Thanks to the combined efforts of various parties, the Empire gradually returned to normal. Though rebuilding the war-torn land would still take time, the people already felt relieved to live without fear. After all, it is only through hardship that one truly learns to appreciate the value of peace and happiness.
Peace had finally arrived. Although there were occasional rebellions on the fringes of the Empire, they were quickly suppressed by the Imperial Guard under Seryu's command. Seryu was still as passionate about justice as ever, viewing it as her guiding principle. She was especially zealous about eliminating rebels and showed no mercy to those she deemed wicked. The sheer number of people who died at her hands was staggering, as evident by how much bigger Koro had grown.
Another significant event occurred within the Empire. One night, a loud rumbling echoed from the outskirts of the capital, and a blinding light illuminated the pitch-black sky. Many people thought some strange phenomenon had occurred, causing quite a stir. However, the next day, everything returned to normal. It wasn't until a few brave souls ventured to the site that they realized what had happened—an entire forest had been razed to the ground. The area was now a desolate wasteland, crisscrossed with deep trenches, and a small mountain several hundred meters tall had disappeared, replaced by a massive crater dozens of meters deep.
Despite this, the lives of the people in the capital weren't affected, and soon everyone forgot about the event.
Shortly afterward, Esdeath was officially appointed as the Empire's Grand General by the empress. However, this news didn't make much of a splash. After all, people were too busy with their own lives to care about the affairs of others.
Before long, spring passed, and summer arrived.
Early summer had completely dispelled the lingering chill of spring, and the weather became pleasant. The sun shone brightly, a gentle breeze blew, and the sky was a peaceful blue with drifting clouds—an idyllic scene.
Inside the empress's bedchamber, on a soft, large bed, two young women lay sleeping. A thin duvet covered their curvaceous bodies, while their long, misty hair, one white and the other blue, mingled together, adding an air of intimacy.
Feeling a bit warm, a slender, delicate arm slipped out from under the blanket, pulling it down slightly, revealing a spring-like scene beneath.
A soft, white curve, as delicate as moonlight, shimmered faintly. A small pink peak—translucent, tender, and sweet—seemed to glow with its own radiant allure.
The two women were cuddled together, their arms entwined. Their soft, white bodies pressed against each other, with skin so smooth it seemed you could squeeze water from it. Their figures were perfectly shaped, with gentle, graceful curves. A faint pink hue lingered on their skin, as if dusted with rouge.
"Your Majesty."
At that moment, a voice broke the morning's tranquility.
Someone suddenly burst into the room and said, "Your Majesty, the ministers are ready, and you should attend—"
The voice abruptly stopped.
"You... you two..." The intruder's eyes widened in shock.
"Oh, it's Sayo," Kaguya yawned, rubbing her sleepy eyes as she sat up. The blanket slid down, revealing a large expanse of her smooth, white skin. "What's the matter?"
"It's already time for court, and you're still—" Sayo said angrily, "This is utterly shameless!"
"Cough cough, Sayo, it's not what you think," Kaguya replied awkwardly, scratching her head.
"Let's sleep a little longer, darling," a soft, arm reached out, gently stroking Kaguya's cheek in a sultry manner.
It was Esdeath.
"Sorry for disturbing your rest," Sayo huffed, turning on her heel and storming out, clearly upset. She wasn't so much angry as jealous—why go to Esdeath and not her?
"Hey, wait!" Kaguya was about to get up when she suddenly remembered that she wasn't wearing anything. Going out in the nude wasn't exactly an option.
"Darling, don't go. Those ministers are boring. Let's sleep a little more," Esdeath said, nuzzling her face against Kaguya's smooth skin.
Looking at Esdeath's flawless, naked body, Kaguya swallowed hard, struggling to control herself. She finally managed to resist the temptation and said, "Maybe later. You rest a bit longer. I'll be right back."
Kaguya now fully understood why so many kings throughout history chose pleasure over their kingdoms—it truly was a test of willpower.
Over the next few days, Sayo remained upset, her small face tight with displeasure, refusing to talk to Kaguya. No matter how Kaguya tried to console her, Sayo would just huff and look the other way, not even sparing her a glance.
Kaguya couldn't help but sigh, realizing that having multiple lovers and planning a harem was indeed a hassle. Still, that pouty face made her feel like Sayo was just begging to be teased.
At that moment, a familiar system voice suddenly chimed in.
"Congratulations, you have completed the mission for Akame ga Kill! and earned 70 achievement points, along with an additional month of stay time. Please note that if you do not extend your time, you will be forcibly removed from this world."
So the mission was finally complete.
Kaguya felt a bit emotional. When she had ascended the throne a while ago, she had thought the mission was finished. But there had been no prompt, leading her to wonder if there had been a bug. It seemed that wasn't the case.
Suddenly, Kaguya realized something: the mission hadn't been completed back then because she hadn't fully subdued Esdeath. After all, Esdeath possessed power second only to Kaguya, and even now, Akame would struggle to defeat her unless she was pushed to her limits.
Esdeath alone was as strong as an entire army and could easily be considered a faction in her own right. If Kaguya weren't around, it wouldn't have been surprising if Esdeath eventually became the empress of the Imperial Army herself. After all, Night Raid was far from a match for her at that point, and only Akame in her unleashed state could truly rival her.
But after last night, Kaguya had completely conquered Esdeath, making her loyal to her. There was no longer any need to worry about rebellion. Esdeath followed the philosophy of the strong ruling over the weak. If someone couldn't defeat her, she looked down on them. But if someone truly bested her, she would be utterly obedient—just like she was now.
Kaguya had wanted to complete the mission as quickly as possible, but now that it was done, she found herself feeling a little reluctant to leave. Instead, she spent the month indulging in every pleasure, enjoying playful days in bed, intimate nights, and constant flirting with her lovers.
It was a time of carefree indulgence, where she embraced the moment, letting go of her usual restraint and savoring every experience. By the end of the month, she was completely satisfied, having indulged fully in love and lust, with no regrets—although, deep down, she felt a bit reluctant to part.