Just moments ago, they had truly witnessed the means by which Rei Ao "cleansed" humanity.
Transforming into a red dragon far larger than a planet, he set the entire world aflame with ease.
The intense blaze burned every human, every Gastrea, every living creature, even every trace of the Gastrea virus to cinders, until in the blink of an eye the entire planet was reduced to a few drifting scraps.
At that time, they had been standing upon the red-dragon scales of Rei Ao's transformed self, protected as they watched it happen with their own eyes – a sight that profoundly shocked them. That was an entire planet, after all!
After a moment, Yukino collected herself. She took a deep breath and asked, "You're not going back with me?"
Rei Ao shrugged. "I still need to settle arrangements for the Cursed Children."
"All right."
Yukino was also aware that the three million Cursed Children plus nine thousand survivors wouldn't be so easily handled.
"In that case, I'll go."
"Hold on."
Rei Ao suddenly called out to her.
"Huh?"
Thinking he must have something else to say, Yukino paused. Without warning, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. They separated almost as soon as their lips met. Rei Ao grinned.
"Don't forget a farewell kiss."
"…"
"So childish."
Muttering in annoyance, Yukino returned to her own world. But Rei Ao's sharp eyes caught the flush around her ears. He shook his head in amusement.
"She's so dishonest."
He quite looked forward to the day Yukino could be honest around him. He'd need to get closer to her in future.
"All right, your turn now," he said, indicating the group that was still too shaken to speak – Tendou Kisara and the others. Spreading his arms wide,
"Welcome to my empire."
…
Meanwhile, in the chat group for Rei Ao's home world:
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "…I just saw a planet reduced to ashes. Am I dreaming?"
Kato Hiromi: "I'm not sure…it's no different from a dream."
Kawasaki Saki: "That was so over-the-top! I honestly thought I was watching some huge sci-fi blockbuster…"
Furuhashi Fumino: "Guwah!"
Furuhashi Fumino: "Rizu, are you there?"
Ogata Rizu: "…Yes."
Furuhashi Fumino: "Is Rei Ao a dragon?"
Ogata Rizu: "…I don't know."
She had no idea. This was also her first time seeing a scene so utterly fantastical.
Hyodo Michiru: "So…did that wipe out all life on the entire planet?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Probably."
Kato Megumi: "@Hyodo Michiru, do you think Rei Ao did something wrong, or too cruel?"
Eiriri Sawamura: "Hmph, what's there to care about. Those twisted people were beyond saving. If Rei Ao hadn't sent us back first, I'd be clapping in approval."
Kobayashi: "Imagine if it were your own child who turned out to be a Cursed Child – you'd never forgive those people."
Emilia: "Originally I also thought it was too extreme, but after seeing with my own eyes how twisted people were there…especially in that last referendum, there were countless who refused to grant the Cursed Children basic rights. They deserved what they got."
Hyodo Michiru: "No, I don't feel like Rei Ao is wrong or anything. I just…"
She didn't quite know how to explain her feelings. She simply felt lost at the magnitude of it all – tens or hundreds of millions of human lives across an entire planet, wiped out in an instant.
Even if it had felt like watching a film in a livestream, she knew the backdrop was a real, alternate world, and that a version of Rei Ao she knew so well, yet also found so unfamiliar, had personally orchestrated it. Everything felt so unreal.
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "Come on, Michiru, no need to overthink. That world's gone now, after all."
Hiratsuka Shizuka: "As for your feelings about Rei Ao, just follow your heart."
Hyodo Michiru: "Shizuka-sensei…"
At her moment of confusion, Kanna's small hand slipped into hers. Kanna said, "Rei Ao-nii is a good person. Those humans were bad."
Michiru froze – not so much at her words, but seeing little Kanna in front of her, she was reminded of the Cursed Children.
They were only children as well. Right then, she found a reference point: putting herself in the Cursed Children's place – or in Kanna's. Suddenly it didn't seem so hard to accept.
She realized the crux of her dilemma: people are two-faced. She was no exception. Though that "it's none of my business" mindset could be narrow, maybe it wasn't so wrong.
This was, after all, another world, wholly unrelated to her – she could stay a bystander. If it had been her or Kanna suffering that abuse, she would likely do what Rei Ao did: destroy that world.
Human nature includes self-serving logic, once we acknowledge our own double standard.
Michiru let out a long breath, then smiled.
"You're right. Rei Ao isn't a bad person."
…
[Name]: Yuzuriha Inori
[Level]: 15
[Abilities]: [Dragon Force], [Word-Spirit Magic], [Apocalypse], [Rei Ao's Blessings], [Inherent Device: Eve]
[Name]: Menjou Hare
[Level]: 6
[Abilities]: [Dragon Force], [Light Spirit], [Rei Ao's Blessings], [Inherent Device: Radiant]
[Name]: Kohouin Arisa
[Level]: 9
[Abilities]: [Dragon Force], [Succubus], [Earth Magic], [Rei Ao's Blessings], [Inherent Device: Guardian of the Master]
After the three—Inori, Menjou Hare, and Kohouin Arisa—returned from the Black Bullet world, they gained a tremendous harvest.
They not only received Rei Ao's Blessings but also raised their levels in the process.
Menjou Hare and Kohouin Arisa were fine, but Inori stood out in one respect. Her Inherent Device was called "Eve."
For instance:
"Ooh, this is my body!"
Beside Inori stood a woman bearing some resemblance to her, yet clearly different in appearance. She was Yuzuriha Mana, in person—at the same time, the manifestation of Inori's Inherent Device, Eve.
(Ouma Mana -> Yuzuriha Mana)
Thanks to that Armament, Mana now possessed a physical form that could detach from Inori's body.
"Awesome, now I can have Rei Ao all to myself, heehee~"
Mana's lips curved in an excited, almost yandere grin.
At this scene, Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase stood dumbfounded. Twelve hours ago, Inori and her two companions abruptly announced they were leaving for a bit, told Tsugumi and Ayase not to worry, and then vanished on the spot.
Twelve hours later, they returned—and the two sisters saw Mana emerge from Inori's body.
Shinomiya Ayase's mouth hung open.
"Can someone explain what on earth just happened?"
~~~
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