The night sky trembled above the Tokyo Area as the colossal silhouette of Finalis City hovered like a divine revelation. Its golden radiance illuminated the broken landscape below, casting long shadows over the ruins and the sewer networks where countless Cursed Children hid from the world.
Yet even in the darkest corners, hope had begun to stir.
The Forgotten Children
Deep underground, where the faint light of broken bulbs flickered against moldy walls, an aging man named Matsuzaki ran a worn cloth over his glasses, trying to hide the growing fear in his heart.
"Elder! Meihui went to the city to find food and hasn't returned yet!"
A small girl with black hair and round spectacles tugged his sleeve, her eyes welling with worry.
Matsuzaki's wrinkled hands trembled.
"I see… did anyone go to look for her?" he asked gently.
"We tried," the girl said, "but we didn't dare stay long. The adults in the city… they look at us like monsters…"
The old man's chest tightened. He already knew the truth. Children who didn't return rarely came back at all. And yet—he had no choice but to lie.
"She's strong," he forced a smile. "I'm sure she'll return soon."
The children nodded eagerly—not because they believed, but because they were too afraid to believe otherwise.
They had lost too many friends.
A Small Light in the Darkness
At the corner of the room, a petite girl with scarlet eyes and twin tails—Aihara Enju—rested with her arms around her knees.
When she heard the name "Meihui," she lifted her head.
"Brown hat? Black hair?" Enju asked.
The children gasped.
"Have you seen her? Is she safe?"
Enju nodded. "She was taken in by the police for stealing food."
The children tensed.
"But Rentaro said she was rescued later. Don't worry."
A loud cheer erupted.
"She's safe!!"
"That's great!"
But Matsuzaki remained worried. Rescued? By who? And for what purpose? He had seen too many adults lure Cursed Children with kindness only to…
He clenched his fists.
Heaven… why must these children suffer so much?
The Visitor
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The manhole cover above them vibrated.
"Someone's coming!"
A pink-haired girl rushed over, lifting the round metal plate with one hand. A young man holding an umbrella peered down.
"I'm a civil security agent," he said. "I'm looking for this child."
He showed a photo.
The girl blinked.
"Haven't seen her. But come in. Elder is here."
"Thank you," Rentaro said as he stepped into the dim passage.
He walked until the shadows parted—revealing the old man surrounded by children.
"You must be the Elder?" Rentaro asked.
Matsuzaki chuckled softly. "A nickname. My name is Matsuzaki. I watch over these children so that one day, they can live among humans without fear. Their red eyes… must be hidden until humans learn not to fear them."
Rentaro felt a pang in his chest.
"If only more people thought like you…"
He held up the picture of Enju.
"Has this girl come here?"
"No," Matsuzaki said.
Rentaro sighed. "I see… I'll search the entire district. This is her hometown. I won't stop until I find her."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Matsuzaki called. "Have you seen a girl with a brown hat? Black hair? She went missing two days ago."
Rentaro's expression shifted. He quickly opened his phone.
"This one?" he asked.
"Yes!" Matsuzaki exclaimed. "Is she safe?"
"She's safe. She was taken, but the one who has her won't harm her."
Relief washed over the old man.
"Thank goodness…"
Rentaro nodded and left. But not two seconds later—
BANG!
He rushed back in terror.
"Hide! There's a monster outside!"
The Pig-headed Man
Matsuzaki stiffened. "A Gastrea? But there's a Monolith—"
Before he could finish, huge footsteps echoed through the tunnels.
A towering figure stepped into view—a humanoid pig with massive tusks and bulging muscles.
"Pig-headed monster!!"
"We're going to die!"
"Elder!!"
Enju leapt forward, eyes blazing.
"I don't care what monster you are! You won't hurt anyone here!"
Rentaro gasped. "Enju?!"
But no one paid attention to him.
The giant pig-headed man scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh… sorry for scaring the kids," he rumbled. "I'm not here to harm anyone."
Then he turned his head.
"Shizue-san, I think I should leave this to you."
A gentle voice answered:
"Hehe~ leave it to me."
A woman stepped from behind him—elegant, black-haired, carrying a katana. Her beauty struck the children silent.
"I am Shizue Izawa," she introduced herself with a soft smile. "We're not bad people. We've come to help you."
The children screamed anyway.
A Dimensional Intervention
Before Matsuzaki could calm them, the air vibrated.
Golden dust—like motes of sunlight—drifted from the ceiling. The sewer walls lit with glowing sigils.
And then—
A portal of pure gold tore open.
Everyone froze.
From the shining veil stepped a figure clothed in white and gold, with eyes like burning suns. Behind him drifted thin chains of light, swirling like the wings of an angel.
The children whispered in awe.
"An angel?"
"A god?"
Matsuzaki stared.
"No… this presence… I've felt something like this before…"
Shizue's eyes widened. "This aura… incredibly powerful…"
The pig-headed man stepped back instinctively.
Shizue whispered, "Don't provoke him."
The figure landed softly.
It was Takumi, Herrscher of Finality.
Rimuru Tempest walked out behind him, waving casually. "Yo. Sorry for dropping in like this."
Takumi ignored the reactions and walked straight to Matsuzaki.
"I heard your children needed help."
Matsuzaki swallowed. "…Y-you… who are you?"
Takumi extended his hand.
In a flash of light, a holographic projection of Finalis City appeared above them.
"I am Takumi," he said. "The one building a new nation—one where no Cursed Child will ever be hunted again."
The children gasped.
"A new country?"
"For us?"
Shizue watched him carefully. "Your power… you're not human, are you?"
Rimuru chuckled. "He's a Herrscher. Trust me, resisting him is pointless."
The pig-headed man nodded rapidly.
Takumi turned back to Matsuzaki.
"Gather all the children. Your days of hiding underground end today."
Matsuzaki trembled. "You… will you truly protect them?"
Takumi's golden eyes softened—just a little.
"I don't make empty promises."
He raised his hand.
A gate of shimmering gold opened behind him.
[Migration Protocol: Activated]
A warm breeze flowed through the sewer, carrying the scent of clean air and sunlight.
"Take them," Rimuru said gently. "They deserve better."
Children cried—some in fear, some in joy.
Takumi stretched out his hand.
"Come. Become the first citizens of Finalis."
The children stepped forward.
One by one.
Hand in hand.
Toward the birthplace of a new empire.
And thus—the Dimensional City's population began.