Culmination Records 14 Commend 1 13

[Side Quest: Birthday Celebration! (2/2)

Decline the Baroness' wishes and enter the army. To register, seek help from the Baroness.

Time Duration: 47:59:51

Reward(s): 40 EXP, (1) Practice Dummy u0026 (1) Wooden Sword

Warning: Failing the Quest will bring death to the User.]

Glancing at the plate's more accurate instructions, Eddra had the urge to scrunched up his face. Why would he need to seek her help? He did not even want to tell his mother about him joining the army. However, if he would not do it, then he would simply reset again. Who knew how much would change if the [System] would reset again...

"... Mother," a simple call to her made his palm sweaty, "I do not wish to enroll in the academy." While Eddra stared straight to his mother, waiting for her reactions, he heard a loud clank from a utensil that fell in the dish plate. s.h.i.+fting his attention to the sound, he saw that it came from the direction of his second brother.

This might be what had happened 3 years ago when Eddra declined his mother without knowing the consequences of his actions, however, he did not think of it as something unusual. Considering the time when Eddra accepted to enroll in the academy, and when Everette was also asked for his attendance by their mother, there may be a possibility that Everette planned to take the chance to register himself for the army the time Eddra accepted their mother's offer.

This thought forming in his head made Eddra felt relieved that his dumb self was forced to enter the army, for once...

"I wish to register for the army, Mother." Even an image of his second brother, or even one of his brothers, setting foot on the training course and playing the part with the sparring that happened almost every day, if the knight major wishes for it to happen... Eddra could not digest such thought.

"What did I just hear, Ed?" was his mother's reply, wearing a smile on her face.

"I am joining the army."

"... Brother," Eddra heard Everette muttered a word.

Clenching his fist and staring down to his mother, who had a confused expression drawn on her face, at last, Eddra had built up his courage to tell her, hoping he would not receive a slap or two before they could even start the celebration.

"I want to become a knight, too!" his adorable third brother b.u.t.ted in, not knowing that he was simply adding fuel to the fire.

As if it turned to some kind of small argument, Allie went in and cheered out, "Then I will be the cleric!"

"What? A knight? You'll be killed immediately since you're stupid, brother Lan," Cordell teased, "Archers and mages are much cooler, though."

Eddra brought a hand to his face. Peeking down, Eddra felt that at whatever time now, their mother would burst and would let them have a taste of her wrath. These siblings of his did not even know the power of their words...

"Silence." It was not a shout nor loud, however, Eddra could feel their mother's anger dwelling inside her from the tone of her voice. "Eddra, we shall have a long discussion about such matter later, take a seat. Firstly, let us fill our stomachs with the food our household's chef prepared for the celebration. I hope I would not hear the noises and non-important talks while we eat peacefully at the table."

...

The celebration was the quietest household dining that ever happened throughout the years. It was remarkable that Eddra did not want to forget such an event. He made a core memory of his mother's expression while the whole children were quiet and scared to produce a single sound.

To sum things up, the dining part was hilarious, however, Eddra started to get nervous with each second knowing he would be summoned in her study room for a long talk tonight. 'It's already evening and she hasn't called me yet.'

"[Status]." He tried his best to shrugged the uneasiness and survey his [Status] and [Side Quest].

Ding!

[Name: Eddra Isaac t.i.tle: Son of a Baron

Family Name: Orhom

Age: 18 (21) s.e.x: Male

Job: None (None)

Level: 1 EXP: 10/1000

HP: 120 MP: 15

---

Strength: 19 (-/+)

Agility: 12 (-/+)

Vitality: 11 (-/+)

Intelligence: 10 (-/+)

Dexterity: 11 (-/+)

Luck: 3 (-/+)

---

Remaining Stat Point(s): 1]

Doubting to either add a point to his single numbered [Base Stats] or simply let the [Remaining Stat Points] stay there for a while as Eddra solved the mystery of the [Base Stats]. Precisely, the second choice was the most logical thing to do since he really had no clue what most of the contents of his [Status] were.

For certain, Eddra acquired one point of it when he finished the [Side Quest]. Then surely, the number would increase once he completed the other one. s.h.i.+t, these kind of thoughts were confusing and mind breaking for Eddra.

Ding!

[You have gained an EXP.]

The sudden plate showed that he had gained whatever it was saying. Glancing back at the number of his [EXP], it did had an increase although it was only one, making Eddra wonder what made it to increase the number.

s.h.i.+fting his attention to the mysterious mechanics of how to gain an [EXP], Eddra looked at the other quest he had acquired and also needed to be completed. It was demanding for seven individuals of his family clan. Who would fill the last person? It was obvious that he could not get in contact with his father in simply an hour or so. It would take days to see him.

Eddra scratched the back of his head. More importantly, what would he gain with the [System]? This s.h.i.+t simply popped out of nowhere. For him, he could compare the army to the floating thing, and they were both forceful and a nuissance.

"Milord, the Baroness asked for your attendance immediately."

Eddra opened the door hurriedly, only to reveal the butler standing in front of him. 'Great. Eve must have give up knowing I'll enter the army.'

"... Lead the way."

...

When he had arrived inside the Baroness' study room, her expression on her face was something similar to what he remembered when his dumb self refused her wishes and got forced to join the army. However, presently, her brows were much drawn together and she was frowning, quiet as Eddra took his seat in front of his mother.

'[Status Check].'

Ding!

[Name: Linnin Leticia t.i.tle: Baroness

Family Name: Orhom

Age: 37 s.e.x: Female

Job: None (None)

Level: 2

HP: 115 MP: 50]

'It seems... normal?' Eddra brushed off his thought. It was not like he was expecting something extraordinary to his mother's status.

"... Eddra," she first called his name, "Why do you want to be registered for the army?"

Her tone was neither soft nor stern, it was straight, however, Eddra could feel her worriedness and confusion. It was not that he wanted to, but the thing that was floating before his eyes was the one forcing him to enter.

"I..." Eddra lowered his gaze, unable to say another word.

"Did Everette told you about it?"

What was she talking about? Recollecting from the previous incidents, perhaps his mother was pertaining to favor the King and the Crown Prince. Should Eddra just tell her that he did hear about it from Everette? Well, truth to be told, Everette did tell him... but it was in a different way though.

"What does he have to say to me?" Eddra had chosen to pretend that he did not know what his mother was saying since, for certain, it would be a headache when both parties were to discuss the matter later.

"Do I need to know what it is?"

"No... You don't need to know."

Lifting his head, Eddra saw his mother's eyes widen and she brought a hand on her cheek. Why did they have to hide the situation? And it was not like Eddra wanted the royal family to favor him, more like he despised them for the innocent lives that were pinned up with their feud.

Sigh. His mother took a deep breath and blew out sharply. "As a matter of fact, I always have this feeling that you would join the army—whether you were forced or you truly wanted to—seeing how you acted and your hobbies when you were a kid. You've been making troubles whenever you had the chance, you know? Do you still remember that you would always storm your way at the dock every morning?"

"Uh... Did I really?"

"Yes, my eldest. I guess you probably don't remember it now." She smiled shortly at Eddra then frowned again, absorbed in her thoughts. "You do know... that I am against your decision, right? I worry you might cause trouble there, and war isn't something you should take easily, particularly when you're already on the battlefield."

Nodding in understanding, Eddra's memories of the battlefield flashed in his mind, catching sight of the bloodshed and the deaths of his teammates.

"I know that, Mother. However, I want to register for the army as soon as possible... If it may, perhaps you could help me." Eddra looked at his mother in the eyes. "... And the matters that both you and Everette secretly knew, and this something you refused to tell me, I promise that it is not related to the reason why I am eager, Mother."

After all, Eddra also had a secret he could not simply bring up to anyone, even to his family or closest friends. Although he just knew a few about the [System], for certain, it would be something that any greedy person would want to acquire.

"Eddra—"

"Please, Mother." If he failed to join the army this time, the thing that was attached to him might demand a reset again then changed drastically after—and probably—the hunting occurrence would go around, loop endlessly until it broke his mind and sanity.

"No!"

"In that case, I will simply look for the way on my own."

"You are just as stubborn as your father!" She stood up, losing her composure, shouting on top of her lung to Eddra. "Leave my study at once. You shall be grounded for three days—for a month!"

"Mother, listen to me—" He beside his mother and reached for her hand, however, she declined— "I shall take a vacation leave after three years. So, please..." Eddra pleaded for the safety of his mind and sanity. He did not want to let the [System] reset itself anymore.

Hearing his words, his mother faced him with her bloodshot eyes staring straight to his. "A year. You shall take visits every year. I will only accept your demands if you would promise me that."