Chapter 403 - The Strongest in Night Raid

In the mountains ten kilometers north of the capital, Night Raid's base of operations was bustling. Early in the morning, newcomer Tatsumi had already risen, determined to make a good impression on his new comrades. He eagerly took on a variety of laborious tasks, hoping to prove himself to the team.

A day earlier, after being brought outside the capital, Tatsumi had finally been officially accepted into Night Raid. Najenda, the leader of the organization, had taken her time to think it over before agreeing. From the events reported by Leone and the others, Najenda could tell that Tatsumi was a young man of good character. And with the strong recommendations from Wood, Bulat, and Leone, it was an easy decision. Leone was perceptive, able to read people well after her years of experience among all walks of life, and Najenda trusted her judgment. Wood and Bulat were both ex-soldiers of the Empire and incredibly powerful, so their confidence in Tatsumi's future carried a lot of weight.

Believing he was showing plenty of initiative, Tatsumi woke up before dawn, only to find that many Night Raid members had risen even earlier. As he passed through the courtyard, he found Bulat, stripped to the waist, lifting a barbell larger than his entire body. When Bulat noticed Tatsumi, he smiled broadly and warmly invited him to join in a morning workout session filled with intense camaraderie.

Tatsumi looked at his own slender arms and legs, then glanced at the massive weight Bulat was casually lifting. He swallowed hard and politely declined. He wanted to get stronger, and he didn't mind Bulat's invitation, but he had other tasks to finish first. He needed to complete his chores before starting any workout—otherwise, after a session with Bulat, he doubted he'd have the strength to do anything else for the rest of the day.

Moving on from the courtyard, Tatsumi went to the kitchen, intending to prepare breakfast for everyone. However, upon arriving, he discovered that, aside from the training fanatic Bulat, Akame had also risen before him and was getting ready to hunt for food.

Tatsumi knew Akame wasn't particularly fond of him after he had interfered multiple times during the mission against Aria. To try to make amends, he offered to help Akame with the hunting. He was confident in his ability to handle ordinary animals, even if he couldn't match Akame in strength.

Akame, who trusted all her comrades deeply, was happy to have Tatsumi accompany her. With two people hunting, they could bring back more prey for the group. However, Tatsumi soon found himself feeling inadequate when he realized that Akame wasn't hunting mere animals—she was hunting dangerous creatures, and not just any, but large-scale Danger Beasts!

Seeing Tatsumi struggling, Akame suggested he fish in the river instead. Relieved, Tatsumi thought catching fish wouldn't be too hard. But he was in for another surprise—the fish in this mountain river were enormous, larger than his entire body. Though they weren't Danger Beasts, the sheer size of the fish made them just as hazardous when they swam in large groups.

Meanwhile, Akame, as if it were the easiest thing in the world, stripped down to her undergarments and dove into the river. Moments later, she began tossing giant fish onto the riverbank with surprising ease. Seeing Akame soaked and pulling herself from the river, Tatsumi had no time to admire the sight; instead, he felt a deep sense of inadequacy.

"Akame, am I the weakest person in Night Raid...?"

Tatsumi couldn't help feeling frustrated. Like any new recruit, he wanted to prove himself to his colleagues. He wanted to show that he could contribute and earn their trust. But everything he had seen since arriving had shaken his confidence.

Everyone in Night Raid was incredibly powerful, and most of them possessed Imperial Arms. Tatsumi felt like an outlier. It was natural for him to feel anxious about his abilities.

"Without using an Imperial Arm, yes, you're probably the weakest," Akame said, blunt as ever, after thinking for a moment.

The words stung. Tatsumi was devastated. Akame wasn't the type to sugarcoat things, nor would she lie to a comrade just to make them feel better.

"However, Wood and Leone believe you have potential, and I trust their judgment," Akame added. Her calm voice held a hint of warmth, and those words instantly reignited Tatsumi's determination.

After resolving to get stronger, Tatsumi sought out Bulat upon their return to the base. He pleaded with Bulat to train him. Though Wood had hinted at keeping a safe distance from Bulat's intense workout sessions, Tatsumi had completely forgotten that advice.

Having someone eager to train with him was exactly what Bulat wanted, and he gladly accepted. Soon after, Tatsumi found himself engaged in a series of physically demanding exercises—or rather, he was put through an exhausting series of tests by Bulat. The "training" was more like a match to gauge Tatsumi's abilities, and it ended as expected. Even without using his Imperial Arm, even fighting barehanded, Bulat easily overwhelmed Tatsumi.

"Bulat, you're so incredibly strong! I think you might even be stronger than Akame!" Tatsumi exclaimed, lying on the ground, completely exhausted after dozens of rounds.

Bulat, who was casually brushing his signature pompadour hairstyle, chuckled. Tatsumi was amazed at how effortlessly Bulat moved, even after their sparring. For Bulat, sparring with Tatsumi wasn't even enough to break a sweat.

Initially, Tatsumi had thought the difference in strength between him and the other members of Night Raid lay in the Imperial Arms. But after sparring with Bulat and watching Akame hunt, Tatsumi now realized that, even without their weapons, these people were monsters compared to him.

"In a fair fight, I could probably beat Akame," Bulat said, surprising Tatsumi, who had been lying flat, catching his breath. "But in a real fight to the death? I'd lose. She's lethal. And I think you have the wrong impression about who's the strongest in Night Raid. It's not me, and it's not Akame."

Tatsumi propped himself up, confusion written across his face. "If it's not you or Akame, then... could it be Boss Najenda?"

"Leone once told me Akame was the strongest secret weapon of the team," Tatsumi added, still puzzled.

Bulat smiled and shook his head. "Najenda is indeed strong, but her strength lies more in her leadership and strategy than her combat abilities. No, the strongest among us... you've met him. He was the first one to invite you to join Night Raid."

"The first one... Wood?" Tatsumi asked, his voice uncertain.

It was hard for Tatsumi to believe. Wood didn't strike him as the "strongest" type. During their mission against Aria's family, Leone and Akame had displayed overwhelming power, while Wood seemed to mostly hang back. Plus, Wood was only slightly older than Tatsumi, and his youthful appearance made it difficult to think of him as particularly powerful.

"You're surprised?" Bulat laughed, reading Tatsumi's expression.

"Not exactly... it's just... Wood doesn't seem like the type," Tatsumi admitted. Tatsumi remembered how he had first met Wood in the capital, half-drunk and goofing around with Leone. It was hard to reconcile that image with the idea of him being Night Raid's strongest member.

"Tatsumi, you're making the same mistake again," Bulat said, his tone serious. "You think what you see is all there is. The same mistake you made with Aria—you were fooled by appearances.

"Wood isn't as simple as you think. Most of us in Night Raid have hidden sides that we don't show. Akame is straightforward, but Wood... he's something else entirely.

"I'll be honest with you: Wood is frighteningly powerful, stronger than me or even Akame. If both of us fought him together, I doubt we could win. And do you know why everyone here trusts him so much? He's saved all of us, at some point. He saved Boss Najenda multiple times—she owes her life to him. He's saved me, Akame, and many others in this group.

"He's the backbone of Night Raid, even if he doesn't look the part. That's why, when he suggested we take you in, no one really opposed the idea. We trust him implicitly."

Hearing Bulat's explanation, Tatsumi was stunned. He remembered how Wood had saved him from Akame during the mission. It seemed that Wood's strength was far beyond what Tatsumi had imagined.

"But if he's so strong, why haven't I seen him fight?" Tatsumi asked.

"Wood has a code," Bulat explained. "He doesn't draw his blade against the weak. He's only interested in fighting real threats or worthwhile prey."

Tatsumi felt a chill run down his spine. The image of Wood in his mind changed drastically—no longer the carefree, mischievous guy who drank with Leone, but a true monster lying in wait.

After their intense morning training session, the members of Night Raid gathered in the dining area for breakfast. Mine took a sip of the meat soup, her eyes lighting up with delight.

"Akame, your cooking has really improved! I never knew you could make food this tasty," she exclaimed.

The other members also praised the food, nodding in agreement.

"Tatsumi made breakfast today," Akame said between bites. Even as she spoke, her hands moved quickly, shoveling more food into her mouth. To everyone's surprise, despite her rapid eating, Akame's voice was still clear.

Tatsumi couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed as he sat there. Akame's version of "helping" had mainly involved her taste-testing the dishes—so much so that Tatsumi had ended up making a second batch just to have enough food for everyone else.