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"I'm gonna fight you to the death!"
"Bring it on! Like I'm scared of you!"
The members of Night Raid stared at Kaito and Milim wrestling on the ground with expressions full of shock.
That little girl had to be one of the high-ranking figures of the Jura Tempest Federation.
Otherwise, there was no way she'd dare act so recklessly toward Kaito.
But was it really okay for the two of them to casually roll around fighting like children?
Just then, Sakuya Izayoi walked over together with Grayfia Lucifuge, seemingly noticing everyone's confusion.
Sakuya smiled faintly and gently explained:
"It's fine. They've always been like this."
"You'll get used to it eventually."
After hearing Sakuya's explanation, Night Raid suddenly gained an entirely new understanding of Kaito and the others.
"Ramiris, catch!" *2
The two who had just been smashing each other with Abyss and Gaze suddenly turned around at the exact same time and hurled the plush dolls in their hands toward Ramiris.
Looking at the two enormous dolls flying toward her, Ramiris immediately panicked and frantically dodged left and right.
She stretched out both tiny hands and barely managed to grab onto the dolls' clothing, struggling to keep them suspended in the air.
Meanwhile, after losing their "weapons," Kaito and Milim completely devolved into a childish scuffle.
The two tumbled onto the ground, tugging each other's clothes and pulling hair while rolling around nonstop.
Finally, Sakuya, who could no longer tolerate the sight, stepped in.
She first walked over to Ramiris, took the two dolls from her, and handed them over to Grayfia.
Then she calmly strolled toward the two currently rolling across the ground and spoke in a slightly stern tone:
"Master, Milim-sama, please be mindful of your status."
"Can you stop roughhousing already?"
The instant they heard Sakuya's voice, it was like someone had pressed a pause button on them.
Both immediately sprang to their feet and stood at attention while shouting in panic:
"Yes, we've stopped!" *2
"Wow, this maid is incredible!"
"Is she actually the real boss of the Jura Tempest Federation?!"
Mine stared at Sakuya with a stunned expression after seeing the instantly obedient pair.
Seeing everyone's shocked reactions, Grayfia smiled faintly while holding the dolls.
"Hehe, there are only two people in the entire Jura Tempest Federation capable of suppressing Kaito-sama and the others."
"And Miss Sakuya is one of them."
"Wow! Suppress?! That sounds amazing!"
"I don't even fully understand it, but it sounds super impressive!"
"Eh? Then who's the other one?"
Even though they didn't understand how a maid could suppress her own master, it still sounded absurdly powerful.
"Hehe, the Jura Tempest Federation seems much more interesting than I imagined."
After hearing Grayfia's explanation, Najenda couldn't help revealing an amused smile.
While everyone was busy watching Kaito and Milim lower their heads and obediently receive a lecture, Budo finally arrived before Esdeath together with the Imperial Guards.
"Esdeath! The Empire treated you well, so why have you betrayed it?!"
Clad in armor, Budo sternly questioned her in a booming voice.
"Why?"
"What's wrong with the weak submitting to the strong?"
Hearing Esdeath's answer, Budo froze momentarily before suddenly realizing something.
"You mean... someone stronger than you has subdued you?!"
"Budo, it seems you're not completely stupid after all."
Esdeath smiled faintly with a trace of appreciation.
"Was it the Revolutionary Army?"
"You mean those useless trash barely surviving in the south?"
Esdeath's face immediately filled with disdain after hearing his question.
"Enough. I don't have time to waste talking with you."
"In the entire Empire, you're one of the very few people worth acknowledging."
"I've wanted to fight you for a long time now, Budo. A man said to be my equal!"
After hearing those words, Budo understood this battle was unavoidable.
A trace of killing intent surfaced in his eyes.
"Then come!"
"[Thunder God's Wrath]!!!"
With a furious roar, Budo attacked without hesitation.
Terrifying golden lightning instantly condensed within his palm, forming a massive sphere of energy.
The enormous energy blast shot directly toward Esdeath with overwhelming force.
"Excellent!"
Not only did Esdeath show no fear whatsoever, excitement even flashed through her eyes.
"You really are different from those worthless fools!"
With a sharp cry, she fiercely waved both hands.
An overwhelming wave of ice surged out from her body.
In an instant, a gigantic ice barrier several meters thick materialized before her.
Boom!!!
The lightning sphere slammed into the barrier at astonishing speed, creating an earth-shaking explosion.
As the deafening sound faded away, the energy sphere had completely vanished, while cracks spread all across Esdeath's ice wall.
Seeing this, Esdeath calmly reached out a finger and lightly tapped the barrier.
Crack...
The moment outside force touched it, the entire ice barrier shattered into countless tiny fragments and scattered across the ground.
"Hahaha! Very good! Excellent!"
"Then take one of my attacks too!"
"[Ice Spear]!"
An incomparably sharp spear of ice instantly formed in Esdeath's hand before she hurled it violently toward Budo.
The spear reached Budo almost instantly.
Seeing this, Budo retreated at extreme speed.
Boom!!!
Budo looked at the massive crater left behind, lingering fear flashing through his heart.
If that attack had struck him directly, he would've either died instantly or been severely wounded.
"Hahaha! This is exactly how it should be!"
"Now this is interesting!"
"Budo, only now do you finally qualify to be killed by me!"
Esdeath laughed excitedly as she looked toward the retreating Budo, her eyes overflowing with unrestrained killing intent.
Holding her sword, she shot forward like a streak of lightning.
Budo frowned slightly.
He clearly hadn't expected her to launch another attack so suddenly.
Still, his reaction speed was equally astonishing.
Without hesitation, he raised his weapon and met her head-on.
Clang!!!
Their weapons violently collided, sending sparks flying everywhere.
But that was merely the beginning.
As their blades continuously clashed, sparks exploded nonstop, and the battlefield became filled with the intensity of their duel.
The two seemed to completely forget the existence of their Teigu, relying solely on pure martial skill to fight one another.
Minute after minute passed.
In the blink of an eye, half an hour had gone by.
During that time, the two had already exchanged hundreds of blows, yet victory still hadn't been decided.
"It seems I can only use this move..."
"Mahapadma!"
The moment Esdeath proudly shouted the name of her ultimate technique, the surrounding space itself seemed to freeze solid.
Budo instantly became immobilized in place.
"Hehe... to push me this far, you should feel honored."
"Allow me to personally send you off, Budo."
Holding her sword, Esdeath slowly walked toward him step by step.
The moment she reached him, she mercilessly plunged the blade straight through his heart.
Pfft!
"Ugh... gah... gurgle... th-this... how is this possible...?"
Budo lowered his head and stared blankly at the sword piercing his chest, disbelief filling his face.
Enduring the agonizing pain, he muttered weakly while blood continuously flowed from his mouth.
"Your Majesty... this old servant has done everything he could..."
"The future of the Empire... now rests entirely upon you..."
After speaking, Budo collapsed onto the ground unwillingly, his eyes still filled with concern for the Empire's future...