you are a big suspect in their eyes, big sis.” Kurome explained before glancing at Akame with a sad look in her face.

”?! Wait, then what is your plan and how do you know that I am a big suspect in their eyes? I have never had a chance to tell you anything about this...” Akame no longer tried to hide anything since there was only Kurome in front of her and Green who was actually consulting with her about that matter for some time already. If he wanted to sell her out, he would have done so already a few weeks ago. However she had complicated feelings since she knew that Green wouldn't sell her out because of his feelings towards her which only make her feel guiltier. She felt as if she was exploiting Green's feelings, she had no intention of dating anyone even if she really liked Green.

”My plan is this: you two will return and say that I remained behind to buy you some time. As for how I knew about you...He already predicted it.” Kurome said and Najenda nodded her head.

'He? ...Akashi?' Akame thought.

”Do you really think that they will believe me that I left my own sister behind? They will never buy it.” Akame said and shook her head with closed eyes.

”*Then just mention Akashi Nii-sama...He has yet to return to the Capital so no one knows his whereabouts, he can be here...watching over me even right now. You just have to say that we arrived too late to save Natala and Gin.*” Kurome hugged her sister and secretly whispered to Akame's ear.

Kurome let her go and looked at her with a look in her face that said 'Please, trust me'. After a few seconds, Akame nodded her head and looked towards Natala and Gin's bodies.

”*Akame, no. There is no way they will believe us if we will take them with us, it must look like we are retreating. We will come for them later.*” Green instantly knew what she was thinking about and talked her out of it.

”...Alright” Akame replied and turned around to leave while Green followed her. Before she disappeared inside the dense forest, she cast a last look at Kurome before running inside.