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

The night faded away unnoticed.

A sliver of light pierced through the broken window frame of the abandoned shop, dispelling the darkness in the corner and bringing with it the chill of the early morning.

Hiyori's consciousness slowly rose from her deep sleep.

She moved her body, and her first feeling was not the stiffness and coldness she had expected, but a strange, comforting warmth.

what happened?

Wasn't she sleeping with Tao Yao's cold feet in her arms?

How did that block of ice in my arms become so warm?

Confused, Hiyori struggled to open her heavy eyelids.

Then, she froze completely.

An exquisitely beautiful sleeping face, so beautiful it seemed otherworldly, was magnified infinitely before her eyes, almost within arm's reach.

The other person's breathing was steady and long, and the warm breath gently brushed against her cheek, bringing a slight tickle.

Her long, pink hair cascaded down like a waterfall, spreading out like silk across the simple waterproof cloth, with a few playful strands even tangling around her fingers.

The two people, who should have been sleeping at opposite ends of the bed, had somehow ended up snuggling together tightly.

She could even clearly see the other person's long, curled eyelashes, casting faint shadows in the morning light.

boom--

At that moment, Hiyori's brain completely shut down, going completely blank.

How could this be?

When did she get here? Or... did Tao Yao roll over here on her own?

Memories of last night are starting to surface.

She remembered holding Tao Yao's cold feet to warm them up, and then falling asleep while they were chatting.

She has no recollection of what happened after that.

Hiyori's heart began to pound uncontrollably, and she instinctively wanted to back away, to create some distance between them that was too intimate.

But as soon as she moved, she realized that her arm was being used as a pillow by the other person, and it was getting numb. And her other hand was somehow wrapped around the other person's slender waist.

This posture...

Hiyori's cheeks instantly burned.

She dared not move, afraid of waking the person in her arms.

She could only lie there stiffly, her gaze uncontrollably tracing that unguarded sleeping face over and over again.

So beautiful...

This thought uncontrollably popped into my head.

Even though her eyes were closed and she had no expression, she was still breathtakingly beautiful.

As Fei Ying watched, the panic and embarrassment in her heart strangely subsided.

Instead, she felt a warm and secure feeling that even she found absurd.

What a clueless guy!

Hiyori muttered helplessly to herself.

If you sleep in someone else's arms without any hesitation, what would you do if I were a bad person?

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she shook her head self-deprecatingly.

I was clearly the one who let my guard down.

In this chaotic world where monsters roam freely and people's hearts are unpredictable, trust is the cheapest yet most luxurious thing.

While demonic calamities and disasters are indeed terrifying, more often than not, humanity itself is the most deadly crisis.

She had seen too many strong people fall because of betrayal, and she had also seen too many survivors who would do anything to survive.

Therefore, she became accustomed to being alone and to viewing everyone as a potential threat.

But Tao Yao's appearance was like an accident, ruthlessly breaking all her principles.

She didn't know if Tao Yao was the kind of partner she could entrust her life to.

But she knew perfectly well that she could no longer raise a high wall around her like she would any other stranger.

Perhaps, just as Tao Yao herself said.

I'm sure I'll be terribly deceived by this wicked woman in the future.

But even so...

Looking at the peaceful sleeping face in her arms, Fei Ying felt an unprecedented warmth welling up in her heart.

Getting scammed once seems... not so bad.

Just as Hiyori was lost in thought.

Those tightly closed eyes slowly opened without warning.

At first, it was shrouded in a hazy mist, just as the lake was waking up. But when the thin fog dissipated, the crystal-clear lake water was revealed.

Eyes facing each other.

Breathing can be heard.

The air in the shop seemed to freeze at that moment.

Hiyori felt her heart skip a beat, and the temperature on her face, which had finally calmed down, spiked again.

awkward.

Extremely awkward.

Just as Hiyori was at a loss, unsure whether to pull her hand back first or to explain herself,

Tao Yao made the first move.

She blinked, seemingly oblivious to the strange atmosphere, and snuggled closer to Fei Ying before greeting her in a sweet, languid voice.

Good morning, Hiyori.

Fei Ying froze completely. She opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. She could only nod stiffly.

She was about to ask something to break the suffocating atmosphere.

Tao Yao, however, seemed to have anticipated her thoughts and spoke up first, her voice carrying a hint of innocent arrogance.

“I felt a bit cold on my end yesterday, so I took the liberty of turning it around.”

Hearing this explanation, Hiyori felt relieved, and her embarrassment was instantly replaced by worry.

She didn't care about intimacy anymore and quickly asked.

"It's okay. Are you still cold? Are you feeling better?"

"Hmm, it's not cold anymore."

Tao Yao responded with a smile, and deliberately rubbed her cheek against Fei Ying's neck, like a spoiled cat.

"Hiyō, you... are so warm."

The warm, soft touch made Sakura's body tense up again.

She forced down the strange feeling in her heart and cleared her throat, pretending to be calm.

"That's good."

"In that case, let's get up quickly, we still have a long way to go today."

After saying that, she carefully withdrew her arm and quickly sat up from the "bed," not daring to look at Tao Yao again.

As Tao Yao watched her slightly flustered back, the smile on her lips became even more pronounced, and she readily sat up as well.

The two quickly got ready.

After a quick breakfast, Fei Ying began to sort and load the collected supplies onto the off-road vehicle.

She carefully checked the fuel in the tank to make sure there was enough for the long journey before taking out the tattered map again and spreading it out on the hood.

Tao Yao stood quietly to the side, obediently watching her busy herself.

"Peach Blossom".

As Hiyori's fingers traced across the map, her voice regained its usual calm and decisiveness.

"According to the original plan, we should have replenished our supplies in Graystone Town and then figure out a way to get to the 'Paradise' marked on the map."

"But now the camp in Graystone Town is gone, and we can't get our supplies replenished."

"Therefore, we can only continue on our way to our final destination and look for supplies along the way."

Hiyori meticulously analyzed all the changes to the plan.

After she finished speaking, she raised her head and looked at Tao Yao, who was listening quietly to her, and habitually asked for her opinion.

"Um... I'm done talking."

"Do you think there's anything that needs improvement?"

After asking the question, Hiyori realized that she had naturally included the other person in the decision-making circle.

Upon hearing this, Tao Yao pointed to herself with some surprise.

"me?"

“Of course.” Fei Ying nodded seriously. “My plan is based on my subjective thinking, so there may be omissions or shortcomings. I would like to hear your opinion.”

This was the first time she had so sincerely sought advice from a companion.

Tao Yao looked into her bright eyes, which were filled with seriousness, and remained silent for a moment.

Then, she chuckled softly.

"Actually, I'm also really looking forward to the amusement park you mentioned."

Her voice was soft and gentle.

"However, I have a question."

Tao Yao raised her head, her clear eyes, which seemed to see through everything, quietly gazing at Fei Ying.

What if the amusement park didn't exist?

The question was seemingly minor, yet it struck like a boulder, crashing heavily into Sakura's heart and creating ripples.

Before this, all of Hiyori's plans, all her efforts, and all her expectations were based on a very basic premise.

That is, the amusement park really exists.

The wandering merchant's resolute descriptions and the survivors' hopes passed down through word of mouth together constructed that distant and beautiful dream.

It is the lighthouse that supports countless people struggling to move forward in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, and the inextinguishable flame in Sakura's heart.

But what if it was all just a lie?

If that legendary, impregnable city simply doesn't exist.

So, did all her hard work and searching along the way lose all meaning from the very beginning?

Hiyori unconsciously tightened her grip on the edge of the map.

The tattered piece of paper on the hood seemed to suddenly become incredibly heavy.

She remained silent for a long time, so long that the air seemed to freeze.

Then, she slowly raised her head, looked at Tao Yao, and showed a bitter smile that was a mixture of helplessness and honesty.

"Actually... I've thought about this question secretly too."

Fei Ying's voice was a little dry. She avoided Tao Yao's gaze, which seemed to see right through people, and scratched her cheek somewhat awkwardly.

"I hope you won't laugh at me for what I'm about to say."

Her posture carried an obvious hesitation and uncertainty, as if she were about to reveal a huge, naive secret.

Tao Yao simply looked at her quietly, then smiled gently, a smile that was tender and tolerant.

"Go ahead and tell me, why would I laugh at you?"

Encouraged by this, Hiyori seemed to have made up her mind.

She took a deep breath and turned her gaze back to the distant, hazy horizon. A resolute light rekindled in her bright eyes.

"Actually, whether the amusement park exists or not, I will set off like this to find a better place where I can live peacefully."

"The journey itself is a kind of meaning."

"It's better than staying put, clinging to the surviving supplies, and living off them until they're all gone."

"If no one builds a paradise, then I will build one myself."

In the end, she herself felt a little embarrassed and added a self-deprecating remark.

"Although I know that my abilities alone may not be enough... this is indeed my most honest thought, even if... it sounds a bit naive."

Yes, naive.

In this day and age, talking about "building a paradise" is nothing short of a pipe dream.

But it was this naiveté that sustained her through countless corpses and ruins.

As soon as she finished speaking, Fei Ying looked at Tao Yao with some trepidation, preparing for the possible reaction of misunderstanding or ridicule from the other party.

However, Tao Yao simply blinked and then exclaimed "Oh!" as if she had just realized something.

"Well, that's why."

She shrugged, her cunning eyes filled with a mischievous smile.

“Hiroki, you already have a very clear plan in your heart. You know very well what you need and where you want to go. So, my opinion is actually not that important.”

This statement sounds like a joke, yet it also sounds like a precise summary.

Hiyori immediately panicked.

"How could it not be important?"

She blurted it out almost immediately, taking a small step forward, eager to explain herself.

"Since we've decided to be partners on this journey, I'll definitely care about your thoughts! Every decision you make affects both of us!"

That earnestness and anxiety seemed genuine.

Seeing her like this, Tao Yao's smile deepened.

She spoke slowly, in a sickeningly sweet tone.

"Alright alright."

"Since our leader, Hiyori, insists on caring about the thoughts of a little follower like me."

"Then I might as well... have the same idea as you."

Tao Yao tilted her head slightly, her long pink hair falling over her shoulders, and she looked at Fei Ying with a smile.

"I'm also very curious, what kind of scene will your 'paradise' be like?"

This topic seemed to have precisely triggered a switch on Hiyori.

The moment the word "paradise" was mentioned, the last trace of eagerness and embarrassment on her face vanished instantly, replaced by a pure, heartfelt longing and excitement.

Her speech became lighter and faster.

"Paradise, that's obviously what it means!"

"There are no terrible disasters there, no man-eating monsters, and no hunger, cold, or suffering!"

"Outside the city walls is an endless sea of ​​flowers, and inside the city walls are clean streets, plenty of food, and warm beds. Everyone can laugh freely in the sunshine without fear."

She described the scene from her dream, her bright eyes sparkling with dazzling light.

"This world is already bitter enough. That's why I so desperately hope that there can be such a pure and beautiful existence."

Her monologue was like a poem written for the future.

Tao Yao listened quietly without interrupting.

She nodded only after Hiyori finished speaking, responding in a very serious tone.

"it is good."

"Then let's go together to find that wonderful paradise."

She paused, looked at Fei Ying, and added something that sounded a bit far-fetched.

"If I can't find one, I'll try to send you one."

"Consider it... payment for saving me."

This statement, though made casually, carries an undeniable certainty.

Feiying was stunned.

Looking at Tao Yao's serious face, she couldn't tell for a moment whether the other person was joking or talking nonsense.

How about we give you a paradise?

How can this be?

After a brief moment of surprise, Hiyori felt somewhat embarrassed.

She felt that Tao Yao must be using this method to comfort and encourage herself.

"hey-hey……"

Hiyori scratched her head a little embarrassedly, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Taoyao, it makes me so happy to talk to you about these things."

She treated this overly heavy "promise" as a pleasant heart-to-heart talk.

Seeing this, Tao Yao simply smiled and didn't explain anything further.

She turned around, stuffed the last box of compressed biscuits into the trunk of the SUV, and then slammed the door shut.

"Let's go."

She dusted off her hands, then walked straight to the driver's side door and opened it.

Tao Yao turned around and looked at Fei Ying, who was still standing at the back of the car in a daze. A confident and charming smile appeared on her lips.

"Let's go find our paradise."

"If you trust me, let me drive this time."