"I didn't expect that anyone besides that woman could make me use this form."
His voice like rolling thunder, Budo seemed like the god of thunder descending.
"Not bad."
Watching this, Ayato's eyes lit up slightly.
These Imperial Arms had more potential than he thought.
But thinking about it, Esdeath's "Demon's Extract", whose ultimate technique could even freeze time, showed that.
"Still that attitude?"
Budo was furious. He shot up like a bolt of lightning and threw a punch at Ayato.
Boom!
The air rippled...
But it was like punching an iron wall.
Budo's eyes widened in horror as he saw that even his lightning couldn't damage the other's clothes.
It seemed an invisible force was isolating everything.
'How was this possible?'
'I am one of the Empire's strongest. Even a Super Danger Beast couldn't ignore my full-powered punch.'
'What was this person?'
Boom!
Ayato punched back, directly piercing the lightning armor and caving in Budo's body.
The violent power caused visible air explosions.
The surrounding air rippled like the surface of a lake.
The next instant,
Budo shot backward like a cannonball, causing a distant palace to collapse.
Ayato brushed some non-existent dust from his uniform, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"It seems fighting without magic once in a while is a good experience."
With Origin Magic...
If anyone thought Ayato was a fragile mage, they'd be sorely mistaken.
After all, what proper mage doesn't fight close-quarters?
"..."
In the distance, Leone and Najenda were dumbstruck.
Even Akame's small mouth was slightly open.
'General Budo, one of the Empire's strongest, was toyed with like a child?'
'This was simply inhuman!'
'Wait, he's a Devil.'
"Ugh!"
Budo spat out a mouthful of blood, struggling to stand. Looking at the not-so-tall figure in the distance, his expression changed dramatically.
"Maybe I went a bit overboard."
Looking at the flickering lightning on Budo's armor, Ayato raised an eyebrow.
That Imperial Arm was already his. He couldn't break it.
"Forget it. I'll just hit the parts without armor."
Ayato snapped his fingers.
Hum!
A light blue magic circle appeared before him.
"Th-this..."
Budo's eyelids twitched violently.
Terror!
Utter terror!
Although he didn't know what Ayato was about to do...
That strange magic circle made him feel the same fear he had felt as a child, first facing a Danger Beast.
"Die!"
With a roar, Budo's body leaped into the air.
Whatever Ayato was about to do, he had to stop him.
Crackle!
Brilliant blue lightning bloomed, as if tearing the void.
Thump!
A dull thud.
A headless body in armor crashed to the ground.
Budo's corpse twitched unnaturally a couple of times, then lay still.
"..."
Watching this, the three, Najenda, Leone, and Akame, fell silent.
Although their positions were opposed, General Budo, famous throughout the land, had just died like that.
They still couldn't process it.
"Akame, secure the Imperial Arm."
Ayato called out and continued walking forward.
"Yes, Master!"
The Imperial Arm, now ownerless, was easily removed by Akame, who carried it effortlessly.
"What should we do next?"
Snapping out of it, Najenda quickly followed with Leone.
"We're going to see the Emperor."
Ayato said without looking back.
"Are you going to kill him? But what then? Running an empire isn't easy."
Realizing the sheer overwhelming power Ayato possessed, Najenda began to think about the path forward.
After all, killing the Emperor was easy, but if the Empire collapsed without a plan, it would cause countless more bloody conflicts.
"Who said I'm going to kill him?"
Ayato stopped.
Najenda immediately bumped into him.
"Oh, surprisingly substantial?"
He looked at her, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"Ah?"
Najenda was stunned for a moment, then said with some shame and anger, "Devil-sama, please be serious."
She hadn't noticed before.
But this Devil was a pervert.
"What's substantial?"
Akame came up and also bumped into Ayato.
Seeing this, Najenda's eyelid twitched. She couldn't help but say,
"Akame, there's no need to learn this kind of thing, is there?"
"Hmm?"
Akame looked confused. "Didn't you just do that? And Master seemed happy."
Instinctively, she looked at Ayato.
"That's right. Good job."
Ayato nodded, giving his approval.
Hearing this, Akame smiled with encouragement.
"That's enough!"
Najenda held her forehead, too tired to complain.
'Akame, you're too innocent.'
"Devil-sama, tell us your plan."
Seeing the conversation veering off track, Leone stepped in. "Why not kill the Emperor?"
"Because if he dies, the Empire falls into chaos."
Ayato walked forward. "First, we control the entire Empire through him. That's what the Prime Minister did too."
"But will he obediently listen?"
Najenda murmured softly.
"Of course he will. Because I'm a Devil."
"Alright then..."
The corner of Najenda's mouth twitched.
His appearance was too deceptive; she kept forgetting that fact.
Legendary Devils were the best at manipulation.
…
The group chatted idly.
Mostly, Ayato talked about governing a country.
Akame looked at him with admiration.
Najenda and Leone also had complex expressions.
'This Devil was too talented.'
"Besides being a bit lecherous, Devil-sama actually seems pretty good."
"Yeah, he's very knowledgeable about governing."
"Boss, he's so handsome and talented. I feel like I'm falling for him. What should I do?"
"..."
The two exchanged glances, ultimately ending with Najenda's silence.
'Would my Night Raid become this Devil's harem?'
Remembering the two who were about to report in, Najenda got a headache.
Except for Budo, everyone in the Imperial Palace had been knocked unconscious by magic power.
So the group advanced unhindered.
Unknowingly, they arrived at the Emperor's bedchamber.
Looking at the equally unconscious young Emperor, Ayato directly slapped him.
Slap!
The sharp pain made the Emperor instinctively open his eyes.
What greeted his sight were those brilliant ruby-red eyes.
As if they would suck his very soul into them.
Mind-control illusion magic, also common among Devils.
Ayato had just learned it on the way.
Gradually...
The young Emperor's eyes glazed over. He said respectfully to Ayato, "My lord."
Ayato waved his hand. "Don't be in the way. Await orders."
"Yes!"
Watching the Emperor leave, Leone asked in surprise, "That's it? You wouldn't do that to us, would you?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Wh-what are you going to do?"
Leone stepped back, her face full of vigilance.
Although she liked Ayato, it had to be on her own terms.
"Don't worry. This low-level magic only works on the weak-willed."
Ayato shook his head and smiled. "Besides, what's the point of using magic to build a harem?"
"Hey, is it really okay to just say that out loud?"