Archive of Our Own

Kim Rok Soo, now Roksu, has finally achieved his slacker life.

It was a tough road filled with pain, losses of various kinds, and lots of surprises.

But he survived, despite everything thrown at him.

His slacker life wasn't exactly what he imagined, but it had slowly grown on him.

"Ohn, order for table three." He placed the plates filled with food on the counter as his daughter quickly took them.

Roksu had bought an inn roughly five years ago as a start up business. He couldn't rely on his beloved stash of money forever, after all.

Usually, he didn't work in the dining section, but tonight was busy and he didn't want his workers overwhelmed, so he helped out a bit.

The town his inn was located in was moderately sized, but definitely not an important place. It was a town that had more visitors than locals, with it being an intersection between three major territories in Roan.

So it made sense that Roksu would start a business catered to visitors. It was an inn that functioned as a tavern on the side, so even if people were just passing through with no plans to stay, he could still take their money via food.

The past week, as well as the incoming one, would be quite busy for them.

There was a festival in the Capital celebrating the victory of the five year war that recently ended.

The town was located along a road that led from the Ubarr Territory, where ships from all over the place docked, to the Capital, where everyone who is someone is going. So recently, his inn has had record sales with an unbelievable amount of people coming in every day.

It was definitely lots of work, and he had to buy more food for the tavern, but the profits were undeniable.

And Roksu, knowing of the incoming war since he arrived in this world, has also made the inn to network and trade information. Occasionally he contacted the heroes to give some help, but didn't do much, just pointed them in the right direction.

"We've got a group at table five." Hong stuck an order sheet to the board. "They are a little rowdy, but they don't seem dangerous."

All three of his kids worked part time at his inn, even with his youngest being ten. They all wanted to help out, and although he was a little reluctant to have kids work, they all said that they'd grow restless if they didn't do anything.

They didn't work all the time, he still had normal employees, but they assisted wherever they were needed.

Roksu hummed and took some dirty dishes over to Raon, who was working alone in the kitchen. If his son was a normal child, he would never allow that.

But he wasn't.

He was a dragon.

A dragon with very versatile magic.

Roksu dodged a flying pot and dumped the plates near the self cleaning sink.

"Everything good here?" He called out through the maze of floating equipment.

"Yep!" A voice answered, the order sheet from before shooting past him and towards the sound. Roksu could see a head of black hair from across the room reading the order.

"If this gets too much, just say something." He spoke up.

"This would never be too much for a great and mighty dragon!" The floating equipment parted so Roksu had a clear view of his youngest. "It's good training. Manipulating lots of different things at once is improving my control."

"That's good." He nodded as Raon waved him off.

Roksu exited the extremely secure kitchen and got to cleaning empty tables.

It was a couple minutes later when he could feel a type of tension in the air and looked over to where it was coming from.

He saw a group of middle aged men whispering among themselves, occasionally glancing towards Ohn.

Roksu didn't move from his place, instead watching what would happen to see if he needed to intervene.

-———-———-———-

Ohn was used to filthy people like the ones beckoning her over.

It was something that happened since she was on the streets at ten.

Men who think themselves as invincible and above all else, throwing themselves around the place like it proved something beyond their small egos. Those were the ones who were the most satisfying to put into place.

"Hello gorgeous." One with a horridly ugly beard cooed at her.

Her professional smile didn't so much as flinch. "Can I help you? Would you like more food?"

"Oh, what I want to eat isn't food." Another with beady eyes smirked, looking her up and down.

Disgusting.

"That's a shame. Because what you are asking for isn't on our menu." Ohn kept her posture calm and unbothered, something she learnt from her dad.

"You could change that pretty quickly." The third lanky one grinned with his friends.

"Sirs, I am sixteen." Ohn stated. Sometimes when such a thing happened, they would back off. She was quite tall for her age, so she was often misunderstood as an adult.

"I don't mind." The first continued with his disgusting grin.

Ohn had to stifle a sigh. "Since you won't be ordering anything, I will take my leave." She briskly bowed and turned to leave.

But before she even took a step, she sensed a hand about to grab her waist and quickly stepped to the side. Ohn whipped around, flicking out a knife hidden in a sheath on her forearm and slammed it into the table the three men were at in one swift movement.

Silence instantly graced the entire tavern, the men frozen stiff, wide eyes not leaving her knife embedded in the wood.

"It seems I need to clear up some things." Ohn was still smiling, but her eyes were cold as ice. "Try touch me again and the only way you are leaving is in a body bag." Her gaze shifted to the other two who quickly flinched at her attention. "Anyone who tries will."

She fluently yanked the knife out of the wood and pointed it loosely at the first man. "If you do choose to return, please mind your manners. This is your first and final warning."

Ohn spun around on her heel and stalked off, not glancing back once. She caught the proud smile of her dad, and returned a grin.

Like the calmness in the eye of a storm, they had roughly three days of relaxation as the festival was ongoing before the chaos began again, everyone taking their previous path back to where they came from.

Roksu placed down four plates of food with practiced ease on a table, quickly walking away without a word. He had experience with serving people from his first, and last, part time job back in his past life at a restaurant.

Think of the money. He kept saying to himself. Just think of the money.

"Um, excuse me!" Roksu clenched his teeth at the sound of the voice that was calling him over for the fourth time that night, not even ordering food.

He calmly made his way over, taking a deep breath. "How can I help you?"

The lady, maybe around thirty, had a fake polite smile on her face. "I am so sorry for bothering you while you are so busy," then stop fucking bothering me, "but I couldn't help but notice how... unhygienic this place is."

Roksu made sure his face didn't twitch from his emotionless expression. "Ma'am, we clean the tables every time the previous occupants leave, we sweep the floor every hour, and any large messes are quickly cleaned up. You are going to have to be more specific in what exactly is... unhygienic."

The woman recoiled, taken aback by something he said. "Do you use this tone of voice with all your customers?"

Roksu stared deadpan at her, fed up with the entire situation. "Only the ones who waste my time." Why do these people exist even in different worlds?

She gasped, hand to her chest. "Excuse me? You shouldn't be speaking to me like that! Customers are your source of income, and I deserve respect!"

Roksu raised an eyebrow. "Ma'am, I highly doubt you, out of all people, can cause a business to go bankrupt." And it's not like you are buying anything.

"Ah! But I can get you fired! Where is your boss?" The woman had a smug and entitled smile on her face.

"Ma'am, I own the building. I am the boss." He stared at her unimpressed. It's been the third time this week someone like her had tried to get him fired. He hated busy days.

The lady spluttered. "I- you are lying! You are too young! You are just saying that so you don't lose your job!"

Roksu pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed for the nth time that night. "Freesia." He called across the room.

A middle aged lady with pale lavender hair made her way through the busy tables. "Yes, boss?" Trust her to read the situation and act accordingly.

He ignored the way the woman behind him gaped. "This lady is not buying anything and as such, is taking up a table that could be used by paying customers." Roksu continued, making sure she couldn't talk over him. "And, she is making a ruckus. Could you please escort her out?"

His seemingly harmless security guard smiled. "Of course boss."

"W-what?!" The lady tried to pull herself out of Freesia's grip, but failed spectacularly.

Roksu didn't stay to watch and quickly continued going back to work.

Roksu collapsed on one of the empty benches along the wall and left out a shaking breath. "I never want a repeat of that."

Ohn, Hong and Raon also sat themselves down with a similar level of exhaustion, albeit Raon trying to hide his.

It had been four days since the festival finished, and the influx of customers had finally slowed down.

"Dad?" Hong didn't lift his head from where it was against the table. "Can I have a sleep in tomorrow?"

Roksu hummed, not taking his eyes away from the very interesting part of the ceiling. "Yeah. We'll open later."

"Thank Money." The thirteen year old mumbled out.

He and his kids sat in silence for a couple minutes.

"Alright, I'll lock up, get to bed." Roksu announced, standing up with a groan.

The three kids grinned brightly with an underlying tiredness.

It was a little pastime nine in the evening, and they stopped taking walk-ins for the tavern section two hours ago. But that didn't apply to the people staying at the inn, instead, their service stopped at nine. 

He didn't want to deal with drunks. 

Roksu just finished locking all the windows when there was a knock at the door.

It wasn't unusual for there to still be people looking for rooms even this late at night, some were just unorganised after all, but this specific situation had his gut twist.

It wasn't a dangerous sensation he felt, more of one where something annoying would happen.

Another, more heavy knock.

Right, whoever is out there can see the lights on. They know someone is in here. Damn it.

Roksu ruffled his hair in a hopefully more neat appearance as he made his way to the entrance.

Opening the door, he had to restrain himself from slamming it shut in their faces.

What the fuck.

"What the fuck."

Mary was tired.

She and her friends had to spend the past few days talking to people, and when they finally got to stop that, they instantly had to travel.

It was eight hours stuck in a carriage, only pausing for a couple of minutes for necessary breaks.

She did ask why they couldn't teleport but was only told that it required a more "formal" type of travel.

Then there was the issue of finding an inn so late at night, no one booking one in advance because of the unexpectedness of the situation.

They had asked what few locals they could find for any good inns to stay the night at, and they were recommended the Kim Inn.

The inn looked very cosy for one of the larger inns of the town. Three stories, made of dark wood, and lots of plants. It was nice.

When they made it to the front, Ron knocked on the door while their group made sure all their hoods were properly secured. Ron knocked again, a little more harshly. They knew someone was in there. They saw a silhouette moving around through the curtains.

The door clicked and swung open.

A man, maybe early twenties, was standing before them. He had ruffled shoulder length black hair, the top half tied in a bun, and sharp red-brown eyes. The man had a nice face on him, a mix of masculine and androgynous. It was a face she expected to see on a noble, not a commoner.

The man also seemed to be studying everyone's faces under his scrutinising gaze.

"What the fuck."

Mary blinked in surprise.

That wasn't the reaction she was expecting.

The man ran an exhausted hand down his face and groaned.

He stood in silence for a couple beats before looking at them, face blank. "Do I want to know why the heroes are here?" She also wasn't expecting their identities to be found out so soon.

Ron smiled, Mary noticed the man flinch slightly, as he spoke. "Ah, I'm afraid that it is a confidential matter. But we were wondering if this establishment has any spare rooms? We only need one night."

The man stared at Ron and slowly hummed, glancing at the others. "Right. Is your group just eight?" Ron nodded. "Yeah, there's just enough room. One three bed, and one five bed. I hope that is fine with the ladies of the group?" He looked over, locking eyes with Mark and Rosalyn.

"It's okay with me." Rosalyn agreed. "Mary?"

"I don't mind." She didn't know why he was asking, but the others didn't look confused, so she would assume it was a normal thing. She did always room with Rosalyn, but she thought it was a preference.

The man slid to the side, letting them pass. "Call me Roksu." Mary caught Choi Han stiffening at that, but she didn't read too much into it. Choi Han was a little weird every now and then. "A free breakfast is supplied from four AM onwards. Lunches and dinners cost money unless you'd like to upgrade the service..."

Mary stopped listening as they began to discuss prices, instead, focusing on the man's body.

As a necromancer, she can roughly sense the bodies of both the living and dead. She couldn't do anything unless it died, but thanks to the power, she can locate people easily as well as have an inkling of what abilities someone might have.

She didn't notice it before, but some of Roksu came up blank. She could only sense down to his biceps and the thigh of one of his legs before it cut off.

Like he was missing those limbs.

But she could see his arms and leg working perfectly fine.

... Or could she?

Mary stared at the gloves Roksu was wearing that disappeared into his long sleeves. Then at his long pants, the only skin she sees being his neck and upwards.

A spark of curiosity lit up in her. It wasn't magic of any kind, and the movements are too smooth to be a mechanical prosthetic. It could be the work of another necro-

She took a step forward, then another, and before she knew it, she was standing in front of Roksu who was staring at her strangely.

"Uh, can I help-" He began, but cut himself off when Mary reached out and grabbed his forearm with both of her hands.

It's rock hard. It feels like someone pulled clothing over stone. So not the work of necromancy. Her hands traveled up to where it cut off, ignoring the exclamations of confusion behind her.

There's a connection. She clenched a little more firmer on where the stone stopped. The stone and arm joins flawlessly. It's impossible to tell it where it connects unless you touch it or see it.

Mary jerked her head up, locking eyes with trembling red-brown pupils. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, her shoulder was grabbed and she was pulled away from the interesting subject.

"I am so sorry about Mary." Rosalyn swiftly stepped in front of her. "She was sheltered for a lot of her life, so she has trouble with understanding social cues."

Mary didn't have time to ask what she meant as she was quickly ushered away. She looked over her shoulder at the man, locking eyes again.

-———-———-———-

"Mary, what were you doing?" Only her, Rosalyn, and Eruhaben-nim were in the three-bed room.

She tilted her head. "I just noticed something strange."

Rosalyn stiffened. "Is Roksu... dangerous?"

"I couldn't figure that out." Mary frowned. "I've never seen a power like that before."

Eruhaben-nim stepped forward. "That human is not necessarily dangerous." He hummed in thought. "But he does have an Ancient Power."

Rosalyn's eyes widened. "But... aren't Ancient Powers extremely rare?"

Eruhaben-nim nodded. "They are. This power is of an Earth attribute."

"Isn't that the attribute the White Star was looking for?" Mary asked.

"It is." Eruhaben-nim confirmed. "How the human hadn't been found by him is either pure luck, or he was careful in not showing it."

She hummed, nodding. He must've been using it only for his limbs then. I wonder what else he can do if he can use his power so delicately.

"Mary," Rosalyn called out, bringing her out of her thoughts. "I understand being curious, but why did you touch him? He might've attacked you."

Attacked? When he is surrounded by the heroes of the continent? He didn't look that dumb. Very much the opposite, actually. "I wanted a closer look at his arms."

Rosalyn waited for evaluation, but it didn't come. "... Um, why?"

Mary thought for a bit before responding. "I shouldn't say. It's private."

Rosalyn blinked in surprise, then glanced at Eruhaben-nim, who only raised an eyebrow. "I am not good at understanding humans, but if the necromancer says that it's private, then it must be."

Rosalyn deflated. "Okay, if you are sure." She glanced up. "But are you sure that he isn't dangerous?"

"No more than a sword is." Eruhaben-nim responded. "It is the wielder who decides how to use it."

Roksu stood at the bar counter, watching as the heroes disappeared through the door.

He crossed his arms together in a muffled clink.

Only Mary and the dragon noticed at first. It looks like they told Rosalyn something, but not the specifics. She was searching for what it was the entire morning.

And I don't think the gold dragon saw hints of Raon around the place. Thank Money they went to the villa before the heroes arrived.

He took a deep breath, trying to slow down his racing heart, the past few hours finally catching up to him.

The strongest individuals in the continent were in my inn.

Shit.

Roksu slid down, groaning as he sat on the floor.

I wouldn't know what they'd do if they had questions.

Ron and Beacrox were just here.

What if they find out?

It didn't look like they recognised me.

And it's not like I'm the same person they've last seen, inside or out.

Records of pain, blood, hurt, flashed through his mind before he smothered it down.

Not the time.

Roksu stood up on shaking legs, taking a shuddering breath. I need to get to work.

Kim Rok Soo woke up to pain.

Burning, indiscriminate pain everywhere. His limbs were heavy with what he was guessing was exhaustion, and his head felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

Where... where am I?

He quickly accessed his Records, mind blurry with pain.

The last thing he remembered was... something slamming into his apartment in the middle of the night. He didn't die on impact, but everything after that drew a blank.

It wasn't a blank where he was unconscious, it was one where he got rid of those memories.

Something happened...

But where even am I?

Rok Soo took in his surroundings.

He was in a cell, tied to a metal chair with clamps around his wrists, ankles and waist. An overwhelming scent of iron almost made him gag as he finally noticed it. The stone floors were stained with blood in varying stages of drying. That was concerning.

Rok Soo took stock of his body, and flinched at the sheer amount of injuries on him.

Well, I found out what hurts.

Cuts, bruises, burns, littered his body, as well as large patches of skin that were red and irritated, like someone poured chemicals on him.

... Am I being tortured?

He tried to swallow, but his dry mouth prevented him. His body was thin, starved for months, relying on what little scraps found, type of thin.

Now, Rok Soo didn't know everything about his Record, but he was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to fully erase months worth of memories without any traces.

And even if he hated whatever happened during that time, he knows he would've at least kept a memory a day so he could both figure out how to escape and keep track of time.

Rok Soo observed his surroundings, frantic to figure out what exactly was going on.

For some reason, his eyes drifted back to his arms, something nudging in the back of his mind.

... Where are my scars?

This body did have scars, but they weren't Kim Rok Soo's scars. The scars didn't look over a year old and were in all the wrong places.

Rok Soo froze. Mind racing to figure out what the actual hell was going on!?

He felt his heart stop when out of the corner of his eye, he saw red. Not the blood that painted the walls, but a thick lock of red hair falling on the side of his face.

What the fuck.

-———-———-———-

Days passed, and Rok Soo had some things cleared up.

He was, apparently, in someone else's body. How or why it happened, he didn't bother thinking about.

And he also, unfortunately, knew who the individual was.

Cale Henituse. The trash son of the count. The man who gets beaten into a bloody pulp in the beginning of The Birth of a Hero.

But the most problematic thing was that he had been kidnapped by someone who wanted to know where the "Annual Rings of Life" were.

Which was an issue, because Rok Soo had no idea what he was talking about, and no amount of explaining that seemed to make The Bastard understand that the information won't magically appear.

He also learnt that the man has a boss who was the one who ordered his kidnapping, and he was, from the sounds of it, extremely powerful in both strength and influence.

But the only person Rok Soo had seen since waking up in this world was The Bastard, so that little bit of information was the limit to what he knew at the moment.

Rok Soo tried moving, but only ended up hissing in pain when his raw skin rubbed against the shackles.

I really need to get out of here.

But that provoked the question, why did they kidnap Cale? D̶i̶d̶ t̶h̶e̶ o̶r̶i̶g̶i̶n̶a̶l̶ C̶a̶l̶e̶ d̶i̶e̶ a̶n̶d̶ h̶e̶ t̶o̶o̶k̶ h̶i̶s̶ p̶l̶a̶c̶e̶?̶

I know it's before the novel officially started, this body feels around seventeen years old, maybe younger, except that could just be the malnutrition, but it never mentioned this happened to Cale. I feel like such a major point wouldn't have been left out, with how much unnecessary details the novel kept giving.

So what changed?

Rok Soo didn't have many ideas, but he couldn't exactly prove them at the moment.

He shifted in the cold chair, trying not to move his limbs too much, as he closed his eyes.

Those were the last moments he remembered before he woke up disoriented, with ringing in his ears, and pain blasting through his shoulders.

The fu-

Why does this keep happening?!

Rok Soo slipped down and-

... He slipped down?

His eyes shot open, quickly checking where he was.

Sound quickly washed over him, and he was instantly greeted with the roaring of monsters just metres away.

Rok Soo flinched so hard he slammed his head against the large rock he was propped up against.

He could see the never ending line of trees beyond the beasts, large plants overflowing the place. There was a barrier circling him, keeping all the monsters that were crawling over the dome out.

There was about a second of relief, that maybe someone saved him (w̶h̶y̶ w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ t̶h̶e̶y̶ b̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ h̶i̶m̶ h̶e̶r̶e̶?̶) and was protecting him from the monsters, but his gaze quickly found a countdown.

Magic floating numbers, that he had never seen before but were translated in his mind, were decreasing with every second that passed.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening.

Rok Soo leant his aching head back, resting on the cool stone behind him and scoffed to himself.

Stupid.

Believing someone would save me.

How dumb.

They just want me to suffer in my last moments.

He barked out a laugh, slowly getting more deranged despite the pain racking his chest, soon he was full blown crackling.

I'm going crazy.

I'm actually insane.

Why am I laughing?

His breaths slowed into wheezes as he struggled to catch his breath.

Rok Soo took a deep breath and went to run his hand through his hair when-

... Where... where is it?

His heart stuttered as he stared at the bloody stump of his bicep. It was crudely wrapped, the bandages already soaked with blood, probably to make sure he doesn't die before the monsters get to him.

He whipped his head over to his other arm-

It was gone too.

Rok Soo turned to his legs, or, leg, one being missing from his mid thigh down.

He could imagine moving the limb, he could feel it, but there was nothing to move. His nerves, muscles, and whatever else were trying to send signals to something that was no longer there.

How- how didn't I notice this before?

My goddamn limbs were cut off!

I... what?

His breathing picked up, before quickly stopping. He stared hopelessly ahead, eyes growing darker.

What does it matter?

I'm not going to be alive for much longer.

Rok Soo gazed at the rabid and violent beasts on the other side of the barrier.

There's no thinking my way out of this.

He stared at the annoyingly cheery blue sky that shone above him.

I'm sorry Hyung.

I broke my promise.

He sat on the grass that slowly grew redder and redder with the slow, continuous drip of blood.

Rok Soo had one last look at the situation he was in before closing his eyes. "Living..." he took a shuddering breath, whispering to himself as he smiled, "living is the best."

He heard a crack, the monsters' growls getting clearer.

Then-

He was falling.

What-

Rok Soo quickly opened his eyes, catching the last glimpse of teeth sinking into the spot he once was, then darkness.

He panted, eyes adjusting to the darkness and struggled to sit up.

What the fuck?

He shifted around on the uneven ground, stairs, his mind supplied.

Rok Soo groaned, leaning against a wall. So... the boulder is a secret entrance to who knows where.

Taking deep breaths, he quickly glanced around his surroundings. Not even a couple seconds later, he realised that it wouldn't do much. Everything was essentially pitch black, and he couldn't even see his ha- his foot in front of him.

Rok Soo didn't know if someone was coming, but he wasn't going to wait and see.

Living is the best...

I need to survive.

Resting one final time, he began moving forward, using his only remaining leg to drag himself down the stairs, one by one.

Sometimes, he lost balance, leg growing weak, or just dizziness from blood loss, and he slammed into a wall. His stumps burned with pain whenever something so much as grazes them.

But he kept going.

He wasn't going to stop until he passed out.

Whoever opened the passage for him must want him to live for some reason.

Unless it was something to make him feel hope, only for them to rip it away from him.

Rok Soo didn't care.

He will crawl through the depths of hell if it meant he gets to live.

Something gave him a chance, and he wasn't going to throw it away.

-———-———-———-

Time drifted both fast and slow.

Every movement brought a new wave of pain, but everything blended together in a blurry, adrenaline infused haze.

Rok Soo didn't know how long he struggled down each step, blood leading a trail downwards.

Occasionally, he thought about just throwing himself down the stairs and letting gravity take control. Those thoughts quickly disappeared the second his no longer there limbs flared with pain, the fall no doubt being more painful than what he was currently experiencing.

He kept to the repetitive movements of hooking his heel on the second step in front of him, then dragging himself off whatever step he was on, careful to stay balanced.

It was mind numbing, the sheer repetitiveness of the whole situation, but the random flashes of pain at least gave him some reminder that he didn't accidentally fall asleep and was imagining everything.

Rok Soo was so focused on his actions that he almost missed the whisper of indistinguishable words.

... am I actually going crazy?

Am I hearing things now?

He stilled, waiting for the return of whatever it might've been.

Scoffing, he shifted to continue his descent, but quickly froze again.

[...kay?]

Who the fuck is that?

Rok Soo swivelled his head around, but the voice returned.

[Come... I...help you...] The whisper was feather light, like a small breeze could carry it away.

That was in my mind. Rok Soo inhaled sharply.

Whoever, or whatever, that was, they might be able to help him.

He quickly hooked his foot over a stair and brought himself down another step.

I don't care if it's the devil himself, I will sell my soul if it means I survive.

Rok Soo kept pulling himself down as the words slowly became clearer and clearer.

[Just a little more. I promise you are almost there.]

He huffed, a question on who the hell was talking in his head crossed his mind, but he dismissed it.

Focus on survival. Questions later.

It might've been minutes or hours later, but eventually, the stairs stopped appearing.

[So close. Just a little more. Please don't give up now.] Rok Soo could now identify the voice as male. But that was the only information he figured out, as he hadn't asked any questions, not finding the need to.

He pulled himself around a corner and-

... Fuck.

Rok Soo stared at the view before him.

An elegant white mansion made out of white stone stood in the giant cavern. Five stories, seemingly in perfect condition. A couple statues littered the garden around it, as well as a few water fountains, minus the water.

All in all, anyone who found it would be screaming with joy at such a fancy place.

Except Rok Soo.

I have to crawl my way all across there.

By myself.

Without my arms and using only a leg.

Are you fucking serious?!

Rok Soo groaned in a mix of frustration, anger, and self pity.

And since the disembodied voice hasn't appeared in a physical form, they either are just a voice, or can't move.

Wonderful.

[My apologies, but just a little more and you will be there.]

Where even is "there" anyways?

Rok Soo cleared his throat, trying to prepare himself to form words. "... Which floor do I need to go to, exactly?"

The voice was quiet.

"Oi."

[Um... the fourth.]

"The fourth floor."

[Correct.]

Are you serious?

[I am sorry.]

"Fuck you."

[I am very sorry.]

He let out a sigh and pulled himself forwards.

There was a path of marble tiles leading to the house, so even if there were no stairs to hook his foot around, at least he might be able to use the cracks in the tiles.

I swear I will fucking murder whoever had the great idea of shoving me in this goddamned world.

-———-———-———-

Rok Soo pushed himself up the final step and had to restrain himself from flopping down on the cold marble floor.

His remaining leg was trembling with exhaustion. His whole body was on fire. Almost every muscle in his torso was burning with overuse. He was pretty sure the only reason he hadn't passed out yet was because of the adrenaline.

[The door at the end of the hall is where I can help you.]

Of course it is.

Rok Soo had learnt a couple things about the situation.

One, the disembodied voice was an Ancient Power, and quite a strong one at that, if his words were to be trusted. The voice he was hearing was the soul of its first, and last, user attached to it.

Two, he had made this mansion over ten thousand years ago for the successors of his friend's powers.

Three, there was a shit load of money and valuables stored in some of the rooms.

That last point was a large reason he didn't just give up and die.

Not that he would have done that anyway, but it certainly helped with the motivation.

Rok Soo finally reached the door.

He looked back to the tiny smudges of blood smeared across the floor, marking where he came from. The bleeding had stopped an hour or so ago, but there was still blood clinging to his clothes.

Rok Soo took his eyes away and laid them on the door.

And I am supposed to open this.

An idea formed in his mind and he shifted on the floor.

With a trembling leg, he put all his strength in pushing himself up against the door, sliding upwards until he was standing. He twisted around, but felt his balance slipping. Rok Soo quickly tipped towards the handle, using his fall, clenching his jaw and slamming his chin on it, pushing the handle down.

Collapsing to the ground on his chest, he couldn't help but grin despite the blinding pain as the door opened.

[Are you okay?]

"I am absolutely fucking wonderful." He gritted out, staring into the dark room. "Not like half my body is no longer attached to me. Why do you ask?"

Rok Soo didn't listen to the response and quickly pushed himself forwards.

He couldn't see much in the room, but he could see that it was essentially empty except for a pedestal in the middle. Rok Soo couldn't see what was in it though.

"What now?"

[There's a rock on the pedestal.]

Wow. A rock.

[You need to eat it.]

...

Eat it?

"Excuse me?"

[If you eat the rock, you will get my Ancient Power. With that, you can manipulate rocks and the like to do whatever you wish.]

An idea popped into his head, the power no doubt thinking the same.

"So, for example, could I use, let's say, marble, and make my own prosthetic arms and leg I could control myself?"

[You can do that, but it might take a little fine tuning to make it fluent. You of course won't be able to feel using them, but since, I'm assuming, you've lost them recently, you should be able to still know how it feels to move your limbs. So you'd be more smooth with your movements if you use the stone as an extension of your body.]

Rok Soo nodded and took a deep breath. He repeated the action of standing up again, only pausing for a moment to get steady before he began to hop forward.

It's all off.

My sense of balance isn't the same, and I don't think it ever will be.

He hopped slowly, pausing after each one to make sure he didn't fall over.

It felt like an eternity before he finally reached the pedestal.

[Eat it. And I promise whatever happened to you will not happen again. I will protect you.]

Rok Soo bent down, chest leaning on the edge, forehead resting next to the small eyeball sized rock.

Shuffling over, he opened his mouth and grabbed the stone between his teeth.

Crunch.

[Dad!] Roksu cast a glance over to the kitchen, showing he was listening. [A dragon! There is another dragon approaching!]

He froze from his spot wiping down a table.

A dragon?

[There are lots of strong people around him too! Not as strong as me, of course, but you must be careful, Weak Human!]

Well fuck.

Roksu quickly finished that table and speed walked to where his youngest is in the kitchen.

"Raon, what do you mean by strong people?"

His son turned to him from his place on a chair, equipment floating around them. "Um," the ten year old narrowed his eyes, "there are two that have dead mana, a beast person, a sword master, a mage, two who smell dangerous, and the dragon I told you about."

Mary, the dark elf travelling with them before, Lock, Choi Han, Rosalyn, Ron, Beacrox, and the dragon. The same as last time.

It has been a month since they came, so they might be passing through the area.

... But they could've just teleported.

"Raon, does the dragon know you are here?"

His son frowned, then suddenly flinched. "Uh, yeah. He reacted to my mana."

Roksu sighed and palmed his eyes. "Could you tell them to wait at table eight?" It was his biggest table for the whole group.

"Yeah." Raon averted his eyes, looking at something far away, then nodded. "Done. But he is asking lots of questions."

"Say they will be answered in a face to face conversation."

The ten year old nodded. "They are here."

Roksu let out a sigh. I don't know what they want, but I doubt they'll leave me alone now. And I can't exactly turn them away.

"Okay. Stay in here for now. Don't answer anything yet, we still need to figure out what they want." Raon nodded seriously.

Roksu breathed out and left the kitchen.

As soon as he emerged, eight sets of eyes instantly locked on him. He also registered Ohn and Hong bristling at the attention that suddenly shifted to him.

Roksu was surprised that none of the heroes noticed the sixteen year old shifting to flick out her hidden dagger.

He subtly shook his head, and only then did they turn to see where Roksu was looking at.

"Hello, would you like to order anything?" He took their attention away from his daughter who looked a second away from pouncing on them.

Choi Han straightened up. "Why do you-"

"Sorry, but any discussions will have to happen when I am not working." Fuck. I interrupted him. What if he attacks me? "Would you like to book some rooms, since you will have to wait until closing?" They didn't really, he got off his shift in an hour. That was just the furthest he could push the inevitable conversation.

"Yes," Ron spoke up with a benign smile, but Rok Soo saw the sharp eyes inspecting every part of him, "a two bedroom for the ladies and whatever else you would recommend."

Roksu nodded. "Would anyone be interested in something to eat?"

He was met with silence.

Then-

"Could I have something sweet?" His eyes shifted to Mary.

"Yeah, is an apple pie okay?" At her nod, he looked at the others. "Anything else?"

Some glanced at the menus on the table, others didn't stop staring.

"Could I have a water?" Rosalyn spoke up.

Roksu nodded. "Water is free here. If there is nothing else, then I shall excuse myself." He waited for a second if they needed something, but left after that.

-———-———-———-

It was nine thirty when he entered the staff room.

He had asked Raon to send the message to the other dragon, Eruhaben, he had learnt, that they'd meet there after he closes.

"So what do you want to know?" He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, leaning back on the stool.

In the staff room, there was a large table surrounded by over a dozen chairs and stools. They never needed that many, but looking back on it, he was glad they had extra places to sit.

Ohn and Hong were on either side of him and Raon was on his lap in his dragon form.

"Let's start with where you got the kid from?" Eruhaben started.

"I'm assuming you are talking about Raon and not my other kids." Roksu was tired and he wanted to get whatever this whole thing was over and done with. At the narrowed eyes he received from the reptile, he quickly continued. "There was a bastard thinking he could tame a dragon through torture."

The room went cold and a heavy weight settled over all.

Before the meeting, he had asked Raon if he was okay with sharing what happened to him, since that would most likely be brought up.

The little dragon gave the all clear.

"That man is no longer a problem." He shrugged, ignoring the wide eyes he was receiving.

"Human saved me!" Raon exclaimed, slamming his paws on the table. "He saved me and my noona and hyung!" The two beside him nodded in agreement.

"Mmm. And what do you mean he is no longer a problem?" The golden dragon asked.

Roksu could see what he wanted to know. "Ah, sorry, but I got to him first. He is dead." He didn't miss how the heroes shifted at his bluntness.

Eruhaben sighed. "Unfortunate." He tilted his head and stared at him with molten eyes. "But I am curious as to how you received your Ancient Power and managed to hide with it. Especially from someone of the White Star's influence."

Roksu raised an eyebrow. "I hid by not using it in public. It's not that hard if you don't go looking for trouble." He ignored the look he got from his daughter. "As for how I got it, I was leaning against a boulder, then I fell through it, went down a shit load of stairs, and ate a rock on a pedestal."

"... E-excuse me?" Rosalyn choked out.

"It is what happened, sans a few unnecessary details." Roksu shrugged.

[...]

He didn't bother with whatever judgmental thoughts Super Rock may have been thinking.

"Can I see your arms?" Mary spoke up suddenly. Everyone except her, Rosalyn and the dragon looked to be confused. "And your leg too." More confusion.

"... Why?" Roksu didn't know why the necromancer was so curious about his limbs.

"I want to see how they move."

He stared into her dark purple eyes, alight with excitement despite her blank face.

"... If you want." Mary quickly stood up at that and made her way over. Oh, she means now? "Only the hand for now."

He pulled off one of his gloves, ignoring the sharp inhales around the room. His marble hand was immediately grabbed by scared hands.

The necromancer brought it closer to her eyes and stared at it.

The hand didn't move like a normal hand. When she tried to curl the fingers, it felt like trying to force a statue to move. That being extremely unsuccessful.

"So since you, and you alone, control your hand, no one else can move it unless you wish." She murmured under her breath. "Can you clench your hand for me?"

Roksu balled his hand into a fist, not knowing what else to do about the situation he was in.

"And it looks and moves like a real hand too..." she drifted off into her own little mumbling he couldn't catch.

"What happened?" Roksu looked at and met Choi Han's eyes staring at his hand.

"I was kidnapped and they decided it would be fun to cut off my arms." Almost everyone flinched, Choi Han whipped his head up to look at him with wide eyes. "My leg too. Left me in a forest to die. Found the Ancient Power and it helped me."

Roksu gave his kids a brief overview on what happened to his limbs, but he didn't go into detail, so they know essentially what happened, excluding his actual identity.

"... Oh."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hong trying to smother a yawn.

"You said you went down a lot of-"

"-We should get to bed." He announced, interrupting Choi Han, as Mary removed her hands. "Any other pressing questions?" Silence. "Will you be leaving in the morning?" He asked no one in particular.

"We don't have any... urgent things to return to." The dark elf, Bob apparently, answered. "So we could stay another couple days if you are okay with that?"

He saw Mary's eyes lit up at the proposal to stay longer.

They are asking a commoner for permission?

"I don't care, as long as you pay. Just don't interfere with the work." Roksu slowly stood up, Raon shifting into his human form to drag his half asleep brother away.

"I was wondering if your boss is okay with us being here." Rosalyn spoke up. "I mean, we could bring trouble as the heroes."

Roksu raised an eyebrow as he walked towards the door. "I own the building, so yeah, I'm fine with it. I was the one who invited you all anyway." For some goddamn reason.

He heard the assassin butler hum in interest. "You are quite young to manage such a business. Where did you get such money to start it?"

Stop asking so many fucking invasive questions! Roksu schooled his face to show no emotion. "It was an inheritance of some dead relatives. We'll be going now. Good night." He quickly ushered his kids out the door, letting them make their own way to their rooms at the inn.

-———-———-———-

It was the third day the heroes were staying at his inn, and he must say, they were good at staying out of the way.

Eruhaben showed some disagreement with a dragon working in the kitchen, but Raon didn't take his comments to heart.

Mary had been visiting him every night, taking measurements of his missing limbs for some reason. Whenever he asked, she just said she was testing something.

Right now, he was helping some of his workers in the kitchen since Raon was off his shift.

They weren't busy today, and Roksu thinks it's something to do with the locals figuring out the pattern for when they serve food faster.

So he believed it would be a peaceful day.

He was wrong.

"... Dad?" Ohn poked her head in the kitchen.

Roksu looked up from his veggie, turning serious as her nervous voice. "Yeah?"

"There's someone out there threatening to murder you." He raised his eyebrows. "Well, more specifically the owner of the place, but same thing."

"... Really..."

Ohn nodded, lips pursed. "They also have a giant knife and are swinging it around the place."

Roksu took off his apron and hung it on a nearby rack. "I feel like that's important information."

"Eh, you'll be fine. Just don't get stabbed." Ohn responded with a grin, disappearing around the corner.

Roksu sighed and took one last look at his cooks who were staring at him. They were used to the troubles the inn received on the regular.

"If I don't return, I want to be buried with all my money." He turned, waving over his shoulder, and left.

"Where the fuck is he!?" A voice yelled out across the inn.

"I'm going to assume you are talking about me?" He sighed, observing the man who stood in the centre of the room with a large machete. I've never seen him before.

He cast a glance at the heroes off to the side, looking seconds away from attacking the guy. I'd rather not be known as the place the heroes stayed at for longer than necessary. Who knows who might come to look for information on them.

There was no one dining at the moment, probably all scared off by the insane person.

"You!" He growled, pointing the blade at him. "You put my brother in jail!" Oh, so it's revenge on someone else's behalf this time.

Roksu tilted his head in question. "Apologies, but you are going to have to be specific."

"My brother you fuck head! How dare you not remember him!"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, going through his Records, trying to find someone similar to the man before him. "Is he the bald guy with that strange tattoo on his face?"

The man growled and stepped closer. "And I'm going to fucking gut you right in front of your kids, right before I move onto them." He laughed, a crazy grin on his face.

Roksu felt ice flush through his veins.

"... Is that so?"

Either not feeling the danger or not caring, the man continued, slowly getting nearer. "Maybe I'll have fun with that daughter of yours bef-"

Roksu was over to the bastard in a blink, slamming his fist into the man's face, not caring for the blood that splattered on his sleeve.

The man collapsed to the floor, instantly unconscious. His nose was crushed in a mess of skin and cartilage, blood trickling down his face and onto the wood boards.

"Hmm." Roksu kicked the body below him for good measure. "Thought he'd be stronger." He turned to face the heroes. "Could you take him away? I don't think he'd be in good condition by the time the guards arrive."

The first to step forward was Ron. "Of course. It seems we will be cutting our visit short." The butler grabbed the man by the cuff of his shirt, dragged him like a dead animal. "Miss Rosalyn, if you would be so kind to teleport us?"

The mage slowly nodded and extended her hand, a magic circle glowing below the nine of them.

Eruhaben turned to look at Roksu. "I'll return occasionally to teach the kid magic. It pains me to see how inexperienced he is."

That was all that was said before the red light engulfed them, quickly teleporting them away.

Roksu stood in silence, then looked at Ohn. "Remember what to do if anyone tries to take advantage of you?"

His daughter nodded. "Kick them in the balls."

"Good."

It's been a couple months since the talk, and every few days some of the heroes, mainly Mary and Eruhaben, visited.

Right now, it was Eruhaben and Ron that showed up.

Roksu had no clue why the assassin even came, but he wasn't going to ask out loud.

None of them were working at the moment, and all of them had teleported to the villa for the day. Roksu was relaxing on his bed eating grapes, Raon was practicing magic with the other dragon, and the cats were sparring with Ron in the training grounds.

Well, they were supposed to be.

"Dad!" Hong kicked down his door, a dagger in his hands. "You are strong right?"

What is this about? "... No?"

Gold eyes locked onto his and Roksu felt a shiver go down his spine at the glint in the kitten's eyes.

"... Why are you asking?" He frowned, reaching for a grape.

Hong grinned brightly. "You are going to spar with Mr. Ron!"

The grape slipped out of his hand.

"... What?" I must've heard that wrong.

"Mr. Ron wanted to see how strong you are." His son- no, the little devil, repeated. "He was curious since that time you broke a man's nose in front of them."

Roksu blinked and stared at him deadpan. "No." I will die.

Hong huffed and walked up to him. "That's great. Except I'm not giving you a choice. I'll tell Mr. Ron that you like lemon tea if you don't." He crossed his arms, standing next to his bed.

Excuse me? "You wouldn't."

The cat beast person raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

Neither looked away for a minute, a silent battle.

"... Fine." Roksu relented, ignoring Hong's grin of victory, grumbling under his breath. "You've been spending too much time with your sister."

Hong giggled. "And no external use of your Ancient Power. Limbs only."

"Fuck."

I am going to die.

-———-———-———-

Roksu picked up a wooden sword and swung it around. He hadn't wielded one in years and was unused to not being able to feel the weight.

He let out a sigh, glancing at the terrifying assassin a couple paces away.

"I'm not going to be any good. I haven't wielded a sword since I lost my arms."

Ron gave a small smile. "That is fine. We can work our way up."

Damn it.

-———-———-———-

Roksu stepped to the side, narrowly missing the dagger slicing his shoulder. Rotating on a heel, he kicked with his stone leg at Ron's open torso, surprising him momentarily when he didn't use his sword.

The man quickly recovered, parrying the attack with his dagger, using the chance to lunge at his now clear back.

Anticipating this, Roksu swiftly spun, using his sword to slide the blade away, quickly jumping back to make some distance.

He heard the two of his kids cheering, but he didn't risk glancing over.

"Hmm." Ron looked him up and down. Roksu had discarded his shirt, not wanting it to get ruined. It was his good shirt. He had a couple shallow cuts along his shoulders and torso, the bleeding already stopping.

Roksu had to quickly learn the assassin's attack patterns, small habits, signs before he striked, all so he wouldn't get hurt again.

"I wouldn't call you inexperienced." Ron had this annoying, smug look on his face.

He ran a hand through his hair, damp with sweat. "Whatever. But you should probably sharpen your blade. Going against stone wouldn't be good for... it..." Roksu saw the assassin gasp and go pale. "...Is something wrong?"

Ron quickly sheathed his dagger and speed walked over to him. Shit, did I do something?

He couldn't help but step back when the man got within a meter of him.

The butler looked him up and down again, this time with more scrutiny. He studied his scars at first, but moved onto his face.

"... Do you need something?" Roksu took another step back, feeling uncomfortable.

Ron opened and closed his mouth, looking stunned.

"... Cale?"

Roksu felt his heart stutter as the world faded into-

"Good morning Cale. Guess what we are doing today?" The torturer greeted, an oily grin on his face.

"You haven't been behaving lately Cale." The man frowned, but eyes gleamed with barely hidden excitement as he grabbed a steel rod and rested it above the fire. "You know that means you have to be punished, right?"

"I received some new equipment recently. Would you like to help me test it, Cale?" He tried to speak, yell, anything, but the gag stuffed in his mouth only caused him to choke. "Oooh! So eager." The bastard cooed, rolling out a trolley with a variety of pliers, needles and other unidentifiable devices on it.

"-id you do to him?!" Ca- Roksu snapped out his records, finding himself collapsed on the floor with his two kids standing between him and Ron, Hong yelling at the elder.

"Dad, are you okay?" He felt cool hands hold his cheeks, gold staring into his eyes.

"... I'm-"

"I swear if you say you are fine I'll shove a lemon down your throat." His daughter growled, squeezing her hands tighter.

Roksu blinked, taking in his surroundings, and opened his mouth. "... I- I'm better than I was ten seconds ago."

Ohn squinted at him. "Acceptable."

"Dad, what did he do to you?" Hong hissed, not taking his eyes off the assassin who stood and watched him, pupils trembling.

"I..." he took a deep breath in and got to his feet, dusting off the dirt on his pants with shaking hands. "I think we should have this conversation inside."

-———-———-———-

Roksu barely processed entering their meeting room, sitting down on one of the couches on autopilot.

Ron sat on the opposite end from him, Ohn and Hong next to him like they usually are.

"Ca-"

"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me that name." He cut off.

The butler hummed and slowly nodded, crossing his hands on his lap. "Of course."

The four of them sat in silence, neither side wanting to start first.

"... You aren't returning, are you?" Roksu looked up and stared into Ron's eyes. They had a sadness in them, and something between loss and understanding.

"I won't." He turned his head away, focusing on the wall behind the man.

"Dad, what's happening?" Hong asked, confusion written all over his face, and Ohn looking deep in thought.

He took a deep breath, trying to gather his words. "I... before I met you, I went by another name." Roksu kept his eyes away, not wanting to see their reactions. "C-Cale Henituse, of the Henituse County." Not Cale. Kim Rok Soo. But that's not important. I left that life behind. I'm Roksu now.

It was quiet.

"Isn't that the guy that went missing?" Ohn asked, voice soft.

Roksu nodded, casting a glance at her. "I was seventeen when I was kidnapped by Arm." He saw Ron's eyes widened at the name. Roksu shifted on the couch, leaning further into the backing. "They wanted to know where an Ancient Power belonging to my mother was. After who knows how long, they finally realised I didn't know, so they discarded me in a monster filled forest. It was pure coincidence that an Ancient Power was so close by. When I got out, I decided I didn't want to return, especially if Arm heard I was still alive. They'd just target me again, and probably everyone else."

He just finished his sentence when a body slammed into him. Looking in his arms, Hong was latched around his waist, head buried in his chest.

"... Hong?"

"-'m sad." The red kitten grumbled, hugging him tighter.

Shit, he- they are both kids. He looked up at Ohn who had eyes gleaming with unshed tears. They shouldn't have heard that. "Sor-"

"If you even think about apologising, I will spike everything you eat with lemon juice for a month." His daughter glared at him without malice.

Why are my kids like this? "... Okay." Roksu sighed, turning to Ron, Hong still in his arms. "But how did you realise?"

The butler looked up to his forehead. No, it was his- "Your hair. It seems you have forgotten to put in new dye." He chuckled without humour.

Fuck. I was planning on doing them this evening. He groaned, throwing his head back. My red roots must've shown when I brushed my hair back. Fuck. Not much was showing, so I kept pushing it back. My laziness really is coming back to bite me in the ass.

"If I may ask, why did you not ask your dragon to dye it?" Ron questioned.

"Not my dragon." Roksu grumbled under his breath, but continued. "It's easier to hide." That's if you remember to put it in. He scoffed to himself. "Anyone skilled enough could tell it isn't my real hair colour if mana was used. In a world where people have such a reliance on magic, the idea of just not using it never crosses minds." Roksu shrugged, avoiding eye contact.

"... I see." The butler whispered. "Are you... happy?"

"I am." He didn't have to think about the answer. "Very."

Ron nodded, staring at his interlocked hands. "That is all I could ask for."

"Mmm." Roksu didn't have the chance to say anything else, as the door was kicked open.

"Human!" Raon flew to his lap, placing his front paws on his chest and stared at his face. "Are you okay? Do I need to kill someone? The heartbeat tracker I put on you-" the what? "-went off so I was worried you were in your head again! Did he do something?" Raon cast a very judgmental look at Ron, who only stared at Eruhaben trailing in behind the ten year old.

"Ron triggered one of Dad's flashbacks!" Hong swiftly threw the butler under the bus with no hesitation. "Dad had an identity before this one, and he knew Dad from then and called him by his old name."

Raon took the reveal in stride and quickly nodded, turning back to face Roksu. "Do I need to get rid of him?" He didn't know if the little dragon was talking about having him leave the villa, or something more permanent.

"No. It's fine now." He glanced at Ron. "I hope this information will stay between us. You can tell Beacrox, if you want, but I do not want this information to get out."

The butler hummed in agreement. "I... none of your- the Henituse family believed you passed." He slowly began, the usually composed man stumbled over his words. Roksu made no move to cut him off, slightly curious about what happened after his body's disappearance. "The Count declared that until a body was found, he would not stop searching, believing that you were alive." Ron gave a small huff. "And it seems that he was right. The search is still ongoing, even if it's not as public. Everyone- almost everyone, thought you died after the first few months."

Ohn leant down to whisper something into Raon's ear, most likely a quick summary of his identity.

Roksu grumbled. "I've been told I'm hard to kill."

Ron gave a small, sad smile. "I'm glad you survived. You were very strong." The butler glanced at Roksu's hand that was digging into the pouch of the armrest.

He quickly looked away, focusing on the wall instead, ignoring the sting in his eyes.

A week after the reveal, the only change was Beacrox showing up more frequently, teaching Roksu's kitchen staff different recipes, with the chef obviously in a disguise. He never really spoke, but he did occasionally stare at him with an indistinguishable expression.

There was also Mary not visiting as often, but she had told them she was working on a project.

It was only a month later when Bob, who turned out to be the fucking crown prince asked for a private meeting.

"I do not believe you are someone who likes beating around the bush, so I will be blunt." The blonde began. They were in the inn's meeting room, and it was heavily warded, courtesy of the two dragons. "I have a suspicion about your identity."

Roksu only raised an eyebrow, but internally he was freaking out. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. That's not a good sign. Making sure his voice was steady, he responded. "And?"

Alberu reached down and placed a folder on the table, sliding it closer to him. Where did he take that from? "I believe these may look familiar to you."

Roksu took a good look at what he was showing him, and had to stop himself from showing a reaction.

Oh. Those are my letters. He wasn't talking about my past identity. "If I may ask, what are they?" He had no interest, he was assuming that's why the crown prince was here, in becoming a hero. That was reserved for the people who actually did something. He just tipped them off on things he noticed, and pointed them in the right direction.

"These are letters that were written to us, warning of attacks by Arm, as well as assisting in gaining allies, useful equipment, and critical information." The crown prince crossed his arms, staring at Roksu. "The person who wrote these letters is the person we need to thank for helping us win this war."

He looked up to meet striking blue. "And you believe this person is me?"

Alberu nodded, and if he had any doubts, he didn't show them. "Yes."

"Well, that isn't me." Roksu shrugged. He was not going to be a hero. He had enough money to run away and start up somewhere else if they tried. Maybe the Eastern Continent.

"Hmmm. That is a shame." The crown prince sighed pitifully. "We were planning on giving this person a reward."

Roksu knew what he was trying to do and gave a wide eyed innocent look. "Really? If it's coming from the shining sun of the kingdom, I'm sure it must be something impressive."

Alberu gave a bright smile. "Naturally. We have a few things prepared for the individual, but if they want something specific, we can organise it."

"Mmm." Something specific? "And if, hypothetically, this person doesn't want to be announced to the public, would you respect their wishes?" Roksu knew he was not being subtle, but it was the deciding question.

"Of course. The only changes the person would experience are the results of the rewards. Say, if they want land, they would manage that. A title would give more connections and authority, and money would make the individual richer. What they do with the rewards is up to them, as long as it is within the laws of our kingdom."

Roksu nodded slowly. "I see." Decision made, he continued. "I would like a sum of money as well as a golden plaque."

The crown prince blinked, then flashed an amused grin. "Wow. But I thought you didn't write these?"

He stared deadpan at the blonde. "I needed to make sure you weren't going to ruin my life. I would also like to let you know that if word of my identity spreads, I will not hesitate to leave and make a new identity."

Alberu had a look of understanding wash over him, and gave a nod. "That would make sense. You've made your own life. Sudden fame wouldn't do it any good."

Roksu hummed. "Indeed. Now, about how much..."

"Hello."

Roksu blinked at Mary standing in front of his bedroom door. It was a Saturday, and he was planning on sleeping until noon and lazing around the rest of the day, repeating it the next day.

"Hi..." He waited for a couple seconds for her to explain why she was here, after not seeing her for two months. But her silence reminded him that she wasn't exactly the... best at interactions. "Are you here for something?" Roksu glances at the large metal, definitely heavy, case by her feet.

She nodded. "I'd like to show my project I was working on."

He hummed, remembering where the kids were at the moment. "Well, Raon is somewhere in the forest with Eruhaben at the moment. Ohn and Hong are out with Rosalyn and Lock buying who knows. But they should all be back in an hour or two for lunch." I did hear them talking about types of venomous snakes. I only hope they won't bring one back-

"Oh, no. It is for you." ... For me? Mary picked up the case with a strength he didn't know she had, and stepped past him, into his room.

Roksu only watched as she carefully placed the trunk on the table in the centre of the room.

"Can I ask what it is?" He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little worried. Mary might be the least... impulsively destructive of the visitors to the villa, but that didn't mean the Exploding Bone Incident never happened.

She slowly turned, and stared at him. "It's a gift. I don't know when your birthday is, so I planned to give this to you as soon as I finished it."

You didn't answer my question. But Roksu didn't have the chance to ask again, as she reached down to click open the metal case.

He had his Ancient Power ready for action, just in case something did happen.

Thankfully, there was no explosion, glitter, or anything else that would give his room irreparable damage.

Roksu peeked over the necromancer's shoulder, and what he saw made him freeze.

There, lying in a foam type of material, were two familiar looking arms, and one leg. They looked very similar to the ones he had as Kim Rok Soo, shape, scars and all.

"Where... how...?" He whispered, not daring to reach out and touch them.

Mary didn't smile, she never did, but her eyes lit up at the go ahead to talk about them. "I'm a necromancer, it's something I can do. I've been working on them for a long time." Something he learnt ever since the visits was that Mary was… quite passionate about her work. "It's my first time actually making limbs, but I've read a couple preserved books from the last necromancer, so they should work. I've been testing them using a technique of manipulating mana that replicates..."

He tuned her out as she moved onto more technical terms he didn't understand, instead staring at the limbs that were made specifically for him.

"Why..." He interrupted her rambling, trying to find the words. "Why would you do all that for me?"

Mary tilted her head. "Because you deserve it." She said it like it was the simplest thing in the world. "You deserve to feel too."

All the air in Roksu's lungs escaped.

He didn't know how long he stood there, staring at the contents of the case.

Deciding not to dwell on that tight c̶o̶n̶s̶t̶r̶i̶c̶t̶i̶n̶g̶, c̶h̶o̶k̶i̶n̶g̶ pressure in his chest, he asked the question he wondered since first taking in the limbs. "The scars... how did you know?"

Mary nodded, and brushed her fingers against the realistic scars. "They are on your marble limbs. They weren't just the pattern, but a different texture entirely. I did have to do a little bit of research, cross referencing the texture, shape and size of the scars to ones they could be, to make them more realistic. Is that okay? I assumed because they were already there, you were fine with them. If you aren't, I can always change it. It wouldn't be too much trouble, it's just the outer layer."

Roksu quickly shook his head. "No. No, it's fine... I don't mind at all." He knew she was a little touchy on outer appearances, especially because of her necromancy scars.

Mary stepped aside to let him have a closer look. He reached down, picking up one arm and inspected it, Record flashing in the back of his mind.

The limb was... very realistic. It felt exactly like an arm, the weight, texture, everything was uncannily similar to Rok Soo, just a little paler to match with his current body.

He glanced down at his marble limbs. I guess she was only replicating what I already had. And the arms I am most familiar with were of my previous life.

"Would you like to try them on?" Roksu jerked at the voice. Now?

"... What would be involved with that?" He didn't know much about actual prosthetics, let alone ones made by a necromancer.

"The process of attaching them shouldn't be painful, but it might take a while. At least the first time. I need to line them up with your biological signature so they work properly. After that, you should be able to remove and attach without my help."

He hummed. "Right now?"

Mary nodded. "If you would like to."

-———-———-———-

Roksu didn't know when he drifted off, but he woke up with a jerk.

There was an odd tingly numbness below his shoulders, where his-

He quickly looked down and stared at his physical arms.

Mary had laid him down on his bed, and told him to remove his shirt for the attachments. They hadn't done his leg just yet, instead focusing on the more important part.

He didn't know how long he just laid there, arms raised, gazing at something he never thought he'd see again.

Shifting from the side snapped his attention away, to Mary, sitting on a chair.

She was also staring at his new limbs. "I would like to try some tests to make sure they work properly. There was a limit to what I could check before."

Roksu didn't trust his voice, so he gave a shaky nod.

Mary moved to sit on the bed next to him. "I will ask you to do certain actions with your arms and hands, and I'd like you to do them to the best of your abilities. If you can't do something, just tell me."

He gave another nod, as Mary brought out a small note book.

She ran him through some tests, checking the mobility of his fingers, if he could feel the wooden stick she poked in certain areas, making sure nothing hurt, and his strength in general.

The necromancer said that everything was working perfectly, and the only difficulties he would have were the adjustment to being able to feel things.

That was something he had been refusing to think about during the tests.

The pure senses he was experiencing was borderline overwhelming. It was different to the phantom pains he got occasionally. The rubbing of fabric whenever he accidentally touched the bed, the small taps of the stick, small breezes of air brushing against his skin.

Not being able to feel anything with his arms and leg was something he had long accepted he wouldn't get back. He had understood that he was lucky to even be alive, let alone have the ability to move his makeshift limbs so smoothly, but sometimes he couldn't help but wish for more.

And Roksu made sure no one knew of his... particularities, the only knowing of it before the heroes arrived were his kids and Freesia. No one suspected anything. He made sure all of his skin was covered, never touched anyone, and only removed his gloves when he was at the villa, where he was certain it was safe to do so.

He kept telling himself that he hid it because he would get hunted by the White Star if it got out that not only was there someone using an earth Ancient Power, but someone suspiciously missing both arms and a leg.

But at the back of his mind, it didn't want to be treated differently.

Roksu's Records occasionally flicked to Jang Man Soo, the man without legs, who died protecting others in his previous life. Man Soo confessed to Rok Soo that his skin crawled at the pitying looks he kept receiving. The man loathed that he was treated like he was fragile, even if he was tougher than most for surviving that long after what he's been through, in Rok Soo's opinion.

Roksu didn't want that.

He had enough of those looks when his entire life team died.

And in this new life, he was fine with starting anew.

H̶e̶ d̶i̶d̶n̶'t̶ h̶a̶v̶e̶ a̶n̶y̶t̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ i̶m̶p̶o̶r̶t̶a̶n̶t̶ l̶e̶f̶t̶ a̶n̶y̶w̶a̶y̶.

Roksu accepted never seeing anything from his own world.

Even though his eyes were of a very similar colour, it wasn't the same. The face, the body, the past he had wasn't the same.

It never will be.

But now, he received arms that were almost exactly his.

Not Cale's, his.

While Kim Rok Soo would've never liked his scars, Roksu didn't mind them. It reminded him that there was part of himself left. Something that didn't die.

"Roksu?" He jerked, whipping around to look at Mary.

"... Anything else I need to know about my new arms?"

She shrugged. "Some things. But they shouldn't be too important at the moment. Stuff like how to maintain them, what they can resist, the pain threshold, how to remove and reattach them, and when they might need repairs I've written down already."

Roksu stared at Mary. "... Thank you. For doing this. Do you want anything in return?" If he was being honest, he didn't think there was much he could offer.

"No, it's fine. It was a project that I was going to experiment with one day."

The only thing he could think of something useful for her would be bones or dead mana, but he doesn't-

"There's a swamp, in the Forest of Darkness." Roksu continued at her blank stare. "It's filled with dead mana. I don't know the exact location, but I could point you in the general direction."

Mary blinked. "... Dead mana?"

Roksu hummed. "Yes. It's a decent amount too. We don't have a purpose for it, and it's just lying there."

The necromancer didn't move for a couple breaths, then slowly nodded. "Okay then. Can I give some to the dark elves?"

He shrugged. "I don't care. It's yours, do whatever you want to it. Blow it up if you wish."

Mary looked at him, no emotions crossed her face as usual, the turned away. "It's lunch time. Do you want to eat in here to get used to your arms?"

Roksu didn't say anything at the erupt subject change, and shook his head. "No, I'll eat in the dining room."

Mary nodded and stood up. "Mr. Ron was at the door keeping the others out. They should be gone now though."

Roksu let out a breath and went to follow the necromancer.

It suddenly hit him what was going to happen.

It will be fine.

It's no big deal.

Nothing bad will happen.

-———-———-———-

Roksu stood at the door to the dining room, hand resting on the cold, smooth, hard handle.

He was wearing a short sleeved shirt, so there was barely any fabric touching his newly sensitive limbs.

Mary stood a pace behind him, waiting for him to push the doors open.

"You'll be okay." She said quietly in her usual monotone voice.

"I know that." He let out a breath. "It's just-"

Before he could speak another word, the handle was pulled away from him as the doors swung open.

"Dad! What-" Raon cut himself off and blinked at the extended hand. It was a few heart beats later that he looked up at him with wide eyes. "Noona! Hyung! Dad has hands!" He yelled, whipping his head around to face his siblings.

Ohn and Hong instantly leapt up from their chairs and scrambled to Roksu. Eruhaben was sitting down and didn't make a move to get up, instead gazing at his now human-like arms. Ron was standing off to the side against the wall, also eyeing off his new limbs.

But Roksu was focused entirely on the kids who were standing before him, not yet touching him.

"Dad- you..." Ohn gasped, staring at his arm. "Did Mary..." She tore her eyes away and looked over his shoulder at the necromancer.

Roksu guessed she nodded, because Ohn returned her attention to his new limbs.

"Ah... surprise?" He murmured, just before Hong slammed into him.

Roksu took a bracing step back and instinctively placed his hand on his head, almost flinching away when he processed the soft, fluffy, warm sensations.

He didn't notice his fingers trembling as he reached down to cup his son's face and tilt it up. Roksu couldn't help but lightly squeeze his cheeks, watching as the thirteen year old lit up and leaned further into his palms.

He was warm, and soft, and squishy, and just alive.

Roksu noticed a drop of water on Hong's nose and wiped it away with his thumb. Where did that-

Oh.

He blinked.

I'm crying.

Roksu moved his eyes to his other two children, who didn't hesitate to throw themselves at him too.

Ohn nudged Hong to the left to make room for herself as she quickly hugged him as well. Raon, in his dragon form, hit his chest and tucked his head under his neck, wings fluttering in joy.

Roksu waited no longer to wrap his arms around his kids and bring them close.

He knew what their hair, fur, skin, and scales felt like. Whenever he picked up his kids, or they hugged him, they brushed against his face or any bare skin he had uncovered. He also knew what those textures felt like before he lost his arms, when he was Rok Soo.

And if he imagined hard enough, if he brought forward the scarce records of those times he patted a cat, touched the scales of whatever reptilian monster, or ran a hand through his own hair in his past life, he could pretend that half of himself wasn't missing.

But this...

Roksu tucked Ohn closer using that hand to thread it through Hong's hair and the other to trace the scales along Raon's spine. His scales had a coolness with an underlying warmth, smooth to the touch.

He didn't know how long he stood there, clutching his kids to himself and just letting the sensations flow over and consume him.

It felt like- like the sky was opening up and he was feeling sunlight for the first time. Like a weight he didn't know he was carrying got lifted and he was drifting away.

"Dad?" A mumble from his neck brought his attention back. Roksu let out a hum to show he was listening. He didn't trust himself to speak just yet. "We are going to show you everything you've missed out." Roksu huffed and the dragon poked his shoulder with his nose. "I wasn't asking for your opinion. It's going to happen."

He just scratched Raon's head.

The war had ended, trades have begun to kick up, and different beings were slowly getting integrated into the kingdoms.

His inn was thriving, and he recently bought a few acres of land for some fruit trees.

There were still some groups left over from Arm who were running around, trying to start something, but they were quickly apprehended.

And sometimes his arms ached when it was too quiet and dark, but he had his kids to distract him until it faded.

It wasn't what he expected his life to turn out like ten years ago, but he couldn't ask for anything else.

He was happy.