I Am Really The Best Anti Hero In Another World!-System Of Anti Hero!-Chapter 71 -

— Thank you...

Ting stretched beside Noah, her feet planted firmly on the ground, a faint smile on her face. She no longer sniffled, though her eyes were still red—traces of a recent cry she now tried to hide.

— But if you keep spoiling me like this, I’ll end up unbearable by the time we get married — she said with a light tone.

Noah sighed just as she pulled his arm a little closer again.

— Seriously... you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? — he said. — You do know I’m still a man, right? And that we’re alone out here, in the middle of nowhere... What are you gonna do if I give in to your teasing?

Ting looked away, embarrassed—but she didn’t move back. Instead, she murmured:

— W-Well... we *are* engaged, so... I guess it wouldn’t be *that* big of a problem...

Her voice barely rose above a whisper.

Noah was silent for a moment. Then he grabbed her by the waist and gently lifted her to stand directly in front of him.

— B-But I’d *prefer* if we took things slowly first...! — Ting burst out, squeezing her eyes shut. Her whole body trembled.

— What are you doing...? — Noah crouched down and picked up a herb she’d nearly stepped on. — I’m not going to touch you. But maybe watch where you’re going. Don’t you see I’m collecting stuff? Why’d you have to step right on the good ones?

— ...Sorry...

Ting opened her eyes, finally processing what he’d said. She started following him closely, helping with the gathering. After a while, she seemed to be mulling over his words... or at least part of them.

— Wait... — she said. — What did you mean by "not going to touch me"? I *said* it was fine!

Noah smiled, almost laughing at how she seemed to latch onto the parts of the conversation she liked best.

— Yeah, and right after that you shut your eyes like you were about to faint from fear.

— No, I—

She rushed ahead of him and spread her arms wide, blocking his path.

— So what about when we *do* get married? Are you not even gonna touch me then?

— Wouldn’t that be a bit much? — Noah raised an eyebrow. — I mean, we’ll be married, after all.

[And even then, in your past life—]

We were just dating! he thought, mentally responding to the system as he crushed a herb in his hand without realizing it.

Ting stepped back at the sight of what he’d done to the plant.

— Sorry... I didn’t mean to upset you. I just...

— Huh? No, that wasn’t because of you...

Ting was still trembling. Her eyes downcast, her shoulders drawn in. Noah watched her, sighing.

It wasn’t exactly anger. But the buildup of tension—misread words, impulsive actions, and emotions he didn’t fully understand—made it impossible to keep picking herbs like nothing was happening.

— ...Alright — he murmured.

He stepped toward her slowly and raised a hand beside her face. Ting flinched at the cold touch. She opened her eyes just in time to see him leaning in... Her heart skipped. Her body froze.

She thought he was going to kiss her.

And he did—but not in the way she expected.

A soft touch to her forehead. A brief, subtle kiss. Gentle. Fleeting. Absolutely frustrating.

[That’s not dual cultivation]

[It’s just a kiss—and on the forehead, seriously?]

[...You used to do more with your last girlfriend]

Please, shut up...

Even after he stepped back, Ting stood frozen. She brought a hand to her lips... then to her forehead. Trying to make sense of it. She didn’t know whether to smile, cry, or simply accept the gesture for what it was.

— Is that enough? — Noah asked, not looking back. He was already heading toward a nearby tree, where he’d spotted an herb. He crouched down, pretending like none of it had mattered. Pretending it hadn’t gotten to him, too. — What’s with this obsession with physical touch, anyway? I hope there’s a reason.

— I read it... — she said quietly.

— You read...?

Ting hurried ahead to a patch of herbs, plucked one carefully, and answered without meeting his eyes:

— I read that physical touch shows passion...

She brushed her fingers across her lips and murmured:

— ...And that couples who show more affection are happier. That they love each other more, compared to the others...

Silence fell over them like a curtain. Normally, Noah appreciated the stillness of the forest—but now it felt stifling. He missed her voice. Missed her sounds.

He cleared his throat.

He thought. Hesitated. Then tried to break the tension:

— ...What was the city where you were born like?

It was the best he could manage—a question she could answer freely. He just hadn’t considered that the answer might not be light at all.

— My hometown...? — Ting smiled, but it was a smile weighed down by something heavy. Tight. Almost painful.

And then he remembered why they were even there. The illness. The assassins. The family that should’ve protected her—but instead wanted her dead.

He cursed himself for forgetting all of that, even for a moment.

— You don’t have to answer — he said, a bitter taste in his mouth. — Instead... do you know anything about a place called the Floating City?

— Floating City...? — Ting furrowed her brow. — No... I don’t think there’s a city with that name.

— Come again...?

She paused a few seconds longer, just to be sure, then nodded.

— Yeah... nothing like that. At least, not on any map I’ve seen.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel