Rentarou's expression grew taut and serious. Cursed Children What sort of suffering had they endured to become so empty and hollow?
Enju Aihara would never forget the torment of living like a hunted rat, despised by all, forced to survive in the city sewers. And yet now, she was seeing someone who claimed they were willing to help her.
In the chat group:
Enju Aihara: "Youdo you know who I am?"
Rei Ao: "I don't know your former name, but it seems you're called Enju Aihara now. Right?"
Enju Aihara: "Yes, that's the name the Promoter just gave me, butthat doesn't matter."
Enju Aihara: "A person like me can never receive help."
Enju bowed her head. She knew full well that almost everyone despised the Cursed Children. No matter how miserable they were, sympathy would never come.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have been starving in the filthy sewers.
Kasuga Hijiri: "Why does our new member sound so full of self-doubt?"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I think you're right. Remember the first thing she said when she joined? She was talking about turning into a monster."
Shizue Izawa: "So she's infected with the Gastrea virus?"
Stella: "Meaning she's a patient. It's not unusual for those facing a terminal condition to feel hopeless."
Fubuki: "That Gastrea virus thing kind of reminds me of my world's 'monsterfication,' but they usually don't have such an inferiority complex."
Erica: "@Fubuki, don't confuse folks with references nobody else gets, okay?"
Monsters? Who'd understand that
Fubuki: "Uh I'll keep that in mind."
Frieren: "I have a feeling it's not that simple."
Rei Ao: "Frieren, your intuition is correct."
Bibi Dong: "So there's more to this story?"
Rei Ao: "To be precise, she's a 'Cursed Child,' a kid with a fate far more tragic than any normal patient."
Enju Aihara froze. He knows about us? That's impossible If he knows we're Cursed Children, why on earth would he want to help?
Clenching her small fists, she stared at the chat window, wondering if Rei Ao was mocking her like everyone else.
Rei Ao: "@Enju Aihara, I'm going to describe what Cursed Children go through for everyone else's sake. If it's accurate, would you confirm it?"
Enju Aihara: "All right"
When she gave her consent, Rei Ao explained the origin and plight of the Cursed Children, their existence and status in society.
The chat fell silent, all horrified by the cruelty. Even just hearing about a group of girls suffering such things was enough to spark outrage. But they held back, waiting for Enju to confirm it:
Enju Aihara: ""
Enju Aihara: "Yesthat's what it's like for Cursed Children"
Hearing everyone talk so clearly about the Cursed Children's suffering, she wasn't sure what this person's motive was. After she confirmed, the group exploded with heated discussion:
Mai Sakurajima: "So, that's how the Cursed Children are. And these girls are obviously innocent victims. Shifting hatred onto them is just wrong."
Saeko Busujima: "Indeed. The real enemy and source of hatred is the Gastreaor deeper still, the Gastrea virus itself."
Saeko Busujima: "But from what Rei Ao says, the humans in that world are pinning the blame on these Cursed Children."
Megumi Kato: "They don't deserve that misery."
Frieren: "If most people in that world treat so-called 'Cursed Children' like that, my impression is that their humanity is extremely twisted and dark."
Mikoto Misaka: "Hah. 'Twisted and dark' is putting it mildly. They're worse than mad scientistsdownright inhuman!"
Bibi Dong: "Treating children like that They deserve to die."
Nearly everyone voiced their anger. Not just the main chat, but other world sub-chats, too, brimmed with indignation.
"They"
Enju Aihara was stunned. Why are they so enraged about our suffering? Are there really people like this out there?
Rei Ao: "Heh, there's something even more ridiculous, you know."
Shinoa Hiiragi: "What is it?"
Rei Ao: "Do you all realize where the Gastrea virus came from?"
Sui: "Wasn't it just an apocalyptic disaster?"
Akame: "But even an apocalypse must have a sourcelike how an empire's darkness has a root."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "I have a bad feeling."
Saeko Busujima: "Same."
Yomogawa Ayame: "Could itcould it be man-made, like the Kabane virus?"
Rei Ao: "Your guess is correct."
Rei Ao: "The Gastrea virus arose from human experimentation and spread rapidly worldwide."
Miko Yotsuya: "What?! So humans created it?!"
Mikoto Misaka: "Heh. Why am I not surprised? No one knows the depths of insane science better than I do. Those researchers deserve to burn."
Shinoa Hiiragi: "Ridiculoushumanity itself made a monster that could destroy them."
Shiba Miyuki: "Even more ironic that they then turn around and treat these poor children as enemies."
Tohru: "It's exactly the kind of behavior I once believed humans capable of: cowardly bullying of the weak, arrogant self-importance."
Tohru: "Listening to this makes me want to wipe them out."
Rei Ao: "Heh. If we get the chance, that's not entirely off the table."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "Huh?"
~~~
200 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!
Chapter 461: Help from Everyone! All Chat Group members' coming?
"..."
Enju Aihara stared blankly at the stream of messages scrolling through the chat group.
Even though everyone had just learned that Cursed Children were similar to Gastrea creatures practically monsters not a single person showed any sign of revulsion.
For a moment, she felt confused. Those people obviously weren't Cursed Children themselves, probably had never even heard of them before. Could there really be other worlds out there?
Meanwhile, Rentarou Satomi was agonizing over how to handle Enju's situation.
Rubbing the back of his head, he turned to Kisara Tendou and said, "Kisara-san, could I trouble you to help Enju take a bath and put on new clothes?"
Now that Enju Aihara had officially become his Initiator, she was still dressed in tattered old ragsnot exactly appropriate attire.
"Sure, why not. I happen to have some free time."
Enju was still in that glazed, vacant state.
Judging by her look, she probably wasn't in a condition to bathe and change clothes on her own. She seemed so withdrawn that even Kisara felt a bit sorry and agreed to help. She took Enju's hand and led her out of Rentarou's room.
Enju indeed did not resist, simply following obediently.
"How should I deal with this child?"
Watching Enju's retreating figure, Rentarou felt a headache coming on. He genuinely sympathized with the plight of Cursed Children, but he had never come into such close contact with one before.
His pity, until now, had been no more than a distant concernlike tossing some food to Cursed Children begging on the street.
Kisara brought Enju to the bathroom.
"All right, off with those clothes."
But Enju simply stood there, unresponsive.
"Sigh"
Kisara could only sigh, demonstrating by removing her own clothes. She too planned to freshen up after returning home.
But Enju still did nothing. Exasperated, Kisara had no choice but to step forward and strip off Enju's ragged garments herself. Next, she turned on the shower, carefully washing the girl down.
While the warm water poured over them, Kisara's eyes were on the chat group. Enju typed:
Enju Aihara: "You allaren't you scared or repulsed by us Cursed Children?"
Mai Sakurajima: "Why would we hate or fear you? You're just kids infected by some virusinnocent victims."
Erica: "Exactly. No matter how you look at it, you're the ones who suffered."
Fubuki: "Yeah. The mad scientists are the real criminals, the Gastrea and virus are the true enemies, and humans who torment Cursed Children are the real perpetrators."
Fubuki: "They're the ones who deserve punishment."
Mikoto Misaka: "Totally agree."
Frieren: "According to Rei Ao, the Cursed Children all have powerful abilities. Why don't they fight back?"
Shiba Miyuki: "Probably because they're still children."
Shinoa Hiiragi: "When someone is that young, they can be manipulated easily, and if no one's there to lead them, they pose no threat to organized groups."
Enju Aihara: ""
They not only showed no revulsion, but they also analyzed the Cursed Children's plight accurately.
Rei Ao: "@Enju Aihara, you can see for yourselfno one in the chat group cares about your 'identity.'"
Rei Ao: "And most importantly, we're from different worlds, so you don't have to worry about what we think."
Rei Ao: "If you run into trouble, quite a few people here will want to help you."
Tohru: "Hmph, I can help you get rid of every human who bullies the Cursed Children."
Frieren: "Agreed. Such people don't deserve to be called 'human.' Killing them would be no worse than killing demons."
Megumi Kato: "I wouldn't mind putting them down myself."
A frank admission from Megumi, who had experience in killing.
Enju Aihara: "Everyone"
Enju had never felt so much concern from anyone before; her heart was moved. Tears mingled with the warm water running over her. Yet Kisara, who was helping soap her down, failed to notice.
Enju Aihara: "You'd really be willing to help Cursed Children?"
Rei Ao: "You can try making a trade, see for yourself."
[Ding! Enju Aihara has sent you a trade request!]
[Trade Content]: Change the fate of the Cursed Children
[Ding! Please select the trade conditions!]
The scope of this request was enormousaltering the fortunes of all Cursed Children. Hardly a trivial task. Maybe Enju was too naive, or too trusting of him. But Rei Ao planned to accept it regardless, given his personal dislike for that world.
Rei Ao: "@Enju Aihara, I imagine you've already got a system prompt about the trade. If you're not afraid, just confirm it."
Enju Aihara: "I I see it."
[Ding! Your trade request has been approved!]
[Trade Condition]: [Gastrea Gene: Rabbit]
[Ding! Confirm Trade?]
That condition shocked her. Why would anyone want the Gastrea virus?
Enju Aihara: "But why do you want the Gastrea virus? It's dangerous!"
Rei Ao: "Not a problem. It's harmless to me."
Rei Ao: "Don't worry about me. If you truly want your wish fulfilled, simply confirm."
Enju Aihara: ""
She couldn't understand why a stranger would go so far for the Cursed Children. Biting her lip, she felt a faint spark of hope and finally chose to accept.
[Ding! The trade has begun!]
[Target]: Enju Aihara
[Content]: Change the fate of the Cursed Children
[Condition]: [Gastrea Gene: Rabbit]
[Duration]: 24 hours
Frieren: "Huh? This trade seems unusualit's not something simple. But Rei Ao, you only asked for something related to the Gastrea virus?"
Rei Ao: "Heh, I might be shameless, but I'm not so perverted as to covet a Cursed Child in that way."
Saeko Busujima: "What about that Alice?"
Rei Ao: "She volunteered."
Stella: "In any case, it's a good deed. Those poor Cursed Children deserve a better future."
Erica: "If you don't mind, bring me along. I've had enough of those people."
Akame: "Mine and the others want to go, too."
In fact, Rei Ao's mention of the Cursed Children's plight drew an outpouring of pings from every sub-group, all outraged on their behalf.
~~~
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Chapter 462: World Migration?! Destroying the World?!
Misaka Mikoto: "Count me in! Let me teach those mad scientists a lesson!"
Fubuki: "If we're protecting adorable children, a hero like me can't be left out. I'm going, too!"
Tohru: "Heh heh, Rei Ao, take me along! I'll show those evil humans just what a dragon's breath can do!"
Shiba Miyuki: "Um I don't really want to kill anybody, but I can help deal with the Gastrea."
Mai Sakurajima: "And me"
One after another, more people wanted in on the operation. Upon hearing what the Cursed Children had gone through, practically everyone across both the main chat and the sub-chats was outraged.
But everyone's tolerance for killing or wiping out humanity differs. As for Rei Ao himself, he was leaning toward simply destroying that entire world.
He was thoroughly disgusted by it, from the bottom of his heart. He didn't want to waste time figuring out who was "good" or "bad" among all that twisted scum. Spending so much effort on them felt foolish.
However, there was a problem: if the entire world were destroyed, what would happen to the Cursed Children?
While he was pondering this dilemma, the chat group gave a timely notification:
[Ding! The system has detected that the group master is troubled about relocating people from another world. The chat group will now unlock the new feature "World Migration"!!]
[World Migration]: You can invite inhabitants of another world to migrate and live in a different one.
"Oh?"
His eyes lit up. This was just the thing he needed.
"Nice timing, chat group."
Rei Ao: "All right, everyone, calm down. First off, I'm familiar with that world, so in terms of carrying out this deal, my ideal solution isdestroying the entire world."
Mai Sakurajima: "???"
Yukinoshita Yukino: "So you really weren't joking before?"
Mikoto Misaka: "Uhh I do think those who hurt the Cursed Children deserve punishment, but does it really need to go that far?"
Bibi Dong: "I support Rei Ao's decision."
Tohru: "Hmph. None of them are good. Destroying that world is no big deal."
Rei Ao: "Then I'll head there and do a livestream, so you can all see what that world is actually like. My mind is made up. Whether you come is up to you."
If he was going to do it, he might as well do it in a big way. He turned to Emilia.
Rei Ao: "How about going to a different world for a little 'change of pace'?"
""
Emilia felt at a loss. "You call that a change of pace? Are you really going to wipe out that world's humans?"
She looked hesitant. Rei Ao gave a small smile. You could tell she was indeed a herostill so kind, even now.
Rei Ao: "Maybe if you come see that world with your own eyes, you'll understand my reasons."
""
Emilia admitted that seeing was believing.
Emilia: "Fine. I'll go with you."
Over at the Yukinoshita household, Yukinoshita Haruno was reading the chat's messages and feeling it was all too surreal.
An apocalyptic setting in another world, these Cursed Children and their sufferingit was infuriating enough.
