"Tatsumi, are you sure about your choice? Once you decide, there's no turning back."
Two days had passed. It was currently evening. Ieyasu had gone to sleep early due to exhaustion. The shop was empty, with only Asahi and Tatsumi talking at the counter.
"Yes, I'm determined. I will join them. Join... Night Raid."
Asahi said nothing, only taking a sip of coffee. His original intention was for Tatsumi and Ieyasu to return to the village together, staying away from the Capital's dangerous undercurrents. However, Asahi had underestimated Tatsumi's resolve. He was naive, true, but his heart was also incredibly strong.
"Then give me a reason why. Joining Night Raid means you will constantly face pursuit, danger, and the full force of the Empire. Don't look at them as if they are relaxed; they are actually shouldering an immense pressure. Even so, are you still determined?"
Tatsumi was startled, then quickly regained his composure. He subtly bowed his head, looking like he was smiling, yet it felt genuinely sad and desolate.
"That's right. I originally came to the Capital just to earn money, to get rich and save my village. Now I have a lot of money; I should logically return and continue my peaceful life, right?"
"But, I don't think that way. It's not that a peaceful life is bad, but there are too many things threatening it. When I saw Sayo's body, when I saw Ieyasu near death. I was just a helpless boy crying, watching Ieyasu slowly die, unable to do anything."
"I don't want that. I want to protect Ieyasu, protect my village, and also... the innocent people. Just like Night Raid."
Asahi looked directly into Tatsumi's eyes, seeing the blazing fire of determination within him.
"There are people from many different backgrounds, some privileged, some suffering. They could choose to ignore it, they could keep to themselves, but instead, they choose to stand up for others, for a small flicker of light in the darkness."
Asahi smiled. Tatsumi was completely stunned; he had never seen a smile like that before. It was warm, yet unbelievably strong and magnificent. Shining brightly like the sun.
"Is that... Mr. Asahi's will?"
Tatsumi thought to himself, and then a feeling of pride swelled in his heart. Because he had been acknowledged by Asahi, whose will endorsed him.
"Alright, my final advice for you. Even if you kill many people, never consider it normal. Killing is killing, no matter how you rationalize it."
"You must not become immersed in the enjoyment of killing, or the consequences will be severe."
"Yes!"
After talking for a while, Tatsumi scratched his head anxiously, asking Asahi for help.
"Sir! But where can I find those Night Raid people now?"
"Don't worry. Sooner or later, they will come to you."
Asahi wasn't worried, because the blond girl had clearly shown her determination to recruit Tatsumi and him into Night Raid that night. They would definitely send someone again.
"Speak of the devil... Tatsumi, greet our guest."
He reacted. Just then, the shop door opened. It was the busty blond girl, Leone.
"Ayyo! We meet again, kid!"
"Not 'kid'! I'm Tatsumi!"
"Alright, Tatsumi. Big sis just dropped by to check on you. So, interested in joining Night Raid?"
"I'll join!"
"Huh?"
Leone froze. Did she mishear?
"Tatsumi, you need to think carefully. After all, joining an assassin organization is a difficult decision..."
"Where are your ears?! I said I'm joining!"
Tatsumi bristled. Leone snapped out of her frozen state and swiftly rushed to embrace him, throwing her arm around his shoulder. Her chest pressed close to his face.
"He he he! Good, good! I didn't expect little Tatsumi to be so decisive after all!"
"Tsk..."
"No need to look. I'm busy right now."
Leone turned her attention to Asahi, her eyes gleaming. But he simply waved his hand to dismiss her. Being rejected, she wasn't angry.
"Alright, I have a mission right now. I'll take you to Night Raid after I'm done. Just wait here first."
Tatsumi shook his head, making Leone tilt her head in confusion. He held up his sword in front of him, speaking in a firm voice.
"Leone, let me prove myself this one time."
"I know what you want to do, but this isn't like the previous attack. The opponent isn't those inexperienced soldiers and that family, but a tough nut to crack, especially compared to you."
She was quite serious about this. Normally, Tatsumi would need to go back for training before he could take on missions like this.
But Tatsumi remained determined, and Leone eventually compromised.
"Alright, but you have to follow everything I say, understood?"
"Yes."
"Shop owner, bye!"
"I'm leaving, Mr. Asahi!"
Watching the two figures gradually walk away, he drank the last sip of his coffee. Then he closed the shop.
"Blessings to you, Tatsumi."
...
This mission was led by Leone and Akame. The targets were Orge, a Royal Guard captain, and a merchant named Gamal. According to Leone's intelligence, the oil merchant Gamal had bribed Orge a large sum of money so that when Gamal committed a crime, Orge would sacrifice someone else to take the fall for the merchant.
The person who reported this to Night Raid was a woman whose fiancé was the victim of this substitution scheme and had died.
Speaking of this, Leone felt enraged. What could a lone woman do to earn a large sum of money to pay Night Raid? The answer was to sell herself. Not only that, but she had to do it repeatedly, severely taxing the woman's body for a long time. All just so she could avenge her fiancé.
Tatsumi remained silent, gently clenching his fist.
"I will kill those people."
"Not 'you,' but 'we.' We will personally send this garbage to hell."
Since there were two targets, Leone and Akame split up. Akame was responsible for Gamal. Killing him would be easy; she was probably done by now. Only Orge was the more difficult one. Because he was a Royal Guard captain, Orge's strength was considerable. Furthermore, he always went out with many subordinates, and he was very cautious.
"When he's off duty, he usually drinks in the main street."
"Looks like that's the only time for us to act."
Orge's physique was much larger than that of an ordinary person, and he walked arrogantly through the street. His single working eye, combined with his body and armor, made everyone clear the way, not daring to get close.
"A drink after a tense interrogation is truly wonderful!"
He walked, rubbing his belly. Today might have been an ordinary day like any other, until a small silhouette approached Orge.
Wearing a hooded cloak that covered nearly all of their face, they moved furtively, as if afraid someone might spot them.
"Sir... Sir Orge..."
A somewhat youthful voice came from beneath the cloak.
"Huh?"
"I... I have a matter to ask for your help with. This is a small token of my sincerity."
About to refuse, Orge stopped when he heard "a small token of my sincerity."
"What is it? Speak."
Stuffing the money pouch into his coat, Orge calmly asked the cloaked figure.
"It's... not very convenient here."