"Eat us?"
Akame's expression instantly grew more alert upon hearing those words.
But she still didn't grasp what Kurome actually meant.
She took it as the literal sense of "eating."
"Blayn, I won't let you eat Kurome. If you really have to eat someone, then take me instead."
Akame shielded Kurome, prepared to offer herself if it came to that.
Of course, she was thinking in terms of food.
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to do anything to either of you—whether it's the 'eat' Akame's thinking or the 'eat' Kurome meant."
Blayn sighed and rubbed his forehead helplessly.
"That's a relief."
Akame finally let out a breath.
"By the way... how's the hot spring working? How do you feel, Kurome?"
Blayn turned to ask Kurome specifically.
The spring had no real effect on him—he didn't have any lingering internal injuries to begin with.
"I can already feel a big difference. My body feels lighter, and my head's clearer..."
Kurome responded while taking in the sensations.
She had been able to live normally before only because she'd long adapted to her hidden afflictions.
Human adaptability is strong. Like how someone with daily mild headaches eventually gets used to it enough to go about life as usual.
Kurome was the same—she had gotten used to the side effects of the drugs used by the Empire's Assassination Unit.
But now, with the spring's effects, even just gradually returning to a normal state felt like a dramatic change to her.
"That's good."
Blayn nodded in reassurance.
Then he looked at Akame.
"What about you, Akame?"
"...I feel a bit lighter too. So it turns out my body really has been building up negative effects from using the demon sword Murasame."
Akame let out a sigh.
"Great. Then let's stay here a couple more days."
Blayn suggested.
Even if it didn't help him at all—he'd only been dragged here by Akame and Kurome—it was a good chance to spend time with them.
At that moment, Blayn couldn't help but feel relieved that Akame had never unleashed Murasame's true power.
She had once told him about its secret technique—transforming completely into the demon sword by abandoning her human self. The side effects were extreme.
If that ever happened, not even the secret spring would be able to help.
Seeing Blayn looking her way, or maybe just staring into space, Akame asked,
"Something wrong?"
"No, just remembered something unpleasant."
Blayn replied offhandedly.
Just then, Kurome—who had somehow circled behind him—suddenly launched a sneak attack.
"Take this!"
"You're so mischievous."
Blayn wasn't surprised. He had noticed when Kurome disappeared from his line of sight.
She hugged him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder.
Blayn could feel the softness pressed against his back—small, but still noticeable.
"Blayn, just focus on me. Stop thinking about bad things."
Kurome puffed her cheeks slightly as she spoke.
"Okay, I won't think about them anymore."
Blayn promised.
"You better not."
Kurome beamed with a happy smile.
Seeing that, Akame couldn't help but sigh.
"Kurome really likes you."
After a brief pause, she added,
"But I want to be with Kurome forever... What should I do?"
"..."
Blayn said nothing.
Kurome froze for a second.
Then, regaining her senses, she pushed Blayn toward Akame and grabbed her sister's hand across him.
"Sis, can't we just live together forever?"