Chapter 851 A BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE (2)
IT HAD been two years already since Helstor and Callisto de Luca disappeared after the long and grim war that almost destroyed the human world.
But, to be honest, Neoma couldn't confidently say that everything was truly over.
[I can still feel Darkness lurking around.]
Moreover, the air pollution in the Upper World was slowly yet constantly getting worse.
[Should I investigate it further? But I don't really have a motivation to do so. I don't care if the gods dropped dead one by one.]
Well, except for one.
"Neoma, you suddenly zoned out."
Ah, right.
She was in the middle of a conversation with Commander Yoan in the garden of her mansion in the Upper World.
That had been her residence ever since the war ended in the human world.
Well, to be honest, her place was far from the village where the major gods lived. If the major gods lived in the city, then she lived in the province. But it was her choice.
She liked the beach right in front of her house.
[It's not actually a 'beach.' The water in it is actually Divine Water that the gods use to replenish their divine power. But it has been abandoned ever since Darkness corrupted the water in there.]
"You're zoning out again, Neoma," Commander Yoan complained lightly. "Is the beach more interesting than me?"
Pfft.
How immature.
"Commander Yoan."
"Yes?"
"Would you run away with me if I asked you to?"
He tilted his head to one side as if he was confused. "Where would we go? The human world is still in the process of recovering after the last war that we led. And the Upper World isn't stable yet because of the air pollution. But, if you ask me, I believe you have to return to the human world first and help the people rebuild the Great Moonasterion Empire."
"How is that MY problem?"
"What do you mean by that?" he asked, knitting his eyebrows. "Neoma, you're the last surviving de Moonasterio in the world. It's your duty to help your people recover their daily lives. You can't lead the empire anymore since your Divinization has been completed, hence the Upper World is your new home now. But you can choose the next bloodline that will lead the Great Moonasterion Empire."
"Isn't it enough that I saved those people from Helstor and Callisto de Luca's tyranny?"
"But your duty doesn't end with the conclusion of the war, Neoma."
"Commander Yoan, I have no one else left to protect in the human world," she reminded the commander in a tired voice. "You sacrificed my family to revive me, and our allies sacrificed their lives to help me win the war."
"But Neoma–"
"Commander Yoan, I'm not a good person," she said, cutting him off. "I only saved the empire because I didn't want the sacrifice of the people who revived me to go to waste. So, don't get the wrong idea. I don't love the human race and I don't care about the human world."
Even without looking at herself in the mirror, she could tell that her red eyes had glowed menacingly.
"Commander Yoan, do you want me to lose my mind out of jealousy if I see those people in the human world happy with their family?" Neoma asked coldly. "Their lives were saved because of the sacrifice of my people. I'm not happy for them– I'm bitter and jealous. Being a god in return of saving the human world was a useless reward to me. The only reason I'm here is because I want to be with you."
Out of all the many things she had said and emphasized, it seemed like the commander only focused on the last part because he blushed.
Haaah.
That cute reaction helped her calm down.
[We've been together for years already, but he still blushes for every little thing.]
Hmm.
It was still weird to say that because they never had put a label on their relationship.
[Sometimes I think I'm the only one who thinks we're lovers.]
"Alright, I'm sorry for making you upset," Commander Yoan said, holding her hand shyly. "Then will it be alright with you if I choose the bloodline that will rebuild the Great Moonasterion Empire?"
"Who do you have in mind? All the nobles left in the empire are shitty lords."
He cleared his throat. "Ahem. Language please."
She just ignored the commander's nagging.
"I'm thinking of making Saint Dominic Zavaroni's successor as the new emperor of the Great Moonasterion Empire," Commander Yoan said in a serious tone. "The former saint's successor has lost his divine power after the war. But that didn't change his character and he remained a good man. I think he'd make a great emperor. He was chosen by the Moon God as the saint before, so I believe the citizens of the empire would accept him easily. What do you think about making him the next emperor?"
To be honest, anyone could become the emperor now that the throne had been destroyed.
In the past, only the de Moonasterio chosen by the throne could lead the empire.
[But not anymore.]
"I don't care," Neoma said casually. "Do what you want."
"Then I'll proceed with that plan," Commander Yoan said. "And to do that, I need to return to the human world."
It was easy for the commander to return to the human world despite completing his Divinization.
After all, it was one of his privileges as Lord Levi's divine son.
[He's allowed to return to the human world because he was granted a human body that he could use once he descended.]
Neoma wasn't granted the same right, so she was stuck in the Upper World.
[But, well, I can escape from here if I really want to.]
"Do you really have to return to the human world?" Neoma asked, frowning. "How long will you be gone this time?"
"I'm not sure."
"Commander Yoan."
"I'll try to return in half a year."
She let out a sigh.
Since she became a god, time flowed differently for her.
Even so, six months were too long.
"Commander Yoan, how long are you going to concern yourself with the human world?" Neoma asked while shaking her head. "If those humans don't stop stealing you away from me, then I might lose my mind and erase them from the world that you love so much."
"Don't say that, Neoma," Commander Yoan scolded her lightly, then he put an arm around her and pulled her closer to him. "I'll come home to you as soon as I can– I promise."
She let out a sigh.
Just one hug from the commander and her anger already melted away.
[Does he realize how much power he has over me?]
"And don't rush your pregnancy," Commander Yoan said in a shy voice. "I want to be there when you give birth to our child."
Neoma turned to the commander with sparkling eyes. "OUR child?"
As expected, the commander blushed again. "It's up to you, Neoma. But I'd like to be given the honor and joy of becoming your child's father."
She couldn't help but laugh at what he said.
To be fair, she wasn't making fun of him– she just found the whole thing ironic.
"It's funny how you never asked me to be your wife, and yet you wanted to take responsibility for my child."
"Neoma, you know we're not allowed to marry each other," Commander Yoan said in a sad voice. "I would marry you in a heartbeat if I could."
"It's too bad the gods are too afraid that we'd create another de Moonasterios, huh?"
"We don't need a wedding ceremony to validate the fact that we're already a family, Neoma."
Oh.
Just hearing the word 'family' was enough to make her heart jump in joy.
After all, Neoma wanted nothing more in the world than to have a happy family of her own.
"And once we have a child, then our family will grow bigger," Commander Yoan said, then he smiled at her. "I can't wait to meet our baby, Neoma."
Aww.
Neoma smiled and nodded, then she touched her belly. "I'll create the most adorable baby in the world to be a part of our family, Commander Yoan."
***
HMM.
The Darkness that was causing air pollution in the Upper World got worse rapidly.
Neoma's residence, which was far from the Divine City, had been affected by the dirty air already.
Not only that– the beach in front of her house had already been completely corrupted by Darkness now. The blue water had turned into black. It was like another Black Ocean had been created.
"Pollution is bad for the baby, isn't it?" Neoma wondered out loud while gently rubbing her belly. "I can't let my baby live in a polluted area."
She didn't really want to move or use her powers again, but she couldn't be selfish anymore.
[After all, I'm going to be a mother soon.]
Neoma smiled, happy with the thought of becoming a mother. "Alright. Let's clean this place for my baby," she said to herself, then she raised her hands. "Begone, Darkness."
***
"WHAT? The new god has successfully cleansed the air pollution in her residence?"
"That might be temporary, though. After all, even our Aether could clean the air pollution for a while. But Darkness will come again and corrupt our air."
"It has been three months already since she cleansed her residence, and it has been that way since then!"
"Three months?! The dirty air in our place comes back just mere two weeks after the Aether cleansed it!"
"Then does it mean that it's permanent?"
"The young god has the power to get rid of the air pollution PERMANENTLY?"
"Come to think of it, isn't the new god a de Moonasterio?"
Ah.
At that moment, the gods that had heard of Neoma's power to cleanse the air pollution collectively had a greedy thought.
A NEW AETHER HAD ARRIVED TO SAVE THEM ALL.
***
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