While Lee Jing-ok was carving the ‘Path of Artillery and Guns’ toward Tenochtitlan, delivering unforgettable shock and terror to the Mexica warriors even in death, Hyang was in Seoul.

He had come to be with Sejong at his final moments.

Not long after Lee Jing-ok had departed leading the expedition force’s first group, Hyang received urgent news from Seoul.

—Venerable Emperor’s condition deteriorating.

“Fuck! Summon Duke Jinpyeong right away!”

***

Upon receiving the urgent message, Hyang immediately boarded an iron horse along with the Empress Dowager, concubines, and Duke Jinpyeong’s family.

To ensure Hyang’s party could return to the capital quickly, the New World’s Railway Administration changed all schedules, and the Port Authority halted the departure of the Empire’s first steamship, which had just completed its maiden voyage.

Boarding the ship, Hyang gave the captain a brief but firm order.

“I’ll take responsibility! Even if the engines explode, sail at full speed!”

To Hyang’s command, the captain answered with a resolute expression.

“I’ll sacrifice my life to complete this mission!”

The steamship, its cargo hold filled only with coal and charcoal to power the steam engines, fresh water, and food and drinking water for the passengers, sailed at full speed toward Wonsan.

Thanks to only stopping at ports when the coal and charcoal in the cargo hold ran out, the steamship carrying Hyang could drop anchor at Wonsan in just 40 days.

***

Landing at Wonsan, Hyang personally went to the Wonsan station to find the stationmaster.

“Though this will cause trouble for the people, the matter is urgent, so please arrange an iron horse. I’m sorry to ask this of you.”

At Hyang’s apology, the stationmaster bowed with a bewildered expression.

“N-not at all! This is naturally what must be done!”

“It’s not natural. This clearly violates railway law. But since it’s urgent, I’m asking for your understanding.”

“N-no! I’ll prepare immediately!”

The stationmaster and station staff hurriedly began preparing the train for Hyang.

Since there was no dedicated car for transporting imperial personnel, the stationmaster and staff had no choice but to forcibly remove passengers from the cars.

“Hey, why! I paid for this iron horse ticket, why are you telling me to get off!”

Naturally, many citizens protested, and the staff had to explain the situation.

“His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus urgently needs to go to Seoul. So please help us!”

“Ah, if that’s the case…”

“If His Majesty is in a hurry…”

At the staff’s words, the protesting citizens fell silent and hurriedly gathered their belongings to exit the cars.

After Sejong, Hyang was the most respected emperor.

Since Sejong and Hyang were the ones who had made their current way of life possible, the people’s respect and affection for them was tremendous.

Of course, there was also worry about what might happen if they interfered with the Emperor Emeritus’s business.

Seeing the chaotic situation on the platform, Hyang rose from his seat and headed for the platform.

“Make way! His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus is passing! Step back! Make way!”

At the accompanying eunuch’s cry, the people on the platform hurriedly moved back and prostrated themselves.

Though the reforms through the Great Reformation era and Chobeop meant prostration wasn’t necessary, the customs passed down through successive dynasties were like instinct.

“Oh my… tsk!”

Seeing the people instantly prostrate on the ground, Hyang clicked his tongue quietly and spoke to the prostrated citizens.

“You may all rise.”

However, even though Hyang spoke directly, hardly anyone rose.

Clicking his tongue quietly again, Hyang continued.

“I sincerely apologize for violating the Empire’s solemn laws and causing trouble for the people. However, hearing that the Venerable Emperor is gravely ill, my heart was urgent and I have caused this disturbance. I hope the people will forgive my actions with generous hearts.”

With these words, Hyang prostrated himself flat on the ground, performing a deep bow toward the people on the platform.

“Good heavens!”

“Oh my! Such an unthinkable thing!”

At Hyang’s deep bow, the people hurriedly rose and returned the bow.

Rising, Hyang continued speaking to the people.

“I will request judgment from the Tribunal regarding this matter, so such things will not happen again.”

After this commotion, Hyang’s party boarded the train and headed for Seoul.

As an aside, the people who received Hyang’s bow at Wonsan station that day would boast about it whenever they drank.

“Anyone here received a bow from His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus? I have!”

***

Through the urgent message sent from Wonsan, the iron horse carrying Hyang’s party could head straight to Seoul.

The Railway Corporation managing the tracks gave Hyang’s iron horse first priority.

Thanks to this, trains traveling between Wonsan and Seoul had to stop at intermediate stations.

Seeing trains stopped and waiting at every station, Hyang clicked his tongue again.

“Tsk! This is really… if I don’t actually go to the Tribunal, the Audit Office will go wild.”

As the situation snowballed bigger and bigger, Hyang kept clicking his tongue but continued with a somewhat brighter expression.

“Still, it’s better than arriving to hear bad news immediately. Yeah.”

***

Thanks to traveling at full speed, Hyang was able to arrive in Seoul that night.

Waiting for Hyang’s party at Seoul Station’s platform were the Imperial Guard dispatched by Wan.

Under Imperial Guard escort, arriving at Gyeongbok Palace, Hyang entered Geunjeongjeon Hall for a private audience with Wan.

“I greet Your Majesty. I am truly glad to see you in good health.”

“Seeing that Your Majesty is also in good health, I too am grateful.”

“Thank you. Now then, how is Venerable Emperor?”

At Hyang’s question, Wan’s complexion darkened.

“Not very well. He already had chronic conditions, and being so advanced in years…”

“I see… Though late, I should go see him at Sugang Palace.”

“Let’s go together.”

Hyang’s party headed with Wan to Sejong’s chambers in Sugang Palace.

***

“Please enter.”

Following the eunuch’s guidance, Hyang’s party entered the chambers.

Seeing Hyang’s party performing a deep bow, Sejong, with his gaunt face, smiled and spoke.

“How wonderful to see you after so long.”

“I, no, this son am also truly glad to see Father.”

When Hyang referred to himself as ‘this son,’ Sejong’s face brightened as he spoke.

Rather than meeting as Venerable Emperor and Emperor Emeritus, this had become a moment for father and son.

With a much more comfortable expression, Sejong extended his hand and said.

“Sit down.”

Watching Hyang’s party sit one by one, Sejong looked at the Empress Dowager seated beside him.

“Those children have aged quite a bit.”

At Sejong’s words, the Empress Dowager also smiled slightly and replied.

“Those children have aged, so it can’t be helped.”

“That’s true…”

Afterward, a warm atmosphere continued as Sejong, Hyang, and Jinpyeong conversed.

“You’ve come a long way, so you must be very tired. Let’s stop here for today.”

“Yes, Father.”

Hyang’s party politely paid their respects and left Sejong’s chambers.

After leaving Sejong’s chambers, Hyang quietly asked the following eunuch.

“I heard from the Emperor, but is it very severe?”

At Hyang’s question, the eunuch answered with a sorrowful expression.

“The royal physicians say that though he appears to have regained strength now, this should be seen as a final burst of energy before death.”

“I see… sigh…”

Sighing, Hyang spoke to the eunuch.

“Still, please do your best to help him maintain his strength.”

“I will devote my life to it.”

After instructing the eunuch and heading to his lodgings at Changdeok Palace, Hyang looked up at the sky and muttered quietly.

“Well… what can’t be helped can’t be helped…”

Meanwhile, Sejong, having sent out Hyang’s party, spoke with the Empress Dowager.

“Thinking about that child, it’s truly interesting and truly regrettable.”

“What is so interesting and regrettable?”

“When he was young, he kept such distance from me, but now he acts the opposite, doesn’t he? That’s why it’s interesting and regrettable.”

As Sejong said, young Hyang had maintained considerable distance from Sejong.

This was because Hyang had memories from before his reincarnation.

Memories of time with his parents before reincarnation, combined with the fact that his father was a famous figure like Sejong, had created this distance.

Over time, Hyang’s sense of distance gradually lessened. However, when Sejong ascended to the throne and Hyang was made crown prince, the rate at which this distance lessened became even slower.

The positions of king and crown prince greatly reduced the time they could spend together.

What dramatically reduced this distance between Sejong and Hyang was various crises that threatened royal authority.

Going through hardships together and overcoming crises, researching Hunminjeongeum together, Sejong and Hyang became very close.

As time passed, the affection between the two deepened, but their positions as Emperor and Emperor Emeritus, Venerable Emperor and Emperor Emeritus stole away almost all the time they could spend together.

Seoul’s night was deepening, filled with sentiments about the time that had thus slipped away.

***

The next day, Hyang visited Sejong again.

“Please eat a bit more.”

“I’ve eaten enough.”

“Please have some more vegetables.”

At Hyang’s words, Sejong smiled mischievously and replied.

“Isn’t it too late to worry about impotence at my age?”

“Still, you should consider the harmony of your diet.”

“Good grief…”

Making an annoyed expression at Hyang’s words, Sejong picked up vegetables with his chopsticks while grumbling.

“That brat always fusses about food. There’s a law that even dogs aren’t bothered while eating…”

“Dogs…”

“They bite if you bother them! I know, you brat!”

***

After Sejong’s breakfast ended, Hyang prepared to get up from his seat.

“Since you seem to have eaten well, I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait, stay there.”

“Yes?”

When Hyang sat back down with a puzzled expression, Sejong ordered the eunuchs and court ladies.

“Clear the table and bring those things.”

“Yes.”

After the court ladies cleared the table, eunuchs came in carrying stacks of thick books and set them down.

“Wh-what is this?”

At Hyang’s question, Sejong smiled slightly and began explaining.

“Since returning to my personal quarters, I’ve worked on various projects. But there are still things left unfinished, and some I’ve only outlined. So you’ll need to handle them.”

“…”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang looked at the piled books with a face gone pale.

Looking at the books with a sickly expression, Hyang turned to Sejong.

“When did you do all this?”

“Since returning to my quarters, I have nothing but time. What else would I do but work?”

“…”

“Everything was contemplated for the Emperor and the Empire. But now my strength has weakened and I cannot properly finish them, which has been my great concern. But fortunately, the Emperor Emeritus has come, so I’m relieved.”

At Sejong’s words, Hyang looked at him with a strange expression.

‘Could it be… feigning illness?’

“It’s not feigning illness.”

“Who said anything?”

“You brat! Your eyes are talking!”

Eventually, having taken on work from Sejong, Hyang came outside, looked up at the sky, and made a resigned expression.

“Still… I can’t die alone, can I?”

Suddenly, all of Hyang’s brothers including Jinpyeong and Anpyeong shuddered in unison.

“What? Why the sudden chills?”