I Abandoned the Male Lead Who Cheated with the Villainess - Chapter 176

The way Novnie laughed cheerfully in front of the sobbing Aiden suggested, at the very least, that she understood the idea that ‘tears can come from happiness.’

However, the experience of emotions layering and evolving in diverse ways is something that can only happen with the presence of others.

Although Novnie, after creating humans and their descendants by harnessing the wisdom and intelligence of ancient creatures, had likely had little experience interacting with them while she slumbered inside the orb.

This may have led her to be unable to fully empathize with the deep and complex emotions of others.

— Do as you wish. It’s fine if you choose to descend to the mortal world and live a new life someday. Of course, as long as it doesn’t cause chaos or confusion.

For Aiden, who had just been killed by his beloved brother, hearing talk of the future seemed out of place. Speaking of anger and revenge to someone exhausted by emotions, and saying ‘Aiden is gone forever’ in such a cheerful tone—it was the kind of thing only someone completely oblivious would say.

‘No, maybe, to a god, emotions aren’t that important.’

Comparing beings who experience emotions to those who don’t, which group would have more?

‘Perhaps, like all creation, it’s just the future that’s built on a foundation.’

But upon reflection, Aiden realized that this might actually be quite efficient.

‘Why am I still struggling, even in such a wonderful place?’

This place, the abode of spring, was a paradise with no pain, no sorrow, and no death. Aiden should no longer be troubled. No one, not even Novnie, could make him sad here. In this deathless paradise, even if Novnie wanted to, she couldn’t take his life.

“Thanks to you showing me emotions, I’ve enjoyed watching the realm through the orb with you.”

Novnie suddenly said, offering a pink orb while Aiden was eating. The orb, which contained all of Novnie’s power, gleamed with a holy light.

“By the way, when do you plan to let time pass in the mortal world?”

“Ah, well… I haven’t decided yet.”

The problem was that Aiden still hadn’t decided how to spend his time in the abode of spring. Time in the mortal world had only passed a little while after his death, so no matter how much he looked, human emotions hadn’t really changed. This was also an opportunity for Novnie, who had learned about emotions from Aiden, to review them, but she was starting to feel a little bored.

“Hmm, I see?”

Novnie, who had slowly stroked the orb after pulling it back into her arms, suddenly asked:

“Aiden, you said you’ve shown me most of your emotions, right?”

“Yes…”

Looking into her sparkling green eyes, Aiden felt an inexplicable unease.

How could this be?

Here, in this paradise where there was no pain or sorrow, he was feeling uneasy.

At the same time, a sense of powerlessness weighed down on Aiden’s shoulders. Given that the one causing this unease was Novnie, the very being who created this world, knowing the source of his unease, there was nothing Aiden could do about it.

Isn’t that strange? He had lived in the abode of spring for five years, had eaten food created by god for five years, and might even have become closer to a god than a human. Yet, there was nothing he could do.

He could not influence humans. The same was true in paradise. Even the falling leaves, touched by Novnie’s power, were not something Aiden could control without her permission. He had to ask for Novnie’s consent just to exist here.

“Then, you’re saying that the emotions you know are exhausted, and that a more mature human might be able to experience other emotions, right?”

Moreover, the love and attention that Aiden had once monopolized from the god was now drifting toward another place.

‘I don’t like that.’

Aiden liked it when Novnie looked at him entirely. When the god who had saved him in his final moments smiled at him, he could feel the spring fully blooming inside him. When she gave him everything, he truly felt loved.

Hadn’t she just said that human emotions were diverse? Aiden felt that. He respected Novnie, even fearing her at times, and so it seemed natural for him to have feelings for her, even affection.

“No, I think it doesn’t matter if you’re young. Young people might not know many emotions, so I’m curious about how they live. Hmm… should we see the other descendant who had called me?”

But then Novnie, of all people, singled out Herix.

‘…I don’t like it.’

His fist tightened. The grape cluster he was holding burst open, releasing a sweet, tangy scent. At the same time, his fist became sticky. The sweet juice made his fingers and palm cling together, making it difficult to open his hand.

Aiden realized something.

Sweet things should be held onto. Then the fist would naturally become firm and even sweeter. Just like sugar water solidifying into candy. There was no need to let go.

If you grab it, if you possess it, if you own it, you can keep it.

“Yes, I was curious about that child too. After all, he’s my descendant. And I think he probably knows even fewer emotions than I do.”

Novnie continued talking about Herix. Aiden quietly stared down at his clenched fist.

The round shape of his hand looked just like the pink orb in which Novnie had slept in.