Byn fell silent, and the atmosphere became slightly awkward.

  He really didn’t need the bnket, but he hadn’t expected Kurome to be so concerned about him. She probably thought his body was still weak from using two Teigus at once.

  “I don’t know what to say... but thank you.”

  After thinking it over, that was all Byn could manage.

  Hearing no response from Kurome, he assumed she had actually fallen asleep this time. But that wasn’t the case.

  Kurome was simply too shy to reply. She wasn’t oblivious—she understood that her actions were a bit bold. But after everything Commander Byn had done for her today, she couldn’t just let him go to sleep and risk catching a cold.

  “Good night.”

  Byn didn’t overthink it. He said good night and went straight to sleep.

  A while ter, Kurome waited until she was sure Byn had dozed off before whispering near his ear, “Good night...”

  Byn had indeed fallen asleep, but Kurome’s movement stirred him awake again. However, he only opened his eyes briefly, making no other movements.

  ...

  The night passed without incident.

  At dawn, Byn and Kurome set out on their mounts and returned to the Imperial Capital. For breakfast, they made do with the dry rations they had brought along.

  By midday, they arrived back in the capital.

  After returning the mounts, Byn turned to Kurome. “Are we heading straight back to base, or do you want to take a walk around the city? Our leave doesn’t end for another two days.”

  “If possible, I’d like to have lunch here,” Kurome answered without hesitation.

  The Assassination Unit usually ate at the base canteen, and it was only during missions that they had the chance to dine out at restaurants or taverns. Compared to those pces, the base’s food was much more mediocre.

  “Alright, pick a restaurant you like,” Byn said.

  After spending the past few days with her, he had realized that Kurome was a bit of a foodie. It wasn’t hard to guess that she wasn’t exactly fond of the base’s meals.

  Kurome quickly chose a restaurant, drawn in by the rich aroma of meat wafting from within.

  “This way, we have open seats,” a waiter greeted them upon entry.

  Byn handed Kurome the menu. “Order whatever you want.”

  The restaurant served a variety of dishes, including ones made from Danger Beasts as well as more common home-style meals.

  Kurome immediately ordered ten meat dishes—and that still might not be enough for her.

  Byn, on the other hand, opted for a much simpler meal: one meat dish, one vegetable dish, a bowl of soup, and two servings of white rice.

  “Would you like any alcohol? Or just pin water?” the waiter asked.

  “Just water,” Byn replied casually.

  Ten minutes ter, the food started arriving.

  As they ate, a striking young woman with golden hair and eyes, a curvaceous figure, and revealing attire walked past them. She took a seat behind Kurome and ordered several bottles of alcohol.

  At first, Byn didn’t pay her any mind. However, his peripheral vision soon caught her gncing at him and Kurome.

  Seated across from Kurome, Byn could just barely see the blonde woman from the corner of his eye. His instincts were sharp—where an ordinary person might dismiss it as nothing, he remained cautious.

  Of course, there was always the possibility that he was being overly alert.

  Regardless, Byn made a mental note of her presence while maintaining a completely natural demeanor, continuing his meal as usual.

  Kurome, on the other hand, was oblivious to the woman behind her. She was too focused on the meat in front of her to notice anything else.

  However, Byn’s instincts proved to be right.

  The blonde woman was actually Leone, a member of the assassin group Night Raid. She had come to the capital for a drink as usual but happened to run into Byn and Kurome at the restaurant.

  More notably, she immediately recognized Kurome as Akame’s younger sister.

  Which meant the young man sitting across from her was most likely a member of the Empire’s Assassination Unit as well.

  That realization led Leone to observe them more closely—an action that did not go unnoticed by Byn.

  “Oh no, I think I've been spotted...”

  At that moment, Leone vaguely sensed that she might have been noticed and couldn't help but think to herself.

  Fortunately, she had never exposed her identity as a member of Night Raid. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be strolling so openly through the streets of the Imperial Capital every day.

  “Well, whatever. I'll just finish my drink and leave.”

  With that thought, she continued drinking as if nothing had happened. She no longer paid any attention to Byn and Kurome—moving around in broad daylight, especially in a crowded pce like this, was too risky for someone like her.

  If her identity were exposed here, it would only bring trouble.

  Let alone a fight—Akame had warned them before that Kurome was extremely dangerous, and as for the other young man's strength, it was still unknown. Leone definitely wouldn't act recklessly.

  ...

  Sure enough, ten meat dishes weren’t enough for Kurome—she ended up ordering two more.

  “You should be full now, right?” Byn asked.

  “Yeah, let's go.”

  After taking her st bite, Kurome got up, ready to leave.

  Byn suddenly realized that despite eating so much, Kurome didn’t look the slightest bit full.

  Not to mention, her figure was incredibly slim—completely at odds with her massive appetite.

  Where did all that food even go?

  A mystery with no expnation.

  “Before we go, at least get rid of the rice on your face.”

  Byn noticed a grain of rice stuck near Kurome’s cheek and pointed it out.

  Even though she had already wiped her mouth, that tiny piece had somehow survived.

  “Where is it? Help me take it off.”

  When it came to eating, Kurome was completely unfazed.

  Expressionless, she even asked Byn to remove it for her.

  Without hesitation, Byn reached out and plucked the tiny grain of rice from her face. Just as he was about to casually flick it into the trash...

  “Wait.”

  Kurome stopped him.

  “What?” Byn asked, slightly puzzled.

  The next moment, Kurome grabbed his wrist, leaned in, and gently took the grain of rice from his fingertip with her lips.

  “Food shouldn’t be wasted.”

  She spoke in a deadpan voice, her face bnk as ever.

  Byn was momentarily stunned—he hadn’t expected that at all. His expression stiffened slightly.

  The warmth of her lips still lingered on his fingertips.

  PinkSnake