I could not even imagine that my life would lead up this moment of bliss, I've got a good family, a good wife, and a stable life. Heck even our neighbors are kind to us.

We built this life together kind of like a house, brick by brick, expanding our horizons so that we can enjoy the things that we held on dearly together, but also in the process we did not forget to take care of each other's needs, and was willing to compromise for the sake of our future...

As the years went by, we were greeted by the new seedlings that were already in the process of sprouting. Together we prepared them gifts like clothes, dolls, and anything that we imagined that babies would like. However, we only did it out of necessity, as it was customary to do this.

Needless to say, we did not enjoy doing this, so we came up with something to get back at those parents without them knowing.

"Say hi to them!" The mother said to her baby, also smiling at the couple anticipating the gift that she would receive.

Philip and Ada then handed out one pair of the clothes that they had prepared.

"Thank you" The mother said while leaving.

"That baby is cute" Philip said nonchalantly

"Yeah" While Ada also closely imitated Philip's tone and expressions.

Then came another family but this time bringing in two babies, which turned out to be twins, "Hi Ada! Hi Philip!"

"Hello!" As they both handed out a doll for the two babies.

They then waved them goodbye, but as they left Philip and Ada had a few comments about their twins, "What the hell, those twins are ugly as hell hahaha!"

"The last one was better HAHAHA!" As Ada laughed together with Philip.

And then another one came, this time with the father holding the baby.

"Hi! What do you think do you think of my daughter, pretty cute right?" The father said as he raised his baby to flaunt her proudly.

"Of course!" Both Ada and Philip replied in an instant, without hesitation.

They then handed to the father a small toy that they bought, which seemed to be one of the most famous among the kids nowadays.

"Hahaha Thank you!" The father said cheerfully as he walked into the distance.

Ada then watched the father go, and when she was certain that he was already far enough that he can't hear her, she said, "That baby is kinda mid not gonna lie hahaha!"

"hehehe!" Philip chuckled alongside with her laugh.

They were definitely a couple that were on the same wavelength and that shared a single brain cell, as they kept on judging the babies that came to their house.

And honestly some might even consider them as relationship goals.

...

However, as the fresh generations started popping up one by one, this also meant that the past and old generations are starting to be replaced.

Because one day, out of nowhere, the village chief who was already rarely seen walking and talking outside his abode, invited everyone on the village to visit his home as he had something important to say to them...

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

As most of the villagers gathered inside the bedroom of the village chief, because that is literally how he invited and instructed them to go in, to just intrude and to not mind such formalities, as it was becoming more of a burden for him.

Cough! Cough!

The moment they saw his state, they can already infer on why they were gathered here, and why the chief did not personally come to any of their houses but instead just asked some people in his stead to spread the message, and why they just let them walk inside his home.

"I've gathered you all here to tell you all that I've decided to choose my successor and so that you all can raise your concerns about my choice if you have any" The village chief said in a meek tone of voice.

Chatter! Chatter! Chatter!

Murmur! Murmur! Murmur!

"As you've all known, my wife died giving birth to my daughter, and soon after my baby daughter who haven't even lived for a year followed, ever since then I had not loved any woman, or rather I could not bring myself to" The village chief said in a husky tone as he showed a cold yet bittersweet smile...

"Ahem! Anyways I chose the one I think who is the most competent, the strongest, and the one that I deemed that has the personality of a leader - Philip" The village Chief announced.

At first everyone was shocked, but not because they did not expect Philip to he chosen as they already saw him as a possible candidate, rather they were surprised just because it is a huge announcement and it is human nature to feel that way when hearing such news for the first time.

"So, does anyone opposes my decision?" The village chief asked.

"..."

However, everyone just went quiet, "If none, I'll take the silence as a yes and this decision final" The village chief announced in a hoarse tone of voice.

The village chief then declared that, "That is all, you may all go now except for Philip"

...

After a few minutes had gone by and everyone had left. The village chief then started explaining to Philip the obligations, tasks, and the role of being the village chief, he also explained to him the criterions and tests for choosing the vice chiefs, and lastly, he showed Philip the secret basement that was hidden underneath his bed and the important documents that he and his predecessors had collected as well as the secret of the amulet.

So, Philip had to pretend that he was shocked, as if he already didn't know these things beforehand.

***

Six months then flew by and the village chief passed away just like that, which then meant that I was crowned and succeeded the position of the village chief.

"Congratulations honey this will surely speed up our plan, but why do you look so displeased? Is it because of his death? No, that can't be it you were never close with him and you're not the type to hold on to such things and be sentimental" Ada asked as she was holding her husband's arms.

Philip just sighed and replied, "You really do know me well hon, it's just that the former village chief's death just reminded me of the future" Philip said in a melancholic tone of voice, as he left his flowers at the final resting place of the former village chief.

It was located at the special cemetery where all the previous village chiefs and the future ones are to be buried.

...

Just like that Ada and I started breaking down the traditions of the village one by one, I mean I tried to restore the amulet by feeding it my blood, but it did not seem to work, it was as if it had reached the end of its life, its expiration date.

We started by changing the mindset of the villagers of not improving their mana and battle capabilities, regardless of whether they were chosen or not to go the kingdom of humanity.

We convinced them, or rather justified are actions by telling them about the dangers of the beasts that are now constantly invading the village, as there were no more amulet.

So, little by little the overall strength of the villagers improved, enough so that not only the two of us can fend off the monster, but we can actually rely on them for a tad bit.

After which we then built a dojo that my wife and I facilitated for the sake of teaching the new generations, which I did not know about at the moment but it will brought about massive change in the future of the village.

However, as I was busy trying to better and fix the village's affairs, all of a sudden I heard the news of the death of my father.

I did not even knew how to react at the time, I was grief-stricken, apparently on a random day he just never woke up.

I was filled with regret of not spending enough time with him, several questions flooded my head, like how are there any signs? How come I did not see them?

But in reality the signs had always been there, I just chosen to ignore it, as a lot of the people that came from the generation as my father, are either dead now or very sick.

I just turned a blind eye to it, to the naturally occurring deaths all around me, because it is human to do so, and that is what made me in my heart, a part human.