"As an Infected, you lived in a tribe that had developed witch doctor techniques to a considerable degree."
"For some inexplicable reason, one that could only exist as an isolated case in reality, you were not discriminated against by the others."
"But as an Infected, your life swiftly came to an end."
"When those close to you tried to prepare your body... you just happened to be one of the small handful who exploded."
"The friends and family who survived the explosion were infected with Originium Infection as a result."
Misha was a good student. She kept up with Oute's train of thought.
She murmured, "Then... this tribe will begin to keep its distance from the Infected..."
Distance would naturally evolve into discrimination soon after.
Across the vast span and breadth of civilization, the phenomenon of "those close to the Infected being infected by an active dirty bomb instead" would inevitably occur again and again, independently of one another.
Oute's lengthy explanation was not merely for Misha's benefit. More importantly, it was for Blaze.
Tonight, Blaze would be "chosen" for the Interstice and become one of the "Chosen Children."
She would become, in the literal sense, Oute's personal guard and attendant.
She needed a clear understanding of Oute's position and, on that basis, take the initiative to shoulder the... work Oute was about to entrust to her.
"How could that be..."
Misha understood Oute's implication.
In the early days of civilization, discrimination against the Infected had been a natural act—one that might even have been considered "justice" within the framework of customary law.
"That example was rather distant," Oute said to the two of them. "Let us turn our attention to a slightly more civilized example."
Oute put it bluntly. "Suppose you are one of the de facto rulers of