"How could this be… how could this be…"
Her face pale, she kept stepping backward. If Cornelia hadn't quickly supported her, Martha would have almost fallen to the ground.
Tears uncontrollably poured from her water-blue eyes. So tragic! So tragic was Akame's fate!
"Wuwuwu…"
Holding tightly onto the still sorrowful Akame, the two women burst into tears.
Cornelia and Tsukushi were shocked and at a loss, casting pleading looks at Sora.
"Let them vent for a while."
Sighing, Sora said.
Although he didn't know Akame's fate, seeing the reactions of Akame and Martha, it was not hard to imagine it was extremely tragic. Cornelia and Tsukushi also felt a wave of sadness for their sisters.
Martha held Akame tightly, crying loudly. She had once cursed the world and her fate, but compared to Akame's fate, her own pain was nothing!
At this moment, Martha felt some regret, regretting that she had made Akame's heart strong by various means. The stronger she was, the more suffering she had to endure!
Watching one important person after another die, and even having to kill her own sister with her own hands, how cruel must this world be to impose such a fate on a girl with such a gentle heart?!
Like two injured little birds, the two women clung tightly to each other, using invisible hands to soothe each other's wounds…
…
"Cornelia, Tsukushi, Martha, come back."
A considerable amount of time had passed. Seeing that the two women had vented almost completely, Sora then shouted to the three woman.
Hearing Sora's voice, Cornelia and Tsukushi naturally did not hesitate at all. They stood up and returned to Sora's side, only Martha, who was still holding Akame, remained unmoved.
"Martha!"
Although Sora could tolerate and even liked his women acting spoiled or throwing a little tantrum at him, he absolutely would not allow them to disobey him. Thus, his tone already carried a hint of command.
Shaken in body and mind, unable to disobey Sora's order, Martha released Akame and silently stood up, returning to Sora's side.
However, at this moment, the woman no longer had the slightest trace of her previous seductive charm. She lowered her head and did not dare to look at Sora. Although he could not see her expression, Sora knew very well that Martha was feeling extremely aggrieved inside.
Glancing at Poney, who was still intoxicated in his arms, he felt it was about enough. If he kept massaging, those two little buns would be swollen. Although development was important, it had to be done gradually.
Handing Poney over to Cornelia on the side, Sora pulled Martha into his embrace. Ignoring the woman's sulky struggles, he gently stroked Martha's aqua-blue hair again and again.
Looking at Martha in his arms, Sora's eyes revealed endless tenderness. Although this woman outwardly decorated herself with the appearance of a cunning, sly villain, Sora knew that her heart was actually the most fragile.
Martha naturally felt the man's gentleness, and the grievance in her heart had long since dissipated. Gradually, she stopped struggling, and a faint sense of emotion rose in her heart.
"Akame, you are a very special girl."
Looking at the girl kneeling on the ground with a blank expression, Sora continued:
"Don't doubt the authenticity of that information. Although I long to have you, I would never use such despicable means to deceive you. Even if I were to possess you by force, you would have no chance to resist."
"You are a girl with a strong heart, gentle nature, and immense courage. You will become the savior of this world, defeat Esdeath, and save the entire empire!"
"But the price is that you will lose everything! Then bear all the darkness alone…"
According to his plan, he would soon obtain Akame, but the experienced Sora knew that the more critical the moment, the less he should be impatient. So he continued to the pale-faced Akame:
"Now, I give you two choices—"
"First, I can return your freedom right now. You can leave immediately! Knowing your fate, you should be able to think of many ways to avoid those tragedies and save your sister and companions. Maybe, if you're lucky, you won't lose anything and can become the savior of this world, the hero who saves the entire empire!"
"So, what do you say? If you choose this, I don't need to say the other choice. You can leave immediately!"
A strange curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. Sora looked down at Akame with great anticipation. Martha, Cornelia, Tsukushi, and the somewhat recovered Poney-chan also looked at the girl tensely, not knowing how Akame would respond.
Slowly standing up, Akame did not answer immediately but lowered her head as if weighing something in her heart. Sora was not in a hurry; after all, he had plenty of time and could wait patiently.
After a while, finally, under the extremely tense and expecant expressions of the women, Akame raised her head. Somehow, she had regained her usual calm demeanor. Her crimson eyes no longer showed any blankness or confusion but were filled with an unusual determination.
"I choose the other!"
Her soft lips parted, and the girl's voice echoed continuously in the room.
"Hey… are you sure? You know, the other choice is very harsh, very harsh!"
"Although Kurome and your companions will no longer suffer tragedy, you will lose everything yourself, and you won't become the hero who saves the empire. Are you really sure you want to choose this one?"
A strange light flashed in his eyes, and a wicked curve appeared on his lips. Looking at the resolute Akame, Sora smiled.
"I'm sure. I choose the other!"
"I know, if it's you, you can definitely do it! Tell me, what price must I pay to save them?"
Gentle and strong inside, though occasionally a bit naive, Akame never wavered when it came to making real choices. This was Akame!
If it were someone else, they would probably choose the first option. Since they already knew the future tragedies, they would just try to avoid them! This is the mindset of those who lack strength but are overly confident!
But Akame would not do that. She was a girl who deeply cherished her friends and companions and had a clear understanding of her own power. Although becoming the hero who saves the empire sounded tempting, between sister and companions, Akame could unhesitatingly abandon the former!
"Perhaps it's no wonder you're Akame. Congratulations on making the right choice!"
"Since you have made your choice, I will tell you the price you must pay. You must give your body, your soul, your everything! If you truly have that resolve, then make a contract with me."
"As for how to make the contract, I think you already know, right?"
Looking at the girl before him, Sora's black eyes blazed with intense light.
Without hesitation, Akame stepped forward, no longer shy as before, and once again intertwined with Sora, sealing an unbreakable contract.
Watching the two entwined, Cornelia and the other three women blushed deeply but secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling extremely happy. Akame, like them, had become the master's woman. Now the sisters could live together forever!
Martha and the other three, who were smarter and more mature, showed a slightly different expression. While happy, they also felt endless relief.
Indeed, this girl had truly grown up!
"Master!"
Kneeling on one knee, a faint blush appeared on her heroic face. Akame saluted Sora.
A curve appeared at the corner of his mouth, and a huge sense of accomplishment welled up in his heart. This ace of the original story's night raid, a girl on par with Esdeath, was now completely his!
Pulling Akame into his arms, standing up, and holding both Akame and Martha, Sora walked toward the bed on the side.
Now, it was time to enjoy!
Seemingly guessing what was about to happen, Cornelia and the other three women's faces turned crimson, but they still followed shyly…
Meanwhile, in a distant village on the continent—
"Hahaha… Tatsumi, harder, harder! With your strength, you still want to go to the imperial capital to earn money for the village? Dream on!"
"Wuwuwu… Master, I'm so tired…"
"Today's training has just begun! If you want to rest, hit 50 more iron blocks!"
"No, please don't!!!"
…
Inside a shabby little hut, a struggling boy was being harshly trained by a burly man smoking a pipe. The boy's two small arms were holding a huge iron hammer, continuously striking the red-hot iron block.
"Hmm, what's wrong, Tatsumi?"
Suddenly, the burly man noticed the boy's body suddenly stiffen, his face showing extreme pain, but he immediately returned to normal. The man asked curiously.
"Oh, nothing… nothing, Master, let's continue!"
The boy, Tatsumi, blinked and showed a sunny smile, answering casually.
Just a moment ago, a very strong and strange feeling had risen in his heart, as if he had lost something important forever. But Tatsumi didn't care. This kind of feeling had happened more than once since childhood. At first, he was worried, but every time it was just a fleeting feeling, and nothing happened afterward. Over time, Tatsumi stopped paying attention…
Continuing to swing the big iron hammer, the boy was still sweating and training hard, hoping to go to the most prosperous city in the empire to find hope for his village…