A Celebration with Family

---

Leo was beyond thrilled. Not only had he sold his trophies for a higher price than expected, but he had also successfully conquered the first floor of the Tower.

To celebrate, he ordered an executive feast from a famous restaurant—dishes he had only dreamed of eating before.

But a feast was best enjoyed with family.

So, he invited his neighbors, the Thomson family, who were like a second family to him.

---

The Thomsons were a family of three:

Thomson (Tom for short) – A middle-aged man who owned a clothing shop in the city center.

Sara – A gentle and caring housewife.

Alex – A mischievous five-year-old boy who had taken an instant liking to Leo.

Leo's father and Uncle Tom had been best friends since school. Their friendship ran so deep that when Leo's father left for the battlefield, he entrusted Leo's care to Uncle Tom and Aunt Sara.

Despite not being related by blood, they had raised him as their own.

Uncle Tom acted tough on the outside but was soft-hearted deep down.

Aunt Sara was the gentle mother figure Leo had longed for.

Alex, though mischievous, was like a little brother to him.

Leo still cherished memories of both families having barbecues together, playing games, and living under the same roof.

And now, there was a new member in the family—Alex.

Leo knew that if his parents could see him, they would absolutely adore his cute and mischievous nature.

As Leo was setting the table, the doorbell rang.

(Ding Dong!)

Leo rushed to the door.

The moment he swung it open, something launched itself at him.

"Big brother Leo! Where were you? I missed you!"

A small child wrapped his arms around Leo's neck, clinging to him like a monkey.

Leo laughed, catching Alex mid-air.

"Alex, you little rascal! Have you been causing trouble while I was gone?"

A soft, gentle voice came from behind.

"Stop bothering your brother, Alex."

Leo looked up to see Sara standing there, smiling warmly.

"Don't worry, Aunt Sara," Leo said, ruffling Alex's hair. "If Alex doesn't mess with me, then who will? He's my little brother, after all."

Then, his gaze shifted to the middle-aged man standing behind her.

"Uncle Tom! How's business going?"

But instead of replying normally, Tom crossed his arms and glared at Leo.

"Brat, you dare to run off to that damn Tower without telling me, and you still have the nerve to ask how I'm doing?"

His tone was harsh, but Leo could hear the underlying concern beneath it.

"Looks like I need to break your legs so you stop climbing that Tower!"

Leo chuckled.

"I didn't want you to worry. And besides, it's my dream to climb the Tower, so don't try to stop me."

Tom's expression darkened.

"What an insolent brat."

He grumbled, then huffed.

"Whatever. Do what you want. Now, where's the damn food? I'm starving."

Without waiting for an invitation, he stormed past Leo and entered the house.

Aunt Sara sighed and patted Leo's shoulder.

"Don't mind him," she said. "He's just worried about you. We both were. You went into the Tower without even telling us—how could you be so reckless?"

Leo smiled sheepishly.

"Okay, okay. I promise I'll tell you next time."

Then, he gestured toward the dining table, where the mouthwatering feast awaited.

"But for now, let's eat before the food gets cold!"

---

Everyone gathered around the table.

The aroma of succulent roasted meat, buttery mashed potatoes, fragrant rice, and rich gravy filled the air.

Leo had never eaten a meal this extravagant before.

They dug in, and soon, the room was filled with chatter, laughter, and the clinking of cutlery.

Alex, his cheeks puffed up with food, stared at Leo with wide, admiring eyes.

"Big brother, tell me how you fought the monsters! Were they scary? Did you use magic? Did you punch them like this—HIYAA!"

He swung his tiny fists, nearly knocking over his glass.

Leo chuckled.

"Not quite like that, little guy."

He leaned forward, lowering his voice dramatically.

"There were these horned rabbits, but not just any rabbits. These were ferocious, with razor-sharp horns and glowing red eyes."

Alex's eyes widened.

"And I had to outsmart them because they were really fast."

"How fast?"

"Faster than you when you run from Aunt Sara after breaking a vase."

Alex's face turned red, and Aunt Sara laughed.

"Leo, don't encourage him!" she scolded playfully.

Meanwhile, Uncle Tom just grumbled.

"Bah, what's so great about fighting rabbits?" He took a big bite of his food. "Call me when you fight a real beast."

Leo smirked.

"Just wait, Uncle. Next time, I'll tell you about slaying dragons."

"Ha! I'd like to see that day."

Sara shook her head.

"You boys will never change."

The dinner continued with lighthearted banter.

Uncle Tom complained about business, Sara talked about neighborhood gossip, and Alex kept pestering Leo for more "cool battle stories."

Leo realized how much he had missed this warmth.

For the first time in a long while, he felt truly at home.

As dinner wrapped up, Sara and Tom helped clean the table, while Alex yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Leo picked him up and carried him to the couch.

"Getting sleepy, little guy?"

Alex mumbled, "Mmm… Big brother Leo… you're so cool… I wanna be like you when I grow up…."

Leo smiled softly, patting his head.

"You'll be even cooler, Alex."

Sara walked over and gently lifted Alex into her arms.

"It's getting late. We should head home."

Uncle Tom stretched and grunted.

"Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the meal, brat. Next time, we're having a barbecue—your treat."

Leo laughed.

"Fine, fine."

As they walked to the door, Sara turned back and smiled.

"Leo, take care of yourself, alright?"

Leo nodded.

"Always."

With that, they left, and the house fell silent once more.

Leo sat back on the couch, staring at the ceiling.

The journey ahead would be dangerous, but tonight…

Tonight, he simply enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by family.

---