Chapter 40: Daily Routine 2

Two men were locked in a spirited battle within the training grounds.

From the start, Kobayashi had been suppressed and pummeled, but now the two were trading blows back and forth. While they hadn't quite reached an even match, achieving this level of parity in just a single morning was nothing short of rapid progress.

It wouldn't be long before Bulat would be completely drained by Kobayashi.

"Alright! That’s enough for today!"

"I refuse! I want more!"

Bulat caught Kobayashi's right leg, intending to end the intense morning exchange, but how could Kobayashi, now fully caught up in the excitement, let him off so easily?

Thinking he could just hook someone and then ignore them? Keep dreaming!

However, just as Kobayashi tried to press the attack again, his legs went weak, and he involuntarily dropped to one knee, looking somewhat disheveled.

"Oh my, out of steam already? Actually, your stamina is about the same as mine, but you wasted quite a bit early on by trying to rush the engagement to gain an advantage. That’s something you need to be mindful of in battle. Well, if you insist on extra training, I can provide private tutoring for you in the evening, just the two of us."

Bulat gave a hearty laugh.

Kobayashi, who had been fired up, felt a chill run down his spine at that smile and immediately calmed down.

*Hoo—*

He steadied his breathing. It seemed he had been too eager for success.

"Regardless, thank you for the instruction!"

He said this with sincere heart, and the other man returned a bright, hearty smile.

Bulat was an excellent teacher; by feeding him moves bit by bit and gradually increasing the intensity, he had helped Kobayashi’s experience and strength in hand-to-hand combat grow significantly. Moreover, Bulat was not only adept at martial arts but also proficient with various weapons.

There was still time, so he would take it slowly.

"Ah, found you, found you. Ugh, what’s going on? Why are you two soaked in sweat?"

A voice full of disdain came from outside the training grounds—it was Lubbock.

"Oh, are you next?" Bulat pondered aloud, uncertain.

Veins popped on Lubbock’s forehead: "Of course it’s me, you idiot muscle-brain! Kobayashi is covered in sweat; how am I supposed to take him out for a good time now?!"

"Hahaha, don't be like that. Why don't you come down here, Lubbock, and we can have a passionate exchange between men?" With that, Bulat flexed his massive pectoral muscles.

"No way!"

Lubbock was naturally extremely resistant.

Looking at the exhausted Kobayashi, he scratched his head and said, "Forget it. Kobayashi, come with me. It’s my turn now, and we don't have time to dilly-dally." He sounded slightly anxious.

After putting on his clothes, Kobayashi followed him.

Lubbock led him deep into the dense forest behind the mountain, a place Kobayashi felt vaguely familiar with.

"Isn't this where you bathe?!"

"Isn't it only natural to take a bath after exercising? Ehehehe, hehehehe... *slurp!*"

Lubbock seemed to be using the bath as an excuse to peek, thinking that even if he were caught, he wouldn't be blamed.

Your schemes are really clicking into place, aren't they!

"It's midday, how could anyone be here bathing?" Kobayashi couldn't help but mutter.

"There definitely will be!" Lubbock was confident.

"Why?"

"Because I stake this place out every morning and night, so they only have midday to bathe!"

So it’s your fault after all!

Lubbock exclaimed excitedly, "Don't you think peeping is wonderful?"

"Not at all. Tell me, why are you always thinking about peeping? Wouldn't it be better to be a bit more serious?"

"I don't want to be like this, but my 'newnew' has a mind of its own!"

Lubbock made such a shocking and explosive statement that Kobayashi’s eyes widened instantly.

It also made Leone let out a strange, ambiguous retort.

"Oh my? So you’ve been controlled by it all along, Lubbock? Would you like big sister to help you cut it off? You look quite delicate; why don't we just be best girlfriends instead?"

"B-Big Sister—?!!!"

When Lubbock saw Leone, who should have been in the bath, he was so terrified he made an expression identical to *The Scream*.

"Why is Big Sister here?!"

"I’ve been following behind you two ever since the training grounds."

Leone’s smile was dangerous.

Kobayashi sighed, clutching his forehead: "I already warned you, but you didn't see me."

"How could this happen?!"

Lubbock clutched his head in his hands, staring in disbelief at the encroaching Leone. His mouth trembled as he tried to plead for mercy, but in the end, only a scream that pierced the dense forest echoed out.

"Aooooooo—!!!"

Poor Lubbock, may heaven satisfy your peculiar tastes.

After dealing with Lubbock, Leone wrapped her arms around Kobayashi’s neck and said boisterously, "I’m next. Let big sister treat you well."

Then, the two walked into the bathhouse—the kind where you take off all your clothes.

Lubbock, the co-ed bathing you always dreamed of, I’ve managed to achieve it so easily.

Leone, sitting across from him, looked at Kobayashi’s unruffled demeanor and asked curiously, "Tell me, you’re a bit strange. You’re bathing with a beautiful woman and have no reaction, yet you’re so close with Kurome... am I not to your taste?"

"How could that be? Leone, you’re beautiful, have a great body, and carry a sense of wildness. I like you very much." Kobayashi gave her a high rating.

"Then..."

"But you have ulterior motives. To not be on guard when I know you’re up to no good would be too stupid."

"Tch."

Seeing that her "benefit" was useless, Leone clicked her tongue in annoyance and tossed over a bottle of alcohol. There were many more bottles behind her, as if she had been prepared all along.

"Keep me company. Hey, don't tell me you don't drink? Or does even an adult need parental consent to have a drink?"

A clumsy attempt at a provocation.

Are you planning to get me drunk?

Heh, how overconfident.

Three hours later, Kobayashi walked out of the bathhouse alone.

With his "Purification" ability, he was completely unaffected by alcohol. Even if Leone had a bottomless pit for a stomach, she was no match for a veteran schemer like him.

Evening.

As he walked back, he bumped into the fiery Mine.

"Come with me!"

She grabbed Kobayashi’s arm and headed straight for the main hall.

The members of Night Raid were all gathered there. On the table were many luxurious clothes with soft textures and elegant styles—all menswear.

Kobayashi asked curiously, "What are these?"

"Clothes I bought for you. I spent a huge amount of time and effort picking these out just for you!"

You just satisfied your own terrible shopping addiction, didn't you?

Knowing Mine was a shopaholic, Kobayashi didn't believe for a second that she bought them specifically for him. She must have used the guise of "recruitment" to go on a massive shopping spree with the organization's funds to satisfy herself.

Mine picked one up and handed it to Kobayashi: "Here, put it on and try it."

"Uh..."

Kobayashi was somewhat resistant.

"Well, Kobayashi, just try it on. It’s Mine’s good intention, after all. There’s no harm in trying, is there?"

Under the persuasion of the Night Raid members, Kobayashi was treated as a model and put on a fashion show for them.

"Not bad at all! Kobayashi is actually quite handsome. If he dressed up properly, he wouldn't be a bad-looking guy."

Kobayashi didn't look bad; it was just his usual attire that dragged down his overall image.

"How about it? After wearing so many new clothes, do you have any thoughts about joining Night Raid?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Hey, you have nice clothes now, what more could you possibly be dissatisfied with?!"

Seeing Kobayashi refuse, Mine immediately flew into a rage, but was forcibly stopped by Bulat.

Seeing signs of things getting noisy, Najenda quickly told Kobayashi to find Akame in the mountains behind the house; she needed help with dinner ingredients, and she was the next person in line to "recruit" him.

Arriving at the back mountain, Akame was catching fish in the river.

She didn't seem surprised to see Kobayashi, saying flatly: "The trick to catching fish is to dive to the bottom, hold your breath, and launch an attack the moment the prey passes by. Being decisive is the key."

Is this the trick to masking killing intent and launching a fatal blow?

"Well? Can you do it?"

Akame seemed to want to test Kobayashi’s strength.

Perfect—Kobayashi wanted to show off a little himself.

He squatted by the river and whistled.

*Whew—*

Suddenly, a large school of fish leapt from the water around Akame, scrambling toward Kobayashi’s location. This caused Akame, who usually showed little emotion, to widen her eyes.

Hmm, she’s kind of cute.

This trick was something he learned from Aqua—one of those useless party tricks that could attract fish. He had always thought it might come in handy one day, so he learned it.

"Want to learn? I'll teach you."

"I want to learn!"

Well, now, who is recruiting whom?

Members of Night Raid, your trump card is about to be snatched away. (Smug yellow-haired face)