Chapter 58: Back

After returning to his room, Ryan placed the Moonlight Spirit Flower inside his spatial storage before making sure everything else was in order.

He had spent quite some time at the auction, and there were still several things he wanted to take care of.

However, rather than immediately getting started, he decided to return home for a while.

He walked into the small garden behind his accommodation and opened his Tower System.

After selecting the option to leave the Tower, a faint light enveloped his body.

The next moment, his surroundings changed, and he appeared right outside his family home.

Ryan looked at the familiar building.

It hadn’t been that long since his last visit, but he still felt somewhat relieved to be back.

Unlike the busy streets of the second floor, everything here was considerably more peaceful.

He walked toward the entrance and opened the door.

As soon as he stepped inside, he noticed someone sitting in the living room.

It was his mother.

She was sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea in her hand. Upon noticing him, her expression immediately brightened.

"Oh, Ryan! You’re back."

She placed her cup on the table.

"How was your day?"

Ryan walked over and sat down on the opposite sofa.

"Pretty good."

His mother looked at him curiously.

"Did you manage to accomplish what you wanted?"

Ryan nodded.

"Yeah. I defeated the Guardian and have officially reached the second floor."

His mother blinked.

For a moment, she simply looked at him before a small smile appeared on her face.

"Well, that’s good. Although, considering everything we’ve given you, I would have been more surprised if you had failed."

Ryan chuckled.

"That’s true."

His mother shook her head.

"Anyway, I just finished preparing lunch. It’s still warm, so you should go and eat before it gets cold."

Ryan nodded.

"Okay."

He stood up and headed toward the dining room.

His mother followed him a moment later.

The dining table was already prepared, with several dishes arranged neatly across it.

Ryan took a seat and glanced at the food.

"Looks good."

"Of course. I made your favorites."

She placed another dish on the table before sitting opposite him.

Ryan picked up his chopsticks and began eating.

For a while, neither of them said much. His mother simply watched him eat, occasionally asking whether he wanted more of something.

After a few minutes, she finally spoke.

"By the way, have you decided what you’re going to do now that you’ve reached the second floor?"

Ryan swallowed his food before answering.

"Not really. I’ll probably spend some time exploring the place and gathering a few things I need."

"Are there any difficulties?"

"Nothing particularly troublesome."

His mother nodded.

"That’s good. Still, don’t become too careless just because you’ve managed to clear the first floor."

"I know."

She gave him a knowing look.

"Your father was just like that when he was younger. He would always say everything was fine, only to return home with another problem."

Ryan smiled slightly.

"I’ll try not to give you the same trouble."

"That’s what I hope."

She picked up her cup of tea.

"By the way, your father should wake up soon. He’ll probably want to hear about your progress himself."

Ryan nodded.

"Then I’ll talk to him later."

He continued eating, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.

"I’ll try to reach the fifth floor as quickly as possible so that we can explore the Tower together," he said.

His mother nodded.

"Just take things at your own pace. Unlike us, you don’t have anyone to rely on."

Ryan nodded in understanding.

He knew what she meant.

Both his parents had reached the fifth floor relatively quickly when they were younger. However, they hadn’t accomplished it entirely on their own.

Back then, they had been approached by a company that offered to help them progress through the Tower.

The company provided resources, information, equipment, and even experienced adventurers to assist them in clearing the floors.

In exchange, they had to sign a contract and work for the organization.

It was a fairly common arrangement for newly awakened individuals who possessed decent potential or useful classes just like his mom and dad, a healer and a farmer but lacked the strength or resources to progress independently.

With the company’s assistance, even people with relatively low levels could gradually reach the fifth floor.

Of course, such arrangements came with their own restrictions.

After all, no organization would invest its resources without expecting something in return.

Ryan, on the other hand, had chosen a completely different path.

He had no intention of signing a contract with any organization, nor did he want to become dependent on someone else’s resources.

If he wanted to reach the fifth floor, he would have to accomplish it through his own efforts.

His mother seemed to understand his thoughts.

"Your father and I were fortunate enough to receive help when we were younger. We had people guiding us, and the company provided most of the resources we needed."

She paused before continuing.

"But your situation is different. You want to progress independently, and that means you’ll have to be more careful about the decisions you make."

"I know. Don’t worry too much."

Ryan took another bite of food.

His mother sighed.

"I’m not saying you should stop trying. I just don’t want you to rush into something dangerous because you’re eager to reach the higher floors."

Ryan smiled.

"I’ll keep that in mind."

She looked at him for a moment before nodding.

"Good. Your father and I don’t mind waiting a little longer. Reaching the fifth floor isn’t worth putting yourself in unnecessary danger."

Ryan didn’t argue.

He understood that his parents were worried about him.

However, he also had his own reasons for wanting to progress quickly.

The Tower contained countless opportunities, and the higher he climbed, the more resources and discoveries he would have access to.

Besides, he had already established a considerable advantage over ordinary adventurers.

There was no reason to waste it.

After finishing his meal, Ryan placed his chopsticks aside.

"By the way, where’s Dad? Is he still resting?"

His mother nodded.

"He’s in his room. He should be awake by now."

"I’ll go see him."

"Alright. But don’t keep him talking for too long. He still needs proper rest."

Ryan stood up.

"Got it."

He left the dining room and headed toward his father’s bedroom.

After knocking twice, he heard a familiar voice from inside.

"Come in."

Ryan opened the door.

His father was sitting on the bed, reading something on his tablet.

Upon noticing Ryan, he put the device aside.

"Oh, you’re back."

Ryan nodded.

"Yeah. I just finished having lunch with Mom."

His father looked at him for a moment.

"Your mother told me you managed to clear the Guardian and reach the second floor."

"That’s right."

A faint smile appeared on his father’s face.

"Not bad. You’ve progressed faster than I expected."

Ryan pulled a chair closer to the bed and sat down.

His father examined him briefly before speaking again.

"So, how is the second floor? Have you found a suitable place to stay?"

"Yeah. I’ve already settled in."

"Good. And what about the people there? Have you encountered any troublesome organizations?"

Ryan chuckled.

"Nothing particularly serious. Although, there are certainly plenty of organizations trying to recruit newcomers."

His father nodded.

"That’s to be expected. The higher you climb, the more valuable your strength becomes. Many organizations are constantly searching for talented adventurers."

He paused before adding.

"Just remember what your mother said. You don’t have to rush. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask us."

Ryan nodded.

"I will."

His father leaned back against the headboard.

"Anyway, tell me about your journey. I’m curious to know how you managed to clear the first floor so quickly."

Ryan smiled.

"Well, that’s a somewhat long story."