"Takeru, are you okay?" Seeing Takeru appear sowhat weak, Leone imdiately ran over and anxiously held him.
"I’m fine, just a bit tired. But he’s no longer in critical danger. However, there are still remnants of the virus, and his injuries will need further treatnt later." After speaking these words in a tired tone, Takeru said no more.
"I understand. Thank you so much. I will definitely take good care of him!" Hearing Takeru’s words, Tatsumi imdiately perford a formal kneeling bow to Takeru.
"Thank you," Ieyasu also thanked Takeru weakly.
"Alright, it’s ti for us to leave. Takeru, can you manage? I’ll carry you on my back!" Seeing Takeru’s state, Leone felt heartache and, without waiting for his reply, forcibly made him climb onto her back, then quickly left the spot with Aka.
As for taking Tatsumi with them, perhaps due to Takeru’s presence, Leone currently didn’t see much value in Tatsumi. Repaying that favor earlier was already going above and beyond.
Not to ntion Takeru had also healed his companion, and the most important thing for Tatsumi now was to take Ieyasu to recuperate...
"Leone, put down. I’m fine, just a little tired." Seeing himself being carried by Leone like this, Takeru showed a wry, helpless expression.
"No, I won’t!" Leone stated directly.
"Give up. Once Leone says sothing, she won’t listen to others’ opinions." Seeing Takeru’s expression, Aka comnted flatly.
"You really are a good friend who knows well!" Hearing Aka’s words, Leone even had the mood to act cute with her.
"Mission concluded. Return now!" Finally, Aka gave the order to return, and everyone quickly withdrew towards the base.
Seeing that Leone clearly didn’t intend to let him down, Takeru stopped resisting and simply rested quietly against her soft back...
No one noticed that, sensing Takeru’s action, Leone’s face slightly flushed red, though the smile on her lips never faded.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was already the next day. Because of Takeru’s performance yesterday, everyone had fully accepted him.
Of course, the tsundere Mine, while accepting Takeru in her heart, wasn’t so direct with her words.
"Hmph, your performance yesterday was passable, I guess. I’ll tentatively acknowledge you." That was Mine’s exact words to Takeru.
Today, Aka was going to hunt a Strange Bird Danger Beast, and she dragged Takeru along. After following her to an even more primitive area, Takeru saw the strange bird circling high in the sky.
"Hey, Takeru, that’s the one. We need to kill it, then barbecue it!" Looking at the flying strange bird, a trace of saliva unconsciously dripped from the corner of Aka’s mouth. Clearly, she was already craving it.
Seeing Aka’s expression, Takeru found it amusing, then asked, "So, how do you plan to hunt it?"
"It’s simple. Just lure them down, then kill them. I’ll act as bait. Takeru, you wait for the right mont to kill them." Hearing Takeru’s question, Aka quickly replied.
Then, without waiting for Takeru’s response, she quickly ran to an open spot in the wilderness and just lay down.
The circling strange birds naturally spotted Aka lying exposed like that. Two strange birds let out odd cries and swooped down towards her.
The birds had tough beaks, and inside the beaks were rows of sharp teeth. Clearly, they weren’t your ordinary birds...
Seeing Aka trust him so much, Takeru smiled slightly. His staff materialized in his hand. The mont the strange birds were less than a ter away from Aka, Takeru moved.
With a swing of his staff, he sent one bird’s body flying towards a nearby tree.
Even after smashing through a large tree, the bird wasn’t instantly killed. It struggled to get up, seemingly intending to attack Takeru.
Ignoring the bird’s actions, Takeru flicked his staff again, easily sending the other bird flying. By then, Aka calmly opened her eyes, jumped up, and delivered the finishing blows to both birds.
"Mmm, good harvest. Takeru, let’s go barbecue!" Dragging the two large strange bird carcasses, Aka looked at Takeru with innocent eyes.
"Alright," Looking at Aka before him, Takeru couldn’t help but pat her head, revealing a gentle smile.
Feeling Takeru pat her head, Aka was montarily stunned. Takeru also realized his action.
"Sorry about that, it was unintentional," Takeru said apologetically.
"It’s fine. Let’s hurry," hearing Takeru’s words, Aka shook her head. Strangely, she felt no aversion at all... instead, she felt a bit of warmth. She didn’t understand why, so she chose to distract herself with food.
Watching Aka lead the way, Takeru shook his head lightly. He indeed couldn’t help but feel protective towards this girl, and his earlier action was truly unintentional.
Soon, following Aka, Takeru arrived at a small stream with extrely beautiful scenery.
"Takeru, let’s barbecue here!" Placing the strange birds down, Aka called out to Takeru.
"Sure," Hearing this, Takeru went to her side and began helping quickly process the bird carcasses: plucking feathers, removing entrails, cleaning!
After finishing this, Aka quickly went to the side, cut down a large tree, and swiftly made two simple roasting spits...
anwhile, Takeru arranged two piles of stones beneath the spits. Then, Takeru and Aka each skewered a strange bird and began roasting them.
"Hey, Aka!" Just as Takeru and the others were roasting, a voice ca from the distance. Takeru turned and saw a white-haired woman.
Besides her refined features, the most noticeable things were the black eye patch over her right eye and her right arm, which was chanical...
Actually, while cleaning the birds, Takeru had already sensed her presence. But she seed to have so reservations and didn’t appear imdiately, waiting until now to co forward.
"Boss!" Seeing the newcor, Aka imdiately nodded to her respectfully.
"And this is?" Najenda directly asked Aka.
"Nara Takeru. Recomnded by Leone to join. Possesses very strong talent," Hearing Najenda’s question, Aka quickly replied.
"Oh? The one Leone brought the day before yesterday, with strong talent?" Hearing Aka’s words and her acknowledgnt, Najenda looked at Takeru in surprise.
"Is that so? I understand. Hello, I’m Najenda, the boss of Night Raid. Welco to Night Raid." After a mont’s thought, Najenda directly extended her hand to Takeru.
"Hello," Seeing this, Takeru nodded to her and briefly shook her hand. Takeru was naturally not unfamiliar with Najenda.
As the leader, although not the strongest in combat, Najenda possessed strong command and organizational abilities.
A forr Imperial General, she had once campaigned with Esdeath on the southwestern border. Later, during an operation to subjugate bandits, she defected from the Empire and joined the Revolutionary Army.
Finally, before reuniting with her troops, she encountered Esdeath, losing her right eye and right arm. It was also then that she gained a deep understanding of Esdeath’s terrifying strength.
"By the way, Aka, tell what’s happened during the ti I was away," After briefly greeting Takeru, she spoke seriously.
"Mmm," Hearing Najenda’s words, Aka began her report.
It has to be said, although Aka usually seems a bit spacey, she handled this report very well. Through her account, Takeru also learned many things.
After a full narration, Najenda had a general understanding of the events during this period. The specifics could be discussed later in a eting with everyone.
anwhile, as Aka finished her description, the two strange birds were also thoroughly cooked. Seeing this, Aka quickly added salt. After letting it slightly penetrate the at, she swiftly divided one of the birds.
First giving Najenda a huge bird leg, then giving the other leg to Takeru, she herself tore off a wing and began to munch...
Watching the two of them eat heartily, Takeru smiled lightly and also began to eat in large bites.
Although only seasoned with salt, because the at quality was excellent, Takeru found it truly delicious.
Noticing Takeru’s actions, Najenda also gained a bit more recognition for him.
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