Wooshhh!
I stood under the cold shower, motionless. My remaining exhaustion was vanishing, but it didn't improve my mood.
"I have returned." I muttered, my mind a mess.
When my mother caught my hand and I felt her familiar touch, I knew I wasn't dreaming—I had indeed returned to the Earth.
I was feeling really conflicted at the moment.
On one hand, I was feeling relieved about the fact that I hadn't lost my family and friends forever and on the other hand, I was feeling this strange sense of emptiness and aimlessness.
While that world was filled with danger and even with the system, I could die at any moment, it was way too exciting compared to the mundane Earth. More importantly, I could become stronger there.
When I was in high school, while surfing the internet, I had a line that said 'men loved power and could do anything for it'. At that time, I had just read it—didn't understand its meaning and continued surfing, but now… I finally understood what it meant.
In that world, I had felt myself becoming stronger, killed the beasts that could frighten ordinary people to death and beat the hunter trio, claiming my place in the village. All of it was very… intoxicating and I wanted to feel more of it.
But now… I could no longer.
"Weren't the systems supposed to be bonded with the hosts' souls? Why did it not come back with me?" I murmured, confused and more disappointed.
After my mother left the room after waking me up, and I had accepted the reality that I was back, I tried to summon the system screen, but it didn't respond at all.
…
After getting dressed, I went downstairs. When I saw my father, my younger brother and sister sitting around the dining table talking and laughing, much of my gloom vanished.
Deciding not to think too much about that world and the system as it would change nothing, I put on a smile and walked over, "Good morning, Dad, little monkeys."
"Finally woke up, huh?" My father gave me a dissatisfied look. In response, I just smiled, "Yeah. Slept in a little."
"Heh. If you use phone till so late, of course you would sleep in." My younger brother, Dave, said and I could see a frown forming on my father's face.
I shot younger sister, Emily, a look, who looked at Dave and asked, "Oh, you saw him use the phone?"
"No, but…"
"If you haven't seen it, you shouldn't say it. What he got scolded by mom and what because of it, hm?" Emily scolded, a serious expression on her cute face which made her look very adorable.
Dave glared at her and shouted, "Then why did he wake up late?"
"Maybe he was studying?" said Emily and shrugged.
"Heh, you are saying whatever just to defend him." Dave sneered, "Everyone knows he doesn't like to study."
My father glanced at me and I just shrugged. Sighing in exasperation, he glanced at the bickering duo and said, "Alright, you two. Stop arguing. Just finish your breakfast and go. Your school bus is about to arrive."
"Hmph!" Dave snorted softly and focused on eating. Emily did the same after giving me a look that said I owe her one.
My father then looked at me, "You sit and eat, and stop using phone at night."
"Okay, dad." I nodded and took my seat.
Soon, my mom came from the kitchen with my and her breakfast and sat down with us.
"So, how is college? Made any friends yet?" My father asked after my mother gave him a discreet look.
"Not bad. It's a fun place and I have made a friend, Duante. He is from the African continent, quite a chill guy." I briefly explained.
"That's good." My father nodded before saying with a serious look on his face, "You know, the newcomers are usually bullied in the colleges. If someone gives you a hard time, file a complaint with your disciplinary office. Don't try to endure it, alright?"
I let out an inward sigh because I realized my mother had somehow gotten an inkling that I had been having a hard time in college.
"Yeah. Don't worry about it, Dad, Mom." I smiled.
"Mm." My father nodded and soon finished eating. Then, like he always did, he walked over and sat on the sofa and switched on the TV.
My mother sighed.
Immediately, a news anchor's voice echoed.
"...Federation has been heavily investing in the World Space Agency. Some sources say the Agency has found a way to make a cheap but highly effective rocket fuel and soon even ordinary citizens will be able to go to space and witness the vastness of the cosmos."
"....addiontally, some sources say that after Silverstein and Blackrock, Micah Industries have started building a 7-star hotel on moon and it will soon be open to public."
"...There is news that rebel activities have seen a rise in recent days in the southern American continent and Yellow Sea region. The Federation has announced that if the rebels surrenders, they will only have to serve some prison sentence in punishment before they will be released and properly settled."
"Tsk!" My father clicked his tongue, "What's wrong with these people? They keep clamouring for freedom from the Federation and establish their own country. Have they forgotten what kind of life we have been living when the world was divided into over 200 countries?
War, diseases, lack of education and poverty was rampant. Now everyone is living in peace and but… tsk. The Federation should quickly take care of them."
I chuckled in amusement. Though I had only been gone for around a day, it felt like ages, so hearing his rant to the news again felt good.
"How many times have I told you not to start the TV before the children have left for school? Your constant rantings are headache inducing. How will they focus on studying with a headache?"
My Mother scolded and my father immediately lowered the TV's sound and stopped speaking, "Okay, okay. I'll keep quiet, alright?"
"Hehe, let daddy watch his news mom. Otherwise he will be all cranky all day." Emily giggled and stood up.
She then glanced at Dave and scolded, "Just how slow can you eat? Finish it quickly. We need to leave. The bus is almost here."
"Jeez, there's still five minutes. Let me eat in peace." Dave grunted, annoyed.
Soon, he finished and they left the house after bidding us farewell.
"I'm also leaving. Bye, Mom, Dad. See you in the evening." I said after finishing my breakfast and walked out of the house with my backpack.
"Be careful on the way." I heard my mother's voice from behind.