"I’m a reincarnator."
I declared. My heart was beating loudly and I’m extremely feeling nervous.
"I see... That’s why you’ve been avoiding us recently, huh."
Dad said that. I can’t see his face as I have my head lowered.
I’m anxious about how they will react.
I told them what happened last month—how I got reincarnated and forgot my life as ’Raven’ and just remembered my life as ’Cole’.
I briefly told them about my life in the past, my age, my job, and how I’m an orphan.
Of course, even though I forgot my life as ’Raven’, I’m still Raven. The system and Higher Being confirmed that to me.
I also told them that I recover my memories if I see, hear, or encounter something that can trigger them. That’s why I remember them and Nisha.
Actually, I could’ve just lived and died without telling them about my reincarnation... But there’s a weird feeling inside me that doesn’t want to lie to them. And that feeling is fucking strong.
’So whatever their reactions are, I will receive it without running away.’
Then I briefly glanced at Dad—he stood up from his chair.
’Well, here goes nothing...’
Tightly closing my eyes, I waited for what would happen next.
I felt a gentle touch on my left shoulder.
It’s warm, and no hostility can be felt from it.
Opening my eyes and looking up, I can see Dad looking down at me with a proud face.
"It must be hard for you to tell those things to us."
I frowned and hurriedly opened my mouth.
"What? Why? Don’t you guys feel betrayed? I lost a lot of my memories as ’Raven.’"
"But you’re still our son, Raven."
This time, Mom spoke. She has the same look on her face as Dad.
"As you said, you’re a reincarnator. Raven and you, Cole, are the same person—you guys are one soul. It’s not like you stole our son’s body. You just remembered your past life and forgot some memories in your current life. So what? You’re still our son."
"Actually, you did not change even a bit. It’s just like you matured a little, so we can tell that you’re our son. We can feel it."
I was about to rebut, but Dad cut my words off with his speech.
Hearing his voice again, I looked at him.
"We don’t care if you’re an alien, reincarnator, or a whatnot—for us, you’re still our son."
I tried asking the system to check if they’re lying, but everything they said was genuine based on its analysis.
(Raven doesn’t say it, but he developed a strong trust in the system after being with it since coming to this world.)
Knowing that Mom and Dad are genuinely accepting me... It made me feel a massive relief and happiness inside.
I felt warm and comforted.
But I didn’t show it on the outside.
I just smiled... I’m just smiling at them honestly.
"Thanks. This talk actually removed a heavy burden in my heart."
I muttered. It’s weird how they accepted it so smoothly, but I’m pretty weird myself too, so I guess we’re really family, huh?
"Anyway, your parents in the past were jerks, huh."
Dad said, trying to make the atmosphere around us lighter. And it actually worked.
"Heh, yeah. I didn’t even know if they were humans or dogs."
Dad went back to his seat with a smile.
"Don’t force yourself to remember everything immediately. Just take your time. We’ll help and wait for you."
I nodded my head, not knowing how to respond.
In the end, I just thanked them again. It looks like it’s the only thing I can say.
Being embarrassed after I calmed down, I immediately shifted my head to Mom and changed the topic.
"Anyway Mom, what do you mean that I’m a candidate?"
Mom then remembered what she was about to say earlier.
So she locked her eyes onto me and opened her mouth.
"It means that you are #@$-&%..?!#....."
But as Mom was saying the important part of her explanation, a coursing pain ran throughout my head and I couldn’t understand her next words!
I held my head tightly... It hurt so much!
I writhed in pain, making me fall to the floor. It felt like something or someone was squeezing my brain again and again!
"Raven! What’s wrong?!"
Mom and Dad ran beside me. They supported me up and laid me on the nearby sofa where they were sitting earlier.
The pain only lasted for about ten seconds, but it felt like minutes for me.
’I can’t even faint.’
I tried to cut off my consciousness to not feel the pain, but I was unsuccessful as the pain in my head prevented me from doing so.
Looking to my side, I can see Mom with a worried expression.
I sat up on the sofa and casually waved my hand.
I replied to ease her and Dad’s worries.
I’m not lying... The pain in my head disappeared like it didn’t even happen in the first place.
I racked my brain for seconds and faced Mom.
"Looks like something is preventing me from knowing the details connected to the candidate thing."
I said, as it’s the only reason I can think of that caused the sudden pain.
"Are you really okay?"
My dad then asked me again. He appeared to be calm, but I could tell he was worried.
"I’m fine. The pain magically disappeared."
I told them again, but their expressions didn’t change.
’They don’t believe me at all.’
It’s frustrating, but I have no energy to explain everything to them at the moment —so I just let them be.
"Anyway, I have to go back to the academy tomorrow... So we should relocate today."
Instead, I brought up the main topic that was nearly forgotten.
"But we don’t have a place to go to yet."
Mom mumbled with an awkward smile.
"Sorry son, we don’t have the money right now to buy a new house immediately."
Dad followed with a bitter smile.
Then a smirk appeared on my face. Shrugging my shoulders, I opened my mouth.
"There’s no need to worry about that. I already took care of the place you guys can stay at."
I casually announced.
"What are you talking about?"
Mom asked me in a rather confused tone.
I looked at her and Dad briefly before explaining.
"I already acquired a place we can relocate to. All we need to do is just pack and move there."
"How did you do that?"
Dad asked me in a serious tone, squinting his eyes at me.
Looking back at him, I picked an answer that’s believable and true.
"I’m earning a decent amount of money by being a novel author and having some shares in some good businesses."
I shrugged, suggesting that what I did is normal—though I know that it’s not.
"We can’t accept that."
Dad rejected my offer.
Though... I already expected this to happen.
"You should use your money for yourself. You earned it, and we have our pride as parents."
"Your dad is right, Raven."
Dad answered, and Mom supported his words.
Looking at the two them, I shook my head and opened my mouth.
"Though I don’t intend to damage your pride, I also don’t want you guys to be in danger because of it."
After pausing for some seconds, I spoke again.
"I should use the money I earned for myself? That’s bullshit. You guys used the money you earned for us—your kids. I’m just repaying you, Mom and Dad."
"Also, it’s my decision where and how to use the money I earned, based on what you guys said, right? Well, I chose to use some of it for Nisha, Mom, and Dad."
Looking at them, I let out a mischievous smile.
"Don’t worry, I have enough money for myself too."
At my words, the couple’s faces became complicated.
And with a serious look, I opened my mouth again.
"I want everyone in our family to be happy and safe... Please."
I sincerely pleaded, lowering my head a bit.
And after a while of silence...
I received a reply from Dad!
Lifting my head to look at Mom and him, I thanked them.
"No, we should be thanking you instead."
"We should pack immediately, right?"
Dad and Mom muttered.
"I have a spatial storage, so let me help pack."
"We’re truly blessed to have you as our son."
Then after she separated from me, she stood beside Dad and pointed at herself with her thumb.
"Now you can run wild and destroy that group you mentioned earlier."
She said. Then Dad opened his mouth.
"And if someone targets our family—"
The atmosphere around them then suddenly became grim...!
And it made me frown.
"We will destroy them personally."
As they declared that—chills ran through my spine!
The two of them are emitting a bizarre strong aura!
"So there’s no need to worry, Raven."
Dad patted me on the shoulder and left with Mom to pack things.
And as I watch them leave—
"System... Appraise their stats."
I opened my mouth and ordered that.
Then Mom’s and Dad’s status were displayed on a transparent screen that only I could see.
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My eyes widened as I stood still, motionlessly staring at the status of my parents in front of me.
I was beyond shocked and speechless. My mouth opened and closed many times, but I didn’t produce a single sound.
It took me seconds just to let out a few words.
[Seriously... What’s with this family?]
Then the system followed.