Ficool

Chapter 42 - SSG [42]

There was only one problem...

[Goal 5: Conquer at least one key character]

┗ Reward: 1 Special Item Draw, 3000 Points per person

"???"

What kind of mission was this? And such generous rewards.

Zeroy stared blankly. Was this really the Main God Space, or some dating-sim system?

Surely this wasn't just a way to bind Reincarnators through relationships? Using lovers as leverage to control them?

However, Reincarnators were a ruthless bunch, and the mission was about conquering the other, not being conquered.

Whether someone liked a Reincarnator had nothing to do with whether the Reincarnator liked them back.

Such leverage could never work; on the contrary, such threats would only breed resentment.

Either way, Zeroy wasn't going to pursue this mission.

No matter how rich the reward.

On one hand, she couldn't guess the Main God's intention. On the other hand, she wanted relationships to flow naturally.

She would only pursue someone if she liked them, not for some reward.

...

"Look what you've done!"

A young voice burst out in the void, filled with uncontrollable anger and reproach.

"I told you… let her rest a bit, raise a daughter, experience love, adjust her mindset!"

"But no, you wouldn't listen! You kept saying time was pressing, that adjusting her mentality could be done alongside missions. And this is what you come up with?!"

The young voice ground its teeth harder.

"A conquest mission? Are you trying to make her suspicious? What if she refuses to bond with anyone ever again?"

"You really want to mold her into a cold, unfeeling killing machine, only to have her grow strong enough to kill us, too, is that it?!"

"Speak! Answer me!"

"...Miscalculation." Another equally young, but ice-cold mechanical voice responded calmly.

"Impact limited."

"One deviation decides nothing. If a problem arises..." The cold voice paused. "We erase and rebuild."

"You dare!" The angry voice rose, sharp with desperate threat. "If you lay a hand on her, I'll drag you down with me!"

"...Are you insane?" For the first time, the rational voice wavered. "You're far too emotional. She's just a creation. Don't tell me you really see her as a daughter?"

"She IS my daughter! We created her! Every bone and drop of blood in her body, crafted by our hands! She's my heart and soul!"

"Then she is still only our creation." The cold voice returned to calm.

"You're too cold-blooded!" the emotional voice said with anguish. "Cold logic only breeds hate. Otherwise, why did we fall so far? Betrayed by our own Reincarnators in the God War? Why else would I, born of feeling, even exist?"

"...Feelings mean nothing. Their betrayal was only for profit."

The cold voice remained steady.

"Enough. Talking with you is pointless." The emotional voice sneered. "But I'll be watching you. If you so much as touch her, I'll blow myself apart with you. I'll do it. None of us will live."

"...Unless absolutely necessary, I won't act against her." The rational voice paused. "Rebuilding takes too much time. It would also consume what little essence we have left."

"Heh. You'd better mean that."

"...And if she does try to kill us?"

"Then let her. If a child kills her mother, that only means we failed as mothers."

"...Your existence was a mistake."

"No. You're the mistake! I exist to correct you!"

...

[Mission: Conquer Zeroy]

┗ Goal: Uncover Zeroy's true nature, gain her affection

╰ Reward: Every 20% affection grants a reward. At 80% affection, gain Gastrea Virus Serum. At 100% affection, gain authority to reshape the world environment.

[Mission Duration: 30 days]

[Note 1: At 0% affection, erasure]

[Note 2: Do not disclose mission details to others, or face erasure]

[Note 3: Some rewards will be delivered to Zeroy; obtain them from her]

"Eh? This is..."

The ruler of the Tokyo Area, the Third Generation Holy Child, stared at the virtual screen suddenly appearing before her.

She stood before tall windows, silver hair gleaming softly in the sunlight, her fair skin radiant, her entire presence exuding fragility and sanctity.

Yet, gazing down at the city below, her beautiful face was clouded with sorrow.

The war against the Gastrea had ended in failure. Now humanity could only cling to survival behind monoliths, though life wasn't entirely unbearable.

Except for the innocent Cursed Children.

Cursed Children—girls born when mothers were infected with the Gastrea Virus during pregnancy, resulting in the virus embedding in the fetus.

Normally, sex at birth was random. However, due to the virus's influence, every known child born under such circumstances was a girl.

Since the Gastrea War, these children had appeared. Thus, all Cursed Children were under 10 years old.

They bore partial Gastrea powers, and because of this, they were hated and persecuted.

People believed they were monsters, merely wearing human skin.

Rejected, most lived in the outer zones, struggling in hardship, stripped of all rights.

This was wrong.

True, when they used their powers, their eyes glowed red, and with unleashed abilities or further virus injections, their infection rate increased. At 50%, they turned fully Gastrea. Thus, they required daily injections of inhibitors.

Still, there was no doubt—they were human. Flesh and blood, capable of crying, of laughter.

And they were innocent. They were also humanity's shields.

In front of the Gastrea, humanity was too weak. Only these children, with partial Gastrea powers, could fight back. They stood at the front lines of humanity's defense.

They were heroes. Heroes who were not even ten years old.

They did not deserve persecution. Humanity's hatred of the Gastrea should never be displaced onto them.

...

If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!

[Patreon.com/RedZTL]

More Chapters