Jianghai City, Lin Family Manor Villa.
Lin Mo slumped on the leather sofa, gazing at the night outside the window.
"Poof~"
A small fireball emerged from his palm.
This was the initial skill he acquired after awakening as a [Mage] during the job transfer ceremony a few hours ago—Fireball.
It's been eighteen years since I came to this world.
This is a world teeming with monsters in the wild.
Everyone awakens to a different profession at the age of 18, growing stronger by slaying monsters and leveling up.
Just a few hours ago, Lin Mo awakened to the [Mage] profession, but he was a Basic Mage with no "Elemental Affinity" talent.
In this world, there are various types of mages, such as Blazing Flame Mages with Fire Elemental Affinity, Thunder Mages with Lightning Elemental Affinity...
As for himself, a Basic Mage without 'Elemental Affinity', learning skills is tough, controlling skills is weak, definitely a bottom-tier profession.
"Sigh, Basic Mage it is."
Lin Mo poked the flame in his palm with his other hand, as if teasing a pet: "Even though you're a bit weak, I don't mind."
"From now on... you'll be responsible for lighting my cigarettes and warming my meals. We'll just live out our days in this mansion, being a happy little lighter, isn't that better than risking our lives against those towering bosses?"
Before he finished speaking.
The small fireball in his palm suddenly twitched violently.
Immediately, lines of information appeared on the panel.
[Your skill "Fireball" strongly protests your remarks!]
["Fireball" considers your career plan an insult to its fiery dignity!]
[It roars: You may be a slacker, but I'm not! I want to get stronger! I want to evolve! I want to become a world-destroying Forbidden Spell! Who the hell wants to be a lighter?!]
[To avoid being nurtured into a waste flame, "Fireball" decides to run away from home and level up on its own!]
"??"
Lin Mo was stunned, his mind not yet catching up.
"Whoosh—!"
The small fireball didn't give him time to react, carrying a determined momentum, dragging an angry red tail flame, and shot straight out the window.
Lin Mo looked at his empty palm, then at the window.
At this moment, the skill bar for [Fireball] also changed.
[Fireball, LV.1]
[Status: Runaway (Rage Mode)]
[Current Mood: Murderous (Damage +100%)]
"Am I seeing things? Did my skill... become sentient?"
Lin Mo's mouth twitched.
He's heard of wives leaving husbands for being unambitious, but never of a skill leaving its owner for being a slacker...
Just as Lin Mo was in a daze.
His mother Su Wan's gentle voice came from downstairs:
"Mo'er! Come down for dinner!"
"...Coming!"
Lin Mo responded, grabbed his phone, and dashed out of the room full of thoughts.
...
Lin Family Dining Room, resplendent and magnificent.
The long table that could seat twenty was laden with exquisite delicacies.
Seated at the head was his father Lin Tianhao, one of Jianghai City's defense commanders, profession 'Raging Thunder War God', wearing loose home clothes, yet still exuding an aura as imposing as a mountain.
Beside him, his mother Su Wan, head of Jianghai City's largest magic potion group, profession 'Holy High Priest', was elegantly serving soup to her husband.
Indeed, Lin Mo's family background was enough to walk sideways in Jianghai City.
Lin Mo pulled out a chair, picked up chopsticks with one hand, and began frantically searching the internet with the other.
Keywords included but were not limited to: "skill runaway", "skill self-awareness", "I got scolded by my skill"...
Evidently, in this world where everyone has been transferring professions for hundreds of years, there has never been any similar record.
Father Lin Tianhao frowned slightly.
"Mo'er, if you're eating, just eat. What are you staring at your phone for? You're absent-minded."
Lin Mo placed his phone face down on the table, forcing a smile: "Oh, Dad, I'm just checking some post-transfer information."
Hearing this, Lin Tianhao and Su Wan exchanged a glance.
Both saw a trace of undisguised heartache in each other's eyes.
Although their son didn't say it, he must still care about his Basic Mage profession, checking information without even eating, this child is too heartbreaking.
"Stop checking, those things online are a mix of truth and falsehood, reading them will only make you upset. Eat first, health is important."
Lin Tianhao picked up a piece of steak and placed it in Lin Mo's bowl.
Mother Su Wan also gently served Lin Mo a bowl of soup, softly comforting:
"Yes, Mo'er, don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Mo Mo, Mom has it all figured out."
"For university, just get into any one, take it easy, and after graduation, learn some life skills."
"I think cooking is nice, we have quite a few five-star restaurants under our name, you can practice there."
"Plant Growth is also good, Mom's thousands of mu of magic herb gardens need someone to... manage."
Su Wan waved her hand grandly, pointing to the sprawling estate outside the window:
"These hills are all ours, you can spend your days at home bird-watching and fish-raising, as long as you don't gamble, Mom can support you for ten lifetimes!"
Hearing his parents' words, Lin Mo was actually delighted inside.
As a former corporate drone who worked himself to death, living a second life, why live so strenuously?
Look at this estate, look at these delicious dishes, the family's immense wealth, enough to last several lifetimes.
Being a carefree second-generation rich, spending days bird-watching, flower-viewing, and enjoying theater performances, isn't that delightful?
Besides, the skill ran away, should he, a mage, take a staff and go whack monsters?
Lin Mo put down his chopsticks, looking sincerely and gratefully at his parents:
"Dad, Mom, don't worry."
"Starting tomorrow, I'll help Mom spend money, and help Dad polish those military medals."
"I'll definitely be a qualified second-gen... uh, son!"
"Pfft—"
Lin Tianhao almost spat out the soup he just drank.
Su Wan's smile froze on her face.
Although they were comforting their son... but isn't his acceptance a bit too quick?
Couldn't he show a little bit of "Don't underestimate the young" defiance?
One moment he seemed diligent checking information, the next he had this "finally can legally mooch" happy expression, what's going on?
"Ahem..."
Lin Tianhao coughed a few times to cover his embarrassment, "Well... Mo Mo having a good attitude is a good thing. Alright, since you've figured it out, eat more."
"Okay, Dad!"
Lin Mo contentedly picked up his bowl, quickly finishing his meal.
"I'm full! Mom and Dad, you should also rest early, don't overwork."
With that, he pushed his bowl aside, wiped his mouth, and dashed upstairs.
He was still very curious about what was going on with the rebellious Fireball, where it went, and whether it would come back.
...
As Lin Mo's figure disappeared around the staircase corner.
Lin Tianhao sighed deeply, rubbing his temples, "A Basic Mage is one thing, but this attitude... too much of a slacker!"
Speaking of which, Lin Tianhao glanced at his wife Su Wan.
"It's all because you spoiled him with your 'happy education'. Now look, not a trace of ambition..."
"Lin Tianhao, don't you dare blame me!"
Su Wan's eyebrows shot up, her elegant demeanor vanished without a trace.
"Before the awakening ceremony, who was it that kept saying 'I don't want my son risking his life in the wild'?"
"When Mo'er was practicing swordplay as a child, who secretly swapped his Black Ironwood Sword for a sponge stick because he was afraid his hands would hurt?"
"And now you complain he's a slacker? Too late! I'm telling you, Mo'er turned out this way, and you as his father are fully responsible!"
"I... I was just being considerate."
The once imposing Raging Thunder War God instantly lost his momentum, shrinking his neck.
Su Wan snorted softly, a trace of helplessness in her eyes:
"Alright, stop sighing."
"Mo'er's profession... Low-Tier Skills and above for mages, they're all elemental skills. Without 'Elemental Affinity', even feeding him skill books, the success rate of comprehension is very low."
"And... in practical combat, his skill micro-control is far inferior to other specialized mages."
"Just let it be, as long as he's happy."
Lin Tianhao put away his playful expression, lighting a cigar, taking a deep drag, his expression turning serious:
"That's all well and good, but..."
"Our family is large and wealthy, and there are many who have their eyes on us."
"As long as we're alive, no one dares touch him."
"But if one day we retire, or... something happens."
He glanced in the direction of the upstairs, lowering his voice:
"With Mo'er's lazy and slack personality, I'm afraid not only will he fail to protect this legacy, but he might also bring harm to himself."
Su Wan fell silent.
Though she doted on her son, as a strong woman managing a vast business empire, she knew better than anyone the harsh reality of survival of the fittest in this world.
"So what do you suggest?"
Lin Tianhao extinguished the cigarette, his eyes burning as he looked at his wife:
"Darling, logically speaking, with one of us being a War God and the other a High Priest, our genes should be top-notch."
"Mo'er's situation... is purely a small statistical anomaly."
"Old Lin, what are you planning?"
Hearing this, Su Wan instantly understood, her cheeks flushing with two rosy clouds.
"Let's... roll the dice again!"
Lin Tianhao grinned, leaning closer to Su Wan.
Su Wan didn't push away her husband who was leaning in: "You old rascal! At your age, still... rolling the dice?"
"How is this being an old rascal?"
Lin Tianhao spoke righteously, scooping Su Wan up and heading towards the master bedroom, striding with the wind:
"This is for the continuation of the family! Darling, let's start tonight, I ate most of that magic dragon meat, and now I feel full of strength!"
"You scoundrel... be gentle, don't let Mo'er hear..."