Lady Cocolia's touch... was no less than Miss Himeko's. Perhaps it was because she was also a mother with a child. Wait, don't, don't think such things. The touch here, of course, refers to patting his head!
But after a while, Sāmu still felt a sense of guilt, as if he were doing something bad behind Mother Himeko's back. So he politely took Lady Cocolia's hand and let it fall. Then, under the gaze of Cocolia's shimmering purple pupils, the boy returned to the main topic.
"We are here for something called a 'Stellaron'."
Cocolia calmly withdrew her hand, put on a curious expression, and crossed her full chest. From Sāmu's perspective, he could clearly see the gentle ripple. "A Stellaron?" she asked.
Dan Heng gave a timely supplement at this moment. "It is a substance that suddenly descends upon various worlds."
"Its appearance signifies disaster. Many of the planets we have passed through have been ravaged by the Stellaron."
"From this, we can make a slightly bold guess."
"Perhaps the disaster that has swept across the entire planet of Jarilo-VI, the Eternal Freeze and the birth of the Fragmentum, are all due to the crucial role played by the Stellaron."
"..." Cocolia lowered her head and was silent for a moment. Her golden bangs covered her eyes, so the members of the Express could not see her expression.
"This is the first time I have heard such a theory."
"So you're saying, as long as we find the Stellaron, we can resolve all the crises facing our Belobog?"
"...I only said there is such a possibility."
"Then do you have a way to seal the Stellaron?"
"We have the appropriate means."
"I understand." Cocolia chuckled softly.
Sāmu was a little closer and naturally sensitive, so he could feel a very faint hint of mockery in that laugh. The boy felt something was strange, but he didn't know what it was. After all, from beginning to end, the Supreme Guardian Cocolia's behavior towards the Express crew could only be described as warm and friendly.
"I believe you."
"If the disaster is really related to this so-called Stellaron, then you are the hope that Belobog has been waiting for for seven hundred years."
"I am willing to provide all possible assistance to help you find the Stellaron!"
Hearing this, Sāmu couldn't help but feel guilty for having had a trace of doubt about Lady Cocolia. Indeed, Lady Cocolia was an excellent and sincere ruler, worthy of the name of Supreme Guardian. Then he, too, could not let her down!
"Thank you for your understanding and support, Lady Cocolia." Sāmu placed his right hand on his chest and bowed respectfully.
March 7th and Stelle followed suit, only Dan Heng was still observing the Supreme Guardian before them.
Cocolia helped the boy up and smiled at him. "It's getting late. You must be tired from your long journey?"
"I will arrange for you to stay at the most comfortable hotel in the city to rest. Get a good night's sleep, and we will discuss the search for the Stellaron in detail tomorrow."
"Thank you, Lady Cocolia." Sāmu expressed his gratitude again.
But the mature blond woman shook her head. "Still so formal. Just call me Cocolia."
"Eh... that's... not appropriate, is it?" Sāmu was clearly a little shy. No matter how you looked at it, Lady Cocolia was much older than him. How could he address her as an equal?
Seeing this, Cocolia didn't insist and watched as the members of the Astral Express left Qlipoth Fort.
Until Dan Heng, who was at the back of the group, had stepped out of the grand hall, the gate of Qlipoth Fort was slammed shut by the guards.
The entire main hall of Qlipoth Fort was left with only the Supreme Guardian. The smile that had been on Cocolia's face then disappeared like melting ice, replaced by a cold expression that could make one's heart freeze. There was not a trace of the warmth from before!
[...Go get him, possess him, dom...]
[In the beautiful... new world, he... must exist...]
[He will become yours...]
[You will... be reborn, embrace... eternity!]
A strange and twisted rustling sound echoed in this space that should have been silent. However, only Cocolia could understand its urging, its demands, its desires. Just as only it had responded to the woman's desires.
Cocolia responded to the existence in the shadows. But if seen by others, it would probably look more like the ravings of a madwoman.
"...I understand, of course."
"Don't be in a hurry. I have my own methods."
"He... cannot escape."
When Cocolia's voice fell, the mysterious voice seemed to be at ease. It turned into nothingness and disappeared without a trace.
In the vast Qlipoth Fort, Cocolia stood in the illusory light highlighted by the shadows. Her slender back was so lonely and desolate.
...
After leaving Qlipoth Fort, the members of the Express met the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard, again. What a pity. He was a very nice, honest, and handsome blond young man. But March 7th and Stelle had been around Sāmu for too long. Not to mention Gepard, even a cold-faced handsome man like Dan Heng, who should be the most popular with girls, was gradually becoming ordinary in their eyes.
So, once that threshold is raised, it's hard to lower it again. Therefore, their attitude towards Gepard was very natural, with no possibility of fangirling like little girls.
Gepard's attitude towards Sāmu and the others was one of courtesy. Under the premise that the Supreme Guardian saw them as allies and not enemies. "The Supreme Guardian seems to think highly of you. I have been ordered not to restrict your movements."
"You can roam freely in Belobog without worry."
"I would recommend you visit the Everwinter Monument first. It is the most iconic landmark of Belobog."
"If you are interested in music, you can also go to the Neverwinter Workshop. There are occasional open-air performances there. As for the performer..." Gepard's eyes shifted for a moment, and he quickly changed the subject.
"Finally, if you are staying at the Goethe Hotel, please be sure to avoid the alley guarded by the Silvermane Guards next to it. There are strange Fragmentum monsters inside that might harm you."
"I have official duties to attend to and must return to my post now. I wish you a pleasant stay in Belobog."
"Goodbye, Captain Gepard." Sāmu said goodbye politely, and Gepard smiled at him gently.
March 7th and Stelle exchanged glances, both seeing a look of helplessness in each other's eyes. Why was their Sāmu just so universally charming! Note, the "universally charming" here refers to goodwill. Sāmu seemed to be able to naturally gain anyone's goodwill, and he himself was completely unaware of it!
"I feel like I need to teach Sāmu a good lesson..." March 7th said, pretending to be deep in thought.
"T-teach?" Sāmu looked confused and at a loss.
"That's right! I need to make you realize how dangerous your beauty is, no less than a criminal who sets fires in others' hearts wherever you go!"
"A heart-arsonist like you must be sentenced to 'seven years in prison'!"
"As for what 'seven years in prison' is, of course it's being with Sister March 7th..."
"I think it's better to change it to 'no seven years in prison'."
"Stelle! Don't ruin my line!"
Seeing that the two were about to start bickering again, Dan Heng had to step in and bring the conversation back to a normal track. "Let's discuss our next steps first."
"Should we follow the Supreme Guardian's arrangement and go to the hotel to rest, or follow Gepard's suggestion and tour the city of Belobog?"
Hearing this, Sāmu was about to speak, but was stopped by Dan Heng's raised hand. "Sāmu, you speak last. Otherwise, those two will definitely agree with your suggestion."
"...I'm sorry." Sāmu felt guilty for the partial influence he had on the team.
"Silly boy, the ones who should be sorry are those two idiots."
March 7th: "Who's an idiot!"
Stelle: "There's clearly only one!"
As soon as the words fell, another spark ignited between March 7th and Stelle.
Ignoring them, Dan Heng stated his own thoughts. "I'm going to register at the hotel and rest first."
March 7th, after thinking for a moment, said, "As for me... I think I'll go see the Everwinter Monument."
"After all, it's the landmark of Belobog!" Every time she traveled to a new place, March 7th would take a photo in front of the most famous landmark. Because for her, that was the most memorable moment of the trip!
Stelle took out her Galactic Baseball Bat and gave a cool smile. "I'm going to check out the Fragmentum over there."
"Monsters? If one comes, I'll kill a pair. If two come, I'll kill them all!"
"...You really know there's a tiger on the mountain, but you insist on going up."
"What about Sāmu?" Everyone looked at Sāmu with anticipation, hoping he would give an answer that matched their own.
Sāmu was a little nervous, but with Brother Dan Heng's encouragement, he bravely stated his decision. "I... want to go see the Workshop."
"Eh, is Sāmu interested in music?"
"Then I have to recommend Miss Robin's 'Hope Is the Thing with Feathers' to you!" March 7th's interests were wide-ranging, including games, music, and animation. Being with her would never be boring.
"I'll listen to it when I have time." Sāmu would always take others' suggestions seriously. If someone recommended a sword technique from a game to him, he would probably try his best to learn it.
And so, everyone made their own decisions. March 7th went to take photos. Stelle went to challenge the Fragmentum. Dan Heng went back to the hotel to rest, though he would most likely be hiding away reading a book. And Sāmu walked towards the low-key "Neverwinter Workshop" in the distance.
Today, there was no musical performance at the "Neverwinter Workshop." Because the musician of the band herself seemed to be troubled by something and was drinking heavily at the bar.
"Those old fogeys in the family!"
"So what if I don't get married! If I'm single, I'm single!"
"At worst... at worst, I'll just adopt a child like that woman!"
"Bronya... hehe, Bronya is a good child."
"It's a pity that despicable woman got to her first..."
"Is there a child... better than Bronya?"
In a daze, Serval lifted her drunken eyes. She saw a white-haired boy push the door open and enter, the light from outside falling on his head, making him look like an angel.
In that moment, Serval's heart skipped a beat!
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