Phantom

Have you made up your mind, Qian Huanyue?

Her own voice rang in her ears again. It only surfaced when Qian Huanyue was caught in overwhelming doubt, unable to decide.

Static filled her head.

Qian Huanyue's heart sank little by little. At this point, even a fool would know which choice to make.

On one side, she could bring everyone back to reality and prevent a Spacequake on the scale of the Eurasian Spacequake. Everyone's safety, everyone's future, everyone's reality—all lay on that side.

The other choice was to preserve this Eden, regardless of its hidden dangers, how much longer it could last, or how weak Rinne would become. Could she really enjoy such a beautiful dream with a clear conscience?

Could she really?

Heh, think carefully. If Eden disappears, will Rinne really be able to stay? The voice rang out mercilessly again, as though mocking Qian Huanyue's naïveté.

Tch.

Shut up. Why do you have to say so many things that torment me—?!

I'm trying to think this through. How am I supposed to do that with you interrupting me?

Only five short seconds had passed, but Huanyue felt as though she had been thinking for ages.

An intense sense of unease left her at a loss.

She absolutely could not abandon a single companion.

Rinne was someone she could lean on, a precious companion, a considerate friend, someone who deserved her love and care.

"I want to take Rinne with me, whatever it takes. Pressure, violence, imprisonment, even something more extreme. Anything." Huanyue's lips moved as she finally spoke again. A nearly obsessive light burned in her violet eyes.

Pfft, hahaha—! Hahahahahahaha!!! The voice's icy mockery gave way to unrestrained laughter, somehow sounding much gentler.

After being rejected over and over, after being dragged into the vortex of