Chapter 180 - #179 Aftermath (2/2)

”Who the hell even tied her up in such a way?!” Mine was annoyed by Suzuka's mȯȧns so she shouted at boys while pointing with her finger at Suzuka.

”Don't ignore me!” Mez shouted with an upset expression after getting ignored like that however she was also annoyed by Suzuka's mȯȧns.

”Looks like you are a very lively bunch.”

When everyone heard this voice, they turned its direction just to have their eyes widened in shock.

”Esdeath!” Najenda stood up with a cautious expression while gesturing for other members to get ready for the fight.

”Najenda...” Esdeath released a cold smile while looking at Najenda's metallic arm.

Mez and Suzuka turned at Esdeath with hope in their eyes however when they saw other people around her, they were really confused. They were aware of who was Kurome but that was all.

'If Kurome is here, Akashi must be here too!' Mez thought with a smile.

”Calm down” A cloaked figure stepped forward and said but everyone recognized Akashi's voice even if it was a bit different this time.

”What is the meaning of this?” Najenda asked with a cautious expression.

Akame's eyes were attracted to a different person, it was exactly Taeko who was standing next to Akashi.

Taeko sensed Akame's stare so she turned her direction and looked right into her eyes without a single change in her calm expression.

Both of them remembered each other.

---

”I have done what was expected of me but maybe I should have came here alone...” Akashi said and took off his hood.

*Gasp* Some of the Night Raid members gasped when they saw his ”mask” together with his changed eyes but instead of asking him for details about his appearance, they wanted to know why Esdeath is here with him.

Akame was obviously also surprised by Akashi's change but her attention was still on Taeko who previously tried to ȧssassinate her friend.

Akame stepped forward.

”Akame?!” Everyone was shocked by her actions, they had no idea what she wants to do, however, they didn't want to start a fight here.

”Akashi...or should I call you Katsura? Which of them is the real you?” Akame frowned and asked with a serious expression.

Hearing her question, Akashi couldn't help but glance at Taeko before turning at Akame with a grin.

”So you haven't forgotten Taeko...I am Akashi however in the past, I was indeed known as Katsura for a few days.” Akashi replied with a grin.

”Poney, why are you still following him after knowing that he was the one trying to kill us?” Akame turned to a masked girl and asked with a confused expression.

”He already told me everything...At first, it was a really shocking discovery for me but...Akame, aren't you the one who killed your best friend and adoptive father? At that time, they were just helping the Revolutionary army, we were in wrong, please don't start acting hypocrite right now.” Poney said, attacking Akame's weak point.

As expected, Akame's expression winced in pain when she heard Poney's words as she just returned back to her group without saying anything else. While Akashi was slightly surprised how Poney defended him as far as to go harshly convincing Akame.

'Well, what she said is the undeniable truth.' Akashi thought.

”...I see, so the group you mentioned previously is the Oarburgh clan...Now I can see why you were so confident in them.” Najenda muttered while tearing her eyes off Esdeath, looking at Mera.

”Hello~ We meet once again~” Mera put down her umbrella and said while winking at Najenda.

'What's up with this situation? They don't look like they are planning to fight...Anyway, what had happened to Akashi's face?' Mez thought while checking everyone's expressions.

”Let's get down to the business. Did everything go smoothly?” Akashi asked.

”As you can see...yes” Najenda took a deep breath before replying while pointing at Suzuka and Mez.

Akashi looked towards the prisoners and couldn't help but massage the bridge of his nose with a blank expression when he saw Suzuka's ŀėwd expression.

”Alright, let me talk to them.” Akashi said and took a step forward, letting the cloak around him drop down, revealing his real appearance, of course, he was wearing a shirt to at least mask the hole inside his body.

”?!!!” Everyone's eyes once again widened in shock and Sayo even held her hand in front of her open mouth.

”Y-Your body...is this caused by the fusion with Teigu? However, that shouldn't be possible for you since your Teigu was already absorbed within you, to begin with...” Leone asked with a dumbfounded expression.

'Is this the result of why Esdeath keeps standing there without attacking anyone or releasing her killing intent?' Najenda frowned and thought while observing Esdeath who kept smiling.

Akashi just smiled at Leone before approaching Mez and Suzuka, making them all nervous.