The Otaku's Odyssey: Reincarnated with a Grand System

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A Few Hours Later...

Astrid lay on the cold ground of the training field, chest rising and falling rhythmically as he stared blankly at the sky above the glowing magic barrier.

'What the hell… how does she still have this much energy?' he thought, eyes following the blur of white hair sprinting between two giant trees.

Sienna was dashing around like a hyper squirrel, a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Honestly... she's a monster," Astrid muttered.

"Astrid! Sienna! Playtime's over. It's time for Misha and Sienna to leave," Lia's voice called from the distance.

"Noooo!" Sienna clung to a tree, pouting like she'd just lost her candy stash. "I don't wanna go! I wanna keep playing with Astrid! I told him I will stay for two weeks. It's not fair!!"

Her mother, Misha, emerged with her bag slung over her shoulder. She marched up to the tree and—without mercy—grabbed Sienna by the ear.

"Owwww! Mom! Stop! I'm too young for this kind of abuse!"

"You're too dramatic for someone who just did forty laps around the trees," Misha replied, dragging her daughter with all the elegance of a seasoned warrior.

"Astrid, stand up and escort our guests properly," Lia said, stepping over his sprawled form like it was nothing.

"Ugh, fine," Astrid groaned. "It's not like I have a choice anyway—"

Freeze.

"What was that?" Lia asked, her voice smooth... too smooth.

Astrid felt a cold chill on the back of his neck. "N-Nothing! Coming, Mother!" he said with the mechanical speed of a desperate soldier dodging death.

The whole group made their way to the front gate. Orion, Astrid's father, approached from the side of the mansion, his face visibly twitching with rage.

"ASTRID!" he barked, veins pulsing. "So you think you can just skip training like that, huh?! Just know—next time, it's triple the pain!"

Astrid opened his mouth to protest, but no words came out. His soul had already evacuated his body.

That's when Sienna stepped in between them, arms crossed, eyes blazing.

"You!" she snapped. "Didn't I warn you last time, you big dumb brute?! I'm tired of your crap. You beat Astrid again, I'll wreck you!"

Silence.

The world stopped spinning. Even the birds paused mid-air.

Everyone turned to stare at the ten-year-old girl with murder in her eyes. Even Orion, one of the top Archon-ranked swordsmen in the world, blinked in shock.

The Adults slowly turned to look at Astrid's shocked face, his mouth wide open like a gaping black whole.

Astrid slowly turned his head toward the adults, a nervous smile on his lips. "I… I can explain?"

Lia narrowed her eyes. "Astrid. I told you to stop using foul language in front of Sienna. Now see what you've done to that sweet girl!"

Before he could reply, her fist descended like the wrath of the gods.

BONK!

"GAHHHHHHH!" Astrid hit the floor, twitching.

Meanwhile, the moms continued their goodbye chat like nothing happened.

"Thanks again for visiting, Misha," Lia said warmly.

"It's always a pleasure," Misha replied. "After all, we're practically family already."

"Sienna, say goodbye to Astrid," Misha added.

Sienna marched up to Astrid's unconscious body, still resting in Orion's arms like a corpse. She leaned in and gave his cheek a kiss.

"Don't forget, Mr. Archon Dad. If I hear Astrid got beat again, I'll deal with you myself," she said with absolute menace before walking away like a mob boss.

Orion's brow twitched violently as he looked down at his KO'd son.

'This is all your fault,' he thought. 'If you ever wake up, it's over for you.'

As Misha and Sienna's car drove off, Lia turned to Orion. "Remember, I'm taking Astrid to the mall when he wakes up."

"Sure, sure. Just don't take five hours like last time."

Lia pouted. "What do you take me for, one of the girls?"

Orion chuckled. "Nope. You're worse."

...

Three Hours Later...

Astrid opened his eyes to see the familiar ceiling of his room.

'Ugh… what happened?' he blinked. Then it came back to him. The punch. The kiss. The trauma.

'Damn you, Mom! Why am I always the punching bag in this household?! And why does Sienna say all the things I say—louder?!'

He got up, grumbling, and looked at his clothes. Torn. Dirty. Smelled like mud and regret.

'Guess I'm burning these too,' he muttered, tossing them into the fireplace like a man possessed.

After a long shower, he walked over to his wardrobe to grab something fresh… only to see a whole lot of nothing.

Empty.

"…You've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "Who the hell gave me the bright idea to burn my clothes after every training session?!"

He stared at the wardrobe, towel still around his waist.

'I have no clothes… and I have to go to the mall… Oh, no.'

He stormed downstairs. "MOM! WHEN ARE WE GOING TO THE MALL?!"

"In about two or three hours, dear—" Lia turned, froze, and then scowled. "—Why are you half-naked?"

He rubbed his neck awkwardly. "Funny story. I, uh… I burned all my clothes."

Lia's eyes widened in horror. "You what?! Who gave you that idea?!"

"I don't know!" Astrid puffed his cheeks in frustration.

She sighed deeply, massaging her temples. "Okay. Then we're going now."

"Wait, what?!" Astrid gasped. "I don't have any clothes! How am I supposed to go to the mall like this?!"

A sly grin spread across Lia's face.

"Oh, don't worry, sweetie. I have the perfect solution."

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