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...
"Impressive work, young man!"
"To think you could kill a Danger Beast all by yourself!"
Hearing the rescued man's praise and gratitude, the young man boasted confidently, "Of course! Whenever you run into me, no matter what kind of monsters or demons, they'll all be defeated easily!"
When Mika and his two companions emerged from the forest and arrived at the scene, this was what they witnessed.
At the same time, hearing the commotion from the nearby woods, the previously smug young man and the travelers grew tense.
Only after confirming that the newcomers were human did the three relax.
"And who might you three be?" the rescued merchant asked curiously.
"We heard someone calling for help nearby, so we came to check it out," Mika said with a gentle smile as he approached. "Looks like we weren't needed after all!"
"No, no, thank you for coming!"
Realizing they had come to help, the merchant quickly expressed his gratitude. "Just thinking that even if I hadn't met this young man, I could have received your assistance makes me feel fortunate."
"Truly, thank you all for your help!"
"I'm eternally grateful!"
As a seasoned traveling merchant, he knew how to speak appropriately.
People confident enough to help others often possessed considerable strength themselves.
Hearing the merchant's words, Mika nodded.
He then looked toward the young man who had arrived before them.
He was a brown-haired youth, and from his face, Mika sensed an air of sincerity.
"A boy heading to the big city to make a name for himself?" Mika speculated internally.
At the same time, he had a rough guess about the young man's identity.
Based on past experiences, wherever Mika and his companions arrived, there was always a "protagonist" nearby.
And this young man before him had the potential to be that protagonist.
Glancing at the slain dragon-like creature nearby, Mika nodded slightly.
Yes, it's confirmed, it's him.
To save his impoverished village, he's heading to the Imperial Capital to make a name for himself, Tatsumi.
So, this world is "Akame ga Kill!"
Recalling this series, Mika felt a twinge of discomfort.
No, he needed to confirm further.
"Hello there, I'm Mika, a traveler heading to the Imperial Capital. Seeing your impressive skills, I imagine you're also planning to make a name for yourself there!"
Smiling at the youth who might be Tatsumi, Mika said.
"That's right!"
Hearing Mika's compliment, the young man excitedly replied, "Hello, big brother! My name is Tatsumi. I'm indeed planning to join the army in the Imperial Capital and rise through the ranks."
Well, it's really you!
Seeing Tatsumi's smiling face, Mika couldn't help but twitch slightly at the corner of his mouth.
Mika had mixed feelings about "Akame ga Kill!"
He remembered initially watching the anime expecting a harem story.
But one by one, the girls kept dying.
When the girl named Chelsea was beheaded and her head displayed, Mika stopped watching, unwilling to delve deeper into the darkness.
He couldn't bring himself to watch the rest.
However, over time, through reading fanfiction and watching edited videos, Mika eventually pieced together the rest.
Is that considered "cloud watching"?
In any case, Mika was quite familiar with the world of "Akame ga Kill!"
This world tells the story of an assassin group.
Just as people can become corrupt, so can nations head toward destruction.
In this world, there's an entity known as the Empire, which has stood for over a thousand years.
Likewise, it has decayed to the extreme.
The Empire, once glorious across the land, had turned into a living hell, with rebellions breaking out everywhere.
The "Night Raid" assassin group that Tatsumi would eventually join was the Empire's largest underground assassination and intelligence organization, part of the Revolutionary Army.
Their mission was to eliminate the corrupt high-ranking officials of the Empire.
To dismantle this decaying nation from within.
"An era of chaos at the end of a kingdom, huh?"
With a bit of thought, Mika understood the cruelty of this era.
A millennium-old Empire.
In Mika's previous world, there was a saying: "No empire lasts more than 300 years."
Looking back at history, this was often the case.
As for why?
It could be due to land issues or systemic problems.
Any system is at its best when first established.
But over time, even systems decay. Under normal circumstances, after over 200 years of feudal exploitation, the common people would be reduced to starvation.
And the Empire had lasted nearly a thousand years.
Why could it persist for so long?
Because this wasn't an average world; it was one with special powers.
Martial arts and weapons were the special abilities of this world.
In this world, there were countless Danger Beasts, monsters.
These creatures were categorized into Third Class, Second Class, First Class, Special Class, and Super Class Danger Beasts.
Among them, the stronger ones possessed the power to destroy cities.
In such a world, even normal humans had strong physiques.
Through continuous training, people in this world could achieve combat power equivalent to Level 4 or even Level 5 adventurers.
Additionally, there existed weapons called Teigu.
About a thousand years ago, the first Emperor, to maintain long-lasting rule, used unimaginable wealth and power to gather the world's top artisans.
They used legendary Super Class Danger Beasts as materials, along with rare metals like Orichalcum and numerous lost secret arts, to create forty-eight unique weapons known as Teigu.
The materials from these Danger Beasts granted Teigu special abilities, giving them powers equal to or surpassing the beasts themselves.
The rare metals formed their core, making Teigu far superior in quality to normal weapons and nearly indestructible by conventional means.
These forty-eight mythical weapons, crafted by master artisans who perfectly fused materials and metals with unparalleled skill, possessed immense power.
Through physical training, Teigu users wielding these weapons could achieve combat strength reaching Level 5 or even Level 6 adventurers.
It was thanks to these mighty individuals, capable of battling thousands, that the Empire could rule the world with absolute power for over a millennium.
The most representative among them was the Empire's strongest general, Esdeath.
With her power alone, she could slay hundreds of thousands of soldiers.
Although individuals of her strength were rare, others like General Budo, who had strength comparable to Level 6 adventurers, were passed down through generations.
In such a world, rebellion was nearly impossible.
In other words, ordinary people had endured this hellish life for nearly eight hundred years.
---
"Oh, I knew I wasn't mistaken!"
Mika smiled gently and said, "Why don't we head to the Imperial Capital together?"
"Together? Sure!"
Although they had just met, Tatsumi could sense a strong aura from Mika.
Being able to befriend someone so powerful made Tatsumi thrilled.
Moreover, they shared the same destination, the Imperial Capital.
"Then it's settled!"
Mika said with a smile.
Just like that, even though they had just met, Mika and Tatsumi agreed to journey to the Imperial Capital together.
...
"To save my impoverished village, I left home with Sayo and Ieyasu. We're heading to the Imperial Capital to join the army and make a name for ourselves."
"But not long after we set out, we were attacked by bandits at night and got separated in the darkness."
"But I'm not too worried about them; I have faith in their abilities."
"I see."
At night, sitting around a campfire, Mika, his two companions, and Tatsumi chatted about various things.
"Friends, huh!"
Hearing Tatsumi's explanation, Mika couldn't help but recall their experiences.
Unaware of the darkness in the Imperial Capital, the two young villagers fell into the hands of schemers as soon as they arrived.
They eventually fell into traps set by others.
"If I remember correctly, when Tatsumi reunites with his two companions, Sayo is already dead, and Ieyasu is barely clinging to life."
"How tragic!"
"They dreamed of making a name for themselves, but two of them died as soon as they left the village."
"Such misfortune!"
Thinking about Tatsumi's situation, Mika shook his head.
Hearing Mika click his tongue, Tatsumi looked over and asked, "What's wrong, Mika?"
"It's nothing."
Seeing Tatsumi's concerned gaze, Mika smiled and said, "Do you remember what that merchant said earlier today?"
"You mean the dangers of the Imperial Capital?"
Tatsumi's eyes grew sharp.
"Exactly!"
Mika nodded.
Earlier that day, the merchant they had rescued earnestly warned Mika and Tatsumi when he learned they were heading to the Imperial Capital.
"The Imperial Capital isn't the paradise you might imagine! Though it's bustling, it's inhabited by monsters more terrifying than Danger Beasts like Earth Dragons."
"What? Are Danger Beasts roaming the streets?"
Tatsumi had asked in confusion.
"No, it's people!"
"Creatures wearing human skin but monstrous inside are everywhere."
Recalling the merchant's explanation, Tatsumi said seriously, "No matter what the Imperial Capital is like, I have to go there to save my impoverished hometown!"
Seeing the determination in Tatsumi's eyes, Mika nodded approvingly.
"Tatsumi, to be honest, after hearing the merchant's words, I'm even more eager to see the Imperial Capital."
Picking up a twig and tossing it into the fire, Mika smiled, "Tomorrow, let's head straight for the Imperial Capital. I can't wait to see if that so-called hell on earth can swallow us!"
Hearing Mika's sentiments, Tatsumi felt his blood boil.
"Yes, big brother! Tomorrow, we'll head to the Imperial Capital!"
Tatsumi exclaimed, pumping his fist.
On the other side of the fire, Mellie and Airmid watched as Mika easily stirred Tatsumi into a fervor. Through telepathy, Mellie curiously asked, "What are you planning now, Mika?"
"Nothing at all!"
Mika's amused voice echoed back.
At this, Mellie rolled her eyes. "As if I'd believe you!"
Mika chuckled without replying.
In truth, Mika planned to save Tatsumi's companions.
Ever since Tatsumi started calling him "big brother," Mika felt particularly pleased.
Such an eager junior deserved some care!
Because Tatsumi believed in the abilities of Sayo and Ieyasu, he didn't rush to the Imperial Capital to meet them. Instead, he hunted Danger Beasts along the way to earn money.
This was to make their future endeavors in the Imperial Capital smoother.
As a result, Tatsumi arrived at the capital a few days later than Sayo and Ieyasu.
Thus, he narrowly escaped danger.
But his companions had already suffered, one dead.
"If we arrive at the Imperial Capital a bit earlier, we might be able to save them!"
"With Airmid's healing magic, no injury is a problem."
"Plus, my plan requires some manpower. Tatsumi, as the protagonist, has the potential to become the world's strongest. His companions, even if not as talented, should still be decent."
Thinking this, a slight smile appeared on Mika's face.
After confirming that this world was "Akame ga Kill!", Mika had a general idea of his future direction.
And his plan required quite a few people.
"Let's see how it goes."
After some thought, Mika shook his head to clear his mind and rejoined the conversation.
...
"Wow, it's huge! So many people!"
After several days of travel, Mika, his companions, and Tatsumi arrived at the Empire's capital, the Imperial Capital.
Seeing the massive crowd lining up at the city gates, Tatsumi, who had grown up in the countryside and never seen so many people, couldn't help but exclaim.
As for Mika and his companions, they had seen much grander sights.
They remained remarkably calm.
Still, Tatsumi's reaction made the three of them chuckle.
Hearing their laughter, Tatsumi awkwardly smiled and then the four of them entered the city together.
Once inside, the sights of the Imperial Capital left Tatsumi utterly speechless.
This time, however, he didn't make any conspicuous moves.
Understanding what coming to the capital meant, Tatsumi approached Mika and said earnestly, "It's getting late, so I'll go sign up for the army now."
"Big brother, are you sure you don't want to join the army? You're all so strong."
During their journey, Tatsumi had come to realize that Mika and his companions were far more powerful than he was.
"I'll pass on joining the army. I have my own plans for the future."
"But don't worry!"
Smiling, Mika patted Tatsumi's shoulder. "Since you call me 'big brother,' when I make it big, I'll be sure to look out for you!"
"Then I'll look forward to your support, big brother! When the time comes, I'll definitely follow you!"
"Alright, just wait and see!"
After bidding farewell, Tatsumi headed alone to enlist in the army.
Watching Tatsumi's departing figure, Mika softly said, "Mellie."
"Don't worry! I've already sent out a familiar!"
Above Tatsumi's head, a crow was silently flying.
...
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