webnovel

0.2 The Prince

[...]

A year and a few months have passed since Hiro obtained Bab-Ilu and went back to the Imperial Capital. The moment he got back he was greeted by guards not allowing him to enter the Palace, this irritated the blonde, but hold himself back from killing the mongrel of a guard and only sent a glare scaring him in process and allowing him to enter. Seeing this only made Hiro smirk and say "How spineless." Already being terrified by a mere glare, well who can blame the guard, the blonde had terrifying blood red eyes that looked like they can see through ones soul.

Back to the present, Hiro wore a white shirt and black pants as he stood in the middle of the throne room facing a beautiful and slender teen with a long light blue hair, the teen wore a General's apparels with long sleeves with buttons on the upper arms, a blue scarf around her neck and a high-heeled boots, she also has a tattoo on her, chest while having a rapier sheathed on her waist. This was a new General within the Empire, someone who rose ranks the fastest, with only being in the Imperial army for a year and already is a General. Esdeath.

The light blue-haired teen stared at the blonde teen, who was taller than her, having him stared down at her.

While the two were staring down at one another the Young Emperor and Minister Honest, were nervous... Well one of them were, the Young Emperor was nervous for his big brother while the Minister was only acting nervous and was truly hoping that Esdeath would kill Hiro.

Hiro: "So... Your the new General?"

Esdeath: "Yes. And you are...?"

Hiro: (scoffs) "Who am I? Who else would I be other than your Superior?"

Esdeath: "Oh? And who decided that...?"

Hiro: (smirks and spreads his arms wide) "Who else has a powerful enough authority to decide that? If course I do! The heavens itself decided that I was superior to you... Mongrel."

Hiro put a heavy emphasis on the word mongrel mockingly at Esdeath, who released a cold aura as she glared up at the blonde teen, who was still smirking down on her. Oh how she wanted to wipe that smirk on his face and have him kneel in front of her as he licked her boots.

Hiro: "You gonna do something or not...? I dare you! I wanna see just how powerful you are, mongrel!! Do it!!"

Falling for Hiro's taunts Esdeath jumped back and grabbing her rapier in lightning speed. Esdeath pointed her rapier at the blonde's neck who playfully acted scared by the fact that he had a weapon aimed at his throat.

While Esdeath aimed her rapier at Hiro's throat, the Young Emperor and Minister looked shock and scared, well the Young Emperor was the one who was shocked and scared for his big brothers life, while the Minister was quietly laughing happily at the idea of Hiro dying.

Esdeath smirked at the fact that Hiro looked 'terrified', at the fact that a rapier was aimed at his neck.

Esdeath: "Mind repeating who's superior now?"

Hiro: "I...I...I... Am... Hahahahahaha!"

Hiro continued to stutter, then laughed hysterically, confusing the two watching and angering Esdeath further.

This made the blue-haired sadist angrier, and was about to pierce Hiro's throat completely, but Hiro noticed her killing intent and pulled out Enki, faster than Esdeaths lightning speed draw, Hiro backflipped away from Esdeath and as soon as he landed the blonde parried the incoming attack from the sadist General, surprising her, seeing her surprised just made Hiro smirk even more as he pointed his golden blade at Esdeath's throat.

Hiro: "You asked who's superior, right? Does this answer your question?"

What Hiro had done not only surprised Esdeath, but also the two watching from the sidelines.

Hiro: "What are you so surprised about? Isn't that what's expected? That I the superior one be able to block a measly attack from the likes of you!?"

This angered Esdeath even more, she raised her hand up as if she was about to summon something, seeing this made Hiro raise an eye brow curiously at what Esdeath was about to do.

On top of the raised palm of Esdeath was snow particles, signifying that she was about to use her Teigu, but before she could fully activate it, Hiro's brother, the Young Emperor, stopped the two from fighting and possibly killing one another.

Young Emperor: (nervously) "P-Please General Esdeath stop... T-That is t-treason against the Royal Family... A-And t-that is p-punishable by d-death..."

The younger brother of Hiro stated, hearing this made Minister Honest grit his teeth at the fact that the younger brother still cared for Hiro. While Esdeath continued to glare at the blonde fiercely as he hand still raised but now with out the snow particles and was clenched into a fist.

This only made Hiro smirk more mockingly at the General, and spoke to her more mockingly.

Hiro: "You heard him, put your hand down and sheathe that rapier of yours... Mutt!"

Reluctantly putting her clenched hand and sheathing back her rapier, but still keeping her glare at the blonde who still wore his signature smirk.

Sighing in relief, the Young Emperor ran towards the blondes side and sent him tons of questions.

Young Emperor: "So Aniki, are you going to stay here? And what was that sword!? Was that a Teigu!? Where did you find it!? What's it's name? What powers does it have?"

Hiro looked down on his younger uninterested, as he answered in an uncaring voice, as if they weren't even blood related. As if they were stranger, hearing his big brothers response in an uncaring tone made the Young Emperor flinch.

Hiro: "No, I'm planning on going around the city and staying there for a while. And for my weapon, that's classified. Well then, allow me to take my leave. I have more things to take care of."

Hiro stated, as he began to walk away from the throne room, leaving a saddened younger brother, a gritting Minister and General.

Later, at the Royal Palace's courtyard...

Esdeath: "Who was that blonde prick earlier Minister? Is he going to be an obstacle for that plan of yours?"

Honest: "No need to worry General Esdeath, everything is still within plan, that little shit Hiro is just a small obstacle of my plan."

Currently, both the young General Esdeath and Minister Honest had left the Emperor's throne room after what had happened earlier. The two walked side by side, walking through the breezeway of the palace's courtyard.

Esdeath: "What about the team Gozuki created? Are you sure they won't defect?"

Honest: "Have faith in me Esdeath... And even if they defect, we have Gozuki who wields the One Cut Killer Murasame. If they defect, we have Gozuki who will take them down himself. Of course, you don't need to worry about Gozuki letting them go."

Esdeath: "I see, well then Minister, I'll be going now."

Honest nods, as Esdeath left his sight, leaving the Minister to laugh to himself.

Honest: "Everything is still within my plan, with the Emperor acting as my puppet and Esdeath as my ultimate trump card no one can stop me! Ha Ha Ha Ha!!"

[...]

Hiro stayed in the Imperial Capital for three more years, he lived at an inn in the Capital, it wasn't he best but it was good enough that. Hiro passed the years by honing his Noble Phantasm at night, scouting at day and when not honing his skills Hiro would sometimes hunt danger beasts. During the three years Hiro hardly met anyone who could go toe to toe with him, but he did meet one, a raven with red eyes. She had the same red eyes as him and had raven black hair. After their first encounter, Hiro had dubbed her as his 'Red-eyed Raven' since he never knew her name, though he had never called her this personally as he would only meet her rarely and she always had a group following her, which made the blonde rather annoyed, but he knew that they would meet one another again as it was already decided by the heavens itself.

ANYWAY! After a year and many months after meeting his 'Red-eyed Raven', in the present day, Hiro was walking through the town wearing a white V-neck shirt and a python print pants.

Hiro was taking a walk in the middle of the day in a rather lively part of the Capital while drinking wine. The blonde stopped walking and turned towards a wall with wanted posters posted on it looking at it, mostly at the wanted poster of a raven-haired girl named Akame, while to his left was a brow-haired boy and a guard next to a carriage talking about the wanted poster.

Guard: "..."

Brown-haired boy: "Night Raid?"

Guard: "They're an organization of assassins terrorizing the Capital. As their name suggests, they attack at night. They mainly target high-ranking officials in the government and wealthy class." (turns to the brown haired teen) "So be on your guard."

The blonde didn't listen further and continued his walk towards a pub to gain more info about this group "Night Raid", while thinking to himself.

Hiro: 'Night Raid, eh...? So that's where you went... Let's see how much you've improved over the year and many months my red-eyed raven, or should I say... Akame...'

Later at night...

It was already late at night, a blood red moon hovered high in the sky. The brown-haired boy carrying a sword on his back from earlier could be seen running through the halls of the current noble family target of the infamous Night Raid. He soon stops short, turning his gaze to look out the window as his eyes widened as he looked up at the blood red moon.

Brown-haired boy: "Night Raid."

In the sky, Night Raid stood on some strings created by the green-haired person of the group, Lubbock. He was hunched over, seeing three guards run out of the mansion below.

Lubbock: "Three guards. They're our targets too. Akame-chan."

Akame: "Eliminate."

Gripping her Teigu tightly, the One Cut Killer Murasame, Akame began to fall backwards, an armored man, Bulat, following the raven-haired girl. The two landed on the ground as Bulat landed right behind her making a loud thud, the three guards stared at the two nervously.

While Bulat was intimidationg them by just standing there menacingly, Akame began to walk towards them carrying an emotionless expression as she unsheathe her katana.

Guard: "Okay, boys. Don't let that sword of hers touch you."

The first cannon fodder- I mean guard ran towards the raven-haired girl with his sword, Akame making no effort as she took Murasame and made a small cut on his neck. The first guard drops dead, succumbing to the inflicted poison of Akame's sword. The second cannon fodder then drops to the ground as well as Bulat had thrown his spear forward, it piercing the second large guard as blood flew in the air

Seeing two of his comrades die easily in the hands of two Night Raid members, terrified him making him run away heading towards the back of the mansion. But, he didn't get that far, a hole in his forehead appearing as a bullet of spiritual energy leaves his head.

Smoke rose from a barrel, a pink-haired girl holding a sniper. Mine was her name, wielder of the sniper Tiegu, Pumpkin.

Mine: "Pathetic. Deserting under enemy fire."

Lubbock: "Nah. That was just plain old running away. Well who wouldn't in this situation?"

The brown-haired boy that was watching from the window watched in shock and horror. The mansion guards were taken down like ants, turning away from the window he began to ran down the halls.

Brown-haired boy: 'They were massacred... In seconds!?... At least... At least I've got to protect miss Aria!!!"

Akame turned and proceeded to head towards the back as another figure at top of the roof of the mansion smirking. A soul piercing blood red eyes similar to that of Akame but more fierce illuminated in the dark, two blades on the back of each of his shoulder. His hair stood up like the blazing flame while some strands still down. Turning his head towards the direction where the raven-haired girl is headed, the figure walked towards it casually.

In another hallway, the head noble was raised from the ground as he was being strangled by the neck by blonde buxom woman with lion features. The Lioness, Leone, watched as the noble struggled to breath and shake his was out of the blondes grasps.

Noble: "S-Spare me... I have... I have a daughter...!"

Leone: (grins) "Don't worry. You'll be seeing her soon on the other side."

Noble: "Not my daughter...! Have you no mercy...!?"

Leone: "Mercy...? No idea what you mean."

The buxom blonde then snaps his neck, the noble going limp in Leone's hand. In the woods out back, the daughter of the noble, Aria, was being led to the other side of the woods. Arriving to a clearing, there stood was a storage shed on the other side. As they were about to head in, they turn around as they heard panting noises. It was the brown-haired boy from ealier, Tatsumi.

Tatsumi: "Miss Aria! There you are!"

Aria: "Tatsumi!"

Guard: "You came at just the right moment! We'll run to the warehouse and wait for the guards to come! You stop the enemy for us in the meantime!"

Tatsumi: (Terrified) "That's a little much... Ah!"

Tatsumi hearing something land behind him. Looking back the brown-haired boy saw only a few feet away from him was a young raven-haired girl holding a unsheathed katana, while having an emotionless look, he gritted his teeth as he unsheathed his sword as Akame dashed towards him.

Tatsumi: "Shit! I've gotta go for it now!"

Akame: "...Not a target."

Seeing as Tatsumi wasn't a target of assassination, Akame ignored him and used him as a footing to jump towards the guards, surprising the brown-haired boy in the process.

The raven-haired assassin in front of guard just a meter or two away, who armed his rifle in hand and began to fire a barrage of bullets towards Akame who dodges the bullets with ease. She was close enough that Akame swung her katana separating the guard from his lower body.

The raven-haired assassin then faces the blonde noble, Aria flinching as she falls onto her rear. Akame began to loom over her menacingly, holding the katana beside her face.

Akame: "Eliminate."

Tatsumi: "Wait damnit!"

Just as she was about to cut down her target, Tatsumi appeared between then swinging his blade upwards making the raven-haired girl jump back. Akame stares at the boy then speaks in a monotone voice.

Akame: "You are not a target... There's no need to kill you."

Tatsumi: (points at Aria) "But you're planning to kill this girl, right!?"

Akame: (nodding her head) "Uh-huh."

answered the raven-haired assassin casually surprising the brown-haired boy.

Tatsumi: "Uh-huh!!?"

Akame: "I'll kill you if you get in the way you know."

Tatsumi: "Like I'd run because of that!!"

Akame: "I see..." (Turns serious and glares at Tatsumi) "Then I'll Eliminate."

While the two stood off in front of one another, in the distance walking towards them while casually yawning and streching. Was Leone, making her way to the store house where her comrade Akame and the target should be. However, she perked up when she saw the brown-haired boy facing off Akame.

Leone: (shaking her head) "Oh geez~ How unlucky can that lad get."

The two stood against one another both holding their weapons, in a split second both fighters dashed towards one another, the raven-haired assassin swung her katana from above while Tatsumi blocked the attack. creating a loud clang sound. Quickly turning his sword to the left and swinging it, the brown-haired boys attack missed as Akame jumped up dodging the attack, tucking her legs tightly and kicking Tatsumi in the shoulder making him lose his balance slightly, this gave Akame enough time to plunge her katana in Tatsumi's chest but not piercing through him, the raven-haired assassin felt her katana hit something hard rather than flesh

Falling back, Tatsumi laid on the ground motionless making Aria nervous as Akame continued to keep her guard up knowing that Tatsumi was only faking it. And as a few seconds pass by Tatsumi gritted his teeth at the fact that Akame didn't let her guard down as he began to stand up.

Tatsumi: (gritting his teeth) "...Kuh. You won't even let your guard down and approach me?"

Akame: "I didn't feel it bite flesh."

Pulling out an idol totem from the location he was stabbed, the totem had a crack on it making it the reason he had survived.

Tatsumi: "He he. The guys from the village protected me."

Meanwhile Leone was watching the whole thing unfold, watching intently at how the boy fared against her raven-haired comrade.

Leone: (nodding slightly) "Mhmm" 'To think he'd still be living after facing off against Akame's katana... That lad's pretty good.'

Akame: "Eliminate."

Hearing this, Leone saw Akame charging at Tatsumi for the second time aiming to truly kill the brown-haired boy who tried to persuade the raven-haired assassin to not kill Aria but nothing would work, Akame just completely ignored his plead.

Tatsumi: 'It's not good... She's not listening to a word I say!!!'

Just as the Akame's katana made contact with the brown-haired boy's neck, someone pulled the raven-haired girl back, stopping her from killing Tatsumi.

Leone: "Hold up."

Waiting for the katana to make contact with him, Tatsumi expected to feel his flesh being cut but, it never came. Taking a peek on what happened and why the attack didn't connect, Tatsumi saw a familiar buxom blonde pull Akame back who only stared at Leone with a deadpan expression.

Akame: "What're you doing?"

Leone: "We still have time, right? I owe this young lad a favour." (Winking towards Tatsumi) "I wanted to pay you back."

Tatsumi stared at the blonde woman for a second trying to remember who she was, then it hit him.

Tatsumi: "! You're the boob...!"

Leone: "Yep, the beautiful Onee-san from that time."

Shaking in anger, Tatsumi was aggravated for the fact that earlier yesterday, the blonde had swindle him of his money, however he was soon caught off guard when Leone suddenly changed her attitude from cheerful to serious as she began to walk towards the storage shed.

Leone: "Young lad, you told us not to kill and innocent girl..."

Aria begun to shift uncomfortably from where she stood as the buxom blonde made her way towards the entrance of the storage shed. Bringing her leg back, Leone thrusts it forward, kicking the metal door down by force revealing what the Noble family had in secret.

Leone: "But can you still say that after seeing this?"

The brown haired teen walked forward behind Leone to see what she was motioning to, his eyes widened in horror as he saw the horrific sight inside the shed. Bodies were chained up to the ceiling, some were upside down, and some were just limbs chained up.

Rotting corpses were put in cages with some deceased clinging to the metal bars as they took their last breath. Below the brown the observation deck, there were tables, a body strapped in each one of the said table for god knows how long and what they endured. Dried blood and the smell of dead corpse filled the room as he stared at the horrific sight, even the numerous torture tools and weapon we're scattered. At this point he knew something sickening going on with this family.

Tatsumi: "Wha-What the hell... Is this...!?"

Leone: "They invite unidentified people who come from the country side with sweet offers and play with them by torturing them to their deaths. This is the true nature of the people who live in that house..."

Tatsumi's gaze widened even more when he saw a particular body chained up to the ceiling. The body belonged to a black-haired girl with long hair, it being smooth with a single flower in her hair. She was complete stripped of her clothing and her body was darkened and bloodied, she even had an entire leg missing.

Tatsumi: "Sayo... C'mon... Sayo... Sayo...!"

Leone: "So one of them was your friend..."

With no one looking, Aria, turned away moving as quietly as she possibly can to escape. Leone of course sensed this, she turned around and grabbed the blonde girl by the back of her dress.

Leone: "Whoa now... You're asking for too much if you think you can run away, little missy."

Tatsumi: "...This family did this?"

Leone: "That's right, their guards kept silence, so their just as guilty."

Aria: "Sh-She's lying! I never knew this place existed! Are you going to believe me, who saved you, or them, Tatsumi!?"

Tatsumi of course was unsure who to believe. But seeing this gruesome sight, he was leaning more towards the words of Leone.

????: "...Ta... Tatsumi... It's you, isn't it?"

A weak voice called Tatsumi out, the moment the brown-haired boy turned his head, he saw a familiar face ass despair grew on the boys face.

Tatsumi: "I... Ieyasu?!

Ieyasu: "That girl approached me and Sayo... And we passed out after eating a meal she gave us. When we woke up, we were here. Th-That girl... She tortured Sayo to death!"

As Ieyasu began to cry in his caged cell, Aria slapped Leone's hand away, as her true nature began to show.

Aria: "And what's wrong with that!? You guys are just useless country bumpkins! You're not different from livestock!! I can treat you however I want!! And for a farm animal, that girl had beautiful straight hair and too much attitude! While I have to suffer this kinked hair of mine! So I made her pay for it! You should be thanking me for how thorough I was with her!"

After finishing her rant Leone and the raven-haired girl next to her was glaring at Aria.

Leone: "They we're just wolves in sheep's clothing... Sorry I stopped you, Akame..."

The raven haired girl named Akame raised her katana with killing intent towards Aria.

Akame: "She's going down..."

Tatsumi: "Wait"

The two looked towards the brown haired boy, his hair darkening his face. He was marching towards Aria, a hand on his sword handle, the blade resting on his back.

Leone: "Don't tell me you're still going to stand up for her?"

Tatsumi: "No... I'll be the one to kill he-"

Before Tatsumi managed to take a big step, an arrow flew past him and pierced Aria's head, they didn't even had time to react as the arrow flew past the three of them piercing through Aria's head. The three looked towards the source of the arrow and saw a blonde teen with his left eyes closed, holding a golden bow with his left hand and his right hand in the air, meaning he had just shot the arrow.

Hiro: (Smirking) "Bullseye."

[End]

Next chapter