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

Hiyori's suggestion is reasonable.

In this desolate wasteland, the dangers of night far outweigh those of day.

An abandoned gas station, while not an impregnable fortress, can at least provide a temporary shelter from the wind and rain.

Without waiting for Tao Yao's reply, Fei Ying took the initiative to act.

She took an empty oil can and a long rubber hose from the trunk of the SUV and walked skillfully toward the underground oil storage tank area of ​​the gas station.

Tao Yao leaned lazily against the car door, her arms crossed over her chest, watching Fei Ying's busy figure with great interest.

Sakura was clearly adept at this kind of work. She first carefully inspected the sealing cap of the oil tank to make sure it wasn't seriously damaged, then cleanly and efficiently pried open the rusted cap with a crowbar. A strong, pungent smell of gasoline instantly filled the air.

She inserted one end of the rubber tube deep into the oil can and the other end into her mouth, sucking hard.

Soon, murky gasoline gushed out from the pipe and poured into the oil drum at her feet.

After doing all that, Hiyori used the same method to fill the off-road vehicle's fuel tank to the brim.

The entire process was smooth and fluid, without a single unnecessary movement.

Tao Yao just watched quietly.

Watching the red-haired girl cast a long, capable, and reliable shadow in the afterglow of the setting sun.

After filling up the gas tank, Hiyori still seemed unsatisfied. She put the gas can and tools back in the car, then headed straight for the small convenience store next to the gas station.

The convenience store's glass door was shattered, the shelves were overturned, and the floor was covered in dust and debris.

But Sakura didn't care at all. Like a diligent squirrel, she began to thoroughly search this small ruin.

She first kicked open a jammed locker and pulled out several packets of expired instant noodles.

Then, she crawled under the cashier and pulled out half a pack of cigarettes from a hidden compartment.

Next, she didn't even spare the dilapidated trash can in the corner, poking around inside with a steel pipe for a long time before finally giving up after confirming there was nothing of value inside.

She searched high and low, leaving no corner unchecked. That focus and dedication seemed to be etched deep into her soul.

As Tao Yao watched this scene, the curve of her lips grew even gentler.

She became increasingly certain.

The intelligent, beautiful, and slightly money-grubbing former Hiiro is the future her.

It is not some fictional illusion, or something else impersonating it.

After all, one of the biggest hobbies of the future Hiiro is to rummage through every trash can she can find.

And the Hizakura in front of them clearly had the same habit.

Although she is much smarter and more vigilant now than the occasional scatterbrain in the future.

But at least in this respect, they are exactly the same.

These instincts and habits etched into the soul cannot be easily erased or imitated.

Just as Tao Yao's thoughts were racing.

Suddenly, a shout from Hiyori, tinged with a mix of urgency and excitement, rang out from inside the convenience store.

"Tao Yao, come and take a look!"

There was a hint of barely suppressed joy in his voice.

"I've found something great!"

Tao Yao raised an eyebrow, her laziness instantly replaced by curiosity.

"coming."

She responded and strode into the dimly lit convenience store.

Hiyori was squatting next to an overturned metal shelf, her back to her, looking at something.

Tao Yao stepped forward and looked in the direction she was looking.

All I could see was a narrow gap between the shelves and the wall, piled high with miscellaneous items.

A ball of snow-white fur was curled up in the corner, shivering.

It was a very small fox.

It is pure white, without a single stray hair, and its fur looks soft and fluffy.

A pair of obsidian-like eyes stared at them in fear, revealing a vulnerable and endearing quality.

Its hind legs appeared to be injured, twisted at an unnatural angle, and stained with dried dark red blood.

Its small body was trembling uncontrollably due to pain and fear.

The moment Tao Yao saw what the little fox looked like.

She was stunned.

That composure and languor vanished at this moment, replaced by an indescribable astonishment and hesitation.

How could it be...it's that?

In Tao Yao's mind, a long-buried memory surged up uncontrollably.

She remembered it clearly.

Isn't this little snow fox a background setting that she casually added to make her character more complete when she was building the "Old Flower Language" memory?

According to her original plan, she had rescued the little snow fox by chance during her wanderings. It had followed her ever since, becoming her only companion and a concrete manifestation of the loneliness and tenderness deep within her heart.

Just as Tao Yao fell silent.

The injured little snow fox had clearly noticed the two uninvited guests as well.

It seemed well aware of its current predicament; its injured hind leg prevented it from escaping.

In dire circumstances, the instinct for survival prevails over fear.

The little fox let out a low whimper as it tried to stand up, but fell down again due to the sharp pain in its legs.

It could only stay where it was, staring at the two of them with its wet, frightened, and pitiful eyes.

However, beneath that pitiful appearance lay an unyielding vigilance.

It bared its still-immature teeth at the two of them, making threatening "ha! ha!" sounds in its throat, trying to scare away the enormous creature in front of it.

His outwardly strong but inwardly weak, fierce yet cowardly demeanor was particularly comical.

at this time.

With a soft "whoosh" sound.

Hiyori had already drawn a sharp dagger from her waist.

The cold blade reflected a chilling glint in the dimly lit convenience store.

Tao Yao's heart skipped a beat.

"what are you doing?"

Upon hearing this, Hiyori turned her head and responded in a matter-of-fact, even somewhat excited, tone.

"Do you even need to ask?"

She brandished the dagger in her hand, a pure smile of anticipation for the food spreading across her face.

"We can have an extra meal today!"

As Hiyori finished speaking.

The little snow fox in the corner seemed to understand something.

Its threatening hiss instantly turned into a whimpering scream with a sobbing tone.

Its white fur bristled, and the fierce light in its obsidian eyes intensified as it stared intently at the dagger in Fei Ying's hand.

Tao Yao looked at this scene and felt a headache coming on.

She reached out and pressed down on the shoulder of Hiyori, who was about to step forward.

"Forehead……"

Tao Yao organized her thoughts for a moment before speaking hesitantly.

"Couldn't we... just not kill them?"

Fei Ying stopped moving and turned back to look at Tao Yao in surprise, as if she had heard something unbelievable.

"Why keep them alive if not to kill them?"

Her voice was full of confusion.

"Could it be that you can keep it as a pet?"

"Maybe it really works."

Tao Yao answered without hesitation.

She pointed to the little creature in the corner that was baring its teeth and panting at the cherry blossom.

"I think this fox is quite intelligent."

“Look, when you said you wanted to eat it, it kept panting.”

Fei Ying was speechless for a long time after hearing Tao Yao's words.

She stared blankly at the little snow fox in the corner, panting desperately, trying to hide its fear with ferocity, then looked at Tao Yao beside her, who was looking serious, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

Understanding human nature?

Breathing?

What is the reason for this?

In this wasteland, let alone animals with human-like intelligence, even living people, if they hinder survival, must be killed without hesitation in order to survive.

This is the ironclad rule upon which she survives.

But now, Tao Yao is actually thinking of letting go of this delicious meal that has been delivered to her door just because a fox can breathe?

Fei Ying found it somewhat incomprehensible, but looking into Tao Yao's clear eyes, which seemed to be seriously considering this possibility, the firm killing intent in her heart inexplicably wavered.

She hesitated for a moment, then sheathed her dagger and spoke in a tentative tone.

"Tao Yao, I didn't expect you to like such cute and good-looking creatures."

"Right?"

Tao Yao immediately seized the opportunity and retorted confidently, "You also think it's cute, right?"

There was a hint of smug satisfaction in those cunning eyes, as if to say, "I knew it."

"Cute is cute..."

Sakura was momentarily speechless after being interrupted like that, but she still managed to steer the conversation back to reality, "But, Peach Blossom, our supplies might not even last a month. If we raise another pet, wouldn't that just add to our burden?"

She pointed to the little guy still shivering in the corner and began to do the math.

"It needs to eat, right? It needs treatment if it's injured, right? These are all drains of energy. We ourselves are barely surviving, how can we possibly care about the life or death of a fox?"

These words were the hard-won lessons she learned from years of surviving in the wasteland; they were cruel, but incredibly true.

However, Tao Yao did not refute it after listening.

She simply tilted her head, her clear eyes gleaming in the dim light, as if she were seriously pondering the question raised by Fei Ying.

A moment later, as if she had come up with a brilliant idea, she clapped her hands lightly.

She turned her gaze back to the little snow fox in the corner, a gentle yet dangerous smile curving her lips.

"How about this."

Tao Yao spoke in a conciliatory, sweet voice.

"Let's take this little snow fox with us for now, just to keep us entertained on the road."

"If we really can't afford to keep it, then... how about we use it as a reserve food or emergency food?"

These words not only startled the little snow fox in the corner, but also left even Sakura stunned.

grain reserves?

Can this still be done?

Looking at Tao Yao's face, which seemed to say, "Isn't my idea brilliant?", she was momentarily speechless.

This suggestion sounds absurd, but upon closer inspection, it seems... not so wrong.

This satisfied Tao Yao's momentary act of kindness without completely blocking any future possibilities.

Fei Ying looked at Tao Yao, at her expectant eyes, and the last line of defense in her heart called "rationality" finally collapsed completely.

She sighed helplessly, but a hint of doting affection unconsciously appeared on her face, a look she herself didn't even realize.

"Ok."

Hiyori compromised.

"Because you're a friend I acknowledge."

The voice just fell.

Tao Yao then leaned closer, her exquisitely beautiful face magnified before her eyes, her warm breath brushing against her ear.

"Just friends?"

That voice carried a strong, undisguised teasing tone.

Hiyori's heart skipped a beat.

She almost instinctively took a half step back, creating some distance, and the temperature on her face, which had just cooled down, rose again.

"if not?"

She rolled her eyes, trying to appear calm, as if to hide her panic.

"Now that we've decided to raise it, let's hurry up and bring this little guy along, we need to get going!"

After saying that, she no longer gave Tao Yao a chance to tease her, and turned around and strode towards that corner.

Seemingly sensing Sakura's approach, the little snow fox reacted even more intensely.

It curled its already small body into a ball, baring its teeth.

It even stretched out its uninjured forepaw, waving it futilely in the air, trying to stop Sakura from getting closer.

His fierce yet cowardly appearance made Fei Ying want to laugh.

She crouched down and met those terrified, obsidian-like eyes.

"Breathing on me won't help."

Hiyori's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

"Since Tao Yao has decided to adopt you, then you should come with us obediently."

As soon as she finished speaking, she gave the little fox no chance to react, and with lightning speed reached out and precisely pinched the soft flesh on the back of its neck.

It's like pressing a switch.

The little snow fox, which had been baring its teeth and claws just moments before, suddenly stiffened and then slumped down, its four paws hanging limply, forgetting even to breathe.

Sakura stood up, carrying the little creature that had suddenly become docile.

It is very light and you can hardly feel its weight.

The injured hind leg swayed weakly, and it did look rather pitiful.

For some reason, Hiyori's heart softened.

Fine, I'll raise it then.

At worst, I can just put in more effort to scavenge for supplies myself.

……

After a brief preparation, the off-road vehicle started up again.

The deep roar of engines broke the deathly silence of the abandoned gas station.

This time, it was Hiyori who was driving.

She needs to regain control of the steering wheel to rediscover that feeling of being in complete control.

As the SUV slowly drove out of the gas station and onto the desolate road again, the atmosphere inside the vehicle was somewhat different from before.

Tao Yao remained seated in the passenger seat, her posture languid.

However, among them, there was a small, furry new member.

The little snow fox was placed on the storage compartment of the center console by Fei Ying.

It huddled in the innermost corner, pressed tightly against the cold windshield, its small body trembling slightly. Its obsidian-like eyes stared unblinkingly at Tao Yao, who was closest to it, as if she were some kind of ferocious beast.

Tao Yao looked at the little snow fox's shy appearance and smiled with interest.

She stretched out a finger, tentatively trying to touch the little one's head.

"Do not be afraid."

Her voice was very soft and gentle, with a soothing tone.

"We're not bad people, we won't do anything to you."

However, her words seemed to have no effect.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the snow-white fur, the little snow fox suddenly shrank its neck and let out another threatening growl.

Tao Yao's finger stopped in mid-air.

Looking at the little snow fox's eyes, which seemed to say "Don't come any closer," she withdrew her hand with a hint of helplessness.

She seemed to have forgotten that not long ago, she had suggested "stockpiling food" in front of this little guy.

This little thing is probably holding a grudge.

Tao Yao looked at its heavily guarded appearance and couldn't help but chuckle. Then, she lowered her voice and spoke again in a volume that only the two of them could hear.

"I promise I won't eat you."