I love time travel the most!

However, Kobayashi behind her did not answer. Instead, he walked past her to the front of the Night Raid group, turned around, and stood at the very front looking at Esdeath.

"That's it."

Kobayashi said to her, "Stop, Captain, this place is full of Teigu users."

Even Esdeath knew why.

Let's begin with Chapter 92, our date.

At this moment, Kobayashi stood at the very front, subtly indicating that he was the leader.

Esdeath lightly touched the brim of her hat, her sharp eyes fixed on the man she seemed to have a strong liking for, and questioned, "Kobayashi, have you betrayed the Empire?"

She probably never expected that Kobayashi, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, would betray her.

However, Esdeath misunderstood one thing.

"Betrayal? No, it should be called infiltration."

Kobayashi explained, "Betrayal means joining an organization at the beginning, then leaving to join a second organization and pledging allegiance to it. Someone like me, who doesn't pledge allegiance to a second organization, is called an undercover agent."

Come to think of it, he was quite successful as an undercover agent.

He's already the second-in-command; if he doesn't wrap things up soon, he'll probably become the boss on par with Esdeath.

Esdeath, however, did not care.

She said coldly, "It makes no difference to me; what matters is that you betrayed me."

"I am deeply sorry about this."

Kobayashi bowed slightly, full of apology.

With his ability to read minds, he knew how much Esdeath trusted him. Even when he acted strangely, she deliberately didn't investigate. For example, when he let Lubbock escape, even though he had already given himself away, she didn't arrest or interrogate Kobayashi.

That's why he felt he had taken advantage of the other person's trust.

Let's go back to the previous topic.

"Xiaolin, you said you were an undercover agent all along, so why didn't you attack me when you had so many opportunities to kill me?"

This is also what makes Esdeath so strange.

She had tested Kobayashi several times, but he never showed any malice, and it was certainly not a superficial excuse like not having a chance to make a move.

After Kobayashi joined, the two were practically inseparable except for missions or visits to the palace to meet the emperor. She even shared a bed with Kobayashi every night without any suspicion.

You can make a move anytime you want.

"Yes……"

Kobayashi stroked his chin and recalled, "Actually, I could have made my move when I first met the captain, and I was absolutely confident that I could have killed him."

"So that's how it is. Wasn't relying on ourselves back then just self-deception?"

Esdeath narrowed her eyes slightly.

When the two first met, Kobayashi was quite scared, but when Ryuu appeared, she didn't show any fear in her micro-expressions or small movements. Perhaps she was confident that she could kill him at that time.

However, why didn't they take action?

"Because I was attracted by the captain's charm."

"……Eh?"

Kobayashi seemed to have said something shocking, and when everyone doubted whether they had misheard, he repeated it.

"That's right, I was attracted to him at first sight."

While everyone else was stunned, Kobayashi continued to talk at length about Esdeath's charm.

"Exceptional strength and domineering presence."

Of course, these are just the basics.

Captain, although you are very bad, you are very popular. You are very cruel to your enemies, but you are very kind and benevolent to your subordinates and friends. Even though your subordinates know that they are following the evil party, they are still loyal to you. This strong contrast is really impressive.

I initially only saw the captain as a formidable and powerful final opponent, but I eventually became attracted to him.

Even though I know the captain won't change his mind about what he believes in because of certain things, his unconditional trust in me still gradually made me have some unrealistic ideas.

I thought I'd wait and see; just because others can't do it doesn't mean I can't.

Although one could also use reasons such as "your existence is a deterrent, a necessary presence to counter other forces and prevent invasion."

but……

Yes, it's true that I was attracted by the captain's charm, which is why I hesitated for so long.

This statement is nothing short of a depth charge.

Not only the Night Raid members, but even Esdeath was shocked by Kobayashi's words.

Place your hand on your chest and feel your beating heart.

"What is this? This unknown feeling, my heart is beating so fast."

Esdeath's cheeks flushed slightly.

Although she had been praised by her subordinates before, for some reason Kobayashi's words made her even more nervous, excited, and shy, causing her to experience intense emotional fluctuations.

Unknown emotions welled up within me.

Kobayashi then said to her, "Captain, what kind of person am I in your eyes? I'm very curious."

"You are my most trusted and reliable subordinate."

Esdeath didn't hesitate and said very seriously and formally, "From the first time we met, you intrigued me. Whether it was the inexplicable sense of closeness or the atmosphere that made you stand out from the others, you were as confused as everyone else, yet you had your own unique persistence."

Your constant calmness, as if you have everything under control, makes me very optimistic about you. However, your slightly frantic actions due to unexpected events amuse me.

Without me even realizing it, you've captured all my attention.

When I found out you were the enemy and betrayed me, I was furious, even more furious than when Tatsumi rejected me several times.

I'm so angry I just want to take you to the torture chamber and give you a good dressing down.

Wow, no wonder she's a super S queen.

but……

Really? Does she think so too?

Kobayashi smiled happily, and Esdeath returned the smile with an equally assertive one.

The two looked at each other in silence.

The onlookers couldn't stand it anymore.

"What is this... Hey, what is this?"

Lubbock grabbed his cheeks with both hands, almost frantically saying, "We're in the middle of a final battle right now, what are those two doing there? Are they confessing their love to each other? And with Esdeath no less?! You must be kidding, you must be kidding! That bastard Kobayashi, he's just too enviable!"

Engaging in flirtatious behavior in public?

Who can bear this!

"What are you talking about, Lubbock? How could they possibly be confessing their feelings to each other? You must be mistaken."

Leone pressed hard on his shoulder from behind.

Although she had a smile on her face, it still carried a strong sense of threat, and her loose hair flew wildly behind her, making her look like an enraged lioness.

Startled, Lubbock quickly apologized.

"Confess? That's not how it is, Lubbock."

Upon hearing this, Kobayashi grinned and laughed, retorting, "The captain and I simply admire and respect each other!"

Just like Lu Kang and Yang Hu, they were rivals but admired each other.

"Then I'll say it again."

Kobayashi extended his right hand and said to Esdeath, "Stop, Captain, this place is full of Teigu users."

Just like she was back then.

Even if they are enemies, they will recruit them as long as they have talent, completely disregarding the angry expressions on the faces of the Night Raid members.

however--

"Absolutely impossible!"

Esdeath drew her rapier from her waist and resolutely refused, saying, "I will never surrender! You can only make me surrender if I die!"

...As expected.

Kobayashi had anticipated this; Esdeath's personality would never allow her to submit to others, and naturally, she wouldn't surrender without a fight.

"Excellent! That's what a captain should be like, that's what General Esdeath should be like!"

Kobayashi also praised her enthusiastically.

It's precisely because the other person is so assertive and domineering, consistently adhering to their beliefs from beginning to end, that they possess an allure that attracts you, isn't it?!

Esdeath surveyed her enemies with a haughty and arrogant gaze, and said loudly, "Kobayashi, you don't actually think you can kill me with so few people, do you? You're underestimating me!"

"How could that be? I know how powerful the captain is, so naturally I won't let them take action."

Although Kobayashi also enjoys the righteous gang-up, most of the people in the night raid have died once and cannot be resurrected. The army, on the other hand, is merely a bunch of weaklings for Esdeath to mow down, and there's no way they'd be allowed to participate.

Most importantly, to make Esdeath submit, you must defeat her in a one-on-one fight!

"Red eyes, sword."

Kobayashi asked Akame for the "One-Hit Kill" technique.

He is far behind Esdeath, and to defeat her, he needs to be well prepared. The Murasame [One-Hit Kill] weapon is indispensable.

Akame simply threw the knife over, saying at the same time:

"Please be careful with it."

It was a simple story, but it contained care for Xiaolin.

Kobayashi held up the Murasame and said with a smile, "Do you remember what I said when we first met? Just like how Teigu users attract each other, there is also gravity between people, and your existence... no, its existence is to help me achieve victory. Don't worry, I will come back safely."