I don't want to be an elf!

If Nia Honjou became disillusioned with humanity after knowing too much, then Sumire Muroto became utterly despairing of humanity and the world after knowing too much.

From the bottom of my heart, I no longer have any expectations for this world.

If someone told her that the world would be destroyed tomorrow, she would simply continue to live in seclusion here and observe from the sidelines.

As one of the four sages who once stood at the pinnacle of this world, she had already seen through the true nature of this world.

The moment the Gastrea virus containment failed, human civilization was already destroyed.

What remains now is nothing more than a cannibalistic society that, under the guise of civilization, has become utterly shameless in its struggle to survive.

When Sumire Muroto put twelve-year-old Rentaro Satomi on the operating table to transform a child into a mechanical warrior, she suddenly realized that even she could not resist the assimilation of the world and had fallen into madness.

So she hid in the hospital under an assumed name, abandoned her past, and cut off all contact with anyone.

Even though the creation of new humans was forced to stop, as one of the Four Sages, she would still be respected and admired wherever she went. She still chose to live in this narrow and dark room, so that her wisdom would no longer be used by the world.

We will no longer aid and abet evil.

Resisting the world's erosion through inaction.

This is the limit of what she can do.

What Honjou Erya wants to do now is to fundamentally change this world, so that the cursed children are no longer treated as tools and monsters, but become human beings.

But the world won't allow her to do that.

In order to survive, humans must kill other life forms to ensure their own continuation.

Even if it's an incredibly ugly continuation.

The continuation of this world can only be built upon the bones of others; without sacrifice, it can only perish.

Whether the sacrifice was voluntary or forced is irrelevant.

It started with soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country.

He then became a mechanical warrior.

Finally, people discovered the Cursed Son, who was more cost-effective, safer, and more obedient.

People's bottom line crumbled little by little, eventually leading to what we are now.

"Ms. Honjo, you must hate humans, right?" Muroto Sumire asked, but her tone was as if she were stating a fact.

“It’s not so much that I dislike you… just disappointed.” Nia Honjou asked, puzzled, “Why would you ask that?”

"Because from beginning to end, you've never considered the issue from a human perspective," Sumire Muroto said calmly. "You want the Cursed Children to have human rights, but will humanity agree? Or do you really think that the reason humans hate the Cursed Children is simply because they are a potential threat that could turn into Gastrea at any time?"

Faced with Sumire Muroto's questioning, Nia Honjou's heart skipped a beat, and she panicked.

Anxiety continued to grow.

She felt as if she had missed something important, something that had been instinctively ignored from the very beginning.

Some things could cause her plan to fail completely.

“Isn’t that right?” Rentaro Satomi asked, frowning. “Everyone thinks so, even Kikunojo.”

“Oh, yes, you’re right, that’s what Kikunojo Tendo thinks,” Sumire Muroto said noncommittally. “But he was a madman all along. He went mad after his wife and daughters were killed by Gastrea. But there are more madmen than madmen in this world. There are more people who use madness as an excuse to seek their own interests.”

"What do you want to express?"

“It’s very simple, Rentaro.” Sumire Muroto smiled. “The Cursed Children are weapons used by humans to fight against Gastrea, and yet you want to give weapons human rights so they can live without fighting in battle. But have you considered what kind of outcome this will lead to?”

At this moment, Nia Honjou finally saw what she had been ignoring all along.

She had assumed that the current state of the Cursed Children was simply because they would become Gastrea once the erosion rate exceeded fifty percent, which led to the hostile attitude of humans towards them.

However, this is only one reason.

Even that is just a minor reason.

The real factor that caused the cursed children's predicament is that humanity needs them as expendable resources in battle.

While there are enough ordinary soldiers, it takes a lot of sacrifice to take down a single Gastrea. Mech warriors are extremely powerful, capable of taking down hundreds of Gastrea on their own, but the cost of manufacturing them is far too high.

The cursed child is the perfect replacement.

They are ordinary girls infected with gastritis, and such babies can be mass-produced if humans so desire.

They are powerful fighters; one of them can be equivalent to dozens of ordinary soldiers. Even if they are not as powerful as mechanical warriors, they are cost-effective.

They will not resist because they are still children. Even if they have power, they will instinctively fear the power of adults. No matter how they are treated, they will not be able to start a revolution.

However, they are still human beings and cannot be used as expendable resources without restraint.

If that's the case, then let's just strip them of their human rights.

The egoists of this world are subtly manipulating people's hatred for Gastrea, extending that hatred to the Cursed Children.

These human children were labeled as Gastrea.

Therefore, they can be used as weapons openly and legitimately.

This is the reason why the cursed children have such a low status.

It's not because humans don't need them.

It is precisely because humans need them and need them to sacrifice for humanity that they are regarded as animals without human rights, so as to better utilize their power.

This is the world as Sumire Muroto sees it.

A world built upon the sacrifice of the cursed child, a world that sucks the marrow from the bones.

"What you want to do won't make the world a better place; it will only make you an enemy of the world," Sumire Muroto said mercilessly. "So, Ms. Honjo, if you really hate humanity as much as I do, doing nothing is the best option."

Her tone was icy, as if she were a sage who had truly seen through the nature of this world, and her lifeless, dark purple eyes seemed to reflect a future destined for destruction.

"Because one day, humanity will reap what it sows."

Chapter 41 There are gains and losses

Nia Honjo did not despair of the world.

While imprisoned by DEM, no matter how much torture and pain she suffered, she did not turn back.

The premise of the reversal is to drive the elves mad and desperate, making them no longer believe anything they see and only want to destroy everything.

However, Nia Honjo had long since chosen not to believe in humans.

After gaining omniscience, she locked away her inner thoughts.

So no matter how much DEM abused her, she showed no sign of turning back.

Knowing the worst in humanity, what DEM did to her did not make her despair, but only confirmed and strengthened her beliefs.

But does this really mean that Niya Honjo has no expectations of humanity?

If that's the case, why was she moved by the combined efforts of Itsuka Shido and the others when her memories were sealed?

The answer is actually very simple.

As an omniscient and omnipotent elf, she was unwilling to trust humans again and numbly threw herself into the world of anime and manga.

But at the same time, as a human being, deep down she still longed for someone to show her something beautiful.

Just like the unbreakable bond between Itsuka Shido and the spirit boy in the Date A Live world.

Just like the mutual redemption between Aihara Enju and Satomi Rentaro in this world.

Just as a single emperor fighting against the entire society would need to pass the Gastrea Protection Act.

Just like Elder Matsuzaki who abandoned his comfortable life to take care of the abandoned, cursed child.

There are still beautiful things in this world, even though compared to its malice, these insignificant beauties seem so fragile.

If we stand idly by, even this last vestige of beauty will be extinguished by overwhelming malice.

That's why she wants to protect him.

As an agent of the gods, we will protect the remaining beauty and let this world shine again.

This wasn't just about acting; more than that, it was because the girl genuinely wanted to do something for the world.

Do some things that only a time traveler can do.

Even so, I will not give up.

Taking a deep breath, Nia Honjo's gaze hardened once more: "Even without your help, I will continue to carry out my plan."

"The fate of the cursed child cannot be changed; your efforts are futile." Sumire Muroto's tone carried a hint of impatience.

"Even if the fate of just one cursed child is changed because of this, my efforts will never be in vain."

"You? How could you possibly stand against this world?"

"Although saying this makes me sound like a hot-blooded idiot, which doesn't fit my character at all, but..." Nia Honjo smiled, "I'm not fighting alone. Even Taro, Kisara, and even Seitenshi are my partners."

“That’s right.” Rentaro Satomi nodded seriously. “We will not give up.”

"Ugh......"

Muroto Sumire closed her eyes wearily and waved her hand: "Since you are so insistent, then go and carry out your plan. How can you truly understand reality if you don't learn from your mistakes?"

Like a mother who has experienced many hardships, helplessly watching her child step into society full of hope.

Even though I've advised them countless times.

But perhaps it is precisely because of this that I cannot let go of my worries.

"I will help you create an erosion rate inhibitor," Sumire Muroto said finally. "But don't misunderstand, I still don't have any hope for you. I'm just trying to make you realize your efforts are futile and give up as soon as possible."

“Although I don’t think we will fail, I am still very grateful for your help, doctor,” Rentaro Satomi said gratefully.

Nia Honjo had initially thought that Sumire Muroto was really going to reject them.

If Sumire Muroto is truly so disillusioned with the world that she's unwilling to take any action, then she'll have to find another way to complete side quest two.

It seems this guy is all bark and no bite.

No, it should be said that it was thanks to her that she brought Rentaro Satomi along.

If she came to Muroto Sumire alone, Muroto Sumire would absolutely not soften her heart.

However, when it comes to Rentaro Satomi, the only person Sumire Muroto still cares about in this world, she cannot simply watch him step into a dangerous place.