Chapter 196: What's Wrong with a World of Illusions

Her voice was very soft, carrying a phantom-like ethereality.

"This illusion couldn't affect you for even a second, and you could even forcibly stop it with your will..."

"No wonder even the cycles of this world can't reset or modify your memories."

The cherry-haired girl sat across from her, showing no intention of speaking. She just quietly blinked, the murky gem on her chest flickering once.

Perhaps it was due to the effect of her two A-grade talents, or perhaps it was caused by some other reason.

In any case, she truly could do such a thing.

"...As you can see."

As if sensing that Lin Guang was earnestly listening to her, Airwen's faint voice continued from beneath the mask.

"This world has no Abyss, no war, no Company, no schemers, no cycles, and no necessary sacrifices."

"No one will be hurt anymore, and no one will suffer misfortune."

"This is a beautiful world. It may not be eternal, but at least it can last until the end of an ordinary person's life."

She paused, tilting her head slightly, her gaze fixed through the mask on the quiet girl. "If you want, you can still keep your magical girl powers and do whatever you want in this world."

"..."

Airwen turned her head, seeming to shift her gaze back to the faces of the girls seated around the booth.

"As long as you nod, you and they can all attain happiness."

Lin Guang still said nothing.

"I know, with your personality, there's no way you'd agree to a happiness that isn't completely real."

Airwen lowered her head and whispered, "But... we can't get out anymore."

"You should already know this from Phoenix and Amber."

"Whether from the perspective of the mastermind outside, or from the perspective of [Utopia], leaving is impossible."

"In the past, I thought if I did everything perfectly, I could Logout, but... now I've woken up."

"In truth, the Sacred Tree doesn't have that function. The Logout button that existed in Utopia's original design was destroyed alongside the Sacred Tree when it was wounded."

"It's merely an egg that nurtures the destined witch. Aside from the 'me' who becomes the [Witch King], nothing can break through this conceptual absolute barrier."

Lin Guang quietly listened to her words, and she calmly stated this fact.

For some reason, only when facing Lin Guang did she speak so much.

"So, don't talk about becoming a true magical girl anymore. That kind of thing is impossible."

She whispered, "I... have given up too."

"I'm sorry."

These words were very, very soft, like a murmuring dream that would scatter with a breath of wind.

Yet in this silent world, these words were heavier than anything else.

The usually indifferent cherry-haired girl finally showed a hint of emotion, frowning as she looked at the silver-haired girl, trying to see her eyes.

But her eyes remained hidden behind the mask.

"..."

The silence continued for a while.

"Creating a world like this for you, to live happily for the rest of your lives—that's the only thing I can do now."

"Even if you don't care about this... think about them for a moment."

"..."

"They all entered here because of the misfortunes outside."

Airwen said seriously, "From the very beginning, they only wanted this kind of peaceful happiness, nothing more."

"So, those three... have already accepted this new world in their hearts."

Her voice softened again, as if making a final consolation.

"There's only you left."

"As long as you nod, this world of happiness will become reality immediately."

Lin Guang sat quietly in the silent dessert shop, her head slightly lowered.

Her sakura-red bangs fell forward, casting a deep shadow over her eyelids.

After a long time, she finally spoke her first words.

"What about the others?"

Airwen said seriously:

"Phoenix and Amber are naturally the same. They also entered this world with their own helplessness, so they will surely attain happiness."

Lin Guang shook her head. "There's more."

"I've already arranged for Su Fang's father and mother. They will all be with Su Fang. By then, you can be neighbors."

But Lin Guang stubbornly shook her head again.

"There's more."

Airwen was slightly startled, then thought she understood what Lin Guang meant.

"Those remnants of the previous magical girls, I'll also move their relationships into this world as unchanged as possible, arranging their backgrounds and life paths."

"But I won't control them. I'll just let them obtain the happiness they want."

Lin Guang still shook her head. "That's still not enough."

"..."

This time, Airwen was stunned for several seconds.

Then she lowered her head and said softly:

"If you're talking about those magical girls who have been completely obliterated... I'm powerless to do anything."

"Even the [Witch King] that devoured them cannot restore them from that state. They can only create a facsimile puppet, and doing that would only defile them. I don't want to—"

"That's not it."

"...?"

"I'm not talking about that."

Under Airwen's gaze, the cherry-haired girl, who had shown little expression, looked up at Airwen's mask.

Her eyes burned with a tangible flame, as if they could pierce through that pitch-black mask and meet Airwen's gaze directly.

"I'm asking... what about you?"

"..."

Airwen's voice abruptly stopped.

She gave no response.

Lin Guang showed no intention of letting her off. "Answer me. What will happen to you?"

"Will you be in that seemingly happy world?"

"...That's none of your concern."

The next instant, her right hand, painted with orange-red nail polish, reached for Airwen's mask, but a moment before contact, Airwen's figure vanished from where it was.

But Lin Guang had no intention of letting her off.

She abruptly stood up.

With her movement, this frozen world shattered like glass, dissolving into dark nothingness.

But Airwen's voice echoed in her mind again, carrying a barely restrained agitation.

[Why resist? Why stop me from bringing you happiness?]

[The world is false—as long as love and happiness are real, isn't that enough?!]

Lin Guang's slender body stood in the dark void.

Yet the gem on her chest grew unbearably hot once more, and her eyes seemed to pierce through the nothingness, staring at the place where she vaguely sensed a gaze directed at her.

She said coldly, "That has nothing to do with any of that."

—What's wrong with a world of illusions?