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"Didn't expect that—besides her—someone else could actually force me into this form."
His voice boomed like distant thunder. At that moment, Bude looked like the god of thunder himself had descended.
"Not bad."
Watching from nearby, Lin Luo's eyes lit up slightly.
These Imperial Arms… their potential was way higher than he'd expected.
But thinking about it, that made sense. Esdeath's Demon's Essence was so OP, it could even freeze time. No wonder.
"Still acting all cocky?"
Bude flew into a rage and, like a lightning bolt, threw a punch at Lin Luo.
BOOM!
The air itself rippled—But it was like he'd slammed into an iron wall.
Eyes wide, Bude was stunned to realize… his full-power lightning strike hadn't even scratched Lin Luo's clothes.
It was like there was some invisible force field cutting him off completely.
How was this possible?
He was the Empire's strongest! Not even super-class Danger Beasts could just tank one of his punches like that.
Just what the hell was this guy?
BOOM!
Minato casually countered with a punch of his own—It punched through Bude's lightning armor, crumpling his chest in.
A shockwave of raw power burst out, making the air itself ripple visibly.
The ground around them quaked like a lake disturbed by a falling stone.
Next second—
Bude was launched like a cannonball, smashing into a distant palace wall, which instantly collapsed under the impact.
Minato casually patted his school uniform—though there wasn't even any dust—and smiled.
"Man, fighting without magic once in a while isn't half bad."
Thanks to his origin magic…
Anyone who thought he was just a squishy mage was dead wrong.
Seriously, what kind of real mage doesn't know how to fight up close?
"..."
In the distance, Leone and Najenda were speechless.
Even Akame had her mouth slightly open in shock.
The Empire's strongest general, Bude… was getting tossed around like a toddler?
That… that wasn't even human!
Wait—maybe because he wasn't.
"Oh crap!"
Bude coughed up a huge mouthful of blood and struggled to get back on his feet, eyes locked on that not-so-tall figure in the distance, his expression completely changed.
"Hmm… might've gone a little overboard."
Seeing the flickering lightning on Bude's body, Minato raised an eyebrow.
That Imperial Arm… it was his now. Would be a shame if he broke it.
"Whatever, I'll just avoid the armored parts."
Snap!
A light-blue magic circle instantly appeared in front of Lin Luo.
"What the…"
Bude's eyelids twitched hard.
Terrifying.
Absolutely terrifying.
He didn't even know what Minato was trying to do yet—But that weird-looking magic circle triggered a deep, primal fear inside him, like the first time he'd faced a Danger Beast when he was still weak.
"DIE!"
With a furious roar, Bude leapt into the air—
No matter what Minato was planning, he had to stop him!
CRACK!
Brilliant blue lightning surged, as if ripping the sky apart.
THUD!
A muffled thump.
A headless, armored corpse crashed to the ground.
Bude's body twitched twice, then went still forever.
"..."
Leone and the others went silent.
Yeah, they were enemies.But Bude—the legendary general feared across the continent—just died like that?
They couldn't snap out of it for a long moment.
"Akame, collect the Imperial Arm."
Minato called out as he started walking forward.
"Okay, Master!"
With no owner to resist, Akame easily took the Imperial Arm and carried it effortlessly in one hand.
"So… what now?"
Najenda finally came to her senses and quickly followed, Leone beside her.
"We're going to pay a visit to the Emperor."
Minato didn't even turn around as he answered.
"You're gonna kill him? But then what? Running a whole empire's no joke."
Realizing just how overwhelming Lin Luo's power was, Najenda started thinking ahead.
Sure, killing the Emperor would be easy—But if the whole Empire fell apart afterward with no plan in place, the chaos would be unimaginable.
"Who said I was going to kill him?"
Minato suddenly stopped walking.
Najenda didn't react in time and bumped right into him.
"Oh? Hidden curves?"
Minato looked at her, smirking.
"Wha—?" Najenda blinked, then glared, face flushed. "Damn it, can you be serious for once, Demon Lord?!"
Why hadn't she noticed this before?
This guy wasn't just a demon—he was a perv too!
"What's 'hidden curves' mean?"
Akame stepped closer and bumped into Minato too.
Seeing this, Najenda twitched and quickly scolded, "Akame! This is not something you should be learning!"
"Huh?" Akame tilted her head. "But you just did it… and Master seemed really happy."
She instinctively looked at Lin Luo.
"Yep, good job," Minato nodded approvingly.
Akame lit up with a proud smile.
"Ugh, tone it down already!"
Najenda slapped her own forehead. She was seriously out of words.
Akame… you're way too innocent.
"Demon Lord, can we get back on track? Why not kill the Emperor?"
Leone had to step in—things were veering way off course.
"Because if he dies, the Empire will spiral out of control."
Minato started walking again. "We'll control the Empire through him. That's what that minister guy was doing too."
"But will he really obey you?"
Najenda murmured.
"Of course. I am a demon, after all."
"…Right."
Najenda's mouth twitched.
This guy's appearance was too misleading. She kept forgetting that part.
And demons, by legend, were experts at messing with people's minds.
The group chatted casually as they walked.
Most of it was Minato explaining political strategy and national management.
Akame listened with wide-eyed admiration.
Even Leone and Najenda had complex expressions on their faces.
This demon… was just too competent.
"Except for being a bit of a perv, the Demon Lord's actually kinda great."
"Yeah, he really knows how to run a country…"
"Boss, he's so handsome and smart… What if I fall for him? What do I do?"
"..."
The two shared a look, ending with Najenda falling silent.
Was Night Raid… about to become the Demon Lord's harem?
Thinking about the two new members coming to report in soon, Najenda suddenly felt a headache coming on.
The entire palace—
Aside from Bude, everyone had been knocked unconscious by the shockwave of Lin Luo's magic.
So they made their way through without any resistance.
Before they knew it, they'd arrived at the Emperor's personal chambers.
Seeing the unconscious little Emperor, Minato didn't hesitate.
SLAP!
The sting of pain jolted the boy awake.
What he saw—were those dazzling red eyes, glowing like gemstones.
It felt like they were sucking his very soul in.
Illusion-type magic—classic demon move.
Minato had literally just learned it on the way over.
Gradually…
The Emperor's eyes lost focus. In a daze, he respectfully said, "My Lord."
Minato waved his hand. "Don't get in the way. Wait for orders."
"Yes, sir!"
As the little Emperor walked away, Leone looked uneasy. "Wait, that's it? Just like that? You're not gonna pull that on us too, right?"
"Do you want me to?"
"H-Hey! Don't mess around!"
Leone took a step back, instantly on guard.
Sure, she liked the guy, but if he wanted her, he'd damn well need her consent.
"Relax. That kind of basic illusion magic only works on weak-willed people."
Minato shook his head and grinned. "And besides… using magic to build a harem? That'd be lame."
"Oi! Did you just say that out loud?!"
"....."