System: There's Something Wrong With My System.-Chapter 52 - A Step Beyond Home

"...Kail, there’s no point staying here anymore"

"..."

At Lynn’s sudden remark, the room froze.

Even Grandma, lounging on the couch with her usual elegance while watching a soap opera, turned her head slightly to listen.

"Hmm~ now that I think about it," Hugo said, rubbing his chin, "Lynn has a point. It’s been what, a few months? No attacks. Not even whispers from the Shadow Realm. That last breach might’ve hit them harder than we thought"

He glanced at Mikail, then added, "And sparring with us isn’t doing much for you anymore. Keep this up and you’ll stagnate... strong on paper, but green in the field. And honestly... waiting for Sir Mahesa is starting to feel like a waste. Even he might be struggling to gather the rest of the Circle"

"But..." Melisa cut in, arms folded, brow furrowed. What exactly do you expect him to do? You’re not seriously suggesting he just, what, roams around the world to ’grind XP?’"

"Yeah," Moona chimed in, crossing her arms. "I don’t like that either"

"No," Lynn shook her head calmly. "It’s not that. Actually... I brought this up because of something Sir Mahesa told me before he left"

"He told you something?" Hugo blinked. "All I remember is him telling us to keep Mikail and the others safe"

"He told me privately," Lynn replied, turning briefly toward Hugo. "He left a message just in case he didn’t return soon"

Hugo blinked, then muttered, "...Oh"

Lynn sighed and turned to Mikail.

"He said... If several months passed and he still hadn’t returned, I was to take you to Valthavn"

"...Valthavn?" Mikail echoed.

Lynn nodded. "A sanctuary. A place where Harbingers can train, learn, and grow. You’ll find real masters there, experts who understand the ’Path’. For someone like you, someone who is advancing at a terrifying speed, it’s ideal"

"But..." she paused, her gaze softening. "Sir Mahesa said it should be your choice. Only if you feel ready. That’s why I waited. I didn’t want to pressure you"

Everyone turned to Mikail.

He didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked to the floor, then toward the others, Moona, Melisa, Hugo... and finally to his grandmother, who hadn’t said a word. She simply watched him from the couch, her usual warm expression unreadable, as if she already knew what he would choose.

"...I..." Mikail began, then paused.

What Lynn said made sense. He had grown, more than anyone expected, but it was all within the comfort of routine, repetition, and safety. The System had limits. And his power... it wasn’t evolving the way Light needed to.

But even so... Valthavn felt like a turning point. Something big. And once he crossed it, there was no going back.

"Let me think about it first," Mikail finally said, his voice low.

Then he turned to his grandmother.

She gave no answer.

Only a knowing smile.

--------

- Night.

Lynn’s offer keeps circling in my head. On the surface, it’s good, tempting, even. After all, there’s a limit to how far I can grow on my own. No matter how many Skill Points I pour into myself, some things simply can’t be reached that way.

"...Kail"

Grandma’s voice drifted from behind me. I didn’t flinch, nor did I bother asking why she was still awake at this hour.

"...Would you like to drink coffee with this Grandma of yours?"

I turned slightly. "Coffee at this hour, Grandma? Do you want me to not sleep?"

"Sleep?" She raised her brows in mock surprise, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Do you even need sleep anymore?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, but how could I refuse my Grandma’s offer? So, I sat down across from her. "I’m still human, you know?"

"Human? You sure about that?"

"...Huh?"

"Ahaha~ I’m just joking, just joking~"

If it were the old me, I would’ve laughed it off. But now... now I wasn’t so sure. I took a sip of the coffee she’d prepared and casually bit into one of the cookies.

"...Tell me the truth, Grandma. Am I still human?"

"What do you mean by that?" This time, it was her turn to ask.

"I mean, with our ancestor... and this power I hold. Can I still be considered human?"

"In the past, I could’ve answered that question without hesitation. But now..."

"But now?"

"No, never mind"

"What? Grandma, you can’t just leave me hanging like that. You’re making me more curious"

"Ahaha~ What can I tell you, when I’m not even sure myself... Wait!!"

Her eyes widened as if something had just struck her.

"W-What is it?" I asked.

"You... are you even my grandson?"

"..."

"Ahahaha~ Since when did you become so serious, Kail? Didn’t I tell you before? I don’t care what you become, you will always be my grandson. Even if our ancestor himself says you’re not, even if the whole world denies you, I’ll still believe you are mine. So don’t ask me questions like that again, okay?"

"... Understood, Grandma"

Just like that, we sat together in silence, enjoying our coffee, our time... our togetherness.

"... So, you’re going?" Grandma finally asked, breaking the quiet.

"Should I, Grandma? And if I go... what about you?"

"... Go. As for me, you don’t need to worry. I have something I must do"

"What is it?"

"... You’ll know when the time is right. For now, just go. This is something only you can do, because that is your responsibility. Don’t let yourself be trapped here, Kail. You have to see the outside world... the world that will one day be your duty to protect. That is our role as descendants of Forseti. So go"

-------

The next morning, Mikail prepared to leave with Lynn and Hugo.

The quiet conversation with his grandmother the night before had settled something in him, giving him the resolve he needed. Valthavn awaited, and so did his responsibility.

Melisa wouldn’t be joining them, she was already a graduate of the academy. Moona, on the other hand, had the café to look after, so she, too, would remain behind.

At the entrance, Moona stood with her arms crossed, but her eyes betrayed the worry she tried to hide.

"... So... see you later?" she asked softly.

"I guess so," Mikail replied with a faint smile. "But it won’t be for too long"

Moona bit her lip, hesitating before finally saying, "Kail, be careful. I heard the road to Valthavn is dangerous"

"What’s dangerous about that? Lynn and Hugo are with me, and I’m not that weak, remember?" Mikail tried to reassure her.

"I know... but still, be careful, okay?" Moona said, her voice quieter than before.

Seeing the worry in her eyes, Mikail didn’t argue further. Instead, he gently took her hand. "I-"

"*Ukhum* "

The sudden cough cut through the air. Hugo stood a few steps away, arms crossed with a crooked grin.

"I hate to ruin your moment," he said, not sounding sorry at all, "but it’s time for us to go"

"You..." Mikail glared at Hugo, anger flickering in his eyes. "Did you really have to interrupt at a time like this?"

"Haha~ can’t be helped," Hugo chuckled, though his expression quickly hardened. "We’ve got a long road ahead. Say your goodbyes quickly... we need to reach the next destination before sunset. Don’t forget, our enemy isn’t just the Shadow. There are other forces moving against you. We can’t afford to waste time"

The shift in his tone made Mikail pause. He turned toward Lynn, silently questioning her. She gave a small, firm nod, confirming Hugo’s words.

’So... it’s not just the Shadow. There’s more out there...’ Mikail thought, a heavy sigh escaping him.

His gaze drifted back to Moona’s worried eyes, Melisa’s calm watch, and finally, to his grandmother, whose presence weighed most heavily on his heart.

"...Take care," he said softly, lingering on her face for the last time before forcing himself to turn away.

Straightening his back, he faced the path ahead. "Alright. I’m ready. Let’s go"

With that, Mikail’s true journey began, a beginning far greater than anything he had ever imagined.

A path that would not only touch Earth, Midgard, but one that would shape the destiny of all Nine Realms of Yggdrasil.

And it all started with this single step he was about to take.

Not long ago, Mikail had been nothing more than an insignificant pawn in a vast and merciless game.

But now, upon his shoulders rested not only the fate of Earth, but perhaps Yggdrasil itself.

No one else knew this truth yet.

No one, except an old woman watching quietly.

To the world, he might one day be the bearer of fate.

But to her, he was simply her grandson.

She alone could see both the heavy burden awaiting him and the man he would one day become.

She knew it. She could feel it.

Not because of any power, nor through some mystical foresight.

No... something far simpler, something profoundly mundane.

Family.

She, who had already lost too much, had learned to treasure what remained.

And this time, she would not stay silent.

Not this time.

....

...

..

.