Both Noah and Virgo were surprised by these questions, their hearts skipping a beat. Their bodies recoiled in awkward disbelief at the sound of them.

Virgo was the most affected. She had just begun to feel at ease — no, she was at ease in this white place where the headache of the universe and the weight of existence seemed to be blocked by the pale ceiling above. It was here she discovered she loved sweet things and games she hadn't even known existed.

It was here she began to bond with a man who intrigued her, a man she wanted to be close to, and maybe… just maybe, build something tangible. Something real, not something wrapped in a beautiful ribbon of lust and temporary warmth.

It was in this place that her hope, her dreams for the future, were rekindled like flame on dry wood. And now, this same place trapped her, forcing upon her a question she didn't want to answer. Or rather, a question she didn't know the answer to.

Because to know it, she would have to think about it and she refused to even do that. She refused because she was afraid of what her choice might be. Because either way…

She would lose something.

Either her dreams, or the budding connection she was forming now that she had been abandoned by existence itself.

It was a heavy question. And Virginia Ti Raneth was afraid of it.

Noah, on the other hand, was calmer. But that didn't mean he was unaffected.

Would he kill Virgo if it meant achieving his goal of perfection?

He was tempted to destroy this place entirely at the sound of that question, but he couldn't help pausing to think about it.

Would he really? Would he kill a woman he'd come to like for power? For his goal?

Would he spit on the affection she held for him for the sake of a dream?

Would he…?

Weirdly, or maybe not, Noah didn't even need to think that hard to know the answer. He would not.

Not because he was a good person. Not because he valued love or relationships over perfection. But simply because he didn't need to kill someone who liked him to reach his goal.

That would be foolish. Especially for him.

He had become who he was because of affection, because of love. Providence made him, and his wives shaped him. To say that without them he'd be nothing was wrong, but he certainly wouldn't stand at the height he now did — admired by all, feared by many.

So for him, the question was merely annoying. And so he answered, even as his mind prepared to end all of this.

"I will not kill her for my goal," he said.

His words made Virgo, who had been lost in a harrowing battle between logic and emotion, snap her head toward him.

Her red eyes widened. Her mouth, still glistening with the sweet she was eating, formed an "O." She had never thought Noah would say something like that. She knew he liked her, but she believed it to be something superficial — like the excitement of a child finding a new toy. Nothing deep enough to choose over a dream.

It was no small thing. She knew that at their level, any dream or goal that endured had to be meaningful enough to survive time's cruelty and the desolation of a path shrouded in mist.

And thus, her heart shook. Her eyes, unwillingly, began to glisten. She bit her lower lip hard, forcing the rain back.

Noah noticed her reaction and smiled, ready to say something corny or teasing but as always, the mechanical voice knew when to interrupt.

"Why?" it asked.

Noah tilted his head.

"Why would you abandon your goal for a person you are not familiar with?"

There was something different in that voice now. It had lost its mechanical tone. And indeed…

It began to speak more than ever before.

"Because of arrogance? Of pride? Of loyalty? Or because of love and kindness?"

It fired question after question, then fell silent, giving Noah time to answer. Virgo watched him with wide, unblinking eyes. She wanted to know too. No, she needed to.

So she listened.

Noah stayed silent for a heartbeat, letting the tension stretch. Then…

"Multiple reasons, if you want the truth," he began, intentionally avoiding Virgo's gaze. "Simply put, I don't need to sacrifice someone to achieve my goal. Doing so, I believe, would bring the opposite result instead."

"And also…"

He turned toward Virgo, meeting her dilating red eyes, and smiled.

"And also because I like Virgo. I'm just starting to know her, and she's as fascinating as the idea of another universe existing beside ours."

He took a step forward, closing the distance between them until they were only an inch apart. Their bodies were close and Virgo could feel the heat radiating from him, wrapping around her like the embrace of a phoenix's fire.

Her heartbeat steadied. Her breathing softened. Her trembling stopped. Noah was taller, and she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze. He leaned forward, back slightly bent, and their breaths began to dance together.

"I will not kill you for my goal, darling," he whispered, his breath warm and sweet like musk against her face. "I want to know you more. I want to see you licking your sweets like a five-year-old girl. I want to keep watching you play your games. And most importantly… I want to keep learning more about you."

"W-Why..?" Virgo barely managed to whisper, her heart beginning to race again…this time, for an entirely different reason.

"Why?" Noah echoed.

"Why me?" she corrected.

"Why not you?"

"I tried to kill you! I would have if you hadn't been stronger!"

"And I made you alone in this universe, darling. So by your logic, why am I hearing your heart beat so loudly? And…"

He reached out and took her chin gently, his white runic eyes sinking deep into her ocean of crimson. "Why are you gripping my clothes so tightly, as if afraid I might leave?"

Only then did Virgo notice her white knuckles clutching his white clothes. Realization struck her like a drowning soul finding the shore, but she didn't let go. Instead, she leaned closer until her lips hovered a breath away.

"If you do this… how can I resist you?"

"You were never meant to resist me."

His corny tone made Virgo laugh softly amidst the thick, tender air. A smile bloomed on her lips, one that dispersed the last lingering doubt in her heart.

"You're a player," she whispered. "Did anyone ever tell you that?"

Noah shrugged. "No one ever did."

She laughed again. "And me, I'm the Records' favorite child."

Noah was ready to reply, but before he could, Virgo's lips pressed against his in one fluid motion.

The kiss didn't last long, but the emotion poured into it was greater than ever before. When their lips parted seconds later, Virgo smiled dreamily.

"I will kill Noah Vaelgrim for my goal," she said, answering the question.

Noah smiled widely at her words. He didn't look angry, or disappointed, or sad. He looked almost… proud.

"Now you wound my heart, darling," he laughed softly.

Virgo gave him a playful smile. "I'll soothe it for you."

And then, the mechanical voice rang out once more and indeed, this time far less mechanical than before.

"Answers acknowledged!"

—End of Chapter 353—

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.