Chapter 9: Your food tastes like mud
Everyone standing at that spot stood motionless as Sage said those words. However, the only person who seemed not to be surprised was Keith's father. Instead of producing an outrageous and disappointed grimace, Ryder smiled and placed his right hand upon Keith's left shoulder.
"You don't have to be down on yourself boy... Instead, blame the heavens for cursing our innocent soul," Keith's father said with a comforting smile and turned to Max. "We aren't to be blamed for the misery we are facing, instead, we should be proud of ourselves for not staying down after a fall."
All eyes were fixed on Ryder as he spoke wholeheartedly, though sad.
"Being a Commoner is never and would not be a death sentence. We would work with our might and serve the Blue Planet with all we got, even if it wasn't recognized," Ryder returned his gaze to Keith, "so Keith, don't look down on yourself. Instead, use that diligent influence of yours to serve the human race."
Keith hesitated a bit and nodded.
"Keith, I knew that this day would come... I knew you wouldn't be able to defeat the curse just like us... It's so overwhelming and no one could confront it. Of course, nothing, nothing at all can erase what the heavens has bestowed," Greg said with despair. This urge to cry out loud kept lingering in him.
Keith sensed the sorrowful scene and tried to stop the shit from happening further. He was surprised to see Max, who was very strict, stone-hearted, and distasteful, sobbing. His tears were the weirdest of all if Keith could clarify.
"Stop sobbing! Just stop," Keith yelled. "Let's not cry over this... We would absolutely get to the root of this. Why did the heavens curse our clan? Why?"
"We just have to move on with our miserable life until brother Leo gets married. Then we can help his first child awaken his talent," Keith added.
"What the hell are you saying, Keith... Who is going to marry anyone from us uh? We are weak, miserable, and needy! No one in their right senses would marry a Rotundan!" Max said.
"Then let those in their wrong senses marry us then," Keith said with a smile.
"Tsk! You can't just stop being a joker Keith," Max said, a slight smile appearing on his face as he wiped off the tears that gathered around his eyes.
However, Brother Leo, the first son of the senior Rotunda sons wasn't in their midst at that moment. Keith was sure that Brother Leo was going to laugh uncontrollably if he had heard Keith say those words. But even though his words sounded quite impossible, Keith just believed.
Actually, now, he believes that everything is possible since he got the Immortal Mage System. He wondered how delighted his family would be when they noticed. But for now, since Sage has ruined the day, Keith was just going to keep his mouth shut and save the good news for another day.
"Let's go have dinner in the general dining, I prepared something great," Sage who had stood without letting out a word for a while said with a smile.
"Huh? You prepared something?" Max said and glanced at everyone around, "You and I know that Sage is a bad cook... Her food tastes like mud."
"Yeah, exactly. Sage cooks shit," Greg added, a teasing smile on his cheek.
Sage frowned, angry.
Truly, Sage had always been a bad cook and she couldn't say a word to defend herself. But that doesn't mean that she would remain a bad cook right? She looked at Max and Greg with distaste, this wasn't a new thing to her though. Especially Max, they had teased her countless times when they were still in the fort.
This time around, Sage wasn't going to let that repeat itself. She was mad at that moment, but only Keith's words calmed her boiling heart and made her still.
"Not anymore, Sage is a great cook now. I can testify that she is great. Sometimes, I wonder if she is a Gold-rank Cook. But unfortunately, a cooking talent doesn't exist," Keith said, smiling.
"Whatever, let's see what she has to offer. Gold-rank Cook my ass," Max cursed with a bitter smile. His strict acts kept showing off.
Sage looked at him with anger as he walked past her and headed towards the general dining. Greg followed and Keith's father and Sage's father who had been watching their silly kids, made their way to the general dining as well.
Sage and Keith stayed back and watched as they approached the dining. After standing for a while, Keith decided to break the silence.
"Why didn't you just let me respond? You are so annoying Sage!"
"What? Was anything going to change if you had answered? You are Talentless for real and that's it. Just don't keep dreaming of being an Awakened... You won't," Sage said.
Keith chuckled.
"Sage, I'm not Talentless... I'm not! Don't call me that again!" Keith yelled.
"You are! Don't try fooling yourself. Instead, accept your fate and be strong for yourself. Fooling around isn't the best idea, Keith."
Sage advised. Truth be told, she was on the verge of punching Keith in the face.
'How I wish I could create a string of thunder right now, it should have proved you wrong. But it would only spoil the fun and surprises. I want the whole Blue Planet to watch me do magic on the Posting Day... That day when they would anticipate me being posted as a laborer in the fields.'
Keith thought.
Sage stared at Keith for a moment, hissed, and walked away.
"Tsk! You female jerk... How about I tell your father that fever turns you on," Keith threatened, though, she had walked quite far and didn't hear what he said.
She could and pleaded for him to shut his mouth, Keith knew.
Keith sighed, holding his waist with both hands and attempted to head to the general dining. Just as he tried to make his first step, the system popped up in front of him.
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[New mission alert!]
— Kill 10 Tier-0 monsters.
Reason: Soul Fragment rise.
Reward: 700pts & 1Tk.
— Get a sexy female servant after the Postings.
Reason: Home assistance & Sexual urge satisfaction.
Reward: 1Tk.
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"Huh?! What did you just say?!"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone