The aroma of various foods filled the room, the clinking of eating utensils becoming one of its sounds.
At a dining table that could seat four people,
The sound of someone holding back laughter came from an adult man with gray hair.
His body was nudged by an adult woman with black hair beside him.
The woman looked forward, where there was a black-haired teenager.
"Have you gotten better? Alex?"
Alex let out a sigh and looked at his mother and father. His eyes were red and slightly swollen.
He saw his father covering his mouth, trying to laugh.
'Damn… this is so embarrassing…'
The sound of laughter also echoed in his mind.
'HAHAHAHAHA'
Alex's eyebrow twitched, and he clicked his tongue.
'After disappearing for a whole day… you immediately looked at my memories, didn't you!'
Alex took a deep breath.
'We'll talk later, you unreliable guide'
The laughter didn't stop, continuing to ring inside his head.
He looked at his father, his swollen eyes and hoarse voice noticeable.
"Aren't you going to work?"
His father shook his head.
"How could I leave when there's something so touching here…"
His father took pictures of Alex repeatedly with his smart bracelet.
Click
Click
Click
Alex could only cover his face with his hands.
His father laughed loudly.
"Hahaha, did you miss this house that much? Crying your heart out like that"
Alex massaged his forehead.
His mother smiled.
"Osteria is very tough, right? You can transfer if you can't handle it…"
On his right, between Alex and his mother, another voice was heard as if asking something.
Her gray hair was messy, and her mouth was messy with food.
"Buwa buwa bua"
Alex chuckled, wiped his little sister's mouth, and looked at his mother.
"I'm fine, Mom. In fact, Osteria is a great place… there are many amazing people there."
Alex looked at his father.
"And… yeah. I really missed this home…"
His father just nodded slowly.
His mother gave him more food.
"Then eat more!"
Alex ate the food that had been added to his plate.
"Aren't you going to ask about my friends?"
His father and mother glanced at each other.
The sound of his little sister still filled the background at the dining table.
His mother asked first.
"How are your friends?"
Alex smiled widely.
"They're all idiots"
Alex put down his utensils and started counting with his fingers.
"I have a princess with an inconsistent personality, a short-tempered girl, a gambling girl, a 16-year-old kid who's 2 meters tall, a coward, a clean freak, a prince-like guy, a pink-haired girl, and many more…"
His mother chuckled.
His father looked at him.
"You have that many friends? Looks like your brain is already bro—"
His words were cut off by his mother's elbow jabbing his stomach.
Thud.
His mother smiled, one hand supporting her cheek.
"Bring them all here… I want to see them in person…"
Alex crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"That's impossible… they're all busy pretending to be important…"
Alex scratched his temple.
"And that prince-like guy, his family isn't doing well"
One of his father's eyebrows raised.
"A prince-like kid? His family is in trouble?"
His father's eyes widened.
"Are you friends with Julian?!"
Alex shrugged.
"I don't really know if we can be called friends, but I've fought him before."
His father slammed the table, causing Alex's little sister to cry.
Bang.
His mother picked up Aisy and kicked Captain Sander's butt.
Alex chuckled at the sight, his smile widening.
His father, holding his backside, asked again in a softer tone.
"Did you fight Julian?"
His mother, still holding Aisy, and his father waited for Alex's answer.
Alex stroked his chin.
'Exaggerating a little won't hurt, right?'
Alex nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course! Dad! Mom! Aisy! I defeated that prince! HAHAHAHA"
His mother whispered.
"Looks like our child really has lost his brain"
His father nodded in agreement.
Alex didn't hear his parents' whisper.
He cleared his throat and looked at his father.
"Dad works at the former queen's residence, right? Is there any news about Julian's family?"
His father took a sip of water and set it down.
"All I know is Clay Overmas has been arrested. And there might be a trial soon."
"Julian seems to be under watch at his family's residence."
Alex pondered, stroking his chin.
'Something feels off, something intentionally placed… besides weakening humanity, what else could they gain?...'
One of Alex's eyebrows raised.
"When will the trial begin?"
His father shrugged.
"Don't know…"
His mother looked at Alex.
"I'm happy you have many friends…."
Alex looked at his mother and nodded slowly.
"...you've also become like when you were little again."
Alex smiled.
"Yeah… maybe I've grown up?"
His mother laughed.
The small family's conversation continued for a while, until his father ended up being late for work.
After his father left in a hurry, Alex sat in the small yard of his house. His mother and little sister had gone shopping.
The breeze brushed against his skin, and the sunlight began to feel warm.
Alex ran his fingers through his black hair.
"Tell me, why did you suddenly stop responding, Krystal?"
Krystal clicked her tongue.
'At first, you were the one who didn't respond, damn it…'
Alex sighed.
"How could I respond if I couldn't hear you?"
'That's the problem. We both couldn't hear each other for a moment…'
Alex stroked his chin.
"Did you see my memories? I lost control when I heard Alex's voice."
Krystal agreed.
'Yeah… that was the beginning.'
Alex tapped his thigh.
"Do you know anything?"
Krystal fell silent for a moment.
'No…'
Alex clicked his tongue and scratched his head.
"Did he leave anything behind? Like some kind of souvenir?"
Krystal suddenly shouted with excitement.
'THAT'S IT! I can do something else now!'
One of Alex's eyebrows raised.
"What is it? Is it something useful?"
Krystal restrained herself.
'It's crazy. If people found out, you might get chained up'
Alex swallowed.
"What kind of crazy thing would cause that? Did I blaspheme a goddess or something?"
Krystal said in admiration.
'I know you're experienced, but your instincts are truly insane'
Alex chuckled and waved his hand in the air as if brushing off praise.
"So I'll really get chained up if people find out?"
Krystal began to explain.
'Now I can generate holy energy in small amounts…'
Alex rested his head on his right hand.
"Holy energy?"
Krystal clicked her tongue.
'You need to study, idiot!'
Alex waved his hand lazily.
'It's energy that only a saint possesses'
One of Alex's eyebrows rose.
"Saint? I've heard that in class before"
'You just heard the word "saint" without knowing what it is, right?'
Alex chuckled.
"Of course…."
Krystal clicked her tongue.
'They inherit holy energy from Athika and Luminor…'
Alex cracked his knuckles.
"The power of gods within a mortal body?"
'Technically yes… but what mortal body could withstand it? They only inherit a fraction…'
Alex nodded, listening to Krystal's explanation.
Krystal continued.
'This holy energy is passed down. In every generation, a saint will appear from different races… they become a natural counter to demons and monsters…'
The wind blew harder against Alex, his short black hair swaying slightly.
"If it's that important, wouldn't it be good if we had two among us?"
Krystal sighed.
'That would be good if it had ever happened before… but reality isn't like that'
Alex clicked his tongue.
"So this is just like before, huh…."
Alex sighed and looked at the sky.
"...once again, an useless ability"
Krystal exploded in anger.
'YOU UNGRATEFUL BASTARD!'
Alex chuckled.
"Relax… that ability will definitely be useful, right?"
Alex massaged his forehead.
"Doesn't the appearance of holy energy bring us one step closer to figuring out who you are?"
Krystal fell silent.
Alex smiled eerily and shouted loudly.
"You must be that goddess, right? Athika?! It's you, right?! You're the one who sent me here, aren't you?!"
Krystal lost the strength to speak.
'Idiot… if I were a goddess, I wouldn't choose someone as dumb as you'
The scorching sunlight didn't stop Alex from shouting as he accused Krystal like he was cursing her.
—
Elsewhere, silence filled a dark room, sunlight blocked by curtains.
Julian lay face down on a large bed, his gaze turning to the right, his blond hair messy, his blue eyes lacking spirit.
The sound of footsteps entered the room, an old man in a butler's suit stood beside the bed.
"Young master… the food is ready"
Julian sighed.
"I have no appetite…"
The old man swallowed.
"But you haven't eaten since yesterday…"
Julian turned his gaze to the left.
"Instead of eating… is there any news from the kingdom? How is father?"
The old man fell silent for a moment.
"The investigation is still ongoing, and there will be a trial soon"
Julian tapped the bed.
"Did father really do it? Or was it just Ophi, Darla, and the others?"
The old man massaged his forehead.
"Ophi, Darla, and the others were acting normal until before that day. We even ate together at a restaurant…."
The old man sighed.
"....but suddenly they changed in an instant. There were no orders from the head of the family, yet they all left their posts"
Julian got up and sat on the bed, his skin pale, his lips dry.
His face grimaced.
"They conspired with the dark side… they even killed the mother of someone I know…. do you know who she is?"
The old man nodded weakly.
"The news has already spread, even to other races' territories…"
Julian ran his fingers through his messy blond hair and took a deep breath.
"As the heir of the Overmas family, I have to help father, right?"
The old man looked at Julian as he slowly stood up.
"Did Eve come to visit?"
The old man nodded.
"Yes… but since you didn't meet her, she couldn't enter"
Julian stretched his body.
"Am I forbidden from meeting guests?"
The old man shook his head.
"You can meet them, but you will be monitored"
Julian nodded and walked.
"Did Rina come?"
Julian's steps stopped.
"Unfortunately… the princess has not come"
Julian cracked his neck.
"I see…"
"Then let's wait for Eve to come again and do something…"
Julian left the room, leaving the old man behind.
The old man massaged his forehead, a wide smile forming on his face.
The room's temperature slowly dropped, the room becoming darker.
A whip-like tail slithered out from the old man.
His tongue split into two and flicked out, even licking his chin.
"Ssst What can a child with only muscles do ssst?"
The old man chuckled.
His eyes slightly changed into reptilian ones.
"Ssst I will kill him ssst when everyone is off guard…."
A cunning smile spread across the old man's face.
"Ssst he will be a wonderful appetizer…."