Chapter 130: Will You Marry Me? Esdeath’s Criteria for Choosing a Partner-Infinite Immortal(His given name was Qi, and his courtesy name was Fangyuan.)

"I was just wondering if he could manage to get that legendary phoenix blood," Mine said nonchalantly. "Ah, sorry, my hand slipped."

Dodging the flying dinner knife, Lubbock wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Actually, there’s no need to go through all that trouble and put Qi at risk for me. I’m satisfied just being able to watch over everyone," Sheele whispered weakly. She had been pushed out by the others to get some fresh air. Her body was currently sustained entirely by nutritional fluids, so she had no need for food.

"Hahaha, Sheele, if you don't recover, Mine will feel guilty for the rest of her life," Leone laughed heartily.

"Hmph," Mine turned her head away, using a cold huff to hide her embarrassment.

"By the way, I just thought of a way to know exactly how Qi and the Boss are doing!" Leone’s eyes suddenly lit up as she slapped the table and stood up.

"What way?" Mine asked skeptically.

"Heh heh, just watch." Leone smiled triumphantly and pulled the diamond bead from her pocket.

"Are you planning to crush it to summon Qi’s consciousness? He’s going to scold you to death," Lubbock noted. After all, it was meant to be used only in emergencies. If they used it now, what would they do if they actually faced danger later?

Leone waved her hand with a smug grin. "Lubb, you’re smart, but you’d never guess this. Watch me."

She took the diamond bead and, instead of crushing it, began shaking it vigorously in her hand—left, right, twisting her neck, wiggling her hips—before finally tossing it directly into the campfire.

"I see, so you’re using the heat of the flames to make the crystal bead sense a change and transmit it to Qi, causing his consciousness to shift over to check on the situation. I have to admit, you have your moments of brilliance... though what was with those movements earlier? A circus act?" Mine couldn't help but retort.

"I figured a little vigorous shaking might get him to come over and take a look, right?" Leone chuckled, her eyes fixed on the bead in the fire.

"Fine, you win. Why did you call me?" The diamond bead rolled out of the fire on its own, sprang up, made intimate contact with Leone’s forehead, and landed on the dining table.

"Ow, that hurts!" Leone clutched her forehead, baring her teeth as she glared at the bead. "What was that for?"

"I should be asking you that! You dragged me over here for no reason—just to chat? I thought you were in danger again! My main body is still flying in the sky; it wouldn't be a surprise if I fell out of the air at any moment." Qi’s voice sounded even louder, clearly showing he wasn't happy about being toyed with.

"Alright, don't blame Leone. I actually wanted to ask if you’ve arrived at headquarters yet, and when you’re going to search for the phoenix blood," Mine said, trying to smooth things over for the sheepishly grinning Leone.

"We’ve arrived at headquarters. As for the phoenix blood? I’m not in a good mood, so that can wait until later," Qi replied, making it clear he had a temper too.

"Qi, you don't need to go to such lengths for me. I’m already very happy with how things are," Sheele whispered.

"Night Raid needs every person we can get. The idea that you can just live out your days in such a plain, quiet way is impossible. Hurry up and get better so we can fight side by side again," Qi’s voice softened considerably.

"Qi is right. How long do you plan on resting? We’ve all been looking forward to fighting alongside you again," Leone laughed happily. "Too bad there’s no booze. I should go buy some later."

"Drinking is bad for your health. Black tea is better," Mine said, picking up her tea and taking a sip.

"By the way, Qi, will you marry me when you get back?" Sheele suddenly asked in a small voice.

"..."

*Pfft!* Mine sprayed her tea everywhere, drenching Akame, who had been silently eating her meal.

"Mmph—" Leone, who was trying to eat meat in the absence of alcohol, choked, her face turning bright red.

"Cough, cough, cough—" Lubbock, having inhaled his food into his windpipe, coughed incessantly.

The atmosphere at the dining table was completely ruined by Sheele’s quiet question, and chaos ensued. In the midst of the commotion, the diamond bead on the table began to vibrate violently before exploding with a loud *boom*.

The blast of air sent the dishes and food flying onto the already chaotic group, plunging them into further disarray.

...

"Speaking of which, Captain, how do you usually spend your time?" asked the girl from the former Imperial Police, who had been chosen as one of Esdeath’s subordinates due to her track record of killing Night Raid members and her biological Teigu.

Esdeath elegantly held her red wine and answered without hesitation, "Hunting and torture. Everything else is just research." She set down her glass, leaned her hands on the table, and smiled. "Though, right now... I’d like to fall in love."

"Love?" Clearly, Esdeath’s words had shocked the only two other women in the newly formed 'Jaegers' squad: Seryu, and the black-haired, black-eyed girl who was playing with her biological Teigu, Koro—a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Akame.

"Hmph." Esdeath wore her signature sadistic smile before returning to her normal expression. "By the way, Seryu, the report says you recovered a Teigu, is that right?"

"Ah, yes. The scissor-type Teigu recovered from a villain has been properly secured, though we haven't found a user for it yet," Seryu recalled.

"If we leave it like that, the Prime Minister will just take it away. What a waste. Why don't you look for a user and have some fun with it at the same time?" Esdeath stood up and walked toward the door.

...

"Prime Minister, why does General Esdeath want to fall in love now?" the young Emperor asked while dining alone with the Prime Minister.

"Interest in the opposite sex is a necessary stage in human development. General Esdeath was practically born for war; she has always focused solely on battle, and it is only recently that she has taken an interest in men," the Prime Minister said, swallowing his food.

"I see. Then I truly wish to choose a good partner for her!"

"General Esdeath is a proud woman. She will not be satisfied with anyone who does not meet her requirements."

"But such a man couldn't possibly exist, could he?" The young Emperor sighed, picking up the report Esdeath had submitted detailing her requirements for a romantic partner.

In the report, Esdeath had written with elegant and imposing flair:

First: Must value future potential; I want him to train himself to the standard of a general.
Second: Must have the guts to hunt Danger Beasts.
Third: Must have been raised on the frontier, not in the Imperial Capital, just like me.
Fourth: I make the decisions, so he must be younger than me.
Fifth: Preferably, someone with a pure smile.