Chapter 55: First Meeting with Esdeath; 3 Questions, 3 Answers
Najenda was right. Sheele's death was only the beginning. While the members of Night Raid were still immersed in the grief of losing a companion, a greater crisis was quietly approaching.
—Esdeath had returned.
And as soon as she returned, she issued countermeasures with vigorous and speedy efficiency. First, she eliminated many of the civil officials who opposed the Prime Minister, and then she destroyed numerous villages that were helping to gather supplies. These actions severely suppressed Night Raid's momentum.
"This is a trap to lure us out."
Najenda asserted, "Even knowing that it's a trap, I still have something to say to everyone. The civil officials being targeted are all very capable patriots who dared to resist the Prime Minister. We must protect them!"
"To fight against the Prime Minister, right? I understand!"
Tatsumi clenched his fists and said angrily, "Although I don't understand factional struggles, I'm furious that they're using Night Raid's name!"
"Very good! Then it's decided!"
Najenda raised her mechanical right fist and issued the order, "There are two groups of candidates for the next officials to be targeted. Akame and Lubbock will be one team. Tatsumi and Bulat will be the other. You will be responsible for guarding them respectively! Understood! And the target of this operation is the Dragon Boat!"
"Yeah!" xN
Even as the Boss was on stage explaining the important mission, there were two people who weren't listening at all. One was Leone, whose eyes were darting around, and the other was Kobayashi, who had noticed her strange behavior.
As everyone was leaving to carry out their missions, Leone also tried to quietly slip out of the base.
"Where are you going, Leone?"
"...It's you, Kobayashi."
After being stopped, Leone boisterously scratched her head and said perfunctorily, "They all have missions. I'm bored staying at the base, so I thought I'd go to the Capital for a drink. Ahaha, hahaha..."
"Leone, has no one ever told you that you're a terrible liar?"
Kobayashi gave her a disdainful look and stated her true purpose. "You're actually planning to go test Esdeath's strength, aren't you? After all, she's the biggest threat right now. With your naive way of thinking, you're surely thinking of taking this opportunity to defeat her."
"Urk... was I exposed?"
"You were exposed from the start."
He sighed helplessly, tilted his head, and said to her, "Let's go. We'll go together."
"...Huh? Aren't you going to stop me, Kobayashi?" Leone blinked in surprise.
"Are you the type of person who wouldn't go if they were stopped?"
"Of course not!"
"Then what's with the nonsense! Let's go. The sooner we go, the sooner we get back."
"I like you the most, Kobayashi!"
"Don't suddenly hug me!"
The two of them, huddled together, headed for the Imperial Capital.
The Imperial Capital was bustling with people coming and going.
"Mmm, as lively as ever."
Esdeath strolled leisurely down the street. Although her expression was relaxed and cheerful, the ominous killing intent radiating from her body made it clear that she was acting alone as bait to lure assassins into a trap.
Unfortunately, two hours passed and no one appeared.
Esdeath was a little surprised that the other party could hold out for so long. Thinking of adopting an even more relaxed posture to lure them out, she came to a dessert shop.
"I'd like a..."
"Two of the signature desserts, please!"
Before she could finish, someone next to her cut in.
Looking at the guest who had suddenly cut in and at Esdeath in her military uniform, the shopkeeper looked at them, at a loss. Seeing that Esdeath just nodded with a blank expression and wasn't angry, he quickly prepared two signature desserts and handed them to the intruder, hoping he would leave quickly.
"Guest, your two desserts."
"Thank you. But please give one of them to the person next to me."
The person standing next to him was Esdeath.
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment, not understanding his motive. Esdeath also narrowed her eyes slightly, looking with great interest at the strange young man before her.
And he just smiled slightly.
"I simply wanted to treat General Esdeath to a dessert."
"You know me?"
"Of course. The famous General Esdeath. I don't think there's anyone in the Capital who doesn't know you."
"Heh, interesting."
Esdeath's interest in him grew. She readily took the dessert from the shopkeeper and sat down in a seat provided for customers to rest.
After a small taste, her eyes lit up.
"It's delicious."
"Right? I buy one every time I come here."
"Hmph."
Seeing him acting so familiar, Esdeath threatened, "Anyone who has been rude to me in the past has been taken back to the interrogation room and subjected to capital punishment. But for some reason, you exude a certain aura that makes me want to get closer. However, that is not a basis for you to rely on. My patience is limited. If you have something to say, say it quickly. It's impossible to bribe me to become an officer. You'll start as a common soldier."
"No, no, no, you wouldn't use a dessert for a bribe, would you?"
He muttered quietly, then stated his purpose. "I just wanted to have a chat with you."
"A chat?"
Esdeath paused, very surprised by his words. "Are you not afraid of me?"
"Why would I be? Would a general harm a commoner?"
"Of course not."
"Then there's nothing to be afraid of."
He seemed very bold, unlike others who trembled upon seeing her. Coupled with the inexplicable sense of familiarity she felt from him, it was what allowed Esdeath to listen to him patiently.
The conversation continued.
"General Esdeath, may I be so bold as to ask a question?"
"Let's hear it. I'll consider whether or not to take you back to the interrogation room based on your question."
"So scary, so scary..."
He muttered that it was scary, but his face showed no fear at all.
Then, he asked a sharp question.
"General Esdeath, do you consider yourself a qualified general?"
"Of course."
"Your reason?"
"To eliminate my enemies, protect the commoners, and maintain the Empire's rule. Is that not what a general should do?"
Her voice was resolute and decisive. She answered without a hint of hesitation.
Esdeath was extremely cruel to her enemies and prisoners of war, but she was very generous to her subordinates and the common people, and she could also defend her country with her military might. She was, by all means, a qualified general.
But...
"Then why did you bury 400,000 people alive?"
"It is simply the survival of the fittest. The weak are destined to be eliminated. The only reason is that they are too weak. This is the truth of the world."
"The so-called 'strength is supreme,' I take it."
"That's right! I like that phrase very much!" Esdeath laughed heartily.
Having been instilled with the idea that "only the strong can survive" by her father since she was a child, after her parents' death, she became even more convinced that to survive, one must become strong.
But the question was, why trample on the weak?
Esdeath didn't answer directly, but one could guess her thoughts. It was simply her wicked hobby.
"One last question. What do you think of the current state of the Imperial Capital, General Esdeath?"
"I love it!"
She, who loved war, loved the current, extremely turbulent state of the Empire, because only then could she go to more battlefields and fight more enemies. Even if the world were at peace, she would probably start another war.
It was just as he had thought. Esdeath was true to herself from the depths of her soul. With such a strong sense of self, it was impossible to change her mind with mere persuasion or guidance.
"I see. Thank you for dispelling my doubts, General Esdeath. That will be all for today..."
"Wait. Now it's my turn to ask the questions."
The domineering Esdeath would not let him leave. Without waiting for his reply, she asked a question.
"Your name?"
"...Hmm?"
"I'm asking for your name. Don't tell me you can't say it."
"No, it's just that I am overwhelmed that a general would ask the name of an unknown nobody."
In truth, he just thought his name was too plain. He had asked her such sharp questions, but when it was her turn, all she asked was for his name. The disparity was instantly apparent. But it also reflected her personality. As a strong person, she disdained beating around the bush to probe for information; she preferred to be direct.
"Kobayashi. My name is Kobayashi."
"Kobayashi..."
Esdeath nodded, as if committing his name to memory, and continued to ask, "Are you with the Revolutionary Army?"
"No."
"Then are you the one who has been causing trouble in the Capital late at night?"
"..."
No answer was as good as an admission.
The air instantly froze. As Esdeath drew closer, a dangerous and tense atmosphere filled the small space.
Just at that moment.
"Master Kobayashi, what are you doing?"
He turned to see a silver-haired girl in a gorgeous dress walking elegantly towards them, though the pile of shopping bags she was carrying in both hands did not look very elegant.
"RyuZU? Is the mission complete?"
"Of course. As your attendant, I will naturally complete any task you give me beautifully. However..."
RyuZU looked between Kobayashi and Esdeath, and said with a dangerous glint in her eyes and a sharp tongue, "To think there is a master who would send his own attendant to run errands while he is being lovey-dovey with another girl. What kind of punishment do you think such a master deserves, Master Kobayashi?"
"It's a m-misunderstanding, Miss RyuZU!"
Kobayashi quickly stood up to appease the jealous automaton.
Esdeath, however, looked at him with great interest and said, "I see. So she is what you are relying on?"
"...What?"
"Don't play dumb. Although you acted very calm while talking with me just now, your occasional anxious little movements and micro-expressions exposed you long ago. But when she appeared, all of that disappeared... Don't underestimate what I've learned in the interrogation room!"
He hadn't expected her to have noticed his abnormalities long ago. Esdeath displayed the arrogance of the strong, while he had not shown the humility of the weak. In the end, he had underestimated her.
"I see. I have learned my lesson."
Kobayashi willingly gave her a slight bow, showing the proper respect for a strong person.
"As I thought... I don't want to let you go."
Esdeath became even more interested in him. She extended her hand and invited him, "You, join my army!"
"What?" Kobayashi was slightly stunned.
She said loftily, "I am certain that you have talent! If I train you, in five years... no, three years! You will surely become my adjutant. I guarantee it!"
"To be appreciated by the general is an honor."
Kobayashi lowered his head slightly, but then said crisply, "However, I refuse!"
"Refuse?! I've never been refused by anyone before. Although I'd very much like to take you away right now, I'll hear your reasons first."
"Because that's too long. And my ambition is not just to be a general's adjutant."
"Oh? I don't dislike ambitious people, but can you do it?"
Esdeath raised an eyebrow and said, "You should know how the Empire is. You can only rise through the ranks quickly if you are appreciated."
"Then let us wait and see."
The smile on Kobayashi's face was incomparably confident.
As expected, Esdeath was right. With RyuZU by his side, he had more confidence in his words.
"Interesting. It seems you're not just being arrogant. I shall look forward to your growth."
And then, she let him leave.
"...That young man is truly special. Why am I so drawn to him?"
But, they would surely meet again soon.
Esdeath had such a premonition.
(End of Chapter)