The Teratoma Saintess
Forced happy endings are just the author's business. Virgin conception. In ancient myths, tales often appear of virgins giving birth to monsters. Sometimes born from eggs without an umbilical cord, sometimes described as wriggling flesh with pulsing eyes and hearts inside. Witch legends, monster tales, demon stories... It's a grotesque horror that appears only in the most terrifying narratives.
However. It wasn't mere fiction confined to myths.
On a clear day when flowers bloomed and birds chirped, a horrific malignant tumor took root in a girl's womb. That tumor was named teratoma.
"A teratoma...?"
"Yes. A tumor that can turn into anything, yet doesn't know what it should become."
Teratoma. A malignant tumor capable of differentiating into organs, possessing a specific DNA blueprint. A horrific lump of flesh mingled with all sorts of organs.
Noah was that.
A 'brain and heart' lodged in a girl's womb. That was the beginning of all this absurdity.
"In the temple of the womb, human flesh is conceived, and souls dwell in the brain and heart."
"...And that soul was Noah?"
"Well, back then it was just a lump of flesh. It was truly unfortunate for the sick girl. An young girl who hadn't even had her first period got pregnant, so she was treated as a witch who'd slept with the devil. For a girl born into a wealthy family, being abandoned by her own kin happened in an instant."
The story that followed... might be even more horrific.
Virgin pregnancy. A witch, intrigued by this peculiar phenomenon, came seeking her out. Like all arrogant witches, she researched life itself, and saw through the unfortunate girl's condition at a glance. She stepped in personally, claiming she would cure this pitiable child.
The witch's talent was truly magnificent. She succeeded in perfectly healing the unfortunate girl.
However. The witch's great magic made the mistake of also reviving the teratoma lodged in the womb.
"It was unfortunate for the girl who desperately wished for her illness to be cured. Maybe that's why this miracle happened. Some girls truly can't achieve what they desire."
"Pardon?"
"A god with the power to shift one person's misfortune onto another..."
"Wait, you don't mean..."
"Having two such beings is horrific in its own right."
"Is it really what I think it is?"
There are two kinds of misfortune in a child losing their parents: one is the parents dying, the other is being abandoned by them.
And Zara is the world's most unfortunate girl.
In her childhood, Zara lost her kind father to death. So how did she lose her strict mother?
"Well, from here on it's speculation."
Zara, born bearing all the world's misfortune in place of others. Noah, bearing all the world's suffering and dooming it to destruction.
The girl hated by the world, and the girl loved by the gods. Two people too alike.
They are each other's antithesis.
That's why, in the Republic of Korea's worst masochist community, 'Endless', there was once this speculation.
Zara always hated herself the most. So it wouldn't be strange if her harsh misfortune birthed another version of herself.
"It's not certain. Almost nothing is known about Noah's past. Just circumstantial evidence."
"My god. How much does this damn world have to torment people before it's satisfied?"
"Forever."
Endless.
"Suffering never ends."
"Then what's the reason this world even exists? Why does a world like this have to be?"
"The reason the world exists..."
Noah said: Since everything in this world is suffering, it exists solely for her, the one who devours it all.
But she was wrong. A ridiculous misdiagnosis.
She knows nothing. She's just another button in the end.
She's not strong enough to endure all the world's suffering. In the end, she dooms the world.
Thus, this world of Endless exists solely for the one who, unsatisfied with the ending of destruction, presses [Start Game] again in search of a new one.
"For me."
"Pardon?"
"This world exists solely for me."
To torment the Player!
***
"Ah, Mother."
"Good morning, Charlotte."
Early morning. Charlotte's bedroom was the sunniest room in the hospital. Her day began when the sun rose.
"Uh-heh."
"Charlotte. There's drool on your cheek."
"Wipe it for meee..."
"You should wash your own face—"
—"You Fucking Idiot. Noassppi. Does this kid not know how to wash her face? She just wants to spend time with you."
"...Hoo. I'll do it this once, to teach you proper face-washing. Learning the right hygiene methods is important too."
"Hehe."
Noah had resolved to be kind to Charlotte, but... it was hard. Truly hard.
She'd spent her life serving the lowliest, yet this was the first time she'd realized how hard it was to love those close to her.
"Mother. Isn't today your house call day? I'll guard the hospital diligently. Be careful out there. Don't get hurt."
"No. I plan to stay at the hospital today."
"Ah, why?"
"I've been feeling sleep-deprived lately."
"Ah, good thinking. You work too hard, Mother! Sometimes you need to set everything aside and rest fully."
Noah suddenly gazed at Charlotte smiling radiantly, full of joy. Such a tiny body. Ten years old. Too young to do anything properly. Like orphanage kids often do, Charlotte had matured far too early.
"...I'm sorry, Charlotte."
"Pardon?"
"No. Hm. Thinking about it, I've received so much help from you, Charlotte."
"Hehe. Really? I've been helpful?"
"Of course."
Charlotte was a child. The kind who should be spoiled in her mother's arms. But a child without arms to hold her has no choice but to mature unbelievably fast. So Charlotte had to act grown-up.
This was Charlotte's suffering. The kind no mere doctor could ever bear in her stead.
"I'll take a nap today. Your room gets such good sunlight... May I borrow it?"
"Of course! Hehe, sleep with me!"
"Very well."
"Ah, you're not refusing?"
"It's easier to fall asleep with someone beside me."
In truth, she didn't know if that was really true. Noah had no family. She couldn't know the comfort of dozing in someone's arms.
But knowing Charlotte needed that comfort, Noah too would surely sleep peacefully.
...
"Mother."
"Yes."
"Mother."
"Hm, is something uncomfortable?"
"No. Hehe."
"Good. I'm glad."
"Mother."
"......"
A bed slightly too narrow for two. Charlotte, nestled in Noah's arms, grinned idiotically, calling her name over and over.
"If you keep calling, I won't be able to sleep."
"Then you call my name, Mother."
"Pardon?"
"Sing me a lullaby!"
"Hm. I don't know any lullabies, so that might be difficult. Sorry."
"Tch."
Charlotte, whining in her arms, soon fell into deep sleep with steady breaths. Noah slowly closed her eyes too.
Then, screams echoed.
She saw landscapes of countless people enduring hardships. She felt people groaning in agony.
["It hurts. It hurts so much. It's so hard..."]
["Fuck. This sucks. Why are there so many noisy bastards?"]
["Ah! Why don't people love each other?!"]
Because people hate each other, can't be content with what they have, and won't help one another. The world is filled with suffering.
This suffering is hers, so she can't sleep. She can't turn away from her own pain. The more she closes her eyes to ignore it, the clearer it becomes.
This is her. Her inborn fate. Her received calling.
"Mother...?"
"Ah, Charlotte. Weren't you asleep?"
"Your hand feels cold... Hng..."
But she couldn't embrace her daughter while shuddering in suffering...
So Noah had to reject her own calling.
She closed her eyes again. Nothing was visible anymore.
She opened them. Her beloved daughter was there.
"Charlotte."
"Yes..., Mother..."
Her body weakened. No pain felt. Pain is the body's warning, so those whose bodies are irreversibly broken aren't even allowed that.
The end for one who turns from their own suffering: a body that can no longer feel pain.
As a doctor, she knew this all too well.
But there were words she had to say nonetheless. If this was her final flash of lucidity, that light must be used for one person.
"Charlotte. In truth, I think of you as my daughter."
"Pardon...?"
"You can call me Mom."
Charlotte's eyes flew wide, sleep fully gone, staring at Noah. Blinking, mulling over the words.
Then she nodded, smiling more purely than ever.
"Yes, Mom... Hehe."
Ah. Only now realizing pain isn't life.
Reaching the one true wish to say "I love you" to you.
Why can't I be honest?
"Mooom..."
To give you those words.
My remaining life is far too short.
I shouldn't grieve so much.
"......"
Father in heaven. I know my life isn't mine.
My soul and life are truly Yours, so I won't resent if You take them.
But. Just one day, if You let me live as this child's mother.
I'll gladly accept falling to hell.
"By the way, Priscilla sis. Have we met before?"
"Hm? Well, I don't know. I might remember if I saw your face, but... my eyes are like this, so I can't recognize people. I found you only with the gods' power."
"Hehe. Actually, your face feels unfamiliar too! But your vibe seems familiar somehow."
"Is that so?"
"Yes! But are you a hero too, sis?"
"I'm a shrine maiden. Of the Scales and Contracts. The Scales is a fair god... so They gift one thing to those who give up one."
"Aha. I'm a hero! I got power from the gods of Justice and Seasons."
"Impressive. What power?"
"The power to not lose myself!"
"That's truly wonderful."