Thud!
She didn't know how far she had been kicked, but her body finally stopped after crashing into a large tree. Her stomach and back were burning with pain, and it felt like her entire body was about to fall apart.
"Cough…"
Unable to hold back, Akame coughed up another mouthful of blood as she struggled to get up from the ground.
That guy was terrifying. Even with Najasho by her side, they stood no chance!
Her heart was filled with mixed emotions. Akame knew that Sora had held back; otherwise, she wouldn't have survived that last attack. If possible, she really didn't want to fight such an opponent. But thinking of her companions, her eyes once again filled with determination.
Just as Akame was about to rush back, suddenly, a flash of killing intent appeared in her crimson eyes, but her body remained completely still.
Because, at that very moment, a cold dagger had been pressed against the back of her neck.
"Because of your injuries and carelessness, you didn't notice the enemy behind you, dear Akame-chan. That's not acceptable!"
A familiar woman's voice sent a shock through Akame's body and mind. Her calm expression instantly turned to one of disbelief.
Feeling the woman behind her retract the dagger, Akame quickly leaped away to create distance. Under the faint moonlight, the figure of a beautiful woman with long blue hair, blue eyes, and a pure white, cute maid outfit became visible. A blue tear mole adorned the corner of her eye.
"You are… Martha?!"
Although her appearance had changed drastically from what Akame remembered, she was absolutely certain that this woman was Martha—the Martha she had buried!
"Hehe… I'm so happy that little Akame still remembers me."
Performing a standard maid curtsy, Martha thought to herself, "Since that bad master brother told me to be a little maid from now on, I might as well learn how to do it properly."
"How is this possible? Didn't I… And why do you look like this…"
Receiving Martha's confirmation, Akame's surprise deepened. She couldn't understand why Martha, whom she had buried, was still alive and had transformed into this new appearance.
"Oh, you mean this? It's all thanks to that bad master brother. Actually, I really was killed by you once."
Lifting her maid skirt, Martha replied nonchalantly, as if she didn't care at all about what Akame had done to her.
"I don't understand what you're saying. Have you come back to take revenge?"
Her expression hardened. Although she wasn't clear about what had happened to Martha, the memories of the past made Akame instinctively wary.
"Ah, ah, don't be so tense! Actually, I came back to tell you that I wasn't a spy for the rebels. I was just lying to you before."
Waving her hand, Martha smiled playfully.
"Martha…"
Akame's body and mind were shaken once again. The defenses and coldness on her face quickly melted away. After a long pause, she murmured, "That's great! That's great! I knew it, Martha couldn't possibly be a spy for the enemy. I knew it…"
Not even noticing that she had dropped her weapon, Akame rushed over and embraced Martha with overwhelming excitement, as if she had been freed from some heavy burden. Her face was filled with happiness and relief.
The pain of having buried her best friend in the village was something only Akame herself could understand. Hearing Martha personally say that it was all a misunderstanding made Akame feel as if all her sins had been redeemed, and the weight that had been pressing on her heart finally lifted.
"Akame, as a girl from the dark world, your heart is truly too kind."
Like an older sister, Martha gently stroked Akame's hair, her voice filled with affection.
"Wow… Wow…"
Unable to hold back any longer, Akame clung tightly to Martha and burst into tears.
No matter how much she had hardened and cooled her heart, she was still just a girl—a girl with a fragile heart who needed love and understanding…
"Feeling better now?"
Although the petite body was still trembling with sobs, the crying had stopped. Martha patted Akame's head and asked with concern.
"Yes…"
Nodding, Akame wiped away the remaining tears. A faint blush spread across her heroic face, but she smiled sincerely.
"Heh… Really?"
A strange smile curled on Martha's lips, and her tone suddenly changed. Akame, trained for years, instinctively sensed danger and was immediately alarmed.
Her body subconsciously tried to create distance from Martha, but it was already too late!
Thud!!!
Another dull sound echoed as Martha's fist struck Akame directly in the abdomen.
"Wah…"
Already injured from Sora's kick, and with Martha's strength greatly enhanced after fusing with the super Teigu, Akame couldn't withstand the direct hit. She fell to her knees, spitting out another mouthful of blood.
"Why?!!"
Her face pale and her forehead dripping with cold sweat, Akame looked at Martha, who was smiling with a bloodthirsty expression, in utter disbelief.
"Little Akame, I didn't lie to you. I really wasn't a spy for the rebels."
"But I never said I wasn't your enemy either!"
Breathing softly, Martha leaned down and whispered into Akame's ear.
"Martha!!!"
An endless flame of anger burned in Akame's heart. This woman had deceived her again and again!
"Hahaha… That's right!"
"Akame, do you hate me? Do you feel stupid?"
"Do you know why I came back? I came back to finish the battle we never concluded, to completely sever that childish part of your heart!"
"Now, tell me, how should I discipline you next…"
Licking the blade of her dagger, Martha's lips curled into an evil smile.
"You…"
Akame struggled to reach out a hand, as if trying to grab Martha, but in the end, her vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
…
"Gozuki, I'll take these people with me."
With Tsukushi under one arm, Cornelia under the other, and a Poney-chan in his hand, Sora spoke to Gozuki above.
"Hmph!"
Looking at the three—Najasho, Guy, and Green—who had already been completely beaten unconscious, Gozuki let out a cold snort, hoping that this jinx would just leave already.
Not minding, Sora prepared to leave with the three unconscious women. But just as he reached the door, he stopped and turned back, saying:
"Father-in-law, don't worry. I'll make sure Mez is 'happy'!"
Seeing Gozuki's face instantly turn dark, Sora didn't dare to linger any longer. With a flash, he disappeared from the spot.
"Get out!!!"
At the same time, Gozuki's endless frustration and anger echoed under the night sky, startling countless birds…
…
"Tsk tsk, not bad, not bad. Later, I'll reward you properly!"
Having already sensed Martha's presence, Sora, holding Cornelia and the other two girls, swiftly moved to Martha's side. Seeing that the woman had indeed listened to him and changed into a maid outfit, Sora smiled wickedly and praised her.
"Hehehe, Master, you've finally arrived!"
"Oh, isn't this Cornelia and the others? You bad boy, you've taken all the tools Gozuki painstakingly trained. He must be going crazy with anger by now!"
Hanging onto Sora's neck like a koala, Martha looked at the girls Sora was holding and laughed mischievously.
"Well, he's not exactly going crazy, but he's definitely heartbroken. Besides, wasn't I just worried that he couldn't take care of so many children? Now that I've left him with only those three brats, his life might actually become easier!"
Seeing the woman's disdainful expression, Sora's face turned slightly red, and he quickly changed the subject:
"Ahem, it seems you've already taken care of things here. But aren't you worried that Akame might not forgive you even if she learns the truth?"
Honestly, even Sora didn't fully understand Martha's methods and found her actions somewhat baffling. Was it really necessary to act so villainous?!
"Akame is a gentle girl who deeply cherishes her friends and companions. If she doesn't mature and grow stronger now, experiencing some pain, I'm afraid her heart might break when real tragedy and suffering come in the future."
Getting down from Sora, Martha picked up Akame from the ground and gently stroked the girl's smooth hair, her eyes filled with endless affection.
"Besides, she will definitely forgive me! Because she's Akame after all…"
Seeming to understand something, Sora gave this wise woman a deep look, showing a rare expression of admiration and feeling even more certain about his previous decision.
"Alright, there's no need to stay here any longer. Take me to the nearest town now."
Nodding, Martha had no objections. She carried Akame on her back and walked ahead, disappearing into the night.
"Akame, Akame, in this life, I will never let you experience those sorrowful things again. Never!"
Thinking this in his heart, Sora followed with Cornelia and the other two girls…