Death: This Death is a bit unorthodox.

"It's nothing, I just noticed that you're still the same as before."

"What's so strange about that? I've always been me!"

The dormitory fell silent as a gentle breeze entered from the ground and swirled through the underground caverns.

Aozaki Mayuki, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up and slowly walked out, with Harribel following behind him.

Looking out at the beautiful quartz trees, which appeared deep and tranquil in the dim environment, a comfortable night breeze gently blew on them.

It's a beautiful place, but I'll be leaving soon.

"Take care of yourself." Aozaki Mayuki turned her head gently.

“We’ll stay here and not go anywhere. There’s a device here that isolates spiritual pressure, so there’s no danger,” Heribel whispered.

She often thinks about parting ways, and the best thing to say is to put the other person at ease.

"If you encounter any danger, notify me immediately. No matter where you are, I'll appear by your side in a flash." Aozaki Mayuki blinked.

“We won’t cause you any trouble… We will wait patiently for you to come back to us…” Heribel sighed helplessly.

"You sighed?" Aozaki Mayuki said.

"I'm just adjusting my breathing."

“You don’t want me to leave,” Aozaki Mayuki suddenly said.

Heribel paused for a moment, then nodded slightly.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The Huangquan family is my original creation. There isn't much information about the last of the five noble families; all that's known is that they are related to hell.

Chapter 199 Loneliness

"Why is it like a life-or-death separation? It's not like I haven't been back to Soul Society before, it's just that I stayed a little longer this time."

Aozaki Mayuki slowly approached Heribel, gently placing her hand on the top of her head and kneading it tenderly.

"If you miss me, you can tell me using the Ghost Path or the Hell Butterfly. As long as I hear your call, I will appear by your side, no matter when or where!"

Halibel slowly lowered her head, burying her face deep into her high collar, standing there like a statue.

“I am not a child. Lori and Menori need comfort more than I do.”

“I have never regarded you as naive children. Even Lori and Menori are only small and cute in appearance, but in terms of age, they are actually several times my age.”

Aozaki Mayuki stared at Harribel's shifty, evasive emerald green eyes, and shrugged helplessly.

"If we're talking about comforting people, it should be the older women who should comfort me!"

“Should I go and wake them up? They should be awake by now,” Heribel said softly. “As Adjuchas-class Arrancars, they shouldn’t be so fragile.”

Aozaki Mayuki sighed helplessly:

Sometimes I really wish I could cut open your little brain and see what's inside.

This woman is usually seen by everyone as a smart, capable, and aloof queen. Otherwise, how could she win people's hearts and become the core figure that many Arrancar rely on?

But at certain crucial moments, he reveals a touch of adorable naivety.

Is it a lack of love? Or does emotional distress really lower one's IQ?

Such a huge contrast is so adorable, it's absolutely irresistible!

Could it be that she's trying to kill herself with cuteness in this adorable way, and then naturally accept the Hogyoku in her hands?

"Then, would you like to take a look? If you can use your Resurrection Blade in time, you might not lose your life."

Harribel frowned slightly and responded softly.

Oh well, maybe this lady is just a complete straight woman through and through.

Aozaki Mayuki hurriedly waved her hands, anxiously indicating her refusal:

"No, don't say such shocking things so casually! Besides, you've always hated meaningless sacrifices, so how can you so easily talk about dying?"

"My life originally belonged to Lady Shingetsu. I am deeply indebted to Lady Shingetsu for saving my life, and I can hardly repay even a fraction of that kindness. As long as it is for Lady Shingetsu, even sacrificing my life would not be a pointless sacrifice!"

Herribel's tone was firm as iron, and her gaze was resolute.

"Alright, alright, I see your intentions, but you still need to cherish your life," Aozaki Mayuki said softly, her voice calm and gentle.

Heribel listened quietly, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her.

"However, since you say your life belongs to me, then I'll tell you to cherish it. From now on, you will never have the right to give up your life again."

Shinju's gaze was sharp as she stared directly at Halibel.

Heribel felt a burning sensation surge up from her heart, as if she had drunk a strong liquor on a winter's day, scorching her throat and chest. The warm feeling spread throughout her body, making her forget everything and only want to open her mouth and pour out the words deep in her heart.

“I understand. My life belongs only to Lord Shingetsu. It no longer belongs to me, nor do I have the right to control it. No matter when or where, I will live well and stay by your side forever… forever…”

As soon as the words left her mouth, Halibel regretted them.

She didn't understand why she suddenly acted so impulsively and said such things.

Lord Shingetsu is a Shinigami who stands high above the heavens, while I am merely an Arrancar transformed from a Hollow that is like a beast in the eyes of the Shinigami.

And to say something about following someone until eternity... that's utterly ridiculous!

“Then it’s a deal.” Aozaki Mayuki quickened her pace, grabbing her shoulders. “By my side, forever!”

Harribel glanced at Aozaki Mayuki, then lowered her head.

"...I will not break my promise."

“Yes, after all, he is a noble knight recognized even by his enemies,” said Aozaki Mayuki. “I have remembered every word you said, and I will not agree to go back on my word now.”

Hribel sighed. "Sometimes I don't know what you're thinking either. Your thoughts... how should I put it? They're hard to understand."

"Where else can I go if I don't stay by your side? By the way, why did you make me your companion? Your strength is already so great, why would you keep someone as useless as me by your side?"

"It's me who needs you!"

"Why? I really do want to know the reason."

“Because…loneliness.” Aozaki Mayuki shrugged.

“Loneliness? Someone as strong as you would feel lonely?” Heribel found it hard to understand.

Strong individuals in Hueco Mundo are never short of admirers. I don't know what the situation is like in Soul Society, but strong individuals should be respected wherever they are, right?

"I'm not kidding, and I'm not afraid you'll laugh at me, but when I first came into this world, I often felt lonely. I don't know if you can understand, but I just felt out of place, and sometimes I was even afraid of this world."

Aozaki Mayuki said,

“But it’s much better now. More and more companions like you are by my side, and I’m gradually becoming less afraid. The world doesn’t seem so scary anymore…”

“Fear?” Harribel recalled her nearly thousand years of life and nodded. “Indeed, I was sometimes afraid, probably because we were in such a high place…”

"What?" asked Aozaki Mayuki.

Halibel scratched her head.

"When I first became a Vasto Lorde, before I met Sun Sun and the others, whether it was Adjuchas or ordinary intelligent Hollows, their first reaction to me was fear. At that time, I often felt that I was a different being from them."

"Later I realized that it wasn't that our lives were different, but rather that we were in different positions."

"You are probably the same. Your talent is exceptional, and your position is so high compared to others that you have already entered a different world from them."

"It's not that their lives are different, but that their positions are different. That's amazing! They see things much more clearly than I do."

Aozaki Mayuki looked up at the sky, unconsciously thinking of that familiar little face, and murmured:

"But this sounds so familiar. I think I've said that about a certain man before?"

Aozaki Mayuki nodded solemnly, "Congratulations, my queen... you are now a philosopher."

“You’ve come again,” Heribel said calmly, her skin, hidden beneath the mask, beginning to flush red, unnoticed by anyone.

Chapter 200 Greed

Harribel crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of the dark cave. Located in the lower Hueco Mundo, in the Great Forest of Hollows, where even the moon was invisible, everything was clearly visible in her emerald green eyes.

The interior of this enormous cave has been transformed into a labyrinth of interconnected passages. A gentle breeze blows in from outside the cave, while cool air is expelled from inside, creating a refreshing sensation.

Heribel was starting to regret accompanying Aozaki Mayuki on this chat.

She was usually quiet and reserved in the eyes of others, but today she said too many things she shouldn't have said in front of Aozaki Mayuki, and every word she said didn't sound like it should have come out of her own mouth.

She was lucky today; every word she shouldn't have said got the response she wanted, making her feel elated. Logically, this was already very good, and it should have ended here.

But for some reason, she had a strange feeling after seeing Aozaki Mayuki's bright eyes.

An inexplicable emotion lingered in her heart, but the last vestiges of reason told her that this was enough, and she should leave it at that for now.

She recalled the dashing, handsome figure who stood in front of her; that was truly the closest she had ever come to death.

It was as if I was destined to stand there.

Death! What a heavy topic...

Aozaki Mayuki stood beside her, radiating intense heat that nearly made her heart stop beating.

You're too close. Can't you give me a break?

She didn't know how to start the conversation.

Heribel took a few deep breaths before she felt her heartbeat begin to slow down.

"Herribel has never changed. She's always been so cute. I wish I had come to Hueco Mundo sooner so I could have met you sooner."

The teasing voices around me did not create a relaxed atmosphere; instead, they made my heart race.

“Do you know what I used to look like?” Heribel muttered.

"I don't know, should Haribel tell me?"

Aozaki Mayuki continued, but her gentle tone made one want to nod and lower one's head.

Herribel's chest heaved violently, but eventually calmed down, and she mustered her courage to say:

"Actually, I used to be very afraid of dying."