Chapter 405 - Don't Show Off in Front of the Protagonist!

The night in the capital was far less vibrant than during the day. Many spirits and monsters unseen in the daylight began their activities under the cover of darkness.

There was a saying that once spread in the capital: "The true capital reveals itself only at night." When the sun disappears, the darkness hidden within the city emerges and takes center stage.

Ordinary citizens of the capital never chose to wander outside at night, as those who had lived there for long understood well the dangers that came with the dark. The capital at night could only be described as a paradise for criminals.

The Imperial Police generally carried out their operations during the night, and Ogre the Demon, who had spent his entire day torturing prisoners, was feeling invigorated and ready to patrol the streets, hoping to find some new "toys."

Ogre looked like an older man with his hair slicked back, and he had a terrifying cross-shaped scar across his left eye. Due to his brutal appearance and violent nature, he had earned the nickname of the Demon.

Based on the information he had gathered at the bar, Tatsumi had been hiding in a narrow alley along Ogre's expected route. As Ogre walked into the alley, Tatsumi, who had been waiting in the shadows, took the chance to spring forward, sword in hand, launching a surprise attack.

On a distant rooftop, Wood and Akame watched Tatsumi's actions unfold. As they watched Tatsumi charge towards Ogre, they both shook their heads simultaneously.

"He really lacks experience," Wood commented, shaking his head. "Choosing a narrow and quiet alley as a place to attack is good, but he needs to work on suppressing his presence. His bloodlust was so obvious; it would be hard for anyone to ignore it. And he's far too direct—if you're going for an assassination, it only makes sense to attack from behind, yet here he is rushing in from the front."

Just as Wood had predicted, Tatsumi's assassination attempt failed. Based on Tatsumi's skills, if his opponent were an average soldier, the ambush would have worked, but Ogre was no average soldier. He was the captain of the Imperial Police, with combat experience far above most opponents.

Tatsumi's iron sword clashed with Ogre's large machete, causing sparks to fly in the dark alley.

"Kid, who sent you to kill me? If you tell me, I'll grant you a quick death," Ogre sneered.

He knew that he had made many enemies due to his cruel actions, and killing the assassin would be meaningless if he couldn't root out the mastermind. He needed to know who sent the boy so he could take care of them as well.

"Clang!"

With a loud metallic crash, Tatsumi's attack was blocked, and he was thrown back. Ogre was larger and stronger; Tatsumi couldn't compete in terms of sheer power. Ogre swung his heavy machete, sending Tatsumi flying with ease.

Seeing that Tatsumi wasn't a match for Ogre, Akame reached for her sword, "Murasame," intending to help him. However, Wood stopped her, extending his hand in front of her path.

Akame looked at him, puzzled. Wood simply smiled, "He hasn't lost yet. Overprotectiveness won't help him grow. When he chose this path, he also chose to stand on his own. Until he's truly on the brink of death, let's just keep watching. Some people can grow stronger when they face adversity—pushing past their own limits."

Wood believed that Tatsumi was one of those protagonists found in every shounen series—a hero destined for greatness.

When Wood first arrived in this world, he thought Lubbock, the green-haired guy, might be the protagonist. But after observing him for a while, Wood realized that Lubbock was just a guy who was obsessed with Najenda. In other words, he wasn't the "hero of justice" type you'd expect in a shounen anime.

When Tatsumi showed up and connected with them, Wood knew right away that the young man from the countryside was indeed the chosen one. He had a pure and resilient personality, a strong sense of justice, and, after witnessing his friends' deaths, a newfound resolve. He also possessed a natural charisma that made people like him—classic protagonist traits.

Listening to Wood's words, Akame recalled her own brutal training within the assassin squads and ultimately agreed with him. Tatsumi had to learn to stand on his own. So, for now, she chose to hold back.

In the alley, Tatsumi was initially overwhelmed, getting pushed around by Ogre. However, if one watched closely, they'd notice Tatsumi was growing—adapting to his opponent's movements and gradually holding his own.

In life-or-death battles, people grow quickly, and Akame acknowledged that. Still, Tatsumi's growth rate was astonishing—in mere minutes, he had adapted to Ogre's rhythm, and he was beginning to parry and counter effectively.

Tatsumi wasn't becoming physically stronger—that would be too unrealistic—but he was learning how to use his existing skills more effectively. He learned to exploit his advantages—being smaller and faster—and to use the alley's confined space to counter Ogre's attacks.

Ogre's large stature and wide machete gave him tremendous power, but they were cumbersome in a narrow alley. Tatsumi used the walls to his advantage, jumping and dodging whenever Ogre swung, landing quick attacks before darting away. The fight was starting to wear Ogre down. His heavy swings cost him stamina, and being on the defensive taxed his mind as well.

"Tatsumi is going to win," Akame commented as she noticed the increasing number of injuries Ogre sustained. For Akame, who rarely praised others, this was a noteworthy acknowledgment of Tatsumi's growth.

"It's too early to say that," Wood replied, his gaze sharp. "A beast is at its most dangerous when cornered. If Tatsumi lets his guard down now, it's still very possible for things to go wrong... See? I knew it. Tatsumi got overconfident, and now he's caught in Ogre's trap."

Wood's words proved prophetic. Just as it seemed Tatsumi had the upper hand, Ogre suddenly turned the tables. Ogre realized that staying in the alley would mean his defeat, so he decided to break away, heading towards an open area. Tatsumi, anxious to prevent him from escaping, rushed after him—and that's when things went wrong.

Chasing Ogre meant Tatsumi had to go on the offensive, and Ogre used that to his advantage. He turned suddenly, a wicked grin on his face, and swung his machete with all his strength. Tatsumi, unprepared for the sudden counter, was struck directly. Though he managed to block with his sword, the force of the blow sent him flying backward.

He crashed into the wall, the impact leaving a deep dent in the brick. Tatsumi coughed up blood, feeling several ribs crack, his sword cracking as well.

Dragging his machete along the ground, sparks flying from the friction, Ogre slowly advanced toward Tatsumi, who lay slumped against the wall.

"I'll give you one last chance, kid. Tell me who hired you, and I'll give you a quick death. Otherwise, I'll take you back to the dungeon, and you'll learn what true hell is—I'll make you tell me everything after days of torture."

Ogre had genuinely feared for his life during this fight. If the boy hadn't lacked experience, Ogre might already be dead. The assassination attempt had failed, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be another—and next time, the assassin might be stronger. He needed to find the mastermind behind this.

"Give up! I'll never tell you who hired me! And my comrades are far stronger than I am. After my comrade takes care of your friend, the oil merchant Gamal, they'll come for you next. I'll be waiting for you in hell," Tatsumi spat defiantly, staring at Ogre.

Tatsumi wasn't afraid of dying. He was only filled with regret—regret that he wasn't strong enough to take down Ogre.

Hearing Tatsumi's words, Ogre hesitated momentarily, then sneered. "Oh, so you're a rookie after all, huh? You mentioned the oil merchant Gamal, which means the person who hired you must be one of those lowly commoners we framed. Not that it matters—I'll wipe them all out tomorrow."

With that, Ogre raised his machete high, ready to bring it down on Tatsumi. Watching from above, Wood and Akame prepared to intervene. But then something changed—Tatsumi's eyes flashed with a renewed determination.

Hearing Ogre's plan to kill more innocent people due to his failure, Tatsumi's mind filled with images of Sayo and Ieyasu, his childhood friends. Wood's words echoed in his mind—he couldn't let a tragedy like that happen again. He couldn't allow Ogre to kill anyone else.

The human spirit has immense potential, and that potential is often awakened through sheer will and conviction. Tatsumi's determination to stop Ogre and protect the innocent gave him newfound strength. His battered body surged with energy—he refused to die here. He refused to let anyone else suffer because of him.

Wood had a term for what was happening to Tatsumi: a "shounen protagonist power-up." When a protagonist tapped into this kind of strength, no villain could outshine them. No matter how powerful the enemy, if the protagonist underwent this transformation, their victory was all but assured.

Ogre was nothing more than a named mid-level villain, far from a true boss. His fate was sealed the moment Tatsumi's spirit reignited.