The Angelic System That Turned My Life Into Hell

Chapter 74: Last Dinner

Mika knocked on his home’s door. And shortly after that, he heard familiar footsteps approaching the door.

"Hello?"

When a person’s head was slowly emerging from the door gap, the gentle and warm voice resonated within his ears.

He formed a wide crescent smile, showing his teeth like a carefree child.

"I’m home, Mom!" he announced happily.

Opening the door for him was his mother, Eli Elbar.

"Oh, Mika, it’s you!" she said overjoyed.

Eli slammed the door wide open and embraced her child.

No words were spoken when mother and child shared a hug.

Mika loosened up.

If there was a place where he could be himself and where he could relax, then it was his home.

"I’m glad that you’re alright." she muttered softly while caressing Mika’s hair.

"You worry too much, Mom." he joked.

"A mother can never worry too much, you know?" she retorted.

She moved away from Mika and turned around.

"You came just in time for dinner! Your father is also inside." she said with a bright smile.

And without hesitation, Mika entered the house.

The familiar scent, sounds, temperature and ambiance. All these senses flooded Mika.

The smile on his face did not falter.

After all, this was what he wanted.

Facing many battles and surviving against demons, he yearned for a small break to rest his body and mind. And there was no place better than this. His home.

"Mika? What are you doing here?" Liam Elbar, who was putting the dishes on the dining table, asked with a surprised expression.

"I just finished a mission and the village was on the way back so I decided to drop by."

"Oh, is that so? Well, it’s a nice surprise to see you again!" Liam replied with a hearty smile.

However, Mika noticed a small change.

"Dad... Are you growing your beard?" Mika asked, tilting his head.

Usually, his father had a stubble beard.

And if he remembered correctly, the last time he saw Liam, his face was covered in more and thicker stubble. But now his beard was full.

"So you’ve noticed, huh? Hahaha!" his father laughed happily and loudly.

"How could one not notice..." Eli muttered, sounding tired.

"Anyways, come and sit down. We can catch up while eating or else, the food will get cold!" she switched gears and smiled.

Thus, the reunited family sat together at the same table after such a long time.

Mika looked at the food on the table.

[For just two people it may seem a lot, but...]

The portions were perfect for three people.

"..."

"Dear, what’s the matter?" Eli asked worried as she patted his shoulder.

"Is something wrong with the food?" Liam, who sat across from them, wondered.

"No..."

Mika’s voice was shaking, his throat was stinging a little and his eyes were getting moist.

"It’s just..."

Small tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I’m sorry..." Mika said filled with guilt.

"Why are you apologi-"

"Mom... Dad... I’ve missed you, too!" Mika admitted with a smile that was trying to fight against the tears.

Was it because of the ongoing effect of the punishment, which made him tell the truth, or was he doing this on his own accord?

Neither did he nor the system know.

"..."

His parents were speechless.

They rarely saw their own son getting this emotional.

"I miss the leisure I had here. I miss the friends I had here. I miss the peaceful atmosphere in the village. The people I knew since I was a child. The streets I walked on for years. The nature. The grass fields. The fact that I had nothing to worry about! But most importantly..."

"Dad. The bad jokes you crack from time to time. That stubble beard of yours. The times, when we just lazed around and Mom scolded us. The lectures you gave me."

"And Mom. The food you always make for us. The way you cared for me. The warm and soothing aura you’re emitting."

Mika hid his eyes with a hand.

"I miss all of that!" he cried.

Only his cry was heard in the house for a while. freewebnσvel.cѳm

But then, Liam suddenly stood up.

He left the room.

"The food is getting cold. Let’s eat for now, shall we?" Eli suggested calmly with her eyes fixated on her plate.

With her hair standing in his vision’s way, Mika could not see her expression.

Mika did not expect that kind of reaction from his parents. Even though he did not want to be actually treated like a child, he thought that they would at least give him some encouraging words just like always.

"..."

Feeling a little dejected, he picked up his cutlery and chewed down the food bleakly.

Dozens of minutes passed.

Eli and Mika were half done with their food, but Liam was still missing.

During that time duration, Mika thought that it was maybe a bad choice to let out his true feelings.

He narrowed his eyes.

"Ah, there you are! Took you long enough!" Eli pouted.

"Sorry, couldn’t find my blade for that at first..." Liam responded apologetically.

"?"

Mika turned to the direction his father was coming from.

And anew, his eyes enlarged.

Liam’s full beard got trimmed, leaving him with a stubble again.

His father made his way back to his seat, while Mika’s eyes followed him.

"Wait, did you already start eating without me?"

"Of course we did."

"..."

Mika was still in shock.

"Why..."

"Hm?"

Liam’s gaze shifted to Mika.

"Why did you shave your beard...?"

"Heh..." Liam chuckled lightly.

"Just remember that you’re always welcome here. Not just here at home, but also in the village. If you ever feel the need to take a break from everything, if you feel like the academy is too much or if you just want to laze around here, then come back to us anytime. Be it early in the morning or late in the night, we will always open the door for you." Liam stated with a wide grin.

"Yeah. And we will make sure that you can still feel at ease here. Everything will be the same just like back then. That sorry beard of your father will stay the same. The fact that I will always have food prepared for you and that I... No. That we will always care for you and scold you if we have to." Eli added.

The two smiled wholeheartedly at their son, who could not hold back any longer and cried as if there was no tomorrow.

Only after Mika calmed down, the three of them could enjoy some quality time with each other. Be it at the dining table as they ate, when they washed the dishes together or when they lazed around on the couch, Mika could finally enjoy his free time, before he had to go back to Loogam.

Today was the last dinner he had with his family.

After today, he did not know yet when he could return again as he had to focus on the upcoming tournament.

The next morning.

In front of their home, Mika’s parents and the Sacra siblings assembled to witness his departure.

The driver arrived with the carriage. Everything was done now.

Thus, Mika entered the carriage after saying his goodbyes.

Even after the doors closed and the carriage started to move, everyone was waving their hands energetically at Mika.

"..."

Mika was in his thoughts.

[What are you pondering about?]

"Oh, I was just thinking when I could return home the next time."

[...]

"Maybe after the tournament? I think around that time there’s a break for every student."

[Let’s see and wait.]

The carriage now left the village.

In the meantime, Liam and Eli talked to Eric and Ain.

"Did you two tell them about your plans already?" Eli asked.

"We didn’t." Eric responded with a smirk.

"Huh? Why?" Liam wondered.

"Hehehe... We wanted to surprise him." Ain giggled playfully.

Eli shrugged her shoulders as she smiled.

"Well, I’m certain that he will be very surprised." she said.

"But isn’t that amazing? Not only Mika, but now you two are also going to the city." Liam praised them.

"Well, we will still stay here for a while, though..." Eric answered embarrassed.

The four continued to talk for a while until the Sacra siblings had to go again. They waved their hands at each other as they parted ways.

"Who would have thought that Eric would also decide to go to Loogam and apply for the knight academy?" Liam said impressed.

"Even though it’s an academy mostly for people without magic, it will be still tough." he added.

"Yes, but we’re talking about Eric here. He’ll be fine. After all, Ain will be at his side, too." Eli replied.

"What was it that she wanted to do again?" Liam asked shyly.

Eli sighed.

"You idiot. She will primarily support her brother as their parents are worried about him living alone but in that time she wanted to look out for jobs there."

With a faint smile, Liam looked at the horizon, where the sun was slowly rising.

"Mika will be overjoyed if he knows that the two will join him in Loogam."