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"Master, this is Night Raid's base."
Akame's expression looked a little complicated as she stared at the building ahead.
The thought of bringing the Empire's master here felt… weird, even to her.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Master, to avoid any misunderstandings, maybe Esdeath and the others should wait here?"
Because if she really brought those three inside…And a fight broke out…Night Raid's members would be in for a world of pain.
"Alright."
Edgar nodded and said, "You three wait here."
Hearing that, Esdeath and the others didn't object.
Inside the base.
Leone was drinking boldly, surrounded by nothing but empty bottles.
"Leone, fine, drink all you want, but can you not dress so… breezy?" Najenda rubbed her forehead with a helpless sigh.
"What's the big deal?"
Leone let out a hiccup. "Night Raid just got started, there's only the three of us, and not a single man around.
If you ask me, Boss, you should take your shirt off too. It's so damn hot."
Najenda glanced down at herself, looking a little tempted.
…Okay, she had to admit—Leone kind of had a point.
Creaaak—
The door swung open.
Akame stepped inside.
"Akame, you're back. What are we—"
Leone froze mid-sentence.
…Huh?
Why was Akame bringing a man back with her?
No, wait.
Leone sobered up a little, instinctively crossing her arms over her chest.
"Red, huh? Nice taste."
"..."
Leone immediately moved her hands down to cover everything in front.
"Not bad. Good figure."
Edgar's gaze slid upward, locking sharply on the now-uncovered upper territory.
Leone jerked her arms back up to cover again—leaving the lower part unguarded.
Her teeth clenched. "Had enough staring yet?"
Edgar shook his head honestly. "Nope."
"..."
Where the hell did this guy even come from?The nerve on this one…
"Leone, here." Najenda quickly handed her a coat.
"Tch. Shame." Edgar sighed in disappointment.
Leone's lips twitched.
She put on the coat in record time, eyes sharp now. "You've got guts, I'll give you that.
Guess I'll have to teach you a lesson."
Boom!
The floor shook as Leone pushed off with powerful legs, leaving afterimages in her wake as she lunged at Edgar like a lion pouncing its prey.
But—
A pair of crimson eyes flashed into her vision.
…Huh?
Her pupils shrank, and in a blink she moved again, leaving another afterimage as she reappeared several meters away.
"Akame, what the hell?
Don't tell me this guy's your man, and that's why you're protecting him?" Leone demanded.
Standing in front of Edgar, Akame said apologetically, "Sorry, but I can't let you lay a hand on my master."
"???"
Najenda and Leone both stared, eyes wide.
…Wait. What did she just call him?
Was that… some kind of couple roleplay thing?
They glanced at each other, both clearly thinking the same thing:
What's going on here?Akame only went out hunting—how did she come back with a man in tow?A secret lover?
Leone stomped her foot in frustration. "Even if he is your man, it's not happening.
That guy went too far—at least let me hit him once!"
Akame shook her head firmly. "No."
Leone's eye twitched. "If you were really a man, you wouldn't hide behind a woman."
"Tsk, tsk… Can't just ignore a line like that," Edgar said, stepping past Akame with a faint, teasing smile. "Alright, I'm here. What now?"
Akame opened her mouth, then sighed.
…Forget it. She'd done her best.
"Good, so you do have a spine."
Leone's eyes lit up as she shot forward like a meteor, her pale fingers clenched into a fist aimed right at Edgar.
This should be just enough to hurt for a while without actually injuring him… she thought—
But her pupils suddenly shrank again.
Her punch froze midair.
Edgar's right hand—she hadn't even seen it move—was already up, like it had been there all along.
Leone's eyes went wide, instinctively trying to retreat.
Too late.
A huge force slammed into her arm, spinning her world upside down—
Bam!
The wall shook violently as Leone crashed into it, leaving a massive dent.
"…What the…" Najenda's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Sure, Leone had been careless.
But still—this guy was strong.
"Hah, not bad. No wonder you're Akame's man. Guess you're not just a pretty face." Leone grinned, a wild aura radiating from her.
"In that case… I don't have to hold back."
The moment she finished speaking, Leone's muscles tensed and her Teigu, Lion King: Hundred Beasts Incarnate, activated.
Boom!
The wall burst apart.
Her short hair lengthened, animal ears sprouting from her head as her body shifted into a beast-like form.
And then—she was gone.
Her speed now was several times greater than before.
In less than a second, she was right in front of Edgar.
Gotcha.
A grin spread across her face.
"…That's it?"
Her body suddenly felt heavy.
A deep, mocking voice filled her ears.
"Looks like the one who needs a lesson is you."
Edgar's words rolled like thunder through the room.
Leone froze, her whole body trembling as instinctive fear spread to every cell.
The next moment—
Her knees buckled, and with a loud thud she collapsed face-down, completely unable to move.
Akame's eyes widened.
This… this was her master's magic power?
So… so terrifying.
"..."
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