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

A cute, slightly mischievous voice rang out, instantly bringing joy to the heart.

A pink-haired girl, as graceful as a fairy, approached Aponia. She first exchanged a glance with Aponia, then greeted her with a bright smile.

"Hello~ You must be the Aponia Sister that Pado and Xiwang were talking about~ My name is Alicia, and as you can see, I'm a lovely girl like a blooming flower~"

"...Hello, Alicia."

Aponia's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a look of doubt on her face, but then a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. She then took Alicia's outstretched hand as a gesture of politeness and friendship.

Because Aponia finally saw something different from everyone else before her... or rather, she simply didn't "see" Alicia's future; the [threads] made of light... did not appear on Alicia.

This is undoubtedly good news, at least for Aponia.

but……

"Oh my, is Miss Sister captivated by me?"

Alicia's eyes curved like crescent moons as she spoke, her tone rising slightly with a hint of happiness.

"Oh dear, I'm still too charming, so... Paddo, how about we switch?"

Alicia's topic jumped around as usual. She tilted her head slightly, looked at Padofelis who was hiding behind Aponia, and said with a smile.

“Let’s touch each other’s ears, shall we, Paddy?”

"No, Sister Aili... your ears are very sensitive..."

"The tail works too~"

"do not want!"

Padofelis expressed her resistance.

"Come on, let me touch it!"

"do not want!"

The two began a chase, like a cat playing with a mouse, circling around each other... while Aponia could only stand helplessly between them, watching them keep circling around her.

"nun?"

Xi Wang's voice rang out immediately, but before Aponia could react, Padofelis darted to his side, grabbed his sleeve, and hid behind him.

"Boss, help me!"

Padofelis trembled, and her tail drooped down, wrapping around Xi Wang's legs several times, as if she wanted to cling to him.

"Don't be afraid, Paddo, it won't hurt if you touch it..."

"don't want!!!"

Padofelis firmly refused... That was too sensitive, no way! Besides, Alicia's methods would make her look very strange! So that was even more unacceptable!

"Alice, if others are unwilling, don't force them."

Xi Wang spoke up to stop her, and at the same time raised her hand to block Alicia's figure.

"Oh dear~ What a pity, Pado's ears and tail are so cute, and they feel so soft and fluffy to the touch~?"

"Ugh... Sister Aili, please don't bully me... I'm still not used to the surgery... I'm very sensitive, and you scared me when you touched me just now."

Padoflis puffed out her cheeks somewhat unhappily, giving Alicia a weak protest.

"Oh? So that means... you can touch it after you get used to it, Pado?"

"Of course you can, it's not a big deal to touch the ears and tail... Hmm... No, no, even if you want to touch them in the future, you'll have to trade something for them!"

"Hmm... okay~ I'll trade myself for Paddo then~?"

"……Eh?"

Padofelis was stunned for a moment, then became somewhat flustered.

"Ehhhh?!"

“Alicia means that she can let Padoni touch her ears in exchange.”

"Oh... I see... You scared me to death..."

"Hmm... I'm happy that Xiwang understands me~ But it's a pity we won't see Pado's panicked expression~ What a shame~"

Alicia tilted her head, sighed, and said with some regret, then laughed again.

"However, this feeling of being on the same wavelength is quite nice~ There are very few people who can directly understand what I mean~ Xiwang, you are one of them~ Does saying this make you a little happier?"

"Yes, I'm very happy, Alicia."

"That was a bit perfunctory... I'm a little unhappy about it~"

Alicia puffed out her cheeks slightly, pretending to be angry, but the smile in her eyes didn't fade; instead, it intensified.

"I'm unhappy~ so I need some special help~"

As Alicia spoke, she reached out and took Xiwang's hand, lifted it up, and placed it next to her face. She tilted her head slightly so that Xiwang could touch her elfin ears.

"Hmph~ Hmph~ As expected, Xi Wang's hands are very warm~"

"Alicia..."

"Okay, okay~ I won't be a girl who's too annoying~"

Alicia nimbly jumped away, releasing Xiwang's hand in the process, and said with a smile.

"This nun must have something else to say to you, right? The space is yours for now~ Hmm... coincidentally, I also need to see Möbius~ So... let's talk later~?"

After saying that, Alicia left. Before leaving, she secretly gave Padofelis a cute look, which made Padofelis quickly cover the ears on her head.

"……nun?"

Xiwang ignored the tail that was now wrapped around her legs much tighter, and turned to Aponia, asking a question.

“Father, that is…your friend, is that right?”

"Yes, she rested in the church for a few days, before I met you."

"I see."

"...?"

Hearing Aponia's somewhat absent-minded response, Xi Wang was puzzled, especially by the look in her eyes that held a hint of relief and understanding, and... expectation.

Aponia was indeed somewhat distracted, because her gaze was fixed on Xiwang, and once she saw the [threads] on Xiwang's body, she couldn't look away.

She "saw" the silk threads on Xi Wang's body that were much longer than those of others, and she also "saw" the path he was to walk and everything he was to experience.

That was the path he should take, the path he was destined to choose... long and arduous.

He will be hurt and suspected again and again, but he will still move forward firmly, choosing to save and persevere time and time again.

He will receive love and affection from others time and time again, and he will cherish it in his heart, making it the strength and belief for him to keep moving forward.

Finally, he led everyone to the glorious "Endgame," the "Promised Land" that everyone loved.

Aponia "saw" that Xi Wang was wrapped in several strands of [silk] that were different from others. The [silk] was illusory and fleeting, as if it had moved from the "past" to the "present". It seemed fragile, but it was real. When she looked closely, she was surprised to find that at the other end of the [silk] were two cherry blossom-colored girls, one big and one small, who seemed to be sisters.

They are sisters named Sakura and Rin—Aponia suddenly realized, knowing their names.

Immediately, she "saw" a slightly more solid [thread]. Upon closer inspection, she discovered it was a blue-haired girl who loved to draw, and this girl was even connected to her.

Is her name Gretchen? — Aponia thought to herself.

Then, she also "saw" a very faint "thread" extending from herself and Padofelis.

It is so faint, like a mirage in the mist, as if it would disappear if you looked away even slightly, but it still exists, existing as a thread that is different from the others.

And these illusory threads extending from their bodies all entangled with him, accompanying him to the end.

Aponia understood... it was they who gave him the will to move forward, it was they who surrounded him, enabling him to walk firmly toward that glory.

Aponia suddenly realized why the nun had said they were destined "partners," "companions" on the path of life... not only because they were both watched over by "He," but also because of the blessing "He" had bestowed upon her.

And she also understood the responsibilities He had entrusted to her... to accompany him, watch over him, help him, let him experience every ending he was meant to experience, to accompany him through every hardship he was meant to experience, and to see him receive every love he was meant to receive.

Ultimately, he will lead everyone to that warm and happy "endgame".

The blissful, radiant, and glorious "endgame" was already before her eyes, as were the hardships he was about to endure.

But she couldn't say it, and she couldn't bring herself to say it... because that would be too selfish, too selfish to others, to those whose "endgame" was already decided.

They will be freed from their predetermined suffering and led by Him to that blissful "end".

But that would be too cruel for him, for the priest... His path was far longer and more difficult than others... Too many thorns, too much hurt, and countless... suspicions, enough to crush anyone.

But he was much stronger and more determined than others.

"Father..."

Aponia lowered her eyelids slightly, reached out and held his hand in her palm, speaking softly.

Perhaps others will be defeated, but... he will persevere, he will hold fast, he will resolutely... walk towards that glory. It is because of this that he can lead everyone to that "endgame". It is because of this that he is so admirable.

"Please... there's no need to worry."

Aponia spoke softly, feeling his warmth in her palm.

Warm and reassuring.

But she couldn't give him anything in return... not even the warmth of her hand, which was far inferior to his.

She could only fix her gaze on him, watching his figure move forward, and could only follow him and stay by his side.

"I will stay by your side."

"I will keep an eye on you."

"Until...that [endgame] arrives."

And so, the illusory and fleeting thread that intertwined between her and him... became solid at this moment.

Chapter Seventeen: The Seeds of Doubt Planted in the Heart (4469)

Aponia seems to be guided by "He," but you don't know what it is... but you don't mind, and you won't ask.

If this is His guidance, then there must be a deeper meaning behind it.

[And... as someone who works with you, you believe that everything Aponia does is to fulfill the mission given to her by "He", so you don't care too much about her refusal to speak.]