I'm on the Ark, and I started as a succubus.

"Hmm~ That's it~ Just relax, it's okay~ It's just that trying something like this for the first time is a bit too intense~ Aya, don't be afraid, just relax, leave the rest to me, Aya, just enjoy it."

Franka rested her snowy chin on Aya's shoulder and whispered in Aya's ear with a smile.

No, I didn't!

I haven't relaxed, much less intended to hand everything over to you, you fat fox!

Aya tried to justify herself in her mind, but that was just a mental excuse. In reality, she was completely honest and straightforward, offering no resistance or struggle. Her body was no longer tense and she appeared extremely relaxed.

Her delicate brows, which had been tightly furrowed with pain, slowly relaxed, revealing an expression of intoxication and even ecstasy.

"People always pursue happiness, don't they? There's nothing wrong with pursuing happiness at any time."

Franka continued to gently guide her. The mischievous fox, who loved playing pranks and causing trouble, excelled at inviting more companions to join her happy and joyful family after becoming a demon ninja.

No—that's not how it is, at least... at least it's not the time to pursue pleasure and happiness.

"Isn't that what people pursue? To be happy and joyful every day. That's the meaning of life. A beautiful girl's life should be full of joy, happiness, and bliss."

That's not how it is, at least, at least... Franka was deliberately being ambiguous.

"Does Aya pursue pleasure, joy, and happiness? Is she happy and content now?"

Me? I...I, of course I'll pursue it...Now? Now, now...I'm so happy and joyful!

Aya's beautiful eyes suddenly widened, her body arched violently, and the force with which she slammed her head back was so strong that it struck Franka's chest like a battering ram.

Joy, happiness, bliss... so intensely blissful it felt like reaching an eternal sanctuary of joy.

Happiness, joy, happiness so intense it felt as if one's self-awareness and even soul were about to be shattered.

That feeling, that feeling was like becoming a god!

148 is a place that can never be revisited.

We are about to arrive at the sacred realm filled with eternal joy.

Soon, that is, not yet. Even if it is infinitely close, it is always just a tiny distance away. That tiny difference is the true eternity.

No matter what, it's impossible to reach it, even though that tiny distance keeps shrinking, the joy of reaching the summit is always just a little bit away.

Aya was stuck at that tiny distance.

Joy, happiness, and bliss should all be together. How could she be so selfish as to want to go alone?

Happy and joyful things should be shared with each other. It's absolutely unacceptable to only enjoy them yourself and seek your own ultimate happiness!

Beautiful purple-pink patterns emerged, radiating a bewitching and alluring glow through the clothes, making the exquisite and intricate designs clearly visible.

It is so beautiful and exquisite that it resembles fine porcelain.

It's a celadon vase that's like a work of art, with incredibly delicate and beautiful patterns, and an extremely elegant and slender shape.

The only strange thing about the purplish-pink glowing pattern is that it doesn't look like a porcelain piece that's placed upright. Instead, it's completely upside down, with the body on top and the mouth on the bottom. This inverted shape adds a bewitching and alluring visual appeal.

It is exerting its effect, suppressing Aya's selfish behavior and not allowing her to obtain happiness and joy alone.

Happiness and joy are such wonderful and desirable things that they should be a matter for two people. How can one selfishly think of reaching the sacred realm of joy and happiness alone?

The bewitching and alluring markings controlled Aya's happiness, firmly preventing her from reaching the sacred realm filled with love, joy, happiness, and bliss.

With Franka's help, Aya kept pushing forward, trying to break through that hateful and detestable restriction, but she was always just a little short. In fact, all the joy she had accumulated and all her previous efforts were in vain.

Her beautiful eyes widened in shock, as if she couldn't accept the outcome.

How could this be?!

No... She doesn't want this... She, she wants to be happy!

The joy surging within me vanished without a trace in that instant, leaving not a single lingering aftertaste.

Only after experiencing beauty and feeling happiness can pain become unbearable.

It's like someone who has seen the light can't bear the darkness.

The pleasure she had experienced was merely a memory, a recollection of happiness. This made it even more unbearable for Aya to endure the tightening noose around her neck and to continue experiencing this near-death, dark state.

The desire to pursue and obtain happiness became infinitely strong in an instant, yet it could not be satisfied, nor could it be comforted in any way. All that was given to Aya was the ever-tightening rope around her neck and the despair that was infinitely close to death.

The immense drop in temperature and the overwhelming pain, like a tsunami, finally caused Aya to collapse and faint completely.

"Hey~ Miss Winter, even though she's very tall and slender, she's also quite heavy~"

Franka pouted and looked at Winter with a resentful expression, "Are you going to carry her back later?"

Winter turned her head away, her voice devoid of any laughter, "This is the fate these Rhodes Island guys deserve."

"Eh~ I joined Rhodes Island before too~ Well, I haven't officially left yet, so I'm still considered a member of Rhodes Island. Winter, it hurts me to hear you say that."

"Humph."

Winter snorted and loosened her grip on the rope. "Those statues are perfect for fighting the pig-like beasts. Let them handle it. If all else fails, your friend, what's her name again? Oh, let Razer help you."

"Hey, our top student is still reflecting in the corner. She would never help me do something bad."

Franka reached out and groped around on Aya's body for a while, then withdrew her hand, looked at her palm, and muttered to herself as if biting her lip:

"Hey, his body is so honest, but he just won't admit it. He'll probably suffer a lot in the future."

"That's your problem. You'll see how things go. Don't blame me if you get into trouble later."

Winter glanced at Franka expressionlessly, then picked up her weapon and walked away, showing no intention of continuing the conversation with Franka.

Franka watched Winter's retreating figure and muttered to herself, "That bear is really not cute at all. Gummy is still the child."

She turned to look at Razer, who had been standing silently to the side, and a malicious smile reappeared on her face. "You heard that, didn't you? Miss Honor Student, it's time to come and help with the work."

Razer bit her full lips, a look of reluctance on her face.

"Franka".

"Eh."

Franka smiled and responded, then lowered her gaze to Aya in her arms, reaching out to stroke her face. "Miss Honor Student... Razer, we can never go back, can we?"

She paused slightly, then switched back to her playful and teasing tone, "So, you'd better hurry up and come help me, okay? Hey, this time I'm your superior, so you'd better obey your master's orders and train you properly. If you misbehave, I'll really punish you!"

She winked playfully at Razer, "I know best what Miss Elite is afraid of."

Razer bit his lip and remained silent for a while before finally stepping forward, crouching down, and lifting Aya onto his shoulder.

Without Aya in her arms for support, Franka was on the verge of collapsing to the ground, her eyes gleaming with a smile as she looked at Razer.

"what happened?"

Razer didn't give her a friendly look, giving her a cold glance.

"Oh dear~"

Franka rested her delicate, snowy chin on her hand, tilted her jade-like neck, and said with a smile, "Miss Elite Student, I never realized it before, but cheongsams suit you very well~ especially those with such high slits, hmm hmm hmm, high heels suit you very well too, you look so glamorous."

Razer closed his eyes, said nothing, and silently carried Aya towards the elevator.

"Hmm~"

Franka's smile widened, her gaze lingering on Razer's long, slender legs, and she said with a grin:

"The just-above-the-knee fishnet stockings are also great. This combination makes you look like a high-achieving student with a contrasting personality. You're an honest and well-behaved student in school, but you're actually the kind of person who's very outgoing and fun-loving."

Razer did not offer any explanation.

Firstly, she could never win an argument with this fox, and secondly—

—What Franka said at that moment was indeed the truth.

She is completely finished, there's no going back, she's become a tragic figure, like a fallen pearl.

149 is an interesting dungeon!

As consciousness returned, Aya opened her eyes and her first reaction was not to check her situation, but to feel a deep sense of regret.

That kind of regret that almost devoured her.

She was just a hair's breadth away from reaching the eternal realm of bliss and experiencing unprecedented joy.

It really was just a tiny bit of difference!

The lingering pleasure in her consciousness and the lingering sensation in her body made Aya feel an unprecedented sense of regret and sorrow, which in turn evolved into an incredibly intense feeling of emptiness.

I want it so badly... I really want it so badly... I really want to be happy!

'No...that's not it, she doesn't want to...'

Aya wanted to deny the thoughts that had become incredibly honest, but the feelings lingering in her memory, the wonderful sensations that remained, instantly shattered her dishonest thoughts.

Those things clearly told her that she longed for joy, pleasure, and the fulfillment of happiness.

She had an incredibly strong idea.

Having witnessed that joy, happiness, and bliss, she could never forget that incredibly wonderful feeling.

She wanted it.

'Everyone would want that, right?'

Aya began to justify the thoughts that kept echoing in her body, mind, and even soul.

Humans are naturally inclined to seek pleasure, joy, and happiness... If given the choice, no one would want to experience suffering, right? Aside from a few individuals with peculiar tastes, everyone's nature is to pursue happiness, even enjoyment.

Aya began to think that her thoughts were reasonable. She even began to think that it was reasonable for people to naturally and justifiably enjoy themselves after experiencing suffering.

Just like the retaliatory consumption that follows an economic downturn.

It became even stronger.

The feelings of regret, pity, and emptiness became even stronger.

'I want it so badly... I really, really, really want happiness and joy!'

Aya tried to close her legs and hug herself with her arms to alleviate the discomfort that was churning and surging through her body.

It's like constantly rubbing your hands and thighs when you're shivering from the cold, giving yourself a tiny bit of comfort in an unrealistic way.

However, even this small sense of comfort, which was almost an illusion, could not be satisfied.

The wrists and ankles were bound.

The feeling of being unable to move jolted Aya awake, and she stared wide-eyed at her surroundings.