NOVEL NEXT Chapter 339: Fickle
Noah healed Aurelia and Asaemon rapidly. In the process, he even learned some interesting things about the power of Ruin, a power he couldn't help but feel fascinated by.
It was incredibly complex and alien in a way he had never seen before. He was sure he hadn't even grasped yet the full intent, the full weight behind this Ruin.
It made him excited and nervous at the same time.
Excited because now he was certain, there was a universe beyond this universe, a reality beyond this reality.
He had things to conquer, he had things to live, he had things to experience. He was eager for all that.
But he was also nervous because… now there were things outside the scope of his understanding. Powers he couldn't even begin to fathom.
Because let's not forget, Noah had needed to sacrifice a life just to understand how Ruin worked enough to heal his siblings. And this wasn't even because the woman had attacked them.
They were simply injured by the rebound of their own attacks against her.
So what if the red woman had actually fought them seriously? What if she had managed to land a killing strike?
Then one life would not have been enough. The cost to heal them would have been far steeper. And this made him realize a single truth…
He needed this power.
Not because he wanted Ruin itself. But because he needed a countermeasure, a shield, an answer for the day he might face it directly.
Now the question was… who was Ruin?
Noah asked the red woman, for the third time, and the last. If she dared not to answer, then she would learn just how cruel he could be.
Fortunately, she was sensible enough to know she was nothing but a cornered rat. Against a cat — still perched on Noah's shoulder, tail flicking idly.
The future of this cat was secured for sure.
She parted her lips.
"Ruin is ruin." she said.
Noah blinked. He turned to his right, saw Aurelia's confused face. He turned to his left, saw Asaemon's twitching jaw.
Then,
"…Is this bitch messing with us?" he asked, his tone so cold it felt like the world itself might freeze at his words.
It did.
Frost crept across the ground at the mere sound of Noah's voice. He was ruler of this realm. A god. Whatever he willed, would happen.
"I think she believes us fools," Aurelia intoned.
"I am in no mood for bullshit. Let's kill her," Asaemon added coldly.
They didn't show it outright, but they were furious. Ashamed.
Ashamed of the state they had been in…forced to their knees, coughing and writhing like mortal weaklings.
What burned worse was that it happened in front of the youngest. They were supposed to be examples. Shepherds. They were meant to show him what it meant to be an abomination. To be untouchable.
And instead, they had collapsed, and Noah had shown them the true meaning of abomination. He had made them look like children playing with fire—children who hadn't known how hot it could burn.
Now they knew. And now they were lost.
But none of that was visible on their faces. They wore their usual expressions, flawless masks without cracks.
At least, they tried.
But clearly, they failed, because the rage in their hearts bled through. They wanted her head. They wanted to shred her into pieces and force her to choke on her own flesh. They wanted her to suffer.
But Noah didn't want that. So they restrained themselves.
Noah looked at his siblings silently. He understood what they were feeling.
How could he not?
Ever since reincarnating in Laeh with Providence in his hand, he had never been meant to be compared to others.
No one could match him.
Not because he was more talented. Not because his cause was nobler. Not because he was braver. Not because he hungered more for dominion.
Simply because he cheated.
And isn't that the way of life?
Kill or be killed. Cheat or be cheated.
Noah was nothing but a pitiful, wretched man reborn in a world where even the lowest servant could kill him. But he cheated his way up.
And many in life did the same. They betrayed. They bribed. They lied. They killed. They called you brother while plotting to steal your position—at the company, the guild, the empire.
Give it whatever name you want, at the end, the principle remained the same.
Cheat or be cheated.
Aurelia and Asaemon had cheated in their own way, but Noah's way of cheating was beyond their immortal comprehension.
They couldn't help but feel underwhelmed beside him.
And…
'That's exactly what I wanted.' Noah thought silently, watching them while the red woman remained mute, waiting for permission to speak.
He needed them to feel inadequate, to feel the weight of their limits, to hunger for more.
Then he would act. He would reach out to them with epithets crafted for them. With bloodlines shaped for them. With talents only they could hold.
And they would evolve. And they would become his. And then…
Oh, what a sight it would be.
He wondered, was the universe ready?
Because once he had them, Noah would go full Napoleon.
A faint smile curled on his lips as he imagined them conquering the cosmos, armed with cunning and power beyond the reach of the so-called Progenitors.
They were sitting in their lofty domains, blind to the vicious cheater who was assembling his own court of cheaters.
Arrogance or confidence?
Sometimes the line was too blurred to tell.
But Noah would know, one day.
For now, though…
'Let me add another stolen power to my name.' he thought with a smirk.
"Ruin is ruin, huh? I don't fancy cryptic words, darling. So you'd better speak clearly before I let my dear siblings gut you alive."
He smirked.
"I don't need to show you how eager they are."
The red woman gulped. She cursed fate and everything that had led her here instead of another.
But too late for regrets. So instead she forced out a strained smile and answered.
"I am not speaking in riddles. It is the truest definition I can give of my master. He is what he is. There's nothing else I can say."
Noah didn't threaten her this time. He could feel the truth in her words.
"Then why does he want to kill me? How does he even know about me?"
He already knew the answer, but he wanted confirmation.
"He wants you dead because you are dangerous. You've obtained a power that makes him wary. He knows of you since that incident of—"
Her last words were cut off. Silenced, once again.
The siblings were getting used to it. But this time, the Records gave their reason.
{He will sense it. Say any more, and he will be aware.}
They fell silent immediately. None dared to speak further of Ruin.
But that didn't mean they forgot. No, not at all.
'I will need more. More power. More influence. More everything.'
The game had leveled up, and so must he.
Meaning…
Noah turned his head toward the red woman. He gave her a charming smile.
"What's your name, darling?"
What a fickle man.
—End of Chapter 339—