The Strongest Eriri in History

After effortlessly solving the physical issues of Rita and the others, Eriri led Ophis, Akame, and Lilliana out of Ayn Rand's research base.

As for Tina and the other five girls, they remained at the research base. There was no need for them to take part in the tasks ahead. All they needed to do was stay safe and await the conclusion of everything.

Once Eriri and her group left the research base, they used instantaneous movement to arrive directly in Tokyo, Japan.

Upon arriving in this world, Eriri had already scanned the entire planet, thoroughly gathering all available intelligence. This is why she was able to throw Ayn Rand into the Gastrea nest without hesitation earlier.

At this point in time, Rentaro Satomi had already left the Tendo family with Kisara Tendo and founded the Tendo Civil Security Corporation, becoming a civil officer.

Meanwhile, Enju Aihara was still under the control of the IISO's Tokyo branch and had yet to form a partnership with Rentaro Satomi.

Naturally, this was under the premise that Eriri and her group had not arrived.

After today, there wouldn't even be an IISO left, let alone a chance for Rentaro and Enju to partner up. With most of humanity set to vanish, such a partnership would become an impossibility.

Since Eriri's goal was to find Enju, they directly appeared at the location where the IISO's Tokyo branch detained the Cursed Children.

In a room that resembled a prison cell, there was little more than a single bed, leaving the room feeling utterly hollow.

The nine-year-old Enju Aihara sat idly on the bed, her beautiful crimson eyes devoid of any spirit.

She wore a thin white tank top and shorts. Her pink hair hung loosely down her back, and her frail figure showed clear signs of malnutrition.

What stood out most was the black collar around her neck, which bore an attached tag marked "328," branding her like a numbered object.

Having gone through years of suffering, Enju had become highly sensitive. The moment Eriri and her group appeared in her small room, she immediately noticed.

Seeing the group, Enju leaped onto her bed, adopting a defensive posture. Her crimson eyes glowed with a blood-red hue as she stared at them like a wounded beast ready to fight for its life.

Eriri, noticing Enju's guarded expression, smiled gently and reassured her in a soft voice, "There's no need to be afraid. We're not here to hurt you."

Eriri's smile was disarming. In the original story, Rentaro Satomi had to spend considerable time breaking through Enju's defenses, but now, with just one kind smile from Eriri, Enju was already showing signs of letting down her guard.

Though her wariness towards Eriri had lessened considerably, Enju still didn't speak, nor did she relax completely. She simply stared intently at Eriri without saying a word.

"Life must have been really hard for you these past years. But don't worry; things will only get better from now on." Eriri took slow steps toward Enju, her face full of compassion. Extending her hand, she asked, "Enju, how would you like to live with me from now on?"

Hearing Eriri's words, Enju's frail figure and weary expression visibly relaxed. The blood-red glow in her eyes began to fade.

She didn't ask how Eriri knew her name. Since this stranger had come looking for her, it only made sense that they had learned her information beforehand.

However, Enju didn't respond verbally nor reach out to take Eriri's hand. She continued to stare unblinkingly at her, as if trying to see straight into her soul.

Eriri had anticipated this reaction. If it were any other young girl, they might have eagerly grabbed her hand already.

But Enju had endured too much hardship and betrayal in her short life, fostering a deep mistrust of adults. Even someone as kind-looking as Eriri couldn't completely win her over in an instant.

Of course, Eriri could have easily forced a change in Enju's mind through mental manipulation. But she was staunchly against using such methods on people she cared about.

Instead, Eriri simply kept her hand outstretched and her expression warm, patiently waiting for Enju to make her decision.

Ophis, Akame, and Lilliana also remained silent, opting not to interrupt the exchange and merely observing the two quietly.

Minutes passed as the two stared at each other before Enju finally averted her gaze, unable to withstand Eriri's kind and unwavering eyes any longer. Then, she softly broke the silence.

"I'm a cursed child. Aren't you afraid of me?" Her voice was hoarse from disuse, but her expression betrayed a flicker of hope as she asked.

Eriri didn't hesitate to respond, her voice filled with sincerity. "How could I be? You're adorable. If anything, I like you all the more."

Enju's crimson eyes lit up at Eriri's reply. After a moment of hesitation, she slowly lifted her small, trembling hand and placed it in Eriri's outstretched palm.

Feeling the frail, delicate hand in hers, Eriri's face softened with a mix of warmth and sorrow. Then, much to Enju's surprise, she gently pulled her into a tight embrace.

Holding the fragile child in her arms, Eriri softly stroked her dry pink hair and whispered, "It's okay. It's all okay now."

For the first time in what felt like forever, Enju felt warmth and security. Tears began to well up in her crimson eyes, and soon, she was crying uncontrollably into Eriri's chest.

It was as though years of pent-up grief and pain were pouring out all at once.

After some time, Enju's tears finally ceased. Despite having sobbed so much, Eriri's clothes remained untouched, as a protective enchantment on her outfit had evaporated the tears before they could soak in.

Perhaps it was the catharsis from her tears, but Enju's demeanor had transformed. Her once lifeless expression now held a genuine smile of happiness.

Eriri gently patted Enju's back and chuckled, "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Eriri Spencer Sawamura. From today onward, you're my little sister, so feel free to call me 'big sister (Onee-chan).'"

"Mm, I understand, Eriri," Enju replied in a delicate voice, though she didn't address Eriri as "Onee-chan," choosing instead to use her name directly.

This, however, didn't mean Enju was against being Eriri's little sister. Her joy-filled expression made it abundantly clear that she was thrilled with the new title.

Eriri didn't mind the way she was addressed. After all, in the original story, Enju referred to everyone by their names, no matter who they were. Paired with her distinctive quirk of speech, it was simply one of Enju's charming traits.

Eriri then introduced Ophis, Akame, and Lilliana to Enju. Ophis and Akame appeared to be only a year or two older than Enju, making her especially eager to meet these "peers."

However, Ophis's taciturn nature meant she rarely spoke and mainly stayed at Eriri's side, acting more like a mascot or cuddly companion.

While Akame wasn't as reticent as Ophis, she also didn't say much. Both gave polite but brief responses to Enju's enthusiasm before falling silent again. On the other hand, Lilliana was much more engaged, happily chatting with Enju.

As time passed, Enju's vibrant personality began to shine through, and her energetic nature returned.

At one point, Enju suddenly asked curiously, "Ah, Eriri, I just remembered—how did you suddenly appear in my room like that?"

Previously, her nervousness and wariness of strangers had kept her from dwelling on Eriri and the others' arrival. But now that she felt at ease with them, she finally began to realize that something was odd.

If they had entered through the main door, there should have been IISO staff accompanying them.

Alternatively, if Eriri and the others were part of the IISO leadership, they wouldn't have shown such kindness to her—a Cursed Child.

Moreover, the door to her room was still securely locked, and she hadn't heard the sound of it opening.

Her curiosity about how they had arrived continued to grow.

"We used instantaneous movement to get here," Eriri explained honestly, showing no inclination to make up an excuse. She didn't care if her abilities were exposed.

"Instantaneous movement? That's amazing!"

Enju's crimson eyes sparkled as she stared at Eriri. Although she didn't fully understand what "instantaneous movement" meant, the name itself, combined with how they had appeared, gave her a rough idea.

In her challenging life, merely surviving had taken all her effort. She had no opportunity to enjoy entertainment or watch TV and movies, so she had no concept of superpowers.

"Will I be able to use this instantaneous movement in the future?" Enju asked, her face filled with hopeful anticipation.

"Of course. One day, you'll be able to use it too," Eriri said with a smile, patting her on the head.

Since Eriri had decided to make Enju her little sister, she naturally intended to help her grow stronger. With sufficient power, using instantaneous movement wouldn't be difficult.

"Yay!" Enju cheered and leaped into the air, her energetic demeanor fully restored.

In that moment, it seemed as though she had forgotten her identity as a Cursed Child and the Gastrea virus coursing through her veins.

Of course, she hadn't truly forgotten. How could she ever forget the virus that defined her life?

She knew that all Cursed Children would eventually succumb to the virus and transform into Gastrea. The IISO staff had made sure to remind her of that grim truth during her training.

However, she didn't want to dwell on such heartbreaking matters during this newfound moment of happiness.

But then Eriri said something that made her entire mind go blank, stunned by the sheer weight of the revelation.

"Alright, it's time to get to work. Enju, I'm going to remove the Gastrea virus from your body right now."

"Remove the Gastrea virus…? Is that even possible?"

Her reaction was understandable. Over 80% of the planet's landmass had been claimed by Gastrea, and there was no known cure for those infected by the virus. These facts were the unshakable truths of their world.

"Of course it's possible. It's just a little Gastrea virus," Eriri replied with a casual air.

Just as she had done for Tina and Lita, Eriri effortlessly eradicated every trace of the virus from Enju's body.

"All done. You're completely healthy now," Eriri declared with a smile.

"The virus is gone? But why can I still use the powers from the Gastrea?"

The abilities of Cursed Children stemmed from the Gastrea virus. If the virus were removed, their powers would logically disappear as well. Yet Enju felt no difference in her body and could still harness her formidable strength.

This incongruity left her feeling dazed.

"Ah, that's because I converted the rabbit-based genes in your body into your exclusive ability. The power you're using now isn't from the virus; it's entirely your own."

"I see! That's incredible!" Enju exclaimed excitedly. Her trust in Eriri was already sky-high, so she didn't doubt her words for a second.

Watching Enju's joyful expression, Eriri couldn't resist affectionately pinching her cheek before saying, "Oh, by the way, there's one more thing I need to tell you. We're not from this world. When the time comes, you'll need to follow us back to live in our world."

"Oh, so that's why you could fix the Gastrea virus so easily!" Enju said with a look of sudden realization. She then nodded firmly, "Of course! Wherever you go, I'll go too!"

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