Akame ga Clover

by stringdog

Death is the end…or is it? Reborn in a new world where magic is everything by Fate itself to counter a threat that violated the laws of nature Akame and Tatsumi must first regain their memories of their past live and then fight to protect the Clover Kingdom from the threats that it will face but who will accept people like them? The Black Bulls of course.

18. Chapter 18: Others

Here is the eighteenth chapter in this story released when I wanted it to be released based of my release process for this series. The Black Bulls have a new mission, to explore a dungeon on the border with the Diamond Kingdom, but only Asta, Noelle, and Luck are going on it, as is the new anti-bird that has decided to live with them, so there's not much for Akame and Tatsumi to do. As such they are able to ask a question, how are the others who they've not seen (basically those they know about other than Mine and Chelsea as well as one other) doing. Well, let's see what those either with their blocks still intact are currently up to or in one case how a block was removed happen. That is all I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and there are no guest reviews that need a response or questions to answer so I will end this here. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate. That is it for this pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the eighteenth chapter in Akame ga Clover.

Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.

Chapter 18: Others

"I wonder what the others are up to?" Tatsumi asked as Finral took Asta, Noelle, and Luck, along with the anti-bird that had decided to practically nest on Asta's head when it wasn't in the nest it had made in his room or just chilling in the common room with them, to as close to the dungeon as he could get them while Charmy joined to say goodbye. "You know, the ones who still have the blocks. I hope they're doing ok in their new lives. We know where they are but that's about it."

It was a few days after Tatsumi had started to train Asta in the ways of the sword, with Akame's help for instructions though he wasn't ready to spar with her, and now their new recruits, along with Luck, were heading out on a mission to a dungeon that had just appeared. Apparently Asta had caught the eye of the Wizard King already, which given the man that Julius was and Asta's ability wasn't a surprise to them, and he'd been personally sent on this mission. Noelle as the other newbie went with him and Luck was there to supervise which was not the best idea but would be a good learning experience for all of them.

This mission had come to them as the Squad was in the common room where Asta and Tatsumi were doing one handed pushups against each other with weights on their backs for strength training. In Asta's case it was Magna who was eating a flan so as to prevent Luck from eating it like he usually did, and in Tatsumi's case it was Akame who was eating meat from one of her latest kills. As all of this was going on the Squad was debating what to call the anti-bird that seemed to have made a home with them, which was on Asta's head at the time.

Noelle had wanted to call it Sylvantus Schnauzer for some reason. Vanessa had gone with Wine as her suggestion though as she was drinking wine and already drunk at the time, so it made sense she'd go with a name like that. Gauche naturally had gone with a Marie themed name in M, said as the letter was pronounced, as that was all the bird was worth apparently. Magna was as punk as ever with Magnum Fire as the name. Tatsumi had suggested Ieyasu after his lost friend who's death had sparked his joining of Night Raid while Asta in typical Asta fashion went with Birdie Boy. The last one got some pecks for how bad it was.

In the end though, and against Charmy and Akame's suggestions to just fatten it up and kill it so that they could enjoy some anti-bird drumsticks, the bird accepted the name Nero which was proposed by Luck of all people. That was the only name that got a reaction out of the bird as it raised a wing at that and seeing as the word meant black it worked. Of course, the one thing all seemed to agree on was that the bird was male despite not checking to confirm that. The bird was in fact female though it couldn't lay eggs like Charmy would have wanted her to.

Nero had just accepted her new name that Luck had given her, a name she'd come to fully embrace in time, and for her own reasons, when the true nature of her was revealed, when Yami and Finral arrived with the mission orders. That had ended the work out and led to Akame and Tatsumi taking a seat for some food, well more food in Akame's case, as they listened to the mission before watching the participants head out on it. With them gone thought Tatsumi had asked Akame his question.

"I think so." Akame said as she began to eat the latest round of meat that Charmy's Sheep Cooks placed in front of her as Tatsumi began to enjoy his post workout meal, which he'd need for sword training with Akame that they'd do that afternoon. "They've been fine so far from what we've heard and we both know that this place isn't as dangerous as our last life so they'll do well here like we have. Hopefully we can see them soon, once the Wizard King deems the time right for that of course."

"True, it's not like there's going to be any surprises when that happens." Tatsumi said as he took a bite of the meat he'd been served. "It will be good to see them again. Hopefully, they've been doing well recently."

---

"So, it was carried out then." Charlotte Roselei said as she looked at the Wizard King who stood looking out the window of his large formal office with his desk between them. "You're certain of that."

"That is her robe." Julius said as he looked back to Charlotte and gestured to the neatly folded and unmarred Blue Rose Knights robe that was on his desk. "As requested, it was retrieved before her sentence was carried out. Marx confirmed her body was where the executioner said it would be. She's dead and her remains have been dealt with in a manner fitting of her crimes."

"I still can't believe that a member of my Squad would engage in such heinous crimes." Charlotte said the shame and anger clear in her voice as she got the confirmation that she knew was coming the moment Julius had summoned her here. "I was certain she was a good woman who'd make a strong Magic Knight just like all my girls have become. Even with how that boy treated her in the Entrance Exam I saw her potential."

"That boy was the one who realized her true nature." Julius said looking at Charlotte his tone serious. "And both Yami and Fuegoleon actually saw the potential in him though as Fuegoleon already had an Armor Mage on his Squad, Yami was who got him. He's a good fit for Yami's Squad though, and I trust his judgement."

"Yes for as scruffy and unkempt as he is, Yami is still a competent man, unlike most." Charlotte said as she fought back her emotions, mainly that she was in love with Yami and had been ever since he saved her from the curse on House Roselei right as it was about to take hold thus stopping it, but she couldn't show that to anyone not even the Wizard King. "I should have trusted him when he said that Venalia was no good, but I was blinded by my support for my Squad member."

"The extent of the crimes committed by the Highballs shocked us all." Julius said as he approached the desk and pulled out a bound ledger and placed it next to the robe, the ledger had Venalia's name on it and was written in a dainty hand that Charlotte recognized as Venalia's. "That book is just one of several Venalia used to document them in disturbing, graphic, detail. All of their crimes have been confirmed by her father in his interrogation."

"He was brought in alive?" Charlotte asked looking up at Julius. "I'm surprised given how you gave the order to execute Venalia."

"Yes I ordered it and those who I sent to carry out my judgement on the Highballs are very good at what they do." Julius said. "We wanted him here for interrogation as he'd know the most regarding the crimes of his family. His wife and daughter were true sadists but he, while sadistic, was the connected one who went beyond simply satisfying his sadistic pleasures with the transient commoners that they took in."

"He was one of the few men who never made a pass at me back in the day." Charlotte said recalling how things had been back when she was still living under her curse and determined to break it on her own without the need to fall in love with a man. "But in hindsight I'm glad for that. I still struggle to know that one of my Knights was so bad. How could I have misjudged a woman so much."

"Women are just as capable of evil as men are Charlotte, and in a lot of cases they're better at hiding it than men are." Julius said. "I know that your past and what you went through shaped you, we've had words about your attitude before, but I do trust your judgement and it's not like yours is the only single sex Squad out there even if you made an offer to a male recently. That said, the Green Praying Mantises are no longer single sex so that just leaves you and the Purple Orcas in that camp."

"That boy had potential beyond any I've ever seen, I couldn't pass it up." Charlotte said. "And he and a girl rejected me, that was a blow. Not as much as being rejected for the Green Praying Mantis Squad though. Seriously, that felt personally somehow."

"Ah yes Jack's new recruit, I must ask him about that one day and why he took her." Julius said. "It was a surprise to see for sure, but Jack does have a habit of recruiting mages with interesting magic, so I bet hers is really interesting."

"I would like to know why she spurned me when I'm the best fit for women." Charlotte said. "I've lost a few recruits to Dorothy in the past and I get that but this one I really don't."

"Not every woman agrees with the stance of the Blue Rose Knights, nor do they all wish to join your Squad." Julius reminded Charlotte and this coupled with Venalia's crimes were really humbling experiences for Charlotte, experiences she'd need to grow stronger as a Magic Knight and as a person. "And now you've seen how even you can make a mistake with a recruit."

"Yes, Venalia has reminded me that women can be evil to, we're just subtler at it apparently." Charlotte said. "It was a woman who cursed my family after all so I should understand that but after years of making the Blue Rose Knights what they are today I see that I've forgotten that women can be bad too. If I may ask though, what will be made known of this?"

"Lord Highball's crimes and those of his family will be made known but only once the investigation is fully over and as it is still ongoing we will be keeping this recent action quiet." Julius said. "When the time is right Venalia's will be made public though as she was executed but I suggest you tell your Squad as they have a right to know and none of them have shown that they can't be trusted the way Venalia did."

"I will, the deserve to know." Charlotte said as she looked at the robe that had been so dishonored. "I know what to do when I get back to our headquarters."

"Good then I'll have Cob take you back." Julius said though he reached into the desk and pulled out a sealed envelope and handed it to Charlotte who looked confused. "But these are specific orders for the Blue Rose Knights regarding a follow up I want you to undertake for me and the kingdom in the wake of what we've already learned from the former lord Highball."

"Sir?" Charlotte asked as she took it.

"It would appear that not all the women picked up by the Highballs died there." Julius said as disgust entered his voice. "Our former noble would sell certain ones to an underground network that dealt in women and girls. He also sold boys to a separate network that dealt in them, but I've dispatched the Crimson Lion Kings to handle that part. I want you to handle, and bring down, the network selling women and girls. This envelope contains all the intel we've gathered as Highball only sold them on, so we've only got the next link in this chain to go on. Given his crimes I am going to make an example of him so from this point on things are by the book as we unravel everything."

"I understand, we'll deal with any men who would abuse women." Charlotte said darkly. "Don't worry sir, I'll make sure that we follow this lead to the end and bring all of them to justice."

"Oh, the contact is a woman." Julius said shocking Charlotte. "Yes it's rather insidious from what I've gathered but the middle person was a woman as she could get trust better from the victims. She's the only lead that we have."

"Then you can rest assured we'll handle this." Charlotte said her tone now really angry. "Anything specific?"

"Yes I want one of your Knights in particular to work on this." Julius said.

"Who?" Charlotte asked.

"That Scissor Mage you told me about last year." Julius said. "What was her name again?"

"Sheele." Charlotte said. "I can send her though she's not the cleanest of my Knights, she tends to resort to lethal force more often than not. That said she's not clumsy or spacy when she's fighting like she is most of the time. It's a strange dichotomy but her airhead nature is rather cute, and all the girls help her out when she messes up because of it just like I would expect from my Squad."

"Well in this mission lethal force is approved but I do want some taken alive so that we can learn who's next in this chain which means that the contact woman must be captured alive." Julius said. "So, send two others with her that you trust. The only Knight you can't send is Sol Marron."

"Sol?" Charlotte asked confused. "Why not?"

"She's going to be rewarded at the next War Merits Ceremony." Julius said. "So, you and her are invited and that's coming up in a little over a week though don't tell her, just bring her to it as it will be a nice surprise for her."

"Of course, it will be done." Charlotte said with a nod. "Is that all sir?"

"Yes, you may leave." Julius said. "And take these with you if you want."

"As much as I don't want to I'll need that proof for the other girls." Charlotte said as she picked up the ledger and put it in a pouch on her belt and then grabbed the robe she'd given Venalia to wear with pride. "And I need to show what happens when someone disgraces the Blue Rose Knights."

"Good then dismissed." Julius said.

"Sir." Charlotte replied before snapping off a salute and turning to leave.

She didn't look back at Julius, who had returned to his musing but was swiftly interrupted by Marx telling him that he had paperwork to do before he met with Fuegoleon in an hour's time, as she left the room. Waiting outside was an affable man with fluffy hair in the outfit of one of the Wizard King advisors though Charlotte knew that he'd once been a member of the Grey Deer Squad before Julius succeed that traitor Conrad as Wizard King and brought several of his former Squad mates with him to directly serve the Wizard King.

"Were too Captain Charlotte." Cob said as she exited the room and the door closed behind her.

"My Squad's headquarters." Charlotte said.

"Righty-ho." Cob said as his grimoire opened, and he created a set of ornate golden doors that opened to reveal the standard swirling portal appearance commonly associated with Spatial Magic though Charlotte knew that Cob could do more than just make portals with his Spatial Magic. "There you go, that should take you straight to your headquarters."

"Thank you." Charlotte said with a nod as she walked through the doorway, it was a strange affectation to Cob's magic but reminded Charlotte how all Spatial Magic users were different in their own ways, and a moment later found herself in the courtyard of her headquarters and facing Sol who was clearly waiting for her.

"Char, there you are." Sol said as the portal closed behind her, and Sol greeted her. "What did the Wizard King want?"

"A few things and it's Captain." Charlotte said seriously to her friend and subordinate.

"Right Char." Sol said still not calling her Captain.

"Summon the Squad, all who are here, I have an announcement to make." Charlotte said as she walked to the place she often addressed her girls from. "I want everyone who is here present for this."

"Of course, Char." Sol said as she hurried off and immediately found one of the senior members, Puli Angel, and together they rounded up the girls that were currently at Headquarters as a few were off on missions.

Charlotte took a deep breath as she climbed the stairs in her courtyard that separated the lower part with the fountain in it from the upper part and walked over to the platform facing the fountain that split the stairs and from which she'd address her Squad. She had a moment, so she opened the orders while still holding the robe and began to read.

They weren't much, mainly just a last known location and the name of the woman who Lord Highball sold pretty girls he'd abducted to, especially pure and young ones as they fetched the highest prices though any woman who met a certain standard was fair game apparently, and was disgusted by what she read. It was a conspiracy that had to go a lot deeper, and the Blue Rose Knights were charged with following it to the end. Well, Charlotte fully intended on doing that and making these monsters pay for all of their crimes.

"Char, everyone's here." Sol said as Charlotte finished reading and she looked up to see her gathered girls looking at her expectantly. "Though Venalia wasn't in her room for some reason, wasn't she supposed to be here as well? Last I checked she wasn't on any mission or assignment."

"No, she's right where she belongs and in fact she is why I have called you here." Charlotte said her tone a lot darker than her Squad had heard before as she put away the letter and then held up the robe that she had given Venalia a little over a year ago. "That is because this is her robe, taken from her before she was executed for murder, torture, and crimes against the kingdom."

That got a series of gasps from the girls and one of them fainted though Puli was there to catch her. Some even questioned it but a hard look on Charlotte's face silenced them right away. However, Charlotte did note that Sheele seemed unfazed by the news, though that could just be her normal perplexed expression as it was sometimes hard to tell what the purple haired girl was thinking at times.

"I was informed a few days ago of Venalia's crimes and shown proof of three murders she'd committed when she returned home during the last day off I gave you." Charlotte continued. "It was disturbing to say the least and I have on me more proof for those interested but all this comes from the Wizard King himself so it can be trusted."

That certainly got the girl's attention and now they were all focused on Charlotte. While basically all of them bar Sol actually disagreed with Charlotte's misandrist stance when it came to men, almost all either had boyfriends or were trying to get them with Puli's aid, they still deeply respected and admired their Captain. They just hoped that she'd fall for someone as well so that they could be open about their own love and help their Captain obtain her own happiness. That was irrelevant right now though as Charlotte was telling them that one of their own was a traitor to the Squad.

"I formally expelled Venalia after finding out and made sure that she was at her home when Julius dispatched those who were to carry out justice to her and her family who were complicit in hers and many other crimes." Charlotte said. "I did this after Julius formally signed Venalia's death warrant because it was clear that she was guilty and did not deserve to be a member of our Squad."

Again, most of the girls began to murmur at that. They'd heard Charlotte say that Venalia had been executed but it hadn't sunk in until now. Again, though, Sheele was the only one not phased as she just had a finger on her chin at that as she appeared to think on what Charlotte was saying.

"I have been told today that Venalia was executed in accordance with the warrant." Charlotte said. "She's dead, Julius assured me, and I trust his word on the matter. I agreed to this because of her crimes but I asked that he retrieve her robe before she died and to the credit of those he sent to execute Venalia they did so without an issue and without getting her blood on it."

"Why?" Sol asked confused.

"Because I want to make it clear what will happen to those who dishonor the Blue Rose Knights and what this robe means to those who wear it." Charlotte said as she tossed the robe into the air but before it could begin to flutter to the ground briars with blue roses on them erupted from the ground and ensnared the robe in their thorns, piercing it before the briars roiled and tore the robe to shreds and then wilted as the blue scraps of what was once a Blue Rose Knight robe were blown away on the wind. "Do I make my point clear ladies? If any of you dishonor our Squad and sully our robe with heinous crimes like Venalia then next time it won't be whoever Julius sends, I'll rip you to shreds myself."

"Yes Captain." The girls said in unison shocked by the intensity of Charlotte's actions, but it really drove home her point as they all knew what their robes meant.

"Good now get back to work." Charlotte said as she let out a breath and calmed down now that the final trace of Venalia was gone from her Squad. "Puli, Sheele, I have a mission for you."

The girls just stared in stunned silence as Charlotte left the platform and headed to the stairs down before they all began to leave except for Sheele, Puli, and Sol. They all stayed and Charlotte knew why in the final case.

"Char, I…" Sol began.

"It's fine, I struggled with the truth as well, but Venalia is guilty of at least three murders and what's worse it appears that Venalia took special, sexual, pleasure in killing women." Charlotte said as she pulled out the ledger that had been Venalia's. "Here, to prove it to anyone who doubts the Wizard King. Make sure all who want to read it do so and then bring it back to me so that I can burn it and get rid of any trace of that bitch."

"Yes Char." Sol said as she turned and left, and Charlotte turned back to the other two.

"You seem unphased by all this, Sheele." Charlotte said. "Why?"

"I don't really know." Sheele admitted. "I guess I'm not too surprised."

"You're not?" Charlotte asked.

"No, I got a bad feeling from Venalia though I don't know why." Sheele admitted. "I just chalked it up to me breaking some of her glass by accident and her getting angry at that, you know how much of an airhead I can be. That and I think she didn't like that I have bigger breasts than she did, she seemed a little insecure on that front."

"I can see that given what I've heard." Charlotte said as she pulled out the envelope and handed it to Puli. "But put that to the back of your mind for now as I have a mission for you right now."

"You do?" Sheele asked clearly surprised that she had a mission as Charlotte tended to be selective with Sheele's missions given her airhead ways, well that and habit of leaving a few more bodies in her wake than was expected. "Um, what are my restrictions?"

"The name in that envelope must be brought in alive, as well as anyone who is clearly important when you track her down." Charlotte said as Puli read the orders and looked just as shocked and disgusted as Charlotte had been when she'd read them. "But otherwise, lethal force is authorized whenever you encounter hostility in the execution of your duties. I'm sending Puli with you to help and make sure things go well but the Wizard King personally requested you for this mission, Sheele."

"Oh, that's nice of him." Sheele said. "I didn't know that he knew who I was."

"Well, he does, he's asked a bit about you before but for as good as Julius is, he is still a magic loving freak and you do have some interesting Magic, Sheele, so he took notice of that." Charlotte said. "And this is top priority, it's a follow up to the mission to execute Venalia apparently as her scumbag father was even worse than anyone thought he was."

"That seems like it is familiar to me but I can't place it." Sheele said confused. "Like a lost memory."

"Another one of them dear." Puli said kindly patting her junior on the head. "Just like that warmth you've felt."

"Yeah, it's odd." Sheele admitted. "But I'll forget about it on this mission as that comes first."

"It does so get to it you two." Charlotte said. "I want results and quickly, there are girls in this kingdom depending on you and we must bring the monsters who would do this to them to justice. This is something only the Blue Rose Knights can do, and I expect nothing but success ladies."

"Of course, Captain." Puli said saluting as Sheele tried, missed her heart and wacked herself in the center of her breast instead and somehow knocked herself on her ass in the process despite her impressive size offering plenty of cushion. "Come on Sheele, let's go. You're a demon in battle and I know we'll need it."

"Thanks Puli." Sheele said as Puli helped her to her feet and helped dust her off before they left to get ready for the mission.

Charlotte smiled at the comradery between her girls, it was what she loved to see in her Squad, before her smile fell and a frown set in. The recent revelations had been bad, and she needed to scrub herself clean as she thought on what she'd been told regarding Venalia's crimes, so she turned and headed to the bath, Sol already waiting for her having anticipated this though Charlotte didn't know. She just hoped that Puli and Sheele were effective in what they did and that the Crimson Lion Kings also helped end this trafficking ring that her own former Knight had been associated with.

---

Fuegoleon Vermillion walked through the Crimson Lion Kings headquarters as he made his way to the common room to see if who he needed was there. He'd just met with the Wizard King regarding a new set of orders for some of his Squad, which Fuegoleon would execute fully as it was a serious matter, as well as a summons to the next War Merits Ceremony for himself and his brother Leo though he wouldn't tell Leo about why he had been requested for it.

It had been a good bit of news and was certainly better than the other, rather annoying, news he'd also just received when he returned from his meeting with the Wizard King. That annoying news was coming in person in a few hours, and he wanted to deal with it alone at his family's residence, so he'd go back for that but first he had this news to deliver as he reached the common area to find those of his Squad currently not on assignment or training relaxing in the room.

A good portion of the Squad was in the room enjoying themselves as they should when not on a mission. Some were drinking, some playing cards or other games at the various tables, some eating or reading or just chatting with each other as they deepened their bonds with each other. It was a good sight and Fuegoleon knew that they would all be ready the moment he asked them but for now he just needed a few of them, two to be precise, to handle this situation as it was a two-man job.

One of the two had been requested personally by the Wizard King. That had been a surprise to Fuegoleon, and more so because the Wizard King had just referred to him by his magical attribute but as it was a rare attribute and he only had one with it in his Squad, so he knew who it was. The other was at Fuegoleon's discretion, and he knew who he wanted as he scanned the room looking for a heart-shaped pompadour hairstyle.

Finally, he found the specific member he was looking for. The man was chilling at a table with a mug of beer in one hand as he chatted with Leo about something completely relaxed but Fuegoleon knew that he could snap to attention right away, which was what Fuegoleon needed right now.

"Listen up men." Fuegoleon said loudly to the gathered Squad members, all male though the Squad did have some female members other than his insane sister, but they were in the attached bathhouse at the moment, who instantly stopped what they were doing and turned to face Fuegoleon as he stood in the doorway. "I've just got a mission from the Wizard King himself that must be undertaken immediately. Bulat, he's requested you personally for it and I want Randall to accompany and supervise this as it is a serious mission that will require some discretion. Please come to my office right away for it."

At once Bulat stood, his Crimson Lion Kings robe over the tight black shirt and white pants that he wore under it and headed to Fuegoleon without a word as Randall also rose to head over. Fuegoleon knew they'd follow him, so he turned and left the room to head to his office where he'd give them their mission before heading back to his family's residence to deal with the final thing he needed to deal with today. As he left he heard the room return to normal but didn't pay it heed as he swiftly went back to his office.

Fuegoleon had barely sat down at his desk when Bulat and Randall, the latter being his Vice-Captain hence why Fuegoleon had entrusted this mission to him as it would give him more experience in case Randall succeeded him as Captain when Fuegoleon achieved his goal of becoming the Wizard King, and his sister turned down the role, entered. The taller, younger, man was serious as he stood before Fuegoleon while Randall was more at ease but that was the nature of them.

"What's the mission Captain?" Bulat asked seriously. "And why does the Wizard King want me in particular?"

"A mix of investigation and criminal detainment." Fuegoleon said as he pulled out the orders and handed them to Bulat to read over. "As for why, this mission involves potential children victims, so I presume the Wizard King wants your Armor Magic on hand to protect them given how useful it is for that."

"Ah that does make sense." Bulat said as he read the orders and his expression darkened as he did. "Sir, is this true? This kind of network actually exists."

"It would appear so." Fuegoleon said with a sigh as Bulat handed the orders over to Randall to look at as well. "I trust Julius and have been made aware of other corrupt nobles who have been arrested or died right before their crimes came to light over the last few years, and it would appear that House Highball was part of this both for their own personal gratification and as part of some larger network. The former lord was taken into custody a few days back and interrogated which revealed that in addition to the torture and murder that he, his wife, daughter, and their servants engaged in, he also sold certain victims to an associate he knew who would then sell them on for various vile purposes."

"This is disgusting." Randall said his brow furrowed which made the scar on his forehead shift. "To do this to another person, commoner or not, this is beyond evil."

"And that report mentioned that they weren't adults, just boys." Bulat said angrily his fist clenched. "I'll…"

"Capture that name, the contact that bought them from Lord Highball." Fuegoleon said seriously. "Julius wants him alive so that we can move up the ladder and secure the next stage of that network, which is what you two will follow to the end."

"Yes sir." Bulat said. "But what of any guards or other players in this group? The buyer may be of some rank, but he's got to have lackies."

"Probably does and you are free to use lethal force on them, that has been authorized by the Wizard King." Fuegoleon said. "Any who don't die will be brought in of course. I know your skills Bulat, I trust you to be disciplined here."

"Of course, Captain." Bulat said as Randall put away the note. "I'll make sure that we bring that bastard in alive so that he can face justice for his crimes and provide us with key intel on this group. I promise that we'll find the next step in the ladder and climb until the boss is found and brought to justice for this."

"I know you will." Fuegoleon said. "This is a blight on the nobility and from what I've heard there is another ring for female victims that is even larger as it's not limited by age the way this one seems to be. That mission has been entrusted to the Blue Rose Knights."

"Sale of women for these purposes, if any Squad is perfect for destroying that networks it's Charlotte's." Randall said. "We'll get on it sir. Don't worry, this will be handled swiftly and efficiently so that we can end this villainy as soon as possible."

"Good, leave tonight." Fuegoleon said. "And take all the time you need; we must do this right to bring these monsters to the justice that they so richly deserve."

"We will." Bulat and Randall said together as they saluted Fuegoleon.

"Good then you're dismissed." Fuegoleon said and the men nodded before leaving to get ready and head out on their mission.

Fuegoleon sighed as he pulled out some paperwork he had to do and began to sort it out as he thought of that mission. He'd known of the various corruptions of the nobles, as Wizard King and a royal he'd work to root it out should he reach his goal, but still the depth was hard to deal with at times. Thankfully, Julius was on it already and Fuegoleon would be there to assist in bringing those who abused their power to justice.

For now though he just had to trust that Randall and Bulat could handle it as worked on his paperwork for a few hours before the time came and he out it away, rose to leave while picking up the bag he had set aside for his upcoming meeting. He needed to get back to his family's residence to deal with this other situation. Hopefully, it didn't last too long.

It didn't take him long to fly back on his broom, he was a royal and could easily control his mana and fly swiftly so in no time he was home and walking into the royal palace of House Vermillion. The moment he was in, a servant hurried up to greet him, take his broom, and ask him if he needed anything.

"Master Fuegoleon, sir, you're back." The servant said. "This is rather unexpected. You usually stay in your Squad headquarters unless your father summons you back."

"I have something to attend to that I would rather do her than at my Squad's headquarters." Fuegoleon said. "Has my sister arrived yet?"

"Lady Mereoleona?" The servant asked confused. "No, she's not been back for…"

"I'm here, do you have it." A loud female voice said from behind Fuegoleon, and he turned to see his older sister standing in the doorway a broom in one hand and grinning at him her usual, slightly insane, sharp toothed grin at him. "I want to be here for as brief a time as possible, you know how much I dislike the Capital. My protégé is out hunting our meal for tonight so I need to get back, roast boar and sake are needed to celebrate this occasion, brother. On that, bring me some of the good stuff."

"Yes my lady, right away." The servant said bowing to Mereoleona, she may be a decent person to the staff but her whole aura intimidated pretty much everyone she met, as he hurried off to get some bottles of the imported sake that Mereoleona liked so much.

"I see you're just here for this." Fuegoleon said as he held up the bag that he'd brought. "So, you've decided that it is time for her to join?"

"She should have when she got her grimoire two years ago, but I figured some more time in the strong magic region with me would really improve her skills as she maximized her potential with her grimoire." Mereoleona said. "And boy has it. She's a lioness through and through, even got a spell that is perfect for our Squad, so it's time she became a member. You may be the Captain, brother, but I can still recruit as a Vermillion and your replacement should you be dumb enough to let something happen to you."

"I know and as crazy as you are, anyone who's survived more than a decade under your wing is going to be a powerful Magic Knight." Fuegoleon said. "And about as insane as you are."

"Yeah she's really taken to my teaching and way of seeing things." Mereoleona said with a grin. "Bold brat when I met her, pickpocket me down in Kikka but I saw her potential and her mana levels are as high as a high ranking noble, so I gave her a choice, join me in the wilderness or be arrested and sent to some orphanage as she had no family that could be found."

"And she joined you?" Fuegoleon asked. "Sounds like the worse option."

"For most but she's like the little sister I never had." Mereoleona said. "Molded her into someone like me though she's even more vicious, got no qualms killing and getting dirty. Really grown over the years as well. I can't wait to bring her to the fighting pit in the black market, we're going to make a killing and like me she has no issues fighting bare breasted in it."

"That is disturbing to hear on so many levels and please don't remind me of that scandal you almost caused." Fuegoleon said with a sigh as Mereoleona just grinned at him. "Very well, before I give you the robe and officially make her a Crimson Lion King, tell me what her name is and what magic she can use. You've been secretive about that ever since you found her so the very least you can do is tell me those things before she becomes a member of the Crimson Lion Kings."

"Her magic needs to remain a secret, it's an attribute I've never heard of before, so I want it to be a surprise for when the Squad meets her." Mereoleona said. "As for her name, it's Leone and just that as she apparently has no family name."

"And what do you know of her past?" Fuegoleon asked.

"Not much, she says she was abandoned at some home in Kikka but ran away and lived on the streets." Mereoleona said. "Normally a 6-year-old wouldn't survive but the girl's got some serious survival instincts and her magic really helps her there, it seems to be made for survival in a lot of ways. My theory is that she's some illegitimate offspring of a noble and a common prostitute or serving girl who was abandoned because of it and then abandoned her child because she didn't want her though Leone does say that she thinks her mother gave her her name. That would explain her magic levels."

"That is very likely, unfortunately there are many like that in our kingdom." Fuegoleon said. "Nobles abuse their power too much here."

"Yeah why do you think I don't care for politics and rank and prefer spending most of the year in the wilderness." Mereoleona said. "Now give me the robe and make her a member already. She's more than earned it."

"Putting up with you for more than a decade is enough to do so even if having a mini you around is going to be really annoying." Fuegoleon said as tossed the bag to his sister as the servant appeared with several bottles of sake for Mereoleona. "Very well, send me her name and other info, I'll keep her magic confidential, but I do need to know it, and I'll officially add her to the Squad."

"Will do oh and she's almost my height and at least a few sizes bigger in the bust." Mereoleona said with a cackle as she took the sake and put it in the bag. "So, she's not a little me these days even if she's half my age at the moment."

"I did not need to know that." Fuegoleon said as Mereoleona turned and left. "I expect to meet her soon."

"Yeah, I'll bring her in for the Star Festival so that she can meet the rest of the Squad at it." Mereoleona said. "But if we aren't top two then it's hot springs training for everyone and I know that you know what that means."

"Very well, if that is all then consider this over." Fuegoleon said though Mereoleona had already considered that as she turned and left while he was talking and took to the air on her broom flying fast away from the residence before adding with a sigh. "A second Mereoleona, why do I have a bad feeling about that."

"Sir?" The servant asked.

"Never mind." Fuegoleon said as he turned to head deeper into the residence. "Have the bath prepared, I will need on."

"Yes sir." The servant said and headed off to do as instructed.

Fuegoleon just kept thinking as he headed to his suite of rooms to get ready for a nice bath. As insane as she was, he trusted Mereoleona and knew that if she vouched for this girl then she was worthy of becoming a Crimson Lion King. His sister was the strongest of them and this girl had survived 11 years with her, so she was going to be a good Magic Knight. Still, he couldn't help but wonder what this Leone girl was like.

---

"Hey boss, you're back. Was your trip productive?"

Mereoleona landed at her campsite in the strong magic region having flown hard and fast to get here just as night set in and grinned as she found Leone standing by the fire, a properly skinned and prepared boar roasting on a spit over it. That was just what she needed, fresh game and sake, it was the perfect night for Leone to finally join the Squad.

As Mereoleona landed she took a moment to study her protégé as she was before everything became official. At 17, Leone was a curvaceous woman with a chest that was larger than any Mereoleona had seen, and she wasn't small herself when it came to breast size, with blonde hair that she kept short for practical reasons except for the long tufts that framed her pale face and brought out her golden eyes as the strands fell down to rest on her bosom. Leone's hair grew with one of her spells though, so it also worked better short even if the mane was an impressive thing to see.

Over the years as the girl had grown into a young, strong, woman, her style and tastes had changed and while they rarely saw other people Mereoleona had still gone out to get clothes for Leone when she was visiting the Capital while the girl continued to train out here on her own as there were times when the cub needed to be on her own to truly grow. That said, the style that Leone favored was a rather basic style.

That was because all Leone wore was a black tube top that was stretched taught over her large breasts and still showed a fair bit of cleavage, detachable white sleeves with gold cuffs and bands on the biceps, and matching crotchless pants that were tucked into brown, knee high, boots. Thanks to her pants, the black underwear that Leone wore, and which matched her tube top was on full display.

The tops of the pants were attached to a brown leather belt that had a silver circular buckle with a raised hexagon inside it that Mereoleona had had made for Leone on her 15th birthday using a design that the girl drew herself. The belt also contained a leather grimoire bag with a roaring lioness etched on it that Mereoleona had gotten Leone which rested on the girl's ass as that was the best place for it.

It was a strange style, though as Mereoleona herself had no shame she didn't care, and she also knew that Leone was like her, if she found a man she liked she'd claim him as hers and hunt him like the prey he was. Course like Mereoleona, Leone would break just about most men she was with and even said that deep down she had this feeling that she knew the kind of man she liked but couldn't place it.

Mereoleona just chalked it up to just one of those feelings or instincts that Leone had, the girl had plenty which was why she'd been able to survive all these years in the wilderness. As such it made sense that she had a similar kind of feeling when it came down to finding a mate so who was Mereoleona to interfere with that.

"It was." Mereoleona said as she set her broom and bag down, pulling out the sake and set them to the side as Leone tore off a chunk of meat for her, before picking the bag up again. "Here, this is for you, my brother finally gave it to me."

"What?" Leone asked as Mereoleona tossed the bag at her and accepted the meat, ripping off a chunk with her teeth and enjoying the succulent taste of cooked, wild, game. "Oh, thank your boss. Finally, it's official."

"Technically my brother is the boss now seeing as he's the Captain of the Squad, not that I really listen to him, but you earned it." Mereoleona said as Leone pulled out the Crimson Lion King robe that the bag had and noted that it was in the same style as Mereoleona's one. "Now put it on so we can celebrate. The cape part is the finest quality and woven with spells for protection and warmth, not that you need that, but it never hurts when in battle to have it even if you shouldn't rely on that stuff."

"Of course, and thank you, I've been waiting for this since I got my grimoire." Leone said as she pulled the robe on so that the robe part fell to her breasts, pushed up by them, while the cape fell to her calves. "Well, how does it look?"

"As I'd expected, good." Mereoleona said through another mouthful of meat as Leone gave a little twirl in her new robe which was fine given that she was finally wearing it. "When the Star Festival rolls around, we'll go into the Capital, and I'll introduce you to my brother and the rest of the Squad, as well as the black market fighting pit in Kikka of course. Until then, we will be here training and doing whatever missions are sent to us by my brother. You're now a member of the Crimson Lion Kings, Leone, don't disgrace us."

"I won't boss." Leone said as she grabbed some meat and headed over to her mentor, benefactor, and surrogate big sister. "So, what's the plan now?"

"Now." Mereoleona said handing Leone a bottle of sake. "We party and celebrate my idiot brother allowing you into the Squad at last and toast to another lioness as she makes emerges from the pack."

"I'll drink to that." Leone said happily as she opened her bottle, and they clinked them before she took a deep pull from it. "Man, that hits the spot. Brings back some warm and fuzzy memories with emphasis on the fuzzy part."

"One of those again." Mereoleona said, she was still confused by it whenever Leone had what seemed to be flashes of repressed memory but nothing bad had so far seemed to happen from them. "Is it a good memory?"

"I think so, it's comforting at least." Leone said as she ate some meat. "Fills me with good feelings though that might just be the sake."

"Probably just the sake so let's enjoy ourselves." Mereoleona said as she took another drink. "And then it's up the volcano to end the night in that wonderful hot spring."

"Wohoo!" Leone said as she drank and ate enjoying the moment.

Mereoleona smiled at her protégé. Leone had really grown over the years, and she was glad she'd taken the girl in, it had been a great decision that she didn't regret at all even if she had to basically care and look out for a girl from childhood to her late teens now. Now she was a Magic Knight in the Crimson Lion Kings and Mereoleona couldn't wait to see what Leone would do as one of them.

---

A few weeks prior at the Magic Knights Entrance Exam

Najenda just grinned as her opponent, some pompous noble who'd though he could beat up on a girl to look good, fell down from the pillar she'd blasted him in with her magic. As he hit the ground to lay there in an unconscious heap, said magic, what she'd created with it at least, healed itself from the spell it had taken before she was declared the victor.

She didn't need to look to the Captains to see that the one she was trying so hard to impress had been impressed. After all, she'd used this spell and let it take the hits just for that purpose as not only was her magic unique from what she knew but it had some strange aspects to it, aspects a certain Captain would be intrigued by even if it was for selfish reasons.

The rest of the battles weren't interesting to Najenda. She was here for a purpose and that was her focus during the Entrance Exam, not what else was going. True she did watch them and note what happened just to see what the kind of skills were in this years crop before her own battle but that was it and ultimately there were only two battles that were of any interest to her.

That first one was actually the first battle of the day where a loud gray-haired boy who'd done nothing all exam won over some annoying blond dude by pulling a massive sword from his grimoire and bringing it down on the blond guy's bronze defensive ball. The Bronze Mage had claimed that his ball couldn't be broken, right before the gray-haired kid slashed down on it with his sword, shattering it as if it was made of glass, and driving the blond guy into the ground to win in a single blow, was interesting but it didn't faze her.

The other battle that she really noticed, and which also didn't faze her, was one between a really strong Wind Magic commoner with black hair and a cool look who'd consistently been the best candidate all day and some classist noble using Lightning Magic. Naturally, the Wind Mage won the battle with ease but the only thing that Najenda really took away from that match was that the Wind Mage was the only one that she was certain was performing better than her.

In the end though that didn't really matter to her either. In her early and unassuming life in the Clover Kingdom Najenda hadn't really paid much attention to what she wanted to do. Part of her felt like it was her duty to join either the Magic Knights or some form of law enforcement and serve the kingdom but at the same time she saw the corruption of the nobles around her even at a young age and abhorred it.

It was a constant conflict for her as it all played into her feelings that she couldn't explain, feelings that she'd once served a nation but rebelled because of its corruption which had made no sense to her. After all, as far as Najenda knew she'd been born in the Clover Kingdom and lived in her town all her life so that, along with several other feelings and oddly natural skills she seemed to have, confused her growing up.

At least it until she was 13 when there was a bandit attack on the Common Realm town that she called home. In the attack many of the residents, including her parents, were killed and without a grimoire she couldn't use her strange magic to help so she was forced to hide. It was during that attack, right as it looked like she'd be found and killed, that a Magic Knight Squad came in force to beat away the bandits, killing many of them which Najenda had no problem with, and saving her. In particular one of the Knights saved her and while the Magic Knight couldn't see her, she could see the Knight.

That sight changed her life. There, hidden under rubble and hating that she couldn't do anything, whatever block had been in Najenda's mind shattered and all that she'd felt over the years suddenly made sense as her memories of her past life came back to her as she rode out the pain of regaining her memories.

She had been the last of them, the only survivor when the corrupt Empire finally fell but even she had not been free of the aftermath that followed the rebellion and now she'd been reborn here of all places and the sight of the Knight was what did it. Everything had returned and while she was too young to do anything right then, she knew what she had to do and that was join the Magic Knights and go from there.

As such she'd trained long and hard to master her strange magic, it made no sense to anyone who saw it though Najenda did understand it now that her memories were back, and prepare herself for the exam. She remained in the town she'd been raised simply because it was easier and helped out as one of the many affected by that attack. It was what was best for her and allowed her to remain where she'd grown up as she prepared for the next stage of her life.

Finally, when she got her grimoire this year, she packed what little belongs she had and made the trip to Kikka to join the Magic Knights. Given the mentality of the others and what she'd seen, Najenda expected that they were all in, or about to be in, Magic Knight Squads, so while she'd take any Squad that would have here, there was one Squad that she was focused on joining. As such she'd spent the entire exam trying to impress that Squad's Captain.

Hell, Najenda had spent several weeks in Kikka before the exam, as well as time in a different part of the Common Realm that she'd not grown up in, learning all she could about that one Captain so that she could do what was needed to to get that Captain's attention. Thankfully her magic was perfect, and she even let the hits happen to show what it could do so that the Captain in question took an interest in her if for no other reason than the challenge her magic posed the Captain's abilities.

Now, at long last, two years of work and waiting were about to pay off as the exam ended and the results began. It took a while for any to get an offer and even after that they were few and far between. The one exception to this came at number 164 when three in a row got offers. To add to it the whole process for the first two candidates wasn't normal.

Number 164 was the black haired, super talented, boy with Wind Magic who proved it with an unprecedented 9 for 9 when it came to offers. Every Squad wanted him, even the sexist Blue Rose Knights and the classist Golden Dawn and Silver Eagles made offers to him. The boy had his pick, and he did what any would and took the offer from the Golden Dawn, the top Squad out there and as a commoner that was unheard off. It certainly caused a lot of whispers, but the boy seemed unphased as he made his choice and then returned to wait for the rest of the results. Then came number 165.

That was the gray-haired kid who initially got no offers but refused to accept it and stood his ground for a few seconds. That caused one of the Captains, the Captain of the Black Bulls who were the consensus worst Squad, to call him out regarding his strange power before he leapt down into the arena, showed off the level of his magical power, and threaten the kid. The kid still didn't back down and that was enough to impress the Captain who shocked everyone by taking the boy for the Black Bulls which he gladly accepted.

In the chaos of what had just happened with back-to-back candidates few missed number 166 also getting an offer though Najenda didn't as it was from the very Squad that she wanted to get an offer from so it made her nervous. Still, she'd seen that some Squads could go for more than one applicant so she didn't let it bother her too much as she waited, her nerves there but doing her best to push them aside as her turn neared. Then, it came.

"Number 240, step forward." The attendant in charge of this part said and Najenda walked forward to her spot and looked up at the Captains her face expressionless. "Do we have any hands?"

Like many who came from the Common and Forsaken Realms to try their hands at the Entrance Exam, Najenda wasn't wearing anything fancy, just a black vest with a high collar that was zipped up all the way to the top, a matching black skirt with a dark gray underskirt thing, and a gray belt with her grimoire bag, also gray, on her right hip. She completed the look with sturdy black boots that came to just below her knees.

It was a simple, utilitarian look that worked for her age and the skirt at least reminded people that she was female. Even with her long silver hair tied in a tight braid down her back she had a masculine aura to her, one that she'd had in her old life as well. The skirt helped sell it a bit, as did her impressive chest that was still growing, along with the rest of her, but neither of those were important to whether she could be a Magic Knight. Well, to 8 of the Squads it wasn't but showing her gender did matter to one Squad and that was the first Squad to raise a hand when she set herself and looked up.

The crowd of examinees weren't surprised, and neither was Najenda really, that Charlotte Roselei had raised her hand. Najenda had shown great skill, power, and to top it off she even beat a man who clearly looked down on her for her gender, that was all but guaranteed to lead to an offer from the Blue Rose Knights. It wasn't the only offer though as right afterwards Dorothy Unsworth raised her hand despite still sleeping indicating that the Coral Peacocks also wanted her which wasn't too surprising. Finally, and almost an afterthought, Jack the Ripper, the Captain of the Green Praying Mantises also raised his hand.

They hadn't been at the same time, or near enough, like with number 164 but it still showed that Najenda had talent and 3 offers was almost unheard of. Had that kid not gotten 9 earlier then Najenda would have had the most in a decade at least, according to the murmurs going on around her. She just ignored the whispers as she saw the that hand she wanted to see raised was raised and smiled as she continued looking at the Captains as she make her choice.

"Like everyone, I came here today to make a Magic Knight Squad." Najenda began. "I was willing to accept any who would have me but there was one Squad that I wanted above all others, and it pleases me to see that the Captain of that Squad agrees."

At that Charlotte seemed to smile and the murmurs coalesced around that. Three hands had been a surprise, though often talented women got both Blue Rose Knight and Coral Peacock offers, but with few exceptions the former was often chosen over the latter. After all, the all-female Blue Rose Knights were a top-level Squad and the one any serious female applicant usually wanted to be in. As such everyone, even the three Captains with raised hands, were expecting that choice. Najenda really should have made a bet on herself, she would have made a killing.

"That is why it would be an honor to join…" Najenda began milking the suspense a bit too much, but she couldn't resist it given what she was about to say and part of her just wanted to have fun with this moment. "…the Green Praying Mantis."

"WHAT!" Pretty much all of this in attendance said at the shocking decision.

Charlotte stared wide eyed at the rejection she'd gotten with her hand still raised as it wasn't the kind of rejection that she occasionally got for a better Squad if the Golden Dawn, Silver Eagles, or Crimson Lion Kings made an offer alongside her but one she never thought she'd suffer. To be spurned for the Green Praying Mantis Squad was practically unheard of for any multiple offers involving that Squad let alone for one of the spurned Squads being the Blue Rose Knights.

Even a male, if she made an offer to one like she'd done with number 164, would have been a surprise in this situation but a female rejecting her like this and for a Squad that had never had a female member before was too much. All Charlotte could do was stare with her hand still raised from it though Dorothy and Jack had lowered their hands.

"Ke, ke, that was unexpected." Jack said with a wide grin looking down at the girl and he meant it, he'd never have thought he'd see the day that a girl rejected the Blue Rose Knights for his Squad, not that he minded it as this was great because he did really want this girl on his Squad. "I didn't expect that, but I had to try with that magic of yours, oh how I'm going to enjoy slicing it so that it can't heal in time. I'm eager for that challenge. Welcome to the Green Praying Mantises, girlie."

"Thank you Captain, it is an honor to join your Squad." Najenda said with a small bow to him before she turned and left with a small smile on her lips as she went to wait for the end while Charlotte finally recovered and lowered her hand as the whispers continued.

Najenda knew that she'd done something shocking and unprecedented, but she didn't care. She wanted to join the Green Praying Mantis Squad above all other Squads, so much so that she'd have even turned down the Golden Dawn for them, and while she thought it would be a long shot and was willing to settle for the Blue Rose Knights as she knew she'd get an offer from Captain Charlotte, she'd managed it. The scene she caused was just amusing as she found a pillar to lean on and waited for the results to end.

That came over an hour later and after her little display there wasn't much more interest to see. There were some more offers here and there but about as frequent as before and none that got more than one, so it was pretty standard all the way to the end of the results. When that came, the score or so of successful applicants waited for their new Captains to come down and greet them once the amphitheater was clear.

When it was clear, Najenda pushed herself off the pillar and waited patiently as Jack walked down into the arena, his gait bow legged for some reason, and a grin on his face. Najenda had studied the man extensively for this but seeing the lanky, long haired, notoriously sadistic, commoner turned Captain walking towards her, the long red scar on his face, at least Najenda thought it was a scar, twitching as he smiled was something else. Few ever went from commoner to Captain, though right now 3 non nobles were Captains that Najenda knew of, so it was showing that times were changing in the Clover Kingdom.

That and she did know that he'd more than earned his rank. Despite being a commoner, the man was born with a high amount of mana and an attribute that was apparently unique to him, Severing Magic. The magic allowed Jack to create mana blades on his body and he could use them to sever things with his magic.

However, what made Jack's magic so strong, Captain caliber strong, was that it wasn't limited to just physical matter or spells. No Jack could sever literally anything once his desire to do so got high enough. His magic could actually change with this desire to slice things so that the longer he fought his magic changed to allow him to sever anything, even things as complex or intangible as Spatial Magic, self-Healing Magic, and possible even something like Gravity Magic.

Overall, it was a damned powerful attribute to have and that, along with Jack's sadistic nature and love of slicing things, was what Najenda had focused on. Her own magic had a unique property to it, other than being entirely creation magic, and that was that no matter how much damage her creations took, they would always repair themselves unless they took damage to a specific, hidden, part of her creation. It was a mimicry of an organic Imperial Arms only via magic and Najenda had shown that off in an attempt to impress Jack and raise his interest, which it clearly had.

"What's your name?" Jack asked as he reached her and Najenda noted that he was alone, the man with long, dirty blonde or brown hair that she had seen with him as all the Captains had at least one Squad member with them for the exam, wasn't with him.

"Najenda, Captain." Najenda said.

"Ke, ke, well you've impressed and surprised me Najenda, been a while since someone did both." Jack said. "I made my offer because of your magic, looks like it will be fun to sever that self-healing aspect of it, but when Charlotte made her offer I wasn't expecting you to take me. I almost didn't raise my hand, but I figured why not, and it worked out."

"I am grateful for that because I grew up in a town in the Common Realm, one that was attacked and raided by bandits two years ago." Najenda said getting Jack's attention as he recalled a bandit group that his Squad had ruthlessly crushed about two years ago where the class occurred in a Common Realm town. "My parents died in it, as did many in the town, but we were saved by you and your Squad. Since then, I've wanted to become a Magic Knight and if I could manage it to serve in your Squad in particular. No amount of fancy or high level offers would have swayed me. Not even your lack of female members was an issue though I do hope that you're going to be able to accommodate me properly."

"I've sent one of my senior knights, En, back to set up the top level of the hideout as your own personal wing." Jack said. "Usually new recruits go there and move up to bigger and nicer rooms as they progress as Magic Knights but as you noted I've never had a need for a woman's wing before, so I decided to give you that one. There are 4 rooms there to choose from, all the same, and a bathroom with a communal bath for you to use. You can use the other rooms as you see fit and over the time, if we don't get more women and you improve your rank, you can expand to the other rooms for size."

"Thank you Captain." Najenda said. "Though if I may ask, do you have anyone with magic that could set up traps or alerts around the top floor. I just want to be secure in my privacy and it's better that than me blowing them away, which would destroy the hideout and probably kill them as I don't hold back."

"I like that in a Magic Knight, ke, ke." Jack said grinning. "Very well, I'll have Lubbock set up some of his wires for it. His magic works well for that kind of stuff, saved my life a few years ago in fact. Filleted the moron who tried to kill me for it though I was trying to only sever a few limbs so the guy could be taken in alive."

"As you should Captain and thank you." Najenda said glad that the Captain would send just who she wanted to her so that things could be sorted out in private. "Could you send him up once I'm settled, I'd like to get the lay of the quarters first so that I know where to set the wires for the sake of my privacy. Naturally, I'll add my own measures for this Lubbock guy specifically, but one can never be too careful."

"Smart, you're going to go far I feel." Jack said before he seemed to remember something and looked around. "Er, didn't I take another guy, the dude who got crushed by the kid Yami took. I'm not going to hear the end of that one I feel but that kid had at least enough talent to merit an offer, I think."

"You did Captain, shall I get him." Najenda said looking around and noticing wind and a surge of mana coming from the toilet area which was likely where he was as that blond kid seemed to have a few issues. "I should get to know my fellow recruit."

"Yes, get him and meet me back here with some brooms." Jack said. "That feathered golden boy made plenty so grab a pair seeing as they're available. We head back to the hideout in 10."

"Of course." Najenda said as she went to the bathroom area just in time to catch the blond guy who Jack had also taken leaving.

"…won't you? Ha, ha." He said as he turned and left and almost ran into Najenda though she gracefully slid to the side, and he stumbled past her as a swell of mana that was going on in the bathroom died down, but she ignored it as she turned to man.

"There you are, come on let's get some brooms." Najenda said to the man who was probably also 15 as she grabbed his arm and dragged him away from whatever shit he'd been up to, figuratively or possibly literally as he'd been in the toilet. "The Captain is waiting for us."

"Why hello there miss." The boy said recovering as she let go of him and instantly hitting on her showing that he was also a bit of a womanizer amongst his other traits. "My name is Sekke, what's yours beautiful, ha, ha."

"Try that again and I'll rip your tongue out, there's only one man I like, and I'll soon be reunited with him though I won't make a move for a while especially as he's got to confess first." Najenda said as she turned to the blond boy before her not really paying attention to his appearance at all as she crossed her arms over her chest while she fixed him with a piercing glare. "I'm Najenda, your fellow new rookie so we are going to have to get along, but I expect you to be serious, professional, and hard working as part of our Squad. As I said when I accepted Captain Jack's offer, the one Squad I wanted was this one and now I'm in it, I'll not be brought down by some arrogant playboy who wants an easy ride, got it?"

"Ha, ha." Sekke said with clearly at a loss for what to say to the strong willed and pissed off girl before him who's magic was clearly stronger than his, so he was getting a distinct message not to fuck with her. "You're a Green Praying Mantis? And wanted to be one? You don't mind being a bug?"

"Yes, I wanted to be in this Squad so much I turned down the Blue Rose Knights for it which should show my commitment, and I will be a good member, so you'd better not let me down." Najenda said as she turned and led Sekke over to the brooms. "Now let's go, Captain Jack is waiting for us."

"Great, there's an attractive girl and she's not into me, plus she's not nice, strangely masculine in some ways, and I'm a bug under a scary Captain." Sekke said with a sigh as he followed the silver haired girl. "All I wanted was a cushy, good time, ha, ha."

Najenda ignored Sekke as she got a broom and tossed him one before she turned and left to go back to the center of the arena. Jack was already waiting there for them with his own broom.

"Good, now follow me, ke, ke." Jack said as he hopped on in a crouch style which seemed appropriate for him. "We've got to get back."

"Yes Captain." Najenda said as she leapt on flying side saddle with ease while Sekke flew normally, and they took to the air and flew out of the arena.

It took about half an hour flying as the crow did to fly to the Green Praying Mantis base in the Common Realm, near where Jack grew up in fact, and landed there. To add to it, which Najenda would soon find out, the Squad was the only one of the 9 Magic Knight Squads to be entirely comprised of commoners much to her surprise. Even the Black Bulls had two nobles, one of whom was a royal, and a former noble on their Squad. For all his show Sekke too was a commoner. Najenda didn't mind this of course and was eager for what was about to come as they landed behind their Captain outside the hideout.

Waiting for them was the long-haired man that Najenda had noticed earlier with Jack and who she was sure he'd called En along a short boy of no more than 16 or 17 with brown hair and glasses waiting for them. Both wore the simple and unadorned fern green robe of the Green Praying Mantis with their insignia on the left breast. As with the composition of the Squad, it was the simplest of all the robes, but Jack was a simple man with simple pleasures, albeit one who was also a super sadist and skilled fighter.

"Captain Jack." The taller, older, man said in a slow voice that had a slight tremor to it. "Welcome back, I flew on ahead as requested and it is all set up for our first female member."

"Ke, ke, good job En." Jack said with a laugh as they approached. "Take Najenda to our new woman's wing."

"Is it true what En said?" The other Squad member asked looking at Najenda his eyes a little wide. "Did you really turn down the Blue Rose Knights for us? Coral Peacocks I can understand but not the Blue Rose Knights. That's got to be unheard of for a woman to turn down that Squad for one like ours."

"Let me guess, you've had some negative run ins with them, right?" Najenda asked.

"More I grew up with Sol Marron, she's Charlotte's most loyal member now, and, well, I wasn't great with her back then." The boy said. "And not brave like her Captain is. I joined the Magic Knights to get stronger and in to see if I can make up for my cowardice back then."

"Ah, I think I understand." Najenda said. "Small town I take it."

"Yeah, some backwards views." The boy said. "Not that how the Blue Rose Knights are is better, just, well…"

"That attitude on either side is equally bad especially here were the only true determiner of a person is their magic power, not that that should be used to discriminate either mind you." Najenda said. "But it's a good thing that you're working to correct it. If Sol went through that though she may be the reverse for a while and have some good reason to be it. I just never got that attitude, personally, as I've known talented men and women in my time. Besides, it was the Green Praying Mantis who saved me, I was never going to join another Squad, even the Golden Dawn, once Captain Jack made me an offer."

"Ke, ke, what'd I say, we got a fiery one now." Jack said with a laugh at that and not noticing how oddly mature Najenda had just been. "Bit like you are when you're using those talking mushrooms of your, right En?"

"She does understand protection it seems." En said with a smile at her. "Welcome to the Green Praying Mantis, Najenda. If you don't mind, I'll show you to your room now so you can get settled before meeting the rest of the squad."

"And I'll take you to where you're going to be." The boy said to Sekke. "Usually, you'd be on the top floor but that's now the female quarters so you're on the one below with me and the other Junior Rank Knights so it will be a little larger than usual."

Sekke looked like he was going to say something, but Jack glared at him and Sekke flinched before going in behind the brown-haired boy. Najenda had a feeling that Jack didn't actually think Sekke's recruitment through but decided to leave it at that.

"Where's Lub?" Jack asked En. "He should be here as well given how he needs to make sure he understands our new recruits so that they can avoid triggering his wires."

"He was but right before you arrived something tripped the perimeter wire he has set up, so he took Nix and Willie to go check it out." En said and Najenda had to repress a smile at that, Lubbock was the same as always with how he used his wires to serve as an early warning system. "Probably just a beast but after that attempt on your life Captain we're always precautious. If it is a beast then we're going to eat well tonight."

"Ke, ke, tell Nix and Willie to find more then, we have our first female member, we must celebrate it." Jack said with a laugh. "That and getting one up on the Blue Rose Knights. Three offers, second most in a while behind that kid's 9 today and we got the applicant, oh how I'm going to enjoy rubbing this one at the next Captain's meeting. Let the booze flow, En."

"As you command Captain." En said. "Should be about an hour or so before everything is ready."

"That's fine, Lub needs to set up some wires to keep us out of Najenda's floor." Jack said as he led Najenda into the hideout with En following. "Though put some sentry mushrooms up as well, can't be too safe and Najenda's magic isn't the safest kind out there. Going to be so fun to slice up though, haven't had a new Squad member with a challenge like this since I got to slice up Lub's Wire Magic."

"Yes Captain." En said as he led them in and Jack went off to do whatever it was that he was going to do, Najenda didn't really know, and En turned to her as she processed that Lubbock's attribute was Wire which given Cross Tail made a lot of sense and explained all the wire references. "Follow me. Captain Jack is a bit of an acquired taste but he's a good man despite his eccentricities."

"That's fine, I knew what I was getting into when I set out to join this Squad." Najenda said as En led her deeper into the hideout and then up a flight of stairs to the rooms. "So, what is this mushroom sentry thing?"

"Oh, I use Fungus Magic and one of my spells allows me to put a mushroom in a place that will sprout, and some can even talk with my voice while allowing me to see what is there as well." En said and he shivered which would have given Najenda the impression that he was weak if she didn't sense a strong amount of magic coming from him when she first met him, the man was deceptively strong and not to be underestimated. "Don't worry, I will only put it at the top of the stairs that looks down on them and not into the corridor. I have 10 younger siblings you see so it's my duty to be a good big brother. I like to protect them and I do the same for my Squad."

"I see." Najenda said with a smile at that as they reached the top of the stairs and passed through an archway to see a long corridor with a door at the far end and 4 on one side with just one in the middle on the other. "So, this is where I'll be living from now on?"

"Yes, the four doors are identical single bed bedrooms, and the one opposite is the bathroom complete with communal bath not that you will be joined by anyone unless we get more female members." En said. "At the end is a door to a balcony area, one of a few that are around the hideout with this one being your personal one now I guess. The rooms have been cleaned and cleared out though only the first and last ones were occupied before today, so I put your new robe in the third one down but feel free to choose whichever one you want. I'll send Lub up once he's back and then he can set up the wires."

"Thank you." Najenda said with a smile at En that he returned, he really was a protective big brother type, before he turned and left.

Najenda turned and watched him leave and as he descended the stairs a giant mushroom appeared to block the doorway. It was an interesting and impressive piece of magic, Najenda had to admit, and it would serve well as she walked down the corridor to the assigned door and opened it.

The room was pretty standard with a single bed that had a comfy looking mattress, clean pillow, blanket and sheets on it, a chest of drawers, wardrobe, bookcase, and desk with some shelves above it. The chair was in front of the desk and the window gave a good view of the surrounding area. To add to it all Najenda noticed that the door had a lock on it so that would be good as she closed it, but didn't engage the lock, and went to the desk. Overall, it was a standard and clean room, she was more than happy with it and as she got more settled she'd add more to the room.

For now, though, it was standard but for one thing. Folded neatly on the desk was a simply green robe with the insignia of the Green Praying Mantises on it. Smiling at having made it into the Squad she wanted to join, Najenda picked up the robe and pulled it on, she'd done it, she'd impressed Jack and was now a member of his Squad.

With it on she pulled out the one thing she carried on her at all time, a replica of Lubbock's goggles from their past life that she'd had specially made after he'd inadvertently broken whatever mental block she had, and placed it on the desk. She'd felt the same way about him back then but the rebellion came first but now, if he could finally confess, they could try but only when she was a little older a she was still too young compared to him in their current life which was an odd feeling. Najenda pushed that aside as she sat at the chair and turned to the door to await Lubbock's arrival.

-break-

"So, what was it?" En asked as he exited the hideout just as Lubbock, Nix, and Willie returned with what had triggered the alarms, a large, now dead, boar that was wrapped up in Lubbock's wires. "Oh, a boar, that's all."

"Yup, the piggy got too close and triggered a snare." Lubbock said as he brushed his green hair back a little. "Had to put it out of its misery. Figured we could use it for a good meal tonight what with potential new recruits."

"Yeah did we get any?" Nix asked.

"Two and the Captain wants you and Willie to go out and get more meat because we're having a party for this, so we need plenty of meat and Captain Jack's going to let the alcohol flow for this." En said as several mushrooms appeared and hoisted the boar up onto their heads to take it to the kitchen where the members on kitchen duty would prepare it for tonight's festivities. "Captain wants it in an hour or so, so you should probably get to it."

"That's rare for the Captain to throw such a party." Lubbock said as Nix and Willie grumbled but headed out, the latter's Mud Magic going to be useful to catch animals at least so they got to it right away. "What's the occasion? We get someone good or surprising?"

"Both in one person, she's quite powerful though the other guy remains to be seen." En said as he and Lubbock walked in. "Plus, the Captain really liked her magic, we just didn't expect her to accept his offer."

"Huh that…" Lubbock began before the pronouns that En had used hit him. "Wait. Did you say she? A girl actually accepted Captain Jack's offer. He rarely makes them and almost always the Blue Rose Knights or Coral Peacocks have done so as well so we lose out. Even then, they'd literally take any other Squad before ours with the possible exception of the Black Bulls."

"Oh, both of them made offers but she turned them down for us." En said as they headed to the stairs with Lubbock just following at this point. "She actually wanted to join us which is a huge surprise. Jack wants to celebrate getting one up on Charlotte for once I think that's the real reason why he wants to have a party for the new members."

"Hold on." Lubbock said as they began to climb, and he tried to process what he was hearing hence why he was still walking with En as he wanted to know more. "She got 3 offers? That's super rare to begin with, and she still chose us over the Blue Rose Knights? What is the deal with this girl? This is completely unheard of."

"Some kid from Forsaken Realm got all 9 but he was clearly a special case so her three offers weren't actually the most, plus there was a kid with a strange sword who's now a Black Bull so it was an interesting exam to say the least." En said. "But yes, as hard as it is to believe this girl chose us over the Blue Rose Knights because apparently she always wanted to be in our Squad. Jack's in a good move and her magic has some strange healing properties he really wants to sever so he's thrilled she accept us, I think."

"Wow, a lot to process." Lubbock said shaking his head at just how strange it was, but he wasn't going to complain about finally having a female member. "So, what are we doing with her? We don't really do well with the ladies as much as I want to."

"The top floor is now the female quarters, and you are to meet her now to set up some protective wires." En said as they reached the top floor and the sentry mushroom stood to the side with a salute to En which he nodded at; Lubbock still didn't understand the mushrooms his senior made but they were pretty strong, so he didn't really mind them or how En's personality changed when using the talking one. "She's in the third room but knock. You don't want to piss Jack off."

"Yeah I get that." Lubbock said as he walked down the corridor while En went back down to coordinate the party for the new members and the mushroom returned to guard duty. "I hope she's pretty."

Lubbock may be a wannabe playboy but in his heart he knew that no woman he met was the right one for him. He wasn't sure what he was looking for in a woman but part of him felt that he'd once fallen deeply in love and would do anything for that woman which made no sense to him. He'd had feelings like that along with his combat skills all his life for as long as he could remember so he just chalked it up to that kinda stuff and left it at that as he knocked on the door to meet the first ever female Green Praying Mantis.

"Come in, it's not locked." The clearly female voice said from inside and Lubbock opened the door and walked in, the heavy door beginning to close as he look at the newest member.

Sitting in the chair in the room was a stunning silver haired girl of 15 or 16 if Lubbock had to guess, a shade too young right now but he'd wait, with a tight silver braid over that she'd swept over her shoulder. It all went really well with her pale skin and despite giving off an oddly masculine aura that had to come from some deep inner strength, Lubbock could tell that she was still feminine at the same time.

The girl just sat with her back straight, hands in her lap, and a smile on her face as a pair of beautiful, light purple eyes stared at Lubbock and met his right green one as his green hair covered his other eye. It was a set of eyes that took Lubbock's breath away and something he'd not expected to ever see again, let alone as a complete pair, as the moment he saw the girl's smiling face the block in his mind shattered even if the face was younger than he'd ever seen it.

All Lubbock could do was fall to his knees as the door closed behind him and his memories came flooding back to him in a painful rush. All of them be they good, bad, and most importantly the deepest regret he'd ever had returned in a matter of seconds as he looked at the girl before him and tried to process everything. He couldn't but he did manage to get one word out, a name he never thought he'd say again or see the woman it belonged to, before the girl was off the chair to embrace him and help him through this process.

"Najenda."

---

With a snore Tatsumi woke up and blinked at the dark common room. He'd not realized he'd fallen asleep; he'd just come back after his afternoon sword training with Akame to relax while Asta, Noelle, and Luck were at the dungeon that had been found and have some food. He'd been thinking of the others, the ones with their blocks still intact as far as they knew, all day and had been hoping they were doing well and that had continued after dinner when he lay down to relax and had fallen asleep on one of the sofas in the common room.

Judging by the slight mumbling and laughing Vanessa was asleep somewhere but what Tatsumi really noticed was that he was warm and had a weight on him with a pair of noticeable soft things resting on his abdomen. With a little effort, Tatsumi craned his neck down to see that Akame had fallen asleep on him, the scent of meat still on her breath as she slept laying over him with her head on his chest.

A glance to the side revealed the plates strewn over the tables in the room, and the ball of cotton with a tiny figure on it nearby, and he realized what had happened after he'd fallen asleep. Akame and Charmy had eaten themselves into food comas while he slept and Akame had decided to snuggle with him, well on top of him, and fall asleep, not that he was complaining.

Tatsumi smiled, things were looking up and this life was turning out to be better than his last one. He just hoped the others were also doing well and that soon they'd all be properly reunited when the Wizard King said that it was time for them all to gather together again. With that thought, Tatsumi drifted off to sleep again as the day came to a close unaware of what was going on at the dungeon and all that that mission would mean for the future of the Black Bulls.

Well, it may have been long, but I needed something to occupy the dungeon arc, and this just fit here so I went with it, told of some follow ups with sightings of Sheele, Bulat, and Leone (and confirmation that she is Mereoleona's protégé), while also showing how Lubbock's block was broken for good measure. I had planned on having the whole chat between Najenda and Lubbock with what happened to her, Lubbock's confession, Najenda's admission that she always knew and that she shared them but had wanted to wait for the war to end so she too had some regrets, and their plan but this chapter was already over 12k in the draft so I opted to end that there. I'll get into what happened and all that in time though so I've not forgotten about it. We'll get back to the main story next chapter with the aftermath of the dungeon and what happened there in the timeline of events as there was that little thing that occurred between the dungeon and the War Merits festival (or at least appears to have occurred) so plenty to look forward to as the story continues but for now I will leave this chapter off here. If you like my story then please follow, favorite, review, PM, etc. it is all appreciated and helps me get better and stay motivated to keep producing more content and any questions asked I will do my best to answer both privately and at the start of the next chapter. Until next time.

Stringdog