---

“Lu, what’s wrong?”

“Huh? Oh… it’s nothing. My head just suddenly hurt…”

“Is that so? Are you feeling unwell? I heard you were focused on studying this morning…”

“Yeah… I guess so. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

The Sister smiled kindly and closed the Bible.

Thud, thud.

Luka could feel something in her heart pounding furiously for some reason.

Heart beating…?

“Since it’s the first day of class, there’s no need to do anything strenuous. Ah, how about we pray to God today?”

“Ah, yes…!”

Luka closed her eyes and began to pray.

“To the one true God of the world, the great Goddess ■■■■■. Please have mercy on us today…”

The prayer didn’t even register in her ears.

Even the name of God was unclear. Certainly, she heard the sound, but it felt as if she could not grasp what it was.

Due to the sudden strange occurrences, Luka swallowed her dry throat in anxiety.

Normally, she would find that situation odd… but strangely, the only phrase from the Bible that shimmered in her mind was the one she felt shone brightly by itself.

Once the prayer ended—

Timidly, Luka pointed at the Bible in front of the Sister and asked.

“Um… Sister, can I take a look at this for a moment…?”

“Ah, you mean the Bible? It seems you find it interesting because it looks different from the one I gave you? This one is officially issued to the Sisters.”

As she said, it was much more ornate than the one Luka had received.

Honestly, she didn’t care about that. She just wanted to check the contents inside.

What if it had something different written inside?

But—

“You are not wrong.”

No matter which page she opened, except for the first page, everything was blank.

Then what were the verses the Sister had recited…?

“What do you think?”

“Ah, um… yes, it’s beautiful…!”

Luka couldn’t hide her panic, but the Sister smiled again, unfazed, and took the Bible back.

“You will come to understand one day, Luka. The true beauty of the Bible comes from its contents, not its appearance.”

“I-is that so…?”

“Of course. Every word contained in the Bible is—”

God

—God’s word.

Watching

Over

“!!!!!!!”

Eh?

What was that?

Just now, it seemed I heard a strange voice overlapping with the Sister’s voice…?

“Miss? Is something wrong?”

“Yes? Ah… no…”

The Sister gently brushed Luka’s forehead with concern.

“It seems you have a bit of a fever… It looks like we should stop for today. You can start memorizing the Bible next week, so just prepare accordingly. The serious theological study will begin afterward. Understood?”

“Yes…”

* * *

For several days, Luka showed the Bible she received from the Sister here and there.

The maids all casually read the verses the Sister had mentioned.

Her parents asked if she wanted to become a Sister when she grew up, saying they would support whatever she wanted to do. Of course, both of her parents also read the Bible verses without a care.

Only—

Only she couldn’t read the Bible.

No, she could read it. But—she read something different from everyone else. Only she.

Then one night.

It was a night she just couldn’t fall asleep.

Normally, Luka fell asleep quickly. However, whenever she lay on her bed, it always felt like something was missing.

That feeling of emptiness lingered no matter how much she patted her head, even with her parents beside her.

Considering that, tonight felt especially difficult as she met the sleepiness.

Right now, the most dominating emotion Luka felt—was anxiety.

The sensation of forgetting something crucial.

The feeling that it seemed she hid something wrong.

It was like the time she accidentally broke her father’s cherished vase and then hid it, locked away in her room, weeping with guilt—something far more important than that was forgotten…

Thud, thud.

Her heart was pounding fiercely.

Something was continuously shouting at her. Though she couldn’t hear it.

Luka sat up in bed, relying on the small lantern’s light, and checked the Bible again.

The content hadn’t changed. You are not wrong.

“You are not wrong…”

The words from the Bible manifested into the world through her lips.

And, strangely enough—even though it was just that she spoke it, Luka could sense a strange power.

“God’s words…”

What was written in the Bible was God… so, um… was it ■■■■■?

Anyway, if what was written in the Bible is God’s words…

“Does that mean ‘you are not wrong’ is… God’s word?”

Then, what does it mean that I am not wrong…?

What does it mean that I am right?

—At that moment.

‘…?’

Through the window that Luka had enjoyed peeking through since she was little, bright moonlight streamed in.

At the edge of the light was—a mirror. The same mirror that had always been there.

With a sense as if someone was controlling her, Luka walked towards the mirror without even realizing it.

And when she finally reached the mirror—

“…Huh?”

What greeted her was herself.

Her image was reflected in the mirror. Naturally, it could only show her own appearance.

But talking about that dimension of things was childish.

Standing here, wearing luxurious pajamas, the Luka that was obviously loved—

Was not there.

Instead, the Luka in tattered clothes, looking distressed as if she hadn’t eaten properly.

“!!!!!!”

At that moment.

Suddenly, the ground she stood on began to shake.

No way… an earthquake?

It happened sometimes, but Luka was still just a 13-year-old child trying to remain calm.

“W-What…!! Mom!!! Dad!!!”

For a moment, she called out to her parents in panic—

But Luka soon realized that something was fundamentally wrong.

Upon closer inspection, the shaking wasn’t the ground.

The walls were shaking.

Everything except where she stood… was melting away.

The wallpaper. The dolls. The warm bed. The diary she diligently wrote in… all of it.

“W-What is this?! Help me! Help me!”

Screaming in terror, she tried to move in all directions—but soon, the space went dark.

The only object left before Luka, was the mirror.

And in it, her unhappy self.

Before she could even ponder how this happened—

‘That voice’ began to echo.

<<[Luka.]>>

“!!!!”

From above… a voice was heard.

Someone was watching her from above…?

“W-Who are you…?”

<<[I am the messenger of God. Calm down. You don’t need to be afraid.]>>

—Nodding.

All Luka could do was stiffly nod her head—

But ‘do not be afraid…!’

She mustered her courage. Her dad had said that courage is the virtue above all else…!

Still holding her head up, she squeezed out the strength to speak.

“I-I f you’re God’s messenger… are you ■■■■■’s messenger?!”

<<[No.]>>

—God’s name is not that.

<<[Luka. If you've seen the Bible, you should know.]>>

‘……!’

<<[The 'word of God' that no one can even identify—surely you must be able to see it. You are loved by God.]>>

I, loved by God…?

<<[The fact that you can hear this voice is part of that. God wishes for your happiness.]>>

“God… wants for my happiness?”

<<[Yes. That is why we have created this place—as Luka de Poitier, where you are loved by everyone, a paradise of comfort where only happy things can happen.]>>

Because God’s will is your happiness.

“Y-Yes…?”

Hearing those words, Luka froze in shock.

Wait a minute.

What do you mean you created a comfortable false paradise…?

Is the world I’m in… a fake?

The messenger of God continued, without answering her question.

<<[You must be curious as to why that is your path to happiness. It is a very simple story. You—]>>

—Are destined to never be happy, no matter what.

* * *

God hopes that Luka will find happiness—that is God’s will.

The strong will of the true one true God looking down upon us.

With the “almighty power” granted by God, we sought out every possibility for Luka’s happiness.

But that could not be done. It is like trying to resurrect someone who had fulfilled their time and ascended to heaven.

However, ‘God’s will’ must be fulfilled no matter what. Therefore, the conclusion drawn from the world—

—Is eternal happiness promised in a model garden.

A place free from pain and sadness.

A father who loves me, a wise mother, maids akin to sisters. A place where sad things never happen.

That was the only path for Luka to attain ‘happiness.’

“Does that mean…”

…It’s all fake?

My mom and dad too?

The family I loved… were all, all just illusions?

Luka sank down.

It was a nonsensical story, but strangely she felt certain.

The being speaking to her now, the messenger of God, was not lying.

<<[That is why I have come to you.]>>

“Huh…?”

<<[Luka. You are loved by God. It is rare for God to exert such tremendous power. It shows how much God values your 'will.']>>

It’s simple. If you wish, I will send you back to the ‘real world.’ To the place from which you cannot escape your cruel fate.

Of course, if you want to stay in this world—at least your soul will forever rest in blissful happiness without knowing any truth.

“What do you mean—”

<<[Yes. You decide. What will you do?]>>

Luka bowed her head, thinking of her answer.

Of course, she thought of going back. To the place where her parents are waiting.

If this is a dream, she would want to cry and cling to them.

But.

But something kept nagging her.

The thought that “you are not wrong.”

The feeling that she was forgetting something.

Luka slowly patted her head.

…I knew it, this isn’t it.

I was forgetting something.

Would I be able to remember it when I return to the original world?

But… is that even important?

‘…Yes.’

Yes. This is a horrifying nightmare.

When I wake up, I will tell my mom about it. I dreamt of the messenger of God.

My mom wasn’t very religious, so she would probably be worried, wondering what dream I had. Luka really liked that warmth from her mom.

Dad was the same. The one who always worried about her.

Even in situations where there’s nothing, he would always share food with her, saying, “God is watching you”—

‘…Huh?’

Drip, drip.

Suddenly, tears like chicken droppings fell to the floor.

…Dad?

To me… to me…

Always, saying God is watching over me.

Saying that He sees every choice I make… that was what dad said.

Luka couldn’t find the words to explain her feelings properly at that moment.

How could a 13-year-old girl express the longing she felt for someone she didn’t even know who it was?

<<[Choose comfortably, Luka. God will not judge you.]>>

“……”

After looking at the other self reflected in the mirror, Luka quietly closed her eyes.

And then she patted her head again.

The Miss said that whenever I pat her head, she’d say things like, ‘This doesn’t feel right,’ or ‘I feel like I forgot something.’ I wondered if long hair felt lonely, so I tried to find something. How does it look?

I…

What is contained in the Bible is, every word is indeed God’s words.

If what is contained in the Bible is really God’s words—

Luka slowly got up and gazed directly into the darkness above her.

“I… want to go back to my original world.”

—I must not be wrong.