"Are you that afraid of them? They're still your parents after all."

The brown-haired teen glanced at me, seemingly puzzled.

"Isn't that stating the obvious? Didn't you hear what my dad said earlier?"

I glared at him, idly asking during our wait for my parents to pass.

"What are your parents like then?"

This guy lectured with such conviction - could he treat his own parents the same way?

"My parents..." The teen seemed pensive upon hearing this. After a long silence gazing at the sky, he finally replied, "Of course, not every family is like yours. My mother is an extremely gentle yet strict person. Her sword skills are formidable - she once hoped I would inherit her legacy. But I only enjoyed archery, and after firmly insisting, she eventually agreed and even found me an excellent archery teacher."

Sword skills? Archery?

It sounded rather peculiar. Do people still study such things nowadays? Considering his impressive prowess though, and certain renowned martial arts families in some Asian countries, could he actually be a supposed descendant of warriors? Did I really chance upon one?

"As for my father, he's a complete workaholic!"

The brown-haired teen continued reminiscing, unaware of my thoughts.

"He's rarely home due to work obligations requiring him to travel frequently. So every chance to reunite becomes incredibly precious to me. But I understand him - he doesn't toil just for himself. It's just a pity..."

I couldn't help feeling envious hearing about his seemingly blissful family life, subconsciously recalling Cyrus's family.

"So what happened to your father later?"

Noticing his dejected expression, I quickly asked.

"It's nothing!"

But instead of answering, he questioned me in return.

"Have you decided how to face them? Or will you really keep wandering out here instead of going home?"

"Of course not..."

Watching my parents' figures pass by, I suddenly had a bold idea! There didn't seem to be anyone home now, right? If I snuck back while they were out, they might not even know! Usually when I run away, I only return late at night with nowhere else to go.

Sleeping under the bed would be far better than aimlessly wandering outside all night. As for what happens after, I couldn't dwell on that now.

"You should go find your Feliciana!"

No sooner had I thought it than done - I blurted those words before swiftly dashing towards home.

But when I reached downstairs, panting hard under the familiar dim windows, I realized that guy had been tailing me the entire way, unhurriedly keeping pace as if not tired at all. His stamina was too good!

"What do you want?"

Following me right to my home's doorstep was going too far. Did he really intend to stick to his idea of waiting outside to knock on the door?

"It's not that..."

The brown-haired teen opened his mouth but seemed unsure what to say. Then we heard a sudden *grumble* - was that his stomach growling?

"Since I helped shield you earlier, mind if I get something to eat?"

"Are you doing this on purpose?"

I glared at his shameless request in disdain. But eventually gave in with a reluctant nod. My parents likely wouldn't return so soon, and we probably had leftovers.

"I guess it's fine, but you can't stay inside too long. Just eat by the door then leave immediately!"

"So this is your home?"

As I unlocked the door, the bright lights illuminating the entrance prompted the teen to shade his eyes and ask.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"What sorcery is this?"

I rolled my eyes without answering, heading to the kitchen to scoop out the leftover sour fish soup for him.

"Just this little bit left, but there's still meat so the food is decent, right?"

To be honest, there was a bit too much vinegar, making it excessively sour. I was supposed to toss it after getting scolded by Mom. She likely wouldn't notice if it got fully eaten.

"This flavor..."

But after one taste, the teen suddenly froze, then downed the entire bowl soup and all in one go.

"Aren't you gonna find it salty?"

I blinked in surprise. I thought he might not stomach it, so I'd prepared to get some plain rice. Yet he drained it instantly - foreigners really have unique tastes!

"Like I mentioned, I'm looking for someone."

The brown-haired teen vigorously wiped his eyes with his arm, not answering my question as he bowed his head and said, "Turns out I already found her..."

"That's great then!"

I paused, baffled. If he knew, why come scrounge food from me? Just as I wondered if he wanted another bowl, I inadvertently glimpsed two familiar figures outside - my parents had returned downstairs, leaving me drenched in cold sweat.

"They're coming back soon! No time, get out quick!"

To my shock, my parents returned sooner than expected. Thankfully I saw them first. Panicking, I flipped off the lights, opened the door and shoved the teen out.

"Your parents..."

Glancing down the stairwell, he opened his mouth as if to say something but obediently retreated upstairs at my urging.

Seemed he was smart enough to avoid descending into a disastrous encounter with my father!

"Oh right, I forgot to ask - what's your name again?"

At that crucial moment, I only just realized I'd been addressing him impersonally without actually knowing his name. But before he could respond, I heard my parents' familiar footsteps approaching from the stairwell and hastily shut the door.

I couldn't let them discover I'd been home! Within seconds, I wiped away all traces of our presence and hid in my room.

Yet surprisingly, my precautions seemed ineffective. Unexpectedly, my parents immediately noticed someone had been in the apartment. Without a word, they charged straight to the kitchen - I soon heard pot lids being lifted.

I silently cursed, wondering how they had found out so quickly.

"You brought an outsider home? We haven't settled the earlier matter yet!"

Sure enough, Dad instantly rushed over, shoving open my unlocked door to bellow furiously at me.

"I..."

Caught red-handed, my first instinct was again to flee. But the brown-haired teen's words echoed in my mind.

"I'm grown up now, I don't need this violent form of discipline!"

Pondering this, I lifted my head defiantly and voiced my thoughts aloud.

"Plus, I didn't do anything wrong today - I just accidentally broke a plate. I can get a job to pay it back!"

"You...you dare talk back!"

Standing behind Dad, Mom trembled with rage at my words, charging forward to slap me. But I had anticipated this, preparing mentally before speaking up.

"No! This isn't talking back, it's reason. I didn't say anything wrong!"

Firmly eating that slap, I refused to back down.

"You..."

Seeing my defiance, my parents reacted strangely, frozen as if stunned while staring at me uncertainly.

At that moment, an uncannily eerie voice rang out from above.

"Impossible, you never dared defy me. This scenario has played out thousands of times, yet you never rebelled! Why now?"

"What was that voice? Who's there?"

I gazed upwards in horror, but saw nothing except the ceiling. Bizarrely, my parents seemed oblivious, still unmoving.

"Feliciana!"

At that moment, the steel door was forcefully burst open as the brown-haired teen charged in, heading straight for me.

"It's Beluto!"

"This intruder must have taught you to defy us!"

My father suddenly snapped back to his senses, grabbing a nearby table and hurling it at the intruder.

What was going on?

I was completely disoriented. Was I seeing things? How could they both display superhuman abilities?

The brown-haired teen was one thing, but when did my father become strong enough to casually throw a table?

"They're not actually your parents! This is all an illusion created by Beluto to suppress your soul by preying on your inner fears!"

The teen swiftly dodged the flying table and shouted at me.

Beluto? Illusion? Soul?

Amidst the chaos, I seemed to vaguely grasp some vital clue, but couldn't quite put my finger on it - as if just one spark away from realization.

"You're utterly delusional! We're definitely his parents. Flynn will always be our obedient 'son'!"

Finally losing composure, my "mother" somehow produced a long sword, lunging straight at the brown-haired teen.

"No!"

Stunned, I tackled her arm to intervene, only to be backhanded away by my "father." As the sword neared the teen's chest, I instinctively cried out a name both familiar yet strange.

"Adrian!"

In an instant, it felt like the entire world froze - everyone's movements halted at the sound of my voice. Then an anguished roar echoed from all around, growing increasingly distant.

"What's...happening to me..."

As the scene before me dissipated like smoke, I gradually regained my senses to find my surroundings had completely transformed - no longer the apartment interior, but a vast open plaza.

With that boundless radiant sky overhead.