I Am Really The Best Anti Hero In Another World!-System Of Anti Hero!-Chapter 16 - Night of Pain

A little later that same day, when the moon was already shining in the sky,

Sophia, embarrassed and covering her face with a white towel, slowly approached Noah and said,

— Come on, boy... it's time to... take... take a bath.

So overcome by embarrassment that she spoke so softly it was barely audible.

Noah saw her coming, and suddenly she covered his face with the towel. From that point on, he saw nothing—he only felt.

Even though she was extremely self-conscious, Sophia began slowly taking off Noah's shirt, knowing that each movement would surely cause him tremendous pain. Besides, his shirt was no longer doing its job— it was completely torn.

And because it was torn, Sophia had already seen much of Noah's body even before removing the shirt. The real challenge was with his lower half: she was at a loss when she realized that after the shirt came off, she'd only have his pants left to remove.

'Huh?! What does she think she's doing...?'

After taking off the shirt, Sophia saw something that had previously been hidden: thanks to the attack Noah had suffered, his body was now covered in wounds ranging from the most superficial to the most severe.

His arm was riddled with small cuts, and on his chest there were three aligned wounds that, if they had been just a bit deeper, might have cost Noah his life.

Upon seeing those cuts, a tear rolled down Sophia's face—she could only imagine the pain Noah must be enduring with every injury.

But something was strange: Sophia stared at the largest cut on Noah's body for several minutes and didn't see a single drop of blood coming from it. Driven by curiosity, she brought the index finger of her right hand to the deepest part of the cut right in the middle.

When her finger touched his skin, a barely audible groan escaped Noah's mouth—not a word, not a sentence, but a muffled sound. Still, Sophia noticed a sharp jolt of pain ripple through his body.

'What the hell...!'

The mere involuntary twitch caused by her touch sent a wave of pain coursing through Noah, making him move slightly.

Startled at the sight of Noah contorting in pain, Sophia quickly withdrew her finger and, with teary eyes, whispered:

— ...I'm so sorry... forgive me... please forgive me...

Overwhelmed with guilt for having caused pain just by touching him, she knelt beside the bed where Noah lay and gently took his hand.

---

"Why did you let her stay in the same room as that stranger?" asked Sophia's father as he lay down on the bed in his all-white pajamas.

Lying on the right side of the bed in her blue pajamas, Mrs. Radiance, with a puzzled expression upon hearing her husband's question, retorted:

— How old was I when you knelt before my father to ask for his blessing for us to marry?

"...It doesn't matter," replied Mr. Radiance as he settled into the bed. "This is different—she's our daughter, and he's a complete stranger."

With a small smile playing at the left corner of her lips, she said:

— Oh, yes. I was 22 when you proposed.

"Okay, and what does that have to do with anything?" asked the man, turning so he could look at his wife.

Placing a gentle kiss on his forehead, she replied:

— I was 22, and our daughter is 21, so stop meddling so much in her personal life; she's old enough to make her own choices. Besides... my father wasn't as grumpy as you are now.

"But what if he just wants to play with our daughter? And what if... he turns out to be dangerous?"

"Oh, yes, you could beat him up if that happened. But I highly doubt it ever will."

"Huh? And why do you say that? We don't even know this kid."

"It's very simple. My daughter inherited beauty from me, so she's as beautiful as I am."

They both laughed, and promptly Mr. Radiance agreed:

— Of course, that's certainly true.

"And besides, you don't have to worry so much—disappointments are part of everyone's life. But if that kid makes our little one suffer, I'll make him pay for it myself."

"...But didn't you say I shouldn't get involved in her life?"

"You're not supposed to meddle—leave it to me."

"...But what if this kid has some hidden agenda in coming here? And what if that agenda isn't good?"

"...You know very well the situation we're all in; if word ever got out about that thing hidden in the cave, we'd all become targets, and this little town wouldn't stand a chance—even if it tried. So we need to find some way to at least protect our daughter, though that's nearly impossible. Therefore, let her live a little, let her try to help, and perhaps even fall in love at least once, because who knows if that will ever be possible again..."

Lost in thought, the man sighed.

"Alright..." he said, "But I'll kill him if he makes her cry."

The woman embraced him with a smile, drawing his head close to her chest. As she caressed his hair, she said:

— Alright, alright... if that happens, I'll help too.