What a Devil should look like.
The sentence echoed in the hearts of the cursed children.
They wanted to act. But there was still hesitation.
After all they had once lived as humans.
Even if their lives had been harsh, when it came to taking someone's life... they still felt conflicted.
"Ah! That guy—it's him!"
One cursed child suddenly cried out, pointing at a man among the protestors.
"A year ago… he beat Sumi to death!"
Her eyes were filled with tears, the whites bloodshot.
She would never forget that day.
They'd gone into the city to beg, just her and Sumi and were lured into a remote alley.
"She really wanted to protect me…"
Her voice trembled, her teeth clenched with hate.
"And that one! She beat me up when I came into the city!"
"…"
More stories spilled from the cursed children's mouths, and in an instant, it became a session of accusations.
And only then did they realize none of the protestors in front of them were innocent.
"Kill! Kill them!!"
The cursed children's eyes turned cold.
All traces of mercy vanished.
Whoosh.
Demonic wings unfurled as the army of cursed children launched forward in unison.
Midori Fuse led the charge.
Not out of personal hatred.
But because.
"Disgusting trash… how dare you let Lord Lynn hear your filthy voices!"
As if putting them on trial, Midori's gaze cut sharper than any blade.
"Ahhh!! Monsters!! Devils!!"
When the protestors saw the cursed children flying toward them with wings spread, panic swept through the crowd.
The cursed children had evolved!
They'd become Devils!!
And Saeko's earlier slaughter had already shattered any illusion of security they had.
"Run!"
"Run!!"
One panicked shout broke the silence, and the crowd scattered in terror.
The cursed children had finally fought back.
No more enduring beatings, insults, and slurs.
No more submitting to blades raised against them.
Now they raised their own!
The protestors scrambled in fear.
"Don't come near me, you monsters!!"
But—
How could ordinary humans outrun Devils?
Swish—
A deep red line split across a man's throat.
The cursed child who had killed him froze.
She had just taken a life.
But strangely…
She felt joy.
It felt like her whole body had been set free.
All those years of pent-up emotions, released in an instant.
"Kill!!"
They had to let it out.
All the pain, sorrow, and torment…
Let it all go!!
Swish—
Blood splattered across the streets.
"No! Please don't kill me! I was wrong!! I won't ever call you monsters again!!"
"I—I'll vote for the Cursed Children's Human Rights Bill!"
"Please, spare me!!"
Thud—
The man begging on his knees fell to the ground, lifeless.
The cursed child standing over him remained expressionless.
She showed no mercy.
He wasn't apologizing because he understood.
He was just afraid, because he knew he was going to die.
Massacre.
A real massacre.
The cursed children soared through the air, not sparing a single soul.
Saeko sheathed her sword.
She merely watched in silence as the cursed children cut down the humans.
If she wanted, there wouldn't have been a single survivor left after her first strike.
But this wasn't her battle.
This was for them.
Not just to vent years of pain and resentment.
But to make them understand who they were now.
To make them accept their identities as Devils.
To show them.
The roles of hunter and hunted had reversed.
---
After some time.
Blood flowed like rivers through Akaoka District.
Not one person remained alive.
The cursed children hovered in the air, stunned.
But the heavy cloud in their hearts was gone.
So this was the truth…
The people who used to oppress them.
Were this pathetic.
They…
Kneel.
Beg for mercy.
Cry out in fear.
"Sumi-chan, I've avenged you…"
One cursed child murmured softly, tears in her eyes.
Even the others wept quietly.
Years of anguish.
Gone in this single moment.
From now on…
They were no longer cursed children.
They would no longer be trampled on.
They were Devils.
Devils who would fight for Master Lynn alone!
Their new lives began here.
Saeko suppressed her bloodlust and silently enjoyed the brutal yet cathartic slaughter brought on by the cursed children.
She let out a slow breath, her twitching hands finally relaxing.
"What's the status?"
She turned toward Yuuko, who was floating in the air.
Yuuko held her phone up and gave a thumbs-up.
"Complete 360-degree high-definition coverage! Not a single blind spot!"
"Perfect."
Saeko smiled coldly.
Nothing was more important than fulfilling her master's orders.
Yuuko uploaded the video to the group chat and tagged Seitenshi.
Seitenshi: !
Seitenshi's face went pale.
Had Lynn finally taken action against humanity?
But—
After reading the full account in the chat, she fell silent.
Why…?
Why provoke Devils?
Seitenshi slowly closed her eyes.
She had tried to save these people.
But in return.
Humanity had chosen to push themselves into hell.
Hah…
She took several deep breaths.
And when she opened her eyes again.
All emotion was gone.
In its place.
A coldness she didn't even realize had taken root.
She murmured under her breath, "Ignorant people… must be purged…"
Just then, another message appeared in the chat.
Sword Ghost: Haha! Well done! I've been fed up with those humans for a long time!
Sigma Man: Seitenshi, there's definitely someone manipulating this from the shadows. Do you have any leads?
Seitenshi opened her mouth, then stopped.
She began recalling carefully.
Every time the people staged these protests, there was always someone pulling the strings.
But there were too many high-ranking officials involved.
She couldn't pinpoint who was behind this particular event.
In the end, all she could do was sigh.
Seitenshi: I'm sorry, Lord Lynn.
Seitenshi: I only know the higher-ups were involved, but I don't know exactly who it was.
Kasumigaoka Utaha: You really are the "Abandoned Emperor."
Seeing that name, Seitenshi pursed her lips.
Abandoned Emperor.
It fit her perfectly.
Even she had come to accept it.
Sigma Man: In that case… we'll just kill them all.
Seitenshi's heart clenched.
She pressed her hand to her phone screen, wanting to type something.
But then…
She let her hand fall.
Lynn had already given humanity a chance.
She slowly closed her eyes again.
And when she opened them, they were colder than before.
"The corrupt, filthy upper class… must be cleansed."
(To be continued.)