Chapter 83: Let's Throw Ourselves into the Embrace of the Goddess of Wisdom Together
It was two days later when Esdeath returned.
"Something like this happened while I was away?!"
Esdeath's eyes were icy, her tone low. She was in a state of absolute fury.
Clearly, even she hadn't expected the enemy to be so rampant as to carry out an assassination in their own headquarters. Although it had ended with the enemy giving them a free kill, she still couldn't quell her anger.
"Where is the perpetrator?"
"Dead."
"The body?"
"Kobayashi took care of it."
Faced with her questions, Run answered every one in detail.
Coincidentally, Kobayashi returned from outside at that moment.
Esdeath asked, "Kobayashi, how was the perpetrator's body disposed of?"
"Buried?"
Kobayashi tilted his head, feigning thought.
Esdeath's brow furrowed tightly, and she scolded loudly, "Burying her is letting her off too easy! She should have been cut into several pieces and hung on the city walls, as a message to those other villains!"
"Er... next time for sure."
Kobayashi scratched his head.
Esdeath had wanted to use Chelsea's corpse to intimidate other troublemakers, but unfortunately, he had disposed of it a step ahead.
She seems to be in a very bad mood. Did something happen?
Run asked curiously, "By the way, Captain, your trip to the palace this time was?"
"It was that guy Syura who had the Minister summon me," Esdeath said, adjusting her hat, somewhat vexed. "Because he designed a trap and caught a member of Night Raid, he called both me and General Budou over for security to prevent any accidents."
"Is... that so."
Run and Kobayashi secretly exchanged a glance, their movements subtle enough that Esdeath didn't notice.
When he had thrown in his lot with the Axis Order, he had learned of Kobayashi's entire plan. He had been the one helping to cover up many of the gaps, so he naturally knew of Kobayashi's relationship with Night Raid.
Kobayashi remained silent, secretly moving his fingers.
After receiving the signal, Run nodded and continued, "Captain, I have compiled all of Syura's recent activities. If you'll take a look..."
"Is that so? Thank you for your hard work."
Esdeath took the report from his hand.
Only then did Kobayashi speak up. "In that case, even Syura won't be able to cause any more trouble, right? He might even be about to get a harsh scolding from the Minister."
This file would next be handed over to the Minister. The purpose was simply to restrain Syura, requiring him to merge Wild Hunt into the Jaegers. However, Wild Hunt now existed in name only. This report, at most, would prevent him from gathering new forces so he wouldn't cause trouble for Kobayashi at the final hour. That was all.
"Perhaps. But it doesn't matter anymore."
Esdeath put the file away and said to him, "This topic ends here. You'll come with me to the palace later."
"Hmm?"
Kobayashi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Following Esdeath's footsteps, he stepped deep into the royal palace.
This was his first time coming here "officially." The Jaegers had met the Emperor once before, but that was when the group had just been formed. He hadn't joined yet, so naturally, he hadn't come along.
Now, he had finally set foot here.
Deep within the Royal Palace
Unlike the luxurious and ostentatious giant buildings outside, the courtyard here was simple and quiet, with a very detached-from-the-world atmosphere.
Kobayashi paused.
Because he saw a child in the distance, running freely among the flowers and laughing loudly, a stark contrast to the passersby with their grim and gloomy faces. It was as if he were in another world.
"That is the Emperor."
Esdeath's voice came from his ear. "I will take you to have an audience with him later, but for now, come with me."
"Yes."
Kobayashi answered softly, gave the boy one last deep look, and then turned to leave.
And the Emperor, who was still laughing and playing behind him, also gave his departing back a deep look.
The Royal Dungeon
If you were to ask where the most heavily guarded dungeon in the Capital was, it would undoubtedly be the one deep within the royal palace.
Numerous elite soldiers stood guard here. Even a Teigu user would have a hard time sneaking in quietly.
They arrived at a cell.
Esdeath dismissed the soldiers on either side and opened the cell door herself.
Inside, there was a man.
—Tatsumi.
There were no serious injuries visible on his body, but his mental state was very poor. The exquisite food placed before him had already gone cold, yet he showed no signs of touching it.
"You really are stubborn. To not even eat a single bite."
Esdeath looked at him and questioned, "Tatsumi, do you still refuse?"
"I've said it many times. I already have someone I like, and we're dating," his answer was as resolute as ever.
The two fell silent.
After a long moment.
"...How strange."
Esdeath clenched and unclenched her hands and said softly, "Before, when you kept refusing me, I was really, really—angry. But just now, I was decisively rejected in the same way, yet I can't seem to muster a single trace of anger. Is it because I've been rejected too many times and no longer have those kinds of feelings, or is it for some other reason..."
She looked at the silent Kobayashi by her side.
Finally—
"Alright! Tatsumi, I respect your choice!"
Esdeath clenched her right fist, her killing intent decided. "If you are unwilling to follow me, then at the very least, let me be the one to end you. I will not leave it to the hands of others. You've prepared yourself, haven't you, Tatsumi!"
"Bring it on!"
Tatsumi absolutely refused to bow his head.
Esdeath gave him one last deep look, then turned to leave.
Kobayashi, however, said, "Captain, could you let me talk to him for a bit? We were opponents once, after all."
In the tournament, they had been opponents, and he had even deliberately lost to him. Esdeath knew this as well. But she had no interest in it now and left with only a single "Do as you please."
Kobayashi shrugged at Tatsumi and then sat down in front of him.
"Kobayashi..."
Tatsumi still couldn't figure out what role he was playing.
At first, everyone thought he was a traitor who had defected to the Empire, but he had sworn that was impossible. Then they thought he had joined the Axis Order long ago, but no matter how Night Raid investigated, they couldn't find any intelligence on him.
This person was as if he had come from another world. He was too mysterious.
But no matter what, Tatsumi respected him. Because it was he who had taught him life lessons, giving him the motivation and goal to move forward. Even if he was an enemy, he bore him no grudge.
"I'm moved that you think so, Tatsumi."
"...Eh?"
"Don't look so surprised. You all must have had your suspicions about this thing I have, right?"
The eye pattern appeared on his forehead.
In this world, besides himself, only Tatsumi knew best what this pattern was.
"—Spectator!"
"Bingo! You got it right."
Kobayashi snapped his fingers and smiled slightly. "Tatsumi, I'm here to turn you to my side."
"Turn me..."
Tatsumi was clearly resistant. He thought that, like Esdeath, he wanted him to join the Empire.
However—
"Come, come, come! This handsome young lad, are you interested in learning about my church—the Axis Order? If you join now, not only will you receive the blessing of the Lady Goddess of Water, Aqua, but you'll even get edible soap!"
"...Eh?"
"Edible soap!"
"What are you talking about..."
"Come on, come on, join us! Let us sing the praises of the great Lady Aqua together!"
"N-no... don't you come near me!!!"
The glint in Kobayashi's eyes made Tatsumi feel a deep fear. It was a revulsion that was both psychological and physical.
He knew it. It was terror.
(End of Chapter)