Chapter 44: Yoshinon Plan (Double-Length Chapter)

The next day.

In the morning, after preparing breakfast for the others, Tatsumi carried a tray of food made especially for Yoshino and walked to her room.

Knock knock knock.

He knocked on the door and said from outside,

"Yoshino, I brought your breakfast."

After waiting for a while without a response, Tatsumi assumed that Yoshino and Yoshinon had not yet recovered from yesterday's events and needed more time alone. But just then, the door slowly opened.

"Come in."

Yoshinon waved him in.

Seeing that Yoshino, who had been shut in all day yesterday, was finally willing to see someone, Tatsumi naturally didn't want to miss the opportunity and walked in with the breakfast.

Yoshino didn't look much different from the previous day—still expressionless—but her energy seemed noticeably lower. Perhaps she hadn't slept at all last night.

Placing the steaming breakfast on the table, Tatsumi invited her to sit down and said,

"I made what you like today. I know something like this won't make you feel better, but it's the only thing I can do."

"Thanks, Tatsumi. You really are a good kid."

Although Yoshino expression didn't change, Yoshinon condition was clearly much better than yesterday. There was no trace of gloom in her voice anymore—it seemed she had already accepted the death of her friends.

Tatsumi wasn't surprised by this.

Yoshinon had always been more outgoing and mature. Though she spoke in a goofy and childish way, no one in the village ever treated her like a child in need of care like Yoshino.

"Yesterday, Yoshino and I did a lot of thinking."

While Yoshino was eating her breakfast, Yoshinon turned to Tatsumi and said,

"Tatsumi, the decision you made to join Night Raid is perfectly understandable. Yoshino and I can both accept it."

Upon hearing this, one of the heavy weights in Tatsumi heart was finally lifted.

Although he had explained yesterday that he joined Night Raid after witnessing his friends Ieyasu and Sayo being tortured and killed by the nobles of the Capital, he wasn't sure whether Yoshino could truly understand the rage and grief he felt from seeing that firsthand.

After all, even when Yoshino herself was hurt, her first instinct was not to retaliate, but rather to avoid further conflict.

So if she couldn't agree with his decision to seek revenge for his friends, Tatsumi would have understood.

He had only been worried that this would create a rift between them.

But thankfully, not only did Yoshino not reject him, she even expressed understanding.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

"Thank you both for understanding," Tatsumi said sincerely. "That means a lot to me."

"However, Yoshino and I will not join you," Yoshinon added. "Whether it's Night Raid or the Revolutionary Army, maybe you're on the right path. But it's a path destined to be littered with corpses. That's not something Yoshino wants to see."

"No problem. We never intended to force you to join," Tatsumi replied. "If you want to return to the village, I'll go with you."

He paused for a moment before continuing, a bit awkwardly,

"But before that, could you tell me more about the power Yoshino possesses?"

"Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

"I actually witnessed everything when Yoshino fought against Esdeath," Tatsumi said. "The power she used was unbelievably strong. So I got curious—what kind of Teigu granted her that strength?"

"Sorry, but I don't know much more than you do," Yoshinon said with a helpless shrug. "Even Yoshino herself doesn't know. That power has been with her ever since she awakened. She can use it, but she doesn't understand its origin or true nature."

"Then, before we return to the village, would Yoshino be willing to lend me that power?" Tatsumi asked gently. "The stronger the Revolutionary Army becomes, the sooner we can overthrow the Empire—and the sooner we can avenge Ieyasu and Sayo."

"That power is already bound to Yoshino. It cannot be given to someone else," Yoshinon replied, raising her hands. "You could say that power is the source of Yoshino life. If she gave it away, she would die."

"Ah... I'm sorry. That was an unreasonable request."

Tatsumi looked embarrassed and quickly added,

"Just pretend I never said anything."

He didn't believe Yoshinon was lying just to avoid sharing the power.

After all these years of knowing her, he knew what kind of person she was. He had no reason to doubt her.

"Haha, it's fine. You didn't know," Yoshinon said cheerfully. Then she added,

"But even if the power could be transferred, Yoshino still wouldn't give it to the Revolutionary Army."

Tatsumi was stunned.

It took him a few seconds to react, and then he asked in confusion,

"Why not?"

"Because if Yoshino lent that power to the Revolutionary Army, it would only be used to kill more people," Yoshinon said. "Sure, I don't deny that Night Raid has killed many bad guys. But Tatsumi, can you guarantee that everyone the Revolutionary Army kills will be a villain?"

"Uh…"

Tatsumi was at a loss for words.

He could guarantee that those killed by Night Raid were all unforgivable criminals.

But having never worked with the Revolutionary Army directly, he couldn't make such a promise about them.

And even if he couldn't say for sure, it was obvious—just by thinking logically—that not everyone killed by the Revolutionary Army would be evil.

Night Raid's mission was to assassinate the corrupt high-ranking officials of the Empire. But the Revolutionary Army's goal was to overthrow the Empire entirely.

And not every citizen of the Empire hated the government. Not all of them lived miserable lives under its rule.

There were still many people—citizens and soldiers alike—who were loyal to the Empire.

And those people were the enemies of the Revolutionary Army.

But were they villains?

Clearly not.

Those loyal imperial soldiers who fought to the death probably saw themselves as righteous warriors defending their homeland against rebels.

"Yes, not everyone killed by the Revolutionary Army is evil."

After a long silence, Tatsumi clenched his fists slightly and asked with a heavy tone,

"But what should we do then? Should we stop resisting just because of that? Keep living under the Empire's tyranny? Should I convince myself that Ieyasu and Sayo's deaths were just accidents? After seeing all of that, am I supposed to go on living as a law-abiding citizen?"

"Tatsumi, don't get so worked up. I'm not denying the Empire's darkness, nor am I saying the Revolutionary Army is wrong," Yoshinon said calmly. "Yoshino and I just don't want to see innocent people killing each other."

"This world isn't some paradise. And there's no such thing as a bloodless revolution."

"I'm well aware of that," Yoshinon chuckled. "But what if I told you there is another way? A way to make sure only the bad guys bleed, and no innocent people get hurt?"

"Is… is that really possible?"

"Of course."

Yoshinon patted him on the shoulder.

"Take us to see Night Raid's boss. Yoshino and I have something to discuss with her."

Ten minutes later.

In the main hall of the Night Raid base.

Najenda was sizing up the exquisitely doll-like girl sitting across from her, and smiled as she took the initiative to speak first:

"Miss Yoshino... right? I heard you have something you want to discuss with me?"

"More precisely, it's Yoshinon who's responsible for the negotiation."

Lively waving her tiny short arms, Yoshinon greeted cheerfully,

"I suppose this lady here is the boss of Night Raid? What should I call you?"

"Lady...?"

Najenda eye twitched, and the smile at the corner of her lips almost cracked.

If any of her subordinates had dared call her that, the fist of justice would've long since descended upon them.

But faced with this girl, she had to suppress the resentment in her heart.

After all, this was Esdeath younger sister—a powerful wielder of ice.

Most importantly... she was mentally unstable.

So Najenda could only maintain a courteous demeanor and said,

"I'm only six years older than Esdeath. Since you're her blood sister, calling me 'auntie' is a bit much. Just call me Najenda."

"Ha... who would've guessed, Miss Najenda, you look so young."

Worried that Yoshinon sweet little mouth would cause even more wrinkles on her already tired and stressed face, Najenda discarded the pleasantries she had prepared and got straight to the point:

"Miss Yoshinon, what is it that you wanted to discuss with me?"

Tatsumi had already told her about Yoshino inability to transfer her power.

Whether that inability was true or not, she could only accept it.

If it was true, then her sense of justice wouldn't allow her to kill an innocent girl just for the sake of what might be a Teigu. If it was false, it meant Yoshino had no intention of giving up her power—then forcefully taking it was even less of an option.

Although it was a great pity that she couldn't obtain a power capable of rivaling Esdeath, she was still quite interested in what Yoshinon had to propose.

"Miss Najenda, why did you join the Revolutionary Army?"

However, instead of answering Najenda question, Yoshinon threw out another one.

It was an unexpected question, but Najenda didn't hesitate before replying.

After all, the answer to that question had long been rooted in her heart.

"At first, it was because I couldn't bear Esdeath indiscriminate slaughter of helpless men, women, and children within enemy borders," Najenda replied. "But now, I've realized that the Empire turning a blind eye to the war crimes of someone like Esdeath is due to the corruption and collusion within its own structure. That's why my goal has become to overthrow the rule of the Empire."

"And then... to establish a new Empire?"

"That's right."

Hearing the implication in Yoshinon words, Najenda replied calmly,

"Just as people are born, grow old, get sick, and die, perhaps the new Empire will also become corrupt someday. But at the very least, just like the first few centuries of the old Empire, it will be filled with hope and vitality. At least more people will be able to live happier lives from the rebirth of the nation."

"But the current Empire isn't an aging old man—it's merely sick," Yoshinon said. "Miss Najenda has never met the current Emperor, but Yoshino and I have. Emperor is a good emperor, just deceived by Honest."

"That's something everyone already knows," Najenda replied, unmoved.

"But the current Minister Honest has already tied himself completely to the boy emperor on the throne. We can't kill him directly. The only way to destroy his power that sits atop the Empire is to tear the whole country down."

"And that," Yoshinon said in a tone full of confidence, "is what Yoshinon wants to discuss with Miss Najenda."

"Yoshino and I can make Emperor stop trusting the minister."

"How?" Najenda shook her head. "I know you seem to have a special relationship with the Emperor, and he likes you, but don't misunderstand. The trust between the Emperor and Honest isn't something outsiders can easily shake."

"Of course Yoshino and I can't do it alone." Yoshinon gave a mischievous grin. "That's why we need Miss Najenda help."

"What kind of help?"

"Emperor was deceived by Honest because the minister's acting is too good—he hides all his schemes and plots deep inside," Yoshinon explained.

"So, to break the trust between Emperor and Honest, we just need to let Emperor hear Honest true thoughts."

"Hear his thoughts?"

Najenda narrowed her eyes.

Then, as if she had realized something, her expression suddenly turned serious.

"You want to get the [All-Seeing Observer] from me?"

Teigu, [All-Seeing Observer], possessed five abilities: Clairvoyance, Telescopic Sight, X-ray Vision, Future Sight, and Illusion Detection.

Among them, Clairvoyance allowed the user to read a person's thoughts through facial expressions.

In other words—it let one hear the thoughts of others.

In that moment, Najenda heart burned with excitement.

It was indeed a brilliant plan.

If Yoshino could deliver this Teigu to Emperor, and he was able to use it, then by directly hearing Honest inner thoughts, they could resolve the current crisis of the Empire at its root.

"Looks like Miss Najenda has already figured out Yoshinon plan."

Yoshinon crossed her arms proudly.

"A perfect plan, don't you think?"