A moment later, Nanashi gently returned the four cameramen to the Tokyo district.
Then, he descended onto the Monolith's peak.
Enju, Cai, Red, and Yun rushed to him.
Even the normally composed Kayo ran over without hesitation.
They wrapped their arms around Nanashi in a tight embrace.
"Brother Nanashi, I love you!"
Their voices trembled with raw emotion.
For someone to stand against the entire world—for them—was enough to break their hearts with gratitude.
To them, Nanashi was no less than the God of Hope.
Nearby, Seitenshi and Kisara stared at him in blank disbelief.
Could human power… truly destroy a Stage V Gastrea so easily?
Shinobu, however, looked completely unsurprised.
She had long grown used to Nanashi's overwhelming strength.
That explosion?
It was just casual plasma—something he created without effort.
Even Lemuel had enough time to casually start a live broadcast on the side.
Momonga: "Boss, you're amazing! You wiped out all the monsters in one move!"
Nami: "Of course. Though... it's still a bit vague."
Aqua: "Tch. Filthy creatures like those? I could've drowned them in a flood."
Nami: "Sigh…yes, yes. Aqua is the best. We know..."
Bronya: "The end of another world... such terrifying monsters. It's truly frightening."
Silver Wolf: "Feels like a microcosm of the cosmic insect outbreaks."
March 7th: "Huh? A cosmic plague? Himeko mentioned disasters that spread across the stars."
Nanashi: "The power of gestating Star Gods can't be compared to these proto-Gastrea."
Silver Wolf: "Star Gods, huh... I still have no idea how to kill one."
Nanashi: "Silver Wolf, have you ever heard the saying, fight fire with fire?"
Silver Wolf: "..."
Silver Wolf: "You mean… use a Star God to defeat another Star God? Heh, easy to say."
Nanashi: "Is it that hard even to imagine?"
Silver Wolf:Tch.
Saeko: "Nanashi-kun, have you ended the apocalypse by killing those monsters?"
Nanashi: "Not yet. Protozoa are still spread across the world. The real threats are the protozoan virus—and the darkness in humanity."
He turned to Seitenshi.
Nanashi: "Did you hear what I said just now?"
Seitenshi's expression was complicated. "I heard it."
But this time, she didn't argue.
She had come to accept the truth. At last, she understood her place.
"Everything will be decided by Lord Nanashi."
Nanashi: "I'm glad you've prepared yourself. No need to call me Lord. Just Nanashi will do."
With a light chuckle, he added, "Let's return. The outcome will reveal itself in four days."
Four days.
Long—or short.
It all depends on who's waiting.
For the people of this world, four days felt fleeting.
After the incident with Judgement countdown and Scorpio, public opinion spread like wildfire.
Some insisted the live broadcast had been fabricated.
But eyewitnesses in the Tokyo District confirmed what they'd seen.
The unknown power was praised as divine, unimaginable.
Some called it the voice of God.
Others whispered it was the devil's curse.
At first, many remained skeptical—especially those with deep-seated hatred for the Cursed Children.
They even attempted to track them down, planning to kill them.
But the moment that dark intent took hold—
They were overtaken by something… unnatural.
Some threw themselves from rooftops.
Others slit their own throats.
A few tried to take revenge on society, but died instantly the moment they made the decision.
This didn't happen once.
Not twice.
It happened all over the world.
Eventually, a terrifying pattern emerged.
Anyone who harmed—or even planned to harm—the Cursed Children, or others with malicious intent, died on the spot.
By their own hands.
Without reason.
Without hesitation.
Humanity was gripped by fear.
Were these the words of a god?
Or the whispers of the devil?
Regardless, they had come true.
People could no longer act destructively.
They had no choice but to wait—for judgment.
The Cursed Children noticed it too.
They crawled out from the sewers.
Rose from the gutters and alleyways.
They walked among the crowds—for the first time, as people.
No one insulted them.
No one raised a hand.
Most avoided eye contact.
Others kept their distance in silence.
Some even stepped forward—
Offering coats, food, and warmth.
Begging for forgiveness.
And slowly… the Cursed Children began to understand.
That gentle, divine voice in their hearts… it was real.
They were truly being protected by a god.
"I really want to meet God in person..."
That quiet hope became the unspoken wish of nearly every Cursed Child.
But for Nanashi's group, four days felt endless.
Reinhard, Shinobu, Lemuel, and Kisaki were still out there—slaughtering Gastrea the hard way.
Shinobu's poison was especially effective in wiping them out.
But Nanashi didn't bother with that.
He had already destroyed Scorpio.
Wiped out countless proto-Gastrea.
The apocalypse would end by his hand—
There was no need to compete for battle points.
Instead, his four days were… eventful.
He spent them introducing Enju and the others to human life.
No matter how chaotic the world became, they remained untouched.
He also used the time for something else—
To 'defile' Seitenshi once more.
He wasn't planning to let this beautiful woman go.
He could still feel the softness of her body.
Its warmth.
As a man true to his desire… he wouldn't give up on 'defiling' a 'holy' girl like her so easily.
Even if she was still called the Virgin Mary, still revered by others—
He wasn't satisfied with her being a saint.
These four days weren't just about watching the world change.
They were about changing her.
So, his corruption plan continued.
Each day, he took Seitenshi on journeys.
Made her witness the darkness of mankind.
People who, even after hearing the divine warning, still sought to harm the Cursed Children.
The way they looked—ugly, desperate—just before they died.
The more she saw… the more numb she became.
From initial pain, to quiet resignation.
Until finally, his words ignited a spark within her.
She found purpose.
Set goals.
Accepted a new responsibility.
She would help rebuild the world once judgment had passed.
During those days, their intimacy deepened—whether by chance or intent.
And Seitenshi began to change.
She began to trust Nanashi.
To depend on him.
To admire him.
Just like now.
Even as Nanashi held her hand, fingers gently interlaced, and walked down the quiet street, she simply blushed shyly—without the slightest protest.
A soft evening breeze drifted through the air.
Streetlamps cast a pale glow, not quite enough to dispel the night…
But just enough to light the path ahead for the two of them.
There were no pedestrians in sight.
The vague new rules had instilled fear—no one dared to wander after dark.
Silence.
Peace.
Seitenshi, her left hand held by his, remained unusually calm.
She lifted her head, allowing the breeze to play with the strands of white hair that escaped from beneath her veil.
As she looked up at the starlit sky, her voice came softly.
"Lord Nanashi... do you think I can truly be a worthy ruler?"
Though she now had a purpose, her heart was still clouded with uncertainty.
Doubt gnawed at her—was she truly capable of living up to her new role?
Nanashi could feel her hesitation—no words were needed. It was clear in the tremble of her voice, the subtle tension in her hand.
She was his Seitenshi. The one he had shaped with his own hands.
He would not allow her to remain trapped in confusion.
He stopped walking. Then, with a gentle but firm motion, he pulled her into his arms.
"I—"
She didn't resist. Instead, she slowly wrapped her other arm around his waist, her movements delicate, almost cautious.
Lifting her beautiful face, she gazed at him with soft, uncertain eyes.
Under the dim glow of the streetlamp, her lips shimmered faintly with a dewy red hue.
So alluring, Nanashi was tempted to claim them immediately.
But he held back.
His gaze was serious.
"Don't forget," he said, voice low and firm. "It was I who made you this way. If you question yourself, you're questioning my judgment."
"Lord Nanashi..."
Those few simple words struck something deep within her.
They weren't just encouragement—they were trust. Absolute, unwavering trust.
He had opened her eyes to the world, to truth, to people.
He had given her meaning and purpose.
Though his actions sometimes appeared cold and ruthless, every gesture carried a quiet, enduring gentleness.
And now… she found herself growing greedy for it.
For his company. His guidance.
For him.
Her heartbeat quickened as she tilted her swan-like neck upward.
Her eyes fluttered closed, lashes trembling ever so slightly.
Nanashi smiled.
Seitenshi was still painfully shy.
Without hesitation, he leaned in—
To leave his mark on the woman who he shaped and belonged to him.
Bang!
A sharp crack split the air.
The streetlamp above exploded in a burst of sparks and shattered glass.
The light vanished.
Startled, Seitenshi's eyes flew open.
She parted her lips, as if to speak—
But Nanashi pressed a firm hand against her back, silencing her.
His kiss deepened with sudden heat, and she had no choice but to respond in kind.
Time passed—
A moment that felt like eternity.
Finally, they broke apart.
Her face was flushed and beautiful, resting against Nanashi's chest.
"I think that was an attack just now," she murmured softly.
Nanashi smirked, his voice calm.
"I know."
His golden eyes peered into the darkness.
"Do I really have to invite you out, Miss Assassin?"
As his words faded, rustling came from the distant greenery.
A girl stepped out from the shadows.
Blonde hair.
Scarlet eyes.
A green dress that swayed with her movement.
A massive sniper rifle casually slung over one shoulder.
It was clear from her eyes—
She was one of the Cursed Children.
Her gaze locked on Nanashi, sparkling with awe.
Great… I really saw him. I saw God.
She smiled brightly.
"Lord God, please be careful. The higher-ups… they're planning to assassinate you."
She had been sent as a killer.
A last resort by desperate leaders.
They believed that humans could no longer harm one another.
But the Cursed Children?
Surely they could still pull the trigger.
Only a Cursed Child could kill that man.
But they were wrong.
Even the Cursed Children were now bound by the same mysterious force—
One that prevented them from committing acts of violence.
It was justice.
That the girl hadn't died on the spot meant only one thing:
She had no intention of killing Nanashi.
He wasn't surprised that someone had found him.
Whenever he walked with Seitenshi, he rarely concealed his presence.
But he wasn't concerned.
Each failed assassination attempt would only push Seitenshi further—
Further away from humanity.
Further into darkness.
Exactly what he wanted.
The only thing that surprised him…
Was who they'd sent.
Tina Sprout.
The owl-wielding Cursed Child.
But she hadn't come to kill him.
She had come to warn him.
How could Tina harm the man who had dedicated himself to protecting the Cursed Children?
Even pointing her rifle at him… had torn her heart apart.
Like being shredded by a thousand blades.
She couldn't bear it.
No matter the mission, she couldn't lift a hand against him.
All she could do was warn him:
Beware the humans in power.
With her task complete, Tina exhaled in relief.
It was time for her to go.
Even if she were erased for this…
She had no regrets.
Because she had done what mattered most.
Just as she was about to part ways with Nanashi, her body suddenly flew toward him—as if pulled by an invisible force.
Without hesitation, he released Seitenshi and caught Tina gently in his arms.
"!!!"
A divine embrace…!
Tina's heart soared. She felt overwhelmed by happiness.
"May I have your name?" Nanashi asked softly.
Though he already knew it, he wanted to hear it from her directly.
"Tina Sprout," she answered truthfully, doing her best to suppress the joy bubbling inside her.
"Tina… That's a beautiful name."
"Th-thank you for the compliment, Lord God!" she stammered, cheeks flushed.
Nanashi tilted his head slightly.
"Why do you call me 'Lord God'?"
Tina furrowed her brows, her tone serious.
"Because God protects and loves the Cursed Children. You're our god—the god of the Cursed Children."
Even her fellow assassins believed it.
Some were such fanatics that they swore they'd rather die than carry out an order to assassinate him.
Nanashi gave a faint nod.
"I see… So, Tina, were you sent by one of the human leaders?"
"That's right, Lord God! Please be careful!"
Her concern was genuine.
Even though she knew how powerful Nanashi was, she couldn't help but worry for him.
Nanashi smiled gently and patted her head.
"Haha. I will. Thank you, Tina."
Then, a teasing glint entered his eyes.
"But… if you were here to warn me, why did you shoot out the streetlamp earlier?"
"Um…"
Tina looked down, her voice barely a whisper.
"Because I saw you kissing her… and I didn't like it… So I shot."
Nanashi chuckled to himself. He'd sensed her emotions but hadn't expected such a candid answer.
Of course, the "her" Tina referred to was Seitenshi.
Seitenshi blushed, flustered.
"S-sorry…"
"Why are you apologizing?" Nanashi said with a grin. "I'm the one who kissed you."
He turned back to Tina, his tone warm.
"This is Seitenshi—also known as the Holy Son of Heaven. She's my friend."
"The Holy Son of Heaven?!"
Tina's eyes widened in shock.
She knew how important Seitenshi was. She also remembered the recent laws passed to protect the Cursed Children.
She was kind. That was her only conclusion.