In three days, all of Japan had been bathed in blood.
The Five Wings Society, scheming to conquer the world. The Pureblood Society, with a hundred thousand extremists opposing the Cursed Children. The cunning elites in power.
All their plots, intrigues, and balances of power… lost all meaning under the purge.
Zeroy's blazing blade rolled through like a steamroller, crushing stone and ant alike, whatever they did meaning nothing.
[Title Acquired: Butcherman]
‣ Condition: Personally kill eighty million humans
‣ Effect: Natural deterrent to humans, instilling fear more easily
—Kill, kill, kill! Today, enter the path of slaughter! Today, let blood dye the heavens!
┗ Butcherman, enemy of humanity, slaughterer of mankind, who butchers humans like cattle—this is now your name.]
"..."
Zeroy frowned. She didn't like it.
Enemy of humanity? Since when? She killed beasts, not people. Beasts aren't human. Too sanctimonious!
And why see only the killing, not the saving?
Each kill was salvation. How many had she saved… why no title for that?!
"What's wrong?"
Patchouli saw her frown and asked.
It was the thirtieth night. In half an hour, they would return to the Main God's space. So they sat under the stars, waiting.
Asked, Zeroy hugged her and cried.
"I feel scolded by the Main God... it hurts."
"..."
Patchouli read the title's description. It looked fine.
"I saved so many. Why no title?"
"Emmm..."
On that, she had a point.
Zeroy had killed many; despite that, she also saved many.
"Perhaps... because the causality isn't direct?" Patchouli guessed. "You took their lives..."
"Pests!"
"Fine, pests. However, the ones saved weren't linked as clearly. You killed pests who might have harmed them. Indirect salvation. They aren't tied to you. That's the difference."
"Indirect?"
"Yes. Distant, future, not yet real."
"Causality... I don't get it. So I'll never get such a title?"
"Do you care?"
"Not really..."
She thought. She would do as she pleased. She was saving people by killing pests. No title needed.
"Still... I love people, I'm kind, yet I wear villain's titles. Isn't that odd?"
"True. But your work here isn't done. Finish killing pests, rebuild order—then it may change."
Patchouli paused.
"Or maybe you'll need to save directly, like you kill."
"That's troublesome..."
Not that she didn't want to save. She loved saving. But her blade killed. She saved by killing. If the Main God didn't count that...
Still, she wanted titles. They gave power.
Like making pests die in fear.
With it, one look crushed minds. Terror alone broke them.
Without it, she had to maim and tear, slow and crude.
A saving title might help too.
"After, let's meet again. Be true teammates."
"An invitation?"
"Yes. Patchi, team with me forever?"
"...So heavy. Where do you come from, you clingy girl?"
Patchouli deadpanned.
"But... a team. I have no reason to refuse."
Zeroy was strong, a good ally. Her company wasn't bad. They were friends now. So why not? Her reputation might suffer, but she didn't care.
"Then it's settled. After, do you have plans?"
"You want help?"
"Yes. I'll rush back to handle this world. I hope you'll join. But if you're busy, I'll help you first."
"I'm not. So it's fine."
"Good~"
···
An abandoned ruin—
Two reincarnators peeked out, staring at the two pillars of light.
"G-gone?"
His companion collapsed, laughing hysterically.
"Finally gone... haha... alive. We lived!"
No one knew how they survived thirty days.
They hid once they saw a powerhouse join. Reincarnators weren't allies. Hiding, they saw her begin the slaughter.
A true slaughter. One against a nation. Then more. The world. Reincarnators thought themselves above natives, lives cheap.
That said, slaughtering the world? None had ever seen such.
Too brutal!
And worse, they were competitors. If found, they'd die horribly.
Already, two had been found.
They heard her words—"Pests. Die!"—And the two were cut to pieces.
They watched from ruins, barely daring to breathe. Even as transcendents, they nearly fainted.
...
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