I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

"Verbal support counts too, huh?"

Alicia's eyes curved into crescent moons.

"Besides, helping out in front of Xiwang seems almost unnecessary~ So Mei, you have to do your best~"

"........."

Raiden Mei was speechless for a moment, and finally could only shake her head and turn her gaze back to Xi Wang... At this moment, he had already drawn the [sword].

"This is... a ceremonial sword? Is this your weapon?"

Seeing the exquisite sword, which was not sharpened and even looked as if a section of it had been broken off, Raiden Mei asked with some doubt.

“I don’t need a weapon; this is a ceremonial sword in itself.”

Xi Wang shook her head, denying Raiden Mei's opinion, and then quickly brought the topic back to its original position.

"Come forward and take away the punishment you deserve, visitor."

"...What if I don't?"

"That's acceptable."

Xi Wang didn't seem to mind, he just nodded, and then... his pupils, like stars in the night sky, shone with a faint golden light.

? !

Raiden Mei's eyes narrowed, and an inexplicable sense of crisis instantly washed over her. She almost subconsciously wanted to make a move, but her body was instantly filled with a burning sensation.

"Ugh! Cough..."

How can it be? !

Raiden Mei's eyes widened... Logically speaking, if it were just burning flames, her physical attributes as a [Herrscher] would be enough to withstand it. While it wouldn't be completely unaffected, it wouldn't directly cause her to lose her combat ability, or even her mobility.

But what is this pain?! It's as if she's not a [Herrscher] at all, but just an ordinary girl... What is this soul-crushing burning sensation?!

“Those who commit crimes should be punished, even if…you are unaware of it.”

Before she knew it, Xi Wang had already walked up to her. He raised the sword in his hand and then gently touched her shoulder with the blade. Immediately, bright flames enveloped her body.

"Ahem..."

Despite the pain, Raiden Mei tried to fight back, but what followed was even more intense pain and fiercer flames... She couldn't even touch him!

"Do not resist; refusing punishment will only lead to a more severe sentence."

Xi Wang sheathed his sword, ignoring Raiden Mei's counterattack, and simply said calmly.

"And... the trial has already begun, and no one may stop it. You, the visitor, after taking your own punishment, please leave, rest, and then set off again."

What is he saying?! — This is what Raiden Mei, whose consciousness was already somewhat blurred by the flames, was thinking.

However, Xiwang ignored her, simply exchanging the Bible in her hands, and then extended the hand with the cross pendant to lightly touch Raiden Mei's brow.

Immediately, the flames seemed to be stripped away from Raiden Mei's body, leaving behind a jumble of chaotic and strange data.

【Ahhhhh——】

Some distorted and miserable howls came from the strange data. Raiden Mei turned around, but could only see a strange and distorted "creature" being burned by flames and finally turned into ashes.

"Ha...ha...what is that...?"

Raiden Mei, panting heavily, asked as she realized that she no longer felt the burning pain.

"The sin you carry."

Xi Wang's words remained simple and enigmatic.

"When you enter this place, it follows you, attaches itself to you, and accompanies you into this place...and grows rapidly here."

"The one I brought in? Wait... could it be... that's a Herrscher? The Herrscher of Corruption?!"

"It seems you have obtained a lot of information and passed it on very well... It's very good that you can pronounce its name so clearly."

"...So, what you're really targeting isn't me?"

Raiden Mei suddenly understood.

"Yes, but... you brought it into this place, which is undeniable, therefore you shall be punished."

Xi Wang nodded, acknowledging Raiden Mei's point of view, and then explained the reason why he gave Raiden Mei the "punishment".

"Your punishment is now over. If you have recovered, move on... Ah, there's more."

Xi Wang reached out, grabbed Raiden Mei's hand, and pulled it up. With a slight stinging sensation, he left a special cross mark on Raiden Mei's palm.

"As promised, I will engrave this power for you. Please make good use of it."

After saying that, Xi Wang withdrew her hand and bowed respectfully to Raiden Mei.

"Sincere blessings for your future, visitor."

Xi Wang then left, as if he had only come here to resolve the matter concerning Raiden Mei.

What a strange person—Raiden Mei thought to herself, but soon she had to face Alicia, who was cheerfully approaching her.

For some reason, Alicia seemed quite happy after Raiden Mei accepted his [mark].

[After the event concludes, the "Judgment" mark will be activated.]

————【Event: About Twilight Street】————

Raiden Mei: I've heard that many of the "Heroes" come from Twilight Street, and it seems that you... controlled that place for a period of time?

Xi Wang: Control? Ah, in other people's eyes, that's certainly the case... no, it should be said that's the truth.

Raiden Mei: Judging from your tone... it seems there's more to the story?

Xi Wang: No, not at all. I did take control of Twilight Street because only in this way could I change that place.

Xi Wang: Now that you know about this, you must have heard of the former nickname of Twilight Street.

Raiden Mei: [The Land of Chaos]...right? It seems to be the generally accepted title, but later, it seems that other titles were added, such as... [Eden]?

Raiden Mei: Judging from the current situation, the major changes that have taken place in Twilight Street must be closely related to you.

Xi Wang: I don't deny it, it's just...

Xi Wang: …………

Raiden Mei: What's wrong?

Xiwang: In fact... that place cannot be called the Garden of Eden, because the true Garden of Eden will not be destroyed.

Xi Wang: It was nothing but a false...hope, a false hope that I offered them.

Raiden Mei: (He seems very sad...)

————【Event: About the "Boss"】————

Raiden Mei: Speaking of which, Padre, why do you call Xiwang... [Boss]?

Padoflis: Well... Mei-nee, you know, back when I was in Twilight Street, I was actually a homeless person the whole time, and in order to survive, I had to learn some... uh... not-so-good skills.

Raiden Mei: Yeah, I understand. In order to survive in such a difficult place, it's okay to make some necessary mistakes.

Padofelis: That's how it was, so I would often...steal things back then. Although compared to others, my "crime" was very minor, it was still wrong, and I know that.

Padofelis: And because I had to steal valuable things to exchange for money, and back then the only truly valuable things were... things the gangs had, so I got into a lot of trouble back then...

Raiden Mei: ...Tell me about it, I'm a little curious.

Padofelis: Haha... almost... all of them, haha...

Raiden Mei: You're pretty good.

Padofelis: So at that time I came up with a method, which was to deliberately mutter a few words to myself when I was making a transaction or when I felt I was being watched, and to deliberately add the title of "boss" in them, so that those who were watching me would think that I was working for a big gang and that I had a very powerful person taking care of me.

Padofelis: That way they won't attack directly, but will follow me to see who the "boss" behind me really is... After that, I can shake them off, and they won't be able to catch me.

Padofelis: But later, the boss forcibly changed the rules of Twilight Street, and I was unable to continue my craft... For some other reasons, I went to the boss for help, and due to some unexpected events, the boss kept me on and let me work for him.

Padofelis: Back then, the boss was the most powerful person in the entire Twilight Street. I was also labeled as the boss. I thought it would be a good opportunity for other curious people to understand who the "boss" I used to talk about was. Plus, the boss himself didn't object, so I just used that title.

Padofelis: Anyway, back then the other gang leaders didn't dare to ask the boss for confirmation, so I got away with it smoothly, haha...

Raiden Mei: I always feel like you've omitted a lot of things.

Padofelis: Mei-nee, you don't need to worry about so much~ Come on, take another look at my collection of [strange items]! For example, this book, I don't quite understand it, Mei-nee, do you think you can understand it?

Raiden Mei: (Hmm? This... isn't this the Bible that Nozomi is holding? How come there's one here too?)

————【Event: Regarding Dawn】————

Aponia: Come here, Mei. I can sense your exhaustion. Please rest here for a while...

Aponia: Here, you can forget all your troubles.

Raiden Mei: No need, besides, I came to you to ask you some questions.

Aponia: Is it about the priest? Ah... if that's the case, you can ask him yourself.

Raiden Mei: Compared to that, I'm more curious about what kind of person he is in your eyes?

Raiden Mei: You said you can see the "threads of fate," so... what is his "fate"?

Aponia: ...Mei, why are you curious about this?

Raiden Mei: I heard from others that you two have a very good relationship, and... you have a lot in common in terms of how you do things.

Aponia: ...No, it's not the same, Mei.

Aponia: Nothing I did could change [fate]. In fact... I did far too many wrong things in an attempt to change the [fate] of others, making their experiences even more terrible than before.

Aponia: But the priest is different. Everything he does will be responded to, and he will change everything, leading everyone to that happy "endgame".

Aponia: However, his path was filled with pain and suspicion, and was far longer than others. The suffering he endured is unimaginable to us at this moment, but he will still persevere, steadfastly walking towards the light, leading us to that [endgame].

Raiden Mei: ...But as it stands now, he doesn't seem to have changed anything.

Aponia: No, Mei, this is just one node in [fate], and... he has already changed a lot of things.

Aponia: For example... you may not know, but in the end, apart from Sakura and Alicia who have already left, all the other [Heroes] survived... Ah, of course, I may also need to exclude them.

Raiden Mei: ...What?!

Aponia: As for the rest of the truth, you'll have to find out for yourself... I think that after you've met all the [Heroes], you'll have a vague idea of ​​what the priest did.