While we were returning from our hunt...
"Akashi, you are pretty strong, where did you learn how to fight? I mean, you have participated in that test together with us yet you walked out of there without a scratch." Poney suddenly asked me with a curious expression.
"...Ever since I was small, I liked hunting Danger Beasts and right before I participated in that test I also gained my Teigu so it was pretty easy to survive there. There weren't any too strong Danger Beasts. However, I admit that the weapons given to us were of shitty quality." I replied with a thoughtful expression while looking at the night sky.
"I see, I see...so you like hunting Danger Beasts." Poney suddenly started nodding in understanding with a smile and closed eyes.
"Why are you even asking? Weren't you at least a bit aware of what to expect from me since you have seen my and Najasho's spar?" I asked with a small teasing smile.
"Oh? Yes, of course, I knew that you are strong when I saw you pushing back our leader...WAIT! You were aware of us?!" Poney nodded with a smile before she realized the problem.
She is really slow in her head.
"Maybe" I replied and quickened my pace.
"W-Wait!" Poney shouted at me and also quickened her pace to match me.
We returned to the camp and handed over our captives to Uncle Bill who would do the rest of the work.
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That night we also returned to the town where everyone else was waiting for us and when we came back...
"How did it go?" Gozuki asked first with a raised eyebrow.
"Easy! Job is done as requested!" Poney immediately replied with a cheerful smile while proudly puffing out her chest but Gozuki just nodded at her before focusing his gaze at me.
"*sigh* I guess it went OK. We killed 2 of them but we captured the strongest one of them and one of his lackeys so that should be enough. If not, I will take responsibility by simply infiltrating tombs myself." I released a tired sigh before sitting down on the couch.
"?!" Everyone immediately widened their eyes when they heard my casual words.
"What are you saying, Akashi Nii-sama?!" Kurome instantly exclaimed with a shocked expression.
"Those 2 should be enough, either way, we can't just let you infiltrate tombs on your own. Anyway, who was the one that killed those 2 other Gravekeepers?" Gozuki said with closed eyes before asking me with a neutral tone while glancing at Poney.
When everyone heard his question, they instantly turned their head at Poney.
"It was me, the first one I killed was to reduce their numbers just in case they would be stronger than we expected and the second kill was because he was trying to escape back to the tombs and we already had 2 of them captured so I decided to simply kill him." I replied with closed eyes while relaxing on the couch.
"?" Poney looked at me with a confused expression but she wasn't alone, practically everyone looked at me in the same way.
"Are you sure that it wasn't Poney?" Green blurted out with dumbfounded expression.
"Hey!!" Poney immediately shouted at him with an angry expression.
I was the one looking over Poney so her mistake is practically mine for not stopping her in time and I also killed 1 of them so what it changes if I killed 1 or 2.
"I see, well, let's just hope they will be able to get the information from those 2. We need to move out tomorrow or it might be too late for others who could still be alive. I will go back to the camp to oversee the process of extracting the information." Gozuki just dismissed "my" mistake with a wave of his hand and informed us before leaving the room.
"*Hey...Why did you say that?*" When no one was paying attention Poney sat down next to me and asked me in low voice with a completely confused expression and furrowed brows.
"*Didn't you beg me not to say a word about your failure? Plus I killed one of them so it doesn't matter if I will tell that I killed 1 or 2.*" I replied with closed eyes before opening one of them to take a peek at her confused face.
Not to mention that I can come up with good excuses, unlike someone like you.
I thought while grinning to myself.
"*...I didn't think that you would actually lie...*" She said with a slightly guilty expression as if she has done something bad.
"*Can that actually be considered lying? The result is still the same, 2 of them died, the end. So stop bothering yourself with this fact, if you want to tell everyone how you failed right off the bat, I won't stop you.*" I whispered back when I saw her guilty expression.
"*...No, it's fine like this, thank you very much.*" She froze for a while, probably imagining the sight of telling everyone what exactly happened, then she replied with an extremely grateful smile and closed eyes.
"Hey, what are you two whispering about? Hmm, Poney?" Cornelia noticed us whispering and immediately asked aloud, attracting everyone's attention. She looked at Poney with a suspicious look while holding her chin.
"Aaa! It's nothing! Nothing at all!" Poney instantly started panicking while waving her hands in front of her.
This made only everyone look more suspiciously at her so she buried her head in shame between her knees.
I couldn't help but shake my head since she wasn't even able to notice that they no longer cared about our previous mission. They most likely looked at her suspiciously due to us talking so "intimately" despite knowing each other only a few days.
Tomorrow, I will be able to acquire some treasures and most likely a lot of gold. I might be able to finally upgrade my special class and also expand my businesses in the Capital after this mission is done. I wonder if some of them will die during this mission...
I thought while looking at the ceiling and also while ignoring the voices around me teasing Poney.
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The next morning...
---In the commander's tent---
"Here is the map. It should be a genuine one" The bald man named Uncle Bill said while handing over a map to Gozuki.
"Good, let's hope that everything is as it should be. By the way, why was that guy limbless?" Gozuki put the map into his pocket before asking with a confused expression.
"That kid already arrived with him like that. I also asked out of puzzlement and he said that he simply doesn't need them and also to stop him from running away. When I asked about his arms, he replied "so he couldn't crawl away" with a straight face but he still ultimately told me that it was also to reduce his weight. I really like that kid, haha." Uncle Bill explained with an amused smile.
"Yeah, it looks like we don't need to worry about him sparing anyone" Gozuki muttered with a wry smile.
---Akashi's POV---
"Alright, this is the map of the tombs. Remember it thoroughly, there are also some traps shown in it but you still have to be careful." Gozuki said when he unfolded the entire map of the tombs on the table in front of us
"Looks like there are more ways how to get to last rooms." Green muttered while holding his chin.
"But there are far more traps in the other hallways, it would be much faster to take the middle way that leads through the entire tombs and its levels. We will be able to get to the last rooms much faster this way." Cornelia added with a thoughtful expression.
"Then it is decided!" Poney immediately said with a big smile and her fist raised up high.
"No, shrimp, it isn't. We can't be sure about those traps, like father said, we will need to be careful no matter what and even if there are fewer number of traps, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are less trickier than others. We also have no idea what kind of traps they are." Najasho replied to Poney's excitement with the bucket full of ice and Poney's head and shoulders immediately dropped down.
"How about splitting up into groups?" I asked while looking at the map, although with my intelligence I already remember everything highlighted on the map.
"That's too dangerous, we don't know how strong they are, that's also the reason why I will be going with you this time." Gozuki replied with closed eyes and folded arms.
"I think it's better to make small groups of at least 2 people. These traps won't be a that big problem but it can still split us up. I imagine that even they wouldn't want to fight us while we would be all together." I said and everyone glanced at me with a slightly surprised expression before glancing at Gozuki.
I guess they don't usually talk back. That's also one of a few things that are limiting their growth, they don't make their own decisions. And even if they do, once Gozuki tells something, they think that it's sacred. However, they don't look like they have been brainwashed, at least not with the drugs. I guess 8 years living with someone who is taking care of you will change you. After all, isn't this the same thing as with Kurome?
I thought while taking a glance at Kurome who was at Akame's side while gently smiling at me.
"I also think that those traps serve more to split us up rather than kill us." Akame's voice resounded and everyone widened their eyes while looking at her.
"...True enough, but what makes you think that even small groups won't get split up?" Gozuki nodded his head with closed eyes before opening them while looking at me.
"Usually in big groups, you don't focus on not getting split up since it's a large group and even if you get split up, there is a big chance that you will end up with someone else. However, if they really aim to split us up all with those traps, they will be able to do it. If we will just focus on keeping close to only one person, there is a much lesser chance that we will get split up, at least those 2 people." I told him how I see it.
"...Alright, everyone, make teams of 2 people. There will be 4 teams and I will be going alone. Anyway, we will still take the middle hallway as a group but just focus on not getting separated from your partner, don't focus on other teams." Gozuki decided and said aloud.
"Yes!" Everyone nodded and acknowledged his words with a low shout.
I glanced at Kurome and she coincidentally also looked at me at the same time. I could see that she was feeling conflicted, she wanted to go with me but she also wanted to make sure that nothing happens to her sister.
After a few seconds of hesitating, she slowly approached me.
"Aka-" Kurome wanted to say something but she was interrupted.
"Looks like we are going to team up once again, Akashi!" Poney exclaimed with a cheerful smile while extending her fist to me.
"Kurome, how about going together~!" Akame suddenly hugged Kurome from behind and asked her with a bright smile.
...Why does it feel like getting cockblocked?
I thought with a dumbfounded expression while looking at Poney's fist.
"Hm?!" She saw that I wasn't reacting so she waved with her fist a bit.
"S-Sure..." I answered with a forced smile and bumped the fists with her.
"I- Alright!" Kurome also looked shocked for a moment before looking at me with pity and then nodding to Akame.
I should have just followed Gozuki's instructions and not meddle with their strategy.