The Eclipsed Order

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: The Person I Never Expected to See Again

The afternoon was already beginning to fade when Ares arrived at the cemetery.

It was located on a quiet hillside overlooking the city, far enough from the crowded streets that the sounds of traffic had become little more than a distant murmur. Rows of gravestones extended along the carefully maintained grounds, separated by narrow stone paths and patches of grass that had been kept surprisingly clean despite the changing seasons.

Ares carried a small bouquet of flowers in one hand.

He had also brought a bottle of water and a few simple offerings, the kind of things people commonly brought when visiting the graves of their family.

There was no particular reason for him to bring anything expensive.

After all, he hadn’t come here to impress anyone.

He simply wanted to see them.

Ares eventually stopped in front of two graves positioned beside one another.

The names engraved into the stone were still clearly visible.

Yoon Jae-hoon

Kim Hye-jin

His parents.

For several moments, Ares remained standing there without saying anything.

Then he crouched down and carefully placed the flowers between the two graves.

His fingers brushed away a few leaves that had fallen across the stone before he poured some water over the small patches of dirt surrounding them.

Once everything was in order, Ares sat down on the grass in front of the graves.

The wind passed gently through the cemetery.

His dark and silver-white hair moved slightly.

"It’s been a long time, Mother. Father."

His voice was quiet.

There was no bitterness in it.

Only a strange sense of familiarity.

Ares looked at the two graves for a while before continuing.

"I’m glad they’re still here."

His gaze moved toward the city in the distance.

"After everything that happened to Earth, I wasn’t sure what I’d find when I came back."

He smiled faintly.

"The city has changed quite a lot."

There was a brief silence.

"But the cemetery is still here."

His eyes returned to the graves.

"So I suppose that’s enough."

The wind passed again.

Ares lowered his gaze.

"A lot has happened since the last time I stood here."

He rested his arms loosely against his knees.

"I’ve experienced things I never thought I’d experience again."

His voice became softer.

"I met people who became important to me. I made friends. I built something of my own."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"And somehow, I even ended up becoming the leader of an organization."

He paused.

"It sounds ridiculous when I say it like that."

For a moment, he almost laughed.

Then his expression became more thoughtful.

"I also lived another life."

The words lingered in the quiet cemetery.

"A completely different one."

He looked down at his hands.

"I was born again in another world."

His eyes slowly lifted.

"I learned magic. I learned things that don’t exist here. I met people who could never have existed on Earth before, and somehow, despite everything..."

He smiled.

"I think I’ve lived a pretty good life."

Ares looked toward the graves again.

"I wish you could have seen it."

The wind brushed against his face.

"I’ve grown up."

He paused.

"At least, I think I have."

His smile became slightly more genuine.

"I’ve become stronger than I ever imagined."

He looked toward the city.

"And for once, I don’t think strength is the only thing that matters."

Ares remained there for several minutes, quietly talking about the years he had spent away from Earth.

He told them about the people he had met, the places he had visited, and the strange events that had become ordinary parts of his new life. He didn’t explain every detail, nor did he expect the graves to somehow answer him.

He simply wanted to tell them.

After all, they had missed everything.

His childhood.

His growth.

His second life.

Everything that had happened after their deaths.

Eventually, Ares lowered his head.

"I’m sorry."

The words came more quietly than everything before them.

"I couldn’t protect you back then, I couldn’t do anything."

His fingers tightened slightly against his knees.

"I was too late."

For the first time since arriving, his expression became visibly sad.

"I thought I had already accepted it."

He looked at their names.

"But coming back here..."

He exhaled slowly.

"I suppose some things don’t disappear that easily."

Ares remained silent for a while.

Then he smiled again.

"But I’m doing well now."

His voice was calmer.

"So you don’t have to worry about me."

He stood.

"I’ll come back again."

Ares looked at the two graves one final time.

"Take care, Mother. Father."

He turned away.

But before he could take another step, he noticed someone approaching from farther along the path.

A man was walking toward the same section of the cemetery.

He appeared to be in his fifties, perhaps slightly older. His black hair had already turned noticeably gray around the sides, and several lines had formed across his face from age. He wore a simple dark coat over a shirt and trousers, with no accessories that immediately stood out.

His body was lean rather than muscular, although there was still something disciplined about the way he carried himself.

Even while walking slowly, his posture remained straight.

There was a quiet heaviness in his eyes.

The kind that didn’t come from ordinary tiredness.

Ares looked at him.

Something about the man immediately felt familiar.

He stopped.

The man’s eyes moved toward the graves.

Then toward Ares.

He slowed.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

The man eventually stopped a short distance away.

His gaze settled on Ares’s face.

"Who are you?"

His voice was deeper than Ares remembered, roughened slightly by age.

The man glanced toward the graves.

"Are you perhaps related to the Yoon family?"

Ares didn’t answer immediately.

He continued staring at him.

The face had changed.

The hair had changed.

Thirteen years was a long time.

But there were things that couldn’t be erased by age.

The way he stood.

The slight narrowing of his eyes when examining someone.

The faint scar near his eyebrow.

And most importantly—

that voice.

Ares’s expression slowly changed.

"...Manager Park?"

The man’s eyes widened.

"What?"

Ares looked at him carefully.

"As I expected."

A faint smile appeared.

"It really is you."

The man’s expression became confused.

"How do you know my name?"

Ares took a step closer.

"It’s been a long time, Manager Park."

The man’s breathing stopped for a moment.

Ares continued.

"Or should I call you Shadow Slayer?"

The man’s face changed completely.

His eyes widened.

His body became rigid.

"Who are you?"

His voice had become sharper.

"How do you know that name?"

Ares remained calm.

"I know you’re surprised."

The man stared at him.

"You should be."

Ares looked directly into his eyes.

"But how could I not know?"

He took another step.

"If the person standing in front of me is the same man who once pulled me out of the worst situation of my life..."

The man’s expression became increasingly shaken.

"Tell me."

His voice trembled slightly.

"How do you know?"

Ares sighed.

"Don’t be surprised."

The air around him seemed to become strangely quiet.

Then Ares’s appearance began to change.

The silver-white portions of his hair gradually disappeared.

The dark hair changed as well, becoming a uniform dark gray.

His face subtly shifted.

The youthful softness disappeared.

His jaw became sharper.

His features matured.

His eyes changed.

Even his posture altered as his body became taller, broader, and more closely resembled the person he had once been.

The transformation was not dramatic.

It was simply Ares revealing the appearance he had possessed before his death.

The appearance of the assassin who had once lived in the shadows.

The man’s eyes widened.

His lips parted.

For several seconds, he couldn’t speak.

"...No."

Ares looked at him.

The man took an unsteady step backward.

"No..."

His voice became quieter.

"That can’t be..."

He stared at Ares’s face.

The same eyes.

The same expression.

The same small scar beneath his left eyebrow.

The face he had seen countless times during training.

The face of the young man he had once taken in.

The face of the person he had buried thirteen years ago.

"Ares?"

Ares smiled faintly.

"Yes, Manager Park."

The man’s entire body trembled.

"Is that really you?"

His eyes became red.

"No... that’s impossible."

He shook his head.

"Because that day... when you died I was the one who buried you."

His voice broke.

"Thirteen years ago, I was the one who buried you."

Ares remained silent.

"I watched them close your coffin."

Manager Park’s breathing became increasingly unstable.

"I stood there when they lowered you into the ground."

He stared at Ares as though afraid that looking away would make him disappear.

"How could you..."

His voice failed him.

Ares slowly approached.

"I know it sounds impossible."

He stopped in front of him.

"A lot of things happened after that."

Manager Park stared at him.

"Then tell me."

His voice trembled.

"Tell me something only you could know."

Ares nodded.

"Do you remember the first time you trained me?"

Manager Park froze.

Ares continued.

"You told me that holding a weapon wasn’t the same thing as knowing how to use one."

The man’s eyes widened.

"You made me repeat the same basic movement for three hours."

Ares smiled faintly.

"I complained that it was boring."

Manager Park’s lips trembled.

"And you told me..."

Ares paused.

"’If you can’t endure three hours of repetition, you’ll never survive three seconds against someone trying to kill you.’"

The man’s eyes filled with tears.

Ares continued.

"You made me train until my hands were bleeding."

His voice softened.

"And when I finally dropped the weapon, you didn’t praise me."

Ares smiled.

"You simply handed me another one and told me to start again."

Manager Park’s face had completely changed.

Those memories were impossible for anyone else to know.

There were too many details.

Too many small things.

Too many moments that had never been recorded anywhere.

He stared at Ares.

The truth finally became impossible to deny.

"You’re..."

His voice broke.

"You’re really Ares."

Ares nodded.

"Yes."

Manager Park’s eyes overflowed.

He didn’t say anything else.

He simply rushed forward.

His arms wrapped around Ares.

The embrace was sudden and almost desperate.

Manager Park held him tightly, as though he were afraid that if he released him, Ares would disappear again.

"Ares..."

His voice cracked.

"I’m glad..."

Tears rolled down his face.

"I’m so glad to see you again."

Ares froze for a moment.

Then his expression softened.

His arms slowly wrapped around the older man.

"Manager..."

He closed his eyes.

For the first time since returning to Earth, Ares allowed himself to feel the weight of everything that had happened.

His own eyes began to burn.

A tear escaped.

Then another.

"I’m glad too."

Manager Park held him tighter.

"I thought you were gone."

His voice shook.

"For thirteen years, I thought you were gone."

Ares couldn’t answer immediately.

He simply remained there.

Two people who had already accepted that they would never meet again were standing together in a cemetery, neither of them willing to let go.

Eventually, Manager Park pulled away and wiped his face with the back of his hand.

He laughed weakly through his tears.

"Look at me."

He shook his head.

"I’m getting old, and I’m crying in front of you."

Ares smiled.

"You haven’t changed that much."

"Don’t lie."

Manager Park laughed softly.

"You look exactly like you did back then."

Ares’s expression became slightly complicated.

"That’s a long story."

"I can tell."

Manager Park looked at him carefully.

"There are too many things I don’t understand."

Ares nodded.

"There are."

The two eventually moved toward a nearby bench and sat down.

For a while, neither spoke.

The silence between them was no longer uncomfortable.

It was simply the quiet that came after an emotion too large for words.

Eventually, Manager Park looked at Ares.

"So..."

He took a slow breath.

"What happened to you?"

Ares looked toward the city.

"A lot happened."

He paused.

"I only returned to Korea recently."

Manager Park listened carefully.

"I also discovered that our old organization had been destroyed."

The man’s expression became serious.

"I see."

"I was actually planning to go to the United States to look for you."

Ares turned toward him.

"But I didn’t know where to start."

He smiled faintly.

"I wasn’t even sure you were still alive."

Manager Park looked down at his hands.

"After what happened, I retired."

He gave a small, tired smile.

"I had enough of that life."

He looked toward the cemetery.

"I wanted to spend whatever time I had left quietly."

Ares noticed the change in his expression.

"Whatever time you have left?"

Manager Park remained silent for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"I came here today to say goodbye."

Ares’s eyes narrowed.

"Goodbye?"

Manager Park looked toward the graves.

"To your parents."

His voice became quieter.

"I wanted to tell them about you."

Ares remained silent.

"Of course, I didn’t know you were still alive."

He gave a bitter little laugh.

"I thought I was here to tell them that their son had been gone for thirteen years."

His eyes lowered.

"I wanted to apologize to them."

Ares looked at him.

"For not able to protect you."

The words were heavy.

Manager Park continued.

"I’ve killed many people in my life."

He looked down at his hands.

"People who deserved it, people who didn’t, and people whose names I never even learned."

His voice became tired.

"At some point, I started wondering how much of my life had actually been worth anything."

Ares watched him quietly.

Manager Park smiled faintly.

"Perhaps that’s why I wanted to say goodbye."

He looked at Ares.

"I thought maybe it was finally time."

Ares didn’t answer.

Instead, he activated True Sight.

His eyes changed for only an instant.

Information unfolded before him.

The result was immediately clear.

Manager Park’s body was severely compromised.

A dangerous disease had spread through several vital organs, causing progressive deterioration that ordinary treatment could no longer reverse.

Even with modern medical care, the remaining lifespan was extremely short.

Only a few days.

Ares’s expression became serious.

He deactivated True Sight.

The two remained seated on the bench.

Manager Park eventually looked toward him.

"How have you been, Ares?"

Ares answered after a brief pause.

"I’ve been doing well."

He looked at the man beside him.

"I’ve had a strange life, but I can’t complain."

Manager Park smiled.

"That’s good to hear."

He studied Ares’s face again.

"But there’s something I still can’t understand."

"What is it?"

"Why do you still look so young?"

He shook his head.

"You haven’t changed since the day you died, and you even had a new face that i didn’t recognize you."

Ares smiled faintly.

"There’s still a lot I can’t explain."

He looked toward the road.

"I’ll tell you eventually."

Manager Park chuckled.

"You’re still the same as before."

Ares glanced at him.

"What do you mean?"

"You always kept things to yourself."

He smiled.

"Even when you were young, you had that habit of making everyone wonder what was going on inside your head."

Ares laughed quietly.

"Maybe some things don’t change."

Manager Park’s smile slowly faded.

"But unfortunately..."

He looked toward the cemetery.

"Even if I wanted to know everything, I don’t think I have much time left."

Ares’s expression changed.

Manager Park continued.

"I’ve spent enough time thinking about the people I’ve killed."

He lowered his gaze.

"Maybe this is simply the end of the road for me."

Ares looked at him for several seconds.

Then he asked quietly,

"Manager Park."

"Hm?"

"Tell me, do you want to live?"

The older man was silent.

The question seemed to catch him off guard.

After a while, he smiled sadly.

"If someone offered me another chance at life..."

He looked toward the sky.

"I’d probably take it."

His expression became distant.

"I’d live differently."

He paused.

"I’d find somewhere quiet. Maybe somewhere near the countryside."

A faint smile appeared.

"I’d probably complain about how boring it is after a month."

Ares smiled slightly.

"Sounds like you."

Manager Park laughed.

"See?"

He looked at Ares.

"But that’s impossible."

His expression softened.

"The doctors already told me there’s nothing they can do."

He leaned back against the bench.

"So don’t worry about me."

He smiled.

"You can visit my grave whenever you want."

Ares stared at him.

"I’m sure you’ll be surprised."

Manager Park looked at him.

Ares’s expression became serious.

"What if I told you there’s still a way for you to live?"

Manager Park’s eyes widened.

"What?"

"I’m not joking."

Ares looked directly at him.

"There’s still a way."

Manager Park stared at him.

For several seconds, he couldn’t respond.

Then he gave a weak laugh.

"Ares..."

His expression was almost helpless.

"I know you’ve always been a little strange, but this isn’t the time to play a prank on me."

"I’m not bluffing."

Ares’s voice remained completely serious.

"I mean it."

Manager Park’s smile disappeared.

"You..."

He studied Ares’s face.

"Are you really telling me that you can cure this?"

Ares nodded.

"Yes."

Manager Park’s eyes widened again.

"But that’s impossible."

He shook his head.

"The doctors told me this disease can’t be cured."

He looked at Ares with disbelief.

"Even if you’re an Awakener, it wouldn’t matter."

His voice became quieter.

"Even an S-Rank healer couldn’t cure me."

Ares remained completely calm.

"Then it’s fortunate that I’m not limited to what this world considers possible."

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