In a grave yard just outside of Rousei Village, Akame stood with Martha, her back turned to the shop owner and a hesitant look on her face.

Martha: "What's wrong, Akame? Why did you call me out this lake at night?"

Akame's thoughts: "No matter how hard I try... I can't see a person as kind as Martha being a spy. Could father's information have been incorrect..." She remained quiet and gritted her teeth a bit before her 'friend' began to speak again.

Martha: "Oh! Are you trying to negotiate a higher price for your food ingredients? Then just come back around lunchtime..." However she was abruptly interrupted by the conflicted scarlet-eyed girl.

Akame: "Martha!!"

Martha: "... Akame?"

Akame: "I have something I want to ask you. Please answer honestly."

>Chapter 4: Emotions<

A female with some survival equipments and a lamp was walking through a dark cave until she stopped.

Female: "This cave should be just within the designated area... and I set up a really powerful trap at the entrance. Now I just have to hide until tomorrow and I'll get my freedom..." She said sitting down on the cave's floor before she closed her eyes in happiness. "I can finally go back to my homeland."

However, chills were sent down her spine as she turned around to see Guy, wearing his armor burrowing right behind her before he grabbed her by her head.

Rhea Suit
Shingu Type: Armor
Wearer: Guy

"An armor-type Shingu that is designed to use earth to its advantage, and can dig underground. However, it cannot create earth from nothing, and it heavily strains the user."

Guy: "Target Confirmed. No doubt about it." He said as he snaps her neck, ending her life before his armor deactivated.

Guy: "...Just like pops said, humans die much faster than Danger Beasts." But when he looked at her body, he fell a bit quiet. "... Huh? Did I... just hesitate or something? I didn't feel anything like this while hunting Danger Beasts in the mountains. What was that weird feeling just now...? Whatever! Anyways. I'm a hero who protects the country now! I won't forgive evil!"

Back in the graveyard, Martha fell into a fit of laughter after hearing the question her Scarlet-eyed 'friend' had to ask her, about her being a spy for the revolutionary army.

Martha: "Ahaha! What are you talking about, Akame? How could I be an informant for the revolutionary army?? Even as a joke, this isn't funny at all!" The crimson-eyed girl was taken aback and frozen shocked from her response before she slowly began laughing nervously.

Akame: "...Ye-Yeah! You're right!"

Martha: "Akame, someone's playing a joke on you. I should go complain to Gozuki!"

Akame: "Um... Um, you... you can't do that!!" She turned and began jogging away. "I'll go double check. I'm sorry, Martha!"

Akame was internally relieved. She, although she didn't know how to show it well, had a connection to Martha, so hearing that she wasn't a spy put her at ease. Realizing she had time before dawn to return and ask, she began sprinting instead of jogging, however, a sharp pain against the left side of her abdomen. Her eyes shot wide open and she looked down, seeing a type of blade grazing against her side, however when she looked back, she was mortified to see it was Martha.

Martha: "Oh? I barely nicked you. Not bad, Akame."

Akame: "Ma-Martha..." She breathed out slightly weakly as she held her side and gripped her blade in her right hand.

Martha: "That's not good at all, you know? You should've been taught by Gozuki that... you should never trust what your targets say. It's the most basic rule of those who live in the shadows." Just hearing that, made the assassin's eyes widen further as there was a show of betrayal, hurt and frustration displayed.

Akame: "...Then... Then Martha, you really are..."

Martha: "Yep. I'm an informant for the Revolutionary Army." She said without a care in the world.

Akame: "Ugh..." She began panting a bit as she felt her body going numb, meaning Martha's dagger was coated in poison.

Martha: "Normally, you shouldn't even be able to stand... not bad. So you learned to resist poison through training and eating."

Akame: "Martha... Why...?" She breathed out weakly and desperately as she slowly unsheathed her blade.

Martha: "Akame..." She dashed towards her, releasing a flurry of slashes with her dagger. "I've been watching you for many years, so I know. You're too kind. It'll be hard for you to keep living as an assassin. It'd be easier for you if you died right here." She lectured as the assassin blocked and parried her strikes before she tripped and began falling. "I'll make it painless..."

Akame was vulnerable, open to the incoming attack. However, just the mere thought of Kurome being all by herself, caused her to spike with determination. She regained her balance and swiftly reflected Martha's strike.

Akame: "I won't let that happen!!"

Martha: "How can you still move so well no matter what!?"

As Akame fought back gloriously, she recalled the words Gozuki and Dairoku said to her in the past.

(1st Flashback)

Gozuki: "Listen Akame, if you want to olive and see your sister again, you'll need to be more cold blooded. You have to be able to turn your emotions off like a switch. Let's see, maybe a motto will do. When you're on a mission, you can declare it out loud or say it in your heart. It doesn't matter which, but make sure you do it. It'll be like a good luck charm. So you can show no mercy to your enemies and survive."

(2nd Flashback)

Dairoku: "Akame, have you ever wondered why Kuraime always says 'Oyasumi' when going into battle?"

Akame: "Uh... Is it to stop herself from being nervous?"

Dairoku: "Something like that... But first of all, what does Oyasumi mean?"

Akame: "Goodnight, in Japanese."

Dairoku: "Correct. Kuraime uses the word like her kill switch. Once she says it, she shuts off any emotion or remorse she had and becomes a cold killing machine. It's how she's able to kill her targets flawlessly. I'm sure father told you before, but if you can have your own phrase to say while in a mission and towards your target, you become like her. Let's see... Something like 'Eliminate' would work for you."

(End of Flashbacks)

Akame: "Martha... I will..." she said lowly as she knocked the dagger out of Martha's hand leaving her weaponless.

Martha: "Even when you're poisoned you can still...!" But it was too late for her as the assassin had flipped her kill switch on.

Akame: "...ELIMINATE YOU!!!" She yelled as she slashed her down her chest with her blade.

Kiriichimonji
Shingu form: Katana
Wielder: Akame

"A blade Shingu that inflicts wounds that cannot be healed."

After the battle was over, Akame stared at the dying Martha, who rested against a gravestone, with her blood staining it.

Akame: "... How did you know that I was being raised to be an assassin?"

Martha: "...Because I'm a spy..."

Akame: "...So were you being kind to me because you were a spy, too...?"

She looked at her, conflicted, coldly and broken. Martha sold her life to the country to save her family. Her duty was aiding in the training of assassins, which included her eventual death as well. All the villagers... the entire village was a setup that existed solely for the purpose of indoctrinating Akame and the others. Of course, revealing the truth was strictly forbidden.

Martha: "A-Actually..." She weakly reached out for the assassin, who slowly leaned towards her. However, she immediately dodged out of the way of a hidden blade strike by Martha that would have proven fatal. "...Darn, you dodged it... You have to deliver the final blow right away..."

Akame just yelled out in frustration as she stabbed her blade into Martha's heart, ending her for good.

Martha's thoughts: "There... That's it, Akame... I really did love you..."

After the battle had concluded, Akame just rested on her knees, hugging the head of the deceased spy in her chest.

Akame: "I... I made my mind up to be useful to the country... I even defeated a spy... So... So why..." She looked down at her face. "Why am I not happy at all...?"

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Next Chapter: Little Sister's First Mission