Salacia, Original Sibyl 

Child death, decapitation, internal bursting.

The fate of the Sibyls was always the same in the world of the miniature garden.
This story began a long time ago, when the four powers of hope descended upon a girl who wished for people’s happiness.
Her name was Nefeshé.
Wielding the power of God, the girl filled the miniature garden little by little to create the utopia she envisioned – a world where everyone can enjoy equal happiness.
Her blessings spread across to all parts of the world, and the once desolate land began to overflow with blessed rain and lush greenery.
Eventually, the inhabitants of this world worshiped the girl as a goddess who would bring fertility.
The blessings bestowed by the goddess would continue forever – as long as people offered their prayers.

However, the fragile happiness that seemed eternal crumbled away after Nefeshé’s birthday celebration.
Human desire reduced the deity to a political pawn. As a result of the numerous conflicts and clashes of intentions surrounding this, Nefeshé lost a fragment of her divine power and was chased out of Luthra, her homeland.

Nefeshé fled, accompanied only by her loyal guards who continued to believe in her.
She kept heading north, north.
Eventually, the group reached a city.
It was in a country called Tioquia, with abundant nature and high-quality water sources.
Although it was one of Luthra’s neighboring countries, it was a completely unknown land to Nefeshé, who she spent her entire life in the palace.
In Tioquia, she met a maid.
And the gears of their destiny began to turn.

“Salacia, when you’re done with that, please clean the guest room.”
“Yes. Understood, ma’am.”
“Honestly, I wish you’d do it yourself before I tell you to.”
“I’m so sorry…”

In a noble mansion, a maid clad in ragged clothes barely holding their shape continued to diligently perform her menial tasks.
Her name was Salacia.
She was born and raised in an orphanage, and after somehow finding her current job several years ago, she had worked tirelessly, sweating and toiling, until this day.
She hadn’t received a thorough education, but her natural grace suggested she could have secured a better-paying job. But that was not allowed in this country.
Tioquia was ruled by a powerful family that controlled the Tioquia Port, a vital hub of logistics.
This rigid class system, a so-called aristocratic government, prioritized the nobles’ interests above all else. Lower-class citizens were burdened with heavy taxes and forced into harsh lives.
With no freedom of occupational choice, not only Salacia but all the lower-class citizens lived a similar life.

However, it was obvious that they could not be content with such a status quo, and the lower-class citizens quietly started a rebel army to overthrow the ruling class.
Salacia wasn’t directly involved, but she knew someone close to her who was a core member of the rebel army.

“Hey, Salacia. You’re late for lunch break.”
“I made a bit of a mess at work… Are you working, Sandia?”
“Yeah, I’m heading to the port to unload cargo.”
“You are so impressive… Do your best.”
“Yeah, you too.”

Sandia, who was recognized for her strength, did heavy labor at the port.
The two, who grew up in the same orphanage, were childhood friends and close buddies.
At 17, they would graduate from the orphanage the following year.
As the eldest among the children, they were beloved by everyone like second mothers.

Strange visitors arrived at the orphanage where the two lived.
It was a group of several guards and a young girl they escorted.
They looked a little tired, but the quality of their clothes was good.
There must be some urgent matter at hand. It was clear not only from their appearance, but also from the fact that they had come to this orphanage for help.

The orphanage where Salacia and her friends lived practiced the Aterima faith.
The powerful clans, who disliked the existence of believers other than themselves, designated Aterima as a target for punishment. In the country of Tioquia, it was considered a heretical religion.
Publicly professing the faith inevitably led to purges, and the authorities went so far as to offer bounties for informants.
In Tioquia, this place was both an orphanage and a cover for the Aterima Church.

“Salacia, those people are important guests. Please treat them with the utmost courtesy and respect.”
“Yes, I understand, Director.”

The guests were treated with such reverence and politeness that the director felt compelled to emphasize it.
Among the group, there was a girl with beautiful golden hair. The director’s treatment of her was extraordinary.
From what they said, she was from Luthra.
Her flawless skin and refined manners exuded nobility.

(Is she the child of a fallen noble?)

Salacia, who had been mistreated and harbored no good feelings toward the upper class, frowned as she observed the group.
However, the girl from Luthra showed no hint of haughtiness or arrogance.
On the contrary, she quickly won the affection of the orphanage children, playing house with them, reading stories to them, and readily taking charge of caring for them.
However, she sometimes looked troubled.
Despite their differences in status, she must have endured hardships to reach this place, yet she remained friendly with the children, treating them as if nothing was wrong.
Seeing this, Salacia’s wariness gradually eased.

“The children have really grown fond of you.”
“Hehe. I’m sorry for being such a bother. But they really do like you, don’t they?”
“Eh?”
“They talk about you often. They say they all love the kind Salacia.”
“Really… It’s a bit embarrassing.”
“Children are very observant of others.”

Salacia and the girl grew closer in a peaceful atmosphere.
But Sandia continued to look upon the girl and her group with suspicion.

Some time had passed since the strange group had arrived at the orphanage.
Salacia suddenly learned the date had been set for the rebel army’s attack on the upper class.

“The time has come. Tomorrow, our strike force will begin the assault. Don’t let the children take even one step into the city.”

Sandia whispered to Salacia.
She had always known this day would come.
But there had been no warning at all.

“How sudden…”
“Apparently, there was a major incident in Luthra. Because of that, the noble families are all in a hurry. As a result, the castle’s defenses are weakened. If we’re going to do it, it has to be now.”
“That’s right…”

At the orphanage, only Salacia knew that Sandia belonged to the rebel army.
Sandia was Salacia’s childhood friend and her dearest friend.
If they started a rebellion, the worst case scenario could happen.
Salacia didn’t want Sandia to get hurt. That’s what she really wanted.
But the suffering of Salacia and the other lower-class citizens had reached its limit. She also didn’t want to dampen Sandia’s resolve, who had risen up for their sake.
Salacia closed her eyes for a moment, clenched the fist pressed against her chest, and encouraged Sandia.

“I understand. Make sure you succeed… and come back alive.”
“Of course. You don’t need to worry about me, Salacia.”
“I’ll protect the orphanage.”
“Yeah, I’m counting on you. I’m off now. I’ll stay at the hideout tonight to prepare for tomorrow, so I won’t be returning here.”

Sandia opened the gate to the orphanage, but then she remembered something and added.

“Oh, and keep an eye on those guests.”
“…?”
“They may be the key to this battle. As for that girl, she may be… No, I’ll leave it at that for now.”

With a vague answer, Sandia left the orphanage.
Watching her retreating back, Salacia desperately offers her prayer to Aterima.
For a future where humans can live in equality.
And for Sandia’s safety.

The rebels must have made thorough preparations.
Almost simultaneously with the signal to attack, flames erupted from every single noble residence in Tioquia.
Among them, the residence of the powerful clan that effectively held political power was surrounded by citizens who had taken up arms as rebels.
To prevent information from leaking, citizens outside the rebellion were unaware of the attack plan.
Everyone panicked and fled in the sudden riot and spreading flames in the city streets.

“Don’t panic! We’re safe now that we’ve made it this far!”

The orphanage, perched atop a small hill away from the city center, was the perfect place to escape.
Salacia welcomed the citizens who had barely escaped with their lives and urged them, along with the children, to take refuge in the orphanage’s largest hall.
They all looked anxious.
Among them was the group from Luthra.

“What on earth is going on…”
“The fire spread so quickly…”
“Mom! Mom!”

The hall was filled with the voices of the citizens.
In response, a relatively young black-haired guard from the Luthra group slammed her fist on the table, shouting as if venting her mounting frustration.

“What the hell is this conflict!?”

Another guard answered the question.

“It appears that the rebels are attacking the powerful families.”
“An attack? In a place like this…!”

The black-haired guard looked extremely impatient and shook her body busily, unable to hide her irritation.
Finally, as if making up her mind, she turned towards Salacia and the director and declared.

“We’re leaving Tioquia! Clear the way!”
“Impossible! I heard the city’s barrier is already sealed off. Besides, passing through that fire is impossible…!”

Everything Salacia said back was true.
The gates were already blocked by the Tioquia army, effectively the nobles’ private force, holding back the rebel army. To leave the orphanage, they would have to go down the hill and pass through the burning city.
In other words, escaping Tioquia was impossible right now.

“Damn it…!”

The black-haired guard kicked the floor in frustration. It was the girl in the group who spoke up to soothe her.

“Please calm down. Besides, we have something we must do now. Come on, let’s tend to the injured.”
“…Ah!”

Despite how emotional she had been, the black-haired guard straightened up at the girl’s words.
She was not just a soldier serving the nobility. An incredibly deep sense of loyalty was overflowing from her every word and action.
Salacia noticed it for an instant, but was soon overwhelmed by the task of protecting the newly arriving refugees, and the thought dissipated.

The rebels’ attack on the upper class was well-planned, and victory seemed certain.
Yet, despite calling themselves an army, they were ultimately a bunch of poor lower-class citizens.
Their lack of training was evident everywhere, and faced with the sheer numbers of Tioquia’s noble army, they fell one by one.
Those rendered unable to fight were carried to makeshift clinics, poorly equipped assembly halls, and the orphanage where Salacia worked.

“Please! There’s another injured one! The wounds are deep, treat them quickly!”
“Okay! Please come this way!… Sandia!?”

The injured person brought to Salacia was her best friend and core member of the rebel army.
Lying on a makeshift stretcher, she sweated profusely, clearly in agony.
Her abdomen bore a large wound that had torn away chunks of flesh.
Without hesitation, Salacia ran forward and took Sandia’s limp arm.

“Sandia…! Oh… how terrible…”
“Salacia… I’m sorry, I failed…”
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I’ll treat you now.”

At Salacia’s words, Sandia smiled faintly and muttered as if in a trance.

“…Lady Nefeshé… please lend us your strength…”

Thinking she had spoken a prayer to God, Salacia tried to encourage Sandia.

“Lady Nefeshé is in Luthra. We have to win with our own strength now.”
“No… God is… Lady Nefeshé is right here…”
“… That’s right. She is always in our hearts. So-“
“No. That’s not it, Salacia… God is over there…”

Sandia slowly pointed her finger.
At the end of her finger was the group from Luthra, with the golden-haired girl.

“Lady Nefeshé?!”
“The rumor that Luthra collapsed and Lady Nefeshé escaped… It was true!”

A murmur filled the orphanage’s hall as all eyes turned to the girl.
The girl called Nefeshé stood bravely, though her face was slightly pale.
Sandia shouted with all her strength.
She spoke words of supplication to the founder of the Aterima faith, persecuted as heretical yet steadfastly believed in.

“Lady Nefeshé… Please, please… Give us your power…!!”

“The power of hope… I cannot use it…”

Sandia’s plea was rejected by Nefeshé.
Just like with Luthra. Nefeshé never condoned harming others, no matter the circumstances. Her unwavering conviction would never bend. That is why she was chosen by God.
However, the people of the foreign Tioquia knew nothing of this, unlike the people of Luthra who worshiped Nefeshé.
The God that has been passed down through legends and word of mouth has been exaggerated and inflated by expectations.

“Why?! Aren’t you supposed to give equal happiness to all people?”
“If things continue like this, even more people will get hurt!”

Words that no longer seemed directed at a god, bordering on condemnation, were hurled at Nefeshé one after another.
However, Nefeshé did not refute them, but simply remained silent with her head bowed.
Eventually, Sandia stood up unsteadily, holding her wound.
Turning directly to face Nefeshé, she twisted the corners of her mouth and said.

“Do you think this has nothing to do with you? If we citizens lose, the army will come here, and you will be captured as well.”
“That is…”
“Or… when the time comes, will you sacrifice yourself to save us, as you did in Luthra?”

Hearing Sandia’s words, the black-haired guard became furious.

“You! Why would you…!!”

Sandia ignored her and continued.
This time, her tone held no mockery.
She knelt on one knee before Nefeshé, as if preparing for some sacred ritual.

“I… I am prepared to receive power! Equal happiness! Lady Nefeshé!!”

On the day of the birthday celebration in Luthra,
the four hopes residing within Nefeshé revealed a divine power so ominous it was terrifying.
The people who witnessed it were stunned, but more than anyone else, Nefeshé herself was the most shocked.
It was a power that could easily take human lives.
Nefeshé realized that the power that should originally bring happiness also had the potential to oppress people, and she was terrified of herself, of the power of hope.
And now, one of Nefeshé’s hopes has been lost, disrupting that balance.
If the people of Tioquia were to turn on her now,
she would not be able to control the power that would run amok in an attempt to protect her.

Nefeshé was forced to make a decision.
Should she use her power as a weapon, or let them die?
Or perhaps there was another way?

“…I understand.”
“Lady Nefeshé!”

It wasn’t just one that had peeled off that day. Nefeshé knew that her remaining power was also unstable in its vessel.
Compared to herself, who has experienced intense despair, those who have hope for the future may be able to become new vessels.

“I shall… bestow my power.”
“G-Give me now…!”
“But I will not grant it to you.”

Nefeshé restrained the joyful Sandia and pointed at someone else.
The girl who had been watching the exchange with anxiety.

“…Salacia. I will grant it to you.”

Nefeshé, or rather the power of hope, chose Salacia.
Sandia craved power. Her desire to save Tioquia was genuine, but her driving force was born from her hatred toward the noble families.
In contrast, what burned within Salacia’s heart was a future full of hope for Tioquia.
Salacia could build a bright future. And the power of hope also sought her.
That’s what Nefeshé had concluded.

The situation ended all too abruptly.
Salacia descended from the orphanage on the hill to the town of Tioquia and raised her thin arms to the sky.
In an instant, torrential rain poured down from the sky, instantly extinguishing the raging fires across the city.

At the same time, Nefeshé and her companions ran through the town, leaving Tioquia as planned and heading north.
It was clear that Luthra, who had monopolized Nefeshé’s existence, would never willingly let her go and had sent pursuers after them.
Though Nefeshé’s group had come to Tioquia seeking rest and supplies at the orphanage, they decided that staying any longer was too dangerous, and left without seeing the situation resolved.

After seeing them off, Salacia clasped her hands together and began muttering a prayer from the Aterima faith.
Suddenly, the noble families who had been hiding throughout the city began to writhe in agony, and without exception, every last one of them perished.
Later autopsies revealed that all of them had died by drowning.

Salacia was given great praise by the lower-class citizens and rebels who had been liberated from oppression.
They hailed her as an “inheritor of hope” and a “goddess of Tioquia,” and amidst a whirlwind of enthusiasm, Salacia was caught up in a whirlwind of fervor. Without even responding to the praise, she hurried off.
To the orphanage where she was born and raised.

I did it…!
Now I don’t have to live a life of misery and poverty!
This power was bestowed upon me by Lady Nefeshé…
From now on, I will use it to create a new Tioquia!

Arriving at the orphanage, Salacia opened the door and called out loudly.

“Sandia! Everyone!!”

But there was no reply.
Instead, it was deathly quiet, as if the place had been abandoned and left to decay.
The orphanage was usually bustling with children.
She had never seen an atmosphere like this before.
Salacia walked further in, puzzled.
Everyone must still be unaware the battle ended, holding their breath.
Thinking this, Salacia opened the door to the hall.
But an unbelievable sight unfolded before her eyes.

“No…!! Layla!! Ethan!!”

The children, and even the director and other staff.
Every single person who had been in the orphanage had their heads lined up on the long table in the hall, illuminated by the light streaming through the stained glass.
Among them was the face of her best friend, Sandia.

“Aaah…!! Sandia!!”

Salacia couldn’t help but rush over and cradle her face against her chest.
She had already lost all her blood, so she couldn’t feel any warmth from the girl.

“What… Why…”

Every time she hugged her and stroked her hair passionately, the reality of their deaths sank in deeper.
Salacia wept, lamenting this incomprehensible situation.
Then, from the shadows of the hall, a terrified voice called out to her.

“Salacia…Big sis…”

Turning in surprise, she saw a young girl standing there.
A blade was pressed against her throat.

“Elma!!”
“B-big sis…”

Behind the girl called Elma, a middle-aged man holding the blade smirked.
He was neither a member of the Luthra people pursuing Nefeshé, nor he was from the Tioquia army.
He was just an ordinary citizen of Tioquia.

“Don’t move. You’re also a follower of the Aterima faith, aren’t you?”
“You…! What on earth have you done?!”
“What do you mean? Don’t play dumb! I know this orphanage is a hideout for heretics!”
“Even if that’s true… Why would you do something so cruel…”
“Hehe… If I hand over a heretic’s head, the nobles will give me a reward! But with this many people… I’m going to make a ton of money!”
“What…!”
“I’d suspected something fishy for a while, but you lot had tight security. But when I saw the town in an uproar… I thought it was my chance!”

The orphanage was seeing a lot of people coming and going, as it took in injured people and refugees.
Given the state of emergency, vigilance was indeed lower than usual.
The man continued, smugly boasting as if proud of his own achievement.

“Killing old hags and kids was a piece of cake!”
“How… how… foolish…”

The man had killed people Salacia considered family, all for the bounty.
His heart had been corrupted by flattery toward the nobility, leading to a shallow and impulsive motive for murder.
It was an act that seemed to distill the very negative aspects of Tioquia, a place that appeared prosperous only because of the aristocrats’ lavish behavior.
And because of this… the day when the man would receive money would never come.

“…All the nobles are dead. No one is willing to pay you a reward anymore.”
“What? Dead? Are you so scared you’ve lost your mind? You’re just a pathetic liar.”
“I’m perfectly sane, and I’m not lying. Because… I killed them.”
“Hmph, you’re crazy. Fine, just get this brat out of the way…”

As he spoke, the man pressed the blade against the child’s throat.

“Big sis…”
“It’s okay, Elma. Don’t worry.”

Salacia looked straight at the man, her gaze cold as she spoke calmly.
The man sneered once, then tightened his grip on the knife, ready to strike the girl.
But the knife didn’t budge.

“What the hell… I can’t… move…”
“Do you believe me now? I was the one who killed the nobles.”
“You… You did this…”

Inexplicable changes were happening to his body.
The man’s face gradually turned pale as he realized that it was really Salacia’s doing.

“You too… have been oppressed by the nobles to some degree, haven’t you? From now on, Tioquia would have been peaceful… A peaceful life was waiting for you…”
“I-I didn’t know things had gotten that bad in the city! If I had known…”
“Then things wouldn’t have come to this. But that’s beside the point. It’s all the result of your own actions…”
“Hey… What are you going to do… stop, stop! I have a family!”
“We had families too, precious families. But… they won’t be coming back here anymore…”
“I-I’m sorry! It’s my fault! I’ll atone for my sins! So…!”

If she had been the same person she was just a moment ago, she would have had no choice but to let him kill the girl along with herself.
But now it was different.
She… has become a god.

“I’ll do anything! Please forgive me!”
“For the new future of Tioquia…”
“Please…!”
“…I don’t need you.”
“You… heathen… Huh? Aaaaahhhh!!?”

Before the man had even finished speaking, his body swelled up in an ugly, distorted way.
During that moment, Salacia quickly took the girl’s hand and pulled her close, turning her back to him.
The man’s body burst from within like a water balloon, scattering into pieces…

Salacia was overcome with grief at the sight of those who, although not related by blood, were murdered so cruelly as if to serve as a warning.
Yet alongside her sorrow, a small flame, seemingly contradictory, began to burn within her chest.

The nobles who oppressed the people for their own desires.
The people who killed children to protect their lives despite being oppressed.
Tioquia was a country more corrupt than she had thought.
Its darkness ran deep, and it would not be easy to bring about change.
As she pondered this, Salacia resolved herself.

“I need to determine what is necessary and what is not to create a peaceful country… I can do it… I can make it happen…! I will recreate a perfect utopia with my own hands!!”

So that such tragedy would never occur again.
So that no one would stray from the path.
A new monarch had now been born, and Tioquia began to walk into the future.
Towards the ideal country she envisioned.