I'm no trooper

Chapter 27: Newcomers and Truths

F/N's perspective

It was a nice feeling having the wind blow through my hair. The crispness was refreshing compared to the previous night's as the sun beat down upon the members of Night Raid and myself. For we were on our way to a temporary base location, our former home no longer safe after Dr. Stylish's assault. Thus, I was riding atop one of the manta ray creatures that had assisted the others in defeating the crazed scientist. After salvaging my things from the base attack, I had a shirt under the coat Esdeath gifted to me. A coat that I was getting many sideways looks.

Bulat gave me looks once and a while, probably remembering what became of his old friend, which didn't help that I still had Black Merlin tucked into a pocket. I didn't blame him for his actions, considering after initial reunions, I said I would share the story once we had settled down. So I sat near the back, my gear gathered in the pack left upon IG's back and a tarp that held my armor. The aforementioned droid was sitting beside me as we fly through jagged mountains and valleys. I believe the boss said we were where heading for the Marg Highlands. As I was thinking about this, I brought back as Tatsumi called out to me over the howling wind.

Tatsumi: "Hey! F/N! You are not going to spill the beans!"

He yelled, the wind making his voice hard to hear.

F/N: "I already told you! I'll explain when we land! How far are we, by the way!"

I yelled, looking past everyone to the one at the helm, the new organic Imperial arm. He gazed back at me for a moment, then looked back ahead.

???: "We are almost there."

He said, his voice barely loud enough to be heard over the wind. His tone was emotionless as he slowly brought the massive creature down, landing on the side of a cliff. As I slid down the flank of the beast and back onto solid ground, I shifted my gaze to the sprawling wilderness below. Monstrous danger beasts lurked the forest beneath, swam through its rivers, and flew through the skies.

F/N: (No wonder the boss chose this place.)

I thought as speak of the devil. Nejenda's manta landed beside ours as the rest disembarked.

Nejenda: "Alright, until the Revaluation finds us a location closer to the Empire, we will be hiding out here. This will also give us a chance to improve; the lands are crawling with danger beasts to improve your skills against."

Mine: "That's great and all, but where are they going?"

She asked as the manta ray's lifted off and started to fly back the way we came, the auburn-haired girl chiming in on this fact.

???: "Well, they're going back to their nest at HQ, duh. Honestly, I thought you'd figure that out Mine."

Mine: "Oh great, I already hate you."

She said while fuming as the auburn girl laughed at her. Nejenda snapping her fingers as she caught there and the attention of the rest.

Nejenda: "Well, I think now is a good time as any to introduce our new members. First, we have-Uh?"

She said as I looked over the see one of them gone.

F/N: "Where did she-

???: "I knew you were a cutie, but you are adorable up close."

She said as she was fawning over Akame, the assassin looking back at her with her usual neutral expression.

Akame: "Why are you doing this?"

She asked before the girl broke out of a trance and noticed us all looking at her.

Chelsea: "Oh, right, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Chelsea, and since we're going to be killing people, I thought we might all get along."