Collapse Iron: I'm a Succubus in the Universe

"This is the Cocolia you know now—always ahead of everyone else, never looking back even once..."

…put me, and all memories related to me, behind you.

After all, she felt there was no chance left, but is that really the case?

'Cocolia, it seems like Hilva has been waiting for you and her to get back together.'

Qiong couldn't help but ask Cocolia again. After learning about her unknown past, he felt even more strongly that the Star Core had a great influence on her.

The key point is that Hilva was completely unaware of this and thought that Cocolia herself had changed.

'…Master, if it's alright, I'd like to speak with Hilva.'

After a long silence, Cocolia finally spoke.

It seems she has finally made up her mind, and Qiong certainly won't refuse, but definitely not now, since Jepard is still around.

If he knew that the previous Great Guardian was still alive, who knows what would happen.

After all the luggage was packed, even Jepard couldn't help but show his reluctance, but he didn't say much.

He simply invited her to go to the lower district to survey the area around Panyan Town, and also invited Qiong along.

It was getting late, and Qiong decided to leave. He could tell that the reason why Shiluwa wanted to leave was not so simple.

Chapter Sixty-Two: Hiluva: Well, at least deny it!

Or rather, this is so obvious, yet the reason why is so elusive.

Qiong couldn't understand so much; after all, he couldn't possibly read Hilva's mind, could he? He didn't have that ability yet.

"Cocolia, shall we talk to her tonight?"

"Yes, I do want to talk to her, but..."

Cocolia was a little worried that her sudden appearance in front of Hilva would be difficult for the other party to accept.

"In that case, I'll ask Xing to let you appear in her dream."

"A dream?"

At this point in the conversation, Qiong contacted Xing directly, and after a brief discussion, they reached an agreement. As for the specific arrangements, they would discuss that later.

Later...

After packing her luggage, Hiluva lay on her bed in the bedroom, her mind in turmoil, unable to fall asleep.

After all, she was suddenly leaving her hometown where she had grown up. Even with her personality, she would probably have sleepless nights.

"Ah, Cocolia..."

"What, you miss me that much?"

"what!!"

The sudden sound startled Hiluva; she would never forget how familiar that cold voice was.

"Cocolia...you're not dead?!"

Hiluva stared at the figure that had suddenly appeared before her, so shocked that she was speechless and didn't even notice the changes in her surroundings.

Before she knew it, she had been pulled into a pure white space. As for why no scene was created?

Hoshino said that would be too much trouble, okay? Besides, it was Kyō who promised Cocolia, so he should be allowed to do it himself.

Qiong was indeed trying her best, but it was her first time using the permissions, and she wasn't yet proficient.

It wasn't until Silva noticed that the surrounding scenery was gradually changing to a certain place in Belloberg that she realized what was happening.

"Am I... dreaming? So you're still dead?"

"Well, you could say that."

Cocolia nodded slightly, her straightforward admission only making Silva feel more disappointed.

"I thought you were going to say something? This isn't like the person I know."

"People always change. More than that... Silva, do you really want to leave Belloberg?"

Even though she had prepared her answer in advance, Cocolia still paused when asked this question.

"Heh, so you're here to care about this too? Of course, I'm tired of being here."

"Where is the truth?"

"...Because your traces are everywhere here..."

"Staying here will only bring more sorrow, so I want to leave."

Hilva didn't say the second half of her sentence aloud, but Cocolia understood, after all, who could understand Hilva better than her?

"Feel sorry…"

"Oh ho, that's strange. If I remember correctly, this is the only time you've apologized to me in recent years, right?"

Hilva crossed her arms, looking slightly surprised, but after noticing Cocolia's expression, she suppressed her joking mood.

"Why are you apologizing to me at a time like this? Even though I know I do have a little bit of reluctance to leave... this way of trying to persuade me is a bit too unfair!"

At this moment, she did not realize that this was not an ordinary dream, but only thought that her subconscious did not want to leave this planet, so it imagined persuasion.

"No, I'm not trying to persuade you to stay, it's just... I really want to apologize for what I did back then. I thought I had no choice, so I did a lot of wrong things."

Looking back now, I was incredibly foolish to have believed the lies promised by the Star Core. Or perhaps I had gone mad by then…

Cocolia sighed softly, shook her head, and then smiled nonchalantly.

"After all, can you imagine? There's a voice constantly talking in your head, and it sounds even worse than when you first played the guitar..."

"Is it really that bad? No, you, you went through all of this... why didn't you tell me?"

Hiluva asked instinctively, without even questioning why Cocolia knew these things; she was simply expressing concern.

"Because telling you won't do anything, it will only cause you more trouble, and might even implicate you, so it's better not to say anything..."

"Cocolia! You...you really are a complete and utter idiot!"

Before Cocolia could finish speaking, Hilva interrupted her excitedly, taking a step forward and placing one hand on her chest.

"Since we met, every time there's a problem, we've dealt with it together; every time we've made a mistake, we've shared the burden!"

"But they're all different..."

"What's the difference? You sacrificed yourself to save Belloberg, you're amazing! You're noble! But have you ever thought about my feelings?!"

For so many years, I've always thought you'd changed! That you'd forgotten me! That you'd completely forgotten all the friendship we shared!

At this moment, Hilva's eyes were filled with tears and her eyes were slightly red. Her intense emotions startled Cocolia.

"Sorry……"

"You think an 'I'm sorry' is enough? Do you know what I've been through all these years? You... sigh, never mind."

Hiluva shook her head. Her earlier hysterical emotions had subsided, and she appeared calmer.

"You've come to me so frankly today, so if I don't forgive you, will I never have another chance?"

"Um…"

Cocolia did not deny it; she had indeed made plans to disappear from his sight completely if she was not forgiven today.

Focus on doing what you can for Belloberg, and if possible, even choose to make Sylva forget about you.

After all, that way she could better continue her journey as an anonymous traveler, wouldn't she?

Cocolia thought to herself, and at this moment, Hilva also realized that the Cocolia in front of her was different from the one who appeared in her dream.

The other party acted so realistically and even knew these things. Could this be the kind of dream that Pera often reads about after death?

"Okay, okay, the main reason I'm angry is because you didn't say anything and just kicked me out, and you won't even see me again."

Heh, could it be that you're afraid of revealing everything if you see me again?

"Um…"

"If that's really the case, then you didn't just sacrifice yourself without saying anything, did you? It can't be that the truth is you're the final boss, can it?"

Upon hearing this, Cocolia fell silent, and the scene became quiet for a moment. Hilva stared blankly at the person in front of her and also sensed that something was wrong.

"Seriously? Why don't you deny it?"

Chapter 63 Hiluva: What should I do if my best friend seems to have a master?!

Hiluva was speechless and puzzled. She had only said it casually, how could such an outrageous thing really happen?!

But looking at Cocolia, who was bowing her head slightly and falling silent, she really didn't know what to say.

However, after a long silence, Cocolia spoke again.

“I have done many wrong things, and now I am atoning for them.”

"But you're dead now."

“Yes, but death is not enough to atone for those sins. However, my master has given me this opportunity to do more for Beloborg.”

Whether Cocolia said this intentionally or not, she didn't avoid using any particular form of address.

Hilva was greatly puzzled upon hearing this, and her expression became strange. Almost instinctively, she asked a question.

"What does 'master' or 'master' mean?"

"Literally, in order to maintain this current posture, I must pledge my loyalty to him, and... uh..."

"And what?"

Cocolia's pause made Hilva even more curious, but judging from her hesitant expression, she clearly wasn't planning to tell the truth.

"That's all I wanted to say. I hope you can forgive me. I also wish you a safe journey ahead. Goodbye."

"What? Cocolia! Wait a minute..."

Hiluva wanted to say something more, but Cocolia in front of her had already made up her mind and resolutely turned her head away.

"Master, that's enough, let's go."

Cocolia's words reached Hilva's ears clearly, followed by a somewhat familiar voice.

"So soon? Why don't you catch up properly?"

"no need…"

Cocolia shook her head slightly. But at that moment, another voice abruptly interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, the call hasn't ended yet. If you keep talking like this, people will hear you."

As the words fell, the scene before Hilva's eyes turned completely black, but at the last moment, she saw Cocolia's panicked back.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw the ceiling of my bedroom. I was still lying in bed, and it was already the next morning.

But recalling the scene just now was so real, it didn't seem like an ordinary dream at all. What Shiluwa was particularly concerned about were the two voices that appeared at the end.

One of the female voices was unfamiliar to him, but the other male voice seemed familiar, though he couldn't quite place it.

Later...

Having received Jepard's message, Qiong arrived at the cable car in the upper area, where Hilva and Jepard had also arrived.

At first, the siblings were having a normal conversation, but when Qiong arrived, Hilva's expression changed immediately.

Because she finally remembered where she had heard that voice before, but is that right? According to Cocolia, it should have been Sora and the others who defeated her.

But it doesn't make much sense from any perspective, does it? How did Sora revive Cocolia, and why did the latter call him that?

And what, most importantly, was it that Cocolia didn't say aloud, something that seemed like a price to pay?

Many questions troubled Hilva's mind so much that she didn't even hear what Jepard was saying beside her. Then the three of them went to the lower area.

Iron Guards had already arrived, and this time the main purpose was for Jepard to negotiate with the leader of "Earthfire," so the negotiation location was naturally the clinic in Rocky Town.

Since both of them were newcomers, Qiong was in charge of leading the way. Under the somewhat unfriendly gazes of the people around them, they arrived at the clinic together.

Oleg had been waiting at the door for a long time. After entering the clinic, Natasha was a little surprised to find that Sora had also come.

However, this did not affect the current conversation. After a brief exchange, Natasha quickly understood Jepard's purpose in coming here.

Silvermane Ironguards wanted to use this opportunity to win over the Earthfire and rebuild the Ironguards' positive image in the Lower District, a point that Jepard did not deny.

But Natasha wouldn't agree so easily, and her aura was in no way inferior to Jepard's; she truly lived up to her reputation as the true leader of "Earthfire."