Chapter 9: Taking Responsibility

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Taking Responsibility

Michael’s mom, Natasha Kaiser, stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a pale blue apron. Her white hair was tied loosely at the nape of her neck, a few strands framing a face that still looked far too young for someone with two teenage children. Her blue eyes softened the second they landed on him.

"You’re back," she said warmly. "How was the ceremony?"

Elfriede, still clinging to him like a koala, immediately cut in.

"Yeah, yeah, tell us already. What did you awaken? Am I going to be a nepo baby when my turn comes, or..." She lifted her chin with theatrical arrogance. "Should I start calling you trash now?"

She dissolved into giggles.

Michael sighed internally.

This is what I get for telling her Chinese web novels as bedtime stories.

"I’ve got a lot to say," he muttered, gently trying to peel her off. "Where’s Dad?"

Before Natasha could say a word, a pair of hands suddenly jabbed into his sides from behind.

Michael jerked forward with a strangled noise.

"What the fuck—"

Gerald Kaiser stood there grinning, his white hair slightly messy, red-pink eyes bright with amusement. He was a head shorter than his son and carried himself more like royalty than a common man.

"Hah! Works every time."

Michael shot him a flat look. "I could’ve fallen, Dad. Elfi might’ve broken something."

Gerald tapped his shoulder. "Then I could have sent you to the military since you’re so soft." He glanced at his daughter. "And Elfi’s basically a cockroach. A little fall wouldn’t kill her."

"Big bro!" Elfriede said, her face going red as she thumped Michael’s chest. "Dad’s bullying me! Do something!"

Michael stared at her. "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Both of them turned toward their mother.

Natasha only giggled behind her hand before fixing Gerald with a look.

"That shouldn’t be coming from someone who still needs help lifting a bag of rice."

Gerald flinched. "Come on, honey. You’re supposed to side with me, not the kids."

Michael couldn’t help the quiet chuckle that slipped out. The familiar rhythm of their banter settled something in his chest that the entire chaotic day had knocked loose.

Natasha lightly chopped her husband on the head, then smiled at Michael again. "I made your favorites. We can talk over dinner."

He scratched the back of his neck. "I might not be able to stay that long. Someone’s waiting for me downstairs."

Elfriede finally dropped from his waist, landed lightly, and snatched a small pair of binoculars from the side table. She hurried to the floor-to-ceiling window, raised them, and peered down.

A second later, she made a noise of pure appreciation.

"Whoa. Who’s the pretty lady by the black car? Her body’s ridiculous."

She glanced back at Michael with a knowing smirk.

Natasha’s expression darkened. She crossed the room in three strides, grabbed her son by the ear, and dragged him toward the living room while slamming the door shut with one foot.

"Mom—wait—I can explain—"

"Explain what?" she demanded, still holding his ear. "How many times have I told you to stop chasing women older than you? Younger ones I can tolerate. Not women my age!"

Michael winced. "Mom, that’s my Dean. My actual Dean!"

The pulling stopped, though she didn’t let go.

"...Isn’t your Dean one of the Seven Stars?"

"Yes."

Natasha dragged him the rest of the way to the window, stole the binoculars from Elfriede with one hand, and peered down while still keeping a grip on her son.

A soft gasp escaped her. "What a beautiful woman... How does someone even maintain a body like that?"

She lowered the binoculars and looked at Michael, who was still slightly hunched behind her, wincing.

"And you’re telling me you’re following her with pure intentions?"

Michael looked away. "...Not exactly."

Natasha immediately started lightly smacking the top of his head with the back of her hand.

"I knew it! I told you to stop going after women my age, so you jumped straight to women your grandmother’s age! How am I supposed to address my future daughter-in-law, huh?!"

She finally released him with a dramatic exhale. "How did I give birth to such a scumbag..."

Michael raised both hands. "Hold on, let me explain properly."

Gerald, who had been watching with poorly hidden amusement, raised a thumb in support. "Yeah, babe. Let the boy talk."

Natasha shot her husband a look, then pointed at the couch.

"Fine. Sit. All of you."

Michael made sure to take the seat farthest from his mother. Once everyone was settled, he cleared his throat.

"Where should I start?" He paused, his gaze running across the room. "Well, for one, I awakened at the lowest rank possible."

Elfriede tried—and failed—to hold in her laughter.

"Hahaha! Didn’t you keep saying you were going to be completely OP?!"

"Don’t laugh yet," Michael cut in sharply. "Who said I don’t have a trump card?"

Natasha’s brows rose. "A trump card?"

He straightened, unable to keep the smugness entirely out of his voice. "That system I told you about years ago? It finally activated."

Silence.

Elfriede recovered first. Without wasting a breath, she scooted closer and latched onto his arm.

"My dear brother~ You’ll treat me like a princess when you’re the strongest, right?"

Michael planted a hand on her forehead and held her back without looking.

"Because of the system, people currently believe I awakened at the highest possible tier, since Tier 0s are known for having unique talents from the get-go. And the Dean wants to take me in so she can observe the limits of my ability and help me grow."

Although Michael trusted his parents enough to tell them about the existence of the system just a year after his transmigration, he had still left out the finer mechanics of how it worked. Explaining exactly how the system functioned would open conversations he wasn’t ready to have tonight.

Natasha rested her chin on one hand, thinking.

"I see. And this ability of yours... it has something to do with getting close to the Dean, doesn’t it?"

Michael scratched the back of his neck. ’Sharp as always’.

After a moment, he replied, "...Yes."

She sighed, her shoulders loosening.

"You’ve wanted to become the strongest since you were little. If this is the path you’ve chosen, I won’t stop you." Her voice softened. "But Michael... take care of yourself out there. The world is much darker than you think. That’s why your father and I left that life behind."

"I will. Thanks, Mom. Dad." He glanced at his sister. "You too, Elfi."

Natasha added dryly, "And try not to bring home too many daughters-in-law at once. My heart can only take so much."

Michael looked away and muttered under his breath, almost too quietly.

"...About that."

Every pair of eyes in the room locked onto him again.

He forced himself to continue. "I might have gotten my teacher pregnant."

The binoculars slipped from Natasha’s fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud. Gerald’s eyes went wide. Elfriede’s mouth fell open.

"Wait," she said, her voice rising. "I’m already becoming an aunt?!"

Natasha’s voice cracked like a whip.

"Michael! How can you get someone pregnant already?! You’re still eighteen! And she’s your teacher!"

Gerald moved quickly, placing a calming hand on his wife’s back until her breathing evened out. When she spoke again, the anger had drained into something exhausted and resigned.

"I... sort of expected something like this eventually," she said, rubbing her temples. "Just not this soon."

She fixed her son with a steady look. "Where is she now?"

"At her place, I think. I told her to come by when she’s free."

Natasha stood and strode toward him, her hand raised. Michael instinctively closed his eyes, bracing for a slap.

Instead, warm hands cupped his face.

"I’m proud of you for this part," she said quietly. "I can accept my son being a polygamous scumbag. What I refuse to accept is a son who runs from a woman he got pregnant. As long as you keep your morals, you can have as many women as you want."

Michael’s eyes stung, and he instinctively leaned into her palms. "Thanks, Mom."

Gerald squeezed his shoulder. "Don’t burn yourself out chasing power. If it ever gets too much, you come straight home. The Kaiser family will always be here."

Michael’s throat tightened. "Thanks... a lot."

He turned to Elfriede. "You packed my bags, right?"

She gave a thumbs-up. "You paid me well, so of course."

"Even that one?"

She blinked, then nodded. "Oh—the trash dragon gene rune from the antique shop? Yeah."

Gerald’s expression turned serious.

"You’re actually planning to use that? The success rate is decent, but it’s only F-rank with no growth path. An Awakened can only hold three gene runes at once. Any more and you lose your humanity, so I wouldn’t advise you wasting one slot."

Michael met his father’s eyes with a grin. "I have a system, remember?"

Gerald sighed, a small smile tugging at his mouth. "When you used to say you wanted to become a dragon among men, I didn’t think you meant it this literally."

Michael’s face heated. He’d been twelve when he’d first announced that goal, standing on a chair with a blanket tied around his neck like a cape. His family had never let him forget it.

Bam!

He stood abruptly. "I’m going to grab my things!"

Natasha and Gerald smiled at his retreating back. After a moment of silence, Natasha spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Will he be alright?"

Gerald’s answer was steady. "Yeah. That kid’s strong. Stronger than we were at his age."

After escaping to his room and throwing the last few of his things into his rolling box, then looping his headphones around his neck, Michael returned to the living room, only to catch sight of his parents all lovey-dovey.

He quickly cleared his throat. "I’m heading out."

They both turned. He gave them a short bow, then a small wave to Elfriede, and stepped into the hallway before any more emotions could catch up with him.

Outside, the sun had nearly set. Seraphine leaned against the side of the black car, her arms loosely crossed. When she saw him, she straightened.

Michael quickened his pace. "You didn’t have to wait outside."

She looked up at him, her violet eyes faintly amused. "I didn’t know little Rank 9s worried about Rank 3s like me."

Michael opened his mouth, closed it, then decided silence was safer.

Seraphine’s laugh was low and brief. "I’m joking. Put your things in the trunk."

He did as told. By the time he slid into the passenger seat, she was already behind the wheel. He glanced once more at the apartment building, a small smile touching his lips.

Seraphine noticed. "Seems like the talk went well."

"Fairly," he said, settling back and watching the darkening sky.

She put the car in gear. "Then buckle up. You won’t be seeing this place for a long time."

Michael fastened his seatbelt and exhaled. ’I guess it’s finally time to go to the Sovereign Realm.’