---3 years later---
"Akashi Nii-sama! Please wake up!" Kurome's voice woke me up as she also began to shake with me to wake me up quickly.
"Eh, 5 more minutes, no, actually 5 more hours, I have spent too much time with...experimenting last night." I lazily replied without even opening my eyes.
"You can't! Your father requires your presence in his office, he already tolerated you skipping on breakfast...Please?" I heard Kurome's pleading voice right next to me.
Ugh, what is it this time, old man?
I slowly and lazily opened my eyes and instantly noticed Kurome's face above me, brightly smiling at me. She was wearing a black shirt together with a red belt, red skirt, and red gloves.
She really likes to wear black and red clothing, huh?
"Heh" I chuckled when I saw the sight before me.
"What is it? Do I have something on my face?" Kurome immediately started touching her face in panic.
"Nothing. I just recalled the first time you came here and your behavior." I muttered with a small smile.
"Eeeh, Akashi Nii-sama, you have promised me that you won't mention that time. I was too scared at that time..." Kurome puffed out her cheeks and complained to me with a cute face.
"So scared as to go begging me to be able to sleep in the same room as me...yet it still remained the same even after those 3 years passed by." I commented with a teasing smile.
"Well...I got used to it...you can't blame me." Kurome replied with flushed cheeks while she was fidgeting her fingers.
"But you are no longer ashamed of it, right?" I asked with a genuine smile.
"...As long as Akashi Nii-sama isn't the one teasing me about it, yes." Kurome answered with a bright smile after a short moment of thinking.
*Sigh* A lot of things happened during those 3 years. First things first...
---
[Name: Akashi Phoenix (Age: 12)
Title: King of Sloth
Class: Warrior (Lv. 7, +10 Str, +6 Const, +1 Agi, +1 Cha) 210/640 XP
Special Class: Fire Monarch (Lv. 9; +18 Cha, +16 Int, +12 Const, +6 Str) 124/2560 BXP
[Health: 510/510]
[Energy: 1045/1045]
[Strength: 27 (53)]
[Agility: 33 (49)]
[Intelligence: 32 (57)]
[Constitution: 30 (48)]
[Charisma: 25 (48)]
Free Stat points: 35
Classes: Young Noble (Lv. 4; +5 Cha) 12/80 XP,
Passive Classes: Assassin (Lv. 10; +15 Agi, +9 Int, +6 Str, + 4 Cha)
Special Classes:
ACTIVE SKILLS:
[Absolute Dominance - When facing the formidable foe, show no fear, instead show your arrogance. + 55% to every stat, fire intensity, and explosiveness]
[Phantom Strike - Blink towards your enemy, the maximum distance is decided by your Agility (10 energy)] (Assassin)
[Sun's judgment - Summon smaller sphere from the sky in the form of a meteor, scorching anything in its path. (150 Energy)]
[Overwhelm - Strengthens the power of your next attack by 40% (30 Energy)] (Warrior)
PASSIVE SKILLS:
[Child of Fire - Flames love you as its own child. You are protected by the fire itself, whenever someone uses long-ranged attacks, flames will protect your body from projectiles even without your consciousness but you can still stop them if you want. This isn't ultimate defense!]
[Contempt for the Weak - Whenever you kill a human, your intimidating aura strengthens. Making possible for your aura alone to change the temperature and gravity around you. With enough deaths, it's possible to even extend the range of your aura, crushing bones of the entire army just by your aura. 34/? (As the name suggests, works only on weak)]
GOLD: 6710
SILVER: 214
---
I have gained a lot of new skills but with my raising age, the stats started getting harder to rise so I am thinking about spending my Free Stat points but there is still no need to do it since I have yet to meet anyone who would be a tough opponent for me.
Next...Babara fulfilled her part of the deal with me and she sent me the materials to make those special clothes together with poisons and other interesting things. She was occasionally even sending other materials that were already out of our deal. It seems that she is really thinking of me highly and I am quite grateful to her because thanks to those materials I was able to order blacksmith to make a suitable katana for Kurome. I also observed how he was handling materials and although he had a lot of questions where I have found such materials, it took only a few gold coins for him to shut up. It took him more than a week to make only 1 katana but it sure was worth it. I tried it myself and the toughness and sharpness of the blade is comparable to the magical artifact and it should be able to endure the clash with a Teigu.
Next was Kurome's training...she was very hardworking and she wasn't slacking at all, therefore, she was improving at a very fast pace but then her first kill came...She was very reluctant to kill a human but I convinced her after some time. She puked a few times after her first kill but after a while, she slowly got used to it. Of course, she also had a few nightmares because of it and I happen to hear her mutter "I must do it for Akashi Nii-sama and for myself to meet my sister." a few times in a row. I am not even sure when she started to call me Nii-sama but I don't really mind it.
Although I am only 12 years old, I already look like 15 years old and as for 14 years old Aiko...I don't even want to talk about that. She looks like that type of girl that sneaks into clubs to get other boys into problems...But I somehow got used to this...In this world, there are even 20 years old men who marry 12 years old girls so I guess...it's normal?
"Akashi Nii-sama?" Kurome's voice woke me up from my thoughts and I looked at her just to see her smiling at me with a confused expression.
"Yes, I am awake, don't worry. Could you give me some privacy so I can change myself?" I asked with a forced smile.
"...I am not sure if you won't fall asleep again...I promise I won't look." She said after a while of consideration.
"*sigh*...That happened only once, but since you insist go and face the door." I shook my head with a helpless smile but I couldn't care anymore.
She happily nodded and followed my instructions.
...
After a while.
"I am done changing, happy?" I said and Kurome turned around.
"I am sorry about this..." Kurome apologized with a guilty expression.
"I know that isn't your fault but I have a mission for you while I will be talking with my father." I informed her and walked out of my room with her following right behind me.
"Oh? Who is it this time?" She had a surprised expression for a while before determination filled her eyes as she clenched her fists.
"Numerous targets, a warehouse filled with scum terrorizing and stealing from the poor." I said while adjusting my tie with narrowed eyes.
"I see, Akashi Nii-sama is so kind, trying to help people in need..." She said with a smile.
"Don't call me kind, please. I kill people, there is no way you can call a killer kind person. Not to mention that sometimes I am also forced to kill innocents to show that my loyalty is towards the Empire but I am not using that excuse of "being forced", I do it because I can and it's an easier way for me, therefore I am very selfish." I explained with frowned brows when I heard Kurome's words.
"But didn't you employ everyone in your territory to work for you? You also hold public meals for everyone each morning and evening...since the day you have started doing this, there was not even 1 death from starving." Kurome said with a confused expression, trying to change my opinion of myself.
"Kurome listen...this is much more complicated. I employed everyone because they can gather rumors in the city for me, they can also help with building stuff, all of that is beneficial for both sides. As for public meals...that "food" is practically what those restaurants for nobles tend to throw out by the end of the day. Not to mention that I also make some profit from all of that, be it reputation or even money. It's strange how by spending money and not expecting anything back, you can get back even more money." I explained while we were walking towards my father's office.
"Anyway, here is where we part our ways, you have details of your mission on my desk in my- our room." I turned at her once we arrived in front of the door to my father's office and I explained with a smile.
"Alright! I won't let you down Akashi Nii-sama!" She said with a cute expression on her face and clenched fist.
"Be careful, Kurome" I said with a voice full of affection and a small smile.
"Yes!" She nodded and left to go take a look at the details of her mission.
Before I knock on the door...
"Ichika, make sure nothing happens to her." I said to the empty air while looking at Kurome's back.
"Yes, young lord!" The reply came almost immediately and I felt wind next to me to blow in an unusual way which only meant that Ichika already left after Kurome.
Well...
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
"Come in!" I heard the muffled voice of my father through the door.
"Good morning." I said immediately after entering room and closing the door behind me.
"Good morning?" My father muttered while his eye started twitching as he was looking at my sleepy expression.
"*sigh* Never mind, you are finally here and that's what matters." He sighed with a tired face and gave up on arguing with me even before the start.
"So? What's the problem? Don't tell me it's the thing about Aiko...I already told you that I won't be doing anything unless I am 15 years old." I said with furrowed brows.
It's the truth...the moment when I hit my 10th birthday, Aiko came into my room in the morning all blushing talking about introducing me into the adult world. Although she didn't want to do anything "drastic" and just wanted to fool around, I immediately refused. Of course, I had to comfort her afterward because she thought that it was due to her that I refused which was quite annoying.
"Wha-? No! I won't force you if you are so determined. I still remember you barging into my room and threatening me that you will leave the family. I no longer care about this, I just hope you won't be so stupid and not have any kids. You will have to find a woman or if you fancy more of them then it's also alright but you need to continue the bloodline of this family." My father was surprised by my sudden outburst but he quickly recovered and explained to me with a forced smile.
---
'I can't believe that he also forced me to comfort Aiko after that matter but that at least it shows that he is fond of her. And that situation that happened between them must have been really awkward for her...' Jun thought with a helpless smile.
---
"Then what is it?" I asked with a calmer expression.
"The Empire found out a few Rebel army's camps near the borders with the Northern Tribes. They wouldn't normally care about those camps but since they are so close to the Northern Tribes, they decided to send someone to deal with them." My father explained while reading the document in his hand.
"Do they want our help or just our presence to see our standing in this matter?" I asked with a stoic face.
"...Our presence. The small army will be led by the person who recently joined the army a few years ago yet they are rising up in the rank extremely fast. That person still isn't the general yet the Empire entrusted her with this mission and leading the Empire's troops. This just shows how she is capable. Her name is-" My father looked slightly surprised by my question but he instantly calmed down and began his explanation with a serious expression while looking out of the window.
"Esdeath. I have met her before, on my way to Gifnora Forest." I interrupted my father with a small smile.
"...I hope there is no grudge between you and her. I have heard that she is extremely strong even without Teigu." My father looked strangely at me before saying this.
"No need to worry. Give me the details and I will go." I said with a reassuring smile.
"Alright, you are supposed to meet up with her and a few other representatives of noble families the next morning. Here are details where the meeting will be held and details of the meeting itself. Don't be late like for today's breakfast, this is a serious matter." He said with a serious face and handed me a piece of paper with the details.
"Don't worry, I will be there to represent us." I said and left his office.
Oh? Even a few of Rakshasa Demons will be there? This might even be fun.
I thought with a smile when I saw the details of this meeting.