June 14, XX17

??? PoV

I was a mere shell of my former self. My handsome face had worn down into that of an aging man. My muscular body had thinned down. My blue eyes said to be filled were strength no longer emanated power. My black hair had begun graying. The fabulous clothes I wore were replaced by villager clothes.

I sat at the chair looking at the skies. I chose this life. I had no regrets. An average villager was better than a famous puppet.

“So when are you going to tell me truth?”

After completing a Quest for me, the Player, Hawk that has been helping me these past few days asked me a peculiar question. He was a 20-year old Player that had become somewhat of a son to me. Hawk’s appearance was nothing of note; he had a physical appearance you would find anywhere; however, he wore an aura that reeked of intelligence. He had short black hair and deep black eyes—what you would expect from an average person. His body was also averagely built: neither tall nor short; neither fat nor thin; neither muscular nor scrawny.

These past weeks, Hawk had done every Quest I requested from him without need of going to the Guild Hall. Of course, I compensated him properly. As seen from the question he asked, he was quite blunt and oftentimes rude in speaking. When I first met him, I disliked this part of his personality; however, I gave him a chance since he went out of his way to meet his Quest Requestor.

I smiled in awe. How many people in Naut City believed the story of my fall? To have someone suddenly question the truth everyone believed in, this kid was amazing. Well, I already knew that.

“Why do you think the story was fake?”

Hawk closed his eyes. This was his habit that he had before explaining something.

“First, why would Liza be the lone survivor? Either everybody would die in or all of them would survive. Despite what movies make us believe, dying to save someone else is extremely rare, let alone being a lone survivor. Second, why would you be afraid of raising your sword? Because you were unable to protect your family? Even now, you treasure Liza this much, yet you cannot even use your sword to protect her. Third, you sold your rings before your sword. If you were so afraid of your sword, why would you sell the rings first? Finally, the time you chose to end your depression coincided with the time you lost all your reported assets. Nice timing. Of course, all I said could just be my shitty delusions and things that happen for no reason.”

Hawk was a weird critic. If you asked his opinion, he would honestly and rudely say what he genuinely thought. After spending time with him, I’ve realized he was harsher to himself than anyone else. He was even questioning his own doubts.

“Yes. The story was a lie. Do you have an idea of the true story?”

“I do, but it uses my analysis on your personality, so I don’t believe in it. Besides, the story lacks detail.”

A genius that couldn’t believe in his own conjectures…

“Even so I want to hear it…”

“Politcal issues… something like that…”

“Correct; however there was one major reason. Of course, there was another major reason, though I don’t’ expect anyone to figure that one out. Before I tell you the truth let me ask, why did you want to be close with me? Did you realize I was the former Mayor immediately?”

“I’m an analyst, not a mind reader. Besides, there’s no way I can accurately analyze people without even talking to them first.

“For your first question… well to give a summary of why I came close to you, after the first mission, I realized you were hiding something.”

“Alright, then let me recount, what happened that day…”

2 ½ Years Before Present Day; After The Battle Against the Goblins

Alright managed to get away…

I escaped from the after battle meeting. I’m so tired… I wonder what’s for dinner. I want to see my family…

I rushed home as fast as I could. Since I was supposed to return after the meeting, I wanted to surprise my family since I was early. I ran across the heavy storm that raged since the beginning of the war.

The kids should be in the secret room. Sheila should be preparing to check the house by this time.

I sneaked into the house and went to my bedroom. As I was about to knock on the door, my body froze from what I heard.

I could hear several faint moans coming from within the bedroom… this voice… I had no doubts… this was Sheila’s voice…

I hesitated to opening the door… what would I do if Sheila was in bed with another man? I pondered for a few seconds, but those few seconds felt like an eternity.

I would forgive her. I would talk to her. I would let the man go and never let him come close to my family again. I would not destroy anyone.

I braced myself and opened the door. My suspicions were correct. The man was one of the workers in this house; I believe his name was Alex. To think my wife would be having an affair with him…

“Alex get out.” I stated. The voice was both angry and calm.

Alex broke the bedside lamp. He took one of the broken shards and attacked me.

Why does it have to be like this? I want to avoid bloodshed at all costs.

I ran away from Alex. If he was using a sword, I could easily subdue him, but a glass shard and my emotions made it a different matter. Alex chased me out of the house. After a few minutes, I no longer heard his footsteps in the heavy rain. An ill omen filled my heart. Before I could turn my head and look, a voice cried out, “Get away from Father.”

My heart wavered when I heard the voice. I turned and saw my child, Paul. Standing at the front door, he pointed a sword at Alex. Paul was afraid… his hands were shaking… his feet were shaking…

Did he react from all the noise we made?

Alex rushed at Paul. Reacting immediately, I chased after them… but I was too late. Although Paul had talent with a sword, he had never been in an actual fight before. Paul never showed any of his talent at this moment due to panic and fear. He randomly swung his sword with his eyes closed in fear as he and Alex clashed before I could reach them. A slash ripped half-across Alex’s torso. The sword pierced through Paul’s stomach. They both fell to the ground.

I was too late. I could not arrive in time.

I embraced Paul. He was still conscious. Mustering the last bit of his strength, he said his final words to me.

Holding Paul in my hand, I had no idea how much time had passed. My melancholy was only disturbed by my wife’s arrival.

Sheila ran quickly towards us… was what I thought she did, but she…. she… held Alex and cried in his chest.

What the hell is this? Just what the fuck was I living for? Your child is dead and this is what you do?!

Sheila glared at me and screamed, “This is all your fault! Because of you, Alex is dead!”

I don’t remember what happened next… when I came to, I saw Sheila’s corpse on the ground and my blood-stained sword in my hands.

Soon after, I saw my daughter, Liza running towards me. She was sixteen years old. She understood what happened. My instincts told me to kill her…

Liza did not say a word. She embraced with tears in her eyes. I pointed my sword at the back of her neck. The tip was slightly touching her skin.

She must have felt it… but… why?... why wasn’t she running away?

At that point, I lost my strength and cried. With lost track of time as we embraced one another in tears as the storm seemed to go on forever.

End Flashback

“From this point on, I’m sure you can figure it out.”

“To protect Sheila’s image, Eric fabricated history into the one we know. You are an amazing person. In those days of supposed depression, you took out all your unreported assets and planned to retreat to the slums with Liza to escape your responsibilities since you could not fulfill them anymore. Your phobia to your sword was a result of killing your wife. However, even Liza must believe the story you’ve written. As such, the selling of rings instead of using your unreported assets was to further enhance your story.”

“Wait! Why do you know of my unreported assets?”

“I’ve found them. All 1 million Fitts hiding behind your cabinet. Don’t worry, I did not touch a single cent.”

“You really are an amazing kid.”

Hawk stared at me for a while, as if contemplating whether to say something.

“Go on. Say it.”

Even after I said that, he continued contemplating further.

“Is Liza… your child?”

The question struck me like an arrow at my head.

“No. Liza is… Alex’s child. Those were Paul’s last words. He overheard Sheila speaking to Alex.”

“And you’re taking care of Liza?”

“Yes. Liza holds no sin. She is my wonderful daughter regardless of who her real parents are. Also, Paul’s last wish was for me to treat her as my own.”

Hawk walked towards the window. Looking at the sky, he asked, “Have you told Liza everything?”

“No. This is my story. I will take to my grave.”

As I said the word grave, I coughed out liters and liters of blood. My sight was hazy, and my hearing was echoed.

When I woke up, I was at my bed. Hawk was sitting beside me.

“How bad is it?”

“Don’t worry, I’m difficult to kill.”

Hawk did not react. He merely stared at me. If I were at a better condition, he probably would have been annoyed.

“Looks like I can’t fool you. I only have a week left at most.”

“Why didn’t you tell me!? I maybe could have thought of a way!”

“There is no way. Tomorrow I will fix all the things I have to wrap up. Please don’t come here again I say so. This is my request. “

Hawk wanted to cry, but held back. He silently left the house. He wanted me to tell Liza the truth. He believed that was right; however, he respected me and my wish. He would not break the promise—that was the type of person he was…

Hawk… I’m sure he’ll be one of the greatest Players in the future. Maybe one of the Nine Elemental Jacks… No… with his intelligence, it wouldn’t be improbable that he would become one of Nine Elemental Kings. And maybe… just maybe… he can usurp the throne of the Nine Elemental Gods. No, there is no chance… if he was not of Water Element, he could probably reach the Gods with enough miracles… but the Water God… no amount of miracles will let a person reach her… that girl… calling her human… is quite questionable…