Chapter 57: Goddesses of Genesis

“Ah, she’s awake.” “Hwah?”

When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar woman was peering down at me. She was a woman with long, pale cherry blossom-colored hair, just like Mother… in other words, just like me. The woman, whose expression was hard to read, sighed slightly and moved away from me. When I sat up—muku—I found myself in a very beautiful garden. The garden at our Ducal House is beautiful too, but the garden here is on a different level. Various flowers were blooming in profusion, literally glowing with light. Standing up, the sky was a piercing blue that stretched on forever, with a pleasant breeze blowing. …However, beyond the garden, something like pure white clouds spread out, making it look as if we were floating above the clouds. Huh? Did I, perhaps, die…? Is this heaven or something…

“No, no, you aren’t dead. We just called your consciousness here for a little bit.”

Turning toward the voice that suddenly reached my ears, I saw two women having a tea party around a large white garden table. One was the woman with the same hair color as me who was peering at me earlier. The other was a kind-looking woman with silver hair cut in a short bob and wearing a hairband.

“Well, anyway, please take a seat. I’ll pour some tea now.” “Y-Yes…”

Doing as told by the short bob woman, I sat in the empty seat at the garden table. Then, a pot and tea set appeared from nowhere, and while floating lightly in the air, tea was poured into the cup as if an invisible man were pouring it. Magic? Or is it some kind of ‘Gift’?

“No, it is neither magic nor a ‘Gift’.” “…Umm, perhaps you have been reading my mind since earlier?” “Ah, oops. It just slipped out. It’s been a while since I talked to a person from the surface…”

Saying that, the short bob woman smiled shyly. Hmm? Person from the surface?

“This is a world above the world you were in, a place called the ‘Celestial Realm’. This is our private space located there, the ‘Garden’.” “Celestial Realm… wait, so it IS heaven!?” “Hmm… Well, that might not be wrong. Ah, but you haven’t died, okay? We thought we might chat for a bit, so we summoned just your spirit here.”

Summoned just my spirit…! Existence that can do such a thing in heaven… don’t tell me… Gods!?

“Umm, well, yes. Though I am a newbie god. My name is Linze… no, in your world, it was Linzeveil, was it? And this child here is Sakura… umm, Sakuracleria.” “Nn. Nice to meet you. You can call me Sakura, ‘kay?”

Lady Linzeveil and Lady Sakuracleria!? Th-The two Goddesses of Genesis! W-Why did such Goddesses call me!?

“Where should I start… Umm, Sakura-chan?” “What?”

Not me, but Lady Sakuracleria turned to Lady Linzeveil.

“No, no, not you, Sakura-chan, but the little Sakura-chan here.” “Muu.”

I’m sorry. It’s confusing…! Since I was named after you! Lady Linzeveil asked me with a wry smile.

“Sakura-chan, you have memories of a previous life, right? You were originally a girl from Earth, correct?” “Y-Yes! That’s right! Could it be that my reincarnation into this world was done by you two…!” “No, that’s wrong. Your soul, which died in an accident, wandering into this world was completely a coincidence. No, I suppose it could be called our mistake for not considering that possibility…”

In contrast to Lady Linzeveil who showed a slightly troubled expression, Lady Sakuracleria, without changing her expression much, was munching on sweets from the cake stand—paku paku. How should I put it, she’s kind of childish… While I was thinking that, Lady Sakuracleria glared at me sharply.

“Not childish. Despite appearances, I have a husband and children.” “Ah, I’m sorry…”

Read my mind again… I should try not to think unnecessary things. More importantly, if they know I’m originally a human from Earth, there’s something I want to ask.

“Umm, is the world we live in the world of the game… ‘Starlight Symphony’?” “I figured you’d be curious about that. To give you the conclusion, I can only answer: it is, and it isn’t.” “It is, and it isn’t…?” “It is not ‘inside a game’. Without a doubt, the world you are living in now is a real alternate world, different from the Earth you used to live on. The game ‘Starlight Symphony’ released on Earth is a game made based on this alternate world.” “But, we also used Earth as a reference when creating this world. That part is complicated.”

‘Starlight Symphony’ was made based on this world…? Eh? What does that mean? And they made this world referencing Earth…?

“We have a friend named Yumina… Yuminaria.” “Ah, yes, I know her. I learned about her in class.”

Goddess of Judgment who sees the future, Lady Yuminaria. The Goddess said to be the leader of the Nine Goddesses.

“When the nine of us created this world, we wondered what kind of future it would have, so we took a little peek at the future using her power. What we saw there was an interesting ensemble drama with romance and adventure unfolding at the ‘Academy’…” “Eh… is that ‘Starlight Symphony’s’…?” “Yes. It was what you call the ‘Elliott Route’.”

Summarizing Lady Linzeveil’s story, it goes like this: The Goddesses, who saw the future and enjoyed the ‘Elliott Route’, thought, ‘Hey, depending on the choices, couldn’t this develop in various ways? We want to see those too!’ So, using Lady Linzeveil’s power, they simulated the divergence of fate and enjoyed the ‘Jean Route’ and other capture targets’ routes via future sight. Since the future is strictly uncertain, apparently even the Goddesses didn’t know which of these would become the true future. But the other routes were also wonderful, and feeling it would be a waste for this story to disappear, the Goddesses told the story to an acquaintance on Earth.

“Y-You have an acquaintance on Earth?” “Yeah, rather than an acquaintance… a sister-in-la… well, that doesn’t matter, but since that person worked at a game company, she proposed the stories she heard from us to the company. And what was created was…” “‘Starlight Symphony’…”

My god. That game was like a book of prophecies for this world about what will happen.

“Basically, we of the Divine Tribe are forbidden from direct actions that greatly influence the surface. So we intended to just quietly watch which route that story would take in this world, but…” “An unforeseen factor barged in there.”

Pi, Lady Sakuracleria pointed at me with her cake fork. Ugh, am I being treated as a bug after all? Will I be deleted…?

“It’s okay, we won’t delete you or anything, so rest assured. Even if you are a reincarnator, you are a human living in that world.” “But I’ve crushed the Elliott Route and such…” “That can’t be helped. History is something the humans of that world create. Just because our predictions were off doesn’t mean you have any responsibility.”

I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart at Lady Linzeveil’s words. I got the stamp of approval from a Goddess to be free! Acquittal and discharge! Yaaaay!

“Too early to celebrate.” “Eh…?”

To me rejoicing, Lady Sakuracleria, while stuffing her face with cake, threw out ominous words.

“Little Sakura-chan was the Villainess in the game… the future sight world, right? And the head Villainess at that. In other words, the possibility of meeting terrible misfortune is quite high. What you call the ‘Ruin Route’. I think that, intricately entangled with various laws of causality, will continue to attack you from now on.” “As I thouuuuught────!?”

Sakuraile has many ruin routes. If you include fine differences throughout the series, probably over thirty…! The light ones are exile or demotion to commoner, or being sent to a convent. Naturally, the worst is death. Even the ways of dying vary widely: execution, dying in prison, assassination, poisoning. In ‘3’, her epitaph is carved on a grave even though she doesn’t appear in that title! I feel the malice of the staff. No, it’s not the staff’s fault; is that one of the futures that will happen? …It is the future, right? It’s not really the staff getting carried away? Or rather, if the game contains both the future seen by the Goddesses and things created by the staff’s prankishness, is there a possibility I’m scared of a future that can’t exist on its own? Game production team! Don’t do unnecessary things!

“You carved open your fate. At least, there are no more ruin routes involving Elliott and Jean. There might be minor troubles, though. We want you to continue doing your best to overcome fate. That is our wish.”

Does that mean I should keep crushing ruin routes…? You’re saying something pretty tough, you know? Do you know how many series ‘Starlight Symphony’ has, including spinoffs? But I wonder why they are cheering for me so much. They said my wandering into this world was a coincidence, so it’s probably not atonement.

“Well, it’s not exactly atonement, but since we watched each route over and over again…” “Because Sakuraile meets such terrible fates, maybe a little sympathy?”

Ah… I kind of understand. I saw almost all routes too… In the game, Sakuraile is a villain, but being treated that terribly makes you feel a bit sorry for her…

“But thanks to you reincarnating as Sakuraile, the future has changed significantly. In this timeline, Sakuraile is not a Villainess. So, we thought, isn’t it okay for there to be a future where she is rewarded?” “Will I… be rewarded?” “We are hoping you will be rewarded.”

Hmm, I hate Bad Ends too. I want to avoid that somehow. In the end, I have no choice but to steadily crush the ruin routes. I don’t know if I can meet the Goddesses’ expectations, but I have to do it. For a peaceful life. Or rather, can’t I get some advice or support items?

“We cannot lend a hand directly, but we will give you a Divine Protection tailored to your ‘Gift’ a little… a special additional ability. I don’t know if it will be useful, but it’s better than nothing.” “Also, I’ll attach a guard just in case. Ask that child for details.” “Divine Protection? And a guard…”

Suddenly, a drowsy sensation assaulted me, and my consciousness faded due to an irresistible sleepiness. Huh? Could it be time is up…?

“Do your best, Little Sakura-chan.” “See ya.”

Listening to the voices of the Goddesses, I let go of my consciousness.