ch 275
Became a Swordsmanship Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 275
Side Story - Another Future
When I heard the news that monsters were pouring out all over the world, I tried to use teleportation magic, but suddenly the world began to turn gray.
Soon everything stopped, and the Primordial Heavenly Honored One appeared with a white light.
"Congratulations."
"Congratulations?"
The portal liberation incident was a signal for the Demon King's descent.
Even at this very moment, people are dying, and he's saying congratulations? How absurd.
"Do you remember the future I showed you three years ago?"
How could I forget that?
Even though three years had passed, the terror of the Demon God, who looked like white smoke in the future the Primordial Heavenly Honored One showed me, had not been forgotten.
When I nodded my head, the Primordial Heavenly Honored One smiled with a grin.
"You told me that since it wasn't a confirmed future, you would do your best to change it."
Yes, I definitely said that... Wait. Could it be?
"As you said, the future has changed."
"The future has changed, what do you mean by that..."
"I mean the Demon God will not descend into this world."
"Really? Then the Demon King too..."
"Tsk, tsk, you're being too greedy. The Demon King will appear as scheduled... But with your current level of skill, dealing with the descending Demon King shouldn't be too difficult."
...Is this a dream?
"If the future hadn't changed, quite a painful future would have been waiting for you."
"Pardon?"
"You would have had to make difficult choices too. Of course, if you had made the right choices, it wouldn't have been unhappy until the end, but... Well, now that the future has changed, it's all meaningless talk. Congratulations once again."
I'm truly indescribably happy.
The Demon King hasn't descended yet, but since the Primordial Heavenly Honored One guaranteed that I could handle it easily, there shouldn't be any big problems.
As I felt relieved, a question arose.
"Excuse me... Primordial Heavenly Honored One, why did the future suddenly change?"
Of course, it must be because of the efforts I've made so far, but I still wanted to get direct confirmation.
"Ah, that's..."
"If it's difficult for you to say, you don't have to..."
"Actually, there was a planet I was interested in and watching, but that Demon God fellow suddenly changed course on his way here."
"Pardon?"
"So I warned him not to stray to strange places and go the way he was originally going, but he ignored me?"
"P... Primordial Heavenly Honored One?"
"That insignificant fellow ignored me even after I warned him, so wouldn't I get angry?"
"You... you would have."
"That's right. He made me annoyed, so I just took care of him myself."
...It wasn't because of my efforts after all.
I feel somewhat empty.
"Well, anyway, isn't it good for you?"
The Primordial Heavenly Honored One was right.
As they say, all roads lead to Rome - anyway, if it's just the Demon King, I should be able to handle it sufficiently.
Just the Demon King should be enough to leave to Do-hyun and Lee Ji-sung, right?
"Tsk, tsk, you're being careless again. When I said the Demon King wouldn't be too difficult earlier, I was speaking with you as the standard. It would be better if you handled it directly."
"Ah, yes. I understand."
"That's right. Now that you can go toward a good future, if you don't want to suffer needlessly and become unhappy, behave yourself."
I was about to answer that I understood, but the Primordial Heavenly Honored One had already disappeared and the world had regained its color.
I was a bit dumbfounded, but I quickly moved to the Blue House where Se-jin was.
I moved the president to prepare for Korea's situation and evacuate people.
Not long after, all the portals in our South Korea also lost their safe zones and monsters poured out.
Of course, since we had prepared well, there was almost no damage.
Not only me but all the other hunters worked together, and we reclaimed areas occupied by monsters one by one, and after stabilizing Korea, we traveled around the world providing support.
As the 100 days approached, demons began to appear, but since we had prepared in advance by gathering hunters to form special teams, we were able to quickly deal with them.
As such hectic days passed, finally on the 100th day, the Demon King descended in New York.
Since we had somewhat pinpointed the location through magic flow as well as information obtained from demons, we evacuated all the people and I remained alone to fight the final battle with the Demon King.
Luciel, Se-jin, and Eunseo said they would fight together, but I refused them all.
The Primordial Heavenly Honored One had warned that I had to do it myself.
The Demon King was certainly strong.
If our kids including Luciel or other hunters had been nearby, they would have been in the way and hindered me instead.
But since I was alone, I could fight without any worries, and after a week of fierce battle, I was able to annihilate the Demon King.
The Demon King disappeared and the world regained peace.
And eight years have passed.
***
When I opened my eyes, the bed was completely empty.
[There's an important World Hunter Association meeting in the morning, so I'm going to work first. —Se-jin]
I wondered why she wasn't there, but she left early for a meeting.
I wanted to laze around a bit more, so I covered myself with the blanket and closed my eyes, but I had no choice but to get up again shortly after.
RING! RING!
The phone on the bedside table rang.
I wondered who it was so early in the morning, but it was our Eunseo.
"Hello."
—Yes. This is honey.
"Honey?"
—What kind of reaction is that? Don't tell me you're still sleeping?
"...Please consider the time difference. It's not even 8 o'clock yet in Korea."
Eunseo is currently on a business trip to the African continent.
It's been eight years since I annihilated the Demon King, and most of the monsters that came out after the safe zones disappeared have been dealt with, but monsters are still rampant in Africa where there's a lack of hunters and infrastructure.
—I checked the time before calling. Brother, you know today is the day the kids come back, right?
"Already? Time has passed that quickly."
—"Already?" Brother, don't you want to see the kids?
I came to my senses at the sharp voice.
It's not a video call, but I think I can tell what expression Eunseo has right now just from her voice.
"No, I miss them so much. I just need to pick them up at 12 o'clock later. We should eat out on the way."
—If you're going to eat out, take care of Master too.
"Ah, that sounds good too."
—No soda, no candy, just a little flour, plenty of vegetables and protein, you know?
"Yes, yes. I understand."
—I'm also coming back in the evening.
"Okay, then I'll see you in the evening."
Time really flies.
They're already coming back, all the good days have passed.
I thought about sleeping more, but if I fall asleep now and can't wake up before 12 o'clock, it would be a disaster, so I got up with my sleepy body and headed to the bathroom.
After washing up, I opened the refrigerator and there was a note attached.
[If you look at the top shelf inside, there's a sandwich. Eat it for breakfast and give it to the kids as a snack when they say they're hungry. —Se-jin]
She said she had a meeting in the morning, but our Se-jin is really amazing.
Originally, this kind of housework should be done by me, who's in charge of household affairs.
I had breakfast with the sandwich and juice, and used teleportation magic to come to the portal where Master was.
He didn't come out to greet me, but I don't feel disappointed or anything.
I came to the camping car side but couldn't see Master, so I was going to the lakeside when I discovered Master.
"Giddyup! Giddyup!"
On top of Master, who was crawling on the ground on all fours, was a boy with silver hair riding him.
...In the past, this would have been an unimaginable scene, but this isn't the first time.
Of course, it's not the first time, but every time I see Master in this state, my heart aches a little.
"Oh! It's Dad."
That little rascal riding on Master and innocently going "giddyup giddyup" is the son of me and Luciel, Kang Shin-el.
"Kang Shin-el, get down right now! I told you not to ask Grandfather for horseback riding!"
"Hmph, Grandfather said he'd grant my wish if I do everything he asks, so I'm doing it!"
He's hiding behind Master and sticking his tongue out... Sigh, that slippery little guy looks exactly like his mother.
"That's right, Shin-hyeok. I said I'd grant his wish, so don't scold him too much."
"If Master always takes his side like that and does everything he asks, the child will become spoiled."
"Hey, what bad habits does our Shin-el have? He's much kinder, more handsome, works harder, has more talent, and is the most popular at school than you."
I generally agree with Master's words, but still, our Master is too indulgent.
"Grandfather is the best. Dad is a fool."
That, that... look at that. This won't do.
"'Fool' to your dad? I'll have to tell your mom everything."
"Uh... Mom? I was wrong."
What this eight-year-old rascal fears most is his mother.
Honestly, I can't be harsh with Shin-el either, but our Luciel is merciless.
Even though he's an elementary school student, she still gives him spankings on the bottom...
"Tsk, tsk, what a pathetic guy. Why are you crushing our Shin-el's spirit?"
"If Master keeps taking Shin-el's side, there will be ramen restrictions."
"You petty guy. Shin-el, when you grow up, you shouldn't become like your dad."
"What's wrong with me... Sigh, I should stop talking. I'll take Shin-el out for a bit later."
Shin-el has been going to Master after kindergarten ends since he was five years old to learn martial arts.
Of course, it's not forced - he wants to do it himself.
Now that he's an elementary school student, he can't come often during the school term because of studying, but during vacation, he practically lives here.
"Where are you going? Vaccination by any chance?"
"Waaah! Grandfather, I hate shots..."
He's absolutely terrified.
"Then the dentist? Our Shin-el brushes his teeth well."
"That's right. My teeth are super clean!"
They get along so well.
Looking at it now, he seems to like Master more than learning martial arts.
"Today is the day Shin-el's younger sisters come back from kindergarten camp."
"Oh, really? Then are they coming together later?"
"Yes. They said they'll arrive at kindergarten at lunch time, so I thought we'd bring them and have lunch together. What would you like to eat?"
"Anything is fine as long as it's with our darlings."
"Together? Dad, let's eat ramen."
I paused for a moment.
As expected, he's definitely my son.
Now that I look at it, I wonder if that thing about being popular at school is a lie?
If he makes jokes like this, he'd probably get booed by the kids.
"Ramen sounds good. Let's add some snacks too."
I think Eunseo said not to feed him flour.
She doesn't like feeding him fried food either.
But once in a while should be okay, right?
"Then Jun ramen mild flavor..."
"Hey, don't cross the line. No matter what, that's not right."
"Shin-el might be okay, but the kids still can't eat spicy food."
I killed some time at the portal and left around 11:30.
I moved to the kindergarten and was waiting when other parents also arrived one by one.
Somehow the parents keep glancing at us and talking among themselves, which is a bit embarrassing.
Kang Shin-hyeok's popularity still hasn't died down.
Eight years have already passed and I'm not doing any external activities, but this body is a hero who saved the world.
I was curious about what kind of praise they were giving, so I sent internal energy to my ears to enhance my hearing.
"Look at that kid over there. Isn't he really handsome?"
"That's right. He looks mixed-race, but he could really be a model."
"How can a kid be that cool?"
...They were looking at Shin-el, not me.
I drank the kimchi soup all by myself, container and all.
"Dad, isn't that the bus?"
As Shin-el said, a bus entered the kindergarten parking lot.
Soon children began getting off... Huh? I can see our princesses too.
The cute princess with pigtails and red hair clips on both sides is Si-eun, the daughter of me and Eunseo, and the princess with a bob cut and a headband with a blue rabbit drawn on it is Se-eun, the daughter of me and Se-jin.
Both are six years old, two years younger than Shin-el.
They must have seen us because they're running toward us with bright smiles, and that Shin-el guy is also running toward them.
"Si-eun! Se-eun!"
He's a slippery and mischievous rascal, but he adores his younger sisters.
But not a chance.
Our two princesses completely ignore Shin-el approaching them and run straight into my arms.
"It's Dad!"
"Dad!"
They keep kissing both my cheeks, and this is what I live for.
"Hey... kids, is your brother invisible?"
"Brother was here too?"
"Dad was shining so brightly that I didn't even know brother was there."
That Shin-el guy has a completely dejected expression.
"I missed Si-eun and Se-eun so much too..."
"Brother, really, it's just a joke!"
"That's right. I missed brother too."
They're two years apart, but seeing them already handling their brother like this, my daughters are quite mischievous despite being mine.
When they grow up, they'll make men cry a lot... No, wait. Our princesses will absolutely never get married.
"Our princesses, was camp fun?"
"Yes! But playing with Dad is more fun."
"Si-eun too, Si-eun too! I like Dad the best!"
"Y... yes. Dad likes the princesses best too. You haven't had lunch yet, right?"
"We had snacks but... Se-eun is hungry."
"Si-eun wants to eat Tteokbokki."
"Se-eun wants ramen."
"Then let's go eat with Grandfather."
I held each princess's hand in mine.
"Shin-el, hurry and hold Si-eun's or Se-eun's hand... Huh?"
That Shin-el guy suddenly climbed on my back.
"I'm getting a piggyback ride."
Now that I look at it, he seems a bit jealous of his sisters.
Seeing things like this, even though he became an elementary school student, he's still a child.
"Brother is petty. Give Si-eun a piggyback ride too."
"Dad, Se-eun too."
Looking at the whining princesses, I feel like all my energy is being drained, but I can't help but smile.
Isn't this exactly what happiness is?
THE END