Chapter 116: The Truth
Noah glanced at Edgar, "Lucas Graham kidnapped me. I had no choice but to fight him before I showed up here."
"What?" Edgar was shocked. "Why didn't I get any notice?"
"Because I told them not to notify you… Alright, I'm starving... Can we eat..." Noah's voice trailed off as he suddenly sensed a powerful aura approaching from behind.
Without warning, he spun around and froze, completely speechless as a familiar figure stepped toward him.
Instantly, his knees weakened. He was too stunned to move, too shaken to speak.
His father... alive, awake, and walking, approaching him. No longer comatose. He appeared healthy, despite the slight pallor and the signs of age on his face.
"D-Dad…" Noah's voice caught in his throat. He turned to Edgar, who was standing beside him.
"Do you see what I see?" he asked, half in disbelief. He couldn't trust his own eyes.
"You mean… your father?"
"Y-You see him too?" Noah looked back at his father, who now stood smiling gently at him.
"Yes, sir..." Edgar replied, then excused himself and left after confirming the dinner was served.
So many questions now fill Noah's mind, but before he can ask, Anderson Morgan is already standing before him.
"Noah…" Anderson Morgan stopped just a step away. His smile widened as he opened his arms and pulled Noah into a firm embrace. "You're not seeing things, son. I'm here…"
"Dad, since when did you wake up? Why didn't you tell me?" Noah asked, his voice trembling with a mix of joy and anxiety, overwhelmed by the chance to finally see and speak with him.
But Anderson Morgan didn't answer right away. Instead, he gently guided Noah to a seat and gestured for him to start their dinner.
As they ate, Anderson occasionally glanced at his son. He was still amazed at the sight of him in person.
In the past few weeks, he had only heard Noah's voice whenever he visited and talked about his daily activities.
And now, seeing him in person filled him with pride and quiet joy.
Yet,
The silence between them stretched endlessly, as Noah stared at him, saying nothing.
"Noah, you can ask me anything. There's no need to be nervous around me…"
After a long silence, finally Noah voiced it, "...why did I end up in an orphanage? Who is my mother? And why have you only discovered me now?"
For his last question, he feels confused because someone like Anderson Morgan can't locate him; he only found him a few months ago.
Anderson Morgan clenched his fists under the table, already knowing what Noah was about to ask, and he saw no reason to hide it anymore. Noah deserved the truth.
"Noah, I met your mother in secret, without my family's knowledge. We fell in love... but she vanished before I could introduce her to them."
Anderson's voice grew distant, almost haunting, and his expression darkened gradually, as if the sorrow buried deep inside was clawing its way back to the surface.
Noah asked, confused, "What do you mean?"
But Anderson didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked, "You already know about the strange things that started happening after I found you, don't you?"
"Yes…" Noah replied.
"…The system and Zoe's voice suddenly appearing in your mind, the devils you're meant to hunt, and everything else that's left you amazed and confused," Anderson said, pausing to take another deep breath.
He continued, "Your mother knew about all the strange things surrounding me. And the danger threatens both of us. Back then, she already knew she was pregnant with you, and she disappeared from my life… to protect you from the danger that followed me."
Noah was stunned. He couldn't understand why his mother would do that.
"I only realized she was pregnant when I was finally able to locate her, but by then, she was dying. She told me about you, but she never revealed where she left you…"
"Dad, why am I having trouble understanding? Why would she do that?" Noah finally asked. His mind struggled to accept it. Wasn't his mother supposed to stay and let his father protect them?
Still, he pushed those thoughts aside and continued listening to his father's explanation.
"That's the same question I asked her... but she couldn't answer me, because death had already come to take her away."
Anderson's eyes turned red as he continued, "I'm sorry, Noah. I only found you recently... But back then, I didn't approach you right away because the danger surrounding me could have endangered your life."
"And, at that time, I was feeling weaker due to illness. I waited until that night, when you were emotionally drained, and I came to offer help. I hope you understand, my son, that I entered your life oddly."
"I understand, Dad... I already heard it from Edgar."
They kept eating, the silence between them filled with unspoken thoughts, until something suddenly crossed Noah's mind again.
"Wait, Dad... what about your fake death? Why did you do it? And your coma... did you fake that, too?"
"The reason I staged my death was because of my enemies. They had already discovered my identity, and once my power weakened, I became an easy target... So faking my death was the only way to stop them from hunting me."
"As for the coma, that part wasn't an act. That was real... but it only truly began when you received the system. Strangely, as you started leveling up, the connection between us grew stronger... and then, when you finally heard Zoe's voice. I started hearing you speak."
"So... you heard everything I said? About how I killed Jeremy and all that?"
Noah asked, startled, now feeling a twinge of panic over all the things he might've carelessly revealed during those past few weeks.
"Yes, I guess so. Recently, I finally managed to wake up. But I deliberately didn't tell you because I need you to focus on hunting your first devil..."
"I see..." Noah faintly smiled, trying to grasp all the information flooding his mind.
"And, this morning, I asked Edgar to arrange dinner with you, but I was surprised to learn you're fighting with Lucas Graham."
"He is the second devil I killed..."
"Yes, I can sense that... your aura has grown stronger now, Noah."
"Thank you..."
They continued enjoying their meal, chatting warmly about the Morgan family.
Noah felt relieved that his father didn't scold him for all the trouble he'd caused the family. Instead, he praised him.
Eventually, another question crossed Noah's mind, one he'd never gotten a clear answer to, no matter how many times he asked Zoe.
"Dad, what about my system...? Zoe? How is something like that even possible?"
Anderson Morgan's expression gradually grew tense before he finally replied, "Noah, that's something I can't explain right now. Because you'll discover the answer on your own…"
Noah let out a soft chuckle. Somehow, he'd expected that kind of response.
"But, my son, I can tell you one thing… Your perception of this world is unique... far more different than most. As you grow stronger, you'll begin to uncover the truth about your system, Zoe, and the world itself."
Noah didn't say anything but nodded. Despite the lingering uncertainty about his future, a wave of excitement surged through him.