Family Man System: Taking Care Of My Family Makes Me OP

Chapter 16: Unexpected reaction

Jean was in the washroom while Kai moved quietly around the house, cradling his daughter in his arms as he tried to lull her to sleep.

They had only just finished dinner. Kai had actually eaten twice, since recovery required a steady supply of nutrients. His digestive ability worked far more efficiently than an ordinary person’s, allowing his body to utilize almost every bit of energy it absorbed. That energy was immediately redirected toward repairing wounds and recovering from fatigue.

And with the newly acquired wound on his arm, his body was demanding food almost constantly.

He had eaten his fill for the moment, but he already knew he would need something more before going to sleep.

’Speaking of the wound... what kind of pill did I receive back then?’

Kai had never expected the System to reward him for doing something that had nothing to do with his family.

Still, there was another way to look at it. Becoming stronger and gaining more experience would ultimately allow him to become a better, stronger man for Jean and their daughter.

His thoughts shifted to the reward as the System’s familiar display appeared before him.

[Item: Body Strengthening Pill]

[Rank: ???]

[Description: A pill that allows a person to break through their current stage while also elevating their potential. Upon consumption, it nourishes the body and improves its overall condition.]

[Note: Make sure to maintain a gap of at least one week between two doses.]

[Note: There is no definite rank of the pill because it could be used by any individual, regardless of their rank.]

Kai was taken aback.

’Elevate my potential? Like... I can actually level up?’

The revelation left him momentarily speechless. Every awakened person eventually reached the limit of their potential, usually within a certain period of their awakening. Once that window passed, there was no changing it. Kai had long since passed that point.

He had remained stuck at F-rank for years, and after enough time, he had simply learned to accept it.

But now...

[You can level up, Host. In fact, because the Host has remained at such a low tier for so long, a single pill has a chance of pushing you up by two ranks.]

Kai stood completely still, too stunned to even move.

This was insane.

He had never heard of anyone receiving a blessing remotely comparable to this. For someone who had already accepted that F-rank was where his strength would end, the possibility of breaking through was almost incomprehensible.

And if the System had not repeatedly proven its legitimacy to him, Kai would have dismissed the reward outright. He would have suspected some kind of trick, an error, or perhaps a hidden catch.

Because this was madness.

"What happened?"

Hearing the words, Kai turned toward her and shook his head.

"Nothing."

Jean hummed before glancing down at the baby in his arms. "Is she already asleep? Let me put her to bed."

Kai looked down and, sure enough, his little peanut had drifted into a peaceful slumber while her father had been too absorbed in celebrating the rewards to notice.

He carefully handed the baby over to Jean and said, "First thing tomorrow morning, we decide on her name."

Jean gave him a faint smile. "Right. She’s already fourteen months old. We need to start getting her used to it."

Kai nodded. He pulled out a chair and sat down before asking, "By the way, has she ever tried walking? I saw her crawling around earlier. She was so energetic."

The memory immediately returned to him. Seeing his little girl in her panda pajamas, crawling across the bed with that boundless energy, had struck him straight through the heart. Somehow, it had melted away every trace of exhaustion weighing on his shoulders.

Jean let out a quiet sigh, her gaze remaining fixed on their daughter.

"It might be my fault. I should have paid more attention to things like that. I never encouraged her to walk or even tried to help her learn. I was too busy constantly moving around."

Kai could hear the guilt in her voice. He understood it, too. Still, he knew Jean had been cornered by circumstances beyond her control.

"Well, we can start now. It’s not too late. And in our new house, she’ll have plenty of room to walk around."

Jean hummed absentmindedly.

Then she froze.

Her head slowly turned toward him.

"Wait. New house?"

Kai’s lips curled into a faint smile, barely managing to conceal his excitement.

"Yes. Remember how I told you I had some work today? I went to check on our new place. And guess where it is?"

Jean tilted her head.

"Paul’s Street?"

It was the point where the proper residential district began, and it was comparatively closer to the Association. Most people who could afford to move out of the poorer districts chose to purchase their homes there. It was relatively safe without being prohibitively expensive.

Kai chuckled.

"Not even close. We’re about to live in Kreacher’s Block."

Jean’s eyes widened.

But there was none of the surprise or excitement he had expected.

She looked horrified.