Chapter 35: I Transmigrated Just to Be a Hired Grunt? Then Didn't I Do All This for Nothing?
As Najenda's voice fell, the imposing members of Night Raid appeared in unison, spreading out in all directions to surround Kobayashi.
There was Bulat in his white armor, Sheele holding her giant scissors, Leone transformed into a lion beastman, the playboy-like Lubbock, the black-haired, red-eyed Akame, a slightly nervous Tatsumi at the very back, and of course, Najenda on the main seat and Mine, who had pulled out a machine gun at some point.
One person wasn't much, but a group of them was a qualitative leap. Their appearance alone gave off the immense pressure of an "all-villain lineup."
He couldn't help but marvel.
How are they so good at posing?
In truth, Kobayashi had long since sensed their presence with his [Probe] skill, but he had kept quiet and played along with Najenda's pace. His purpose, besides immersing himself in the role to advance the plot, was also to keep his trump cards hidden. After all, an unassuming trump card could very well influence the entire course of a battle.
Act when you need to act, hide when you need to hide.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't tell me everyone here is a Teigu user? That's just ridiculous," Kobayashi feigned a helpless retort.
From the main seat, Najenda spoke again. "How about it, young man? Are you still confident in your own strength now?"
She looked at him with great interest, as if anticipating how he would react.
"I surrender!"
Kobayashi raised both hands without a moment's hesitation.
Seeing how readily he gave up, Leone couldn't help but provoke him. "Young man, don't you want to use force to prove yourself? You're a Teigu user!"
"You just want to pick a fight, don't you?"
Kobayashi pouted. "There's only one of me, and there are eight of you. There's no way I can win, right?"
"How do you know if you don't try? Come on, come and fight me!"
"I don't want to!"
"No backbone!"
"Say whatever you want."
Kobayashi put on an "I'm not falling for your tricks" expression. Even if Leone called him less than a man, he remained completely unmoved.
In other words: he was done trying.
However, seeing that a fight was avoided and the problem was smoothly resolved, everyone was in a relatively good mood. They all started teasing Mine.
Leone poked Mine's cheek and said with a laugh, "I never thought Mine would be the one to bring in a rookie. Were you provoked by me? Or... by Tatsumi?"
"Why did you have to bring his name up?! It has nothing to do with him!" The tsundere Mine angrily turned her head to bite Leone's finger. But her speed was no match for the physically enhanced Leone, so of course, she missed.
Lubbock, who always had a smart mouth, shook his head and said with feigned regret, "It's a pity Mine's IQ wasn't up to snuff. She didn't manage to trick him like you did, Big Sis Leone."
"Are you asking to be blasted by me?!"
"I'm sorry, please spare me!"
Mine angrily raised her Teigu and aimed it at him, scaring Lubbock so much he turned pale and repeatedly begged for mercy.
Her partner, the natural airhead Sheele, added insult to injury. "It's alright, Mine. When we get back, I'll lend you a book that can increase your intelligence."
"Sheele?!"
Sheele's friendly fire was a bit intense.
"Alright, alright, don't talk like that," the team's big brother, Bulat, stepped in to be the good guy, saying cheerfully, "We didn't have to fight this time. That's the best possible outcome, isn't it?"
"Mmm, I think so too," Akame agreed with Bulat.
Mine was so moved she was on the verge of tears. "You think so too, Akame..."
"However, bringing a stranger to the base is not allowed. Mine must accept her punishment," Akame said with a blank expression, her words cruel.
"Miss Akame?!"
Mine's eyes widened in disbelief.
Najenda seriously considered this problem and said to Mine, "As punishment, you will receive no payment for your next three missions."
"...I understand."
Mine hung her head, looking dejected.
Seeing her dejected state, a small grin unconsciously appeared on Tatsumi's lips before he quickly suppressed it. He said to Najenda, "Wait! Boss, although I agree with what this gentleman said, Mine's intentions were good, weren't they?"
"Tatsumi..."
Seeing Tatsumi, who she usually didn't get along with, speak up for her, Mine suddenly felt that he was actually a pretty good guy.
Wait, what does he mean, he agrees with what he said?
Tatsumi continued, "This gentleman said Mine's IQ isn't high enough, and I also agree with that point. Since it's a punishment, why not punish her by making her buy walnuts to eat with all her future mission rewards? Not only can it serve as a punishment, but it can also solve her IQ problem from the root. I think it's a great solution that kills two birds with one stone."
"Mmm, I agree."
"Agreed."
"I also agree."
The members of Night Raid all agreed with Tatsumi's proposal, thinking it was an excellent punishment.
Only Mine was furious.
"And to think I thought you were a good guy just now! Telling me to eat walnuts, when my IQ is clearly higher than yours!"
"...Heh."
"Aaaah, I'm going to kill you!!!"
The anger Mine had accumulated from her companions instantly erupted. She was going to vent it all on Tatsumi. Who else was there that she didn't get along with and was also the easiest to bully?
For a moment, the main hall was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"Ahem, now it's time to talk about you," Najenda said, looking at Kobayashi with curiosity. "I thought you would try to resist or escape during the laughter just now. I didn't expect you to wait so obediently."
Kobayashi shrugged. "Because I'm the best at sizing up the situation."
Don't be fooled by their cheerful laughter just now. If he had made any strange or out-of-line move, he would have been subdued or even killed on the spot in the next second.
Of course, with RyuZU around, it was impossible for him to be subdued or killed.
Najenda was very satisfied with Kobayashi.
He could keenly spot abnormalities from minor details, turn a scheme back against its user after realizing he had been deceived, and remain neither servile nor overbearing even after surrendering when he knew he was outmatched.
He was quick-witted, bold yet careful, and calm and rational. A rare piece of top-grade, unpolished jade. Even if he started as a common soldier, he would quickly distinguish himself and become a general of the Empire. Although others might think this evaluation was a bit high, Najenda believed she had an eye for talent.
Since he was such a rare piece of unpolished jade, she couldn't let him go! He absolutely could not be tainted by the Empire's corruption!
Therefore...
"Young man, would you like to join Night Raid?"
"Before that, let me ask: if I refuse, I won't be killed, right?"
"No, it won't come to that. But we won't let you leave either. After all, you already know the location of our secret base. Even if you refuse, we won't kill you. You can rest assured on that point."
It seemed Najenda was determined to make him stay.
"How about it? After witnessing the darkness of the Imperial Capital, don't you have a strong desire to eliminate the wicked and change all of this?"
"Not at all!"
"...Eh?"
Kobayashi's reply was so blunt that Najenda was a bit dumbfounded.
It seemed that being too smart wasn't a good thing. He wasn't as easy to fool as the hot-blooded young Tatsumi.
And what Kobayashi was thinking was—
Come on, I had to beg grandpa and plead with grandma (Aqua), and pay an unbearable, huge price (two bottles of high-grade sparkling liquor), just for one precious chance to cross worlds. If I still have to be a hired assassin for someone else, then didn't I do all this for nothing?!