章 60: Chapter 60: New Trade! Body Usage Rights!

Lubbock was in shock. "Hey, hey, how are we supposed to fight this?"

Leone suggested, "Maybe we should split up and run?"

Sheele added, "But what about Mine?"

Mine, feeling guilty, said, "I'm sorry, everyone. It's my fault you're all in danger."

Najenda also looked grim. Facing Budo meant losses were inevitable, even if they tried to escape. If that happened, what would have been the point of their rescue mission?

She called out to Akame, "Akame, is there any way to make a deal with Rei Ao to cover our retreat?"

The best scenario would be for Rei Ao to step in and help them escape.

Akame silently initiated a trade request.

[Ding! Akame has sent a trade request!]

[Trade Content]: Cover their retreat.

[Ding! Please select trade terms!]

Rei Ao, a little disappointed, shook his head. "You're not choosing to fight first?"

He had hoped for a bit of action. Nevertheless, he chose the final trade terms available from Akame and quickly received the confirmation.

[Ding! Trade started!]

[Trade Partner]: Akame.

[Trade Content]: Cover their retreat.

[Trade Terms]: Body usage rights for one time.

[Duration]: 3 hours.

Standing nearby, Mai looked at Rei Ao with a strange expression. She suspected Rei Ao had done this on purpose, but... she couldn't find any reason to object. Budo seemed powerful, and she didn't want Rei Ao to take unnecessary risks. However, she had misunderstood—Budo wasn't that strong in Rei Ao's eyes.

[Target]: Budo.

[Level]: 15.

[Abilities]: None.

[Possession]: "Adramelech: The Demon's Wrath."

Budo's true strength came from his Teigu, though even that wasn't particularly impressive to Rei Ao.

Meanwhile, thousands of soldiers, holding torches, surrounded the forest, illuminating the area as they advanced.

Budo sneered, "I'll give you one last chance to surrender."

"Surrender?" Leone scoffed. "We'd just get beheaded anyway. Let's fight them!"

Mine, gritting her teeth, muttered, "I'm so sorry, everyone. This is all my fault."

"Heh, no need for fighting," Rei Ao said casually.

"You should thank Akame."

As he spoke, thin tendrils of cold air began to escape from his mouth.

"Hmm?"

Budo's gaze locked onto him, but before he could react, a torrent of freezing cold erupted forth.

"A-Esdeath?!"

The sheer intensity of the cold made Budo think of Esdeath, but before he could make any moves, the cold wave surged forward, engulfing not just him but the thousands of soldiers around them.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Najenda and the others shivered as the temperature plummeted.

In the blink of an eye, Budo and all the surrounding enemies had been turned into ice sculptures, their bodies encased in crystalline frost. The entire forest for miles around was frozen solid.

"It wasn't Esdeath?!"

Najenda was in shock. Hadn't Rei Ao just demonstrated his ability to transform into a fire dragon? Now, he was displaying ice powers that rivaled Esdeath's. How was this possible?

Rei Ao, accompanied by Mai and the others, approached the frozen scene.

"I've fulfilled the deal to cover your retreat, so stop wasting time and head back to your base."

Najenda snapped out of her shock, but she was still wary, eyeing the frozen Budo.

"Budo won't let us leave that easily," she said cautiously. In her experience, not even Esdeath's ice could kill Budo outright.

Unfortunately for her, it wasn't Esdeath who attacked—it was Rei Ao.

With a smile, Rei Ao raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

One by one, the ice statues began to shatter into fragments. In front of their eyes, the frozen soldiers, and even Budo, crumbled into dust.

Najenda's face displayed disbelief for the first time.

"Budo... is dead?"

Her voice trembled as she spoke. There was no way the shattered remains could form back into a human.

Gulp.

Lubbock and the others swallowed hard. Leone could hardly believe it. "He wiped out all of them… just like that!"

"Who are you?" Mine stared in awe at Rei Ao's side profile. This man, who had saved her, possessed such terrifying strength that it made her heart race. Budo, a general whose power was feared throughout the Empire, didn't even get a chance to speak before he was obliterated.

"The obstacle is gone. Now leave; don't waste my time."

Rei Ao clearly had more important things to attend to.

Akame, mistaking his impatience for a desire to quickly claim his trade reward, hoisted Kurome onto her back and urged, "We should go now."

Najenda, regaining her composure, gave Rei Ao a respectful glance before addressing her team.

"Let's return to the base."

~~~

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章 61: Chapter 61: Leveling Up Time!

Night Raid's secret base was hidden deep within the mountains. Originally, it was just a cave, but over time, they had expanded it, adding individual rooms for the members.

[Ding! Trade Complete!]

After completing the trade, Rei Ao showed no interest in involving himself in Night Raid's internal affairs. While they held a meeting, he decided to rest in Akame's room, unconcerned about the unconscious Kurome lying on the bed.

His focus shifted to Mai, who had been silent ever since they left the capital. Her mind seemed troubled, and it was evident from her expression.

Rei Ao asked, "Mai, your thoughts are a bit scattered. Is it because of the people I killed?"

Mai's body visibly trembled, confirming his suspicion. Her eyes were filled with a complicated mix of emotions, and she gave a bitter smile, saying, "I'm sorry, Rei Ao. I... I just can't adjust my mindset so quickly."

Even though she knew they were Rei Ao's enemies, she had only recently been a regular person herself.

"It's alright," Rei Ao said, pulling Mai into his arms, resting his chin on her forehead to comfort her. "Take your time to adjust. That's part of why I brought you here."

"Mm…" Mai relaxed in his embrace, visibly calming down.

Rei Ao then turned his attention to Saeko and Ayame, who were watching enviously. "Next, I'll give you both a boost of the protective power. Focus on whether you notice any changes."

The two exchanged glances and nodded. Rei Ao bestowed the protective power once more, and immediately Ayame felt it.

"Rei Ao-sama, the mark is heating up!" she exclaimed.

Rei Ao's eyes brightened. It was working! He used his 'True Sight' to check on them.

[Name]: Saeko Busujima

[Level]: 9

[Abilities]: "Dragon Power," "Mastery of Swordsmanship," "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Inherent Device: Annihilation Spirit Blade"

[Name]: Ayame Yomogawa

[Level]: 9

[Abilities]: "Dragon Power," "Rei Ao's Blessing," "Frost Arrow Technique," "Inherent Device: Echo of the Moment"

"It worked!" Rei Ao said excitedly. Both women had gained two new abilities.

"This is…" Saeko and Ayame were shocked to see red dragon scales appear on their bodies.

"This is the new power granted by the blessing. Take your time to feel it," Rei Ao instructed.

The two women closed their eyes and concentrated, causing the dragon scales to fade away. When they opened their eyes, weapons materialized in front of them.

In front of Saeko was a long katana with intricate purple designs.

"Inherent Device: Annihilation Spirit Blade": A spirit blade that holds a curse capable of killing in one strike, with the ability to summon a blade spirit.

"It inherited Murasame's traits?" Rei Ao was surprised. 'Murasame' wasn't an ability, but an item, and yet it had influenced the power granted by his blessing. It was intriguing.

Next, Rei Ao turned his gaze to Ayame. Before her was a crystalline longbow.

"Inherent Device: Echo of the Moment": A bow capable of accelerating and decelerating the time of the arrows it fires, a result of the influence of Rei Ao's time-related ability.

Gripping their inherent devices, Saeko and Ayame immediately felt a deep connection to the weapons—an extension of their own souls.

"This is a fine blade!" Saeko's eyes lit up, clearly eager to use it.

"Thank you, Rei Ao-sama," Ayame said, her eyes practically glowing with admiration.

"I didn't grant you these powers just to admire them. Let's put them to use," Rei Ao said, signaling that it was time for action. He led the three women out of the room and toward Night Raid's meeting area.

As they entered, Night Raid's members paused, surprised by their sudden appearance.

"Rei Ao-san, what brings you here?" Najenda asked, her tone respectful.

"Tell me, where's the nearest place filled with danger beasts?" Rei Ao asked directly.

Danger beasts? Najenda was puzzled as to why he'd want to find such creatures, but she quickly answered. "There are two nearby mountain ranges where they're known to appear." She pulled out a map and marked the locations.

"Thanks," Rei Ao said, taking the map. He turned to Akame. "I'll collect my reward when I return, so be ready."

With that, he departed with Mai, Saeko, and Ayame. Since this world was filled with danger beasts, which were stronger than the zombies and Kabane he had faced before, it was the perfect opportunity to gain more experience and grow stronger. It would also give Mai a chance to train and adapt to her new strength. After all, a change in mindset often began with power.

"…"

Once they had left, silence fell over the meeting room. The others stared at Akame, with Mine eventually breaking the silence. "Akame, what exactly did you trade with Rei Ao for his help?"

"…" Akame remained quiet for a moment.

Najenda furrowed her brow, a suspicion forming in her mind. "Budo's dead. Lubbock, Brand, disguise yourselves and observe the Empire's next moves," she ordered.

"Understood!" the two replied before promptly leaving.

After they had gone, Najenda turned back to Akame. "Can you tell us now what you traded?"

"Yes…" Akame nodded and finally spoke. "For the first trade, to rescue Mine, I traded Murasame."

~~~

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