Elite Weirdos
*sigh* "Thought as much..." Najasho muttered and relaxed a bit after hearing Zero's explanation.
"Tch, if you knew, why didn't you tell us, chief?!" Poney asked with an annoyed expression.
"It was just a hunch." 'He is abnormally calm or is it just the result of his training? However judging by his words, he wasn't trained as a spy but as a guard...on the other hand, it could indicate that he has been telling the truth. We shall know once the father returns.' Najasho replied while staring straight into Zero's eyes as if he was suspicious that Zero didn't say everything.
Zero could see that Najasho was probably the only person who was still suspicious of him.
'It looks like he isn't only the strongest member in the group...'
.
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They continued waiting until evening but Gozuki still hasn't returned which prompted the girls to go take a bath in a near hot spring. While Zero was busy thinking about whether he left any suspicious trails back on the battlefield, girls tied up Guy, telling the others to watch him before leaving to take a bath.
'Maybe he will notice that I took a few items from the other guards but that shouldn't be any problem...maybe the corpse of that prisoner I left deeper in the forest might cause him some concerns in case it hasn't been eaten by the danger beasts yet. Still, I can easily explain that. I don't think I have left any trail leading to the Hakurou river.'
'?! Why the hell is he tied up?' "What is going on?" Zero finally noticed Guy and decided to ask the other 2 who were next to him.
"Guy has a tendenc-" Before Green was able to explain, he was interrupted.
"Come on guys! Hey, you, newcomer!" Guy shouted at Zero which made him point his index finger at his own surprised face.
"Yeah, you, come untie me, I need to take a piss. The others are afraid I would go peek at the girls, you can come with me to make sure nothing happens." 'The new guy is the only one I can count on right now...I hope he catches on ' Guy explained with a friendly smile, very unlike before when he tried to intimidate Zero.
"...Sure" Zero pushed himself off the tree he was leaning on and approached the group for the first time but when he got close enough, Najasho stood up from his seat which prompted Zero to stop and look at him.
"Don't believe him, he has ways how to disappear right in front of your eyes" Green kindly explained to Zero but Najasho had different thoughts.
"Guy is not an ungrateful kind of person, I am more worried about you deliberately giving out your position to the girls and while the girls would be occupied chasing and beating up Guy, you could sneak off." Najasho frowned and said with folded arms.
"..." Both Green and Guy looked at each other before looking back and forth between Najasho and Zero in silence.
"...haha, aren't you overestimating my abilities? If I were to escape, I would become yours and the Empire's primary target. Not to mention, I have no reason to escape." 'Still, I would like to bury a few things around here in the mountains, this guy is overly cautious of random Imperial guard.' Zero laughed at Najasho's words before he put his hands up and retreated to his previous place.
"Well, I wouldn't let Guy out of my sight anyway. There is no need to be so overly suspicious, chief." Green said in a strange tone which prompted Guy to question his reasons why he doesn't want to let him peek at the girls, shamelessly admitting his intentions.
While the group was talking, Zero's eyes narrowed for a few seconds before relaxing them again.
'Spies? Or perhaps other mercenaries aiming for their lives?' Zero slowly put his hand on the hilt of his sword when he felt like someone was watching them. He started discreetly looking around, and while Green and Guy didn't notice his small actions due to them bantering between themselves, Najasho who was secretly watching every Zero's action noticed and was secretly surprised 'Those two still haven't noticed the girls but that guy did? Judging by his actions, he doesn't know for sure who it is but he definitely detected someone. Is he this sensitive because he grew up in dangerous slums? Now I understand the father's actions, if this guy isn't working with an enemy, he is too good to pass up as a lowly Imperial guard.'
Zero was completely ignoring those 3 guys but the moment he heard that Green's "secret" about Akame, his widened eyes turned to the group, not because Green revealed that he likes Akame but because of the reason behind his affection.
'...Armpit? Are you for real? I might be capable of understanding if he said feet but ugh...Where can I buy Clorox in this world?' Zero thought while looking at Green with disgust in his eyes.
"W-What's with those pitiful looks! And why are you looking at me with disgust?! You should have just ignored our conversation!" Green shouted at the others before pointing at Zero.
"Sorry, I didn't expect you or anyone in this world to be so open. Your group must be like a family if you aren't embarrassed to talk about your armpit fetish. Are you sure it wasn't actually your secret desire to tell it to the others?" Zero apologized in a polite tone but a disgusted look in his eyes remained.
'Nobody attacked yet? Could it be the presence I previously felt were the girls? ...If so, they must have heard everything and left. That's going to hurt in the morning, I almost feel sorry for this four-eyed pervert.'
"NO! And why the hell did the look in your eyes suddenly change from disgusted to a pitiful one, it isn't any better!" Green immediately disagreed with Zero's words.
'This group is full of weirdos but it's a bit ironic that the quiet and smart-looking one is a bigger pervert than the buff guy who keeps talking about peeking on the girls and going to the brothels. You certainly can't judge the book by its cover. I already miss Seryu's presence, at least she was the only person I had to deal with.'