"Rentaro-kun, may I hire you as my personal bodyguard? Just for three days."

Seitenshi looked at Rentaro Satomi as she spoke those words.

Rentaro's expression was one of clear surprise.

When summoned by the Saintess, he had assumed it would be for some kind of mission—perhaps a new extermination order.

He never imagined it would be a personal protection detail.

As the supreme leader of the Tokyo Area, the Saintess already had elite royal guards—both in number and strength, they were formidable.

There was usually no reason to hire an outsider as a personal bodyguard.

To expose the security structure of the Crystal Palace to an outsider could even pose a threat to the Saintess herself.

And yet now—

The Tokyo Area had weathered its crisis and was seemingly entering a time of prosperity. What could possibly threaten the Saintess at this point?

Rentarou couldn't understand.

"Your Majesty… may I ask your reason for hiring me?"

He asked with furrowed brows.

Seitenshi gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

"I can't tell you just yet… but perhaps on the final day of your assignment, you'll understand."

Hearing this, Rentaro's brows knit even tighter.

The Saintess was never the cryptic, enigmatic type. If there was something she couldn't say—Then the reason must be enormous.

"I understand. I accept this assignment. For the next three days, I'll give everything I have to protect you."

Rentaro declared.

Seitenshi gave only a small nod and looked out the window.

But from the Crystal Palace's windows, the outside streets weren't visible. Only her private garden could be seen. Even so, she seemed to gaze far beyond it all.

As if scenes from the city were laid bare before her—

On the streets and in the squares…

Citizens standing at voting terminals sneered at the so-called New Gastrea Law. Voicing their hatred loudly while pressing the "oppose" button.

Even though Seitenshi had never directly seen this…

She already knew.

The game was over.

Even though there were still three days left in the voting period—The outcome was already decided.

The number of opposing votes had already surpassed half of the Tokyo Area's total population.

The remaining time was nothing but a mandatory countdown.

A slow, inevitable wait for the final verdict.

Elsewhere—

At the office.

An unexpected visitor came knocking.

Haruto opened the door—and was greeted by an old man with a full white beard.

Kikunojou Tendo.

Haruto raised an eyebrow. He didn't bother with greetings. Instead, he glanced outside—

This man, praised as the national treasure of the Tokyo Area—

Ranked below only Seitenshi herself, yet above all others—

And likely the one who held the true reins of power—

Had come here alone.

Not even a single bodyguard in tow.

If Kisara were here, she probably would've drawn her blade immediately—

She would never pass up a chance like this.

"What brings you here?" Haruto asked casually.

"I believe you made some sort of pact with Her Majesty the Saintess," Kikunojou Tendo said plainly. "And I suspect this agreement involves every citizen of the Tokyo Area. May I ask for the details of this agreement? I am prepared to pay the price for it."

A straight-to-the-point request.

With age came sharp instincts. Kikunojou Tendo had easily sensed something was off about the Saintess lately.

He guessed—

That Haruto had somehow used the lives of all Tokyo's citizens to pressure the Saintess into an agreement.

There was no proof—

But Kikunojou Tendo still believed it.

The theft of the Seven Star Relic, the emergence of New Human Project's weapons, and the final collapse of the Monolith—

All of it, he suspected, was orchestrated by the man before him.

And now—

The Saintess had clearly run out of cards to play.

So it was time he stepped forward.

As a man of the state—

Even if it meant sacrificing his life, he had to do something.

Haruto, meanwhile, simply clicked his tongue in amusement. As expected of someone operating on a higher level of cognition—not a fool.

Unlike those in the streets, who didn't even qualify as human—

Kikunojou Tendo was a fitting villain.

He was ruthless. Unshaken. Willing to do anything to achieve his goals. He was far crueler than the mobs cursing the Cursed Children outside.

He had killed who knows how many of them.

Sometimes, it took nothing more than a piece of paper or a few words—

To decide their life or death.

And when it came to others—even his own family—he was just as merciless.

But putting all that aside—

Kikunojou Tendo had indeed contributed greatly to the Tokyo Area. With immense ability, and yet never once overstepping his station.

His loyalty and capability were beyond question.

As someone who stood at the height of political power, his record was flawless.

So—

Even with hands drenched in blood, he was still respected and revered.

"There's no need to pay anything. I can tell you the contents of the agreement."

Haruto said calmly.

As a genuine human—

Kikunojou Tendo had the right to know the rules of the game.

So long as they weren't broken.

And so, Haruto explained everything to him.

Kikujou listened in silence.

Only after a long while did he finally speak again.

"These people… are they different from you, from the Cursed Children, and from Her Majesty?"

Haruto snapped his fingers. "Amazing insight. Yes—they are different. Cognitively. You could call it a matter of spirit or soul."

As he spoke, Haruto walked to the window and pulled open the curtains—

Pointing to a crowd gathered on the street.

"Those people's souls are no longer human. They're just things wearing a human skin."

Kikunojou Tendo stepped in and looked out where Haruto pointed.

At the gathered masses—

There was a difference.

Kikunojou Tendo was old.

He had lived most of his life before the Gastrea outbreak.

He had seen the world when it was still normal.

He had met countless people.

And from his high station, had studied human nature deeply.

Now, as he looked out—He saw that those people seemed to have a dark, gloomy filter over them.

He stared for a long time.

Eventually, he looked away.

"Has Kisara left?"

He asked about his granddaughter.

Haruto nodded.

"Temporarily. Said she wanted to avoid someone. But don't worry, she'll be back. She's very much looking forward to cutting you down personally. So no matter what, she won't miss that date."

Kikunojou Tendo didn't get angry.

He simply nodded.

And then—

The man often regarded as the Prime Minister of the Tokyo Area turned and left.

After hearing the rules of the game—

He didn't beg, didn't question, didn't try to bribe.

Because he understood—

Haruto was already looking at whether civilization itself was worthy of continuing.

All those other tactics—

Were completely pointless.

People with different worldviews might as well live in different realities.

And in truth—

Haruto really wasn't the same species as the rest.

As for Kisara wanting to kill him—

Kikunojou Tendo had long known.

He'd accepted that a long time ago.

Back then, he chose to sacrifice his own family for the greater good. So if one day he were to die for hatred, or for someone else's gain—

That would be only natural.

In fact—

He was satisfied with this kind of death.

Better to be killed by Kisara's hand—

Than to die meaninglessly when the world ended.

It would even fulfill a long-standing wish.

This—

This is the difference in conviction between people.

What would Rentaro Satomi do if he heard all this?

Three days later—

Haruto arrived at the Crystal Palace as promised.

But this time, there were two people waiting.

Seitenshi—

And Rentaro Satomi, currently carrying out his guard duty.

The moment he saw Haruto appear—

Rentaro's whole body tensed.

He didn't understand how Haruto had gotten in.

Nor why he had come.

But one thing was clear—If he had to face Haruto, he would do so with everything he had.

He had accepted the duty to protect the Saintess.

He wouldn't let his guard down for anyone.

As for the Saintess—

When she saw Haruto, her body stiffened for a moment—

Then she simply slumped over the table.

It was time to rest.

Since becoming the Saintess—Throughout the Gastrea era, she had poured everything into managing the government.

Even though she wasn't especially gifted, her hard work allowed her to grow rapidly.

During her tenure, she had rarely rested. Her free time was virtually nonexistent, and even sleep was reduced to the minimum.

But now—

It seemed she could finally rest.