Chapter 1: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood - Episode 1
In the early hours of dawn, a young man stood before the window of his room.
He gazed intently at the scenery beyond the glass.
The weekday morning view of the Sillim-dong row houses was utterly ordinary.
A few people hurried through the narrow alleyways, rushing as if chased by time—nothing more.
Yet the young man wore an expression of profound emotion, as though beholding a magnificent landscape.
"Earth. South Korea. Seoul. Sillim-dong. My home..."
How long had he yearned for this sight?
How many years had he wandered, clinging solely to the thought of returning here?
And how many trials had he overcome to make it back?
Though it had already been a week since his return to Earth...
Looking down through this window never failed to bring him joy and fascination.
"Finally... I'm back."
Just as he began grinning like a fool—
"Kang-jun."
The bedroom door swung open, revealing his older sister, Lee Soo-bin.
"I have to leave early for work this week. Can you come out and feed Seol her baby food?"
"Sure, no problem."
"While you're feeding Seol, make sure to eat breakfast too. And don't forget to serve Grandpa his meal. I left kimchi stew, so heat it up properly. And check the gas valve—"
Kang-jun nodded, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"Don't worry, I've got it all memorized."
"I'll come straight home after work, so hold down the fort until then. If anything happens, call me immediately—"
Soo-bin paused mid-sentence, then continued with sudden gravity.
"Kang-jun... you're still feeling pretty disoriented, aren't you?"
"Not at all. I'm fine."
"No, you must be."
"I'm really—"
Soo-bin looked at him with pitying eyes and pressed on.
"You were trapped inside a Gate for years before finally coming home. If you were perfectly fine right away, that'd be more concerning."
"I've told you repeatedly—I wasn't trapped in a 'Gate.' I was summoned to a place called the Anux Continent—"
"Right, right. You were some super-powerful emperor there. And the old man you brought home was your royal advisor who helped govern the empire."
Kang-jun nodded vigorously, his voice bright with enthusiasm.
"Exactly! That's precisely what happened."
Meanwhile, Soo-bin's face remained sorrowful.
"I looked into some cases. Most people who barely make it out of a Gate suffer from severe PTSD."
"Excuse me?"
"Some even have complete mental breakdowns or develop aphasia. You and Grandpa only have mild paranoia, so you're actually lucky."
Soo-bin was convinced that both her brother and the old man were "Gate survivors."
After all, there were rare cases of people suddenly being sucked into a Gate, only to miraculously return alive years later.
Come to think of it, Kang-jun disappeared right around the time of the First Gate Incident...
The world had changed drastically after her brother vanished.
Dimensional rifts began appearing worldwide, and the academic community dubbed the phenomenon "Gates."
From these Gates emerged monsters that even modern firepower struggled to suppress...
Fortunately, a new breed of humans emerged—those who awakened superhuman abilities to combat these creatures.
The so-called "Awakened."
In the early days, the lack of military strength, information, and systemic order led to catastrophic losses of life and property worldwide...
But now, things were different.
Humanity had progressed—slowly but steadily—accumulating knowledge about the Gates and the monsters within.
They discovered that clearing a Gate prevented the "Wave Phenomenon," where monsters would spill out en masse...
And that most materials found beyond the Gates held revolutionary potential as new resources.
Soon, organizations and associations for training and managing Awakened sprouted like mushrooms.
As a result...
Humanity now lived in a society several times more prosperous than before the Gates appeared...
But also one plagued by an ever-widening wealth gap, where the strong amassed greater riches and prestige—a world governed by the "law of power."
Meanwhile, Kang-jun could only stare at his sister in bewilderment.
"Even if you're my only sister, this is rather disrespectful. Treating me like some lunatic..."
Though inwardly offended, he decided not to press the issue further.
Well, even I'd have trouble believing my own story. No amount of explaining would ever convince her.
Just then, Soo-bin clasped his hands tightly.
"Kang-jun, I'm just happy you're alive. But from now on, you'll need to readjust to society."
Kang-jun murmured, "Society..." before offering a faint smile.
Right. I'll adapt.
For centuries, he had dreamed of returning to an ordinary life on Earth.
Unrivaled power, vast treasures, the authority to shape the world at will—
Yet at the end of all his pursuits, he found only crushing emptiness.
Thankfully, he had made it back, though while he had spent 300 years on Anux...
Only three years passed on Earth.
He saw it as divine providence.
Now, all he wanted was to return to the quiet life he'd left behind—
That of an ordinary mid-20s Lee Kang-jun, just before he was flung into the heart of Anux.
Adapt. And go back.
Soo-bin tightened her grip on his hands.
"Three years isn't short, and the world has changed so much. It won't be easy to adjust right away."
"Is that so?"
"But if we all work together, I know it'll be okay. And about Grandpa..."
She hesitated, glancing at the closed door before continuing.
"He's welcome to stay with us until he reconnects with his family. Please help him feel at home."
"Really? You don't have to go that far—"
"I can't just turn away an old man with nowhere to go. I'll do my best until you readjust and he finds his family. Just focus on recovering—"
"Recovering?" Kang-jun echoed, puzzled.
Soo-bin stammered, "I mean, treatment—"
"Treatment?"
"No, that's not—"
Flustered, she bit her lip before blurting out, "Adapting! Just focus on adapting!"
"Right."
"Look how late it's gotten..."
She checked her watch and hurried out, calling over her shoulder.
"Anyway, I'm counting on you! I need to get ready for work. I'll be back as soon as my shift ends. Feed Seol and take care of Grandpa!"
"Got it. Leave it to me."
Soo-bin left, towel-drying her damp hair.
After a moment, Kang-jun followed.
Just as he stepped into the living room—
"Your Majesty!"
An old man seated at the table shot to his feet, having been scribbling intently in a notebook.
Kang-jun responded with a bored, "Yeah." Then, eyeing the notebook, he asked, "What're you up to this early?"
"I must record Your Majesty's every move today, so I was preparing—"
"Enough, enough." Kang-jun massaged his temples.
His gaze drifted downward—
Or more accurately, to the little girl sitting on the floor, playing with dolls.
She was beautiful.
With delicate features and striking eyes, she was the kind of child whose future beauty was already assured.
His sister had claimed...
That this girl was his biological daughter.
I still can't wrap my head around it.
He had disappeared before anyone knew of her existence.
His girlfriend at the time—the child's birth mother—had tragically died during childbirth.
Sadly, his memories of her were faint.
Just a name and a few fragmented scenes were all he could recall.
Until recently, he hadn't even known this child existed.
No overwhelming paternal love had surged within him, but he did feel something akin to responsibility.
At the very least, he owed it to raise her properly until adulthood.
Well, it's not so bad.
All Kang-jun wanted now was one thing:
To lay down everything he had carried as emperor of Anux...
And live out his days in peaceful obscurity—quietly, uneventfully.
Raising a child is about as ordinary as life gets, anyway...
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the girl looking up at him until—
"Dada?"
Kang-jun knelt, gently stroking her hair.
"Your hair's tied up so prettily."
Soo-bin, adjusting her clothes before a mirror, smiled at the sight.
Look at him, already acting like a doting dad.
But her smile froze when Kang-jun added:
"Speaking of knots, I'm quite skilled myself. I used to tie nooses for executions—especially for traitors and felons."
"Noo...ses?"
"Indeed. There's a technique to making them tight enough to snap the neck in one go—"
Soo-bin's face twisted in horror.
"Lee Kang-jun!"
She sprinted over, smacking his back repeatedly.
"What the hell are you teaching her?!"
"I was merely sharing paternal wisdom—"
"Just go heat up Seol's food!"
Grumbling, Kang-jun headed to the stove.
Meanwhile, the old man at the table resumed muttering and writing:
"Today, His Majesty explained execution nooses to the young princess, prompting Her Ladyship Soo-bin to strike His Majesty's back. When questioned, Her Ladyship demanded, 'What kind of talk is that for a child?' Despite His Majesty's protests, her anger remained unappeased—"
"Hey, I told you to stop writing every little thing!"
Ignoring him, the old man continued scribbling.
Soo-bin, watching their bickering, couldn't help but laugh.
Still... I'm glad.
Her brother might not readjust to society anytime soon. He might not be father material either.
But he's home.
That alone filled her with immeasurable gratitude.
If I just hang in there, everything will work out.
Her gaze lingered on the stack of unpaid utility bills on the table.
With a deep breath, she forced a smile.
"I'm off!"
As Soo-bin left—
"Hmm?"
Kang-jun's eyes narrowed at the bills she'd been staring at.