Chapter 404: The World's Blessing for Tatsumi
Sheele didn't respond.
She preferred silence during battle. After wiping the blood from her Imperial Arm scissors, she vanished down the corridor.
"Stop right there!"
Tatsumi broke free from his fear and charged forward in a burst of anger.
But when he remembered the merchant who'd bought him dinner and the gentle, kind-hearted noble lady, he stopped in his tracks.
He returned to his room and grabbed his finely forged shortsword.
It was a weapon crafted by the village blacksmith, paid for collectively by the villagers when he and his two friends had set off.
Each of them had received one.
Suddenly—
Tatsumi remembered that the noble family's living room had two swords hanging on the wall that looked very similar.
No time to think about it now.
The priority was protecting Mr. Fang Yi and the young lady.
"Mr. Fang Yi, are you alright?"
Tatsumi kicked the door open, only to find Fang Yi awake, leaning over a writing desk.
He was scribbling strange words across a sheet of parchment—
in the center of which stood a towering black spire.
"It's you, Tatsumi?"
Fang Yi didn't even lift his head. His voice was calm and gentle. "Run into trouble?"
Of course he already knew.
With his strength, even if all the Imperial Arm users in Night Raid hid to the ends of the world, he could track them.
Let alone when they were killing people right inside this mansion.
"It's Night Raid!"
Tatsumi was visibly shaken. He grabbed Fang Yi's arm to pull him up.
"They're the assassins who've thrown the capital into chaos—they're wanted criminals! They're murdering Lady Aria's entire family!"
His shortsword at the ready, he remained alert for threats.
"Mr. Fang Yi, take Miss Afu and hide. I'm going to save the young lady!"
Gunshots rang out not far away.
Tatsumi inhaled deeply, gritted his teeth, and after warning Fang Yi to be careful, rushed toward the battle.
He was terrified.
The members of Night Raid looked extremely dangerous.
That girl with the giant scissors exuded overwhelming killing intent.
He wanted to survive, to achieve greatness, to help his hometown escape poverty and suffering.
But Tatsumi was also someone who repaid kindness.
He couldn't just stand by and let the kind noble family be slaughtered.
"Wait, Tatsumi."
Fang Yi called out just as Tatsumi reached the hallway.
He walked up and looked at the sword in Tatsumi's hand.
"May I borrow your sword for a moment?"
Tatsumi hesitated.
He didn't know how Lady Aria was doing. He wanted to refuse—
but before he knew it, his hand had passed the blade over.
"Thank you for escorting me."
Fang Yi took the sword, gently touched the blade with his finger,
then handed it back with a warm smile.
"Consider this my blessing."
Just as the malice of the food stall owner earlier had triggered a backlash from the world,
Tatsumi's genuine kindness now received a reward.
A faint pulse of origin power flowed from the world consciousness of the Imperial Arms world—
and Fang Yi, through that brief gesture, had transformed it into tangible strength.
Not some vague "world's favor" or "destiny,"
but real power.
"Thank you."
Tatsumi gripped the sword tightly. He felt… different.
He couldn't quite place it, but his body felt lighter.
Strange insights were forming in his mind.
No time to think.
The situation was urgent.
He charged ahead—and soon found the noble girl's figure in the forest behind the mansion.
Two armored guards stood in front of Aria, desperately firing their guns.
Sparks flashed and bullets flew.
"So weak."
Leone, now in beast form, dodged the bullets with ease and closed in swiftly.
Before the guards could reload, she lunged like a leopard—
her claws tore through their metal armor and shredded their organs.
The second guard screamed in terror.
He tossed away his empty pistol and ran, ignoring Aria's cries.
"Execution."
Akame descended like a dark wren from the sky.
Her cursed blade, Murasame, stabbed through the fleeing guard's chest.
There was no follow-up slash.
Instead, black rune-like insects crawled from the wound, spreading across his body and draining his life.
"Stop!"
Just as Akame dashed toward the terrified Aria,
Tatsumi roared in anger.
She ignored him.
In a blink, she was standing before Aria, blade raised.
Clang!
Tatsumi's shortsword hit her blade mid-swing,
blocking what would have been a fatal strike.
Aria lost control of her bladder.
Pale yellow liquid soaked her dress. Screaming, she scrambled toward the warehouse.
That was where the family tortured and humiliated their slaves.
Its door was steel-reinforced. Its walls thick.
Even Night Raid would have a hard time breaking in.
"Then I'll kill you first."
Akame turned her gaze toward Tatsumi.
Anyone who interfered with the mission—would die.
Execution.
Before she could strike again, Tatsumi lunged.
He rolled clumsily on the ground and picked up his sword.
On his back, face to the sky—
Clang!
He raised the blade just in time to block her downward slash.
So strong... and fast...
Tatsumi rolled a few meters away, standing up with a heavy breath.
His hands were numb.
He understood now why this girl—this dark-haired demon—was labeled a criminal.
One strike was enough to show he couldn't match her strength.
And there were more of them.
"Still not done, Akame? You're slow tonight."
Leone reappeared after dealing with the last guard, teasing as she saw the face-off.
"Mission accomplished."
A massive shadow in armor stepped out of the dark, voice booming.
"Need me to strangle him, Akame?"
Lubbock stood high above, balanced on his threads, watching Tatsumi from above.
Akame didn't answer.
She charged again, blade glowing.
But this time,
Tatsumi held firm.
Though pushed back again and again,
he blocked every strike.
What's happening...?
Even Tatsumi was shocked.
Despite the gap in strength and skill, he was somehow holding his own.
Even ignoring physical ability—Akame's fighting instincts and refined swordsmanship should have overwhelmed him.
"Not bad. You're keeping up with Akame."
Brand watched with surprise.
Maybe this guy was a new guard hired by the noble family.
Stronger than most imperial soldiers.
His control over the shortsword hinted at training from a true master.
"Who is he? The family records didn't mention him."
"Seems like a new arrival—cheated by the nobles. He's still clueless."
Leone remembered seeing him earlier at a military recruitment booth.
Said he'd just arrived in the capital, didn't know the customs,
got kicked out for not paying a bribe.
She'd thought about scamming him herself,
but got distracted by Fang Yi, who looked even richer.
"Akame, don't kill him yet."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1