It was an all-white room.

No other color was visible; everything there, from the sky to the ground, was painted white.

The space was vast, so vast that its boundaries could not be seen.

And within it…

Empty.

There was nothing to be seen in the room, leaving only a blank white background.

As if from the very beginning, the room was nothing more than an endless void.

However, that was only true for someone with untrained vision.

Amidst the emptiness, a faint white shadow curled up in the center.

Its color closely resembled the background, almost indistinguishable—practically identical.

The shape was humanoid, resembling a small girl who appeared to be in the third grade. Her hair was long, reaching the tips of her toes.

Defying gravity, her body floated freely in the air.

Though her face was adorable, a divine aura radiated unmistakably from her.

In her hands was a large open book with a white cover.

She seemed engrossed in the book she held.

“This is…”

In the midst of the empty room, her words suddenly appeared and stopped…

“Is this the end of that story?”

The tone of her voice did not reflect the behavior of someone her age. The emotion in her words was anything but ordinary. She was utterly amazed by the conclusion of the story in the book.

As if the scenario was the complete opposite of what she had anticipated.

After finishing the book, the girl gently closed it.

With her small frame, she suddenly hugged the large book tightly. Her entire face was hidden by her bangs, making it impossible to see her expression from the front. However, from a slight angle, a crazed smile could be glimpsed.

A crescent-shaped grin spread across her face.

“Fufu…”

As if her happiness could no longer be contained, the girl laughed.

“FUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…”

Her laughter echoed loudly, resonating to the farthest ends of the room.

“Hahaha… This is unbelievable… absolutely unbelievable, hahaha…”

The book she held flew out of her hands in her fit of joy. As it drifted away, the book mysteriously dissolved into white light particles and disappeared into the air.

“Hahaha… To create an ending like this, humans truly are fascinating creatures!”

The girl’s words were sincere. Admiration flowed freely from her as she marveled at the unexpected narrative and its conclusion.

While she was reveling in the moment, a mysterious voice suddenly spoke.

“Why have you suddenly taken an interest in the lives of such lowly beings, my lord?”

The voice was deep and neutral, its gender indiscernible.

Its source was also unclear, as if it had materialized in the empty room out of nowhere. The identity of the mysterious voice was impossible to determine.

Except for one person.

“Oh, it’s you.”

The small girl, addressed as “my lord,” seemed to recognize the owner of the voice. She contemplated the situation briefly before laughing when her suspicions were confirmed.

“If even you fail to comprehend it, doesn’t that make it even more remarkable? Hahaha…”

Her response was not an answer to the question posed by the voice. It was a confusing statement that simultaneously sounded like mockery and praise.

The voice fell silent, not because it had no response, but like a servant honoring their master, it waited patiently for her laughter to subside.

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After her laughter ceased, the voice resumed.

“I cannot understand it. Selfish beings who thoughtlessly destroy their own habitat, who harm one another for personal gain—what is so fascinating about them?”

“That’s precisely what makes them fascinating.”

“What do you mea—ah…”

The girl’s direct response sparked the voice’s thoughts. It wanted to inquire further but stopped midway, as an analysis formed in its mind.

The girl chuckled, amused by her subordinate’s uncharacteristic behavior.

“Have you realized it now?”

“But that’s impossible! No matter how much potential they possess, their physical limitations make it unattainable!”

The subordinate protested vehemently, arguing that despite humanity’s seemingly limitless potential, inherent weaknesses had been designed to restrict them. Moreover, the laws of the world were crafted to keep humans within the bounds of reason, ensuring cosmic balance.

It was convinced that its master’s thoughts were baseless ideas. Yet the expression of the girl it called “master” shattered its confidence.

With a weary smile, the girl offered a brief explanation.

“You still don’t understand, do you? Let me ask you one thing. If you were human and encountered a wall blocking your path, what would you do?”

“That’s simple. I’d either find another way, break it, or—”

“Do you realize it?”

Her sudden interjection, accompanied by a short question, left the voice puzzled and seeking clarification.

“What do you mean—”

“All the possibilities you considered, they’re all solutions, aren’t they?”

“Ah… but if that’s the case, wouldn’t ‘giving up’ and other negative outlooks also be viable choices?”

“Of course, giving up is also a possible choice… However, all those negative outlooks are only temporary obstacles. Besides, giving up doesn’t entirely extinguish the flame of ambition. It simply allows it to smolder, unnoticed by others. And while waiting for the right moment, that small flame gathers fuel, ready to ignite.”

“…”

“Even though there are those who genuinely give up in life, that's a different matter," said the girl while twisting her wrist. Then she continued:

“The higher their intellect, the craftier they become. Everything in the world can be influenced and utilized. Even the act of ‘giving up,’ once considered mere desperation, has evolved into an effective tactic for achieving their goals. And their goal is singular: to solve the problems they face. Naturally, their problems grow increasingly complex over time, but humans were never designed to reach such a stage.”

The voice remained silent, absorbing its master’s harsh yet insightful words.

“The two key factors enabling this are the Conformity between ego and reason.”

“Conformity? Not Harmony?”

“That’s right, Conformity. Harmony is like pouring equal amounts of coffee and milk into a cup. Here, ‘equal’ doesn’t mean proportional but rather ‘just right,’ where the bitterness of coffee and the sweetness of milk blend in harmony.”

Two small cups, one filled with black coffee and the other with milk, suddenly appeared and floated around the girl. She elegantly poured a little milk into the cup of coffee and stirred it with a small spoon. After taking a sip and feeling satisfied, she let both cups and their contents mysteriously vanish into the air.

“But Conformity differs. With Conformity, you can only taste one sensation at a time—either bitterness or sweetness.”

The two cups reappeared, now filled entirely with black coffee and milk, respectively. She poured the black coffee down, and instantly, the room turned black, from the walls to the ceiling. She stood out like a white speck amidst a black canvas.

Then, she poured the milk, and the blackness vanished, replaced by a milky white ambiance.

“When ego or reason takes the lead, their resolve becomes unyielding. Regardless of their motivation—be it love, power, wealth, or fame—they become unstoppable.”

“…”

“And with wisdom, they will carve their own path. As long as it leads to their ultimate goal, every option will be chosen.”

“…”

“Whether good or evil, they will become blind…”

The girl clapped her hands, dancing atop a large pool of water reflecting the blue planet where humans dwelled.

“Unfortunately, this has already become deeply rooted in human existence. The civilization they’ve built today is the result of the strong desires and emotions of their ancestors.”

As she moved to the rhythm of an unseen melody, the history of humanity played out in the water’s reflection. Revolutionary tales, grim legends, and joyful stories emerged without exception. When the melody ended, the water reflected nothing but blackness.

“Do you understand now?”

“…”

“If so, then you already know what lies ahead for them. What do you think about that?”

Hearing this, the voice was suddenly overwhelmed by dread. Its thoughts froze, and a shiver ran through its being as it imagined the future should its master’s predictions prove true. It realized the immense threat humans posed to the balance of the world. Unable to acknowledge the latent power they possessed, it could only lament that such beings should never have been born or left unchecked.

“That… would be catastrophic.”

“Fascinating, isn’t it?”

The girl’s delighted response to her subordinate’s grim answer contrasted sharply with its unease.

Seeing her calm demeanor, the subordinate could only marvel in silence. Yet, the possible future continued to haunt its thoughts, making it increasingly pessimistic about the fate of the world.

As silence filled the room, the girl began to laugh again…

“Fufufufu…”

This time, her laughter was that of an ordinary nine-year-old girl. When it subsided, she spoke once more.

“It’s only a matter of time.”

“That is the true essence of humanity.”

“If I were to explain it in detail, it might take a century, but…”

“If I had to describe them in one word…”

“PANDORA.”

The girl smiled slyly, while her subordinate seemed trapped in its thoughts, burdened by the implications of her words.

Everyone under her command knew.

They were certain of one thing.

The girl they called their master knew everything.

However, there was one thing even they didn’t know.

Amidst her euphoria, like clouds spreading across the sky, the girl pretended not to notice the fundamental issue she couldn’t resolve. From the moment she finished reading that book, the problem lingered, casting its shadow. Even now, the solution remained elusive, leading her to suspect that something far more abnormal existed below—something beyond her comprehension.

Humans.

Every decision for the future had always been theirs to make.

The end of their existence was in their hands.

The conclusion they reached was a result of their past actions.

And the end they received was absolute.

Such was the law of the world.

Or at least, it was supposed to be…

The girl suddenly fell silent, and the subordinate, noticing the stillness, followed suit. A minute later, the girl smiled as if she had found clarity.

“Well, I’ve decided.”

“Are you planning to do something, my lord?”

Responding to the question, the girl answered with an animated expression.

“Of course. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to see for myself the outcome of their choices?”