"Lady Esdeath?"
"Lady Esdeath, are you listening?"
The next morning.
At the Jaegers' headquarters outside the General's Mansion, nearly a dozen Imperial Arms users sat around a long meeting table, their gazes focused on Esdeath seated at the head.
However, the usually decisive and commanding Esdeath appeared somewhat absent-minded today.
Leone, the leader of the Three Beasts, had called out to her several times, but she still hadn't responded.
"Um… Lady Esdeath?"
Nyau, gathering his courage, gently poked her arm. Feeling the touch, Esdeath suddenly snapped back to reality.
She looked around the room as if only just remembering where she was, then cleared her throat and said seriously, "Apologies, I was a bit distracted. What were we just discussing?"
"The plan to resume the assault on Night Raid."
"Yes, that's it." Esdeath nodded. "Let's proceed, then."
The reason Esdeath returned to the capital was to join the search for Yoshino.
After all, Night Raid shifting their assassination operations was just a diversion tactic. Once their plan to kidnap Yoshino succeeded, they vanished without a trace.
Thus, Esdeath and the Jaegers had no reason to remain outside the capital.
Now that Yoshino had returned safely to the capital, the most critical issue had been resolved.
But Night Raid was still active.
Since Yoshino safety was confirmed, the Jaegers needed to resume their operation to eliminate Night Raid—to wipe out these rats lurking in the shadows as soon as possible.
That was the purpose of today's gathering.
However, upon hearing Esdeath words, the Jaeger members—including the Three Beasts—showed subtle expressions.
The room fell into a brief but awkward silence.
Because… they had already finished discussing it.
Every Jaeger member had shared their opinions on the upcoming operation. While not every suggestion was constructive, each had at least contributed.
The only one who hadn't spoken was Esdeath.
Without input from their leader, they couldn't finalize a strategy. Without her decision, the Jaegers were unable to take action.
Seeing Esdeath seemingly confused about why no one else was speaking, Liver broke the silence: "Lady Esdeath, you don't seem to be in the best condition today. Should we continue the discussion tomorrow?"
"Yes, especially since Miss Yoshino only returned yesterday. Lady Esdeath, you must've spent the whole night with her," Nyau chimed in, trying to excuse Esdeath distraction. "Something as important as a battle strategy can wait until you've rested. A day or two won't make a difference."
"Indeed," Daidara nodded in agreement.
With things said to that extent, Esdeath realized she must've missed something important earlier.
Given how her most trusted subordinates had given her an easy out, she didn't try to save face. She accepted their gesture.
"Very well, today's meeting is adjourned. We'll resume tomorrow," Esdeath declared. "Jaegers, dismissed. You're all granted a day off. The Three Beasts will stay."
Upon receiving the order, the other Imperial Arms users responded affirmatively.
Soon, everyone except the Three Beasts had filed out of the meeting room.
Though they didn't know what was going on, since Esdeath had asked them to stay, they assumed she had something important to discuss.
Leone, Nyau, and Daidara sat upright, showing proper posture and serious expressions.
They had followed Esdeath for years and had never seen her lose focus during an important meeting before.
Worried and curious, all three turned their attention to their superior, waiting for her to speak.
Esdeath expression turned complicated.
She placed her elbows on the table, fingers interlocked in front of her chin, and said in a low voice, "Yoshino hates me."
"..."
The Three Beasts remained silent.
Because they didn't know how to respond.
They all wanted to say, "That's it?" but they were well aware of Esdeath deep affection for Yoshino.
If Yoshino really did hate her, it was indeed a serious blow.
Being hated by an enemy was a badge of honor for Esdeath. Being hated by allies meant nothing to her. Even being hated by comrades—she'd usually blame them instead.
But Yoshino was different.
Being hated by her only sister… no wonder Esdeath had been out of sorts all day.
"It's hard to imagine someone like Miss Yoshino hating anyone," Nyau said, unable to empathize entirely but still trying to help. "So… what exactly did you do, Lady Esdeath?"
"I didn't do anything," Esdeath expression darkened. "It was Night Raid. They dug up my wartime history and showed it to Yoshino, trying to drive a wedge between us."
"Ah…" Nyau replied awkwardly, "That's… tricky."
The Three Beasts knew all about it. In order to keep Yoshino from learning about her past, Esdeath had gone to great lengths—posing as a gentle, caring big sister in front of her, even forbidding anyone in the General's Mansion from mentioning anything, burning documents and trophies to erase traces.
She had to do this to rebuild their sisterly bond.
After all, anyone could see it—if the gentle, sensitive Yoshino learned of Esdeath atrocities, especially when she had no emotional attachment due to her memory loss, she would surely distance herself immediately.
"Paper can't hide fire forever. Even if Night Raid hadn't told her, Miss Yoshino would have found out eventually," Liver consoled. "If she grows stronger, she might come to understand your actions."
"But didn't Dr. Stylish say Miss Yoshino mind and body had stopped developing? She might stay like this forever," Nyau shook his head. "Instead of hoping for her understanding, wouldn't it be better to seek her forgiveness?"
"But Lady Esdeath didn't directly do anything to Miss Yoshino. How can she ask for forgiveness?" Leone asked, confused.
"Exactly! Yoshino even said herself she hates people like me. I can't change the past, so how could I earn her forgiveness?" Esdeath also looked lost.
"Sigh, it's one thing for a gruff old man like Leone, but Lady Esdeath, you too?" Nyau sighed. "You really don't understand a young girl's heart."
"You're a gruff guy too, so how do you understand a girl's heart?" Daidara scratched his head.
"No one asked you!" Nyau rolled his eyes, then got back to the main point. "Lady Esdeath, is Miss Yoshino still staying at the General's Mansion?"
"Mm." Esdeath nodded heavily. "But she refuses to say a single word to me. This morning, I knocked on her door to ask if she wanted to have breakfast together, and she didn't even respond."
"It's not a big problem," Nyau said with a smile. "Since Miss Yoshino is still willing to live with you and hasn't moved out, it means that she's internally conflicted. Although she sees what you did as detestable, your role as a good sister in the past has had some effect—more or less, she really started to see you as her sister, which is why she's still giving you a chance."
"What kind of chance?" Esdeath asked urgently, as if grasping a lifeline.
"A chance to turn over a new leaf, of course," Nyau replied seriously. "Miss Yoshino knew from the very beginning that you were a general, but she still didn't reject contact with you. That shows she understands that killing enemies on the battlefield is inevitable for a general. So the reason she's angry is merely because of the massacres you carried out. If that's the case, all you have to do is promise never to commit such atrocities again, right?"
"But..." Esdeath frowned.
"No buts." Nyau cut her off directly. "I know in your eyes, Lady Esdeath, the weak and defeated have no right to live, and being killed is only natural. But Miss Yoshino doesn't see it that way. So now you have only two choices: One, stick to your ideals and completely fall out with Miss Yoshino. Two, swallow your pride and make peace with her."
The words were so clear that even Esdeath had no room to argue.
After only a moment of silence, she made her decision.
In fact, she never particularly enjoyed massacres.
She truly loved war, but more because she wanted to experience the thrill of clashing with the strong, and the satisfaction of defeating formidable opponents.
In her eyes, only the strong were valuable—weaklings were merely food for the strong.
Not even worthy of being playthings.
So during the massacres, she didn't feel a shred of joy—more often, she just saw it as cleaning house, taking out the trash with no value.
If Yoshino had asked her to stop being the Empire's general, she might have hesitated. But all Yoshino wanted was for her to stop indiscriminate killing—was that even worth hesitating over?
It may go against her principles, but what principle could ever be more important than her little sister?
With that thought, the faintly gloomy aura around Esdeath instantly shifted, and she returned to her usual composed and capable self.
"Thank you, Nyau. You helped me see what I needed to do."
Esdeath smiled confidently and adjusted the brim of her military cap.
"I'll go apologize to Yoshino right now!"
"Alright, since Miss Esdeath said all that, then Yoshino will let it go."
Twenty minutes later, at the General's Mansion.
After a sincere apology and a solemn vow that she would never again commit any acts that violated humanity during military campaigns, Yoshinon reluctantly nodded and agreed to let it slide.
Esdeath immediately brightened, and after thanking Yoshino, she turned to look at Yoshino.
As if she had read her thoughts, Yoshinon continued, "But forgiveness isn't unconditional. If Miss Esdeath agrees to one more thing, then Yoshino can completely forgive you."
"One more thing?" Esdeath asked cautiously. "What is it?"
"It's about Makoto ," Yoshino said. "Miss Esdeath is the Empire's Grand General, and your duty should be to protect the country and the ruler. But over the years, you've cooperated with the ministers to deceive Makoto . Don't you think that's pitiful for him?"
"...Tch."
Upon hearing that it involved the young emperor, Esdeath clicked her tongue in displeasure.
She didn't think Makoto was pitiful at all.
From the start, she had very little respect for him—at most, she played the role of a loyal subject in cooperation with Honest.
But ever since Honest had arbitrarily proposed that ridiculous engagement, and Makoto began visiting the General's Mansion to see Yoshino every now and then, she didn't even want to bother keeping up appearances anymore.
In her eyes, a puppet emperor like Makoto wasn't worthy of being her sister's partner.
Yet Yoshino didn't seem to mind spending time with him. In fact, their relationship was progressing faster than hers with her own sister—which irritated Esdeath even more.
"If Miss Esdeath truly wants to change and stop committing atrocities, and is willing to cut ties with the ministers, then Yoshino can consider accepting you again," Yoshinon said. "But if not, from now on, Yoshino will sever all ties with you and leave the capital."
"No!" Esdeath shouted instinctively. "You can't go!"
"Then is Miss Esdeath willing to change?"
"..."
Essentially, the only reason Esdeath had formed an alliance with Honest in the first place was because he could cover up all her battlefield atrocities, allowing her to indulge in war as she pleased.
But now, she had already promised Yoshino that she wouldn't commit such acts anymore.
In other words, her alliance with Honest no longer served any purpose—there was no benefit in maintaining that relationship.
Even if Yoshino hadn't brought it up, Esdeath would have cut ties with Honest sooner or later.
To Honest, this would undoubtedly feel like a betrayal—but Esdeath didn't care.
Their relationship had always been one of pure self-interest.
However, the fact that Yoshino was using "helping Makoto " as the reason for her demand made it feel like a thorn lodged in Esdeath throat.
"...Alright then."
After a long silence, Esdeath finally nodded helplessly.
After all, she had no other choice.
Only by agreeing could she reconcile with Yoshino.
As for the future... She would think about it when the time came.