The moon hung high over the village, spilling silvery light across the thatched roofs and narrow dirt paths. A cool night breeze brushed against Ren's face as he walked home, the faint clink of bronze coins in his pouch a rhythmic reminder of today's effort. His shoulders were light, his heart even lighter. For the first time in what felt like years, there was no gnawing uncertainty clawing at his mind—just quiet satisfaction.
When the small hut came into view, he saw faint candlelight flickering through the patched window. The door creaked open before he could reach it.
"Big Brother!"
Little Lani ran out barefoot, her small arms wrapping around his leg before he could react. Her hair was a tangled mess, her eyes wide and shining. Behind her came Mira, holding the candle carefully, while Toma and Elri peeked from behind her shoulders.
"You're back early!" Mira said softly, though relief colored every word.
Ren smiled, ruffling Lani's hair. "I told you I'd be back before nightfall, didn't I?"
He stepped inside, the familiar scent of warm air and wood filling his lungs. The siblings had tried their best to keep the place neat—Toma had arranged the small corner bedrolls, Elri had folded the extra cloths, and Mira had set aside a little pot of thin stew. It wasn't much, but it was home.
Ren set down his pack, pulling out some of the food he'd bought and a few tools."Alright," he said with a grin. "Tomorrow, we'll finish reinforcing the roof, but tonight…" He laid out the small portion of boar meat and salt. "We eat properly."
Their eyes went wide as the smell of cooked meat began to fill the hut. Even the quiet Finn and Rye, who usually stayed close to each other, looked up eagerly. When the meal was done, they all gathered around the low wooden table, eating slowly as if afraid it might vanish.
For a moment, there was laughter—real, warm laughter.
When they had eaten, Ren reached into his pouch and took out a small, faintly glowing crystal, the Faint Magic Core. Its gentle bluish hue shimmered softly in the candlelight.
"What's that, brother?" Nia asked, tilting her head.
Ren smiled, threading a thin string through it and hanging it from one of the roof beams where the glow could spread through the room."It's just a decoration," he said lightly. "It'll keep the house bright at night and make the air feel a bit warmer."
The younger ones clapped softly, marveling at the floating light. But as Ren looked up at the dimly pulsing core, he knew better.
[Passive Effect Detected: Faint Magic Core (Shared Exposure)]
Effect: Slightly increases natural mana attunement and vitality growth of nearby individuals.
Even the smallest fragment of power could nurture his siblings in ways they couldn't yet understand. He didn't need them to know the truth—not yet. The world outside was still cruel, filled with things that could crush children who had only just learned to smile again.
He'd let them laugh, sleep, and dream for now.
When the little ones finally drifted off, Mira stayed awake beside him, her gaze lingering on the glowing crystal."Brother," she whispered, "do you think we can stay like this? Peaceful?"
Ren was silent for a long time. The night outside whispered through the cracks in the hut, but the faint hum of mana made the air feel warmer—almost protective.
He smiled faintly and answered,"As long as I can swing my blade and bring food home… yes, we'll have peace."
Her eyes softened, and she nodded before curling up beside the others.
Ren stepped outside for a moment, looking toward the forest beyond the hill. Somewhere out there, the Brother Mission Tracker pulsed faintly in his vision, invisible to the rest of the world.
[Brother Mission Tracker: "Family Sustenance" (Passive Quest Chain) Activated.]
Objective: Maintain the household's stability for seven continuous days.
Progress: 1 / 7
Reward: ???
The system shimmered faintly before fading from view.
Ren exhaled deeply. "One day at a time," he murmured, eyes fixed on the distant tree line. "Until they can stand without me."
He returned inside, the gentle glow of the hanging core reflecting in his eyes—faint, humble, but steadfast. Just like him.
And that night, for the first time since his rebirth in this world, Ren slept without fear.
Morning came softly. The sunlight filtered through the patched roof, painting thin golden lines across the faces of the sleeping children. Ren stretched quietly, the faint ache in his arms reminding him of yesterday's work. The soft blue glow of the magic core still shimmered gently above, like a guardian light watching over them all.
He glanced once more at his siblings, tucked close together under the woven blankets, before standing and stepping outside.
"Alright," he murmured. "Time to keep this rhythm going."
Today's goal was simple — two quests again. Herb gathering and a small hunt if possible. Routine. Predictable. Safe.
The Adventurer's Guild was alive with movement as always. Hunters with mud-caked boots chatted near the counter, and the faint scent of roasted bread mixed with steel oil filled the air.
Ren walked up to the quest board. Kara was behind the counter again, sorting mission slips. She looked up with a faint smile."Back already, Ren? Didn't even rest a full day?"
He returned her smile politely. "I have mouths to feed. Rest will come when they're full."
Kara's eyes softened briefly, and she handed him two papers.
[Quest: Herb Gathering (Common)]
Objective: Collect 15 bundles of common herbs and deliver by sundown.
Reward: 20 bronze coins.
[Quest: General Supply Hunt (Common)]
Objective: Gather any usable resources from the forest—meat, hide, or materials.
Reward: 15 bronze coins + bonus for quality goods.
"Same as yesterday," Kara said. "You're getting a reputation for consistency. Keep that up and maybe we'll see you in bronze rank soon."
Ren chuckled faintly. "Not yet. I like being invisible for now."
He signed his name on the register and set off, hand resting lightly on the leather strap of his newly bought satchel.
By midday, sunlight broke through the canopy in golden patches. Ren crouched near a bush, his hands moving deftly through the greenery. His Forestry skill had sharpened noticeably—each movement felt more instinctive, more precise.
He whispered under his breath,"Forestry—analyze flora."
A faint shimmer passed over his vision as small glyphs appeared beside each plant.
[Common Herb – Basic Medicinal Ingredient]
[Bitterleaf – Neutralizer for low-grade toxins]
[Silverroot – Rare Medicinal Herb – Market Price: High]
Ren's eyes widened slightly. Silverroot was among the rarer herbs—something even basic healers paid extra for. He worked with deliberate care, trimming roots and leaves without damaging their structure.
Hours passed as he moved through the forest's inner edge, collecting herbs, fruits, and usable bark. He even managed to spot a wounded hare caught in old vines—ending its suffering swiftly and salvaging the meat and pelt.
[Forestry Skill Used 82 times]
[Skill EXP +142]
[Skill: Forestry has leveled up → Lv.6]
A faint hum traveled up his arm, energy surging subtly through his body. His sense of smell sharpened, and even distant rustles in the grass became clearer.
[Forestry Lv.6 Effect: Enhanced Flora Detection Radius +5m | Herb Quality Appraisal Added | Gathering Efficiency +15%]
Ren exhaled slowly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "That'll help."
By the time the sun dipped lower, his satchels were filled — one with herbs, another with roots and edibles, and the last with pelts neatly bundled using leaf cords.
The familiar chatter greeted him again as he stepped through the wooden doors. Kara was still there, though her posture was more relaxed now, sipping from a mug.
"Back before dusk again?" she asked with a small smirk.
"Deadlines make people sharper," Ren replied, placing down his collections. "Here — the requested herbs and a few extra bundles of Silverroot."
Kara's eyes widened slightly. "Silverroot? That's high-demand stock."
She checked through the bundles meticulously before stamping the quest forms.
[Quest Completed: Herb Gathering][Reward: 20 Bronze Coins + 5 Bonus Coins (Quality Herbs)]
Ren also placed a small sack of meat and hide on the counter. "From the hunt mission. The pelt's clean, no tears."
[Quest Completed: General Supply Hunt][Reward: 15 Bronze Coins + 5 Bonus Coins (Material Quality)]
Kara handed him the pouch of coins with a faint approving nod."Efficient as always. You know… you might just outpace half the bronze-ranks at this rate."
Ren smiled softly. "Efficiency is all I have for now."
System Notification
As he turned to leave, the faint blue light flickered before his eyes—an unmistakable Brother System activation glow.
[Brother Mission Tracker – Quest Synchronization Detected][Linked Quests: 2 (Herb Gathering, Supply Hunt)][Auto Evaluation Complete]
Results:
Completion Efficiency: 91%
Resource Optimization: Excellent
Safety Rating: Optimal
Evaluation Rank: S
Rewards Granted:
Skill Upgrade Token (+1 Level to any skill of choice)
Passive Trait Unlocked: Field Adaptation (Basic)
Effect: Slightly reduces stamina consumption during prolonged outdoor activity.
Ren's eyes widened slightly at the interface before it faded. "So… it wasn't just monitoring me."
He clenched his fist subtly, feeling the faint hum of strength travel through his limbs. The system wasn't giving him easy power—it was watching, rewarding effort, learning from him as much as he was from it.
[Current Skill Status Updated:]
Forestry Lv.6 (→ 6.5 progress)
Skinning Lv.2
Tracking Lv.1
He used the Skill Upgrade Token immediately—channeling it into Forestry.
[Skill Upgrade Token Used]
[Forestry has leveled up → Lv.7]
New Effect: Enables low-grade wood shaping and structural insight during construction.
Ren smiled faintly. "This… will help at home."
He placed his reward coins into his satchel and left the guild hall quietly, stepping into the cool evening wind.
As Ren made his way back to the small hut on the edge of the village, he could already see the faint light of the magic core glowing from within. His siblings were waiting again—faces eager, hearts hopeful.
He took a deep breath, smiled softly, and whispered to himself,"Tomorrow… we build higher."