"You could put it that way," Rei Ao replied. "But I think, right now, you have bigger concerns than whether or not they're normal, correct?"
"Mm"
Muroto Sumire indeed wanted to do more research out of curiosity. But the world's impending doom was more pressing.
"Rei Ao-sama, I've done what you told me,"
Seitenshi said reverently, though her expression betrayed her unease. Having grown disillusioned with humanity after seeing things firsthand, she'd chosen not to resist but to carry out this "selection."
Seitenshi did not see herself as a good leader. She asked Miori Shiba, Kisara, and the others whether it was right or wrong to do. Kisara said: "Some people deserve death." Miori said: "I don't know, but it seems we have no other choice."
Though not exactly a consolation, it gave Seitenshi a hint of relief. Now she simply hoped a greater number might survivemeaning her efforts wouldn't be in vain.
Rei Ao only nodded lightly.
"Then let's wait quietly. You still have the right to lead your people in resisting, if you wish."
""
They didn't do so, knowing that resistance was futile. Then Kisara Tendou seemed like she wanted to speak up but hesitated.
"Is something on your mind?" Rei Ao asked her directly.
"!"
Called out so forthrightly, Kisara's heart skipped. After a moment, she said, "Can anyone make a deal with you?"
"That's rightanyone," he replied, a faint smile at his lips.
Hearing this, Kisara's reason was plain enough. "You want to trade with me, presumably about your enemy, am I right?"
"How did you?"
Kisara's shock was evident. In a sense, revenge was her sole motivation to keep livingto avenge her parents against the Tendo family.
~~~
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Chapter 472: The Sly Old Fox, Kikunojou Tendou (Bonus Chapter)
"How did you know I wanted revenge?!"
Faced with Tendou Kisara's question, Rei Ao didn't bother answering. Instead, he curved his lips in a meaningful smile.
"Speak of the devil and here he comes."
"Let's set aside your vengeance for now. Something interesting is about to happen."
"Huh?"
Kisara hadn't managed to press for details when she heard a knock at the conference room door.
Knock, knock!
"Seitenshi-sama, Kikunojou Tendou-sama is here to see you."
Until a moment ago, Kisara had only looked confused. Now her eyes went wide.
Kikunojou Tendou!
Simply hearing that name triggered a huge shift in her aura. Sharp, fierce, brimming with violence like a drawn samurai sword.
Her hand drifted unconsciously to the hilt at her waist. Everyone nearby could feel the keen edge of her presence.
Miyori Shiba frowned. She'd never gotten along well with Kisara anyway.
"Tendou Kisara, what are you doing?"
Kisara didn't respond. Her dark eyes remained glued to the door.
"That bastard!"
Her teeth ground audibly, as though she longed to devour someone alive. Her intent to kill coalesced so powerfully that no one could ignore it.
At her side, Seitenshi couldn't remain calm:
"Kisara-san?"
"It's him!"
"He's the one!"
Kisara's voice, low and seething like a vengeful specter, escaped her throat. That name and that voice never would she forget.
"He's the murderer who killed my parentsKikunojou Tendou!"
Hissing her words out between clenched teeth, she emanated bottomless hatred.
From her experiences taking lives and fighting Gastrea, she'd honed a towering killing aura that now spilled out uncontrollably.
"Ugh!"
Only Haruno, standing beside her, felt discomfort from that oppressive intent. A large hand gently pulled Haruno behind it, and the feeling vanished at once.
""
Haruno looked dazedly at Rei Ao, who said nothing.
He'slooking out for me?
None of the others seemed too shaken by Kisara's transformation. They were used to death and killing whether it was the handful of child soldiers or the heiress of a weapons company or a scientist, none found it surprising. But Seitenshi could not stay composed at all.
"What?!"
Hearing Kisara's words, her first reaction was disbelief, eyes betraying confusion and hesitation.
"Tendou-san, did you just sayAdvisor Kikunojou is the one who killed your parents? Couldn't there be some misunderstanding?"
Kikunojou Tendou had always been her most trusted Advisor. Seitenshi placed extraordinary faith in him.
She couldn't imagine him murdering someone's parents, especially with them both sharing the Tendou name. She wondered if it might be a situation that could be resolved without violence.
"Misunderstanding?"
Kisara spat out the word with an icy, cutting smile.
"We're both from the Tendou clan, but in his quest for power and status, he brutally disposed of my father and mother! That's how he climbed so high, becoming the Governor's most valued Advisor."
Seitenshi's heart pounded.
"Thatthat can't be"
Knock, knock!
"Seitenshi-sama, Kikunojou Tendou-sama is requesting an audience."
Kikunojou's voice sounded again from outside. Rei Ao, who was happily anticipating a show, suggested:
"He's standing right there, so why not just do what I say?"
""
Beyond the door, Kikunojou Tendou raised an eyebrow, having heard that Seitenshi was inside. Yet twice, no one answered his knock, leaving him uneasy.
"Don't tell me Seitenshi isn't actually there."
He was about to push the door open to see for himself when:
"Come in."
It was Seitenshi's voice. He paused, then pushed open the door. The conference room was apparently deserted, with only Seitenshi and an unfamiliar man standing there. He halted for a moment on the threshold, then proceeded inside.
In truth, he'd walked right past the others.
"It's real!"
Muroto Sumire was thrilled. Indeed, Kikunojou hadn't overlooked them on purpose Rei Ao's "method" currently concealed and silenced them. Even if they tried shouting, Kikunojou wouldn't notice. In his eyes, there were only three people present, counting himself.
"Seitenshi-sama."
Kikunojou bowed respectfully. She nodded lightly:
"Advisor Kikunojou, you've come regarding the Cursed Children Rights Law, correct?"
Straight to the point. Though her head spun with questions, she had to keep it official.
"I did indeed come about that."
"Oh?" Rei Ao, at Seitenshi's side, suddenly interjected into their conversation:
"And what is your stance, Tendou-sama, on Seitenshi-sama's proposed legislation?"
""
Kikunojou's eyes narrowed, displeased. Nonetheless, he asked, "Seitenshi-sama, might I inquire who this young man is?"
"Rei Ao, he's"
Seitenshi faltered, unsure how to define Rei Ao's identity. She couldn't just say "he's an otherworlder planning to purge humanity."
"I'm a friend of Seitenshi-sama," Rei Ao offered, giving an answer that only sounded more suspicious.
"Yes, yes, Rei Ao here is my friend," Seitenshi pressed on, though it was obviously problematic.
""
A cunning man like Kikunojou easily sensed something amiss, but didn't voice it. Instead, he said gravely:
"I fully support Seitenshi-sama's decision that those unfortunate children should be granted proper rights."
"Thank you," Seitenshi responded warmly, relieved. She'd known her most trusted Advisor wouldn't oppose her.
"Liar."
"!!!"
Kikunojou's face twisted in displeasure as he glared at Rei Ao.
"Young man, what's the meaning of this?"
"Ha. You lie without a hint of shame. Truly a sly old fox."
With a flick of Rei Ao's finger, a wisp of black mist shot between Kikunojou's eyebrows before he could react.
"!!!"
Startled, he rubbed at his forehead. Nothing was there.
"What was that?!"
He demanded sharply, a growing sense of dread.
"No need to fear. It's just something to stir up your negative emotions, revealing what lurks in the depths of your heart a little seasoning, if you will."
~~~
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Chapter 473: Unexpected Surprise! Kisara Tendou's Trade!
"Look that way."
Rei Ao smiled as he pointed off to the side.
Tendou Kikunojou reflexively looked over.
"!!!"
A spot that had just seemed empty suddenly revealed several figures, as if by magic. Some he recognized, some not, and among them were a few young girls obviously Cursed Children.
Before he could make sense of what was happening, a fierce anger surged up inside him. His gaze locked onto the Cursed Children, and he nearly ground his teeth as he snarled, "Damned monsters, they're everywhere! They should all be wiped out!!!"
Silence.
"You dare call us monsters?!"
Katagiri Yuzuki's eyes blazed with fury. Her dislike for this old man was instantaneous and absolute!
Sure enough, it was exactly as Oniisan had said: even the second most powerful person in the Tokyo Area, after Seitenshi, thought of Cursed Children as monstersdidn't care whether they lived or died. That only firmed the girls' determination to stand with Rei Ao.
No one was more shocked than Seitenshi herself.
"Advisor Kikunojouwhat are you saying?"
"Seitenshi-sama, why do you keep wanting to grant these monstersthese damned Gastreaany human rights?" Kikunojou raged, face contorting. His entire body trembled, as if he was outraged at her for even considering it. "I respect you deeply, Seitenshi-sama. But as for these Cursed Children, these monsters, I'll see them all obliterated to the last!"
"!!!"
At those words, Seitenshi clapped a hand over her mouth, stunned.
"Butwhy?"
"When I introduced my New Gastrea Law to protect the rights of Cursed Children, weren't you the first to stand up and support me?"
Wasn't he the one who'd outwardly backed her? So why?
"Ah."
Kikunojou gave a cold laugh. "Sorry, Seitenshi-sama." Though he sounded apologetic, his eyes were bloodshot.
Clang~!
He drew the long blade at his waist. Its chill sheen glinted off his face, twisted with limitless murderous intent.
"Monsters are meant for death, not for being human!"
Without warning, he swung the sword at Enju Aihara.
"No!!!"
Seitenshi cried out.
"You bastard!"
Enju was about to react, but someone else moved even faster.
Clang!!!
Kikunojou's blade was parried by another bladeit was Tendou Kisara, equally brimming with murderous rage.
Seeing Enju was unhurt, Seitenshi's heart eased, and her legs gave way. She nearly toppled over, but Rei Ao reached out and supported her as she staggered.
"Seitenshi, do you see now?"
"Ever since this crafty old fox lost a loved one to the Gastrea, no one hates Gastrea and Cursed Children more than he does. He's the most deeply warped of the 'Stolen Generation.' On the surface, he backed you, but behind it all he's been fanning the opposition to your new law. Haven't you noticed just how much resistance that law of yours ran into?"
"I"
His words stabbed painfully into Seitenshi's heart. Everything he said was true. And recalling how abnormally large the obstacles to her law had been, she couldn't help but realize this was all Kikunojou's doing.
Still, one could hardly blame Seitenshi. She was quite young, lacking the polish and experience to see the dark and twisted side of politics. Kikunojou was a wily old schemer who had fought his way through political battlefields.
If not for his sincere respect for Seitenshitempered by his obsessive hatred for Gastrea and Cursed ChildrenSeitenshi might long ago have become his puppet in politics.
At that moment, Miyori Shiba stepped closer.
After some thought, she said, "I don't know exactly how you see Kikunojou-sama, Seitenshi-sama, but my father's told me more than once: 'Kikunojou Tendou is a seasoned politician, cunning as a fox, ruthless to the core.' He warned me to keep far away from him so as not to get entangled."
Muroto Sumire ruffled her hair and chimed in, "Yeah, that Kikunojou guy never struck me as a decent person."
She lumped most high-ranking officials into the same basket anyway.
""
Seitenshi felt dizzy. So it turned out only she herself had trusted Kikunojou wholeheartedly, silly though that was.
But while this exposed Kikunojou's true nature, Kisara was worried about another matter. Blade locked against Kikunojou's, she glared darkly at him, her voice grim:
"You killed my parents, didn't you?"
At the mention of "my parents," a flicker passed through Kikunojou's furious, hatred-filled eyes. He focused on her.
"They" he said, "were the most pivotalstepping stone on my political road."
His tone was casual, as if reciting an utterly mundane fact. But that statement was the final spark that ignited Kisara's wrath. All she knew was:
"I'm killing you!!!"
Alas, Kisara couldn't do it. In the fierce sword fight unfolding in the conference hall, she found her skills lacking compared to Kikunojou's.
Both practiced Tendou-style swordsmanship, but if Kisara was merely adept, Kikunojou was a true master.
"Damn it! Damn it, damn it, damn it!"
Kisara grew desperate. The chance for vengeance was right in front of herand she was powerless. She was tormented by that weakness.
'Ilack the strength'
Sorrow glinted in her eyes. Then Kisara used a last resort. Rei Ao, who'd been watching amused with the others, blinked in surprise.
"An unexpected windfall, is it?"
[Ding! Tendou Kisara is initiating a trade request!]
[Trade Content]: Help her slay Kikunojou Tendou!
[Ding! Please select trade conditions!]
Glancing at Kisara, he noted that she only possessed [Tendou-style Swordsmanship] and "body usage rights" for the transaction. Without hesitation, he chose the latter.
[Ding! Your trade request is approved!]
[Trade Condition]: [Body Usage Rights, One Time]
[Ding! Confirm trade?]
Amid the desperate clang of blades, Kisara barely kept Kikunojou's strikes at bay. Seeing the system prompt, she accepted without thinking.
[Ding! Trade is starting!]
[Target]: Tendou Kisara
[Content]: Help her slay Kikunojou Tendou!
[Condition]: [One-time Body Usage Rights]
[Time Limit]: 24 hours
~~~
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