I Am Really The Best Anti Hero In Another World!-System Of Anti Hero! novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 - 23 - Lies Wrapped in Hints of Truth

Alice soon returned accompanied by a maid carrying food—a tray with a ceramic bowl full of meat soup (what kind of meat it was, Noah didn't ask). Even if she had wished to do it herself, she couldn't, for even the slightest effort might have caused her body to react adversely.

They watched Noah eat, with Sophia feeding him—much to his discomfort and shame and to Arthur's displeasure, though both kept these feelings hidden—until Mrs. Radiance stepped forward and asked:

— And what's your name, boy? It would be odd to have to call you that every time we address you.

"Ah, that's..." Sophia cut him off, giving him another spoonful with a smile. Swallowing the soup, Noah cleared his throat and said, "My name is... Noah... Noah Evil."

They found it strange that he had hesitated so much in finding his words—after all, who would forget their own name?

However, it wasn't a matter of lying. Noah truly wanted to tell the truth; the real problem was that he initially thought he had become accustomed to that name because the system called him that. But no—no matter how much he wished to deny it—the marks attached to the name *Xiao Yang* still haunted him, and he nearly uttered that name when introducing himself.

"That's an... interesting name. Different, I think. But you're not from around here, are you, Noah?"

Startled, Arthur became intrigued by the subject—something he wanted to question, though he feared she would object—and to his surprise, it was Alice herself who took the first step.

Noah paused for a moment before replying:

— No... I'm new around here. This is actually the first city I've ever set foot in. And look at how I've ended up—I suppose it would have been better to remain in the forest rather than leave...

It was an improvised excuse—a basic one—combining a grain of truth with a measure of small deceit.

"Forest...? You lived in a forest until now?" Sophia asked, astonished and empathetic, as she felt she understood what he meant by speaking of "the family he wished he had."

Noah nodded hesitantly—lying in front of such sincere eyes was strangely difficult, almost painful. Sophia's gaze was so honest that it felt sinful in his mind not to speak the truth.

"...So, how did you learn to cultivate?" Arthur inquired, seizing the moment to try to clear up his doubts—though he wasn't entirely convinced by all that Noah was saying.

"Well... the forest I lived in wasn't exactly 'normal,' I suppose..."

"How...?"

The three of them couldn't quite grasp it, but then Noah said:

— ...Do you all know the forest beyond the southern mountains?

Perplexity spread across each of their faces.

"The Forest of Demon Beasts?!" they exclaimed in unison.

Noah smiled, embarrassed—both because he was lying, of course, and because his farce was continuing.

"My uncle was Xing Mo... a giant wolf whose entire body radiated a blue glow..."

Seeing the expressions on all three—Sophia as well as Alice and Arthur—Noah continued:

— Do you know him...?

And so he maintained his lie.

[Warning!]

[Due to Noah Evil's exceptional cunning, a reward will be granted.]

[The knowledge regarding the creation of all pills.]

[Would you like that knowledge to be transferred immediately?]

'...There was also some sort of function like that...?' Noah thought in surprise.

[No!]

[That decision was mine.]

[Simply because I was impressed by how deceitful you are—actually, the fact that you lie so blatantly to people who never intended you any harm, and who are only truly grateful and eager to help you—]