Chapter 178: Graves

The next morning came quickly. The bright sun shone through the big windows of my room, warming up my bed.

I sat up, stretched my arms, and rubbed my eyes. My body felt completely fresh. All the tiredness from yesterday’s sword training with Raymond was completely gone, thanks to Aunt Elena’s magic.

I got out of bed, put on a simple white t-shirt and dark pants, and walked downstairs to the living room.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, I stopped. The house was unusually busy for an early morning.

Everyone was already gathered in the main living room. Aunt Elena stood near the front door wearing a long, elegant black dress and a dark coat. Raymond stood right behind her, wearing a neat black suit, holding a large black umbrella and a wooden box.

Carmilla was helping Leo and Mia put on clean, dark jackets. Viora was standing near the sofa, wearing a dark grey hoodie and jeans. Everyone looked quiet and serious, which was very strange.

’What is happening?’

"Good morning, Woo Jin," Carmilla said softly when she saw me. She gave me a small, sad smile.

"Morning," I said, looking around at everyone in confusion. "What’s going on? Is something happening today?"

Aunt Elena turned her head toward me. Her cold blue eyes looked deeper and more serious than usual.

"Eat a piece of bread quickly, Woo Jin," Elena said in her calm, firm voice. "We are all leaving the villa today."

I blinked. "Leaving? Are we going to the lower district market? Or the guild hall?"

"No," Elena replied, turning toward the heavy front door. "We are going to the quiet hills outside the city. Raymond, bring the carriage."

’Carriage? Not a car?’

"At once, Lady Elena," Raymond bowed politely, holding the door open for all of us.

I grabbed a fresh bun from the dining table and followed everyone out the door. My mind was full of questions, but no one was talking.

Even Leo, who usually shouted and ran around in the morning, was walking quietly while holding Carmilla’s hand.

Outside, a large, black wooden carriage pulled by two smooth black horses was waiting at the front gate.

Raymond helped Elena, then Viora and Carmilla, Leo, and Mia climb inside first. I climbed up and sat down beside Viora, and Aunt Elena sat near the door. Raymond closed the carriage door, climbed onto the driver’s seat outside, and clicked the reins.

’I don’t really understand where we are going in a carriage and the first thing in the morning.’

The carriage started moving smoothly down the cobblestone road.

Inside the carriage, the silence was heavy. The only sound was the rhythmic clack-clack-clack of the horses’ hooves against the road and the soft creaking of the wooden wheels.

I looked out the glass window. The bright city buildings slowly faded away as we drove further up into the green hills.

I leaned closer to Viora and whispered, "Hey, Viora. Do you know where Auntie is taking us?"

Viora turned her head to look at me. She reached out under her jacket and softly tapped my hand.

"Just wait, Woo Jin," Viora whispered back softly. "You will see when we get there."

I looked at Aunt Elena. She was staring straight out the opposite window, her face looking like a carved stone statue. Her hands were folded neatly in her lap, but I could tell her mind was far away from the place she was at right now.

After driving for nearly an hour, the carriage slowly came to a complete stop.

"We have arrived, Lady Elena," Raymond’s polite voice called out from the driver’s seat.

Raymond opened the wooden carriage door and stepped aside, holding a large black umbrella above the doorway even though it wasn’t raining.

We all stepped out of the carriage one by one.

The air here was cool, crisp, and fresh. There was no noise from cars, no loud market sellers. There was only the soft sound of the wind blowing through the long green grass and tall oak trees.

We were standing at the top of a high, beautiful hill that overlooked the whole city.

In front of us was a small, clean garden surrounded by a low white stone wall.

Inside the garden stood two large, beautiful black marble gravestones. Fresh green grass grew neatly around them, and white wild lilies were blooming softly at their base.

Aunt Elena walked forward first, her black heels clicking softly against the dirt path.

She walked right up to the two black gravestones and stopped. Raymond stepped up beside her, carrying the wooden box he had brought from the villa.

I walked up behind Aunt Elena, looking at the stone slabs in total confusion. I looked around at the peaceful trees, then back at the dark marble.

"Auntie..." I asked softly, rubbing the back of my neck. "Why are we all here? What is this place?"

Aunt Elena didn’t turn around immediately. She stood completely still, looking down at the carved words on the black marble.

"This is where your parents lay, Woo Jin," Elena said smoothly, her voice carrying a deep, quiet weight that made my heart pause. "Don’t you remember?"

My mind went completely blank.

My... my parents?

I froze in my tracks, staring straight at the two black gravestones.

Aunt Elena slowly turned her head, looking at my wide, shocked eyes.

"Nineteen years ago, before this city was built, a massive S-Rank dungeon break occurred right on this hill," Elena spoke softly. "Your father and mother were just two ordinary people but they died while protecting other from the monsters."

I took a slow, heavy step forward, my eyes dropping down to read the carved golden letters on the front of the black marble.

MIN-SOO PARK

A True Hero of the First Generation

Rest in Peace

SOO-YIN PARK

The Light That Protected Our Walls

Rest in Peace

The words hit my chest like a heavy iron hammer.

In my previous life, I was just a regular guy reading stories on my computer late at night. But ever since I woke up in this strange world as Woo Jin, I had been running around fighting monsters, entering dangerous gates, and trying to live happily with viora every single day. I had never stopped to think about Woo Jin’s real family.

Now, standing here on this quiet hill, looking at their names carved deep into the stone, a strange, overwhelming warmth welled up inside my chest. It felt like a deep, forgotten memory buried inside Woo Jin’s body was waking up.

"They fought until the very last second," Elena continued, her voice steady and proud. "They saved hundreds of innocent people, including me and Raymond. But they couldn’t come home."

Raymond knelt down on one knee in front of the gravestones. He opened the wooden box he was carrying, pulling out two fresh bundles of white flowers and a small silver burner. He lit a tiny piece of sweet-smelling incense, letting the light white smoke drift softly into the cool morning air.

"Master Min-Soo was a great man, Young Master Woo Jin," Raymond said softly, looking at the stone with deep respect. "You have his sharp eyes and his stubborn resolve."

Carmilla walked forward slowly, holding Leo and Mia by their hands.

She bowed her head deeply toward the two gravestones, her crimson eyes showing pure respect.

"Thank you..." Carmilla whispered softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Thank you for giving us a safe place to live... through Lady Elena and Woo Jin."

Little Leo looked up at the big black stones, his round face turning serious. He let go of Carmilla’s hand and stepped forward, placing a small white flower he had picked from the grass right at the base of the marble.

"Thank you, Big Brother Woo Jin’s mom and dad," Leo said in a clear, sweet voice. "Woo Jin is very strong and nice to us. He protects us every day!"

Little Mia nodded her head eagerly. "Thank you!"

A soft, small smile appeared on my face despite the heavy feeling in my chest. I reached down, patting Leo’s head gently.

"Thanks, Leo," I murmured softly.

Viora walked up beside me, stepping close enough that her shoulder touched mine. She didn’t say a single word. She simply reached down and took my hand in hers, squeezing my fingers with a warm, steady grip.

I looked over at her. She knew I didn’t need a long speech right now. She just wanted me to know that she was right here by my side.

I turned back to the two gravestones, taking a deep, long breath of the fresh morning air.

"Auntie," I spoke up, my voice becoming clear and firm. "Why did you bring all of us here today? Is it because of the Director Summit next week?"

Aunt Elena turned her body fully toward me. The wind blew her dress softly, making her yellow hair sway in the breeze.

"Yes," Elena answered plainly. "Next week, Raymond and I will be at the High Tower. The enemies lurking in the shadows—the Slayer Guild, the corrupt Central Bureau officials, and the dark species traders— they are after you for unknown reasons. They think that without me and Raymond standing in the front yard, they will easily get their hands on you."

She stepped closer to me, placing her right hand firmly on my shoulder. Her touch was warm and strong.

"I brought you here today so you would remember who you are, Woo Jin," Elena said, her sharp blue eyes looking directly into mine. "You are the son of Min-Soo and Soo-Yin. You carry their blood, their courage, and their legacy. You are not a weak, helpless orphan hiding behind my skirts anymore. I am giving you full freedom to get in and out of any gates."

I stared into her eyes, feeling a surge of raw energy coursing through my veins.

"Because a big war is coming ahead and you must get strong enough to protect yourself."