"D-death…?"
Mika was taken aback when he read out the punishment for not accepting the quest.
For him, it was the first time that he at risk of getting a punishment of such a level. Before that, the worst punishment he experienced was just losing his taste for a week.
"…"
He crouched down on the spot with his head hanging low.
Mika had only two choices. Either try to get accepted into the magic academy Loogam, despite having almost no chance, or die.
In his head, he tried to accept his cruel fate. 15 years was a short lifespan, however, he enjoyed those years.
[Have you looked at the rewards yet?]
"Is this your way of cheering me up?"
Mika slowly got up and let out a big sigh.
"If everything goes right, I will have the chance to change details in our contract, right?" he elaborated disinterestedly.
[That's correct.]
"How about this? Let me claim the reward now and I will promise you that I will try to get into Loog-"
[No.]
"Without hesitation, huh…"
Mika already had something specific in mind when he read that he could change something in the contract.
He heaved another sigh.
"I see…"
[Will you accept the quest?]
"Didn't you listen to me? It's imposs-"
[It's not impossible. I have watched over you for the last ten years. I know what you're capable of and I'm not lacking in intelligence to assign you a quest that you wouldn't be up to.]
"…"
Mika looked sideways with a bitter facial expression.
A few minutes of silence passed.
It looked like Mika was in deep thought.
"Oh, fine then! I will accept the quest! I will enter Loogam! Are you satisfied now?" he shouted as he finally gave in.
[Yes.]
"You sure a pushy system. Threatening to kill me if I don't enter a school… 'System of Blessing' my ass." he murmured frustrated.
[Rather than whining, use your energy to pack your things.]
"Pack my things?"
[Yes. The entrance exams will be held in four days.]
"WHAT?!"
Some villagers in the distance turned their heads in Mika's direction.
Noticing their gazes, he cleared his throat and began walking.
"Four days?! Are you out of your mind?!" he whispered despite being on the verge of yelling again.
"It takes three days on the horse from this village to Loogam!"
[And that's why you should hurry up.]
"I swear to God… One day I will search for you and then-"
"Oh, Mika, you're back already?"
Aside from a creaking door made of wood getting opened, a warm and motherly voice was heard.
Standing at the door of a small family house that seemed neither old nor new was a woman in her late thirties. She had long brown hair and an unwrinkled face paired with almond-shaped eyes that were as yellow as Mika's.
She was none other than Mika's mother, Eli Elbar.
"Ah, yes, I'm back, Mom." Mika replied sheepishly.
Then, a middle-aged man appeared behind his mother.
"Oh, you're back right on time! Your mother finished cooking dinner!" the man said in a deep voice.
He had a tall and trained stature. His short hair was black, his intimidating face had a stubble beard and he had sharp eyes in the same color as the other two standing there. His name was Liam Elbar.
As if Mika had forgotten what happened today, he followed his parents into the house and enjoyed dinner with them just like a normal family.
He talked and laughed a lot with them. He would cherish moments like these the most. He thought that every day would be like this.
He looked down and clenched his fists on his thighs.
"What's wrong Mika?" his mother asked him confused.
"You look worried about something." His father added.
He opened his mouth but the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat.
He could not look his parents in the eyes.
"I… I…"
But then, he noticed a finger lifting his chin.
"It's alright. Take your time, okay?" Eli stated with a gentle smile as she lifted his head.
"No matter what it is you want to say, we will definitely support you! Unless you beg us for money- Argh!"
Liam, who wanted to lighten the tense mood, was hit by Eli's elbow into the side of his stomach.
Looking at them, Mika could do nothing but grin. He felt relaxed now.
"Mom, Dad. I want to go to Loogam." Mika said calmly and sternly.
"I see, you want to enter Loo- What?!"
His mother's gentle smile quickly crumbled as she was too surprised at what Mika said.
"L-Loogam?! Do you mean the magic academy Loogam?!"
Even his father was surprised.
Mika nodded his head shyly.
"Haha… HAHAHAHA!" Liam could not stop laughing.
On the contrary, Eli sighed while caressing her forehead with her fingers.
"Let me guess… It's a quest, right?" she deducted calmly.
Again, he only nodded his head.
His parents were the only ones who believed Mika when he told them about the 'System of Blessings'. Furthermore, they were the only ones who were allowed by the system to witness the true power given to Mika.
"Well, nothing we can do against it, can we?" Liam said carefree with a big grin.
"That's right. I mean, in the end, you have surely thought this through, right?"
"Yes." Mika replied certainly.
The two smiled at their son.
"And when do the exams take place?" Eli asked.
"Ehm…"
Embarrassed, Mika looked away.
"In four days…" he muttered.
"FOUR DAYS?!" the two shouted at the same time.
The mother stood up suddenly.
"We have no time! I'll pack your things now!" she announced in a rush as she went upstairs.
"Wait, I can do-"
"Just leave her be. If she's like that, then not even a demon could stop her." Liam said as he patted Mika's shoulder.
Father and son were now alone at the dining table.
Liam crossed his arms and leaned back on his chair.
"Listen, son. If you're at the academy, you don't need to strive high, okay? You don't need to think that you have to make us proud. We're already proud enough."
"I wasn't thinking that anyway."
"Don't interrupt me." Liam responded without a change in his tone.
"For the past 10 years, you followed the system's orders but don't forget that this is your life. You're allowed to do things you want to. If you want to have fun, then go have fun. If you want to laze around, then laze around. What I want to say is that you also have the freedom to do what you want." he continued.
"Well, that's everything for now. You can go rest. Let your mother and me take care of your belongings."
With a slight smile, Mika nodded his head.
The next morning.
The morning fog slowly dissolved as the sun began to rise above the mountains on the horizon.
"Did you check if everything you needed was packed?" Eli asked.
"Yes, everything's there. Thanks."
The family Elbar was currently in front of the house. Mika was attaching his bags to his horse preparing to leave.
"Don't you want to say goodbye to everyone else?" Liam asked.
"No need to. I'll come back soon to visit you." Mika replied with a smile.
"I see. Well, you're always welcome here." his father stated.
"When will you come back? Next week maybe?"
"I guess, that's too soon, Mom…" Mika answered politely as he scratched the back of his head.
[It's time.]
Mika nodded confidently.
"Mom, dad. It's time for me to go. I'll write you letters when I'm at the academy!"
He bid his parents goodbye with a wide smile as he ascended his horse.
The two parents waved their hands to their child while watching him leave their house. Even with Mika already disappearing from the horizon for hours, the two still looked in that direction.
"Will he be fine there? He has to go through that forest, right?" Eli asked worriedly as she clung to her husband's chest.
The forest Mika had to pass was known for harboring many monsters. Most common were monsters that looked like bears. However, they were bigger and looked rather like mutations. Some had four arms, but other people also saw bears with the antlers of a deer and then there were people who said that those bears had wings like a hawk.
"Of course, he will be fine. After all, it's him." he reassured her with a hug.
"If he uses his power, then there is nobody who could stop him. Not even a horde of monsters." Liam added with a proud smirk.
In the meantime, …
"Achoo!"
Mika had to sneeze.
"Did somebody just talk about me?" he wondered.
[Who knows. But either way, let's not rest too long and move on.]
"Fine, fine."
Mika ascended his horse again and left the forest, where he took a small rest.
And with his departure, he left behind a pile of corpses.
Those were the corpses of the rumored monsters in the forest.