A faint blue screen flickered before my eyes.
[SYSTEM INITIALIZING…]
[SYNCING ROLE…]
I slowly sat up on the bed, my gaze drifting across the lavishly decorated room.
Gold-lined walls.
Velvet curtains.
The entire room reeked of wealth.
Old wealth.
The kind built on corpses politely buried beneath history.
Then finally—
a voice echoed inside my head, languid and almost lazy.
[Since this is your first mission, you are assigned a story you must first be briefed on.]
A pause.
[The current world is based upon the tale of Snow White and her evil stepmother.]
I stayed quiet.
[A daughter born a princess with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood, and hair as black as ebony became the object of obsession for her beauty-consumed stepmother.]
[Following the birth of the Queen's insecurities, a secret order for Snow White's execution was issued.]
The voice remained calm.
[The hunter assigned to carry out the execution was seduced by Snow White. In exchange for a passionate night, he allowed her to escape to which Snow White ardently agreed]
[The two parted ways shortly afterward.]
[Snow White later stumbled upon seven dwarfs—poor, exhausted, and struggling.]
[Proving herself the epitome of a lady, she cleaned their home, prepared their meals, and fulfilled every domestic responsibility expected of her…]
A faint pause then with a edge
[…all while slowly falling prey to the schemes of her stepmother.]
I rested my chin against my hand quietly.
[When approached again by the hunter, Snow White reacted with fear and trauma.]
[This eventually led to the hunter's murder at the hands of the dwarfs.]
[In the end, Snow White fell victim to the Queen's final scheme and died.]
The room seemed quieter now.
[All seven dwarfs, each harboring feelings toward Snow White, chose to preserve her beauty within a glass coffin rather than bury her.]
[The coffin was tended daily.]
[Years later, it was discovered by a prince who became enchanted by her appearance.]
A slight pause.
[The dwarfs, struggling financially, sold Snow White to him—convincing themselves it was what she would have wanted.]
Bought.
Sold.
Same as the real world.
[During the journey, the responsibility of tending to her fell upon the prince himself.]
[Eventually, the poisoned apple lodged within Snow White's throat was dislodged.]
[Upon awakening, the first thing she saw was the prince brushing her hair .]
[She immediately fell in love.]
My lips twitched slightly.
Of course she did.
[After learning of her circumstances, the prince executed the dwarfs for selling her "like a slave."]
[The Queen was subjected to prolonged torture before her eventual death.]
The butterfly-like voice didn't carry any emotion. Numb. Funny
[For reasons unknown, the prince died several years into their marriage.]
[Snow White was left the sole ruler of the kingdom.]
[However, despite her kindness, Snow White lacked the education and understanding required to govern.]
[The kingdom entered gradual decline.]
[The commoners revolted , with church as their backing ]
[The nobility retaliated with the support of dark forces resembling the energy once found within the Queen's mirror but much stronger.]
The air in the room felt heavier.
[Snow White herself lived contentedly until the age of one hundred and twenty.]
[Meanwhile, conflict between the factions persisted for over ten thousand years.]
[Eventually, the world became unstable due to the accumulated resentment left behind by the light factions, the Queen, the hunter, the dwarfs, the mirror…]
A pause.
[And even Snow White herself.]
Silence.
Then—
[WORLD STATUS: UNSTABLE.]
I leaned back slightly against the bed.
"That's… quite the story."
A faint smile pulled at my lips.
"So all of this was planned and executed by a woman they called naive."
My heart had started beating faster somewhere during the explanation.
Not from fear.
Interest.
"I can't wait to meet her."
Immediately—
the system poured cold water over the thought.
[You are not here to admire her.]
Its voice sharpened Provokingly.
[Your objective is to ruin Snow White.]
[Either eliminate the lingering resentment surrounding her so the world stabilizes…]
A pause.
[Or ruin her so thoroughly that the world itself collapses and its energy may be harvested.]
My eyes narrowed slightly.
"What energy?"
A small butterfly emerged before me.
Black wings.
Green glowing edges.
It floated lazily through the air before answering smugly—
[I reside within your mind.]
"…Right."
I shut my mouth again.
A brief silence followed before I spoke quietly.
"But she's just a victim who fought back."
The butterfly stilled.
Then—
[Do what you are told.]
Its voice turned cold enough to freeze the room.
I stared at it for a second before lowering my eyes.
"…Now then."
A faint smile appeared slowly across my face.
"~What should I do? "