Chapter 437: The Idol’s Child – IV |
After a long talk, Miss Nozomi decided to have Perry and Emma take the day off. Since that was the case, when Jenny arrived, Meggie asked to take them along. And that was how the three were in the back of a fancy black sedan, making their way back through Tokyo.
Meggie sighed and said, "Thanks for coming, Aunt Jenny. I know you're busy with a lot of other things now too." Like helping Dad with the new branches of Project MirAIs and all those business things...
Jenny shook her head and said, "This is more important, Meggie. Don't worry." She glanced back in the rearview mirror and gave a reassuring smile. "Being able to live a normal life is the most important thing. Especially when things like this happen."
"...Still, thanks." Meggie said and glanced to her right, where Emma was leaning against her.
Emma still looked exhausted. Her blonde hair was frazzled and she had dark circles under her emerald eyes, even after everything.
Meggie sighed.
Perry sat on the other side of Meggie and occasionally glanced over at Emma. But when he did, he pursed his lips and turned his head to stare out the window. As he did, he clenched his fists.
Meggie didn't blame him. Emma didn't deserve any of this. And... "Aunt Jenny?"
"Yes, Meggie?" Jenny slowed the car to a stop at a red traffic light. Then she glanced back in the rearview mirror. "What is it?"
In the Three Realms, cruel things happened on a daily basis, yes. But there was always a reason for it. Either people were seeking a path of slaughter or evil, or they were simply creating resources to reach greater heights of cultivation.
But this wasn't like that. Meggie knew. There was no reason for treating Emma like this. Nothing to gain from doing so other than the cruelty itself. So... she didn't understand.
Jenny hummed and said, "This world is like that. There is no great law, destiny, or deity controlling how people act. And some people, for whatever reason, just decide that it's okay to be cruel."
Meggie clenched her fists and said, "But that doesn't make sense!"
Emma flinched and clung tighter to Meggie's arm.
Meggie tensed and then relaxed, holding Emma close. "Sorry, Emma."
"...It's okay, Meggie. Thank you. For being mad for me."
Meggie sighed and pulled Emma into a one-armed hug, rubbing her on the side.
Perry spoke up and said, "Miss Jenny is right, Meggie." He looked over with a mixed expression. "...Maybe you've been lucky to not meet them. But there are people who are just like that in this world."
Meggie was silent.
A world without a will of the heavens. One without destiny. Without a higher being directing everything. One that left the mortals to their own devices and wills. Whims.
And among those mortals... there were some who... simply decided to be evil? To be cruel? For nothing but the act itself?
Meggie shook her head. "I... just don't understand it."
The traffic light turned green.
Jenny continued driving and said, "Well, it's not that there is 'no reason.' But just that the reason doesn't always make sense to someone else. Maybe they thought that 'this is the way it should be' or 'someone like Emma shouldn't be happy'... they might also be hurt and lashing out. But it's hard to know."
Meggie snorted. "Just because they've been hurt they think it's okay to hurt others?"
Jenny shrugged. "People don't know any better. And especially children your age."
"I'm not-" Meggie paused and then sighed. "...I guess so."
A child.
Meggie wanted to say she wasn't. But... after all of this, wasn't she still a child?
Dad had always said age was just a number. That it didn't matter how many years you had lived if you didn't have the experiences to back it up. And that even someone who had achieved eternity could act childish.
Meggie didn't understand it at the time. After all, if you were older, you obviously had lived longer and knew more. Right? But now... 'I guess I really am still just a kid.'
A life sheltered in the sect. Bossing people around and acting up because she was the daughter of the Celestial Jade Princess and the man who had stolen her heart. Honing her path to perfection and training martial arts...
Meggie had done all of that for countless years. But in the end... 'I never changed, did I?'
A child.
Meggie really was still just a child. That was true physically... after all, due to how she was born, her growth was naturally slowed in the Three Realms by the rules of existence. But she had thought she was a grown woman at least mentally. But it was clear now. She wasn't.
And that was why Dad wanted to bring them all home. Here, to Earth....Well, after he ran off by himself.
Meggie understood it now though, a little. The Three Realms was a place of grand designs and unthinkable phenomenon by the people in this world. But because it stretched across so many years, it was easy to stay stagnant. Unchanging.
Not like on Earth, where the days flowed like sand and time seemed an illusion half the time.
'That's why Dad kept treating me like that, huh?' Meggie had always been upset at how her dad kept patronizing her. But he had been trying to tell her in his own way. That she still didn't know yet. That she still had a lot to know and experience.
Jenny spoke up and said, "Hey now, stop with the gloomy faces, kids." She smiled and said, "John said to take you wherever you want today, so why don't we go have some fun?"
Meggie shoved her thoughts aside and nodded. "Yeah. That's a good idea, Aunt Jenny."
Jenny frowned a bit and said, "Hey Meggie."
"Yes?"
"Is there a reason why you don't call me Auntie?"
Meggie blinked and said, "Oh. Well... if I do, Aunt Xuannu, Aunt Zhaojun, and Aunt Daji will get upset. Mom said that since they resolved the situation, I should be careful not to make things worse and call them by name. If I call you by Auntie, it might seem like I'm playing favorites and things will get... complicated."
Perry blinked and said, "Huh? Why would it seem like you're playing favorites just calling Miss Jenny 'Auntie', Meggie?"
Meggie paused and remembered the recent family drama just a few months ago. And how they were 'Aunts' but would have been 'Mothers' if her father had wavered even just a bit... "...It's complicated."
Jenny nodded. "That makes sense, Meggie... though it's a bit sad. I'm your real aunt, you know? Your dad's baby sister."
"Huh?" Meggie blinked. "You are? But aren't you just-"
At that time, Emma's stomach growled. She sat up and blushed, hugging her stomach. "I'm sorry. I thought it was okay, but I guess I'm still really hungry..."
Meggie shook her head. "Don't apologize for that, Emma. And we should get some proper food too. Hm..." She glanced up at Jenny.
Jenny noticed and said, "Wherever is fine with me, Meggie. Unless you want me to choose?"
"No. I was just thinking..." Meggie hummed and said, "Can we go to that udon shop? Run by Dad's ser- I mean, friends?"
"Sure." Jenny nodded and said, "It's been a while since I stopped by Maji and the others too. It'll be nice to check in."
Meggie smiled. "Great." She patted Emma's side and said, "Just relax, Emma. We'll have some yummy warm food soon."
Emma smiled. "Thanks, Meggie."