Being Overpowered in Akame ga Kill

"Lord Haruki, may I have the honor of personally executing this traitor?"

Just as Haruki was about to end Syura's life, Cartel—who had remained silent since Haruki entered—finally spoke up, making his request.

"No problem. Do as you wish."

Haruki turned to glance at Cartel and replied calmly.

Cartel's eyes were bloodshot, his hair a disheveled mess. He was a far cry from the composed, dignified noble Haruki had first met. Clearly, the day's events had struck him hard.

"Thank you, Lord Haruki."

Gratefully acknowledging the reply, Cartel picked up a longsword lying on the floor and slowly walked toward Syura, who lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.

"Syura, I told you—you'd die a miserable death. I didn't expect it to come true so soon. And I never thought these old bones of mine would live to take vengeance with my own hands! Hahaha!"

As he approached, Cartel burst into laughter, sounding half-crazed. From Haruki's angle, he could see Cartel's entire body trembling—whether from the thrill of revenge or overwhelming sorrow, it was hard to tell.

Without another word, Cartel raised the sword and began hacking at Syura with reckless fury.

Again and again he swung, slashing until Syura was nothing more than a mangled mess. Only when the blade grew heavy in his hand and his own breath came in ragged gasps did Cartel finally stop and slump to the ground.

"Father..."

Seeing Cartel in that state, Lina's face filled with worry. She opened her mouth to speak.

"Shh. Let your father have a moment."

But before she could say anything, Haruki gently stopped her with a soft voice.

...

Time passed in heavy silence. Finally, Cartel, still holding the blood-dripping sword, stood up unsteadily and made his way over to Haruki.

Clang.

He dropped the sword beside him with a dull clatter, then, to Haruki's surprise, suddenly knelt down and began to kowtow repeatedly.

"Lord Haruki, thank you—truly—for giving me the chance to avenge my family with my own hands. If it hadn't been for you, Lina would have fallen into those monsters' hands today. I can't thank you enough."

He bowed again and again as he spoke, his forehead hitting the floor.

"Please, stand up."

Haruki frowned slightly. With Lina still in his arms, watching her father kowtow like this was more than a little inappropriate.

"Yes... of course."

Cartel caught the hint of displeasure in Haruki's voice and wasn't a fool. He didn't want to make his daughter feel embarrassed either, so he quickly stood.

"Lord Haruki... I leave Lina in your care. She's a kind, innocent girl. Please... help her find happiness. I failed to protect her—I let her go through all this."

Cartel looked up at Lina still nestled in Haruki's arms, his expression softening as he spoke with fatherly tenderness.

"Father..."

Lina flushed, a little shy after hearing herself entrusted so solemnly to Haruki.

"Hm?"

But Haruki picked up on something different in Cartel's tone. The words sounded... final. Too final.

Why does this sound like he's saying goodbye?

Just as that thought crossed his mind, something changed.

Without warning, Cartel suddenly bent down, snatched up the sword at his feet, and slashed it toward his own neck.

He was trying to end his life.

Haruki didn't hesitate.

In a blur, he reached out and caught the blade mid-swing. With a twist of his hand, he snapped the steel into pieces, shards clattering across the floor.

"Father, why?! Why would you do this?! Don't you want to stay with me?!"

Lina's cries broke the silence. Forgetting her embarrassment, she wriggled out of Haruki's arms and ran to Cartel's side, sobbing as she clutched at him.

"How could I still have the face to go on living? The family that's been passed down for centuries ends with me… I've disgraced my ancestors."

"Lina, I can see how much you truly care for Lord Haruki. Giving you to him with my own hands today... it's the only wish I had left in this world. So please, let your father go in peace."

Cartel spoke with a tone of despair.

After the massacre carried out by Syura's group, Cartel was now the only surviving male of the family. In his eyes, the Cartel bloodline had already been extinguished.

"What good is dying? Once you're dead, there's nothing left. So what if a family name disappears? You're only forty—not too old to start again. With a little help from me, rebuilding a family even stronger than before wouldn't be a problem. But if you die now, then your lineage really will end. Will that help you face your ancestors?"

Haruki couldn't help but speak up, trying to persuade him. After all, Cartel was practically his future father-in-law. And more importantly, Haruki didn't want to see Lina heartbroken.

Having lived for over a thousand years, Haruki had witnessed countless clans rise and fall. His perspective on bloodlines and legacy had long since become detached.

"This..."

Cartel clearly wavered. Haruki's words made sense.

"Besides, don't you want to see how Lina's life turns out with your own eyes? You two seem very close."

That final line struck home. It shattered the last bit of hesitation in Cartel's heart. After all, what father wouldn't want to see his daughter's future happiness?

"Alright. I'm in your debt, Lord Haruki."

Cartel's voice was full of gratitude. What Haruki had done for him was more than he could ever repay.

"Well then, I happen to be short a steward at my estate. Why don't you and Lina come stay with me for now? This place clearly isn't livable anymore."

Haruki wasn't surprised by Cartel's agreement. He had already laid everything out. If Cartel still insisted on dying, it would've been ungrateful.

Haruki had long needed a proper butler at his estate. Until now, Taeko and a group of the girls had managed things, but it wasn't the most efficient. He had considered hiring one before, but never found a trustworthy candidate—especially since there were barely any men in his household, and he was cautious with strangers.

Seeing Cartel today had sparked the idea. As an old noble, Cartel was undoubtedly meticulous. And as Lina's father, Haruki would feel comfortable entrusting his household to him.

"I'll leave it all in your hands, Lord Haruki!"

Without a second thought, Cartel agreed. For someone in his position, this was already the best path forward.