"You can't see?"
The girl did not know who was speaking. Smiling as ever, she nodded. "Yes."
Tendou Kisara said, "Cursed Children have some Gastrea powers and high regenerative abilitynormally they don't even get sick. How is it your eyes can't see?"
"Ah"
The girl looked hesitant.
"BecauseI'm a bit special."
"May I look at your eyes?"
Rei Ao's calm voice asked for the first time.
"Eh?"
"Relax. No one will overhear."
The girl's voice trembled, "B-but people might hear you"
"Don't worry, they won't hear me."
Emilia and the others did not read too much into it. Blind eyes typically had no iris coloration, but rarely would they allow "hearing" a person like that.
"All right then"
At Rei Ao's assurance, the girl exhaled. She reached up and carefully removed the cloth tied over her eyes.
Once the cloth came away
"Tch! That's!"
Emilia gasped, covering her mouth. The sight of those eyes made her unwilling to keep looking: her sockets held no eyeballs, only uneven, silvery-white matter inside.
"It's lead," Rei Ao said gravely.
"Mm, yes, I've had them filled with lead," the girl confirmed.
Understanding the plight of a fellow Cursed Child, both Tendou Kisara and Enju Aihara realized what had happened.
By pouring lead into her eyes, the regenerative ability was prevented from restoring them, so eventually they stayed ruined.
Emilia simply felt heartache and rage. Even she couldn't help wanting to chop those men who toyed with the girl into little pieces. She said solemnly, "Your eyes are far more beautiful than most of the so-called 'humans' in this place."
"I agree."
Rei Ao's voice was gentle and sincere. The girl stiffened; slowly, she lowered her hands.
"Mebeautiful?"
She had never imagined anyone would praise her eyes. People had always despised her, even her own mother. Yet here and now, she sensed no revulsion in their words.
"I didn't even know my eyes were beautiful."
"Who did it?" Enju Aihara asked angrily on behalf of her fellow Cursed Child. "Pouring lead into someone's eyes How cruel can they be?"
But the girl quietly shook her head, smiling faintly. "No one else did it. I did it myself."
""
Everyone's breath caught.
"Wh-why would you do that?"
Enju blurted out in disbelief. Would someone really go so far as self-mutilation just to beg for money?
"Because my mother, who abandoned me and my little sister, hated my red eyes."
She spoke calmly, as if narrating a simple story.
"She always beats me for having those red irises"
Her voice was peaceful, yet hearing it left the onlookers boiling with anger and pity.
In the chat group:
Stella: "I can't understand it. How could a mother abandon such a such a considerate child?"
She couldn't think of a more fitting word. To pour lead into one's own eyes just because her mother hated themthis went beyond mere 'consideration.'
Miko Yotsuya: "I don't get it either, but it's heartbreaking."
Enju Aihara: "That's because she's a Cursed Child. Her mother belongs to the 'Stolen Generation.'"
This world's humanity was split into two generations: the Stolen Generation and the Pure Generation.
Pure Generation refers to humans (including Cursed Children) born after the Gastrea War.
Stolen Generation are those who personally experienced the horror of the Gastrea War, many having lost loved ones in the fighting.
Hatred of Gastrea extended to those touched by the Gastrea virusnamely, the Cursed Children. In a family of the Stolen Generation, a child was often abandoned or even brutally killed if infected.
Stella: "Ugh, this world is twisted to the core."
Frieren: "Now I really see why Rei Ao wants to cleanse it."
Yukinoshita Yukino: "It's possible that some truly hate the Gastrea virus, but many others do it just to bully or vent their malice on innocent children."
Megumi Kato: "Yes, like those two men earlierthis is their entertainment."
Miko Yotsuya: "They're disgusting!"
Miko Yotsuya: "Rei Ao-nii, please save them!"
Rei Ao: "That's the reason I'm here."
~~~
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Chapter 468: Tina will kill anyone who stands against Oniisan.
The girl retied her blindfold.
She reached out, groping until her hand found the face of Enju Aihara, who was about her height.
"You're also a Cursed Child, right?"
Enju nodded blankly.
"Yes."
"We're both Cursed Childrenso why are you always smiling? Don't you feel any pain?"
With that, she withdrew her hand.
"Mewithout relying on others, I can't survive. So besides smiling, I don't know what other expression to wear."
As a Cursed Child, she couldn't get a job or earn money. She also had a younger sister to care for. She didn't want to steal, so begging was her only way to live.
"Sir, and the big sister I don't know, and the other Cursed Child I can sing for you all, so please, could you spare me some coins? My little sister's about to starve"
She spoke with a trembling voice. She was still mindful of what she was doing now. Even just a few coins, or a piece of bread, might be enough to help her sister. Whether she ate or not was unimportant to her.
Her words weighed like a hammer on Emilia and the others, stifling them with sorrow.
"I've already heard your lovely singing, and you deserve payment for that."
Rei Ao did not let her continue singing.
"Here's the food you need,"
he said, casually handing her some. But that wasn't all.
His long fingers rested lightly on her shoulder. The slab of lead embedded in the flesh around her eye sockets abruptly fell away. Blood that had begun to trickle out flowed back in. Fresh tissue took form there, and two crimson irises re-coalesced in her once-empty sockets.
"Ugh!"
Having been blind for so long, her eyes suddenly felt the piercing brightness of the world. Instinctively, she shut them against the harsh light.
The glare made them ache fiercely, but the pain vanished almost at once, replaced by a soothing, cool sensation flooding her eyes.
Sensing something, the girl fluttered her eyelashes and cautiously opened her eyes.
"!!!"
What she saw left her mouth hanging open in shock. It was a vibrant, brilliantly colored world! No longer the dull, drab gray. Dazzling hues came flooding in. She had regained her sense of color!
Looking ahead, she found that the big brother and big sisters whose voices she'd heard were nowhere to be seen, as though all she'd just heard was a dream. Yet the food in front of her and the fact her eyesight was restored told her that everything had indeed been real.
Staring into the distance with her newly regained vision, the wind ruffling her hair, the girl murmured softly:
"Thank you"
The livestream froze on the girl's pure smile.
It took quite a while for everyone watching that scene to come back from their storm of emotions.
That included Sumire Muroto, Miyori Shiba, and several others who had just gathered at Seitenshi's location, as well as Cursed Children like Kayo Senju called in by Seitenshi's special summons.
Also among them was Tina, who had sneaked in through a window like some assassin.
""
Miyori Shiba glanced around at the group, frowning.
"So that chat group it's actually real"
Sumire Muroto wore a grave expression.
"This is no time to dwell on that."
She sighed in exasperation, reminding them:
"From what we've seen in the chat group, those people from other worlds aren't feeling great about ours."
"Hmph, serves them right!"
Yuzuki Katagiri spoke bluntly. As a Cursed Child, she thought the two men who died deserved it. Even before Seitenshi, she couldn't contain her frustration.
""
Seitenshi's expression was bitter. It was her first time personally witnessing, via the livestream, that the attitude toward Cursed Children in the Tokyo Area was even more extreme and cruel than she'd realized.
"As the Governor, I bear inescapable responsibility for the injustice suffered by Cursed Children in the Tokyo Area."
She gave a deep bow to Midori Fuse and the other girls.
"I offer you, and all Cursed Children, my apologies."
The abrupt apology startled the girls, but Kayo Senju remained calm:
"Princess, this isn't the time to get hung up on that. We need to figure out what to do next. Judging by the teleportation and invisible killing in the livestream, that 'Rei Ao' who leads the chat group has powers we can't even understand."
Her voice was composed yet rang with a warning:
"He really might be able to destroy the world."
Miyori Shiba's brow furrowed.
"In that case, what should we do? Should we rally everyone and take up arms against him?"
"Sorry, Tina can't do that."
The pink-eyed Tina spoke up, hoisting a large sniper rifle. She turned that big rifle on Miyori Shiba.
"Click!"
At the same time, a handgun slid from Miyori Shiba's billowing sleeve to point right at Tina's head.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Miyori demanded, "I've been wonderingaren't you not an Initiator?"
""
Seitenshi knew Tina wasn't an Initiator. Still, that weapon wasn't something an ordinary Cursed Child would be carrying.
Tina's reply was frosty:
"Who Tina is doesn't matter. But Tina will kill anyone who stands against Oniisan."
Rei Ao had demonstrated a genuine kindness to Cursed Children, going so far as to threaten the world's destruction for their sake.
Tina had never met anyone like that. From this moment on, she decided she'd stand with him, removing all obstacles.
Midori Fuse timidly added:
"S-sorry, I can't bring myself to fight that Oniisan either."
Asaka Mibu drew her katana and pointed it at Miyori Shiba:
"I, too, now have a reason that compels me to fight you."
Katagiri Yuzuki and Hotaru Kouro both flashed dangerous looks.
"Sigh."
Kayo Senju exhaled deeply, her gaze meaningful.
"Everyone If all the Cursed Children learn there's someone willing to destroy the world for them, what choice do you think they'll make?"
Her high intelligence let her see the situation clearly. This was also her stance.
""
Miyori Shiba's face darkened. She didn't dare imagine the consequences if word got out.
Even ordinary people would be moved if they discovered someone ready to go that far for them.
Let alone Cursed Children, who had almost no rights in this world, subject to endless hardships.
Should Rei Ao make a rallying call, it was likely most Cursed Children worldwide would respondmultiplying humanity's enemies beyond measure.
~~~
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Chapter 469: Head Patting, Hugs, and Cuteness! (Bonus Chapter)
Seitenshi was no fool. She could plainly see how things stood.
"Phew"
She exhaled deeply. It was time for her to make a choice.
"Enough. From now on, I'll do as Rei Ao-san says."
Privately or publicly, she had decided to save only a minority.
Muroto Sumire narrowed her eyes and confirmed,
"Are you certain, Princess?"
Carrying out Rei Ao's proposal would mean a great many people would die.
"Yes, I've decided."
Seitenshi's words were resolute. Deep down, she knew that most people in this world despise and loathe the Cursed Children, refusing to accept them.
Her attempt at passing the Gastrea New Law was proof enough. A huge portion of the population vehemently opposed it, truly believing Cursed Children aren't human, but Gastrea monsters an overwhelmingly common mindset.
As the people in the group chat said, this world is gravely ill. In Tokyo Area, that's just how it was for the time being, and she was powerless to do more.
Seitenshi was a kind soul who wanted to protect everyone. Yet, through Rei Ao's livestream, she saw firsthand the plight of the Cursed Children.
At present, the view had panned out to the Tokyo outskirts. Compared to the few scattered Cursed Children in the city proper, the majority actually lived out here.
Out in the outskirts, there was no sign of life or vitality. Everything looked dreary and dead. You could see ragged, skeletal Cursed Children wandering around rummaging through garbage or living in dark, damp sewers. In fact, there were plenty ofcorpses.
In the chat group, the uproar was immediate:
Sui: "Rei Ao, I'm requesting to go to that world!"
Fubuki: "Those scum, I want to cut them down."
Almost everyone was furious. And seeing it from this perspective, Seitenshi couldn't help clenching her fists.
Those piles of corpses, the people bullying the Cursed Children such beings shouldn't be called human. That thought surfaced in her mind and couldn't be repressed.
She turned to Miyori Shiba.
"I hope Shiba Heavy Industries doesn't plan to oppose that gentleman."
Because that would be dangerous.
""
Miyori was taken aback. Finally, she set down her gun, spreading her hands.
"I'm not stupid enough to fight someone who can destroy the world. Besides, my family doesn't reject Cursed Children, so I trust they'll do the right thing. There's no reason for me to worry or mind."
She glanced apologetically at Kayo Senju and the other girls.
"I said as much, so can you stop looking at me like that?"
Kayo Senju withdrew her gaze and opened the chat group:
Kayo Senju: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao-sama, we're with Princess right now. She's decided to carry out what you asked. Is there anything we can do to assist?"
Hotaru Kouro: "I can help too."
Asaka Mibu: "I'm willing to wield my blade!"
Tina: "Tina can shoot anyone who's hostile to Oniisan."
Rei Ao: "Oh?"
He hadn't expected their support, and it surprised him. He smiled faintly. In the next second, he brought Emilia and others by spatial transfer right before them.
"I wouldn't dream of making you children do the fighting," he said gently. "I have plenty of others who'd be willing to help you."
"E-eh? Oniisan?!"
"When did you?!"
"!!!"
Their abrupt appearance startled Seitenshi and the others. Sumire Muroto was especially suspicious.
