Chapter 3 : Awakening
The moment Ethan placed his hand on the awakening crystal, a strange sensation flooded his body. It was exactly as his father had described—thousands of hands crawling over his skin, pressing into every inch of his being.
He grimaced. That's disgusting.
But before he could pull away, the crystal reacted.
A blinding light erupted from it, swallowing the entire room in a golden radiance. The glow was not just bright—it was pure, overwhelming, almost divine. The air shifted, thick with energy, and an indescribable warmth spread through the space.
Everyone instinctively took a step back.
The golden hue wasn't just an indicator of a high-ranking talent—it carried an unshakable presence. It demanded attention, exuding an authority beyond mortal comprehension. It was the kind of light that made people instinctively kneel, as though witnessing something beyond human understanding.
Iris, Ethan's mother, was the first to break the silence. Her lips curled into a wide, knowing smile.
"This level of radiance… It's at least an S-rank," she murmured, her voice filled with confidence.
Her crimson eyes gleamed with pride as she turned toward her husband, arms crossed with an almost smug expression. "I told you my baby isn't inferior to Lucas and Eva. You were too busy trying to force him into things he doesn't like to see it for yourself."
Lionnel, ever the stern and composed man, remained quiet. He simply watched the golden light with an unreadable expression.
For a brief second, the corner of his eye twitched. He was tempted to smack the self-satisfaction off his wife's face—but he knew better. He might be the head of the household, but Iris was his equal in every way. Not only was her intellect frightening, but her magic prowess was something he didn't dare provoke unnecessarily.
So, he did the next best thing—he ignored her and focused on his son's awakening.
Truth be told, even if he never said it aloud, Lionnel was fond of Ethan. The boy was kind, respectful, and had an undeniable charm that made people naturally gravitate toward him.
His only flaw? He's lazy.
Lionnel sighed inwardly. Tch. Even if I wanted to let you do as you pleased, this world isn't forgiving. If you don't have the strength to protect yourself, you'll be trampled underfoot.
Ethan, meanwhile, was drowning in a euphoric sensation.
Something deep within him—something he had never been able to grasp before—was now awakening. It wasn't just power. It was a part of his very existence, something that defined who he was.
And then—
[Ding! You have awakened your talent!]
[Talent: Heart of Benevolence (C Grade)]
Talent Description: You are a being of kindness, of love, of trust, of selflessness. You are weak in combat, but you don't need to fight your battles alone. You will always have allies willing to stand beside you.
Skills Unlocked:
➤ Aura of Trust (Passive)
➤ Blessing of Reciprocity (Active)
➤ Benevolent Shield (Active)
The golden light around him began to fade, but Ethan's mind was still processing the words in front of him.
C-Grade?
That made no sense. With this level of radiance, it should be at least an S or SS-rank talent. How could it only be C?
But before he could dwell on that—
[Ding! Additional awakening detected.]
[You have awakened your own system.]
Ethan's breath hitched. His heart skipped a beat.
And then, as if the world itself had been waiting for this moment—
[The Divine Benevolence System is bonding to you.]
A surge of energy flooded his body, different from before. It wasn't the foreign touch of mana awakening, nor was it an overwhelming force trying to reshape his being.
No—this energy was familiar.
It was as if it had always been a part of him, silently waiting for the right moment to emerge.
[Ding! The Divine Benevolence System is now bonded to you.]
[Ding! Welcome, Host.]
A strange warmth settled in his chest, but Ethan forced himself to remain calm.
This… this was it.
The thing he had been waiting for since his reincarnation into this world.
A system.
A golden finger.
Something that would finally give him an advantage.
A smile threatened to creep up his face, but he held it back. Now wasn't the time. His family was watching.
[Host, please give more and be benevolent.]
[Because the more you give, the more you shall receive.]
Ethan raised an eyebrow at the message. Before he could process it further, the system prompted him again.
[Would you like to view the system's full abilities?]
Ethan hesitated.
His fingers twitched, tempted to immediately say yes and examine everything.
But… no.
Not right now.
Not with his family eagerly waiting for his response.
With a thought, he dismissed the system window and looked up, meeting the expectant gazes of his parents and siblings.
The golden glow had finally receded, leaving an atmosphere thick with anticipation.
Ethan scratched his head with an awkward smile.
"Uh… guys, there's no need to be so excited," he said sheepishly. "I just awakened a C-Grade talent. Heart of Benevolence."
Silence.
A Yagami awakening a support-type talent?
It wasn't shocking, per se. Talents reflected a person's nature even before awakening. And Ethan, as everyone knew, had never been the combat type.
But… a C-Grade? With that kind of light?
The contradiction left them baffled.
Yet, before anyone could dwell on it too long—
"Big Brother is the strongest!"
Chloe, his youngest sister, ran toward him, beaming with pure adoration. She threw herself into his arms, clinging to him like a koala.
Ethan caught her easily, his heart warming at her innocent trust.
He ruffled her hair, smiling gently.
"Of course," he said. "Just wait—I'll give you lots of good things."
His voice was calm, his smile radiant.
And for some reason, his presence seemed different.
Lionnel narrowed his eyes slightly.
Iris raised an eyebrow.
Even Eva, usually unreadable, found herself staring.
Ethan's aura had shifted. It was warm. Inviting.
So peaceful and reassuring that standing in his presence made them instinctively lower their guard.
Iris suddenly grinned.
"This talent of his… it's not simple," she murmured. "Even I feel affected by it."
She glanced at her husband with a victorious smirk. "As expected of my son."
Eva rolled her eyes. "Mother, you're not even trying to hide your favoritism."
Iris didn't even flinch. "Oh, please. Isn't he all of our favorite? Just admit it. Don't be like your father, always pretending to be cold and strict."
Eva, rather than answering, simply turned back to her brother and refused to comment further.
Iris giggled. "You're so cute, Eva."
Lionnel, meanwhile, stood silently, observing.
This family—his family—was bound together by his lazy son's presence.
That boy…
He was the glue that held them all close.
Lionnel exhaled. Fine.
He'd indulge Ethan a little longer.
After all…
He was his favorite, too.
—End Of Chapter 3—