Location: Narvik, Norway – Day 1
Snow fell in soft, unhurried flakes. The town shimmered like something from a painting—clean roads, smiling people, perfect rows of houses against icy mountains.
Sena, wrapped in a dark coat and snow boots, stepped off the local train with a single backpack, no makeup, and a clear mission.
> [System Active: Mirrored Eight Protocol – Norway Node Online]
[Objective: Uncover and gently dismantle artificial harmony. Build a system rooted in authenticity, not appearance.]
She narrowed her eyes at the too-perfect symmetry.
> "Something's wrong," she whispered.
"Real peace doesn't need to perform."
---
Day 2 – A Perfect Smile
Sena volunteered as an assistant at the local community center.
The people were polite. Always smiling. Always agreeable.
Every suggestion she made was met with:
> "That sounds lovely!"
"What a wonderful idea."
"Of course, we're all happy here!"
But no one asked her anything in return.
No one shared anything real.
She wrote a single word in her system notepad:
> "Sterile."
---
Day 5 – The Cracks in the Ice
It was only when she helped clean the staff lounge that she overheard a whisper between two teens on kitchen duty:
> "If you say the wrong thing, your housing priority gets delayed."
"And if your happiness score drops below 85, they 'invite' you for therapy."
Sena froze.
A wellness score system.
Based not on reality… but on perception.
> [System Alert: Artificial Peace Detected – Emotional Suppression Through Incentive]
[Solution: Expose without confrontation. Heal by releasing control.]
---
Day 7 – Sena's Quiet Rebellion
She started asking strange questions at the community events.
– "What do you do when you're angry?"
– "When was the last time you cried?"
– "Would you feel safe disagreeing with your mayor?"
Most people smiled… and didn't answer.
Until she met Astrid, a 17-year-old violinist who hesitated at every question, then said:
> "No one here's allowed to be real, Miss.
But your questions sound like songs we never learned."
---
Day 10 – The Wall of Imperfections
Sena rented a small meeting room in the town library and put up a sign:
> "You can write anything you're afraid to say aloud.
No cameras. No judgment. Just paper and silence."
At first, nothing happened.
But on Day 12, Astrid returned—with friends.
And slowly… the wall began to fill.
– "I miss my real laugh."
– "I pretend every morning."
– "I'm tired of chasing 100%."
> [System Update: Emotional Honesty Portal Created – Artificial Harmony Faltering]
---
Day 14 – The Collapse of Perfection
A local official visited the library.
He read the wall in silence.
Then turned to Sena.
"You're making people doubt."
Sena replied calmly,
> "I'm making people breathe. You don't fix a crack by painting over it."
The man looked away.
And left.
Not in anger.
But in shame.
---
Day 17 – Real Peace Begins
Sena proposed a town forum—not with speeches, but silent boards.
People walked through an old train station filled with messages. No names.
Just truth.
And it spread.
Soon, even the community center stopped using happiness scores.
They replaced it with a new sign:
> "Here, we grow. Not grade."
> [System Update: Norway Node Complete]
[Effect: Town wellness system dissolved and replaced with open forums.]
[Builder #036 Identified – Astrid, "Voice in Snow."]
---
Evening – Encrypted Voice Note to Jiwoo
Sena's voice was sharp, clear.
> "This place wasn't broken… it was pretending.
And pretending is the most fragile peace of all."
Jiwoo replied:
> "And now?"
Sena exhaled.
> "Now they're scared. And free.
That's how I know it's working."
---