Chapter 210

But the foxgirl would not open her eyes. She fell asleep, embraced by the cherry tree of the former Lunar Village. A scream darted out of my throat. It was wrong. Beyond unfair. Fuyao did the best she could. It was only recently that I got to really talk to her, and even now, I didn’t really know her—her likes and dislikes, her interests, her character. But I knew how hard she had fought. I knew how she’d gave it her all for me. It wasn’t fair for such a gentle girl to meet such a brutal end. Star Citadel—how could they be so wicked? They had made a little girl bear a suffocating sin and had forced her to live a life of war. All her pain and all her suffering were their fault. They had to pay. They had to— “—Ms. Komari!” I saw the light of hope. Karla. Time-manipulator Karla Amatsu was coming. I clung to her in tears and begged her over and over to turn back time for Fuyao. She was taken aback for a moment, but in the end, she accepted my plea. Core Implosion: Waving Moment. Translucent mana gently enveloped Fuyao’s body. Time began to turn back. Her wounds closed, the blood on her clothes evaporated, and all filth vanished from her in a flash. The same old Fuyao Meteorite lay asleep. I desperately called her name. Now she was saved. Hope filled my heart, and without a shred of doubt, I called her name again and again and again and again. I realized something was wrong. Fuyao showed no reaction. She didn’t open her eyes. She didn’t say a thing. Her body was cold. And her heart was quiet. Why? Why?! As I sat there, frozen in despair, Karla hesitantly spoke up. “It’s no use, Ms. Komari… Her heart is no longer here.” “…” Sakuna, Amatsu, and Cornelius ran up to us. Then I understood. The heart was one’s base. The heart had the power to bend the world to one’s will. This girl had protected me, had fulfilled her revenge, and had entrusted me with her dream. She had done everything. There was nothing left for her to accomplish. Without her heart, Fuyao could never return. I cried. The tears flowed endlessly. “I want a world where everyone can choose when they die.” “It was just a figure of speech. What I mean is, we’ll settle this score eventually.” “Now I feel as though I understand why so many people gather around you.” “If you’ll take up my dream, then there’s nothing more I can ask for…” “………” Sinister stars shone in the night sky. Perhaps I shouldn’t be wasting time crying. The murderers who had made Fuyao end up like this were still out there, doing what they wanted without a care. Yet I couldn’t stop myself from wailing as I clutched Fuyao’s body tightly. Karla, Sakuna, and everyone else kept quiet. The wind blew. The cherry tree rustled, and a cherry blossom fell on Fuyao’s cheek. Her expression, illuminated by the light of the moon, was as peaceful as it could be.