Akame ga Kill: Starting with Dual Kamui

"I'm not lost, just wandering around. But I don't have a place to stay yet..."

Blayn replied.

"Then come to my house! It's quite big, and I can even offer you some delicious food,"

the blonde girl said with a bright smile.

"Thank you for your kindness. I'll gladly accept your offer."

Blayn didn't refuse.

Of course, that didn't mean he naively believed this girl was as kind and innocent as she appeared. He was simply curious about how nobles lived in this world.

A stranger going out of their way to be this friendly for no apparent reason? That was enough to make anyone wary. Who knew what kind of plans she might have for him?

Even if she did have ulterior motives, he had nothing to fear. With Double Kamui, he could handle anything.

Besides, he had no idea how long Esdeath would take to finish her business. He couldn't just wait around for her—he needed to explore the Empire on his own and gather information through different means.

"Great! It's settled then!"

The blonde girl giggled, looking pleased with herself for helping someone.

"But I still need to do some shopping, so I won't be heading home right away," she suddenly remembered and informed Blayn.

"No problem. Walking around a bit sounds good. I'd like to get more familiar with the capital anyway,"

Blayn responded casually.

"Perfect! Then hop in the carriage with me."

With that, she climbed back inside.

The carriage was spacious enough to seat four people, and Blayn sat across from her.

"...My lady, is this really appropriate?"

One of the guards standing outside hesitated.

After all, Blayn looked like an ordinary commoner. It wasn't just improper for him to sit in the same carriage as their lady—they also had concerns about her safety.

"It's fine, there's nothing to worry about," the blonde girl reassured them.

"...Alright then."

The guards had no choice but to go along with it, continuing to escort the carriage while keeping a close eye on what was happening inside.

"By the way, what's your name? I'm Aria," the girl introduced herself.

"Blayn," he answered.

"Blayn? That's such a nice name!" Aria praised.

Suddenly, she leaned in close, staring directly into his eyes.

Blayn could feel her breath on his face and instinctively leaned back slightly.

"Your eyes are really special… they look amazing," Aria remarked as she observed his blood-red pupils, which bore an intricate pattern.

"Is that so? Thanks." Blayn was a little surprised by the compliment.

But at that moment, Aria's true thoughts were far from kind.

A filthy country bumpkin like him dares to have such beautiful eyes?

She had already decided—she would sweet-talk him into coming home with her, then carve out those mesmerizing eyes as a keepsake before torturing him to death!

Yet outwardly, her expression remained the picture of innocence, her sweet smile perfectly masking the cruelty within.

"Seriously, if only I had eyes as beautiful as yours," she said with an air of longing.

"Are you unhappy with your own eyes?" Blayn asked.

He found it odd that a girl like Aria would admire his Mangekyō Sharingan.

To him, these eyes were indeed impressive—but more because of their power and aesthetic appeal. Most girls probably wouldn't think the same way.

"Hmm… I don't think mine look that good. It's always been a bit of a bother," Aria replied, nodding.

"I don't think they look bad at all. In fact, they're as beautiful as sapphires." Blayn spoke honestly.

Aria's large, bright eyes were already stunning, and they paired perfectly with her golden curls and turquoise irises. He couldn't understand why she would think otherwise.

"Eh? You really think so?…" Aria seemed genuinely surprised.

"Of course. I think you should have more confidence in your beauty, Miss Aria." Blayn nodded.

"…"

Aria fell silent for a moment, her previously smug expression briefly freezing.

Moments ago, she had been entertaining the idea of ruthlessly torturing him to death, yet now… something inside her wavered, just for a second.

But only for a second.

The hesitation vanished as quickly as it came, and she soon regained her usual bright smile.

"You're right! I should be more confident. Thanks, Blayn," she said cheerfully.

The carriage came to a stop in a busy shopping district.

As soon as Aria stepped out, she excitedly hurried toward a clothing store, two of her guards following close behind.

Blayn, on the other hand, had no interest in shopping, so he remained by the carriage.

One of the guards was left behind as well, tasked with watching over the vehicle.

Seemingly bored, the guard struck up a conversation with Blayn.

"See that palace over there? As an outsider, you probably don't know what our Emperor is like…"

He gestured toward the grand structure in the distance.

They were deep within the Imperial Capital now, and the Royal Palace sat at its very center, surrounded by towering walls. Ordinary citizens likely had no chance of ever stepping inside.

"I'd like to hear more." Blayn was genuinely interested. He knew little about the Emperor and wanted to learn more about how the Empire was run.

"The Emperor is actually just a child. He doesn't rule the Empire—the one pulling the strings from behind the scenes is the Prime Minister…" The guard's expression darkened.

"He's the one responsible for the Empire's corruption and darkness. The Imperial Capital is an even crueler place than you might think."

Then, lowering his voice, he added,

"But you'd best keep your mouth shut about this. Even though it's common knowledge, if the wrong person hears you talking, you might just lose your head."

Blayn gave a small nod.

"I understand…"

This was useful information.

And the Prime Minister the guard mentioned—he was likely the same one Esdeath had referred to earlier.

Blayn also couldn't shake the feeling that the guard was subtly warning him about something.

If the capital was truly as corrupt and ruthless as the guard described, then was Aria's kindness genuine?

He hoped he was overthinking things… but still, he made sure to stay on guard.

Not long after, Aria emerged from the store. She wasn't carrying anything herself, but her two guards were practically drowning in bags, their arms and even heads piled high with purchases.

With a sweet and innocent smile, Aria waved at Blayn.

"Blayn, come over here! Let's go shopping together!"

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