Chapter 38
From the very beginning.
The cursed children have a more resounding name.
—Children of the Gods.
Due to their mother being infected, they were born carrying a large amount of primordial gut animal viruses.
However, they did not become monsters due to this infection; instead, they possessed powers far beyond that of ordinary humans.
For example, the girl with dolphin genes has an exceptionally high IQ.
The girl with rabbit genes has incredible jumping ability.
Moreover, all cursed children possess physical qualities stronger than those of ordinary people.
Even special forces soldiers cannot surpass them, who are merely ten years old.
With their emergence, humanity believed there was hope for a counterattack.
However, once the infection rate of the primordial gut animal virus in the cursed children exceeds fifty percent, the human body will collapse, leading to their transformation into primordial gut animals.
From that point on, the status of the cursed children plummeted, becoming like rats in the street, hunted by all.
Of course, some exceptionally qualified cursed children would still be taken in, but merely as tools.
As for the others, they were not so "lucky."
They typically lived on the fringes of the city, surviving through begging and theft.
Not only that.
Due to their hatred for primordial gut animals, many adults took pleasure in slaughtering cursed children.
Among them.
There were even parents who personally killed their own children.
According to the words of Tendo Kikuno.
In the rivers on the outskirts of Tokyo, the bodies of drowned infants are often seen.
These are the results of parents who, upon discovering their child was a cursed child with red eyes, acted with brutal finality.
【Railgun: "To be able to harm even one's own flesh and blood, can they still be considered human?!"】
【Internet-addicted Cat: "Although I no longer have any memories of my parents, I've never seen parents like that."】
【Queen of the Blizzards: "If such things really exist, wouldn't the government intervene?"】
【Revenge Sword Demon: "Rather, the government might secretly condone such actions, after all, how to deal with the cursed children in the future is also a problem for them."】
【Master of the Kaleidoscope: "So they just turn a blind eye, treating it as a preemptive solution?"】
【Railgun: "It's truly disgusting!"】
【Wanting to Make Friends: "My parents treat me well; Miss Tendo's world is hard for me to believe."】
【Ice Queen: "To be able to strike at defenseless infants, it can only be said they are worse than trash."】
【Phantom Emperor: "Surprisingly, I didn't expect you to be quite compassionate."】
【Ice Queen: "Heh, you're the first to say I have compassion; others either respect me or fear me."】
【Phantom Emperor: "Compared to those scum, you are already a rather qualified good person."】
Esdeath, though regarded as a bloodthirsty war maniac, treats her subordinates and the populace quite well.
Every time the young emperor grants her a reward, she shares it with her subordinates.
Compared to the abuse and slaughter of cursed children, and those scum within the empire, Esdeath can be considered a breath of fresh air.
【Railgun: "Those people are truly hateful! Is there really no way to resolve this situation?!"】
【Revenge Sword Demon: "It's precisely because I don't know that I want to seek Mr. Shiroya's help; relying solely on my own strength, I can't accomplish anything."】
【Revenge Sword Demon: "By the way, has Mr. Shiroya thought of a solution?"】
【Phantom Emperor: "I have."】
【Railgun: "Oh? What is it? Please share."】
【Phantom Emperor: "Just kill all the scum."】
【Master of the Kaleidoscope: "Uh, can that really be considered a solution?"】
【Railgun: "I also feel that might be a bit too extreme? Killing people in the past, isn't that a bit much?"】
Misaka Mikoto, after all, grew up as a sheltered flower in a peaceful era.
Usually, she just played the role of a passing masked hero in Academy City, maintaining order.
Let alone killing.
She wouldn't even dare to kill a chicken.
Although she despises those people, she didn't think of the same solution as Shiroya.
【Wanting to Make Friends: "Isn't there a better solution? Like letting the law judge those bad people..."】
【Phantom Emperor: "You don't want me to kill, yet you want me to think of a solution; that's quite difficult for me."】
【Queen of the Blizzards: "It's not that we're stopping you; it's just that if you do that, wouldn't Kikuno have objections?"】
【Revenge Sword Demon: "I have no objections."】
She knows better than anyone what kind of world she lives in.
Every time she sees those hypocritical faces, it makes her feel sick.
Good people are rare, while bad people are plentiful.
And good people have little say in this world.
The most typical example is the current new head of the island nation, the Holy Emperor.
Beautiful and sweet-voiced, compassionate and caring, especially attentive to the cursed children, yet merely a decorative figure.
【Ice Queen: "This is the correct approach; one should show no mercy to enemies."】
【Master of the Kaleidoscope: "It seems there really is only this way; after all, those scum who harm the cursed children are, in essence, murderers. Even by law, they should be sentenced to death, and the only reason they haven't been punished is that they are sheltered by society."】
【Railgun: "That seems to be the case, but there should be good people like Miss Kikuno in that world too, right? Those people shouldn't be condemned to death."】
【Phantom Emperor: "Regarding this matter, I came up with a temporary solution."}
In the original work, there was a "New Law for Primordial Gut Animals" that the Holy Emperor was to promulgate, which included granting the cursed children human rights and ensuring their safety.
However, this bill was secretly obstructed by Tendo Kikuno, preventing it from being passed.
【Phantom Emperor: "Just set up a real-name vote online, with options to support or oppose the protection of cursed children; those who vote against can be gathered together and humanely eliminated."】
Although the efficiency isn't very high, for now, it's the only way.
Of course.
He could also take a more extreme approach.
Directly gather the few good people and cursed children he knows from the original work, and deal with everyone else.
In fact, Shiroya himself leans more towards this method.
After all, it's easier for him and more efficient.
As for those possibly wrongfully executed good people.
Let's just consider them as brave sacrifices for the cursed children.
He can't be blamed; if anyone is to be blamed, it can only be for allowing so many bad people to exist.