After his conversation with Beck, he finally reached home. As he gazed at the house, he remarked, "I didn't expect it to be fancy, but it's a decent house."
Entering the house, he found a small space with a dining table and a kitchen on one side, and two rooms on the other. Walking towards the left room, he whispered, "This should be Zero's room, or rather, my room now."
Stepping inside, he saw a small bed meant for a single person, a tiny table beside it, and a chest-like box on the floor.
"A simple-looking room. Nice, I like it," he said with satisfaction.
Approaching the box, he speculated, "I think this is where Zero stores his clothes and other stuff."
As he opened the chest, he found a set of clothes and a small bag of silver inside.
"Not much here, just one set of clothes and some money. That's alright for now, but I do need more clothes."
Taking the clothes and money, he contemplated, "I hope you forgive me, Zero, for taking your money. I know you've been saving it for emergencies, but don't worry, I'll earn more in the future."
"Now, where's the bathroom? Ah, it's outside the house."
He stepped outside, took a shower, and changed into some new clothes – a simple t-shirt and pants with worn-out shoes.
"It may not look great, but it's better than the ripped clothes, right?"
"Now, let's head to the second entrance to meet my father," he chuckled to himself.
Arriving at the village's second entrance, he saw two men standing there. One with a big beard, looking around 55 years old, and the other clean-shaven, appearing to be around 50 years old.
"The clean-shaven one must be Zero's father, Jetson. From Zero's memories, I know he used to be a hunter but gave it up after marriage to protect his family," he recollected.
Approaching the entrance, he called out, "Father, you were looking for me."
His father turned back, his face displaying anger, "Where have you been all day? I was searching everywhere! Beck told me you went to the outer market. How many times do I have to tell you not to go anywhere without telling me? What have you been doing in the outer market all day?"
Caught off guard, he pondered how to handle the situation. "Should I tell the truth about the forest, or should I make up a story?"
Thinking carefully, he decided to go with a half-truth. "Ah, yes, I was trying to find a job there to save up some money for us."
Thankfully, Zero had always been trying to make money for their family. With his mother's illness and the financial struggles, he felt a strong sense of responsibility to contribute.
His father, giving him an intense look, scolded, "How many times have I told you not to do that? I can take care of you and your mother. Don't worry; I can make extra money. You don't have to work so hard."
His father's words were filled with concern and love. "I know you want to cure your mother, but don't sacrifice your youth for it. You're only 13; make friends, not just money. Your mother wouldn't want you to put your life on hold for her. Live your life for yourself."
Zero listened attentively to his father's words, absorbing their meaning.
Placing a hand on Zero's head, his father continued, "It must be hard for you, and I'm sorry if I can't make you and your mother happy, but remember, do what you want, live your life for yourself. This is your time to choose your path. If you don't make that choice now, you might end up like me. So, decide what you want to do in the future."
Feeling something shift within himself, he felt as though a weight had been lifted from his heart.
His deepest desire had always been to have a happy family where his parents cared for him and each other. As he realized that his family did care for him, he made a promise to himself and to Zero.
Looking at his father with a beaming smile, he declared, "Yes, Father, I will live life on my terms. My goal is to protect our family."
His father appeared surprised, as if recalling a long-lost memory of Zero smiling. "Do that, son. Do whatever you want. Your mother and I will always be here for you."
With a newfound sense of purpose and happiness, he bid farewell to his father and set out to visit his mother at the hospital.
But as he approached the entrance, a scream echoed from an alley nearby.
"What's that? Should I ignore it and go see my mother? No, I should check it out," he decided.
Thinking it would be suspicious to suddenly pull the item out of thin air, he stashed the flower in his bag before venturing towards the alley.
There, he found four kids around his age ganging up on another kid. Curiosity piqued, he activated his skill, "Observe," and checked their levels – two were level 4, one level 5, and the other level 6.
A mischievous grin spread across his face. "Not bad for the weak. Time for some experience points," he said to himself darkly, relishing the opportunity to protect those in need.