Chapter 1

I ruled over a vast country as Emperor. I governed my people with honesty and authority. My people adored me, and I had complete control over everything. I liked the life of an emperor, even if I was a bit of a wild emperor who did things his way; I wasn't always irresponsible; I was a magnificent emperor. In contrast to other countries whose rulers abandoned them to hunger and perished, my people thrived under my leadership.

Many people from many countries came to my empire in need of a home, and I welcomed them with open arms, albeit that staring into that golden heart of mine was what led to my demise. I should have known better. The kid I raised as my own was a spy sent from another country to assassinate me. I didn't expect to be slain by my son because he seemed like such an innocent youngster when I saved him.

The youngster was the 13th prince from another country, assigned to assassinate me. I don't remember the country's name or the emperor's legacy since it was so inadequate for me, but I recall hearing about how he always slept with women and had many kids. He made his children compete for a place in the family, which I found revolting, and it was for this reason, the 13th prince murdered me.

I'll never know what occurred after I died or if the family ever accepted the young lad. I wanted to know how everyone felt about my death and whether they still missed me. I miss my wife and children terribly. I'd like to know how they're doing after my death and if my children have ever realized their dreams. I've always supported my children since I never had a father who was helpful to me. I'm sloppy with my children, but I believe I gave them a good upbringing.

Although that was in my previous existence after I died, I couldn't recall anything but darkness for the most extended period until I could open my eyes to the light again. My second existence began as the oldest son of a wealthy guild master in present-day society.

I had a father but no mother in this second incarnation, which didn't bother me because I didn't grow up with a mother in my previous existence. But, in this new existence, my second father was not cold or callous; instead, he was a very kind and loving parent. Although he was overly kind, he was a little overpowering with all his fatherly love, and I, who grew up without love, felt quite uneasy receiving this type of devotion from my father.

Although I did not push him away, I did not feel comfortable with it either, and I'm sure he sensed something was wrong with me since I acted differently than other youngsters. He still acted the role of a father from time to time, but he kept a reasonably distant connection with me to make me feel at ease, and I felt what it was like to have a proper father for the first time in my life. I may not have fully embraced him as a parent, but I'm grateful he didn't despise me for being so frigid. I had a lot of regard for him as a father.

Because my rich guild master of a father had all the money to send tutors to me and teach me about this world, I didn't have a hard time adjusting. I gradually grasped this country, and I don't have much to say because my first-world history isn't that amazing either. There is no judgment here.

In recent years of the modern era, the world has changed slightly due to world cross-over. Monsters were arriving in the human world through these so-called dungeons, and 10% of the human population had obtained powers to protect themselves from these monsters. They quickly formed guilds, seizing control of certain areas and ensuring the stability of this new existence. My father was one of the people who led such a group after being appointed to the role following my grandfather's death.

My nanny and the men in the guild told me that the guild was able to rise and earn money due to my father because my grandpa didn't know how to handle a large guild with many members. My father learned how to manage the adult world before becoming an adult via numerous challenging tutoring and training at a young age, owing to a lack of ability. Despite being a non-ability user, my father is a brilliant leader who is well-liked by those around him. He has friends in many guilds who are eager to battle for him, and his name is well-known throughout the world.

I had a very regular life since my dad was such an influential person, and I didn't worry too much about the world. Although it was risky from time to time, it wasn't anything that the guild couldn't handle. In my previous incarnation, I died in my 30s, but in this existence, due to being healthy and for the guild, I am now a 60-year-old man living alone in his apartment.

Life had finally settled down.

"Are you Hong In-Ho?"

A bizarre inquiry is asked of me early in the morning by three tall guys in black suits and spectacles as if I were in a secret agent movie. I should consider this a run-and-hide situation, but I knew they wouldn't hurt me since the pin on their clothing gave it away—a rising phoenix with red spider lilies encircling it, Fire Lilies.

"What does my father want?" I returned their question. I went away from home for fifteen years, and my father didn't try to stop me since he seemed to love playing cat and mouse with me. My father claimed I'd never stay long enough alone in the world, and I suppose he was partly correct, but the following fifteen years have been fun proving him wrong!

"Your father is dead."

Isn't he like your boss? Why are you speaking in such a monotone? Though it's not like I don't know since, except for a few guild members, the individuals who work for my family seldom show their emotions. But at the very least, show some affection to your dead boss.

"Doesn't the old man have the youngster from the young miss?" I grumbled, opening my door wider and leaning against the frame.

"Sorry, young master, but the second young master is just ten years old this year and far too young to manage a guild at his age. You being the first child and everything... " Even if he didn't say it, the phrase "old age of 60 years and single" could be heard clearly.

What a jerk. As you must know, I was married in my previous life and had children, but it's not like they knew. Life is very unjust.

"You won't quit even if I insist on having other individuals stand-in for the guild leader, huh?" I inquired, already knowing the answer. I'm not sure why the old man insists on me being seated in the guild master's position despite my protests that I have nothing to do with the guild.

The three men nodded in response to my query. Even if I try to extend this talk, it won't change anything the old man desires, and it won't benefit me other than exhaustion. Plus, it's not like I don't understand why he keeps doing this since, after fifteen years of running away, I've come to appreciate my father more. This guild is like life insurance to me since my father wants to offer everything to his child that he could not acquire from his father as a youngster.

He's a parent who is nothing like my father in my prior existence. Accepting this last desire is the least I could do for my father. It's far too sad to dismiss.

That was my first error in accepting that lunatic's final 'desires.'

I found myself in the office, standing in front of a bastard who I was told had passed away, yet the man in front of me seemed all too healthy to have died.

My father, Hong Sangwook, commanded the guild Fire Lilies and is recognized as the most excellent non-ability user to reach the top and stand beside formidable ability users.

I should have known that this man could never die too quickly, so I'm not sure how I got duped like this. For crying out loud, this cretin was renowned as the Great Phoenix. Despite being a non-ability user, he wasn't weak; this man was a goddamn monster on his own, proficient in weaponry and many other things.

After a long silence in the office, I eventually mumbled, "I was lied to." The old man in front of me merely smiled charmingly at me, and my eyes twitched. "Do you like pulling such jokes on your poor son?"

"Haha! Don't make me laugh. This old man hasn't seen you in ages, and this is the first thing you say to me? " Why doesn't this elderly man die sooner? Should I do God's work for them?

"After seeing me, you're creating a frightening face. I know what you're thinking, young man. "

I clicked my tongue and turned away from him as if I hadn't just thought of killing him seconds before. I'm no longer young anymore.

"Where are the young lady and her son?" I asked since I generally know they're around and my younger brother enjoys being around our father.

Pyeon Mi-Young, the young miss I mentioned, is the third daughter of Pyeon Mi-Kyong, the head of the guild Valkyrie, who married my father when I was approximately 55 years old. She was in her early 30s. You'd assume it was a planned marriage because my father is in his late 80s, and she is barely 30, but Pyeon Mi-Young developed a crush on my lovely old father. This woman saw a whole different side of this guy, and my father matured like a bottle of champagne, as most teenagers nowadays would say; he didn't even look his age.

My father initially didn't want to marry such a young lady due to the age gap and mainly his overblown mind, believing he may have wrecked a young girl's future. Though I was convinced the young lady didn't care much, considering how love is blind, I do believe she sincerely loved him regardless of his age. I also didn't think it was too horrible because she's an adult who can decide for herself if her love is real or not.

My father eventually fell in love with the young lady, and they married. It was a difficult two years for them, but the difficulties brought them closer together and made them more understanding of each other. I don't call her my mother; I mainly refer to her as the young miss because I'm much older than she is, but I admire her as a mother who attempted to be close to her elderly son. My younger brother, Hong Taeyang, was born four years into their marriage.

"That's why I brought you here," he says. The tone of my father's voice shifted. He usually spoke in a happy and fun manner, but he could turn his entire demeanor when he had to be serious.

"Was something wrong with them? They must be safe, right? " I inquired. Although I may have appeared to be someone who doesn't care much about their family, I do since they are family to me, just like my last one.

"They're fine. They're not hurt or anything. " He stood up, walked over to me, and pressed his hand onto my left shoulder, "Hong In-Ho, did you have a child without me knowing?"

I blinked in astonishment at his inquiry before starting to walk away from him, but he stopped me.

"I am not a parent. I'm not sure what you're saying, old man. " I turned back to him and crossed my arms across my chest. Because that was such an odd question, I raised an eyebrow at him.

My father gave me a careful look. His expression indicated that he didn't believe me, but after a few seconds had passed, he turned aside, and I think he received his response from my calm demeanor. True, I don't have a child and haven't been married in the last two decades. I don't even communicate with that many people aside from the landlord of the building I reside, so I'm not sure where he got that question.

"They were out shopping when they came across a group of teens bullying a child your brother's age. The teens fled, but the youngster they rescued had a photograph of you and said they needed to meet you. " My father made a concerned expression towards me. "Hong In-Ho, did you not have a kid with someone?"

"No," I said. There's no need for me to lie because there's nothing to lie about here.

"I see," My father nodded as he walked to the door. "Let's go see the child."