88: Discussion of Teigu

"You don't even know what a Teigu is? Then big sis will give you a little crash course!"

Leone immediately jumped in to answer Tatsumi's question with her usual enthusiasm.

"About a thousand years ago, the founding emperor, aiming to secure his reign, poured the Empire's vast wealth and power into creating forty-eight unique, irreplaceable weapons. These were forged using legendary Super-Class Danger Beasts as materials, combined with rare metals like Ouhari steel and many now-lost secret arts. These weapons were called 'Teigu.'

The Teigu helped the Empire achieve many glorious victories. But around five hundred years ago, a massive upheaval broke out. Many Teigu ended up in the hands of commoners or were even taken abroad. Nowadays, even the Revolutionary Army has a few of them."

Just as Leone was about to continue, Tatsumi interrupted.

"So, what do Teigu actually look like?"

"Each one is different, both in appearance and function. In fact, everyone in Night Raid—except for you and the Boss—has a Teigu."

Leone couldn't hide her pride. Having so many Teigu Users in Night Raid was no small feat, considering how rare and powerful they were.

"Oh? Really? Then where are they? I've never seen any."

Tatsumi asked curiously. Despite having lived with the group for a while now, he had never heard them mention Teigu.

"Actually, you've seen them. You just didn't realize it.

Akame's Teigu is the long sword she carries—One-Cut Killer: Murasame. It's laced with a curse-like poison. Even a tiny cut is guaranteed to be fatal.

Mine's Teigu is the long rifle on her back—Roman Artillery: Pumpkin. It's a gun-type Teigu that converts spiritual energy into shockwaves. The more danger she's in, the stronger it gets.

Sheele's Teigu is the massive pair of scissors by her side—Cutter of Creation: Extase. It can cut through anything in the world. Thanks to its toughness, it also works well defensively.

Lubbock's Teigu is made up of threads—Infinite Uses: Cross Tail. It can form traps, act as sensory barriers, and bind or slice enemies. Just like its name suggests, it's incredibly versatile. The threads come from the fur of a Super-Class Danger Beast that lives in the cloud-covered East Sea. They're unbelievably strong and razor-sharp.

Bulat's Teigu is the armor he wears in battle—Demon Armor: Incursio. It's made from the dragon-like Danger Beast 'Tyrant.' When summoned, the armor flies to the wearer on its own, enhancing their physical abilities and even granting invisibility. It boasts incredible defense and comes equipped with a sub-weapon called Redback Shrike. But it's extremely taxing to wear—any ordinary person would die from the strain."

"As for my Teigu, it's this belt I'm wearing. It's called King of Beasts Transformation: Lionelle. It lets me beastify myself, massively boosting my physical abilities. My sense of smell gets way sharper too—it's great for tracking enemies. Once transformed, my perception is on par with a Super-Class Danger Beast."

Leone pointed to her belt as she explained to Tatsumi.

But she didn't notice that Tatsumi had frozen in place, stunned by everything he'd just heard. A moment later, he suddenly blurted out to the rest of Night Raid:

"If Teigu have so many amazing abilities, then... there has to be one that can bring the dead back to life, right?"

Tatsumi had never truly gotten over the death of Ieyasu, his childhood friend. Hearing Leone list the powers of the Teigu had stirred a small but desperate hope in his heart.

"Nope. There's no way a Teigu that brings back the dead exists. If there were, then how could the First Emperor—who once held all the Teigu—have died?"

Najenda spoke up, abruptly snapping Tatsumi back to reality.

All anyone knew was that a thousand years ago, the First Emperor had poured vast manpower and resources into creating the Teigu. But who actually made them? No one knew. They had simply appeared in the First Emperor's hands and were later distributed throughout the Empire.

After Najenda finished, the room fell into a heavy silence. No one wanted to touch on Tatsumi's pain.

"Heh... I know it's impossible. I just wanted to ask. You guys don't need to worry about me."

Seeing the concern on his comrades' faces, Tatsumi gave a faint, bitter smile.

...

At that moment, Akame, who had been quiet all along, finally spoke, though her voice was hesitant.

"Akame, if you've got something to say, just say it. We're all comrades here—no need to hold back."

Sensing she had something on her mind, Najenda encouraged her.

"Actually... I believe a Teigu that can revive the dead might really exist."

Najenda's words gave Akame the push she needed. She seemed to steel herself before finally saying it out loud.

...

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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