Chapter 190: *Crunch*

“Not bad, sis. – Ryuu clapped his hands, deliberately ignoring the shocked little black–haired sisters – However, it seems that the armor and bones of this lion turned out to be quite hard, since your tender hand was so hurt by the recoil from the blow.

Esdes grinned and looked at her right hand, which was trembling, clutching the falchion. A couple of places on her palm had small rough tears, from which scarlet blood was slowly flowing.

The falchion made by Ryuu was perfect, despite the relatively modest raw materials from which it is made. So he wasn’t the problem.

“His armor is pretty solid. Esdes chuckled, trying to hide her annoyance. It seemed to her that with this small injury she showed her weakness not only to her brother, but also to the guests.

While Kurome and Akame continued to parody soulless mannequins, Ryuu approached Esdes and, under her surprised gaze, took his sister’s hand and began gently massaging the bruised place and at the same time bandaging it with a clean piece of cloth

The warmth of her brother’s gentle strokes spread through Esdes’ body, including her heart.

She watched in fascination as her brother bandaged her such a trifling wound.

Esdes was injured quite often, but usually she managed to process them before meeting Ryuu, and therefore such care was new to her.

– Done. – Ryuu smiled, tying a cute bow on the bandage at the end – It will heal quickly, I know you, but it’s better not to strain this arm so much, okay?

– I’ll try. Esdes replied, pulling her hand out of the warm captivity of Ryuu’s palms. Then she turned her gaze to Akame and Kurome – Brother, it looks like our guests are very hungry… Esdes spoke with a hint in her voice, building an innocent expression on her face

Ryuu chuckled, shaking his head and quietly said “sly fox” under his breath. – Okay, I’ll cook it today, so be it.

– Great. Esdes smiled contentedly

Finally, Akame and Kurome thawed out.

–S-thank you for saving us,” Akame said, feeling her rapidly beating heart gradually calm down

– No problem. – Ryuu winked – My sister won’t give up a little battle before going to bed.

– And your food. Esdes added with a grin

– And my food… – Ryuu sighed and grinned, stomping towards the dead lion – You must be hungry, now I’ll cook something.

Reaching the lion, Ryuu scanned the carcass with the Eyes of the Emperor and the Imperial Zone to determine the juiciest and tastiest piece of flesh. – Yeah… – he stuck out his tongue and , under the surprised looks of Akame and Kurome , without straining , turned the lion on its side

– So strong… Kurome whispered in her sister’s ear, snuggling up

– Yes… – Akame replied in a whisper – Don’t be afraid, we are not in danger.

– OK. Kurome nodded

After making several cuts, Ryuu temporarily lagged behind the lion carcass – Great, I already have the best pieces. Have a seat, don’t be shy.

– thanks. Akame said and sat down with her sister on a stump

– Well, let’s introduce ourselves. Ryuu said, handing a clean cloth to Akama

– what? Akame asked, not understanding why she needed the fabric

– Your friend. – pointed his finger at Kurome, Ryuu – Her foot is seriously injured. Tie it up.

– Exactly! Akame exclaimed in alarm and turned around to face the paling Kuroma – Now, Kuroma.

– So your friend’s name is Kurome…

– Sister. She’s my little sister. – under the painful moans of Kurome during the dressing, Akame said – My name is Akame.

– Very nice. My name is Ryuu, and this is… Ryuu pointed his finger at Esdes, who was looking at him askance – My sweet older sister, Esdes.

Akame nodded meekly – Thanks again for saving us…

– I repeat, you’re welcome. Better tell me how you ended up here. – Ryuu asked, sitting down on a stump and starting to prepare the meat for cooking

– Kurome and I don’t know our parents. We lived all our lives in a shelter, which eventually sold us as a commodity to the Empire. My sister and I are not alone here. A lot of children were brought to this forest for some kind of exam, as I understood… What are you doing here? Akame asked with interest and suspicion

– We? We’re spending the night here. Esdes did not want to spend the night in the city and preferred to do it in the woods. My sister and I have recently started our journey through the Empire. We want to meet a lot of dangerous animals to hunt and become even stronger.

– Why? – I got into a dialogue with an innocent question of Kurome – You are already very strong…

– Not at all, we still have a lot to strive for. – Ryuu answered with a sweet smile – There are still a lot of monsters that we cannot afford and we are not satisfied with it.

– And why do you want to become even stronger? – she asked Kurom again, although Akame tried to pinch her sister to hint that she would get behind their rescuers

Esdes decided to answer this question – This is our ideology. We strive for strength in order to survive. To decide their fate, and not to entrust it into the hands of the stronger.

It was obvious that Kurome wanted to ask another question, but Akame’s pinching became quite brutal and the girl had to stop.

“Hmm, I’m missing some spices… – Ryuu said and looked at Akame – Besides, your sister needs medicines. Esdes and I usually use only bandages and antidotes of my preparation, but Kurome is unlikely to be able to survive with only this bandage. – getting to his feet, Ryuu stretched – Eh, I’m going to go to the city and buy everything I need.

After walking a few meters, Ryuu turned and squinted at Esdes, which with all its nature expressed disinterest in the guests – Esdes do not let them offend.

– I won’t, I won’t. – Esdes waved her hand – You’d better come back quickly.

– I’ll try. Ryuu grinned and ran into the city

…

Meanwhile, two gangs were looking for Ryuu and Esdes. They found their people chopped up and all they know is that they were chasing two blue-haired children.

The gangs immediately rejected the assumption that their comrades had hacked each other in a skirmish. It was clear from the bodies that this was definitely not the case.

A truce was concluded between them, for the sake of revenge.

…

– Have you seen two blue-haired children of ten years old here?

– No, I haven’t.

– Are you sure?

– Yes, you can hardly lose sight of such people.

…

– Two blue-haired children of ten years old. Have you seen it?

– Yes, I saw them walking towards the slums.

– Fine, keep the gold, but if I find out that you lied, you’ll lose your other hand.

– I’m not lying, I’m not lying!

– Ha, let’s see.

…

A large group of bandits broke into the slum, which clearly frightened its inhabitants.

Having gathered a small crowd, they began to interrogate.

– There were blue-haired children of ten years old. Where are they? For each false answer, I will break each of you on the finger, please note.

–Oh, they were here, sir, they were! But I do not know where they can be! a dirty forty–year-old woman exclaimed. Her face was covered with pustules and growths.

– Hmm, break her finger to show the seriousness of our intentions. Will resist, break two.

– No! No, no, no!..* crunch * AAAAAAAAAGHAGHAGHAGH! I don’t know! I don’t know anything, really!

– Perhaps, again, I just wanted to show the seriousness of this interrogation. – the leader shrugged his shoulders – And so, let’s continue … you. Tell me what you know.

– They were here, they were! But I really don’t know where they went! They just fed us and left!

– I see… Break his finger, I don’t believe him.

– Wait, wait! I know who might know where they are!

– Is that so? And who?

– Pink-haired brat! Mine, yes, Mine! It was she who gathered us all when they came to feed us. She knows them! I say for sure, he knows! She’s also a slum dweller, she must be here somewhere!

– Hmm, not bad… And yet break his finger, I don’t like the way he looks at us.

– No, no, no!.. * crunch * AAAAAAAAA!

– Shut up! You’re yelling like a woman! – said the bandit who broke his fingers by hitting a peasant in the face and knocking him out

Lighting a cigarette, the leader said – So, we are closer to the solution than Sato and his people. If we find out that our comrades died in a skirmish with them, then each of you will take advantage of this truce and stab Sato and his men in the back.

– Yes, boss.

– Find this girl. Get the information out of it, I allow everything in general.

– All right, boss.

…

– Let me go! Let me go! Mayne screamed in panic when three big men grabbed her

– Kami, look at what a doll! And you can’t tell under this dirt and soot that such beauty is hiding inside! – the bandit was saying, wiping dirt and ashes from the cheeks of the mine with a rag – We will get information out of it, then “try” it, and then we will give it to the Mayor as an apology for the recent noise that we raised.

– Great idea, the boss will be thrilled.

– Help me! Please help! Mayne screamed, trying to escape, but passers–by simply shyly averted their eyes and seemed not to hear the child’s screams

– Plug it with a rag, my ears are already tired.

– Ha, I like her voice. – one of them said, tearing a piece of cloth from his sleeve and plugging her mouth with Mine

– So this hut will do, let’s borrow it for a while. – said the one who carried the Main and entered a random house from the slums

…

Some time later…

– Yeah, it’s a pity she passed out quickly… I wanted so much to hear her beg me not to put my big guy in her…

– Idiot, you knocked her out. Why did you put out your eye? Naturally, she passed out from shock! It’s strange that she didn’t die of shock, you idiot! What the fuck did you put it out for?

– Well… I like one-eyed girls… Besides, I’ve always been interested in one thing…

“Don’t tell me… You’re a fucking psycho, Rick! Are you really going to put it in there!? Are you even friends with your head!?

– Hey! I don’t want to hear this from a man who likes his victim to vomit! Better wake her up somehow!

…

– Thank you, this is what you need. Ryuu said with a smile, buying a large set of various spices

Walking down the street, he thought – “There are so many new things here! My head is just exploding with ideas! These dragon tongues combined with scarlet buds will give an extremely interesting taste!”

Suddenly Ryuu froze, as did his face.

Then Ryuu’s face became blank and emotionless.

His eyes were filled with cold rage and anger.