NOVEL NEXT Chapter 342: Towards Earth
Now Virgo asked herself how she could take away this new friend of hers to accompany her.
She would have loved to always stay in that place, but it was impossible. All the things that existed here were nothing more than created things, illusions born to make the realm feel livelier.
It was not the first time she had seen created beings and environments. But this much life in them? This much emotion and individuality? And with such ease?
Virgo couldn't believe all of this was the result of Noah simply tapping his feet on the void to create a place to interrogate her.
'Creation power at this level… I heard only The Merchant could do this back in our universe. And now that I think about it, doesn't that Merchant sound just as ridiculous as Noah?'
Inevitably, she couldn't help but compare the two beings. Both out of the norm, but in utterly different ways.
Shaking her head, Virgo focused on the fish and asked if it could take a human shape or even walk on earth.
The response disappointed her. The fish couldn't.
But she was determined, ready to ask Noah for this favor. Yet before her thoughts transformed into actions…
"You can have her." A voice rumbled through the paradisiacal space. Virgo's brows furrowed.
"Were you watching all this time? And how do you know I was going to ask you?" She still kept her rebellious tone sharp.
A chuckle boomed around her.
"I didn't watch, darling. I'm not that bored to watch you feeding your teeth to a fish. Do you know that?" Noah's voice was mocking.
Virgo's face twisted into a snarl, but Noah pressed on, giving her no chance to reply.
"I am the ruler of this place. I know everything even when I don't care to know. And this little fish just prayed to me to give her the ability to stay by your side."
"So here you go, darling."
His voice vanished instantly. In the water, the fish glowed with blinding red light. Its body shifted, its scaled form stretching, reshaping, sprouting limbs — human limbs.
Virgo watched with rapt attention, childishly eager to see this new being who would remain with her from now on.
The light faded. Standing on the carpet of grass was a petite little girl with a body red as blood and eyes golden like the blazing sun.
Her red hair hung long, moss-like strands bound with ocean pearls that clacked faintly whenever she moved. Her ears were long and fish-like, and at her neck a pair of gills opened and closed with every breath.
She was naked.
"Madam!" she chirped, smiling widely at Virgo before running up and wrapping her tiny arms around her leg.
She was so small, she barely reached Virgo's knees.
The sight was almost comical.
Virgo stood speechless. Awkwardly, she reached down and caressed her red hair. It was strange, yet soft to the touch.
She smiled faintly.
"Call me big sister."
The young girl froze, then nodded furiously, beaming with joy. "Yes! Yes! Big sister!"
Her voice was so excited she couldn't stop hopping around like a rabbit.
"From now on, your name is Virgo II."
Virgo's sense of naming was truly trash.
But Virgo II was happy to have a name.
So,
Everything was fine, she supposed.
What a cute, strange fish.
…
Time passed. Hard to tell how many days, or even weeks. Noah's realm distorted such things.
But now their little group was ready to continue their journey.
Aurelia and Asaemon were calm again, back to their usual selves — Asaemon unserious, unsettling, a constant thorn.
He was bullying Virgo Jr for no damn reason. The poor girl hid behind Virgo, seeking safety, not knowing her big sister was just as chained by the youngest sibling of this irresponsible man.
"Why are you bullying her?" Aurelia asked with open scorn.
"Because I can." Asaemon answered immediately.
"Big sister!" Virgo II cried, clinging tighter.
Virgo ignored her. She wanted peace.
"We will soon arrive at our destination. Another week at high speed should be enough." Noah's voice cut through the moment, pulling everyone's attention.
The cat still perched on his shoulder glared at Virgo II with predatory eyes. He clearly saw her as a rival for his sovereignty over all creatures in this realm.
Noah continued, fixing his gaze on Virgo.
"What do you wish to do now?" he asked.
Aurelia and Asaemon both turned toward her, their gazes heavy. There was no anger, but neither was there acceptance.
They would rather have her gone than walking among them.
But Virgo's resolve didn't falter.
"I will come with you. I don't know where you're going, but I can be of help. I know of another universe. My perspective may be useful."
Her words hung in silence. Then Noah smiled, turning to his siblings.
"What will we do? You can decide."
Virgo's eyes widened in shock.
She hadn't expected him to hand the choice to them. Stress twisted her gut.
Meanwhile, Aurelia and Asaemon were secretly pleased. At once, they no longer cared if Virgo came or not.
The youngest had given them choice. He had respected them, valued them, reminded them that their opinions still mattered. That was all they wanted to know.
Even if Noah was the leader, he had not forgotten them.
Aurelia spoke first, voice soft. "It's fine. She can come along."
She had the tact to read Noah's mind game, and the wisdom to play along.
Noah gave her a faint smile.
Asaemon, on the other hand, looked Virgo up and down, then shook his head as if disgusted.
"Nope. This one's going back to where she came from." He waved his hand like shooing a fly.
Silence fell.
Noah's lips twitched.
Aurelia palmed her face.
Virgo's heart skipped a beat.
Virgo II glared at the cat on Noah's shoulder, catching his challenging eyes.
Then,
"Damn you, Asaemon. She's bloody coming!"
"Then why ask?"
"You have no manners."
"Man, I just gave my decision the way you wanted. Why's everyone looking at me like I'm at fault? Liberty of speech, don't you all know that here?"
"Shut up, Asaemon." Noah and Aurelia said in unison.
The beastly brother muttered bitterly about the difficulty of being the middle child.
And so, they departed.
Towards Earth.
—End of Chapter 342—