Souta murmured their names, a little curious about Esdeath's intentions.
"My assassination squad is ready. Aside from a few Teigu users still in transit, the rest have arrived. We're set to begin."
Esdeath gave Souta the report.
"So?" Souta asked. "What does that have to do with you visiting me?"
"Before we begin the operation..."
Esdeath cut straight to the point.
"I want my subordinates to be physically fit enough to carry out the assassinations."
She looked at the two sisters and nodded.
"Tell him yourselves."
"Lord God, please save my sister, Kurome!"
Akame stepped forward and dropped to one knee, her voice pleading.
"She was experimented on by the Empire's assassination unit. Now she relies on drugs just to fight. If this goes on..."
Since Souta had healed Najenda's injuries, curing Kurome shouldn't be a problem either.
Kurome, watching her sister so desperate, was quietly moved.
She whispered softly, then knelt down beside Akame with newfound resolve.
Souta raised a hand and subtly manipulated the airflow, summoning a gentle breeze that lifted both sisters from their kneeling positions.
Facing their surprised expressions, he spoke in a cool tone:
"You are serving me now. Naturally, I will not mistreat you."
As he finished, Kurome suddenly felt warmth flooding her body. As if she were wrapped in hot spring water.
She let out a soft, involuntary gasp, causing Akame to glance at her nervously.
After about three seconds, Souta spoke again:
"It's done. Your body has been restored."
"Now leave me. I need peace and quiet."
Akame and Kurome looked at each other in confusion, totally bewildered.
They'd only been in the palace for a few seconds. He said a few words and it was over?
They turned toward the throne, reverence in their eyes.
Souta... truly is a god.
He glanced at the two girls with mild surprise.
He could feel the connection of faith forming.
From this moment on, they were officially his believers.
"Thank you for your divine grace, Lord God," Akame said earnestly. "We won't disturb your meditation any longer."
With that, she pulled Kurome with her and exited the palace.
About ten seconds later, Souta noticed Esdeath was still there.
"You're not leaving?"
"Why are you so eager to get rid of me?"
For once, Esdeath looked slightly upset.
Am I being... disliked?
"I've been cultivating lately. I don't like being disturbed."
Souta didn't sugarcoat it.
This battle maniac had been wearing him out.
He wasn't faking the meditation excuse.
Lately, he could feel his understanding of the laws of matter slowly deepening. The divine power needed for his eventual "domain" had been steadily decreasing.
Honestly, it felt amazing, like hitting a cultivation breakthrough in a fantasy novel.
But constant interruptions were ruining the vibe.
"Cultivation is useless. True strength comes through battle."
Esdeath walked up the stairs and stood next to the throne, looking down at Souta as she grabbed his arm.
"Get up. I came all this way. Spar with me again. I've developed a new Teigu move, this time I'll crush you!"
Souta raised his hand, about to smack her out of the palace again.
Esdeath quickly shouted.
"You promised to let me challenge you. Are you going to break your word?"
"I said you could challenge me when you had confidence in victory."
Souta looked at her flatly.
"You come too often. This feels less like a challenge and more like using me as a sparring dummy. I'm not playing along anymore."
"God... your whole act—it's fake, isn't it?"
Esdeath suddenly said, staring directly into his cold eyes.
Souta didn't reply. He gave her the "figure it out yourself" look.
"Hmph. How many times have you made that face now?" she scoffed. "You're not fooling me anymore."
"What? Are you questioning my divinity?" Souta's voice grew colder.
"And that tone too—fake, right?"
Souta remained stone-faced.
Can we have a normal conversation, please?
"Relax, I'm not questioning your identity. I acknowledge your strength, it's worthy of the title of god. But..."
Esdeath scrutinized Souta carefully, speaking with certainty:
"After observing you these past few days, I've realized that your cold, indifferent attitude doesn't match up with how you are at other times. So... which one is the real you? I'm curious. Also..."
She suddenly lifted one foot and placed it on the throne, letting the view beneath her uniform skirt fall directly into Souta's line of sight.
With a provocative smile, she leaned in so close their breaths mingled.
"I think... you act all pure when it comes to desire. You're probably not that old, are you? I bet I'm older than you."
"What are you trying to say?" Souta shot her a surprised glance.
Esdeath, analyzing people? That was unexpected.
Still, he didn't mind being seen through.
At this point, they were familiar enough that pretending wasn't necessary.
"I'm saying, god... you're exactly my type."
Esdeath's eyes locked onto his.
"You match every one of my standards in a man."
"..." Souta stared at her, deadpan, his eyes saying, Did you take the wrong meds today?
"Lately... I've been wanting to fall in love."
She said it out of the blue.
And for the first time, her face bore a pure, slightly bashful smile.
It was a complete departure from her usual crazed, wild smirk.
He couldn't imagine that expression on Esdeath's face.
But she didn't wait for his reply. She continued on her own:
"In every way, god, you fit my ideals."
From her uniform pocket, she pulled out a collar, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"I... I want to put this on you. But since I can't beat you yet, just for today, will you let me do it?"
"...What do you think?"
Souta's eye twitched. He was having trouble staying composed.
Did she seriously take an aphrodisiac or something?
Sure, in the original story Esdeath had considered romance... but he wasn't Tatsumi! What part of me are you attracted to?!
He gave up pretending and just looked at her with a deadpan expression.
"I've never met someone who wanted to collar someone else. Why don't you let me put it on you?"
"Oh? I didn't know you had a dominant side..." Esdeath seriously considered it and nodded. "A little role reversal now and then sounds exciting. Sure, I accept."
She handed him the collar, lifted her hair, and revealed her pale neck.
"Go on. Put it on me."
"...Alright, I'm done playing with you. I need to cultivate and train."
Souta pointed toward the palace doors.
"Cultivation? Even with your power, you're still training to get stronger..."
Suddenly, Esdeath hugged him tightly, her voice full of satisfaction and admiration.
"I knew it. I wasn't wrong about you, you're definitely my type. It's settled. From now on, you belong to me."