Chapter 498

Or perhaps it's because she and everyone around her were so outstanding that this is what led to what happened today.

If we follow the original timeline, there are still more than three years before the start of the Battle of Finality.

However, due to the accelerated Honkai, Lin Yu didn't have much time left to adjust Yuno's mindset.

Meanwhile, although Yuno had defeated her greatest enemy, Cocolia, she later learned about Otto's past actions from Bronya during the fight against the Honkai.

With a new enemy, Yuno's desire for revenge will naturally intensify.

Moreover, she had always concealed her self-destructive tendencies very well, so even the Herrscher of Reason Consciousness, who could peer into consciousness, failed to discover her final wish without a thorough study of Yuno's consciousness.

Just Yuno said, her initial and final targets of revenge were not others, but Yuno failed to protect her mother, and the Herrscher of Poison killed her mother.

Seeing Lin Yu's silence, Yuno did not immediately plunge the blade into her temple. Instead, she stared at Lin Yu for a few seconds before regaining her composure.

She knew very well that Lin Yu, who had successfully returned after fighting the Cocoon of Finality, was different from ordinary people like her who had lost their Herrscher Authority.

If she didn't convince Lin Yu to let her go, even if she pulled out ten knives and stabbed herself in the groin, Lin Yu would still save her on the spot.

Even if Yuno wanted to die, she definitely wouldn't be able to, let alone surrender Lin Yu.

So...

"Senior, do you know? I am truly grateful for everything you have done for me and everyone else."

"Because of your efforts, our experiences are moving in a better direction, and even the world is spared the scourge of the Cocoon of Finality because of your efforts."

"But... I'm really tired."

After letting out a soft breath, Yuno closed her eyes.

"After the battle against the Honkai ended, the world has regained its most basic peace."

"Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Kevin and his team, countries around the world have chosen to remain inactive, and even some local wars that were originally likely to break out have been completely eliminated because of everyone's efforts."

"The world has become so wonderful, so... I'm already tired, so there shouldn't be any problem in completing the revenge that I've been longing for the most."

After Yuno said those words, a gentle breeze suddenly blew between the two of them.

After feeling the gentle breeze, Yuno opened her eyes again and stared calmly at Lin Yu.

"Perhaps in your eyes, senior, I'm just having a moment of weakness, but... I've really been looking forward to this day for a long time."

"I am not a good daughter. I have not made my mother's life easier in the past, and in the end, I caused her death."

"I am not a good mother either. Although Xiao Yi has my genes, I cannot give her enough maternal love. After all, in my own eyes, the person who killed his mother has no right to give maternal love to others."

"In the days and nights of these past few years, I have often woken up from my dreams."

"In my dream, I saw my Mom when I first became a Lawful Being, before she knew what had happened. She looked at me with worried eyes and approached me because she was worried about me."

"I've always known that although my Mom likes to nag, she cares about me, but..."

At that moment, Yuno suddenly felt a large amount of scarlet blood appear before her eyes.

"... Ha, why say so much?"

"I've been crazy for a long time, and I don't want to live anymore."

"We've known each other for a while, senior. Now that you've heard what I have to say, can you grant me this last wish?"

"Yuno was a damned person to begin with, and what I'm doing now is just sending a damned person to hell."

"To me, this is no different from when I sent Cocolia to hell."

This thing is broken.

No, Yuno was probably already completely broken the moment I led her astray.

And now, I'm actually starting to feel a little bit of agreement.

It is precisely because we are both vengeful spirits who take revenge as their belief that I can agree with Yuno's ideas to some extent.

Even if we have other thoughts in our hearts, such as "protecting our companions", in the end, we will still prioritize revenge while adhering to our own bottom line.

She has the right to revenge, and I...

"Yuno."

After taking a deep breath, Lin Yu calmly spoke to Yuno.

"If you're doing this for your aunt, then I think you need to understand one thing."

"Your loving aunt would never want you to do something so foolish."

"... Ha ha."

Hearing Lin Yu's advice, which was exactly what she had expected, Yuno chuckled twice and then asked Lin Yu a question in return.

"Well said, senior. So..."

"—When you embarked on the path of revenge, did you consider whether your uncle and aunt would want you to go down this path?"

"Forget it, stop trying to intimidate people with these pointless platitudes."

"Like you, I have never sought revenge for my own family."

"The reason we want to achieve revenge is simply to achieve a clear understanding of one's own thoughts."

"I'm a selfish woman, of course I'll only try to get revenge to satisfy my own desires—in your eyes, am I a righteous and honorable person?"

Damn it, she's using my magic against me.

And it makes a lot of sense.

Saying you've gone mad? Your logic is still perfectly normal, isn't it?

"Ah, it seems you have nothing more to say, senior. Well then..."

Looking at the silent Lin Yu, Yuno suddenly had a pleading look on her face.

"Can you grant my wish now? I... I've really waited too long."

"I'm really tired. Stop treating me so cruelly and just let me die."

Yes, she has the right to choose her own life.

And now, I can really see the endless exhaustion in her eyes.

Yuno is truly exhausted. In the past few years, no one has known Yuno she is thinking. Perhaps her heart has already been shattered by self-torture.

Perhaps at this point, letting her fulfill her wish is a good choice...

—Damn it, there'd be no way I'd agree with that idea!

Thinking she had convinced Lin Yu, Yuno turned her back and pressed the knife against the outside of her heart.

In Yuno plan, she was supposed to die in the most painful and miserable way possible.

But now that Lin Yu has arrived, she has no choice but to act quickly and resolve the matter as soon as possible to get revenge, so that things don't get complicated and Lin Yu might change his mind.

However, when the girl stabbed herself in the heart with all her might, the thing she least wanted to happen still happened to her.

"Senior, what are you doing...?"

Feeling the knife fly away from her hand, Yuno a fit of rage and roared at Lin Yu.

"I really have—"

The moment she turned around, Lin Yu pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips.

The girl struggled incessantly, desperately wanting to escape from Lin Yu's embrace.

At that moment, Yuno was truly terrified...

She feared that if she got too close to Lin Yu, she would be unable to suppress the love she had been holding back, and that she would give up the idea of ending her own life because of this love.

Yuno has always wanted revenge, has actually fallen in love with Lin Yu, who has been guiding her, assisting her in her revenge, and protecting her.

However, having already developed self-destructive tendencies, she ultimately chose revenge over love, which is why she has been suppressing her feelings all along.

Even so, Yuno still couldn't suppress her love for Lin Yu.

Because of this love, Yuno, who was worried that Lin Yu would self-destruct, took the initiative to act as a matchmaker for Lin Yu among her female companions, hoping that more people would become involved with Lin Yu so that he could let go of the hatred in his heart and live happily with his partners.

However, Lin Yu clearly has no intention of Yuno go now.

After their lips parted, Yuno already felt a little oxygen-deprived, heard Lin Yu whisper in her ear.

"As you said, I am actually a very selfish person when it comes to revenge."

"At that time, I was obsessed with revenge, ignoring everything that I cherished around me, and forgetting that my family would never want me to go to hell. I was so selfish that I had already hurt the important people around me."

"But, I'm sorry, Yuno, even now, I still feel like I'm a selfish person, so selfish of me..."

"How could I possibly let a girl I love step into hell like this?"

"If you want revenge, then keep seeking revenge. But in my opinion, living well is the real revenge."

"In the end, a moment of revenge might give you a sense of satisfaction, but for you, [Yuno pursues death but can't die no matter what], this endless revenge is what a true avenger should do, isn't it?"

"... sophistry."

Feeling that her emotions were becoming uncontrollable, Yuno lowered her head and whispered to Lin Yu.

"You think I'd be convinced by your sophistry?"

"Probably not, but..."

After kissing the girl in his arms once more, Lin Yu whispered to Yuno.

"Let's try this method first, Yuno."

"I once ruined your life, and now I'm begging you to give me a chance."

"—Give me the power to twist your life once again."

"Senior..."

Gazing at the man before her, Yuno suddenly hugged Lin Yu tightly and cried out to him.

"You bastard! Why did you have to say these things to me at this time?!"

In that case... am I left with no choice but to do as you say and carry out this final revenge?!

Mom, I'm sorry, it seems... I'm ultimately a good-for-nothing.

Having failed to protect you, after finally making up my mind, I had my long-awaited plan thwarted by a man with just a few words and actions.

It seems I'll have to wait a while longer before I can go down and apologize to you.

Before that... please wait a little longer.

After completing this final act of revenge, I...

—I will definitely come to you.

Part Four of the Tomorrow's Talk: A Good-Mother-in-Law Couple

In the cemetery of Changkong City, Lin Yi watched her parents embrace each other, and finally felt a little more at ease.

Although Yuno herself thought she had hidden it well, she could not hide it from her daughter, with whom she spent every day.

After realizing that her mother might do something reckless, Lin Yi had actually secretly followed Yuno left alone, several times.

In order to avoid being discovered by Yuno, Lin Yi had already sought out Ghost, Ace Agent, and learned tracking and counter-tracking techniques from Ghost.

If her idiot father hadn't suddenly appeared out of nowhere today, Lin Yi would have had a way to stop Yuno's suicide attempt.

She had even prepared several speeches to persuade her mother not to act recklessly, but now...

—Well, it's a good thing we didn't have to use these things.

The couple, who were such good mothers-in-law, turned out to be my parents.

But now, no matter what, Dad and Yuno's Mom, those two twisted individuals, have finally opened up to each other...

Now is not the time for me, the little third wheel, to make my appearance.