Chapter 24: I Love You, Son
Xiao Ming was surprised when he saw Scarlett.
'Yes. It's better to go home now.'
Evelyn was the reason why he kept staying in the Maniacal Shrub Inn.
Now that she had left, there was no point in staying in the inn anymore. "Alright."
Scarlett's house was located in the western part of Nightshire city. It was ten minutes from Maniacal Shrub Inn by carriage.
Her house was big and luxurious. Not only was her house enclosed by a high iron fence, but there were also two women guarding the entrance.
Even though the two of them were not strong compared to Evelyn, their strength, agility, stamina, and mana capacity were at levels 17 to 19.
In other words, they were almost at Elite Rank.
Xiao Ming asked Scarlet many things on the way to her house, including all the powerful people in Nightshire city.
She told him that the strongest people in Nightshire city were only at Master rank. Most of the citizens were at the Novice rank, and only a few of them were at the Elite rank.
He was not surprised about this because Nightshire city was only a small city, so it was normal.
After entering her house, they immediately headed to the family room. The family room was big with two sea paintings hanging on the wall.
There was also a red couch in the middle of the room with a small wooden table in front of it.
Even though it was not as luxurious as his house in his previous life, Xiao Ming was still amazed.
'This family room feels comfortable and unique.'
There was no television in this world today, and they used candles as a means of lighting.
Of course, it was not an ordinary candle because it had been infused with mana. The candles could last a long time, depending on the amount of mana in them.
After sitting on the couch, he uttered, "Scarlett, can you tell me about my parents now?"
Previously, she told him to call her by her name. At first, he wanted to call her aunt, but she refused, saying she disliked it.
"I don't know about your mother because you came to this city only with your father." she responded, "Everyone in this city has never seen your mother until now, so we only know about your father."
"I see." Even though he was shocked, he did not show it on his face. "Then please tell me about my father."
"His name is Ethan Farley." She began to tell him about his father.
She said his father was Rheanix. He awakened Mage and Knight classes, but only a few people knew about this.
She also told him that his father really loved him. There was a time when he fought the whole gang alone because they did something bad to Ace.
Not only was he strong, but he was also kind to everyone. Sometimes, she was even touched by how deep his love was for his son.
"So, did my father die protecting this city?" he wanted to know if Kieran told the truth or not.
"Yes." She began to explain what happened when countless magical beasts suddenly attacked Nightshire city.
She said his father and citizens fought against the magical beasts bravely.
At first, they had the upper hand, but everything changed when a 4-star magical beast suddenly appeared.
A 4-star magical beast was equal to Grandmaster rank, while all of them were only at Novice, Elite and Master rank.
But even so, none of them showed the slightest fear in their eyes. They fought against the 4-star magical beast bravely because Nightshire city was their home.
"Even though we managed to kill that magical beast, but we lost many people, including my daughter, husband and your father." Scarlett spoke, "Many strong people died that day."
"I see. Did my father leave something for me?" he inquired.
She suddenly remembered something after hearing his words. "Wait a second."
She rushed to her room before returning to the family room again. She did not return empty-handed because she was holding a small wooden box in her hands.
"This is what your father told me to give you." She gave the wooden box to him.
His father asked her two things before he died. First, he asked her to take care of his son.
And last, he asked her to take the wooden box in his room and give it to his son when he was 18.
His father had a close relationship with her family in the past, so she agreed to take care of him.
He saw two things after opening the box.
A letter and a blue pearl bracelet!
He took the letter and began reading it.
[Ace.]
*Thump…
He only read the first word, but his heart suddenly beat hard for a second.
Not only that but his heart was suddenly filled with sadness. He knew that he had taken over Ace's body, but he suddenly felt as if Ethan Farley was his real father.
'Is my predecessor still inside me?'
He suddenly felt as if his predecessor's soul and his soul had become one.
[Ace, when you read this, that means I'm already dead.]
The sadness in his heart grew bigger as he read the letter.
[Actually, I don't want to die because you will be alone later. I don't want to let you face this cruel world alone. I always want to be by your side and protect you forever, but I know I won't be able to do that.]
When Ethan wrote this part, he tried his best not to cry. His son was still young, so he wanted to protect his son from the cruel world.
However, he knew that his life was not long anymore because he was already seriously injured before coming to Nighthsire city.
[Ace, you will face the cruel world alone from now on because I can no longer be by your side.]
Ethan suddenly felt like he had failed as a father.
Not only did he fail to give happiness and protection to his son, but he would also leave his son alone in a cruel world.
The sadness within him grew bigger as he continued writing the letter for his son.
*Drip…
He finally could no longer hold back the tears in his eyes.
His heart ached as he imagined his son facing the cruel world alone.
His heart ached when he imagined his son getting hurt, but he was not there to help and protect him.
His body and heart cried as he imagined the hardships his son would face alone. If he could steal other people's life force, he would have done that long ago.
He did not mind if he became a devil. He was fine if he became everyone's enemy.
As long as he could be by his son's side and protect him forever, he would do anything because his son meant the world to him.
However, there was no such thing as stealing someone else's life in this world. This was the reason why his heart cried as he accepted his fate.
[However, I believe you can do that because I know my son is not a weak person. My son is a strong young man who will never give up on anything.]
At this moment, Xiao Ming felt like his predecessor was crying next to him.
'He is good father.'
He saw the wrinkles on the letter, and he believed it was because of his father's tears falling on the letter.
[Ace, even though I'm no longer by your side, but I will continue to watch over you from heaven.]
Xiao Ming's eyes were suddenly filled with tears before his cheeks were finally wet from his tears.
'Eh? What is this? Why am I suddenly crying?'
He did not understand why his eyes were suddenly filled with tears.
Sure, he was using Ace's body, but he didn't know anything about Ethan. He had never even met Ethan before.
At this moment, he suddenly saw his predecessor crying hard next to him. His predecessor was sad when he read his father's letter.
'I see.'
He finally understood why his eyes were suddenly filled with tears.
It was because his body was crying!
Even though he had taken over Ace's body, but he was only a soul borrowing Ace's body.
[Goodbye, my son. I hope God will always protect you. Love, your father.]
Xiao Ming could not say anything because his heart was still filled with sadness.
He only looked at the blue pearl bracelet because his father said he should wear the bracelet and never lose it.
Scarlett instantly embraced him before finally saying, "Ace, you are not alone because I will always be by your side. I will always protect you."
Xiao Ming did nothing when she hugged him.
'Ace, what is your dream? What do you want to achieve before you die? Tell me, Ace. Tell me because I will make all your dreams come true one day.'
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone