I don't want to be an elf!

"You were kidnapped and almost killed, and you still want to negotiate with them?" Honjou Nia asked with a chuckle. "I thought you were going to make some kind of request for me to draw all the members of the Five Flying Society to death."

“They are a force with roots all over the world, and they have people in high positions in all walks of life. If this were to happen, the consequences would be unimaginable,” the Holy Emperor said with a wry smile. “I believe that violence is not the only way to solve problems. Besides, Miss Honjo would not agree to such a request, would she?”

Honjo Nia shrugged, seemingly unsure whether to comment.

It must be said that this answer is very much in line with the personality of the Holy Emperor.

An idealist who believes in the inherent goodness of human nature.

Even with an organization like the Five Flying Association, she hopes to resolve differences through communication.

However, Nia Honjo knew that this was impossible.

The Holy Emperor is an idealist, and so is the Five Flying Societies.

It is utterly foolish for two idealists to get together and try to persuade each other with their own ideals.

The Holy Emperor could not possibly agree to the Five Flying Soars Society's conditions, nor could the Five Flying Soars Society stop its march toward conquering the world.

How to solve this major problem? This article requires another solution.

"Forget it, it's too late now. We can't get an answer to such an important matter in a short time. I'll take you back to the Holy Residence first."

"Isn't the Holy Residence... a bit unsafe?"

"Don't worry, I'll have Rentaro as your bodyguard. You should know how capable he is, right?"

Just as the two were talking, a deafening explosion was heard.

The explosion pierced the sky and reverberated throughout almost the entire Tokyo area.

Just as Honjou Nia and Seitenshi were relieved that the crisis had been averted, their hearts immediately jumped into their throats as they looked toward the direction from which the sound came.

Then, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The eroded megalith collapsed with a roar before their very eyes.

"How can this be?!"

Seeing the towering, pitch-black stone monument lying there like a giant severed in two, Honjo Nia was instantly stunned.

Even according to the original timeline, there should still be at least half a month before the megalith actually collapses.

What on earth happened to cause the megalith to collapse so suddenly?!

However, at this moment, the Holy Emperor no longer had the energy to think about the reasons.

Because endless fear had engulfed her entire being.

Outside the megalith, there were tens of thousands of Gastrea gathered.

With the current number of military and police personnel in Tokyo, there is simply no way to resist that vast, ocean-like tide of beasts.

Not to mention, after the news was released this morning that the new megalith was about to be completed, the troops and police officers who were originally stationed near the megalith were all dismissed and returned to their respective posts.

In other words, the front line was undefended.

The Gastrea will rampage through Tokyo as if it were their own backyard.

The Holy Emperor felt a wave of dizziness, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.

Tokyo is finished.

Chapter Fifty-Two: Defending the Homeland! (Two-in-One)

Inside the shelter.

After Nia Honjo left, Kikunojo Tendo did not leave.

Originally, his plan was to have Nia Honjo seek help from the mysterious organization behind her, use some channel to find the Holy Emperor's whereabouts, and then he would lead a special forces team from the army to rescue the master he served.

Unexpectedly, the woman casually sketched a few lines in the book, and then, as if by magic, produced an outfit unsuitable for children, before leaving like the wind.

Perhaps, someone went to rescue the Holy Emperor?

He left in such a hurry that he didn't have time to ask.

I just hope nothing goes wrong.

Kikunojo Tendo had some understanding of her fighting abilities.

After all, the mechanical warrior he had once hired had disappeared without a trace after accepting the commission to assassinate Nia Honjo.

But he had no idea how strong she was, or whether she was strong enough to take hostages from the Five Flying Gang.

Therefore, he could only wait here, hoping for good news.

"Tea, please."

Shou Xiashi, the caretaker of the shelter, brought a cup of brewed tea and placed it in front of the old man who was sitting cross-legged in the church like an old monk in meditation.

Although she joined the shelter later, she also heard the story between Honjou Nia and Tendo Kikunojo.

She also knew that Kikunojo Tendo hated the cursed child.

But it doesn’t matter.

Since you've come all this way, you're a guest.

Anyone who is a guest will be treated well.

This was one of the tasks that Nia Honjo assigned to her.

Kikunojo Tendo glanced at the girl beside him, his brows furrowing slightly, and an uncontrollable sense of disgust welled up within him.

This was a reaction ingrained in his instincts.

When the initial war between Gastrea and humans broke out, and his wife and children all perished in the mouths of Gastrea, he felt only the purest disgust for all Gastrea.

Even the cursed children who merely possess the Gastrea factor are no exception.

In his view, the so-called cursed children were nothing more than Gastrea in human skin.

Once the erosion rate reaches fifty percent, the true face hidden beneath this human skin will be revealed, mercilessly killing everyone.

This includes their parents and relatives from the pre-transformation period.

He raised his hand, about to knock over the tea on the table and yell at the other person not to come near him.

But the hand that had risen halfway down slowly lowered itself.

"...Thank you."

The rebuke that was about to burst out was ultimately left unsaid, turning into a stiff thank you.

Because times have changed.

After Nia Honjo developed the erosion rate inhibitor, the curse of the cursed son was no longer a curse.

It even became a blessing.

In the future, humanity will rely on them to defeat Gastrea.

When the erosion rate is about to reach fifty percent, as long as an erosion rate inhibitor is injected, they will no longer become ignorant monsters, but will have an infinite future like all other normal children.

Their status will change from being disposable props to heroes admired by everyone.

The fate of becoming Gastrea is no longer predetermined, and their status naturally changes back from Gastrea to humans.

Tendo Kikunojo then had no reason to hate them.

"Ugh......"

Countless complex emotions welled up inside him, all of which dissipated into a sigh.

Having let go of hatred, his aged body seemed much lighter, and even his mood was no longer so heavy.

"Your name is?"

After a long silence, Kikunojo Tendo finally spoke.

Shou Xiashi was taken aback, not expecting the other party to ask such a casual question.

But she quickly adjusted her mindset and replied, "My name is Shou Xia Shi."

“Junosuke… Hmm, that’s a good name.” Kikunojo Tendo pondered. “If you’re lucky enough, you might really live a long time.”

"This is all thanks to Ms. Honjo." Kotobuki's lips curled up slightly. "It was originally a name full of irony, but now it actually has a bit of a blessing in it."

"Then, Xia Shi."

Instead of speaking in a superior tone, but rather like an ordinary old man, Kikunojo Tendo pleaded, "Could you please ask that girl over there to stop looking at me with such hostility?"

Shou Xia Shi looked at the cursed child hiding in the corner, his eyes bloodshot.

A look of helplessness appeared in his eyes.

"Hiruko, Lord Tendo is Lady Honjo's guest. Do not be rude to your guest."

"But......"

"Put away your weapon, or you'll be in trouble when Ms. Honjo returns."

"Ok."

Knowing that Suzuka's status in the asylum was second only to Honjo Nia, Hiruko Kohina, who had been hiding in the shadows, reluctantly stepped out.

Upon seeing the girl's appearance, Kikunojo Tendo's expression changed slightly.

Hiruko Kagetane's daughter?

Did Niya not kill her?

He even kept the girl by his side?

Kikunojo Tendo was at a loss for words to comment on this decision.

“I’m sorry, Lord Tendo, Hiruko is a guard at the shelter, responsible for its security,” Kotobuki explained. “She’s just doing her job, please forgive her.”

"I don't care."

Kikunojo Tendo shook his head slightly, then looked at Kohina Hiruko.

After a pause, he asked, "Was your father killed by Honjo?"

Given the relationship between Kikunojo Tendo and Nia Honjo, this question might seem a bit like sowing discord.