Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: 세계수를 따먹다-190화
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: First Clash (5)
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"It's stabilized."
A hunter stared at the monitor in disbelief, touching his forehead and murmuring.
"Restore it quickly. Confirm casualties."
It was a cruel thing to say to the bereaved families, but the city had sustained truly minimal damage.
Of course, even this was a serious blow. The city would tremble in anxiety, worrying about future terrorist attacks for a while.
And somewhere, the bereaved families would hold protests.
Claiming the Hunter Association had botched the job.
Demanding compensation and urging the government and association for swift relief measures.
Of course, that wasn't for them to decide.
It was a matter for those high up to handle.
Civilians might not know it, but... this was plenty well-contained.
They only saw the immediate damage.
Not that it was wrong; it was just the truth.
But.
"...Who the hell was that guy?"
The man in that robe back then.
He'd seen his face, but it was completely unfamiliar.
A hunter with that much mana power would have made a name worldwide by now.
There were masters who hid their identities, sure... but it was rare for such a figure to pop out of nowhere, from barren soil.
Especially appearing out of the blue at a time like this.
He'd cleaned up the Ents and faced off against the Flower.
They'd hoped he might return here, but the man never showed.
-Creak.
The door opened, and a woman entered.
White hair, full-body latex.
She scanned the surroundings with dignified steps, then narrowed her eyes.
Baek Do.
Naturally, she was the first to rush back to Korea as fast as possible, but the incident had long since been resolved.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment he removed the mask, he headed straight to the dorm and shed the robe.
He hadn't changed out of the bloodstained t-shirt yet. As he stepped out of the room like that, the two women he'd sent ahead were sitting silently at the table.
"Pii..."
Shiba, nestled in Azalea's arms, gloomily burying its face in her chest.
The moment it heard the door, its ears perked up, and it looked at him with round eyes.
"D...Daddy."
Its shoulders shook, and unable to hold back any longer, it slipped from Azalea and ran to him.
"...Piiiing."
Shiba clung to his leg, crying. He wanted to comfort it somehow, but with all the blood on his clothes, it was tricky.
"...B-blood! What the hell... What did you do? Are you okay?"
Azalea hurriedly soaked a towel in water and pressed it to his face.
He took the towel and pointed to Shin Hye-young, still seated at the table.
"...Her."
Peach tea right in front of her, spacing out—then belatedly noticing him, forcing a smile.
"Oh, hello. Your body..."
"I'm fine."
Ah...
She nodded at his words and tried to sound cheerful.
"Th-thank you. I just blanked out..."
"Makes sense. Feeling better now?"
"Of course! Absolutely."
Maybe the scene she'd witnessed was too shocking.
Or perhaps she was reflecting on the director.
A genuinely kind and gentle person sometimes. Unable to forget the sight right before her eyes.
Azalea had already shaken off the shock completely.
"Shiba, come here. Can't bother Daddy."
"Piing! Piii!"
Tears like dewdrops fell from its misty eyes.
He wiped the tears with his clean hand, gently rubbing its cheek and stroking its head.
Only then did Shiba seem to calm a bit.
"...I've gotten close to Shiba too, but it still gets anxious without Daddy."
"Heh, really?"
Strangely, it made him feel good, even though it shouldn't.
He placed a hand on Shiba's forehead as it cried. It felt a bit hot, like blood had rushed to its head.
Our little one must have been really scared.
...Maybe rethink sending it back to kindergarten.
More and more people would come after him as time went on.
His responsibilities were only growing.
This time it ended cleanly, but no guarantee Shiba wouldn't face something like that again.
Worst case, it could even get kidnapped.
So the thought suddenly struck him.
'...If Shiba really seems to be suffering.'
He loved being Daddy.
But being around Daddy might bring unhappiness.
In that case, maybe temporarily, to some far-off place.
Entrust it to Azalea or someone like her until things settled.
A normal life was necessary for Shiba too.
It was too much for a child to keep having Daddy vanish into danger.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' earnestly gazes at you. Seeing the World Tree of Purity's reaction snapped his sunken spirits right back up.
'You bitch. If you'd just done something right for once, this wouldn't have happened.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' falls silent. 'Truly useless in the real world.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 'World Tree of Purity' enters the room crying. Put simply, that was it.
He was a first-time dad.
Lots of options, but no idea what was best.
No father figure to learn from.
His mother had too many awkward spots to shower love properly.
Killing people was easy... weird, right?
He'd changed a lot too.
"...You."
"Yeah?"
Was Azalea thinking the same?
She looked at him with a resolute expression.
"Shiba... I don't think sending it to an outside kindergarten is a good idea."
"Me too."
"So, um—"
Azalea, hugging Shiba, rolled her eyes around.
"Remember... what I mentioned before?"
Ah... right.
The live-together thing?
Azalea nodded at his question.
"Things turned out like this... Let's live together. It'd put my mind at ease."
He needed someone to protect Shiba when he wasn't around.
Kindergarten was just for education anyway.
Sad about lacking social skills... but unavoidable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ A week passed.
Somehow things ended up this way, but Azalea had apparently been planning it for days already.
Before he could even bring it up, she'd picked the best house and even printed his dorm checkout form long ago.
"Sign, sign! Just sign it."
"...Why are you so excited?"
"No idea. Hehe."
Her face beamed with joy—it wasn't his imagination.
Houses dotted near the academy. No need to go far; they could buy one nearby.
El Academy itself leaned more toward academy city than school, with plenty living here for convenience stores or shops.
Houses and vacancies overflowed, of course.
Thus, he checked out of the dorm.
He was moving in with Shiba and Azalea.
"Anyway, I'll be gone far for the Forest Keeper selection anyway."
"You'll drop out soon... so we move faster."
At high noon, Azalea linked arms with him, grinning with excited steps.
Her pink hair, infused with light, was worlds apart from the dull shade when she took her psych meds before.
Did her looks change with mood or condition?
Pure white jade-like skin, childlike like Shiba's, sparkling.
No sunscreen, yet skin like that.
"Here."
The house wasn't too big or small.
Three rooms, kitchen, living room, separate toilet and bath... middle-class perfect.
Furniture already moved in.
Just bring clothes and stuff.
"Dorm stuff tomorrow... Oh right. Need Shiba's teacher too."
"Yeah."
Azalea clapped enthusiastically, nudging his shoulder with a laugh.
What furniture to buy? Like newlyweds oozing affection while sticking together.
Twenty years old.
Could she radiate mom vibes like this?
"Shiba... gotta go to Harvard, right?"
"Ha? Bard?"
Shiba tilted its head. Basically, needed someone to teach Shiba speech and manners.
"Puhuhu."
Azalea laughed at father and child, clapping once more.
Then a woman stepped in from outside.
Casual clothes, not the kindergarten apron.
Her stockings stood out as always. She awkwardly bowed to him.
"H-hello... Shiba's dad."
Shiba's teacher.
Why was the kindergarten worker here?
Glancing at Azalea, she shrugged and petted Shiba.
"...Hired her. That kindergarten was private anyway, said they won't reopen."
"Really? Thought you'd go to another."
Her face was much brighter than before.
A week passed... probably finished the funeral rites.
Emotions seemed sorted—good to see.
Hye-young brushed back her hair, smiling awkwardly, still disbelieving the moment.
"Originally... a friend recommended another place, but... your wife."
"Wife? Ah..."
Azalea must've made an offer she couldn't refuse.
Pretty big decision, though.
El Academy was overseas. No friends or family, coming to work here.
"Overseas though. Just accepted?"
"House... good pay too, hehe. And miss Shiba."
Hye-young gazed at Shiba with honey-dripping eyes.
Good pay? That's the reason to come overseas?
"You."
-Whisper whisper.
Azalea murmured employment details in his ear.
House provided.
Generous salary, insurance, full pension.
"Decent deal."
Sounded good even to him.
Plus, seeing our Shiba was top perk.
Somehow Hye-young joined too.
Room nearby, commuting while living alone.
Plenty Koreans around; could make friends if wanted.
'...Think positive: academy cadets make prime husband material.'
Could be a life turning point.
Of course, Hye-young just petted and cooed over Shiba.
Return to kindergarten after contract anyway.
Seemed handy with housework too.
He offered Hye-young a handshake.
"Speak up if inconvenient... Feels like showing off with money, sorry. Short on cash, tell me."
"Hehe. Fine."
"Speak casually... You're older."
"Lee Si-heon-ssi, right?"
Casual enough?
That works.
Exchanged greetings, then a growl from Shiba's tummy.
All three smiled almost simultaneously.
"Let's eat."
Great spot: tons of shops and eateries nearby.
Even eating out daily for a week, endless menus.
But moving day called for it.
Jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk.
They left the new house, chatting idly on the way to the Chinese place.
Shiba loved tangsuyuk.
"Pii!"
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