Night Raid's secret base was hidden deep within the rugged mountains.
Originally just a natural cavern, over time they had expanded it extensively, carving out individual quarters for each member.
[Ding! Trade Complete!]
With the transaction finalized, Haruto showed zero interest in getting entangled in Night Raid's internal affairs or their post-battle debriefing.
While the assassins gathered in the main hall for a tense meeting, he retreated directly into Akame's private room, remaining completely unbothered by the unconscious Kurome resting soundly on the bed.
Instead, his undivided attention shifted to Mai, who had remained unusually quiet ever since they slipped away from the capital.
Her restless demeanor and troubled expressions betrayed the storm brewing inside her mind.
Haruto gently pulled her close, his voice softening. "Mai, your thoughts are completely scattered. Is it because of the lives I took back there?"
Mai's body visibly trembled at the blunt question, confirming his suspicions instantly.
Her eyes swam with a tangled, chaotic mix of horror, and lingering adrenaline.
She offered a fragile, bitter smile as she looked up at him. "I'm sorry, Haruto. I... I just can't adjust my worldview or harden my heart as quickly as you do."
Despite knowing intellectually that those imperial soldiers were their sworn enemies, she had been an ordinary civilian just a short while ago; the brutal, casual slaughter of thousands was still a heavy shock to her system.
"You don't need to force yourself," Haruto murmured tenderly, pulling her fully into his arms and resting his chin softly against her forehead to anchor her.
"Take all the time you need to adjust. That's precisely why I brought you along with me—so you never have to face this world unprotected."
"Mm..." Mai let out a shaky breath, completely melting into his embrace as his warmth slowly chased away the lingering chill of the battlefield.
With her head pressed against his chest, Haruto's hand slid down to cup the curve of her hip, pulling her flush against him as his lips descended to capture hers in a deep, hungry kiss.
Mai gasped softly into the kiss, her initial hesitation instantly dissolving into a feverish need for reassurance.
Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck, pulling him closer as his tongue parted her lips, tasting the sweet panic still lingering on her breath.
As his hands roamed eagerly over her body—tracing the contours of her waist and pressing her curves tightly against his frame—the oppressive reality of the outside world melted away.
Haruto then turned his attention toward Saeko and Ayame, who had been watching the intimate scene with a mixture of quiet longing and envy.
"come closer. Next, I'll grant you both a surge of protective power. Focus inward and let me know if you notice any changes."
The two exchanged eager glances and nodded in unison.
Haruto channeled his energy, bestowing his divine blessing upon them once more.
Almost immediately, a warm current pulsed through Ayame's veins.
"Haruto-sama, the mark is heating up!" she exclaimed, her breath hitching slightly.
Haruto's eyes brightened with satisfaction. It was working just as intended! He activated his True Sight interface to inspect their updated status.
[Name]: Saeko Busujima
[Abilities]: "Dragon Power," "Mastery of Swordsmanship," "Haruto's Blessing,"
"Inherent Device: Annihilation Spirit Blade"
[Name]: Ayame Yomogawa
[Abilities]: "Dragon Power," "Haruto's Blessing," "Frost Arrow Technique," "Inherent Device: Echo of the Moment"
"It worked!" Haruto said, a pleased grin crossing his face. Both women had successfully unlocked two brand-new, powerful abilities.
"This sensation is..." Saeko and Ayame gasped softly as iridescent red dragon scales spontaneously materialized along their arms and collarbones, pulsing with latent power.
"This is the physical manifestation of the new blessing. Take a moment to attune yourselves to it," Haruto instructed calmly.
The two women closed their eyes, centering their breath and willpower.
As they focused, the dragon scales gradually receded beneath their skin.
When their eyes snapped open, two distinct weapons materialized out of thin air before them.
Hanging suspended in front of Saeko was a lethal, beautifully forged katana etched with intricate purple patterns.
"Inherent Device: Annihilation Spirit Blade": A spirit blade bearing a lethal curse capable of slaying a target in a single strike, complete with the ability to summon an autonomous blade spirit.
"It inherited traits from Murasame?" Haruto raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise.
Akame's legendary Imperial Arm wasn't a biological ability, yet its proximity and concept had subtly influenced the evolutionary path of his blessing.
It was a fascinating quirk of the system.
Turning his gaze next to Ayame, Haruto inspected her creation.
Floating before her was a translucent, crystalline longbow that hummed with temporal energy.
"Inherent Device: Echo of the Moment": A divine bow capable of manipulating the velocity of its projectiles, accelerating or decelerating the time of the arrows it fires—a direct result of being influenced by Haruto's own time-distortion abilities.
Gripping their newly formed inherent devices, Saeko and Ayame instantly felt a profound, instinctive resonance.
The weapons didn't feel like foreign objects; they felt like natural extensions of their own souls.
"What a magnificent blade..." Saeko murmured, her eyes flashing with a predatory gleam, clearly itching to test its edge in combat.
"Thank you so much, Haruto-sama," Ayame whispered, bowing her head deeply, her eyes practically sparkling with utter devotion and admiration.
"I didn't bestow these weapons upon you just to stand around admiring them. Let's put them to practical use,"
Haruto said, a confident smirk playing on his lips as he signaled that it was time to move.
Leading the three women out of the private quarters, he strode with quiet purpose toward Night Raid's central meeting area.
As they stepped into the chamber, Night Raid's members abruptly paused, turning in surprise at their sudden arrival.
"Haruto-san, what brings you and your companions here?" Najenda asked, her tone carrying a heavy measure of newfound respect and caution.
"Tell me, where is the nearest territory teeming with Danger Beasts?" Haruto asked directly, wasting no time.
Danger Beasts?
Najenda blinked, momentarily puzzled as to why an entity of his overwhelming power would hunt local wildlife, but she answered promptly nonetheless.
"There are two major mountain ranges nearby known to be heavily infested."
Walking over to a wooden table, she unrolled a detailed map and marked the locations with a charcoal pencil.
"Much obliged," Haruto said, taking the map with a swift motion.
He turned his attention directly to Akame.
"I'll collect the remainder of my trade compensation when I return, so keep yourself prepared."
With that brief declaration, he departed the base alongside Mai, Saeko, and Ayame.
In a world overrun by colossal Danger Beasts—creatures exponentially more ferocious and durable than the zombies and Kabane he had previously encountered—this environment presented the ultimate hunting ground to farm experience and elevate their combat capabilities.
Furthermore, it would serve as an ideal crucible for Mai to shed her lingering civilian anxieties and adapt to the intoxicating reality of raw power; after all, a lasting shift in one's worldview always began with the capacity to defend oneself.
*****
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