As Oko pondered in silence, she extended her arm forward, creating room behind her to exert force for the blade's thrust.
Yet, even though reason told Oko that this was what she should do now—what she could only do now—
When her body truly prepared itself for suicide, the hand clutching the sword hilt still began to tremble uncontrollably.
Because, at this moment, scenes from the past began surfacing one after another before the Pink-Haired Hunter's eyes.
The scene of her and Oulin walking hand in hand into the Flower House courtyard for the first time, taking in the sight of that beautiful home for the first time.
The scenes of her laughing and chatting with her Dawn Squad teammates, practicing and competing together, dining and having fun together, fighting bloodily side by side.
The scene of her spending a passionate night with Ye Chen beneath warm covers, then being held tightly in his sturdy arms afterward.
Everything, everything, was replaying before Oko, reminding her of all the happiness she had once possessed.
Even though the environment she had grown up in at first had been so sick, so twisted, so nauseating.
The future that followed had nevertheless been extraordinarily fortunate for Oko.
Because she had met the right person.
That person had rescued Oko from hell and let her truly understand what real family was, what real friends were, what real affection was.
If Oko truly chose to take her own life here, then all that hard-won happiness would leave her forever.
At that thought, Oko's resolve finally wavered.
Then, in the next second, her thoughts scattered wildly. It was as if an illusion appeared before her eyes, drawing Oko's consciousness back to a scene from many years ago.
The sun shone brightly, and the breeze was gentle.
In