Chapter 401 - The Village Boy Arrives in the Capital

Tatsumi, a young boy from a rural border village, came to the capital hoping to bring prosperity back to his impoverished village. Alongside his friends, Sayo and Ieyasu, Tatsumi planned to achieve success and eventually return home as a hero.

However, on the way to the capital, the trio was attacked by bandits, separating Tatsumi from his friends. By the time he arrived at the bustling capital, he found himself alone, feeling overwhelmed by the sheer scale and unfamiliarity of it all.

Luckily for Tatsumi, his first encounter in the capital turned out to be a fortunate one. He soon crossed paths with two seemingly friendly people on the busy streets—one was a voluptuous woman with blonde hair named Leone, and the other was a black-haired young man around his age named Wood.

"Tatsumi, are you sure you don't want some? The Empire might have its fair share of terrible things, but the one thing they do right is their alcohol," Wood said, grinning.

"Yeah, seriously. You won't get this kind of drink back in the countryside. It'd be a shame not to try it at least once," Leone added, nodding enthusiastically.

Looking at Leone and Wood, who were clearly in a festive mood, Tatsumi politely refused. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate their offer—he simply wasn't used to drinking alcohol. Tatsumi had never touched the stuff; in his village, where resources were scarce, they could hardly afford to waste grain on brewing.

"Mr. Wood, Miss Leone, let's skip the drinks. You said you know people in the military. Can you really introduce me to someone who can help me join the Empire's army?" Tatsumi asked, his tone hopeful.

Tatsumi had already spent a decent amount of money buying drinks for these two strangers, but if it meant getting a chance to join the Imperial Army, he considered it more than worth the price. He couldn't believe his luck—he had barely arrived in the capital and already encountered such helpful people.

Who knows? Maybe by the time Sayo and Ieyasu arrived, he'd have already secured a good position, making them look at him with awe. The village elder had been right: the world outside could be dangerous, but there were still plenty of good people out there.

"Don't worry about it," Wood reassured him with a grin. "I used to be in the Imperial Army myself—I was a bodyguard for one of the generals. I quit because the military's regulations were just too strict for me. But with your skills, getting you in as a squad leader will be a piece of cake."

Tatsumi couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Wood spoke so convincingly, and everything he said about the army sounded completely legitimate.

"Really? Starting as a squad leader? That's amazing, thank you so much, Mr. Wood!"

Hearing Wood's words, Tatsumi's eyes lit up. He could already imagine himself as a squad leader, with Sayo and Ieyasu looking up to him and calling him "Commander."

"Of course! You've already proven you can handle mid-level Danger Beasts by yourself, so becoming a squad leader is well within reach. That said, you know how it is—I've been out of the military for a while now, and though I still have some connections, asking people for favors without giving anything in return is... you know..."

Wood trailed off, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together in a gesture that clearly implied he needed something more from Tatsumi.

Tatsumi quickly got the hint. He reached into his pockets and pulled out all the coins he'd earned from hunting Danger Beasts along the way, piling them in front of Wood and Leone. Tatsumi might have been naive, but he wasn't stupid. He understood that if you wanted help, you had to offer something in return.

"This is more than I expected," Wood said, weighing the coin pouch in his hand, smiling broadly along with Leone. "With this, you might even end up with something better than just a squad leader position. We'll take care of everything."

Wood and Leone assured Tatsumi that they'd handle things from there, then took the money and left the tavern, leaving the young man with dreams of his future in the Empire's military.

"That kid seemed like a good-hearted boy. I almost feel guilty tricking a country bumpkin like him," Leone admitted as they walked out of the tavern, looking a bit regretful.

"We're doing him a favor," Wood replied, shrugging. "The capital's a nasty place. If he's going to live here, he needs to learn not to trust strangers so easily. Besides, the kid's strong—he'll be able to take care of himself. Consider this an expensive lesson. If you're really feeling guilty, you could always give up your share of the money—I'll be more than happy to bear your burden."

Leone's fleeting remorse vanished as quickly as it came. Wood was right. They'd taught the kid an important lesson—even if it had cost him a fair bit of money. With newfound enthusiasm, Leone decided there was no need to feel guilty.

The two were planning to hit up another bar when, as they passed an alley, they spotted a mark scrawled on the wall—a sign left by Night Raid. It meant they had a mission. The thought of more drinks would have to wait.

Night Raid's hideout was located in the mountains, ten kilometers north of the capital. Their main activities involved taking on requests from the capital's residents to eliminate corrupt officials and criminals, all in the name of justice. Ultimately, their goal was to assassinate the Empire's true source of corruption—Prime Minister Honest.

Night Raid's name was derived from their covert nature. All member identities were confidential, and their expertise lay in nighttime assassinations.

When Leone and Wood arrived at the hideout, it seemed everyone else had been waiting for them. Unlike Leone and Wood, the rest of Night Raid's members rarely ventured out into the capital during the day.

"You two were out drinking again, weren't you? You're supposed to be gathering intelligence, not getting drunk! Boss, say something to them! At this rate, they'll both end up as hopeless alcoholics," Mine, the pink-haired tsundere, huffed as she pinched her nose at the overpowering smell of alcohol.

"Wood, I've told you before—unless it's necessary, you should avoid moving around the capital. Leone can handle the intelligence gathering. You, Bulat, and Akame are all on the Empire's wanted list. If someone recognizes you, it'll be a huge problem," Najenda said calmly.

Najenda didn't reprimand them too harshly. She herself enjoyed drinking, after all. And she knew Leone frequented bars not just for the alcohol but because they were prime spots for gathering information. Bars were where all types of people came together—the perfect setting for picking up useful intelligence.

Seeing that Najenda wasn't going to punish them, Mine crossed her arms, clearly still upset. Wood quickly stepped forward, offering her a beautifully wrapped piece of cake.

"This is the most popular cake in the capital right now. I bought it just for you," Wood said with a smile. "Besides, Boss called us all back here for a mission. Let's save the scolding for later, alright?"

Mine huffed, snatching the cake from his hand. True to form, she backed off, seemingly mollified by the treat.

"Boss, what's the mission this time? It must be something serious if you're calling all of Night Raid together," Leone asked, curious. It was rare for them all to be summoned. Ever since Night Raid had formed, full-team missions were few and far between—only reserved for the most dangerous of targets. Typically, they worked in pairs.

"Yeah, Boss. If Wood, Akame, and Bulat are all involved, the target must be pretty tough, right?" Mine added.

The Night Raid members knew each other's personalities and strengths well. While Najenda was their leader, she wasn't the strongest. In terms of sheer combat ability, the top three in Night Raid were Wood, Akame, and Bulat.

Najenda took a drag from her cigarette, then casually tossed a folder onto the table. "You've got it wrong. I'm calling everyone together not because the enemy is too powerful but because there are a lot of targets this time. If only two of you go, there's a chance some might escape, and we can't risk the intel leaking. All of you are going. Take a look—this is your mission for tonight."

"Ah, it's that family," Leone muttered, flipping through the documents. "I've heard of them—terrible people. The daughter, especially—she's the worst of them all. This is perfect."

The target was a wealthy merchant family. On the surface, they were respectable, but behind closed doors, they were monsters. They enjoyed luring beggars and travelers to their home, pretending to offer charity, only to subject them to horrific torture and eventually kill them for their own twisted amusement.

The mission was to eliminate every member of the household—not just the ringleaders but also the guards who enabled their atrocities.

As night fell, Tatsumi, who had been given lodging in the mansion, heard strange noises echoing through the halls. Sword in hand, he stepped out of his room to investigate. As he moved through the darkened corridors, he stumbled upon a sight he would never forget.

A beautiful, black-haired girl wearing a black sailor uniform stood under the moonlight, wielding a long sword as she slaughtered the people in the mansion. The girl was Akame, one of Night Raid's assassins.

Among those fleeing for their lives was Aria, the young daughter of the family—the same girl who had taken Tatsumi in. To Tatsumi, Aria had been like an angel, his benefactor. Seeing her in danger, with Akame closing in like a relentless reaper, Tatsumi's sense of justice flared up. He couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

He threw himself between Akame and Aria, blocking Akame's deadly strike with his sword.

"You're not on my list of targets. But if you get in my way, I'll kill you too," Akame said coldly.

She had studied her targets beforehand, and Tatsumi wasn't one of them. However, if Tatsumi chose to stand in her way, she'd show no mercy. After all, if he was protecting monsters like Aria, then perhaps he was just as bad.

Tatsumi, though determined, was no match for Akame's skill. After only a few clashes, he found himself disarmed and on the ground. As Akame raised her blade to strike him down, Tatsumi closed his eyes, accepting his fate. He didn't expect his journey in the capital to end so quickly.

However, just as Akame's blade was about to fall, another sword intercepted it with a loud clang. Tatsumi opened his eyes, confused.

"Kid, never close your eyes in the middle of a fight. It means you've accepted death. As long as you're alive, there's always a chance to turn things around," said a familiar voice.

Tatsumi looked up and couldn't believe his eyes. Standing before him was Wood, who had stopped Akame's blade. Akame, too, seemed surprised. More than that, she looked puzzled.

"Akame, this kid isn't like the others. He's probably just another victim of their lies. Leone and I know him," Wood explained. "Go after the real target. I'll take care of him."

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