The Emperor Who Wanted a Quiet Life

THE EMPEROR WHO WANTED A QUIET LIFE A Novel by Ciriel Vergara Chapter 1 — The Man Who Wanted a Second Chance Kaito had never believed in reincarnation. He had heard the stories, of course. People dying and waking up in another world. People receiving incredible powers from mysterious gods. People becoming heroes, kings, demon lords, or legendary warriors. They were entertaining stories. But they were just stories. At least, that was what Kaito believed until the night he died. --- Rain poured over the city. Kaito walked along the sidewalk with one hand holding a cheap black umbrella and the other buried inside his jacket pocket. His shoes were already soaked. His stomach was empty. His phone was almost dead. And tomorrow morning, he had to go back to work. "Wonderful." Kaito sighed. "Another exciting day of being alive." He glanced at his phone. 11:47 PM. Three percent battery. He had spent the entire evening working overtime. His boss had promised him that the extra hours would be worth it. They weren't. Kaito laughed quietly to himself. "Maybe I should quit." He knew he wouldn't. He had rent to pay. Bills to pay. Food to buy. That was life. Nothing dramatic. Nothing extraordinary. Just one ordinary day after another. Kaito continued walking. The rain became heavier. He stopped beneath a streetlight and looked toward the dark road ahead. For some reason, he suddenly felt tired. Not physically. Something deeper. He thought about his life. Twenty-two years old. No girlfriend. No family waiting for him at home. No great achievements. No adventures. No dreams that he had actually pursued. Kaito looked at the rain falling around him. "Is this really all there is?" He smiled bitterly. "I guess that's a depressing thought." A car passed. Then another. The traffic light ahead turned green. Kaito stepped toward the crossing. And then— A horn screamed. Kaito's head snapped toward the sound. A large truck was coming down the road. Far too fast. Its headlights blinded him. Someone screamed. Kaito froze. For a fraction of a second, everything seemed to slow down. He saw the truck. He saw the rain. He saw the reflection of the streetlights on the wet road. And strangely enough... He wasn't afraid. His final thought wasn't about money. It wasn't about work. It wasn't even about death. It was a simple wish. If I ever get another chance... I want to live differently. The truck struck him. Everything disappeared. --- There was no pain. That was the first thing Kaito noticed. There was no rain. No traffic. No city. No sound. He opened his eyes. Nothing. He couldn't see his hands. He couldn't see his body. He couldn't even tell if he was standing. Kaito slowly looked around. "Where am I?" His voice echoed through an endless darkness. Then a voice answered. [You are between worlds.] Kaito froze. "...Excuse me?" [Your previous life has ended.] Kaito stared into the darkness. "So I'm dead." [Correct.] He was silent for several seconds. Then he sighed. "Well... that's unfortunate." The voice didn't respond. Kaito rubbed his nonexistent chin. "Am I supposed to be meeting a god right now?" [No.] "An angel?" [No.] "A system?" There was a pause. [Perhaps.] Kaito blinked. "Perhaps?" Suddenly, countless golden symbols appeared in the darkness. They formed circles around him. Ancient letters. Magic formulas. Stars. Runes. Kaito couldn't understand any of them, yet somehow he knew exactly what they meant. Then a massive golden eye appeared before him. Kaito stared. "Okay." He pointed at it. "That's definitely something." [You have been selected for reincarnation.] "Why me?" [Compatibility.] "Compatibility with what?" [The world.] Kaito frowned. "What world?" The darkness suddenly transformed. A vision appeared before him. A massive continent. Mountains covered in snow. Endless forests. Floating islands. Deserts. Oceans. Cities surrounded by enormous walls. Dragons flying through the sky. Elves walking beneath gigantic trees. Dwarves forging weapons. Beastfolk trading in markets. Armored knights fighting monsters. Magic circles illuminating entire battlefields. Kaito stared in disbelief. "...That's fantasy." [Correct.] "You're sending me there?" [Yes.] "Why?" [Because that world is approaching an era of destruction.] Kaito looked at the vision. Kingdoms were fighting. Armies were marching. Monsters were appearing from ancient ruins. Strange black clouds covered entire regions. Yet beneath all of it were ordinary people. Children. Farmers. Merchants. Families. People who simply wanted to live. Kaito looked at them. "Do I have to become some kind of hero?" [No.] "Good." [You may live however you choose.] Kaito smiled. "Then I choose peace." The golden eye remained silent. Kaito continued. "I don't want to save the world." "I don't want to become king." "I don't want to fight demons." "I don't want political power." "I don't even want fame." He looked at the beautiful world. "I just want a house." The golden eye seemed to glow brighter. "A peaceful place." "A garden." "Good food." "People I can trust." "And maybe..." Kaito hesitated. "...someone I can love." For the first time, the mysterious voice sounded almost amused. [Your wish has been accepted.] Kaito smiled. "Thank you." Then the voice spoke again. [However, you will require power to survive.] "How much power?" The darkness exploded with light. [Unique Skill: Absolute Dominion.] Kaito's eyes widened. [Unique Skill: Infinite Archive.] Another circle appeared. [Unique Skill: Creation.] Another. [Unique Skill: Devour.] Another. [Unique Skill: Immortal Soul.] Kaito stared at the abilities. "...Those sound dangerous." [They are.] "How strong am I going to be?" The golden eye became silent. Then— [Your potential exceeds the known limits of this world.] Kaito blinked. "Meaning?" [You may eventually surpass dragons, demon lords, ancient spirits, and gods.] Kaito stared. "...I only asked for a house." [The world is dangerous.] "Apparently." [Your powers will grow with you.] Kaito thought about it. If the world really was filled with monsters and dangerous kingdoms, having strength wasn't necessarily a bad thing. He raised his hand. "Fine." The golden light surrounded him. "But I have one condition." [State it.] "If I become powerful..." Kaito looked toward the world below. "...I don't want to be forced to use that power." [Accepted.] "And if someone tries to take away the peaceful life I build?" The golden eye slowly closed. [Then what will you do?] Kaito smiled. It wasn't an angry smile. It wasn't a cruel smile. It was simply the smile of a man who had spent his entire first life avoiding conflict. "I'll protect it." The world disappeared. --- Then came darkness. Kaito felt himself falling. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't move. He couldn't speak. And then— THUMP. A heartbeat. THUMP. Another. THUMP. The sound became louder. THUMP. Warmth surrounded him. Kaito opened his eyes. Everything was blurry. A ceiling. Wooden walls. A small window. Light. He tried to move. His arms were tiny. His legs were tiny. His entire body felt impossibly small. What...? Then someone lifted him. A woman was crying. She held him against her chest. Her voice was soft. He didn't understand the language. Yet somehow... He understood the emotion. She was happy. She was relieved. She was crying because she loved him. Kaito stared at her. She smiled through her tears. "My little boy..." Kaito couldn't answer. He couldn't even properly control his body. But inside his mind, he laughed. So this is really happening. He had been reincarnated. He had been given another life. Outside the window, a crimson moon hung over an unfamiliar world. Far beyond the small village, enormous mountains stretched toward the horizon. Beyond those mountains was a forest so vast that it looked like an ocean of green. And deep inside that forest... Something ancient opened its eyes. Kaito knew nothing about it. He knew nothing about the kingdoms. He knew nothing about the wars. He knew nothing about the governments that would eventually become his enemies. He didn't know that one day, five princesses would stand beside him. He didn't know that he would build a nation where humans and monsters lived together. He didn't know that armies would eventually tremble at the mention of his name. He didn't know that gods would one day descend from the heavens to challenge him. And he certainly didn't know that the peaceful life he desired would eventually become the very thing he would fight the entire world to protect. For now, however... Kaito was simply a newborn child. His mother gently rocked him. Outside, the wind blew through the trees. The crimson moon slowly disappeared beyond the clouds. Kaito closed his eyes. For the first time in his two lives... He felt safe. This time... I'll do things differently. I'll live. I'll love. I'll build a home. And I'll protect it. A tiny smile appeared on his newborn face. His mother laughed softly. "You really are smiling." Kaito couldn't respond. But somewhere deep within his soul, a mysterious system awakened. [Reincarnation complete.] [Soul synchronization: 100%.] [Unique Skills sealed until physical development is sufficient.] [World registration complete.] [Welcome to Elaria.] And beneath that final message appeared one more line. [Destiny has begun.] The story of the man who wanted a quiet life had finally begun.