Evening arrived in the blink of an eye.
In the deserted outskirts, Izumi had set up a small campfire. The orange glow flickered against the surrounding rubble while he pulled food from his storage, handing it to Senju Kayo to eat.
Every now and then, he casually obliterated approaching Gastrea, brushing them aside like insects.
By now, no one else remained in this area.
Most of the survivors had fled.
And most of the ones who stayed behind had tried to take revenge—so Izumi killed them without hesitation.
That was when the Seitenshi finally approached him, with Tendō Kisara quietly at her side.
Izumi didn't look surprised.
He had sensed them long before they stepped into the light of the fire.
As the two walked closer, he raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm? You two here to avenge your precious city?"
The Seitenshi shook her head.
Her eyes were swollen and red—she had cried for a long time.
Tendō Kisara said nothing, standing protectively beside her like a silent blade.
The Seitenshi bit her lip, staring at Izumi as she finally spoke:
"...Why?"
"Why did you destroy our city?"
Izumi frowned.
"Oh? You're questioning me?"
He snorted.
"You think the people in that city were innocent?"
"Think about how they treated the Cursed Children."
"Children who should have been your world's most precious hope—
yet you shunned them, called them ill omens, treated them as tools, abused them, beat them, killed them."
He glanced toward the distant ruins, now swallowed by flames.
"Honestly? Killing them was merciful."
The Seitenshi trembled.
She opened her mouth—wanting to argue—but no words came out.
Of course she knew how the Cursed Children were treated.
It was because she knew that she had desperately sought peaceful coexistence between civilians and the Cursed Children.
But she had never imagined it would lead to something like this—
to a man strong enough to erase her entire city from the map.
She tried again, but nothing came out.
Izumi tossed two portions of food toward her and Kayo.
"I spared your life, not so you could come yell at me."
"If you want to survive, sit there quietly and don't talk."
"Otherwise I'll kill you too."
His tone was cold and absolute.
The Seitenshi froze.
Tendō Kisara's mouth twitched—but she, too, fell silent.
This man… truly had no mercy.
But his threat was enough.
The Seitenshi lowered her head, walked away with Kayo, and quietly sat down near the fire.
Her city was gone.
Right now, this place—this monster's camp—was the safest location she had.
It was humiliating.
The man who destroyed the Tokyo Area was the one they had to rely on for survival.
The surrounding forest echoed with distant Gastrea cries.
The world outside was death.
Staying with Izumi was the only logical choice.
And then—
Le Fay and the others returned.
Descending from the sky, Le Fay froze mid-air, staring at the wasteland where a city had once stood.
"...Izumi-sama," she said, her voice trembling.
"You… destroyed the city?"
Izumi nodded cheerfully.
"Yup."
"I was annoyed, so I blew it up."
"You all should already understand the reason, right?"
His gaze slid toward the small group behind Le Fay—
a handful of filthy, frightened Cursed Children.
Le Fay and her squad had rescued them on their way back.
Izumi waved at the girls gently.
"Come here. No one will hurt you anymore."
"You won't have to fear anything again."
The little girls glanced nervously at Le Fay.
She had been the one who saved them—
the one they trusted most.
Le Fay nodded with a reassuring smile.
"It's fine. Izumi-sama won't harm any of you."
With that, the children timidly approached Izumi.
He immediately pulled out food—warm bread, meat, soup—and placed it into their tiny hands.
Le Fay didn't ask any more about the destroyed city.
By now they all understood the cruelty forced upon these children.
They had heard the little girls' stories firsthand in the wasteland.
None of the adults in the Tokyo Area had treated them as humans.
It was no wonder Izumi had snapped.
Le Fay sighed, annoyance in her voice.
"Honestly, Izumi-sama… calling us away only to destroy the city yourself? You should've let us help."
The Seitenshi nearly fainted when she heard that.
These people…
are actual demons!
Izumi chuckled.
"Don't worry. Soon enough, I'll show you the ultimate form of astrology."
The moment he said it, Le Fay's eyes sparkled.
"Really!?"
Izumi nodded.
"Oh, absolutely."
"I've already decided—nothing can stop me now."
Le Fay grinned.
But then she looked around, puzzled.
"By the way… where's Avrora? I don't see her."
Izumi explained casually:
"She's gathering more children."
"She's sending every Cursed Child she finds directly into my Little World."
And inside that world—
nearly one hundred thousand Cursed Children had already been transported.
Region by region.
Town by town.
Avrora was unbelievably efficient when she was motivated.
At this rate, the entire world's Cursed Children would be collected in just a few days.
Izumi's lips curved into a cruel smile.
This world's final night of freedom is approaching.
Seeing that smile, Le Fay shivered.
It was the first time she had witnessed Izumi look so merciless.
It was clear:
When it came to the humans of this world—
Izumi had no intention of forgiving any of them.