Akame ga Kill: Starting with Dual Kamui Chapter 5: Aiming to Become a General

Blayn harbored a degree of distrust towards Esdeath, understanding that once labeled 'dangerous,' such a reputation was hard to shed.

However, Blayn possessed his own ace up his sleeve – the Double Kamui, which at least ensured his survival.

Thus, he felt no apprehension towards Esdeath.

"Excellent. We'll rest here for the night and make our way back to the Imperial Capital at first light," Esdeath declared.

Blayn inquired, "As a general of the Empire, what brings you out here alone?"

"I initially came with a detachment of soldiers to hunt a Special-Class Danger Beast, but the intelligence proved faulty. Its power far exceeded our expectations, and during the engagement, we attracted several Class One and Class Two Danger Beasts. Ultimately, I managed to slay the primary target, but I was the sole survivor," Esdeath briefly explained.

"I understand… My apologies, I should not have asked," Blayn offered.

"It's nothing. It's a minor regret, but they were simply too weak and perished. That is the extent of it."

Esdeath displayed utter indifference, her deeply ingrained belief in the law of the fittest rendering the demise of her soldiers insignificant in her eyes.

"..."

Blayn remained silent, recognizing the futility of debating the matter with Esdeath.

"I am quite satisfied now. Would you mind instructing me on the valuable components of these Danger Beasts?" he asked, steering the conversation in a new direction.

"Certainly. Though, you are not already aware?" Esdeath expressed mild surprise.

Considering Blayn's earlier display of prowess, she had presumed he hailed from a tribe whose livelihood depended on hunting Danger Beasts.

Blayn shook his head. "Prior to the destruction of my village, my encounters with Danger Beasts were infrequent, leaving me with limited knowledge."

"Hmm. In that case, allow me to teach you."

Esdeath rose, approached the carcasses of the Danger Beasts Blayn had felled, and drew her longsword from its sheath.

"First, this Man-Eating Flower. Its prized part is the golden segment within the pistil – it boasts significant medicinal value."

Demonstrating as she spoke, Esdeath skillfully extracted the golden pistil with her blade and presented it to Blayn. Unlike Blayn, whose financial situation was precarious, Esdeath, as a general, enjoyed a substantial income and numerous accolades, rendering extra monetary gain unnecessary.

"Next..."

She continued to expound on and illustrate the methods for harvesting valuable materials from each type of Danger Beast.

Blayn quickly perceived Esdeath's profound expertise in this domain.

Driven by curiosity, he inquired, "You appear remarkably adept at this, and even earlier, your fish-grilling technique was exceptionally skillful. Did you grow up hunting Danger Beasts?"

"Indeed. I am a descendant of the Partas Clan, a tribe specializing in the hunting of Danger Beasts. We have practiced this from a young age," Esdeath disclosed. "However, my clan was later annihilated by the Northern Tribes. Much like yourself, I was the sole survivor. After exhausting the Danger Beasts in the region, boredom led me to enlist in the Imperial Army."

Her tone remained utterly detached, as though recounting a trivial incident, as if the obliteration of her entire clan held no significant weight or memory.

Blayn found her simultaneously formidable and somewhat pathetic. This past experience had likely forged her extreme adherence to the doctrine of the jungle.

Yet, with such a worldview, she would likely not welcome his pity, and might even find it peculiar.

"I see..."

For a brief moment, Blayn was at a loss for words.

"You can sell these materials for coin in the Imperial Capital, but do not concern yourself with finances. You will soon receive a generous salary," Esdeath added.

The remaining Danger Beast carcasses held no further utility.

Night descended.

Neither Blayn nor Esdeath intended to travel under the cover of darkness.

Despite Blayn's Mangekyō Sharingan granting him perfect night vision, the earlier exertion of his Intangibility ability had significantly depleted his stamina. Rest was the more prudent course of action.

As Esdeath carried no possessions save for her weaponry, both merely settled onto the ground to sleep.

However, as it was still early and with nothing else to occupy their time, a conversation ensued.

"How old are you? You appear quite youthful," Esdeath inquired.

"Eighteen. You are not considerably older yourself," Blayn responded.

He did not object to conversing with Esdeath. With a dearth of other activities, casual dialogue could potentially yield valuable insights.

It also felt natural, avoiding any appearance of ulterior motives.

"Then you are two years my junior," Esdeath remarked.

"Twenty? That is quite impressive. Attaining the rank of general at such a tender age is a remarkable accomplishment," Blayn complimented.

"There are other generals around my age, actually. One is merely four or five years my senior," Esdeath stated.

The individual she alluded to was Najenda. At this juncture, Najenda had not yet defected and remained Esdeath's comrade, frequently joining her on military expeditions.

Naturally, given that Blayn had never even heard of Esdeath prior to their encounter, he was entirely unaware of Najenda as well.

"You possess the capability to ascend to the rank of general. My hope is that you will set this as your aspiration," Esdeath voiced.

"Me? Perhaps I ought to consider it..."

Blayn offered a non-committal reply.

At this present moment, his position remained undefined. Given that he did not yet fully grasp this realm, he could only proceed cautiously, one step at a time.

Esdeath presented a clear danger, yet she harbored no ill will towards him. Her presence warranted close observation.

As the night deepened.

When the hour for slumber arrived, both Blayn and Esdeath simply settled down on the earth.

Blayn's stamina far exceeded that of a common individual, and Esdeath was considerably more robust. Resting in the open was not an obstacle for either of them.

Nevertheless, their rest was not entirely tranquil.

They were compelled to maintain a state of vigilance, anticipating any sudden assaults from Danger Beasts.

Blayn, too, remained wary of Esdeath.

At the slightest tremor, he would awaken in an instant.

Mercifully, the night concluded without any untoward events.

It was only in the early hours of the dawn that a Danger Beast unexpectedly materialized, disrupting their slumber.

Esdeath was the swifter to react, efficiently dispatching the Class Two Danger Beast with mere moments of combat.

"An opportune moment. Now that daylight has arrived, we ought to proceed," she declared, dislodging crimson droplets from her weapon before addressing Blayn.

"Very well," Blayn confirmed with a nod.

With these words, the pair commenced their journey towards the Imperial Capital—a metropolis that had flourished for over a millennium.