It seemed that Blayn's "Teigu" could also affect others. Esdeath recalled their first encounter when Blayn had used "Intangibility" on both of them.
"S-Sykes was actually killed? Who is that young man? Could he be a 'Teigu User'?"
"Sykes' war hammer was an incredibly powerful Shingu, yet that young man defeated him so easily. Even if he's not a true Teigu User, he's at least strong enough to fight one!"
"He got exactly what he deserved! That scum terrorized people for far too long. He finally met someone who wouldn't tolerate his tyranny."
"..."
The townspeople were both shocked and delighted that Sykes had been slain. However, none of them dared to celebrate too loudly, fearing potential retaliation.
After killing Sykes, Blayn turned his cold gaze toward the remaining guards.
They had all been his accomplices, and just moments ago, they were ready to cut him down. He had no intention of letting them go.
Two of the guards were still frozen in shock, unable to react. Blayn swiftly cut them down.
The rest panicked, dropping their weapons as they tried to flee.
But Blayn wouldn't give them the chance. He pursued and eliminated them one by one.
Their desperate, uncoordinated escape only sealed their fate. If they had scattered in different directions, they might have had a chance—after all, even with his superior speed, Blayn wouldn't have been able to chase all of them down.
Meanwhile, Esdeath showed no reaction to Blayn's slaughter of Sykes and his men.
She certainly wasn't about to reprimand him.
In her mind, the weak being killed by the strong was simply the natural order of the world.
Once the fight was over, Blayn approached the young woman and her daughter.
"It's over now. Take him to get treated—he should survive. Here, take this."
He tossed them a bag of coins.
The "him" he referred to was the bloodied, unconscious man—the young woman's husband.
As for the money, Blayn had picked it off one of the dead guards. He didn't need it, but this nearly shattered family did.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
Even after quickly adjusting her clothes, the young woman still looked disheveled—Sykes had nearly torn them to shreds.
But at this moment, she didn't care about her appearance.
She only cared about expressing her gratitude to her savior, bowing repeatedly.
Her daughter followed suit.
Blayn smiled softly—a sincere, unguarded expression of relief.
Then, the mother and daughter helped the injured man to his feet and left.
Blayn turned to mount his horse, but before he could, he noticed Esdeath striding toward him with an imposing air.
His expression immediately grew serious.
He had never lowered his guard around her, not for a second.
Was she upset that he had acted on his own? That he had killed so many people—including the governor's son?
After all, Esdeath was an Imperial general. It would be entirely reasonable for her to side with the governor of Jisei over a stranger she had just met.
A governor wasn't a minor official in the Empire.
Blayn braced himself, fully prepared for a battle.
But when Esdeath reached him, he sensed no hostility.
Then, suddenly, she raised her right hand.
Blayn's Mangekyō Sharingan immediately tracked her movement—she was reaching for his chin.
It wasn't an attack.
Because of that, Blayn didn't waste his energy activating "Intangibility." Instead, he instinctively took a half-step back.
However, Esdeath immediately closed the distance, gently pinching his chin between her thumb and forefinger.
"…?"
Blayn blinked in confusion.
"What… are you doing?"
He had expected her to confront him.
Instead, she was… teasing him?
He couldn't wrap his head around it.
All around them, the watching townsfolk erupted into murmurs.
"Is this… a public seduction? But that guy is crazy strong—how is he the one getting teased?"
"Look at her uniform—it's not just any military outfit. Could she be an officer of the Empire?"
"Maybe they're just a couple flirting? If that ice-cold beauty is an Imperial officer, no wonder that guy dared to kill the governor's son."
"…"
Feeling the odd stares from the crowd, Blayn—who had been indifferent just moments ago—suddenly found himself feeling a little embarrassed.
"Smile again."
Esdeath's tone was firm, almost commanding.
"What…?"
Blayn was completely lost now.
"I want to see a more genuine smile," she said bluntly. "The one you had just now… it moved me a little."
The natural smile he had shown when speaking to the mother and daughter had stirred something in her.
She didn't understand why.
Up until now, Esdeath had never thought about things like love. The concept had simply never entered her mind.
She had no idea what this strange, subtle feeling meant.
All she knew was that she wanted to see Blayn's real smile again—not just a faint one, but a true, wholehearted smile.
"A smile?"
Blayn was even more confused now.
Did I smile just now?
He vaguely remembered unconsciously smiling in relief.
But being asked to force a smile? That wasn't something he could do.
He wasn't the type to smile often. Occasionally, he might do it instinctively—but forcing it felt unnatural.
Besides…
A Mangekyō Sharingan wielder smiling?
Wouldn't that just make him look like one of those deranged Uchiha lunatics?
Of course, that was just his own perception. He had never actually seen what his own smile looked like.
"This… is kind of difficult for me," he admitted awkwardly.
"Really?" Esdeath tilted her head slightly, then murmured, "Are you embarrassed because of all the people watching?"
Blayn opened his mouth to correct her misunderstanding—
But before he could, she had already decided that was the case.
"Well then," she said casually, "we don't have to rush. Once we're back in the Imperial Capital, you won't have to be shy in my room."
"Wait, that's not—"
Blayn started to protest, but Esdeath didn't give him the chance.
"Besides," she continued, "it seems we have a little problem right now."
Blayn turned his head—
And saw them.
From all directions, a large number of guards were closing in.
It was clear why.
Sykes, the governor's son, was dead.