'Grandma and Aunt have still not returned after checking on Grandpa,' Aaron thought after finishing his breakfast.
"Mom, we should check on why Grandma and Aunt haven't returned."
"Yes, I was thinking the same thing," Emy replied.
After finishing breakfast, all three of them made their way toward Grandpa's room.
When they knocked on the door, it took a few seconds before someone answered. It was Aunt Jenny.
"Oh, you three, come inside," she said.
When they entered the room, they saw that Alchemist Sam was checking up on the Elfin King.
Emy became worried. "Mom, what happened?"
"Your father has fallen into a state of coma," Charlotte replied.
Emy's worry deepened, and it was clearly visible on her face.
Charlotte noticed this and said, "There is no need to worry, Emy. Everything is under control, but somehow he has fallen into a coma."
"Yes, Mom is right; everything else is fine. The only thing that has happened is that he has fallen into a coma," Jenny said.
"Mom, will Grandpa be alright?" Lucy asked, her tears on the verge of falling.
"Lucy, Grandpa will be alright. No need to worry," Jenny said softly, patting her head.
Aaron, who had been quietly observing the situation, had his doubts. 'If everything is fine, then how did he fall into a coma? Previously he was conscious but unable to move or talk. I need to ask the System.'
'System, can you tell me what is wrong with my Grandpa?'
"""MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT WITH THE PATIENT"""
'Alright,' Aaron thought, and made his way toward his grandpa's bed, gently taking his hand in his own.
"""ANALYZING..."""
After 1 minute.
"""ANALYZING COMPLETED. PROBLEM FOUND"""
"""THE CAUSE IS A CURSE. INTENSIFYING ON THE INSIDE. ON THE OUTSIDE THE PATIENT APPEARS NORMAL, BUT CURSES ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER DISEASES. THEY WORK FROM WITHIN."""
"""#####WARNING#####"""
"""PATIENT HAS 4 YEARS LEFT TO LIVE."""
Aaron became devastated. He was stunned by the sudden change in the situation. Still holding his grandpa's hand, he sank deep into his own thoughts. Five minutes passed without him saying a single word or moving an inch.
Everyone present in the room noticed his stillness. Assuming he was overwhelmed with worry for his grandpa, they gathered around him, each trying their own way to lift his spirits. Emy gently rubbed his back, Lucy tugged at his sleeve, Jenny gave him an encouraging smile, and Charlotte, his grandma, softly stroked his hair with a warm and reassuring touch.
It was their combined effort that finally pulled Aaron out of his own world.
He blinked and looked around at the faces staring at him with concern.
"Hm, I understand," Aaron replied with a small smile.
But what Aaron was truly thinking was how to gather System coins as fast as he could.
After the whole situation settled, everyone returned to their respective tasks. Aaron's mom, aunt, and grandma made their way to the throne room. After his grandpa had fallen ill, these three had taken on the responsibility of handling all the affairs of the Elfin Empire.
Lucy went to take a nap. She was still the same sweet lover, sleepyhead, she had always been.
Aaron returned to his room and sat on the edge of his bed, his mind already working. He needed a plan, a way to gather System coins as fast as possible.
"Should I just take all the gold from the Elfin Kingdom treasury? Hehehe."
"No, no, that's a bad idea."
'If I told everyone that I need the gold to heal Grandpa, first they would not believe me, and I would have to reveal my secret of having a System, which is not a good decision. And if the person who cursed Grandpa somehow came to know that I was the one trying to heal him, I could be in serious danger, especially if they are more powerful than me.'
'There is another option: I could steal the gold, but that is not achievable either due to the tight security that no one has ever been able to challenge. And even if it were somehow possible, that gold is what keeps the kingdom running. Using it would only create more problems for Mom, Aunt, and Grandma, who are already struggling to manage everything on their own.'
'So stealing is out of the question. Then what?'
Aaron leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind restless.
'I need to find another way. A way that does not put Grandpa, the kingdom, or anyone I care about at risk.'
But no matter how hard he thought, the answer did not come easily.
###DING###
MISSION: DEFEAT BLISS
DURATION: 4 Years
REWARD: 2,500 SYSTEM COINS
DIFFICULTY: A
#######
"What the hell is this?"
Aaron was surprised to see the sudden mission given by the System with no explanation whatsoever.
'Who is this Bliss? System, can you tell me more about this mission?'
###HOST MUST COMPLETE THE MISSION ON THEIR OWN###
BUT HERE IS SOME INFO:
BLISS IS A DEMON GENERAL WHO DIED IN THE WAR 10,000 YEARS AGO. SOMEONE ABSORBED HIS SOUL STONE, AND BLISS REGAINED HIS CONSCIOUSNESS.
"His location?" Aaron asked.
###ATLANTA, THE HUMAN KINGDOM###
NOW THE HOST IS ON THEIR OWN.
'Great, now I have to solve yet another mystery on my own. This Bliss guy sounds seriously powerful. The System has allowed me 4 years to complete this mission.' Aaron thought, rubbing the back of his neck.
'I did not think I would have to travel to the Human Kingdom so soon.'
Suddenly Aaron's eyes landed on the reward, and his expression entirely changed.
"Damn, 2,500 System coins! Thank you, System!" he said with a grin.
'Now all I need is 5,000 coins in total, and I can buy the Advanced Curse Cure Potion from the System shop. One mission down, and half the problem is already solved.'
"Thank you, System," he said again, this time more softly.
###YOU'RE WELCOME###
During lunch, the whole family gathered around the table. The atmosphere was calm, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery and the occasional exchange of light conversation.
Aaron had been quiet for most of it, his mind still occupied with the mission. He waited for the right moment before casually mentioning it.
"Hey Mom, have you ever heard of someone called Bliss?"
Emy looked up from her plate with a slight frown. "Bliss? That name does not ring a bell. Why do you ask?"
"I just came across the name somewhere. Thought it sounded interesting," Aaron replied, keeping his tone as casual as possible.
Jenny, who had been listening, also shook her head. "I have heard plenty of names over the years, but Bliss is not one I recognize. Where exactly did you come across it?"
"Just something I read," Aaron said with a shrug.
Lucy, who had been quietly eating her food with her usual sleepy expression, suddenly perked up. "Bliss? That is such a pretty name. Is it a girl?" she asked, tilting her head with curiosity.
Aaron nearly choked on his food. "No Lucy, it is definitely not a girl."
"Then who is it? A friend you made?" Lucy pressed, now fully awake and interested, which was quite rare during meal times.
"No no, just a name I read in an old book," Aaron said, waving his hand dismissively.
Emy and Jenny exchanged a look before Emy turned to her mother. "Mom, do you know anything about someone called Bliss?"
Charlotte, who had been eating quietly, paused. She slowly set down her spoon and looked at Aaron with an unreadable expression.
"Where did you hear that name?" she asked, her voice noticeably quieter than usual.
The table went silent.