Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

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Honestly, coming out recently is not a good idea.

Several days have passed since the last report, and the situation has not only failed to calm down, but has instead developed in a more troublesome direction.

The pent-up resentment has finally found an outlet, and the "plundered generation" is stepping up its actions, indicating that the hatred is quite deeply rooted.

The Holy Emperor also criticized the supporters of the Cursed Child, and protests even broke out outside the Holy Residence. Due to the overwhelming media coverage, anti-Cursed Child citizen groups, who had previously remained silent, and even more radical individuals, began to become very active.

More importantly:

In the past, the outer area was generally considered a non-interference zone, but some people have broken in and caused trouble.

This is also why Isaac built the fortifications.

"You're quite the chatterbox. If I didn't have so little free time, I'd love to turn all of you who are constantly causing me trouble into stone right now," Isaac said disdainfully.

The tram heading to the city center was neither crowded nor empty. After giving Tina the empty seat he found, Isaac grabbed the handrail in front of her.

Accompanied by the noisy departure bell, my body swayed slightly due to inertia. Every time the train passed through the gaps in the tracks, I felt a slight vibration.

Isaac glanced up unintentionally and saw an advertisement hanging in the center of the car roof that read, "Red-eyed evil! Could they suddenly transform into Gastrea on the street?"

"Aren't these people incredibly boring?" Isaac rubbed his temples.

Fortunately, Tina, who was standing nearby, didn't see it.

She whispered to herself, "Going on a date with my brother... is a first for me."

Many people sat and rested by the bronze fountain in front of the station, the newly green leaves above providing shade shining brightly. The sweet aroma of an ice cream shop wafted by as we passed by, the juicy watermelons displayed at the supermarket counter exuded the scent of summer, and the fried bread vendor released the strong aroma of cinnamon. These smells blended together, stimulating our nasal passages.

Tina wrapped her arms around Rentaro's hands and walked happily past the department store window.

However, she immediately showed a displeased expression when she looked at Isaac.

"Honestly, why does my brother look so distracted on his date?"

“Huh? A date? I thought I was just a dad bringing my daughter to play,” Isaac said.

"..."

"I was just thinking about what facilities the school is still lacking."

"When you're out having fun, don't think about work," Tina advised.

Arriving at the five-way intersection in the city center, Isaac suddenly stopped in his tracks upon hearing singing. It was the beautiful soprano voice unique to young girls. Someone was singing a hymn.

Turning to look for the direction of the sound, I soon discovered it was coming from the wide overpass above.

Isaac quite liked the singing, so he took Tina and followed the sound.

Midway through, I saw a straw mat spread on the ground, and the sound was coming from there. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the singer was a ragged young girl begging.

The girl had long white hair, but her once delicate features were now filthy. She wore a shawl stained with oil, which made her appear even more frail.

Her eyes were covered with a rag, and she held a begging bowl in her hands, singing towards the direction of passersby.

Beside her lay a sign that read, "I am the cursed child of the outer district. I need money to buy food for my sister. Please give me alms."

She seemed to hear someone approaching and stopped singing.

Isaac stood in front of her and said, "The song is very beautiful."

"Thank you for your compliment, sir," the girl said with a smile.

"What's wrong with your eyes? I've never heard of a cursed child having physical defects or anything like that."

The Cursed Children possess the regenerative abilities of Gastrea; even if their eyes are gouged out, they can grow back.

This made Isaac, an alchemist who regularly went out to court death, extremely envious.

“The lead can blinded me,” the girl said with a smile. “My mother hates my red eyes.”

Isaac frowned slightly.

"Why are you still able to laugh?" Tina suddenly asked from the side.

The girl didn't answer the question, but instead stretched her hands out towards Tina. Tina was initially startled, but after realizing there was no hostility, she let the girl do as she pleased.

Instead of using her unseen eyes, the girl ran her hands over Tina's hair, features, neck, collarbone, and even traced the lines of her shoulders. Only then did the girl slowly raise her face:

Are you also a child of the curse?

Chapter 287: Katagarasu Jade Tree

Tina was startled when the girl said those words.

How did you find out?

Looking at the surprised Tina, the white-haired girl's smile deepened.

"You're very pretty, no boy could possibly ignore you," the girl said with a smile.

Tina looked at Isaac and shook her head weakly.

"I can only survive by begging others like this, so naturally I have to keep smiling. Other than that, I don't know what other expression to make."

The girl smiled wryly, "But lately I've been getting hit and verbally abused more and more often, and it's making me feel a bit upset. What happened?"

Isaac also noticed the girl's clothes; there were clearly several footprints on them.

Just then, a passerby placed a metal object into the girl's iron bowl.

The girl smiled slightly, bowed deeply without saying a word.

Isaac saw that what was thrown inside was a pull tab from a beverage bottle.

The girl probably understood what she meant, but she still bowed and thanked her.

Tina looked sad and tried to grab Isaac, but he was already gone.

"Sir, please wait a moment." Isaac walked over and called out to the passerby.

"What?"

The man turned around and looked at Isaac with displeasure.

"Please put real money inside; counterfeit money transactions are illegal."

"Huh? Why would I give it to a red-eyed monster... But suddenly I realize what you said makes a lot of sense, and it was indeed my fault."

The man took out his wallet and threw a stack of banknotes back into the girl's iron bowl.

“You’re such a good person. I didn’t force you, did I?” Isaac asked with a smile.

"No, no," the passerby quickly waved his hand.

The scene at this moment is that Isaac is pointing a pistol at the head of the passerby.

"Very well, so have you seen us today?"

"No, no!"

"Yes, very good."

After the passersby fled the area, Isaac returned to the girl.

"Currently, it seems that the Tokyo Ward has passed the 'Category Deprivation Law,' and the situation of the 'Child of the Curse' is already at its lowest point. If you continue to openly tell others that you are the Child of the Curse, it's no different from suicide."

"Is that so... So that's what happened."

The girl nodded with a complicated expression.

"So don't come to the city center for a while. Those troublemakers are looking very aggressive right now, and it's dangerous for you to stay here."

The girl showed a hesitant expression for the first time.

"But……"

She was very worried about her younger sister who was still starving.

However, judging from the money that the passerby had just thrown into his iron bowl, it seemed like there was a lot of it.

Isaac reached into his wallet, pulled out a wad of bills, and placed them in the girl's hand: "The song is very nice, this five thousand yen is what you deserve."

"Thank you so much!" the girl said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

“There could have been more, but you had to sing hymns. Bad guys like me hate hearing those kinds of songs,” Isaac laughed.

The girl smiled and said, "Bad people won't pay after listening to the song."

"Even bad people need to understand the principle of equivalent exchange. Those who don't understand it are neither bad nor good people; they are dead people."

"Sir, you are truly a special person."

“Many people say that,” Isaac said, preparing to leave with Tina.

“By the way, I opened a school in District 39 of the outer perimeter. It’s full of children of the curse like you. You can bring your sister over for classes when you have time,” Isaac said with a smile. “I usually bring some snacks with me.”

"Yes, I will," the girl said, watching Isaac's departing figure.

Perhaps in return, the girl crossed her arms over her chest, raised her chin, and sang in a quiet, low voice. Finally, her voice grew louder and higher, her solemn and bright soprano drowning out the noise of the street, her elegant aura spreading outwards.

This is a song of blessings.

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Turning twice from the main road into the alley, it felt like entering another world.

Although it's dirty and chaotic here, it's a shortcut to get away from the commercial street.

Isaac was walking with Tina when a blond man approached them.

“Hey boy, how have you been?” he greeted Isaac.

Isaac also looked at him; this boy with sunglasses and a thug-like appearance seemed vaguely familiar.

"who are you?"

"Hey, hey, hey, you've become a bit ruthless since you became a hero in the Tokyo area, boy," the blond boy laughed.

Isaac carefully organized his memories.

If it were a former friend of 'Rentaro Satomi', then it would be impossible for me to still have a memory of him; if I feel familiar with him, it means I have met him before.

It seems that he was also in the hall when the Holy Emperor summoned the police to a meeting to reclaim the 'Seven Stars' legacy'.

The name seems to be...