Transformed into a pink fairy, I will make all the players cry with my sword

This cloyingly sweet compliment, accompanied by a faint, sweet floral fragrance, entered Fei Ying's nostrils.

Hiyori's body tensed up in that instant.

She could clearly feel the incredibly close distance between herself and the pink-haired girl in front of her.

The warm breath even gently brushed against her cheek, bringing a slight itch.

A strange heat, uncontrollably spreading from my neck, quickly climbed up to my ears.

Hiyori's heart skipped a beat, and she almost instinctively took a half step back, widening the distance between them.

She was not used to it, and had never had such close contact with anyone before.

Especially in this apocalyptic world fraught with crisis, being too close often means deadly danger.

However, the clean and refreshing scent emanating from the other person contrasted sharply with the blood and stench permeating the ruins. Far from being offended, it strangely relaxed her nerves, which had been constantly on edge due to vigilance, for a moment.

"cough……"

Hiyori cleared her throat somewhat awkwardly, trying to cover up her momentary lapse in composure with her actions.

She quickly changed the subject, not letting her gaze linger on Tao Yao's smiling face.

"We shouldn't stay here any longer. Let's continue searching to see if there are any other usable supplies, and then leave as soon as possible."

After speaking, she turned around and continued her search, her decisiveness and efficiency making it seem as if the strange occurrence had never happened.

Tao Yao watched her slightly hurried back and smiled silently.

The subsequent search process took place in a strange atmosphere.

Hiyori maintained her high efficiency and professionalism. She had a clear goal and acted quickly, leaving no corner unchecked if supplies might be hidden.

Tao Yao, on the other hand, was like a dutiful "burden," quietly following behind her.

However, this quiet did not last long.

Hiyori quickly noticed something was wrong.

She had just frowned because she couldn't reach a can on a high shelf when Tao Yao beside her found a long enough steel pipe from somewhere, gently poked it, and the can fell steadily down.

She was struggling to pry open an iron box that was covered by clutter when Tao Yao handed her a perfectly placed crowbar, as if she had known she needed it.

She rummaged through a pile of discarded medical supplies, trying to find a few rolls of clean bandages, while Tao Yao took out a whole box of unopened, vacuum-packed first aid kits from a cabinet on the other side.

Once or twice, it might just be a coincidence.

But as this situation repeated itself, Hiyori's suspicion and disbelief grew stronger.

There seemed to be some unseen understanding between her and Tao Yao.

Often, she doesn't even need to speak; a single gesture or pause is enough for the other person to immediately understand her intention and cooperate perfectly.

This feeling is so strange.

They had only known each other for one day, yet when they worked together, they were more in sync and understood each other better than she had with her previous mercenary companions whom she had known for several years.

What puzzled Hiyori even more was that, instead of feeling threatened or uneasy as she was with this enigmatic girl, she felt a strange sense of comfort that she herself found absurd.

It's as if they were meant to be this way.

With their unusually harmonious cooperation, the resource collection work proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

Before long, the SUV's trunk was completely full.

Hiyori stuffed the last box of compressed biscuits into the gap in the trunk, then slammed the trunk door shut.

She dusted off her hands, tallied her haul, and a look of satisfaction appeared on her face.

"We have almost enough food and water, and some medicine and energy blocks. If we use them sparingly, these supplies should be enough to last us for more than a month."

After saying that, Hiyori took out a somewhat worn paper map covered with various markings from the driver's seat.

She spread the map out on the hood and pointed to a location circled in red.

"The survivor camp in Graystone Town has been destroyed."

Her finger moved across the map, pointing to another, more distant point.

"According to the markings on the map, the closest camp to us is this one called 'Black Iron Outpost.' However, it's a long way, and we have to pass through a marked high-risk area, so the road conditions definitely won't be good."

She estimated the distance and road conditions and came to a less than optimistic conclusion.

"If all goes well, it will take at least half a month to arrive."

After analyzing the current situation, Hiyori began to plan the next steps.

"It's getting late, and it's too dangerous to travel through the ruins at night. Let's find a safe place to stay here and rest for the night before setting off again at dawn."

After speaking, she habitually turned her gaze to Tao Yao beside her, as if seeking her opinion.

"May I?"

"It's all up to you."

Tao Yao answered without hesitation, her face filled with complete trust.

"Anyway, I don't have much of my own opinion."

His obedient and docile demeanor left all the explanations and persuasive words that Hiyori had prepared stuck in her throat.

Nowadays, it's rare to see someone like Hiyori, who has her own opinions on everything, acts decisively, and arranges everything clearly.

Tao Yao was naturally happy to take a closer look and appreciate it.

Right now, all she wants is to be a quiet, beautiful vase, protected by others.

Having received Tao Yao's approval, Fei Ying no longer delayed.

She put away the map, and with Tao Yao in tow, began searching for a place to stay for the night in this desolate ruin.

Ultimately, she chose an abandoned clothing store in a relatively remote location with only one entrance and exit.

Although the shop's roller shutter door was damaged, the main structure was still intact, and the interior space was spacious with a good view, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, an excellent temporary shelter.

Fei Ying carefully observed the surrounding environment and, after confirming that there were no hidden dangers, led Tao Yao inside.

The store was covered in dust, and several mannequins lay sprawled on the floor, looking rather eerie.

"It's not bad here."

Hiyori seemed completely unconcerned about any of this. She pointed to several sturdy long tables that had been pushed over in the corner and were used to display clothes.

"Clean up the stuff on top, and it'll be perfect to use as a bed."

As she spoke, she rolled up her sleeves and began to tidy up.

She moved quickly, sweeping the clutter and dust off the table, and then found a clean waterproof cloth from the collected supplies to lay on it. A simple bed was quickly formed.

Seeing this, Tao Yao didn't stay idle either. She took the initiative to step forward and start helping to tidy up another table.

Fei Ying glanced at her, said nothing, but tacitly made way for them to act at the same time.

Before long, two neat "beds" appeared in the empty shop.

"All right!"

Fei Ying clapped her hands, looked at the fruits of her labor, and a smile appeared on her face.

She took out a small portable gas stove and a small pot from her backpack and began preparing dinner with practiced ease.

"After working so hard all day, it's time to make something to eat and fill our stomachs."

When the words "cooking" were mentioned, Hiyori's voice became noticeably lighter and more upturned.

Clearly, she has the purest love and anticipation for food.

Dinner in chaotic times is hardly lavish.

Fei Ying simply poured a can of beef into a pot, added some water and half a compressed biscuit, and simmered it slowly over low heat.

Soon, a simple yet warm aroma, a blend of meat and malt, filled the cold, abandoned shop.

She divided the cooked, mushy food into two portions, packed them into two clean cans, and handed one portion to Tao Yao.

Tao Yao smiled, gently thanked her, and then accepted it without any hesitation.

The warmth of the food seeped through the metal box and reached her fingertips, bringing a touch of comfort.

However, just as she was preparing to enjoy this hard-won dinner...

Tao Yao's movements suddenly paused slightly.

She could clearly feel that the power of the twilight fairy, which was hidden deep within her body, was beginning to stir up trouble again at this moment.

An invisible force, attempting to erase and alter her perception, silently surged forth, trying to dull and confuse her thoughts once more.

Fortunately, Tao Yao was already used to it.

With a slight thought, the vast primordial authority within her body spontaneously activated, easily suppressing and dissolving the corrosive force.

The whole process proceeded naturally without causing any disturbances.

only……

It was precisely because she used the vast majority of the primordial power to constantly guard against and fight against the mark left by Twilight.

This left her with no extra power to repair the minute damage that had been left in her origin during the "Godslaying" battle when she was besieged by dozens of first-generation fairies.

Those injuries, like some incurable diseases, have been lurking in her body.

At that very moment, as she mobilized her power to suppress the authority of dusk, those temporarily ignored "root causes" seemed to have found an opportunity to exploit.

A sudden chill, originating from the depths of her soul, swept through her entire body without warning.

Tao Yao's hand holding the can trembled almost imperceptibly.

So cold.

The chill came suddenly and unexpectedly, flowing through the veins of existence and instantly reaching every part of the body.

Tao Yao's movements as she held the canned food only paused for a very slight moment before returning to normal.

She casually scooped up a spoonful of warm, mushy food with a small spoon, put it in her mouth, and savored it.

The taste was just average.

The dryness of the compressed biscuits, the saltiness of the canned beef, and the excessive moisture made the stew taste barely acceptable.

But Tao Yao ate very seriously.

She could sense that this chill, originating from the very source of existence, was the result of the wounds of authority left by the first generation of fairies being stirred up in their struggle against the Twilight Mark.

Not fatal.

It's not even a problem.

With the inherent strength of the original body, we can simply tough it out.

It's just a bit cold.

She finished the last bit of food in the can, let out a satisfied sigh, and looked at the red-haired girl opposite her who had also finished her meal.

Hiyori was clearly quite satisfied with her cooking skills; after finishing the meal, she even licked her lips with lingering relish.

She stretched out a big yawn, relaxing her body which was stiff from searching for half a day, revealing her beautiful figure under her tattered leather coat.

"call……"

Hiyori let out a long breath, then seemed to remember something.

"By the way, I saw a sealed solar water tank on the roof of that building to the south. It doesn't look damaged, so the water inside should still be clean."

She said this casually as she cleaned up the pots and pans.

"We've been running around outside all day, and we're all sticky. Let's go over there and wash up quickly."

For those struggling to survive in the wasteland, being able to take a bath with clean water is an absolute luxury, comparable to a feast.

However, Tao Yao simply leaned lazily against the table behind her and shook her head.

"I'm not going, I'm too tired."

Hiyori stopped packing her things.

She turned around and spoke in a very serious, unquestionable tone.

"must go."

"This ruin is littered with corpses, and the air is teeming with germs. Maintaining personal hygiene is a basic requirement for survival."

Her words carried an undeniable seriousness.

“We have a long way to go, and who knows when we’ll find clean water again. We must clean it up now that we have the chance.”

Seeing that Tao Yao was still sitting there lazily, showing no intention of moving, Fei Ying could only sigh helplessly.

She put down what she was holding, stood up, and walked straight toward Tao Yao.

Then, under the slightly surprised gaze of the pink-haired girl, she leaned over, reached out without any sense of boundaries, grabbed Tao Yao's wrist, and prepared to pull her up from the table.

"Don't worry, the water is very clean, I've checked it..."

Hiyori's words of comfort caught in her throat halfway through.

Her whole body froze.

"Eh……"

Why are your hands so cold?

The sensation coming from my palm wasn't the warmth a normal human body should have, but a bone-chilling coldness, as if I were holding a block of ice.

The chill traveled up her arm and into her heart.

Fei Ying stared blankly at Tao Yao.

It was only then that she noticed that, in the dim light of the shop, Tao Yao's lips seemed to have lost their color, appearing sickly pale.

Tao Yao blinked, seemingly belatedly realizing the state of her body.

She withdrew her hand, covered it with her other hand, and then answered in a soft, hesitant voice.

"I don't know either... um..."

"Maybe he's sick?"

"But I feel okay, just a little cold."

As she spoke, she gave Fei Ying a reassuring smile, but one that appeared particularly fragile due to her paleness.

I'm sick.

This word made Hiyori's heart clench.

In this era, for ordinary people, getting sick is often equivalent to death.

Without sufficient medication and a proper resting environment, even a minor cold can be fatal.

Hiiro fell silent.

The string of "reason" and "vigilance" in her mind snapped completely at that moment.

What is of unknown origin, what is shrouded in mystery, what is possibly a dangerous element...?

All doubts and defensiveness were washed away by the coldness of the other person's wrist and that fragile smile.

Right now, she is just a sick, vulnerable companion who needs care.

a long time.

Fei Ying spoke again, her voice unconsciously becoming much softer, carrying a hint of caution that she herself was unaware of.

"Well... at least take a shower and wipe your body with hot water, it will make you feel much better."

Tao Yao was about to refuse again.

Hiyori, however, seemed to have made up her mind and immediately added a sentence.

"If you don't mind, I can help you."

The voice just fell.

Hiyori regretted it.

God!

What on earth is she spouting nonsense?!

They had only known each other for a short time, how could Tao Yao possibly agree?