I don't want to be an elf!

The scroll in the Holy Emperor's hand was the last one.

The cover features a silver-haired man wielding two guns and a girl with a mutated body wielding a giant sword.

The Silver Bullet

This is the name of the comic.

No one would have imagined that the mighty Emperor would be interested in shonen manga.

Even the Holy Emperor himself hadn't expected it.

Initially, the purchase of Nia Honjo's works was solely for the purpose of researching her, hoping to gain some understanding of her.

However, as he read on, the Holy Emperor forgot his original intention and became immersed in the tension of the visuals and the depth of the plot.

"Your Excellency, the Holy Emperor."

Just then, the voice of Kikunojo Tendo came from outside.

"Please come in."

The Holy Emperor put down the comic book in his hand, but did not hide it.

Kikunojo Tendo walked in and immediately noticed the comic books on the table.

He frowned, clearly disapproving of the Holy Emperor wasting his time on such things.

However, he had more urgent matters to discuss at that moment and couldn't concern himself with anything else.

"Your Majesty, why did you allow that woman named Nia Honjo to establish a shelter for the cursed children in the outer district?"

"The paperwork is complete, the channels are legitimate, and everything is legal and reasonable. Do I have any reason to refuse?"

“We should at least find an excuse to delay her application,” Kikunojo Tendo said seriously. “Until the investigation into her is over, none of us know what her purpose is in establishing the shelter, or whether it will pose a threat to the Tokyo area.”

Throughout the month, the Holy Emperor's investigation of Honjo Nia continued.

Nia Honjo, female, 45 years old, manga artist, best known for her pre-Cataclysm bestseller "Silver Bullet"...

Everything was based on traceable information; there was nothing strange about it.

If there's anything strange about this, it's that the information itself is all too normal.

However, the Holy Emperor witnessed firsthand the abilities displayed by Honjou Nia. Whether it was the nun's habit that appeared out of thin air and could change shape at will, or the book that could see into one's heart, both demonstrated her extraordinary nature.

How could someone like that be as ordinary as the intelligence reports suggested?

However, no matter how much the Holy Emperor continued his investigation, he could find nothing more about Honjo Nia beyond the basic information.

“That’s why I decided to try to understand Nia Honjou in another way.” Sei Tenshi held up the comic book in his hand. “People say that you can see the true nature of an author through their works. Since the investigation couldn’t continue, I thought reading her comics would be a good alternative.”

"If Your Majesty hopes to find the essence of Honjou Nia in this manga, I believe it is all in vain."

"Oh? What makes you say that, Lord Tiantong?"

"Because I have already seen it."

In short, "The Silver Bullet" tells the story of a boy whose parents were killed by a demon, who grows up to become a demon hunter and survives among humans, demons, and half-demons.

However, when considered in the context of reality, this fantasy comic seems to allude to reality itself.

Demons and Gastrea, half-demons and cursed children, witchers and police officers...

Before the Great Cataclysm, this was a bestselling shonen manga.

After the cataclysm, the situation depicted in the comics was exactly the same as reality.

For example, in the world depicted in the book, a world destroyed by demons and on the verge of extinction for humanity, the profession of demon hunters was born. At the same time, the children born of demons and humans, called half-demons, were also born, a species hated by humans.

This looks exactly like the situation the world is facing.

The only difference from reality is that even though the protagonist in the comics had his parents killed by demons, he did not harbor the slightest hostility towards half-demons.

Instead, they would stand up for them when other humans bullied them.

"The protagonist of this manga is a character completely detached from reality, serving the plot, and without a single soul," Kikunojo Tendo said coldly. "His parents were killed by demons, yet he doesn't despise half-demons who possess demon blood, and even wants to help them? It's ridiculous and laughable. In my opinion, this work is merely a product drawn for profit and has no value whatsoever."

“I understand Your Highness Tiantong’s understanding.” The Holy Emperor nodded. “Although I have a different opinion, I don’t think Your Highness Tiantong is here to share your thoughts. Let’s get straight to the point.”

“That suits me perfectly,” said Kikunojo Tendo. “I have come here today hoping that you will dismantle that shelter.”

"As I just said, Ms. Honjo's shelter is a legal building, and even if she herself is a suspect, that is not a reason for us to break the law."

"..."

Kikunojo Tendo didn't say anything more and instead fell silent.

He knew that the Holy Emperor's attitude was always resolute when it came to matters involving cursed children.

Since what Nia Honjo did was beneficial to the cursed child, the Holy Emperor's stance must be on the same side as hers.

Today, the reason he still came to visit the Holy Emperor, even though he knew she would not agree to his request, was not actually to ask her to demolish the shelters in the outer district.

He just wanted to test the waters a little.

The shelter was built so quickly that he couldn't help but suspect that someone within the government might be helping Honjo Nia.

Considering that she had met with the Holy Emperor a month ago, Kikunojo Tendo began to suspect the master she served.

Seeing the Emperor's resolute expression, he stroked his long beard, already having found his answer.

It is clear that she must have been involved in the construction of the shelter.

“Honjou Nia… this girl might have other motives for contacting the Holy Emperor,” Tendo Kikunojo thought. “Although establishing a sanctuary has a relatively small impact on public opinion, who knows what she might do next.”

In the implementation of the Gastrea Protection Law, the Holy Emperor was almost fighting against the entire government alone.

Under Kikunojo Tendo's manipulation of public opinion, even public opinion gradually became one-sided.

If his plan were to proceed as intended, using the Seven Stars' relics to summon the Zodiac Gastrea and instill fear of the original creatures in the citizens of Tokyo, then the implementation of the Original Creature Protection Law would be doomed to failure.

However, this woman named Nia Honjo ruined his plan and retrieved the Seven Stars' relics.

They even collaborated with the Holy Emperor to build shelters in the outer areas.

This is not a good sign for Kikunojo Tendo.

Kikunojo Tendo snorted inwardly, already having a plan.

Although the black glove of the Tiantong family, Tiantong Xuanzhuo, has been brought down by his good granddaughter, there will never be a shortage of people to do the dirty work.

He happens to have a suitable candidate.

"I thought that since the mission to summon the Zodiac had failed, that guy would be useless."

A barely perceptible sneer appeared on Kikunojo Tendo's lips.

"Let him go and carry out his final mission."

Chapter Thirty-Four: Nun and Madman (Refresh)

late at night.

After a busy day, Nia Honjou finally got some rest after settling the cursed children who had moved in.

I didn't even draw any comics today, I just went to bed.

Postponed!

Anyway, after receiving the bounty for recovering the Seven Stars' relics, she no longer needed to make a living by drawing comics.

Although I still need to draw, since it's the most direct way to portray Nia Honjo, I don't need to do it every day anymore.

Lying comfortably on the soft and comfortable bed, she quickly became immersed in the softness of her newly purchased premium mattress.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but just as she drifted off to sleep, a thunderous explosion rang out.

Nibekol suddenly opened his eyes, as if sensing something, and looked outside the church.

"Mommy mommy!"

She anxiously nudged Nia Honjo's arm: "Someone has broken in!"

"what?"

Half-asleep, Nia Honjou was shaken awake, yawning wearily. "What did you say? What broke in?"

"Someone broke in!"

"boom-----!"

Another explosion, as loud as thunder, rang out.

This time, it was the church door that collapsed as well.

The shockwave even generated a blast of air, which lifted Nia Honjo's hair.

Looking towards the church entrance, her heart leaped into her throat.

Standing under the moonlight were a tall man and a blue-haired girl.

The man wore a white smiling mask, a burgundy tailcoat, and a top hat, looking like a gentleman about to attend a masquerade ball at night.

The girl was wearing a cute, fluffy dress, but the double blades in her hands and her striking crimson eyes in the darkness added to her menacing appearance.

An unwelcome guest has arrived.

If it weren't for the fact that the dormitory where the cursed children rested was right behind her, Nia Honjo would have tried her best to escape.

"Nice to meet you, servant of God."

Former ace of the Ground Self-Defense Force's mechanized special forces, now an internationally wanted criminal, Hiruko Kagetane removed his top hat and bowed slightly: "Although a midnight visit may be inconvenient, please bear with me, because..."

He put his top hat back on, and his golden eyes beneath the mask gleamed with a mocking light: "I'll be leaving soon."

"Tsk, so that old man finally made his move on me."

Upon seeing the man appear in front of her house, Honjou Nia clicked her tongue in displeasure.

She was not surprised by what was happening.

It seems that his recent actions have thoroughly angered Kikunojo Tendo, who has directly dispatched his most skilled assassin.

Before she even started dealing with Kikunojo Tendo, this old guy started targeting her first.

However, although she had guessed that this situation would happen sooner or later, now that it had actually happened, she couldn't possibly be in a good mood.