Chapter 843 IMPORTANT LESSONS
NIKOLAI was startled when tears suddenly fell from the older Neoma's eyes. "Daughter, are you in pain?"
"These are tears of joy, Father," the older Neoma said, then she smiled. "I finally met my other father."
It only took him a minute to realize who his daughter was talking about.
There was only one father who treated the older Neoma in her timeline.
"Did you go to Rufus?" Nikolai asked carefully. "Is he the person you wanted to meet all this time?"
The older Neoma nodded. "Father was the only person who loved me unconditionally before I was revived. He loved me during the time I couldn't even like myself."
Of course, it hurt to hear the older Neoma talk about Rufus with such affection.
Nikolai would also admit that he was jealous even though he didn't have the right to feel that way.
[Rufus will always be a better father than I am.]
"What's that look on your face, Father?"
"I'm jealous of your love and respect for Rufus. Even the Neoma of this timeline has a soft spot for my cousin," Nikolai admitted. It was shameless of him to admit it in front of his daughter, but she wanted to be honest with her. "Having said that, I'm still grateful to Rufus for being a good father to you when I couldn't."
The older Neoma let out a soft laugh. "Rufus Quinzel is enough reason for me to help you save this world, so let me teach you how to defeat the Second Calamity."
"Are you sure you won't get in trouble?"
"I'll only get in trouble if I use my power directly. But they didn't say anything about giving clues and tools to help you."
Nikolai chuckled while shaking his head. "Are you scamming the system now?"
"I'm just taking advantage of the loophole, Father," the older Neoma said. Then she turned to Monik. "You look like you have a good head on your shoulders, child. Do you know what to do?"
"I don't– I'm just following my gut feeling, unnie!" Monik said enthusiastically. "I'm trying to gather the Light Goddess' scattered fragments in the sky!"
The older Neoma smiled a little. "That's a good start. Unfortunately, that won't be enough."
"What should I do, unnie? I'm good at listening!"
"Just continue what you're doing, child," the older Neoma said, then she turned to Nikolai. "Why are you not using your main weapon, Father?"
Nikolai frowned. "A de Moonasterio doesn't need a weapon to fight. We fight using our Soul Beasts and our brute strength."
"Father, what do you think Calypso is made of?"
Huh?
He actually didn't think deeply about it before.
Even the history books and his father didn't tell him anything else about Calypso except for the fact that it was a Holy Sword.
[And that it's an heirloom.]
"Since it's a Holy Sword, isn't it made of Yule's divine power then?" Nikolai asked awkwardly. He was ashamed that he didn't study enough about the Holy Sword since he didn't care about it. "Am I wrong?"
"So, this is why not even Nero knew how to use the Calypso properly," the older Neoma said in an indifferent voice, then she sighed. "Father, summon Calypso now."
***
[N-NEOMA?]
Hanna could tell that the woman was Neoma even though she looked older and taller than the Neoma that she knew.
But who else could have such a strong aura?
The older Neoma was just standing in front of the ice coffin that was now covered in Hanna's Black Hole.
[Can she see what's inside the Black Hole?]
The miasma that Commander Ruto left to protect the ice coffin didn't attack the older Neoma.
[That means she isn't an enemy.]
"This Black Hole is weak, Pirate Princess."
Hanna flinched when the older Neoma turned around to face her.
She almost didn't recognize the Imperial Princess, and it wasn't because of her age or height.
It was the older Neoma's eyes.
[Those sad, empty eyes of hers are haunting…]
"It's enough to hide my body for now," the older Neoma said. "But soon, the Black Hole that you made would eventually vanish. It's not as strong as the Black Hole that you made in the first timeline."
Ah, as expected.
[This is the Neoma of the first timeline.]
"Father taught me the fundamentals of creating a Black Hole," Hanna said when she found her voice. The Neoma in front of her was intimidating, hence it took her time before she gathered the courage to speak. "I gathered as many shadows as I could and turned them into a tight and tiny space to create a Black Hole."
"Ah, so that's why your Black Hole looks pathetic."
Ouch.
"Hanna Quinzel, are shadows the only dark matter you can gather to create THE Black Hole?"
Hmm?
Since the Quinzels had always used shadows, Hanna didn't think about using other things to create a Black Hole.
But the older Neoma was right.
Shadows weren't the only dark matter she could use.
"The next time you try to recreate the Black Hole that the Pirate Princess did in the first timeline, use something else other than shadows," the older Neoma said. "You have to create a Black Hole with a gravitational pull so strong that not even light could escape from it."
"Then… wouldn't that kill us all?"
"Yes, and that's exactly why you died in the first timeline."
"…"
"I actually envy your death," the older Neoma said. "You died with your parents. They tried to protect you. But not even Duke Quinzel could protect you from the Black Hole."
Hanna frowned at that. "That means I failed to protect my mother and father."
"No– it was me who failed to save you all."
Ah.
The emptiness in the older Neoma's eyes was replaced by guilt and bitterness.
"You created the Black Hole to stop my Lunacy," the older Neoma said. "When I came to my senses, you were already gone. I did stop the Black Hole from devouring what remained of the empire, but I was still too late."
It sounded like the tragedy that it was.
But something else caught Hanna's attention.
"You stopped the Black Hole that I created?"
The older Neoma smiled slyly. "Do you want me to tell you how to release the Black Hole safely?"
"No," Hanna said stubbornly. "I don't care if the world is at stake. I still don't want to be spoon-fed by you, Neoma. I'm going to figure it out on my own, so don't say anything."
"Why? Do you hate me?"
"It's actually the opposite– I love you, Neoma."
"What?"
"You suffered a lot in the first timeline because you had to save the world," Hanna said, clenching her hands tight. "You should be resting now, Neoma. Don't worry about us. We may be weaker than you, but we're not the type to give up easily."
The older Neoma looked confused at first, then she smiled a little. "We were bound by duty in the first timeline. But, this time, it seems like you are all drawn to Neoma because you love her."
Right.
Even Neoma of the current timeline thought she wasn't loved during her first life.
But…
"I don't know about the others, but I wouldn't sacrifice my life for a person I don't love," Hanna said with conviction. "I may have not expressed it properly in the first timeline, but I believe I followed you back then because I loved you as a family and as a friend, Neoma."
The older Neoma looked as if she couldn't comprehend what Hanna had just said.
[It seems like she couldn't believe that she was loved…]
Hanna's heart broke for Neoma of the first timeline.
"Princess Neoma…?"
Hanna turned around and saw Lewis entering the room through the balcony.
The fox looked ragged– his hair was messy, clothes tattered, skin bruised and he was full of small cuts all over his face and body.
[Is that a bite mark on his neck and cheek???]
It seemed like the old foxes had been too rough on Lewis!
"Lu?" the older Neoma asked, surprised. "I was wondering why you weren't by Nero's side. Well, I already saw the current Neoma's memories so I know you're serving her at the moment. But I only believed it now that I've seen you here."
Lewis frowned. "I don't like Prince Nero."
"Interesting," the older Neoma said. "Lu, you died for him in the first timeline."
Hanna gasped. "Really?"
"What a horrible decision," Lewis said, still frowning. "I won't make the same mistake again, Princess Neoma."
Hanna sighed and shook her head.
The older Neoma, on the other hand, let out a hollow laugh. "Lu, have you reached your Berserk state yet?"
Lewis tilted his head to one side. "Berserk state?"
"Your clan is just as crazy as the de Moonasterios," the older Neoma said, quite amused. "Lu, let go of your inhibitions and just go crazy."
***
[AT LEAST my flawless skin isn't getting burned.]
Neoma was dying, but she was still relieved that her skin wasn't affected by the flame.
She was getting used to the pain and the burning sensation that was making her suffer, but she couldn't move yet.
[Once I get out of here, I'm gonna give that giant Neoma a bitch slap.]
"Are you having violent thoughts again?"
Who the fuck…
Oh.
Neoma trailed off when she raised her head and saw the man sitting on the boulder right in front of her. "Ruto?"
"I'm called 'Yoan' in the timeline I came from."
Right.
No wonder this Ruto looked taller and more muscular than her ex-man.
"Does it hurt?"
Neoma extended her hand to Commander Yoan. "Let me share this "warmth" with you and tell me if it hurts."
Commander Yoan remained serious, but his eyes twinkled with amusement. "You're still snarky, so I guess you'll survive."
She put down her arm because, frankly, just moving her hand already drained her strength. But she still had the strength to run her mouth. "Wow. How cold. Is it because I'm not your Neoma?"
"You're not dying."
"Of course, I am not dying, but I like being dramatic. Will it kill you if you show me that you care?"
"Then do you want me to tell you how to put out the Eternal Flame?"
"No, thanks."
"That was a quick response, Princess Neoma," the commander said. "Are you sure you don't need my help?"
"Do you think I'm just lying here helplessly?"
"Are you not?"
"If I was, I wouldn't have the energy to even talk back to you," she said, smirking. "But I'm Neoma, and my big brain hasn't been fried yet. Thank goodness."
Commander Yoan raised an eyebrow. "So, how are you putting out the Eternal Flame?"
"I'm a premium air purifier, duh," Neoma said smugly. "It's true that air provides more oxygen to flare up the fire, but if the wind is strong enough, it will take the heat away from the flame." She laughed like the villain that she was trying to be. "I'm gonna put out this damned Eternal Flame and get my revenge on that giant Neoma!"
Yes, pettiness was a good motivation, indeed.
***
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