"When a mother is infected with the Gastrea Virus during pregnancy, the virus accumulates in the fetus."
"Children born under these conditions inherit certain Gastrea abilities, which is why they're called Cursed Children."
"Also, all Cursed Children are female."
"Normally, a fetus's gender can't be chosen, but due to some influence from the Gastrea Virus, all known infected children are girls."
Thus, the oldest Cursed Child in this world is only ten years old.
After all, it's been just ten years since the Gastrea outbreak.
"The hallmark of Cursed Children is that their eyes turn red when they use their abilities."
"When they unleash their powers, the virus's corrosion rate in their bodies rises."
"Once the corrosion rate exceeds 50%, a Cursed Child will transform into a Gastrea, so they must receive daily inhibitor injections."
Because of this constant risk of becoming a Gastrea, ordinary people fear Cursed Children, viewing them as omens of misfortune.
They face discrimination and are treated as tools.
Many project their fear and hatred of Gastrea onto these innocent girls.
"Like this child."
"Cursed Children have only two options to survive."
"Either become weapons, partnering with Civil Security to fight Gastrea."
"Or hide in the outer districts, scraping by."
Hearing Damien's explanation of the Cursed Children, the women fell silent.
They had suspected the blind girl's life was harsh when they saw her.
But they hadn't imagined it could be this bad.
No human rights, despised, and forced to risk their lives fighting for humanity.
Yet humanity never even offers them a simple thank you.
Cursed Children are mere tools.
Used up and discarded.
After all, they're just trash that should've died, so why not make use of them?
"That's outrageous!!!"
Artoria clenched her fists, itching to join Damien and blast those despicable humans with a light cannon.
From the Cursed Children's perspective, she felt she could unleash the Sword of Promised Victory.
"So, Damien, you want to save all the Cursed Children?"
"Yes."
Damien said gravely, "As a god, I'll end their tragedy and, while I'm at it, judge this world's scum!"
Though their exchange seemed lengthy, in reality, it spanned only a second or two.
As for the blind girl, she was growing uneasy over Damien's earlier words.
"..."
She felt she might've encountered a weirdo.
Even accustomed to others' malice, she fell into silence.
She wasn't unfamiliar with ill intentions.
As a Cursed Child, insults, beatings, and expulsion were commonplace.
But she was resilient.
Even when someone maliciously threw a trash can at her, she'd smile and thank them.
Though hurt, they had given her something, after all.
As for anger or resentment?
Surviving and using her begging to support her sisters was enough for her.
But a god...?
Was such a thing possible?
Sigh...
Damien sighed helplessly, opening his hand to produce a freshly baked loaf of bread.
"What's this?"
"It's bread."
Damien handed it to the girl.
The bread's aroma made her stomach rumble involuntarily.
"Is this food?"
"Um, thank you."
"But I..."
The blind girl had never tasted such food; its scent alone was tantalizing.
Unaware he conjured it from thin air, she couldn't see.
"Don't refuse just yet."
"I know you don't believe me."
As he spoke, Damien touched her forehead. "So, to prove I'm a god, let me heal your eyes."
"Huh?"
"Heal my eyes?"
"Eek!"
The next moment, amidst her startled cry, Damien ripped off the cloth covering her eyes.
"It's so bright!"
The girl felt a blinding light.
Her eyes weren't merely blind... they'd been destroyed by molten lead.
Yet, under Damien's power to rewrite rules and reality, her eyes were restored.
Soon, adjusting to the sudden light, her beautiful ruby-like eyes reflected Damien's image.
"This is?"
"I..."
The girl looked around, bewildered, unaccustomed to light and color after years in darkness.
But soon, she saw Damien.
"Onii-san, are you really a god?"
Such a miraculous event left her no choice but to believe him.
She'd thought she'd met a bad person, someone who'd take her away for nefarious purposes.
Who could've imagined Damien was truly a god, healing her eyes in a way she couldn't comprehend?
"Now do you believe me?"
As he spoke, Damien conjured more food. "You must be hungry. Here, take these."
"Whoa!"
"So much! It's too much, I can't eat all this."
Cakes, puddings, milk, candies, chocolates... all snacks a little girl might love.
"No worries."
Damien stuffed the treats into her arms, smiling. "You have friends, right? Take these back to share with them."
"Mm!"
The girl looked at him gratefully. "Thank you, Kami-sama!"
"Once I give these to them, I'll come back and go with you to the heavens."
"Hm?"
Now it was Damien's turn to be confused. "Go where? The heavens? Why there?"
"Because this is the final gift from Kami-sama, right?"
Her voice carried a mix of sorrow and contentment, as if she'd finally let go of her painful life, ready to start anew.
"Wait, wait!"
Damien realized she thought this was a pre-death vision, a final moment of light before passing...
***
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