Chapter 340: Virgo
The red woman was called Virginia. A pretty, celestial, holy name for a woman who was, in truth, all red.
Noah couldn't look at such a face and utter "Virginia." It didn't make any sense to him. So instead, he chose a nickname.
He cut her name short and called her Virgo.
Weirdly, she seemed to like it. She even let out a small, unconscious smile when she heard it — a smile she immediately wiped from her face.
Days passed since that moment.
Aurelia and Asaemon had both chosen to be on their own for a time, deciding first to calm the murderous thoughts they held against Virgo.
The cat on Noah's shoulder acted like the boss of the realm. Everywhere he walked, the other animals made way. Some even approached him to curry favor.
That arrogant bastard told them to fight amongst themselves and that he would only choose the best.
He lied.
He only chose the females and went on his way. No one dared to touch him, for he was the cat that sat on the shoulder of the Creator.
His descendants would surely be considered nobility.
Now Noah was alone with Virgo, beside a meadow of red flowers where a stream flowed seamlessly through the field.
The sky above was clear, cloudless, the white sun striking them softly.
Virgo sat on the flower-carpeted ground, just beside the stream, her feet dipped in the water.
The water was so clear the fluttering grass beneath it could be seen.
It was peaceful, beautiful, relaxing — so much that she closed her eyes, drinking in the sight this space offered.
But inwardly, guilt gnawed at her. She admonished herself, whispering that she was in enemy territory.
She shouldn't be here. She shouldn't find comfort here.
This was a trap.
And yet those rebellious thoughts dulled the moment she turned her eyes to glance at Noah.
Out of imagination.
That was the only phrase that came to her mind as she saw him standing tall, hands clasped at his chest, his long silver hair fluttering in the wind as he gazed at the stream as if beholding something beyond it.
The white sun fell softly on his immaculate face, making him look even more like a being that shouldn't exist in reality.
Everything about him screamed power. Screamed confidence. Screamed recklessness. Screamed cruelty. But also arrogance beyond measure.
That was his nature. And with his level of power, Noah could not change who he was.
Virgo couldn't care less about that in this moment. What concerned her more was how her will to resist dissolved every time she looked at him, like frost under burning sunlight.
'Is this because I was abandoned? Is that why I search for comfort, for something to cling to?'
But wouldn't it be irony itself if she sought comfort from the very man who had left her abandoned by all?
How would the universe see her?
As a contemptible woman with no worth.
Reminding herself of that truth, she succeeded in clutching the little pride she still had and turned her gaze away from Noah, staring at the stream instead. There was nothing else to do anyway.
Noah had noticed her gaze, and he smiled.
"How long do you think you can resist me?" Noah asked, his voice disgustingly insufferable.
If she could, she would have sewn his lips shut with the threads of reality itself.
But she was afraid even that wouldn't be enough. This man was just that abnormal.
She sighed, trying to steady her emotions, then parted her lips.
"You resist something that tempts you," she said, glaring at him. "You do not tempt me."
Noah's smile widened in amusement. He approached and sat beside her. Virgo shrank subtly.
"There is hardly anything in this universe I cannot tempt, darling." he told her, voice steeped in confidence.
"But if you're so sure… why not test it?"
Virgo turned her head toward him despite herself, interest flickering unwillingly.
'And his voice… ah… why is everything about him so beautiful? Except for his disgusting character, of course.'
Noticing he had her attention, Noah continued.
He pointed with a slender finger — slender, yet powerful enough to crush worlds — toward the pristine water flowing in the stream.
Bad feelings fluttered inside Virgo, wings of dread.
She forced a strained smile and tilted her head. "What?" she asked, pretending not to understand.
But she knew. And she prayed she misunderstood.
But no gods answer the prayers of the forsaken.
"Let's swim, darling." he said with a smile.
"You claim I don't tempt you. Fine. Then I just need proof. Let's strip down to our underwear and plunge into this beautiful water."
At his words, he stood and began undressing.
He wore a white shirt and baggy white pants. Slowly, he removed the shirt, revealing sculpted abs, each line impossible in its perfection.
Virgo's head spun. Blood rushed through her body in torrents.
She was excited, too excited. Her eyes fixed on him, waiting, craving for him to pull off the pants and reveal the dragon coiled beneath.
He didn't.
He smirked knowingly, then slowly put his shirt back on and sat beside her as if nothing had happened.
Then, casually, "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" he exclaimed, as though he had never seen better.
Virgo was still reeling. Mechanically, she turned her head toward him and blurted a question before she could stop herself…
"Aren't we going to swim?"
Instant regret. It made her sound desperate.
But she was desperate. He had given her a taste, and now she craved the full feast. If not, she would be haunted forever by the thought of what she had been denied.
Noah only shrugged. "It was just to see if I tempted you. But in the process, I decided to believe your words. So no need to act like a stripper."
"But…" Virgo faltered.
Anything she said would brand her a horny fool. So she stayed silent, forcing her mind to forget what she had just seen.
A laughable attempt.
Noah smiled.
"We'll soon continue our journey. I would have chosen your role for you, but I'll let you decide."
"You have no one anymore. Nothing in your name. If I were you, I'd think of a way to create new things."
"Don't waste the chance I've unconsciously given you."
He paused, then looked at her with sudden seriousness.
"Many would love the opportunity to restart at zero, unknown to all."
"So do me proud, darling. Don't waste it."
—End of Chapter 340—