On a street in the empire stood three people who stood out from the crowd, for the expressions on their faces were completely at odds with their surroundings.
However, these three shared one characteristic: they were all quite young, with one of them appearing to be only a few years old.
Well, if it was understandable for someone of that age to show such a blissful expression over something they liked, why were the other two also wearing such expressions?
Was it really necessary to look so blissful just from eating a candied hawthorn stick?
Well, these were naturally our protagonists. As for whether it was necessary—would you dare ask them?
Mm, having successfully gotten their treats, the protagonist team once again forgot their current task—helping the little girl find her mother—and instead began wandering around.
In the end, it was the little girl's mother who found her.
The little girl's mother immediately embraced her, her hands patting the girl's body as if checking to make sure no parts were missing.
"Sister..." Kurogane couldn't help but show envy in her eyes as she watched the little girl and her mother.
As for Kaede, she felt little upon seeing this scene. Perhaps there was a hint of envy, but she was already quite content. She had met Asuna, Akame, and Kurogane and was living a life she had never dared to imagine before. What more could she ask for?
However, noticing Kurogane's emotions, Kaede walked behind her and wrapped her arms around Kurogane from behind, burying her face in Kurogane's hair and murmuring, "Little one, what are you thinking? I'm right here."
"Mm." Kurogane was taken aback, then a smile suddenly bloomed on her face. Feeling the warmth from behind, she raised her hands to rest on Kaede's arms encircling her and closed her eyes.
"Mom, I'm fine!" the little girl said at that moment. Her mother had been patting her all over, and though the girl was sensible and knew her mother was worried, it was still quite uncomfortable~
"It's good that you're alright." Seemingly reassured that her daughter was unharmed, the golden-haired beauty turned to Kaede and Kurogane and smiled. "Thank you."
"Mm, you're welcome." Kaede released Kurogane, and the two stood side by side.
"What about her father?" Kaede asked. She was somewhat surprised as to who, in such an empire, could raise such an untainted daughter.
"Her father works in the empire's Incineration Unit." When the golden-haired beauty mentioned her husband, a gentle look appeared in her eyes.
"Incineration Unit!" Kaede exclaimed in shock.
"Kaede? Do you know it?" Kurogane couldn't help but ask upon seeing Kaede's reaction.
Kaede nodded. "You could say I know of it. After all, once I finish certain tasks, they're usually the ones who handle the cleanup."
As she spoke, a hint of disdain appeared at the corner of Kaede's mouth. This empire was like covering one's ears to steal a bell, trying to hide something. The Incineration Unit burned everything. But did the empire truly believe they could burn away their sins and history?
"Are you also part of the empire?" the golden-haired beauty couldn't help but ask.
"Mm." Kaede and Kurogane nodded. Only then did Kaede take a closer look at the golden-haired woman. She had long, flowing golden hair, beautiful emerald-green eyes, and wore clothes that were not luxurious—just ordinary, even akin to what commoners wore.
If someone in the Incineration Unit wanted money, profiting from the dead was quite easy. From this perspective, her husband must be a decent fellow.
However, she couldn't judge whether her husband was good or bad, just as she couldn't judge herself. Though Kaede never regretted her actions, was she good? Could someone with so much blood on her hands be considered good? But was she evil? She was merely someone striving step by step to realize her own ideals.
Similarly, the empire's Incineration Unit didn't care whether you were just or evil, good or bad, right or wrong. If there was an order, they would burn everything!
Suddenly, Kaede felt a sense of kinship, though with a slight difference. Perhaps it was similar to her former self.
Believing in neither justice nor evil, only pursuing her own goals. As long as they could be achieved, the means—whether righteous or wicked—didn't matter.
"Hmm, my husband told us not to interact with people from the Empire," the blonde beauty said, "Although I don't know why, it seems what my husband said isn't entirely correct."
"Exactly." Kurome, standing nearby, felt the same way. To think they were forbidden from interacting with people from the Empire—did he think everyone in the Empire was a monster?
"No." Kaede suddenly understood why this little girl had managed to remain this way. Narrowing her eyes, she said, "You had better do as your husband told you; absolutely do not get involved with those people."
"By the way, what is your husband's name? Perhaps I might be able to meet him." Suddenly, Kaede felt a bit of interest in this person. As a head of the family, he was definitely qualified.
"Boros." Although she didn't understand why Kaede said that, the blonde beauty felt that Kaede had their best interests at heart. Since her husband had said the same thing, it seemed the waters within the Empire were very murky.
However, what did all of that have to do with her? Right now, she only had one worry: how her husband was living in such an environment, and whether he should quit that job and switch to an ordinary one.
"Alright, we'll be going now," Kaede said, pulling Kurome, who seemed to want to say something.
"Yes, thank you once again."
"Big Sister, will we be able to meet again in the future?" The little girl felt very fond of the Big Sister who had bought her food.
"Yes, we will," Kaede said, then added a sentence in her heart: If I'm still alive by then.
In this dog-eat-dog world, no one could guarantee they would still be alive the next moment, and Kaede was no exception.
Along the way, the two did not encounter anything else.
Soon, Kaede and Kurome saw a young girl standing in the sunset, seemingly waiting for someone: Akame.
After all, the place where the Elite Group was located, while not inside the Imperial City, was not very far away either.
"Sister!!" Kurome shouted and ran toward Akame.
"Kurome?!" Akame was stunned for a moment, then looked up and finally saw the person she had been longing for. Excited, she rushed over as well.
Seeing this scene, seeing Akame and Kurome embracing each other, Kaede felt once again that everything she had done was worth it.
A smile appeared on Kaede's face. In this moment, Kaede was truly happy; as long as she could just quietly watch this scene here, she felt exceptionally happy.
The pair of girls hugging seemed to be discussing something, and finally, they separated and ran towards Kaede together.
When they reached a few steps in front of Kaede, both girls jumped up, pouncing~
"Kaede!!"
"Sigh~"
"I love you the most!"
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