My Bugged System Made Me Too OP!-Chapter 21: Red mark

Morning came quietly.

Soft sunlight filtered through the window, casting pale gold streaks across the walls.

Noah stood in his room, fully dressed.

His academy uniform fit neatly against his frame.

The blue jacket sat firmly over his shoulders, structured but not stiff. Beneath it was a black and blue shirt, the fabric clean and pressed.

His black pants were simple yet well-fitted, giving him a sharper appearance than usual.

On the left side of his jacket rested the academy’s emblem.

A refined crest stitched in silver thread.

It shimmered faintly when the sunlight touched it.

He adjusted the collar slightly, smoothing it down.

Then he ran a hand through his silver hair.

The strands caught the light beautifully, falling back into place with natural elegance.

His hair framed his face neatly, giving him a striking appearance that he had never truly paid attention to before.

But today—

He noticed.

And he was smiling.

Not the forced smile he once wore to mask frustration.

This one was genuine, and filled with confidence he never knew he could have.

He looked down at himself for one final second, eyes steady.

’Hehe.’ he chuckled inwardly, before leaving his room.

The moment Noah stepped out of his room, a warm, sweet aroma drifted into his nose.

Within the aroma, he could smell potatoes... as well as a steaming stew.

The scent wrapped around him gently, rich and comforting.

It carried the familiar blend of simmered spices and soft vegetables, the kind that filled the small house every morning without fail.

For a brief second, he simply stood there, breathing it in.

It smelled like home.

He followed the scent toward the dining area and found his mother standing beside the small round table, adjusting a bowl at its center.

She turned at the sound of his footsteps.

Her eyes landed on him—

And widened slightly.

’He’s actually... smiling?!’ she thought.

Noah was not just smiling.

He was practically beaming wifi light and confidence.

It was such a stark contrast to the quiet, withdrawn boy she had grown used to seeing each morning.

She tried to remember the last time she had seen him like this.

She couldn’t.

Usually, whenever he prepared for the academy, there was a faint shadow on his face. His lips were pressed thin. His eyes avoided hers.

Even when he tried to reassure her, his expression betrayed how much he disliked going.

Especially on training days.

Especially when rankings were discussed.

But today—

There was none of that.

He looked... happy.

A gentle smile spread across her face.

’I thought something might be wrong with him yesterday... but to see him smiling like this isn’t so bad also...’ she mumbled inwardly.

"Good morning, mom," Noah said naturally, his voice steady and bright.

"Good morning," she replied softly, still observing him carefully.

He turned his attention toward the food laid out on the dining table.

Their dining area was simple.

The table itself was small and round, barely wide enough to hold a few bowls at once. It stood low to the ground, and there were no chairs surrounding it.

There never had been.

They usually sat on the floor around it to eat.

The wooden surface bore faint scratches from years of use, but it was clean. A bowl of potatoes soaked in thick red stew rested at the center, steam rising gently into the air.

Noah inhaled again. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The aroma was inviting.

Yet, as he instinctively clutched his stomach lightly, he paused.

’Now that I think about it... I’m not actually that hungry.’

It surprised him.

Normally, after waking up, he would feel the familiar pang of hunger. But today, his body felt... sustained.

Perhaps it was the surge of mana from last night.

Perhaps his strengthened constitution required less immediate replenishment.

Before he could dwell on it further—

A soft sound came from the other room.

The door creaked open.

A girl stepped out.

She had long black hair that flowed down past her shoulders, smooth and slightly tousled from sleep.

Mixed within the dark strands were a few silver streaks, subtle yet striking when the light touched them.

She looked no older than fifteen.

Her features were delicate. Her skin fair. Her eyes clear and expressive even in their sleepy state.

Despite her age, there was a quiet beauty about her that was difficult to ignore.

The girl who stepped out fully into the room looked so much like their mother that it was almost uncanny.

Her face carried the same gentle curve along the jawline. The same soft shape of the eyes. Even the way her brows arched slightly when she was confused mirrored their mother perfectly.

If their mother were to shrink a few years and shed the quiet weight adulthood placed on her shoulders, she would look exactly like this.

She yawned tiredly, her small mouth opening without restraint.

Afterward, she lifted both hands and rubbed her sleepy eyes, pressing her knuckles gently against them as if trying to wipe away the last traces of dreams.

Her long black hair shifted with the motion, the faint silver streaks catching the morning light filtering through the window.

Then her eyes cleared.

They drifted lazily across the room—

And landed on Noah.

They widened slightly.

For a brief second, she simply stared at him.

"Big brother!"

Her voice was cute and filled with genuine delight.

Without hesitation, she rushed forward, her steps quick despite her being tired only seconds earlier.

She closed the short distance between them and threw her arms around his waist.

Noah laughed quietly under his breath.

He wrapped his arms around her in return, smiling warmly as he gently patted her back.

Because of the height difference, he had to bend slightly, lowering himself so that her head could rest comfortably against his chest.

He could feel how light she was in his arms.

For a moment, he simply held her there.

Then she slowly pulled away.

Her lips curved downward into a small pout, her brows knitting together.

"Where were you yesterday...?" she asked softly. "I didn’t see you throughout."

Noah opened his mouth to respond—

But then he saw it.

At the side of her face, just near her cheekbone, was a faint red mark.