As for Bill, he later received a letter from Gozuki. To Bill's surprise, this letter was not asking for Kaede, but for Kurome.
In an instant, Bill seemed to understand something. Gritting his teeth with a twisted face, he gnashed them and roared in a low voice: "Gozuki! Kaede! You all deserve to die!"
However, Bill also knew that he couldn't defeat Gozuki, nor could he contend with the Elite Group, and as for Kaede, there was no need to say more—he had already been taught a lesson by her.
Now, although Bill understood a few things, this was, after all, a way to send away an existence that could explode and take his life at any moment.
Previously, Bill had wanted to use Kaede to climb the ranks. After failing to control Kurome properly, Bill had a premonition that Kaede would slip out of his control, but he hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. Now, in his eyes, Kaede had turned into the Grim Reaper, and since he couldn't kill her, he had no choice but to send her away.
Furthermore, a smile appeared on Bill's face—a smile of someone watching a show. Did that Gozuki really think he could control Kaede?
Could Gozuki succeed where he had failed? Bill laughed, as if mocking Gozuki's overestimation of his own abilities. He wanted to see the angry and frustrated expression on Gozuki's face when he realized Kaede could not be controlled and he was helpless.
However, if Gozuki knew Bill's thoughts, he would likely just laugh it off.
His method of controlling others was completely different from Bill's; he relied primarily on family bonds.
Although it was a pity that Kaede hadn't been educated by him from a young age, at least Akame had been, and Akame would not refuse his requests.
Furthermore, Akame hadn't suffered much under his tutelage, at most developing drug resistance, but that was a mandatory course for all assassins, something even Kaede had undergone in the past.
(Although the manga wasn't finished, I feel like Gozuki was indeed killed by Akame, right? After all, Murasame was taken by Akame~)
Therefore, Gozuki asking for Kurome also meant asking for Kaede; there was no reason for Bill to disagree.
Soon, Kaede and Kurome received this news.
"Kaede~ We can finally reunite with Big Sister soon!" Kurome's eyes widened, and she shook Kaede's arm, becoming excited.
"Yes." Kaede smiled, ruffling Kurome's hair, feeling a little excited herself. Finally, the three sisters were going to be together again.
In that sense, her efforts hadn't been in vain. However, Kaede looked up at the sky; she would have to continue working hard in the future~
"Then, let's go find Akame." Kaede smiled, looking at Kurome with eyes crinkled.
"Yeah!" Kurome nodded vigorously. Looking at the smile on her sister's face, she felt a moment of excitement. After her sister had returned that time, she had once again shown the smile that hadn't bloomed on her face for a long time.
And, Sister's smile is so cool!
Kurome thought, blushing.
Holding Kurome's small hand, the two of them walked slowly towards where Akame was, chatting and laughing along the way. No one was in a rush. The weather was clear, the sun was bright, and it was a happy, wonderful day~
On the empire's main road, the same busy crowds moved about, yet not a single face bore a smile—only an overwhelming sense of oppression.
If life required meaning, then perhaps the people here could not be said to truly live; they merely existed, clinging on by a thread.
However, Kaede, who had grown accustomed to all this, felt nothing in particular. Kurogane, too, hadn't noticed these things.
"Sister, look!" Kurogane pointed at a little golden-haired girl who had fallen on the ground ahead.
"Little one, are you alright?" Kaede paused for a moment, then walked over and helped the fallen girl to her feet.
"Big Sister, I'm fine." The little girl fought back the tears welling in her eyes and looked at Kaede with an adorable expression.
"Mm, can you tell Big Sister where your parents are?" Kaede was taken aback by the girl's appearance—her emerald-green eyes were so pure, completely untainted by the filth of this imperial capital.
"I got separated from my mother. Father isn't home." The little girl blinked and replied.
"Kaede, let's help her find her mother, okay?" Kurogane, watching the little girl from the side, was also melted by her cuteness. She clung to Kaede's arm and began to plead.
"Alright, alright~" Kaede used her hand to wipe the dust from the little girl's face and spoke in a gentle tone she hadn't used in a long time. "Little one, shall Big Sister take you to find your mother?"
"Mm, mm, yes!!" The little girl nodded.
Kaede stood up and took the little girl's hand. Kurogane glanced over and quickly hopped to the girl's other side. "I'll hold this side~"
"Mm."
The little girl looked at the two Big Sisters on her left and right and broke into a happy smile, like an angel standing proudly above the filth without a speck of dust touching her.
However, a child is still a child. After just a few steps, the little girl's gaze was drawn to the street snacks, though she had heard her mother say they couldn't afford such things.
"Do you want some?" Kaede's voice sounded beside the little girl's ear.
"Mmm... I'd better not." The little girl's face fell, and she finally said, "Mom said not to eat these things."
"Boss, one stick." Kaede found it somewhat amusing. Seeing the girl's expression, she simply bought a stick for her.
"Thank you, sister!" Though she had initially refused, after Kaede bought it, the little girl happily accepted it.
"I never thought I'd see such a little girl in this world." Kaede sighed softly as she watched the girl's flawless smile, then suddenly felt a tug on her sleeve.
Then, Kaede saw Kurogane also staring at her with longing eyes.
"Mm." With a light nod, Kaede indicated she understood. But her hand trembled slightly as she took the candied hawthorn stick. Yes, those who had been locked away for training had never tasted such things, had they? They must have longed for them too. At that moment, looking at Kurogane's expression, Kaede felt a sudden pang in her heart.
"Thank you, sister!" Kurogane took the candied hawthorn stick, squinting her eyes as she spoke. Though she had her own money to buy it, it was still better to have her sister buy it for her.
"Mm, you're welcome." Kaede ruffled Kurogane's hair, then noticed the little girl's gaze and, to the girl's surprise, ruffled her hair as well. The little girl squinted her eyes contentedly.
Then, as Kaede watched Kurogane and the little girl eating, she went and bought another stick. As for who would eat it? Of course, it was for herself. It seemed our protagonist ultimately couldn't resist the temptation~
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.