I don't want to be an elf!

Heavenly Child Martial Saint.

"I never imagined that I would have the chance to wield a knife again."

Looking at the Gastrea that was rolling in from afar, taking over the sky and the earth, Kikunojo Tendo remained calm.

He had seen this scene far too many times.

Before the invention of megaliths, this was the scene he saw every day.

He held the knife in one hand, fearlessly facing the hideous and terrifying Gastrea creatures.

Just like I've done countless times before.

He did not back down.

Because behind him stood, and what he was protecting were not Gastrea, but the people of Tokyo.

The future of Tokyo.

So, as the guardian of the Tokyo area, there is only one thing he needs to do.

The aged man exuded a sharp, sword-like aura.

"Defend the home and the country!"

Facing the monsters before him who truly deserved his hatred, the Heavenly Child Martial Saint roared in fury.

"Defend the home and the country!"

Chapter 53 This world doesn't need your gospel (two-in-one)

When Nia Honjo brought the Holy Emperor back to the incubation center, the beast tide had already stopped.

The outer walls of the containment facility have been completely destroyed, and ninety percent of the buildings inside have been reduced to ruins by the Gastrea's iron hooves.

But only the building in the very middle remained intact.

Having survived the first wave of beasts and gained a brief period of safety, the six who had just fought desperately were now seizing the precious time to recover their strength.

"Casualties?"

As soon as they landed, Honjou Nia immediately asked Satomi Rentaro, whose body was half covered in sticky beast blood.

Seeing his pillar of support finally return, Rentaro Satomi's deeply furrowed brows finally relaxed a little.

"No one died, that's the best news," Rentaro Satomi replied. "As for the seriously injured..."

He glanced at Tendou Kikunojo, who was sitting on the ground with his back hunched over and his eyes closed, seemingly resting.

As if sensing his stepson's gaze, the old man opened his eyes.

"I'm just a little tired because I haven't done such intense exercise in a long time."

Kikunojo Tendo waved his hand, indicating that he was fine.

Although there was no weakness in his voice, there was a hint of melancholy.

Back in the day, he was a warrior who could fight for hours among the Gastrea's army without falling.

Now, after killing only a few dozen Gastrea, he was already too exhausted to lift his knife.

Sure enough, I'm getting old.

"Lord Tiantong?"

The Holy Emperor's voice rang out, filled with a surprise that everyone could hear: "You... protected the cursed child here?"

"Your Majesty, it's so good to see you back safely."

Only then did he notice that the Holy Emperor was also there. Tendo Kikunojo's expression relaxed considerably, and he said calmly, "It just so happens that I'm staying here. I can't just leave all the work to the young people, can I? I'm not old enough to need protection."

His answer shocked the Holy Emperor.

It felt like I was meeting this old man for the first time.

"Your Majesty, do you know why the megalith suddenly collapsed?" Rentaro Satomi asked the question everyone wanted to know. "Didn't you say this morning that there were at least two weeks left before the megalith collapsed?"

"I...I don't know either," the Holy Emperor replied hesitantly. "According to the calculations of the relevant departments, it should indeed be at least another half month."

"Someone used a bomb."

Kikunojo Tendo intervened, stating unequivocally, "I've heard that loud noise before the monolith collapsed countless times on the battlefield; it was definitely the sound of a strategic explosive device detonating."

"So it really was done by someone."

Having rushed here, Niya has not yet used the cryptic document to examine the cause of the megalith's collapse.

But since Kikunojo Tendo said that, it coincided with a certain speculation in her mind.

This is a good thing that the Five Flying Association did.

If Nia Honjo were unaware of the existence of the Goshokai organization at this moment, she would probably think that the collapse of the megalith was due to Kikunojo Tendo going mad and deciding to drag the Tokyo area and the Tendo family down with him.

However, after learning about the Five Flying Gang and thwarting its kidnapping plan, the true identity of the mastermind behind it all obviously doesn't need further discussion.

After recounting everything that had just happened to the others, those who had not participated in the Holy Emperor's rescue operation understood the reason.

"Your Excellency, the Holy Emperor."

Just as everyone was venting their anger at the Five Flying Association, Kikunojo Tendo suddenly spoke up: "If the Tokyo area can survive this disaster, please withdraw the formula for the erosion rate inhibitor and issue a statement saying that harmful ingredients were detected and it is not suitable for the Cursed Children to use."

"Are you afraid of the Five Flying Gang's retaliation?" Honjou Nia said with a smile. "Don't worry, when we get back, I'll publish the list of all the Five Flying Gang members and make them rats that everyone hates."

"No, you still don't understand this point."

Kikunojo Tendo sighed, his eyes revealing an indescribable emotion: "Our enemy is not just the Five Flying Sect."

"What do you mean?"

"In fact, I received several phone calls today, three of which were the most important."

Kikunojo Tendo's expression was indifferent, but his tone revealed a deep weariness.

"The first call came from a cadre of the Five Flying Association, the second from a manager of the International Initiator Oversight Organization, and the third from the chairman of the world's largest gastrulation biopharmaceutical company."

During our conversations, it was clear that each of them had a very clear purpose.

"If I can persuade the Holy Emperor to rescind the release of the erosion rate inhibitor, they will grant me any request, even including the throne of the highest authority in the Tokyo area."

Listening to Kikunojo Tendo's description, everyone felt as if a stone was pressing on their hearts.

Let them take their breath away.

The Five Flying Soars Society is a terrorist organization that secretly controls world affairs, with its sphere of influence spanning the globe, and attempts to conquer nations.

The International Initiator Oversight Organization is also a global behemoth that has assigned cursed children to 700,000 police officers.

Gastrea Biopharmaceutical is a giant among giants, with absolute authority in gastritis research. The erosion rate inhibitor that Rentaro Satomi injects into Enju Aihara every month is made by this organization.

Compared to these three organizations that can shake the world with a stomp of their feet, the Tokyo area is as insignificant as a pebble.

But they actually joined forces, and even had the same goal?

"Why..." Nia Honjou's voice was hoarse, "The Erosion Rate Blocker is a blessing for all the cursed children, so why are even the International Initiator Oversight Organization and Gastrea Biopharmaceutical Organization on the same side as the Five Sho Association?"

"You really don't know the answer to this question?"

Kikunojo Tendo gave the woman in front of him, whose fists were clenched tightly, a deep look.

Then, without any mercy, the cruelest side of the world was revealed to her.

"Once the effects of the erosion rate inhibitor begin to spread, the cursed children will gain human rights, and the world order will be changed."

The International Originator Oversight Agency will be the first organization to collapse because there is no place for them in the New World. The very foundation of this organization is the exploitation of the Cursed Children, who are distributed as tools.

Under the impact of erosion rate blockers, the erosion rate inhibitors developed by Gastrul Biopharmaceutical will completely lose their original status. Gastrul Biopharmaceutical, which has made no progress or innovation for many years and has been sucking blood from the police, will have its biggest source of funding completely cut off.

After this incident, His Majesty the Holy Emperor's reputation and prestige will reach their peak in all countries, earning him the love and respect of the people of Tokyo and even the world. This is something the Five Stars Society does not want to see; in their plan to conquer the world, a beloved ruler will only become a stumbling block.

Kikunojo Tendo paused for a moment.

Amidst the silence of the crowd, he chuckled softly twice.

"In fact, I admire you very much."

Not only did he become the Holy Emperor's true right-hand man, thwarting my and the Five Flying Soaring Society's plans, but he also selflessly gave up something like the Corrosion Rate Inhibitor. If anyone can be called a hero in this apocalyptic world, then only you deserve such a title.

I do not hate you, for my only wish in this life is to serve the Holy Emperor and to exterminate all Gastrea.

If you were to assist His Majesty the Holy Emperor, you would surely do an even better job than I have. After developing the corrosion rate inhibitor, I would have no reason to hate the Cursed Son anymore.

Your actions are undoubtedly aimed at making the world a better place.

But you forgot one thing.

The aged man looked down at the silent woman before him, a hint of pity creeping into his usually calm tone.

"This world has lost the possibility of becoming a better place."

Since the emergence of Gastrea, human civilization has been on a downward spiral.

Along with it, those beautiful qualities that were called the light of humanity were also destroyed.

Those who were brave, upright, selfless, dedicated, and glorious have all died in the war against the Gastrea.

All that remains—the International Initiator Oversight Organization, Gastrul Biopharmaceuticals, the Five Flying Society, and even myself—are nothing more than ghouls feeding on their corpses, clinging to life.

The radiance you display is not a blessing of salvation; to ghouls, it is a death curse.

This world doesn't need your glory, your salvation, or your gospel.

In this era, heroes can only meet their end in ruin and depravity.

Justice, in this era, can only become hypocritical or silent.

This world will change anyone who tries to change it.

"While there's still a chance, let's withdraw the release of the erosion rate inhibitor."

Kikunojo Tendo spoke sincerely, every word coming from the heart, a summary of his experience and past.

Like an elder who has seen through the world, he decided to leave his final words of advice to the younger generation before retiring.

Nia Honjo recalled the scene of her first meeting with Sumire Muroto.

When this woman, who stood at the pinnacle of world wisdom and had also seen through the world, heard about her plan to change the world, she wore a mocking expression.