"Welcome."

The smiling woman greeted Yuria, who had opened the door and entered, with a gentle smile.

"Yuria."

She even called her by her name.

"..."

Yuria looked at the woman before her with a hardened expression.

She had expected it, but.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"..."

"Don't just stand there, sit down."

Seeing her in person felt different.

Pink hair.

A puppy-like impression.

The woman, smiling gently and wearing a white dress, had the exact same face as her own.

Yuria, facing someone who looked exactly like her, forced her trembling lips open to ask.

Just who are you.

"Who are you?"

Who are you?

The woman smiled faintly and began to pour steaming tea from a teapot into a white teacup.

-Trickle.

The scent of citron filled the air.

The aroma of my favorite citron tea filled the pure white room.

"Sit."

"..."

"You'll get tired standing."

"..."

The woman let out a small laugh and introduced herself to the wary Yuria.

"Feel free to call me the Coordinator."

"..."

"It will be more comfortable for you to call me that."

Yuria carefully walked over and sat down facing the person who had introduced herself as the Coordinator.

Up close, the feeling was even more real.

That this woman was the same person as her.

A pure white room.

A white tea table and white chairs.

In this place, which felt like a mental hospital, the only other colors were herself and the woman in front of her.

The Coordinator, lifting her teacup, opened her tightly closed mouth to Yuria.

"You don't have to be so scared, I'm not a bad person."

"..."

"You don't believe me, do you?"

The Coordinator continued to mutter to herself with a gentle smile, placing her hand on the warm teacup.

"It's okay if you don't believe me. Come to think of it, I'm not that good of a person either."

"..."

"So."

The Coordinator threw a question at the stiffly frozen Yuria.

"What are you curious about that brought you to me?"

The Coordinator's eyes shone with the same golden light as Yuria's divine eyes.

"Weren't you curious? The story of the 'Ghoul'."

"..."

"I cried several times watching that story... Why did you come to me? To me, who isn't even that interesting."

"..."

"Are you still scared of me?"

Yuria looked straight into the eyes of the Coordinator, who was awkwardly talking to herself, and opened her lips.

"Coordinator..."

"Hmm...?"

"You said you were the Coordinator."

At Yuria's question, the 'Coordinator' nodded her head in affirmation.

"That's right. I'm the Coordinator."

"..."

"A Coordinator who maintains the balance so that this hopeless future doesn't collapse."

"Then... are you a god...?"

At Yuria's question, the Coordinator stretched her white hand into the air and made a gesture of grasping something.

-Grasp.

Like a person with a mental illness.

At the Coordinator's sudden action, Yuria asked with a naive expression, her meaning being, why are you doing something strange instead of answering me.

"What are you doing right now?"

"I'm giving you a reward."

"A reward?"

"Yes, I have to take care of it."

-Grasp tighter.

"The black magic cast on you."

The moment Yuria's bewildered eyes turned to the Coordinator's hand, she could see a black, shimmering energy writhing in it.

As if grasping something profane, the black haze held in the Coordinator's white hand writhed and tried to approach her, but.

-Poof...!

It lost its vitality in the Coordinator's grasp and began to disappear into the white space.

The Coordinator, who had lightly finished an impossible task, looked at Yuria with a gentle smile. As if what she had just done was mere child's play, the nonchalant Coordinator dusted off her hands.

"I've given you one reward for now."

"..."

"Two more left."

"...You're saying the black magic is gone just like that?"

"Yes. It's simpler than you think, undoing a curse."

Even though they had the same face, the atmosphere they gave off was different.

A more alluring and somehow unsettling feeling, as if she were hiding some heavy emotion, was coming towards Yuria, making her heart pound.

Yuria, holding her breath, looked at the Coordinator and opened her lips with difficulty. Since she had met the Coordinator here, there was something she absolutely had to ask.

"Who are you?"

"..."

"Who are you to show me strange things, and what do you want that you're plotting such things?"

"..."

"Why... why."

"..."

"And you..."

"..."

"Are you the evil of this world?"

At Yuria's outpouring of questions without any preamble, the Coordinator shook her head with an awkward smile, expressing her concern that such questions were not good.

The Coordinator held up one finger in front of Yuria and opened her lips.

"One question."

"..."

"No more than that."

"..."

"The reward for this quest is one question."

"..."

"If you want to know more than this, you have no choice but to play along with my games."

"..."

"It can't be helped, even if you resent it."

The Coordinator said to Yuria with a gentle smile.

"Because that's the reward for this quest."

"..."

"Don't hate it too much. We're also quite desperate."

"We...?"

"Ah..."

The Coordinator, bursting into a small laugh, brushed her finger across her lips.

"I've revealed too much."

"...Wait a moment."

"Stop."

The Coordinator, cutting off Yuria, folded her hands and looked at Yuria, asking.

"So, what is your question for me?"

"..."

"You must have thought about it. What question to ask to get definite information..."

Yuria, receiving the Coordinator's intense gaze, bit her lip and frowned.

Because she didn't know what to ask.

Even though she had a long time, she hadn't been able to decide on a question. It felt like any question she asked would be a trap.

Yuria thought that there were many difficulties and limitations in choosing just one question out of countless doubts to find the right answer.

She had thought of dozens of questions.

Who are you?

Why are you doing this?

What can you gain from this?

After seeing the Coordinator, her doubts had only grown.

Who are you, who has the same face as me? An illusion, or the real me?

Or why are you doing this to me?

What is the existence of a 'quest'?

And.

-(!) The content of the 'quest' cannot be revealed to others.

Why was such a restriction placed on all quests?

From one to ten, everything was a mystery, so she couldn't choose the right answer.

Everything seemed like the wrong answer.

And everything seemed like the right answer.

After a considerable amount of time spent in thought with her lips tightly shut, the Coordinator lifted her teacup and asked Yuria.

"Is it that hard to decide?"

The Coordinator, seeing Yuria's lack of response, gave her an example, sending her encouragement that she didn't need to think so deeply.

"You don't have to worry so much."

"..."

"You just have to ask what you're curious about."

"..."

"If you want to have gold and jewels, you can ask me how."

"..."

"If you want to become stronger, you can ask me how to become stronger."

"..."

"You only have one chance to ask me a question, but it's also a chance to change your life."

"..."

The Coordinator whispered sweet words like a devil.

"You just have to say what you desire."

"..."

"As a Coordinator, I will only give you the answer."

"..."

-Grasp tighter.

Yuria let out a deep breath and opened her lips to the Coordinator.

"You..."

She didn't know if this was the right answer, but at this moment, she asked the biggest question she could, with the thought that it might be the key to solving her doubts.

"Why did you become a Coordinator?"

She threw the question.

-Flinch.

Hearing Yuria's question, the Coordinator showed an expression she had never shown before, hiding her surprise.

"There are better questions."

"I want the answer to this question right now. Why you became a Coordinator."

"..."

"If you are a god, you must have come to me with the same appearance for a reason."

"..."

"If you are me..."

"..."

"You must have come for some reason."

The Coordinator, emptying her teacup, expressed her concern to Yuria.

"Think again."

"..."

"My story is not interesting."

"..."

"You might not even get the answer you're thinking of."

Yuria erased her hesitation and said to the Coordinator.

"I've been thinking about it until now."

"..."

"Why I see these things."

"..."

"Why you only show me these strange things."

"..."

"You who appeared in my nightmares."

"..."

"You, who appeared in my dreams in my form without rest."

-Grasp tighter.

"Who are you?"

A cold wind blows.

The pure white space begins to be stained with darkness and cracks begin to form.

The Coordinator's friendly attitude towards Yuria turned cold, creating a chilly atmosphere.

The Coordinator stared blankly at the teacup in her hand and did not open her mouth.

"..."

After staring at the teacup for a long time, the Coordinator raised her head and said to Yuria.

"Are you really curious?"

"Yes..."

"You might have just missed a chance to change your life."

"I still want to ask."

"..."

"Because I need to know who you are."

The Coordinator, taking a deep breath, extended her finger into the air and beckoned to Yuria.

[Do you want to 'confirm' the question?]

Yuria nodded and answered the Coordinator's words.

"Yes."

The Coordinator looked straight into Yuria's eyes and answered.

"It won't be very pleasant."

"..."

"But you're still smart."

"..."

"I was surprised because it wasn't the answer I had prepared."

Her vision darkens.

Perhaps the story Yuria feared the most, the Coordinator...

"Yes... I am."

Said in a bitter voice.

"Yuria, I am you."

{The viewing of 'Yuria', the side story of Jealousy, will now begin.}

Jealousy (嫉妬).

The emotion of 'jealousy' holds many meanings.

One, fearing that what was hers would be taken away, was blinded by jealousy and tried to ruin another woman's life.

Another, so envious of others that she ruined herself, wept silently in misery.

The emotion of jealousy cannot be called unconditionally bad, but.

"..."

At least to me, this emotion of jealousy was the worst, an emotion that left an indelible scar.

Yes, jealousy.

This feeling of anxiety towards others, born from the fear of losing what I hold dear.

It is my sin.

An emotion containing my fault, the one that led you to your death.

[Viewing of the side story of jealousy, 'Julia,' will now begin.]

*

The beginning of my life was a start with many deficiencies.

I was born in the barren lands of the North.

Born between an adventurer father and a frail mother, I experienced what it meant to be poor.

-Dada!

-Hoho...!

-Mama!

-Honey...!

Still, I was happy.

Even when my father's earnings, a well-known adventurer in these parts, all went to my mother's medicine, and even as my mother's health worsened day by day, the love and affection poured upon me never changed.

-Cough... cough... Didn't Mommy tell you to dress warmly when you go out!

-...Hehe!

-Look, your nose is running.

-Mama!

I was able to grow up without feeling any lack. To me at that time, those moments were incredibly beautiful and happy.

Even on 'Grace Day,' a day to thank the parents who gave birth to and raised you, when I looked at an origami book and folded a carnation from a crumpled, old piece of paper.

-Honey!!! Julia folded a flower for us!

-...Julia!

-Mama! Dada! Thank you for giving birth to me!

And for the gift from my mother, a stuffed doll she made for my birthday.

-This is Julia.

-...A doooooll!!!!

-How is it?

I was happy and able to smile.

So much so that this barren land of the North felt warm.

However.

"Cough... cough!!!"

My happiness did not last long.

"Mom!! Mom!!"

Because the shade that had gifted me beautiful pink hair left my side.

The branch that had been withering away could not bear the weight of the last leaf and finally fell.

"Julia... my lovely daughter, Julia."

"Mom... Mom... you can't die!"

"Cough! Cough! Our Julia... Mommy is sorry."

"Don't be sorry!!!"

"Our Julia can be a good girl even without Mommy, right?"

"Julia will be a good girl...! So... so! Mom has to be a healthy mom too!!"

"Listen to your father well."

"..."

"Even without Mommy, make sure to eat your meals."

"..."

"Our Julia... my daughter who I wouldn't mind putting in my eyes."

"..."

"Mommy loves you."

My shade, which I thought would always protect me, could not withstand the cold wind of death and collapsed.

Leaving a young leaf all alone.

Losing my precious mother early.

My childhood, when I realized the pain of parting earlier than others. My mother breathed her last with the parting words for me to be a good girl.

Leaving only my father and me in this world.

"Julia, it's your birthday, is there anything you want?"

My father overcame his grief and stood up.

"Julia doesn't want anything."

I tried to be a good girl to honor my mother's wishes. Because I thought she might be watching over me from somewhere, even if I couldn't see her in this world.

"Because Julia is a good girl."

The beginning in the North, which had started with three, began to move again with just my father and me.

We did not succumb to sorrow.

Of course, there were many days when we were consumed by grief for a long time and spent the night in tears, but if that continued, Mom in heaven would be sad.

-I bought the doll Julia likes!

My father did his best.

-Wow!!!

-A good girl deserves a present!

-Ooooh!!!

I loved those moments.

Even though it was the barren North.

Even though it was the lonely North with no peers.

I was happy whenever I saw the ever-blowing blizzard, and I was so joyful I wanted to run out whenever I saw the daily piled-up snow.

So much so that the world I had felt vast.

One day, my father read me a fairy tale.

A fairy tale containing a beautiful story of a prince and a princess who found love and got married.

-And so, the princess and the prince...

The prince in the book was a prince on a white horse, and the princess in the book was said to be a princess with pink hair.

The most surprising thing was.

-lived happily ever after!

The world was wide.

And the world I had was narrow.

-Dad?

-Yes.

-What kind of place does the prince live in?

-The prince? Ah... you mean the capital.

-The capital?

The picture in the fairy tale was not of a place covered in white snow, but of a lush green forest.

"A prince lives there?"

"Of course~ Princes live there, and princesses too."

"Really?!"

"Yes."

The picture, which contained a different world than the snowfields I always saw, was planting a dream of the capital in me.

-Then I want to go to the capital...!

-The... the capital?

-Yeah! I want to see the prince and princess too!

Being a naive child, I didn't know how much money the journey to the capital would cost, so I pestered my dad.

-The capital! The capital!!

-Later..! When Dad makes a lot of money, I'll take you!

-Mmm... I want to go to the capital.

-Julia is a good girl, so you can wait, right?

-Yes... because Julia is a good girl...

The capital, which I couldn't go to even after pestering for a week, I was able to go to sooner than expected.

Because an unwanted opportunity arose.

Divine Power (神聖力)

-Dad...?

My father came to me in a state no different from a corpse, from a group of kobolds that had formed a pack in the mountains of the North. His colleagues had dragged their injured bodies to find me, for my father's last wish to see his daughter's face one last time.

The sight of my dad that day, I could not forget even as time passed. I wanted to forget the sorrowful expression of my dad looking at me with trembling hands, but I couldn't.

I was scared.

That Dad would leave me.

I was afraid and scared that he would leave me all alone in this world.

That day, I prayed to God with all my heart.

-Hwaaaaaa...!!!

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Along with my eyes turning golden, I learned for the first time that I had a talent for divine power.

"Julia...!"

"Dad!! Don't die!!!"

The first time I went to the capital, led by my father's hand, I was so excited that I didn't look at my father's face.

That place was.

"Wow...."

It was a world I had seen in fairy tales.

Fear was etched on my father's face, but his hand, holding mine tightly as if he would never let go, was so warm, trying to protect me.

And so, I.

-She has talent. This child will one day be a healer that will surprise the world... no, she can become a saintess.

I was able to grow up as a rising star.

Though the subsequent matter ended with my father's firm refusal.

-You must hand the child over to us. Especially if she's a child with the Divine Eye... if so, this child will surely become a person who brightly illuminates the world!!

-Julia.

-Yes?

-Does Julia want to live in the capital?

-Yes!

-Even if you can't see Dad often?

My father gave me a chance to choose.

Being able to draw a better future is a good thing for a child's future, but the choice should not be made by him.

"Then I'll live with Dad in the North."

"..."

"I don't want to be apart..."

I ended up going back to the North with my father.

On the way home.

"..."

My father's expression was dark.

Perhaps because of the guilt of blocking his daughter's path, my father's steps as he walked the streets of the capital were incredibly heavy.

I held my father's hand tightly and smiled.

"It's okay."

"..."

"I like living with Dad the best."

"...Is that so?"

"Of course."

Dad smiled brightly and said.

"Then is there anything Julia wants? We came out for a change, it's a shame to go back empty-handed."

"Really? Really?!"

"I'm going to buy you lots of presents today, so you can't say you won't choose because you're a good girl. If you do, Dad will buy you something really ugly."

"...Okay!"

"Should I buy you a princess doll, or some delicious chocolate?"

At that time, I said.

"A puppy!"

I hoped for a friend like that, one that would keep me from being lonely while I was alone in the North.

"I want to raise a puppy!"

"A puppy?"

"Yeah. It's lonely when I'm watching the house by myself, so I want to be with a puppy."

I spread my hands wide.

"A veeeeeeery big puppy!"

My father smiled faintly and nodded. He was a father who would pluck a star from the sky if it was his daughter's request.

And so.

"Hello, pretty princess!"

I met that person.

"Hello to you too, handsome gentleman?!"

A boy with red hair, holding a shiny begging bowl.

"Princess?"

"Yes~ aren't you a princess? The princess with the most beautiful looks in this world!"

"...Really? Am I pretty?"

"Of course!"

I stopped walking as I looked at the boy and just stared at him endlessly.

"Haha!"

Because it was the first time I had seen a person with red hair.

"Julia. Don't look."

My father, looking at the begging child, tried to cover my eyes, but.

"Wow."

The boy's begging bowl was so shiny that I couldn't take my eyes off it, and I stopped in my tracks and stared endlessly. Even though I knew it was the wrong thing to do.

The boy smiled slightly and extended his finger.

"Now... I will show you a magic trick."

Pretending to put his hand with five fingers spread wide into his mouth and then pull it out, acting as if one of his fingers had disappeared, I couldn't help but let my eyes shine brightly at the boy's performance.

"Ta-da~ It's the disappearing finger trick."

If I saw it again now, I would laugh and call it an awkward prank, but.

"Wow, that's so cool!!!"

In those days, I was completely captivated by the boy's magic trick.

"Julia."

Because I wanted to see the magic this boy knew again.

"We have to go."

The shell game.

The finger magic.

The coin magic.

And the red hair.

Not wanting to let go of the boy who stimulated my interest from one to ten, I looked at the boy and said.

"Do you want to live with me?"

"No."

"Dad..."

I could tell at a glance.

The fact that this boy had no place to return to. My father looked at the boy suspiciously, but.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want to be a bother."

The boy refused my request.

After that, my meetings with the boy continued.

Whenever I came down to the capital to practice my divine power, I would go find the boy, and we would spend time talking and laughing together.

As the time I spent with the boy grew longer, my father and I grew fond of him.

"Julia... that boy."

"Really?!"

"Yes... let's do that."

My father's permission was granted.

The street I returned to with high hopes was filled with blood.

"...Huh?"

The boy was dying from a stab wound.

"It's okay."

"...What happened!!"

"Haha... I just fell."

I saved the boy, and we became a family.

That boy's name was.

"You don't have a name?"

"No."

"Then..."

Ricardo.