Volume 6 - CH 35

The Fake Idol, Gives up

——it’s been about 20 years since then.

The world starts to devolve into chaos. Year after year, the number of crimes committed by Gift Holder continues to grow.

In response, Radical voices saying that Gift Holders should just disappear are getting louder and louder.

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When I was a child, Gifts were viewed as power bestowed by God but now people simply view Gift Holders with discrimination.

These days, Gift Holders are perceived as the scum of society and potential criminals.

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Ordinary people who do not possess a Gift start carrying pistols, and blade weapons for self-defense.

Naturally, the country still views the purchase of such weapons as illegal but by now, the law itself is just decorative.

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In return, the Gift Holders also pick up weapons to defend themselves against the non-Gift Holders.

The world has become a dark and terrifying place.

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I also carry a stun gun for self-defense.

This is a world where even children have to carry around their own stun guns to protect themselves after all.

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With the war between Gift Holders and Non-Gift Holders raging on, the world has become unsafe.

The peaceful world from my childhood was long gone.

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With my Gift, no matter how much I aged, I can stay young.

However, working in the same cabaret club would be dangerous for me because my face doesn’t change at all.

My Gift doesn’t come with an aging function.

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If I revert my face to my original appearance then I would probably look my age.

But that’s a face I can no longer recall.

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Because of that, I thought that I should try to create an aged look for the face I’m using myself.

But that’s impossible for me.

I can only create a complete appearance, not one that gradually ages.

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That’s why I don’t work at a single place for too long and move around to different clubs.

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Before I noticed it, I’m already over 40.

Still, in order to please the male customer, I kept using the faces of young and beautiful girls in their late twenties.

I no longer have other ways to live but to please men for a living.

Today as well, I left my place around noon to go to the same work again.

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[[There you are, you shapeshifting demon.]]

Eh? By the time my brain registered those words, I was hit from behind and collapsed to the ground.

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“Wh,……what’s g–……?”

“What’s going on? You know what’s going on you damn Gift Holder!”

“Eh……?”

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Gift Holder.

Hearing that, my mind started screaming.

I’ve never told anyone about myself so why………?

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“We are Gift Hunters.”

“G,……Gift Hunters…..? How……..?”

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The Gift Hunters.

It was an organization that has existed since I was a child.

However, back then it was still a small group. Like a seed before it sprouts.

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It was a group of bereaved families and friends of the victims of Gift-related crimes that has evolved into a terrorist organization with the goal to hunt down Gift Holders.

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Their grudges against Gifts.

With that as their sole driving force, it’s a group that moves with the desire to rid the country of Gift Holders.

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And right now, I’m surrounded by 3 Gift Hunters.

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“Shut up, keep your trap shut, you demonic hag! Was the food you earned by deceiving us humans delicious!?”

“How did you………let’s t–……”

“Haven’t you heard, there are these new glasses that can tell if someone has a Gift or not with a single glance you know? You are just a demon who uses some fiendish power to deceive us!”

“We’ve been marking you for a while now. Your father was a murderer and your brother was the worst Gift criminal in history right? You’re a thoroughbred, aren’t you? You probably killed at least three people already! Die you Gift Holder scum!”

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I got kicked in the face.

I felt something wrong with my molars and something was rolling on my tongue.

Then I realized that my teeth had been broken.

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“I didn’t…….I didn’t kill anyone……I hadn’t done anything……I just…..wanted to live……….”

“You just want to live? You damn hypocrite! Haven’t you already tried to deceive us before, [StarChild] the fake idol!”

“Argh…….”

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StarChild has now become a symbol of hatred among Gift Hunters.

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But why……?

I just wanted to fulfill my dream and become an idol. Why does everyone have to sneer at my dream like that…..?

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As the name of an idol, the name StarChild has already faded away.

However, it has become the symbol of hatred that Gift Hunters rally under.

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“Guys! We get to be the ones who kill the infamous StarChild you know!”

“I couldn’t be more honored!”

“You Gifted Fiends took away 2 people I loved! It’s only fair if I double that and kill 4 of you right!”

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They say they’re going to kill me.

So, I’m going to die huh……

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[[No matter what kind of Gift it is, your [Feelings] are still the strongest of all]]

A long time ago, Tatsuyuki-san told me that.

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Indeed, this [feeling], this hatred of theirs did knock me to the ground……..

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“Don’t kill her right away okay? We have to make her suffer.”

“Come on, bite the dust already, scum!”

“Die you Gifted Bi**h!”

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All the passers-by pretend not to see me.

Everyone hates Gifts after all.

It’s obvious their hatred would extend to Gift Holders as well.

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These days, there are even parents who kill their own children when they notice that a Gift might have manifested in them. Their own flesh and blood that they have been raising up with love and care.

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As a movement, Gift Hunt is not on the decline, instead, it’s only gaining more and more momentum.

Gifts, the power God has given us has created hatred and resentment that twisted it from something that people admire to a demonic power that creates only bloodshed.

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If I’m caught and lynched like this, there’s probably no hope for me anymore.

I’m sorry, Tatsuyuki-san.

I can’t even recall my own face anymore……… but I must have lived long enough already right……?

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I can’t feel the pain anymore.

I don’t even know if I’m alive or dead.

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“………..”

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A family of murderers huh…….

So this was destined to be from the moment I was born.

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Mom, why did dad kill you……..?

Onii-chan, why didn’t you compliment me…..?

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[[Ha? Who the heck are you]]

Onii-chan didn’t even recognize me, didn’t he………

[[Those eyes are so unpleasant. What? You have something to say? These guys tried to hit on my girls so I’m pissed off right now. You want me to do you? Ehh!?]]

Even though we have the same eyes, Onii-chan still called them unpleasant.

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One word would have been enough for me.

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Like Yume-chan’s brother.

Like LeafChild’s brother.

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It would have been enough if my own brother told me that I’m cute……

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——– *splash, *splash*, *splash*.

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Blood splashed on my face.

The 3 Hunters were lying dead in front of me.

I couldn’t understand what was happening.

TLN: In Japanese the Gift Hunters called her a Yokai……..well, they’re Japanese demons so that’s close enough……….