"Is it over?"
The judgment of humanity was far more complex than eradicating the Gastrea.
It had taken Violet considerable effort.
"The judgment is complete."
Within the Void Ark, Damien inquired about the results from Violet.
"All Gastrea have been eradicated. The human death toll has been tallied, approximately 47.2 million."
Nearly fifty million lives, extinguished by Violet's hand.
Yet Damien's heart remained unmoved.
"Most of these people either directly or indirectly killed or harmed the Cursed Children."
"Based on the severity of their actions, the worst faced execution, while the least suffered the same pain the girls endured."
Damien had taken in all the Cursed Children, and with them, he naturally bore their hatred and anger.
An eye for an eye, a grudge for a grudge... perfectly just.
As for the rest, Damien disapproved of their actions but didn't kill them outright, instead placing a curse upon them.
He couldn't let it go without doing something... his convictions demanded it.
"Begin cleansing this world."
Satisfied with Violet's judgment, Damien issued his final order: "Let this storm serve as the curtain call for our journey."
Rumble!
With Damien's command, dark clouds enveloped the skies worldwide.
Under the torrential rain, all traces of the Gastrea virus... whether in the open, within humans, or inside other creatures... were completely eradicated.
Even the pollution that once plagued the world vanished under Damien's power.
The earth would rejuvenate after the storm.
The world, at this moment, was reborn.
Swish!
Seitenshi stood beneath the curtain of rain, gazing up at the darkened sky.
An hour had passed since the judgment, yet her heart remained profoundly shaken.
Not because of Damien's unfathomable divine power.
But because countless people had turned to ash before her eyes.
If that were all, Seitenshi would feel pain and sorrow, but not confusion.
With the Gastrea eradicated, human civilization could rise again.
For those who survived, this was undoubtedly a blessing.
Compared to the Gastrea, which had once wiped out 7 billion people, Damien's judgment was negligible.
And yet…
"Why… did it turn out like this?"
Seitenshi's body trembled uncontrollably.
Many of those she had seen as polished politicians, businessmen, and educators had perished under divine judgment.
"Was it all… a lie?"
In the districts, nearly all high-ranking officials were wiped out.
Based on the standards and scope of the judgment left in her mind by Damien, she couldn't comprehend why these people had died.
Had Damien misjudged them?
She had wondered.
But deep down, she knew Damien hadn't erred.
These people died because they had committed sins even a god couldn't forgive.
Human experimentation, abuse of power, violent profiteering, oppression of the masses…
If Seitenshi so wished, she could find countless pieces of evidence to send them all to prison.
"Are you confused?"
Suddenly, Seitenshi heard Damien's voice.
Snapping back to reality, she realized she was once again standing before him.
Unlike last time, she now found herself seated in a serene, peaceful garden.
"You…"
Before she could speak, a warm breeze swept over her, instantly drying her rain-soaked clothes.
"Thank… thank you."
Seitenshi instinctively thanked Damien.
"I... "
"I know what you want to ask."
Damien raised a hand to stop her question. "The truth is harsh, and I haven't wronged any innocents."
"Even by human laws... by the laws of your nation... these people's crimes would get warrant execution."
When Damien first learned of this from Violet, he, too, was taken aback.
He hadn't expected the darkness and corruption of this world to reach such depths.
The world of Black Bullet was, indeed, a dark fairy tale.
The existence of someone like Seitenshi served only to highlight how faint the light of hope was against boundless despair.
"Come with me."
"What?"
Seitenshi was stunned by Damien's sudden invitation.
"Leave this world. Join me and the children in traveling to a new world."
Damien's interest in Seitenshi wasn't due to her beauty but her incomparably pure soul.
To a Demon Lord like Damien, her soul was the most beautiful gem in the universe.
Flawlessly pure, radiantly dazzling, emitting a warmth that could touch hearts.
By the standards of the Cardinal World, Seitenshi was a born hero, with the potential to fully awaken.
An awakened hero was equivalent to an awakened demon lord.
Damien already had Artoria, a budding hero, under his wing.
How could he pass up a nascent hero?
"I'm sorry… I can't leave at a time like this."
Regrettably, Seitenshi declined Damien's offer.
She couldn't leave.
With so many of the district's leaders gone, she was needed to maintain order.
The people, too, required her to comfort and guide them.
An unprecedented burden weighed on her shoulders.
How could she abandon her world to follow Damien to paradise?
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes."
Without hesitation, the young woman answered firmly.
"Even if this is your only chance?"
"I…"
She paused briefly but nodded resolutely.
"As expected, you're remarkable."
"Especially in such a corrupt world, maintaining such purity is truly rare."
Damien wouldn't let go of a prize he coveted, but he also wouldn't force a young woman... that was beneath him.
"What if I told you that leaving wouldn't mean abandoning your people?"
"What?"
Seitenshi didn't understand his meaning.
Snap!
Damien didn't explain. Instead, he snapped his fingers.
The next moment, they appeared where Seitenshi had stood moments before.
"This is?!"
In her vision, the falling raindrops were frozen in midair.
The flowing water on the ground, the people in the buildings, even sound and light... everything seemed to be paused.
***
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