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

She's such a lovely girl, and more importantly... you feel like you've seen her somewhere before.

But that feeling quickly faded, and subconsciously you felt you'd rather see a girl with pink hair, similar to her yet different, like cherry blossoms—strange, why did you have this thought?

However, you quickly put these thoughts aside, because the cross pendant in your hand was getting slightly warm, and you felt a strange sensation, like a kind of "guidance".

You know, this is "He" telling you that the person in front of you needs help.

You approach her, greet her, and ask if she needs help. She looks at you curiously, momentarily taken aback, as if she's noticed something surprising. But then her gaze becomes somewhat questioning, as if she's detected some subtle "illusion."

However, in the end, she smiled and nodded at you, indicating that she needed a place to rest.

You took her back to the church and told her she could rest there, and she thanked you and Father Henry and agreed to stay there for the time being.

The girl was cheerful and lively, and quickly became friends with the children still in the church... and you too, of course.

[You now know her name—Alicia, and you also know that she is traveling alone. She even vividly described to you the beautiful scenery she saw on her journey, such as snow-covered forests, endless flower fields, or crystal-clear lakes.]

She also recounted the interesting stories and anecdotes from the journey, which captivated many of the children. After all, the children here, and even you, don't have a very wide range of activities, and the scenery that Alicia described is too far away for you.

[However, unlike other children, although you showed curiosity about the outside world she described, you didn't particularly yearn for it. Through long-term cultivation, you don't dislike your current life.]

[It's possible that your behavior caught Alicia's attention. She especially likes to chat with you, and even when you're out running errands, she likes to follow you, chatting about interesting things while helping you out a little.]

[Isn't it true that she's a girl who can travel alone? She has a great grasp of "distance." Although she talks a lot and her topics jump around quite a bit, you're surprisingly not annoyed. In fact, she made friends with quite a few other people along the way, and almost everyone had a good impression of her.]

After spending a few days together, you and she gradually became more familiar with each other. She even jokingly suggested that if you wanted, you could go out and travel together.

As before, you declined her invitation, preferring now to stay by Father Henry's side and help manage the church.

Alicia was a little disappointed, but she didn't mind too much. She just said that she would come to visit them again if she had the chance in the future.

A few days later, Alicia resumed her journey; your encounter was merely a small interlude in her life.

As the days went by, life became increasingly difficult, and the inexplicable "targeting" became more and more obvious.

Father Enrique's brow was furrowed almost daily, and he also gradually sent the children away from the church, entrusting them to the care of people he knew.

You witnessed all of this and sensed something.

In the end, only you and Father Henry were left living in the entire church, and the surroundings became increasingly desolate and lonely.

You expressed to Father Enrique your desire to follow in his footsteps.

Father Enrique smiled but did not agree to your request. He told you that you were now a qualified "priest" and that you should leave to go to one of his friends' places to help manage the church.

You hope to inherit this "church" where Father Henry the Ripper lived, even though it is extremely desolate.

Father Enrique refused.

You sensed something, and felt a subtle sense of being "guided."

You know, it is "He" telling you that you should follow Father Henry's guidance, say goodbye to him, and go to his friends.

You remained silent.

Father Enrique smiled, gently kissed your forehead, then pressed his forehead against yours, and held up the cross pendant on your chest, whispering something.

"Please don't worry, I haven't left. I've simply returned to His side, to be with the Almighty Lord who favors us, watching over your growth. I will always be with you."

You silently nodded, accepting Father Enrique's arrangement, and went to see his friend, Father Yan Zheng.

Father Enrique had taken care of everything for you, and you left the church where you had lived for a long time without any problems, heading to a place called "Twilight Street," where Father Enrique's friend, Father Yan Zheng, was maintaining a church.

Shortly after, news suddenly broke that Father Henry had been arrested, and the church also suddenly issued a statement saying that Father Henry had violated "doctrine" and had been expelled from the church. Subsequently, Father Henry was convicted of various strange crimes, including "involvement in murder and money laundering," and was quickly imprisoned. Shortly after entering prison, Father Henry "committed suicide out of fear of punishment."

The bureau chief was also exposed for having children who "possessed and used large quantities of addictive drugs," and he himself was suspected of "selling addictive drugs privately." Shortly afterward, the media presented "evidence"... These events led to the bureau chief being suspended from his duties pending investigation, subsequently sentenced, and during transport, he displayed "extreme resistance," ultimately being "forced to be shot dead" by his escorts.

Although you had some idea of ​​what was going on, you still felt angry and saddened upon learning of their departure, but at that moment... there was nothing you could do.

Although you were unable to personally bury Father Enrique, who had taken care of you, or to personally thank the director for his kindness, and you couldn't even attend their funerals, you still erected a small tombstone for each of them in the cemetery behind the church on "Twilight Street" together with Father Yan Zheng.

You clutch the cross pendant to your chest, feeling the slight warmth in your hand, and that faint, almost imperceptible sensation. You know you should heed Father Henry's admonition, follow "His" guidance, and help those in need.

Simply follow the path He has shown you... that's all.

You believe it so much.

Chapter 5 [He] had no objection to this (4662)

You've been in "Twilight Street" for a while now, but even so, you, coming from the outside world, still feel a little out of place in this atmosphere.

This place is chaotic, food is scarce, and almost every day people are fighting for survival, even resorting to violence over the smallest amount of food.

Not only that, as the most chaotic place, it is also filled with many fugitives. Their hands are stained with blood. In order to get food to survive, they do not mind killing unarmed people. In order to hide their identities, they do not mind killing anyone, even if the other party just mentioned it casually or said it unintentionally. They will kill the other party without hesitation.

You don't know why "He" guided you here. Perhaps He wants you to change the chaotic environment? But can you really do it? Regardless, you believe that "He" must have some deeper meaning in doing this.

After living here for a while, you'll realize that even in such a chaotic place, there are a few quiet spots that remain undisturbed.

Firstly, these are the headquarters of various powerful gangs. No one would bother to cause trouble for those big gangs, especially within their territory.

Secondly, there's the "Sanatorium" not far from the church. Most of the gangs in Twilight Street originated from here and have all received some form of assistance from the "Sanatorium." Therefore, this area has been designated as a "no-fight zone" by various gangs, who also occasionally send supplies here. In return, the children adopted or the wounded cared for by the "Sanatorium" are eventually taken in by the various gangs and absorbed as new members.

Of course, the local gangs on Dusk Street knew about this unwritten rule, but the refugees from outside were unaware of it. As a result, the sanatorium occasionally encountered some trouble, which the nanny would usually resolve, but it still happened occasionally.

However… since that nun named Aponia appeared, fewer and fewer people have been causing trouble for the sanatorium, and at the same time, quite a few strange rumors have emerged… but those are not important.

Thirdly, there is the "church" maintained by Father Yan Zheng, which is a tacitly recognized "neutral zone" for the gangs. The gangs regularly transport a minimum amount of supplies here, and most of their negotiations are also held here, with Father Yan Zheng serving as a "witness" to these negotiations.

In addition, people would occasionally come to "confess"... In short, for many reasons, the "neutral zone" of the "church" was thus established.

Compared to the "sanatorium" where "friendship" serves as a bond, your situation as a mere "neutral zone," or rather, a "negotiation table," is undoubtedly much more difficult. In addition to refugees coming to ask for food and shelter, outside criminals will also target you, and the gangs negotiating will often break into fights due to disagreements... eventually escalating into a "shootout" as usual.

As for your church... it's drafty, riddled with bullet holes and knife marks, even the statue of "His" is full of holes. Apart from the warehouse and living quarters next to the cemetery in the backyard, and the confessional placed in the middle of the backyard and the front hall passageway for some reason, everything else is in a state of disrepair.

You're trying to make things better here, at least to keep the church intact and clean, but the materials in the warehouse are too scarce, so even if you wanted to repair it, you couldn't. You tried to suggest repairing the church to Father Yan Zheng, but he refused and also clearly analyzed your current situation for you.

[Your supplies all come from the gang's funding, and the only price you pay is the destruction of the church. Besides that, the gang won't go to the backyard; they'll only fight in the front yard... This is an unwritten rule. They get the "negotiation ground" and "witnesses," while you get supplies and a place to live. Such a "deal" is already very worthwhile in "Twilight Street."]

Besides, you haven't received many supplies. Instead of wasting time and effort repairing the church, you should leave some behind.

Although you understand, out of respect for "He," you still hope that the church can be made a little better, at least... a little cleaner. Father Yan Zheng didn't say anything about your idea; he neither supported nor opposed it, nor did he stop you, seemingly tacitly approving of your idea.

You began taking action with the goal of "repairing the church," and aside from daily prayers and routine outings to help others, you almost constantly worked towards this goal.

[If the walls are damaged, patch them up; if the windows are broken, repair them; if the chairs are worn out, rebuild them... Except for the stone statues, which there's not much you can do for now, you've done everything you can.]

During this process, you may occasionally find that supplies in the warehouse are mysteriously disappearing, as if someone has quietly taken them away, and... it seems to be different people.

Sometimes, food and loose, useless supplies are taken without leaving any trace. Other times, food and basic necessities are taken, and the traces left behind indicate that the thief was in a panic and in a hurry.

You told Father Yan Zheng all this, but Father Yan Zheng told you not to worry too much. You wanted to ask "He," but "He" had no objection.

Theft is clearly a crime, yet "He" seems completely unconcerned... You don't quite understand, but you still acted according to "He's" will and didn't care about it... "He" must have some deeper meaning in doing this.

As for your efforts to repair the church, Father Yan Zheng did not stop you, but he also did not encourage you. He just silently watched you work hard, watching the church gradually improve... or rather, gradually return to its original state. He would occasionally show a genuine smile, but soon that smile would be replaced by sorrow.

[You didn't notice any of this; you were just too exhausted. The daily repair work took up all your free time... There was no way around it; the church, serving as a "negotiation table," was a frequent venue for negotiations. Gangs of all sizes would choose to negotiate here if they wanted to.]

After all, this is a "neutral zone," not anyone's "territory." Therefore, even if a firefight breaks out after negotiations, the firepower on both sides will not be significantly different, which can be considered a kind of alternative "fairness."

[And during the fighting, the things you painstakingly repaired will be destroyed again, forcing you into an endless cycle of "repair → chosen as a negotiation site → negotiations fail and fighting begins → the church is destroyed as a result → repair → chosen as a negotiation site"]

A well-maintained church often doesn't last more than three days, sometimes not even half a day. You should know that gangs don't inform you when they choose a negotiation location. Often, you only find out the situation when both sides have already arrived at the door. After all... you are just the "negotiation table."

Your efforts have been repeatedly undermined and destroyed. Even you, who are already harboring resentment, find no response from "He". You can only suppress your growing frustration and begin your repair work once again.

[You do this self-imposed work day after day, and the time you spend in prayer each day is increasing—because your efforts are repeatedly thwarted, and your inner restlessness and anger are growing.]

[The thought of killing all future generations involuntarily begins to pop into your head, but you quickly notice it and stop what you're doing to pray that "He" will forgive you for that sinful thought.]

However, "He" seemed to have no objection to this.

You have no choice but to continue your work.

Meanwhile, you've noticed that the gangs are giving the church less and less supplies. You wonder if it's really due to a "scarcity of resources," as they claim, or... because they see you have extra supplies for church repairs and are trying to restrict your lives?

You don't know, after all, the gangs have no obligation to tell you anything; you're just the "negotiation table."

Your days are becoming increasingly difficult, which reminds you of what you went through with Father Enrique before. The almost identical events make you feel a little panicked, but at this moment, Father Yan Zheng unexpectedly supports you. Although he still won't help you or work with you to repair the church, he will remind and urge you to do today's "work".

You hesitate, clutching your cross pendant tightly. A warm sensation enters your palm, and you know that "He" is watching you.

[He has no objection to this, seemingly telling you: follow your own heart.]

You gained some insights and continued with your "work".

Supplies are becoming increasingly scarce, and even the most dishonest thieves have stopped stealing from the church's storeroom.

Surprisingly, you occasionally find some supplies mysteriously appearing in the warehouse. They're odd and worn out, but they can at least help you to some extent.

You have some suspicions, and even find it somewhat amusing—the thieves who stole from you before are now helping you; is this some kind of "honor among thieves"?

But... this little bit of supplies can't help you much, especially after those gangs stopped providing supplies. Your quality of life has plummeted, and even your "work" has been forced to stop.

Father Yan Zheng grew increasingly worried, sitting in the church every day, frowning as he stared at the entrance, seemingly deep in thought.

You feel lost and confused, believing that your actions have caused all of this, but Father Yan Zheng tells you that it is not your fault—he seems to have guessed something.

After several more difficult days, a nun came to the church, bringing some supplies.

Her name is Aponia, and she's here on behalf of the "sanatorium" to help you.

You expressed your sincere gratitude to her.

However, after a moment's thought, Father Yan Zheng still asked Aponia whether the supplies the "sanatorium" was receiving had decreased, and the answer was—no.

This answer seemed to puzzle Father Yan Zheng somewhat. After asking the question, Father Yan Zheng fell silent, only asking Aponia to convey his greetings to the nuns at the "sanatorium."

Aponia's attention lingered on you for a moment before she belatedly nodded and left the church.

You seemed to sense something as well, gently holding your cross pendant, feeling the warmth spread through your palm.

[He seemed to be watching the nun as well.]

Father Yan Zheng noticed the unusual behavior between the two of you and jokingly suggested that you two talk more. You nodded seriously, which made Father Yan Zheng feel a little embarrassed, especially after seeing your earnest expression.

However, you didn't notice Father Yan Zheng's emotions; you were simply pondering how to communicate with Aponiado.

[Perhaps Aponia thought the same thing, after all, she was also being watched by "He". So not long after, Aponia came to the church again, bringing some supplies and having a conversation with you.]

Somewhat surprisingly, yet seemingly unsurprisingly, your communication went exceptionally smoothly, and you almost quickly became "friends" in some sense.

After a pleasant exchange, Aponia left satisfied.

After that, Aponia would occasionally bring some supplies and have a conversation with you. Father Yan Zheng, seeing this, didn't know what to say, so he just sighed and remained silent.