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Rosen had already guessed what Esdeath's answer would be.So the moment she finished speaking, he accepted the mission without hesitation.
Almost immediately, a prompt appeared in front of Esdeath: someone was requesting entry into her world.She clicked "Yes" without even pausing to think.
A door of light opened inside her command tent. From it stepped out a black-haired man in casual clothes.
Short black hair, lean build. His features were strikingly handsome, but surprisingly young.The skin showing outside his clothes looked smooth, not at all like the weathered flesh of a veteran soldier.
His steps were unsteady. His hands bore none of the calluses that came from long years gripping a weapon.
What was this supposed to be? Some pampered noble's son? A college kid?
Esdeath's eyes narrowed. Dissatisfaction flared.They'd praised her strength in the chat, and in the end they sent… this?Was this supposed to be a joke? Some kind of insult?
The moment Rosen stepped into the Akame ga Kill world, he felt Esdeath's contempt wash over him.
He looked up.
A woman with flowing silver-blue hair—lashes the same icy hue—lounged on a chair, one leg crossed elegantly over the other. She wore a crisp white military uniform and high boots. Her perfect face, however, radiated only boredom.
You expect me to test myself against this weakling?
If they wanted to mock her, they could at least have picked someone who looked the part.
Esdeath lifted her chin, voice cool."Go back. I asked for a warrior, not a student. Go do whatever it is you're actually good at."
She sighed softly, her irritation clear.
Still, his appearance… it did match her mental image of a scholar.Compared to the anime's Tatsumi, Rosen looked more like the little-brother type.If she ever decided she wanted a younger brother, maybe then she'd bother with him.
But Rosen had expected this reaction.
After all, Esdeath's reputation was complicated. To Night Raid and the Revolutionary Army, she was nothing but a bloodthirsty monster.But to her own soldiers, and even many ordinary citizens of the Empire, she was a good general—someone who could actually be spoken to without fear of exploitation or cruelty.
Compared to the corrupt nobles who abused commoners, Esdeath was practically a miracle. A general with real power who treated civilians like people.
So, naturally, she had pegged him as just some student.
"If you ever took the throne, the people would never rise against you," Rosen said.
Esdeath frowned.
It was true—she had no political talent to speak of. But compared to Honest and the puppet emperor, even an average person would be a blessing.
Rosen went on, his tone steady."I get it. Face-to-face, I still talk too much. But if you really want proof, then let's fight. Only someone who can beat you deserves to negotiate."
That earned him a sliver of respect from Esdeath.
Most people broke down just from standing near her killing intent. This man stood unfazed. He didn't even tremble. At the very least, his courage was real.
"I know you're impatient," Rosen said. "But don't be."
Esdeath's power was monstrous—top tier in this world.She could freeze tens of thousands of soldiers in an instant, summon hundred-meter-long pillars of ice to crush Danger Beasts. Without Akame's last-minute "cheat," no one could have beaten her.
"Let's make it clear," Rosen continued. "If I win, you don't get to 'negotiate.' You agree to my request. If I lose, I'll leave immediately, and you can do whatever you like."
At the same time, he opened a livestream to the chat group, ensuring Esdeath couldn't back out.
[Shut-in Angel]:Perfect! With me as witness, I, Gabriel, declare this deal official!
[Shut-in Angel]:Fight! Fight!
[Shepherd]:So this is what you call East meets West?
[Shut-in Angel]:Hey, it's the first internal sparring match between group members! Gotta hype it up a little, right?
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]:Good luck, Lord Rosen!
[Ice Witch]:Do you people really think I'd break my word?
[Old Mage]:Just in case, it's good to have witnesses. Even if words aren't binding, at least you'll feel embarrassed later if you go back on them.
[Toxic Island]:Yes… and shame is a powerful thing…
[Ice Witch]:You people—!
Esdeath found herself strangely frustrated.Her soldiers would have been cowed into silence by now, but this chat group? Her authority meant nothing to them.
[Blizzard of Hell]:Wait! I just thought of something! Group members can't actually hurt each other, right? So how do we even tell who wins?
[Shut-in Angel]:Oh crap! I didn't think of that!
[Bad Woman]:Doesn't matter. Even without physical damage, a fight can still show who's stronger.
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]:That's even better! No risk of anyone getting seriously hurt, no grudges either.
[Shut-in Angel]:No, you don't get it. Even without damage, people can still get tilted. Like when your teammate keeps feeding in a game—you'll wanna punch them anyway.
[I Don't Wanna Eat Monsters]:Uh… can't relate.
Meanwhile, back in Esdeath's world—
Things had reached the point of no return. She could no longer back down.
"In that case," Esdeath said, narrowing her eyes, "let's fight."
Her aura spread like a predator staking its territory. Rosen thought he glimpsed the phantom of a demon rising behind her.
After all, her Imperial Arms—Demon's Extract—was created from the blood of a super-class Danger Beast that lived in eternal ice.
"And since we can't actually hurt each other," Esdeath said, icy eyes burning with battle lust, "that means I don't have to hold back."
If Rosen wanted a fight, she would indulge him.
Even if she couldn't inflict wounds, Esdeath knew countless ways to crush and humiliate an opponent.And no warrior, however strong, could endure endless defeat without breaking.
"Let's begin!"
Her declaration rang like a war drum.
And in that instant—Rosen's figure vanished from her sight.
"..."
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