Chapter 101: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 101
Until just recently, Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture had stood as one of Japan's five national treasure-class castles.
But two years ago,
a single individual succeeded in purchasing Matsumoto Castle after paying the government an astronomical sum, making it his private property.
Nuclear Samurai.
The man who firmly held Japan's top S-rank hunter position had spent his personal fortune to establish Matsumoto Castle as the headquarters of the Shogun Guild.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation."
Nuclear Samurai, who had been strolling through the garden in full bloom with cherry blossoms, was the first to casually break the silence.
Beside him, Korea's top-ranked S-class hunter Jung Yoon-chan responded quietly.
"The honor is mine. I should be thanking you for inviting me to such a magnificent place."
Both men had been swamped with handling the aftermath of the Calamity-grade Gate that appeared in Shimane Prefecture, barely finding time to breathe in their respective countries.
Thanks to Nuclear Samurai and the hunters of the Shogun Guild keeping silent about what happened inside the Calamity-grade Gate...
Everything was resolved smoothly, with the vanguard team of hunters taking credit as Kang-jun had intended.
Yoon-chan's visit to the Shogun Guild headquarters at Matsumoto Castle despite his busy schedule was also part of expressing gratitude for their cooperation.
"What would you like to know?"
At Yoon-chan's question as he gazed up at the blooming plum blossoms, Nuclear Samurai's mind instantly grew complicated.
The questions piled up like mountains.
Just...
Where should he even begin?
"First..."
After hesitating for quite some time, Nuclear Samurai finally managed to voice his first question.
"What kind of time did you experience?"
He had witnessed Yoon-chan's transformation.
"Ask freely."
After miraculously surviving the Calamity-grade Gate in New Delhi and reuniting with him, Yoon-chan's entire demeanor had changed...
Clang, clang, clang-!
Hadn't he stood against that snake that slaughtered multiple hunters with sword dances approaching the realm of mastery?
Moreover,
Nuclear Samurai had clearly seen him pierce through the snake's impenetrable scales—scales no one else had even scratched—leaving multiple wounds large and small.
'Could I...'
Have done the same?
Could I have...
Cut through those scales?
'If so, then this man...'
What kind of time had he gone through?
What kind of time...
Had changed him so dramatically?
"So that's what you're curious about."
Yoon-chan kept his gaze fixed on the cherry blossoms as he spoke with a self-deprecating tone, laying bare his thoughts.
"I thought I had reached the pinnacle."
"You achieved enlightenment?"
"I merely spent time in arrogance."
Yoon-chan countered.
"You saw his power, didn't you?"
That moment inside New Delhi's Calamity-grade Gate when he first witnessed Kang-jun's power.
Yoon-chan felt as though his entire world had crumbled, only to be rebuilt from the foundation up.
Nuclear Samurai was likely experiencing similar emotions now.
"It was like standing before an impossibly vast, thick wall."
Then he added.
"Though I did gain enlightenment."
"What kind...?"
"The realization that the path ahead remains long."
Nuclear Samurai hummed thoughtfully before posing another question.
"Then what exactly is his identity...?"
Memories of locking eyes with 'him' surfaced, making his heartbeat quicken.
For an instant, he'd felt overwhelmed by the pressure of some colossal being looking down at him.
The man who single-handedly suppressed Japan's Calamity-grade Gate had left only a few brief words...
"This is your achievement."
Before vanishing abruptly.
"Though I don't know the details either..."
A breeze stirred through the garden.
Branches swayed...
And cherry blossom petals scattered.
"He made it clear that while he'll continue supporting humanity's survival and peace, he has no intention of appearing publicly."
Nuclear Samurai paused his steps and asked with grave seriousness.
"Meaning he's a reliable ally?"
To this, Yoon-chan replied, "Yes, more reliable than anyone," then added with resolute determination.
"But we shouldn't grow dependent."
Lost in deep thought at these words, Nuclear Samurai slowly organized the chaotic jumble in his mind.
'Does he believe he too can reach those distant heights someday...?'
He lacked such confidence.
'Not only did I get knocked flat by the boss monster's casual gesture, I couldn't even follow the life-or-death battle between him and that monster with my own eyes...'
He bit his lip.
'What kind of number one am I...?'
His incompetence weighed heavily.
Then,
Yoon-chan spoke up.
"By the way, the garden's rear seems completely neglected."
Several cherry trees showed signs of rot and decay, and even the healthy ones had untrimmed branches growing wild.
"Well..."
Nuclear Samurai swallowed his excuse about being too busy lately.
No matter how packed his schedule, surely he could have found time to order gardeners to tend the rear garden?
He'd had ample opportunity.
But he'd gradually lost interest in maintaining it, lacking confidence that he'd see these cherry blossoms bloom again next spring.
Every day was a brush with death.
As a nation's top hunter, he bore the duty of participating in gate suppression efforts worldwide.
Living constantly on the edge, where tomorrow was never guaranteed, he'd stopped waiting for next spring.
Perhaps...
Because when the world's fate hung by a thread, no one might live to see another spring.
While hunter development worldwide had plateaued after reaching certain levels, the danger of emerging gates grew daily.
That was the decisive reason he'd lost enthusiasm for tending his once-beloved garden, letting it fall into neglect.
Flutter, flutter...
Amid this, a single cherry blossom petal drifted down gracefully toward the ground.
However one described it, this was death.
No matter how beautiful its form, he saw the petal's essence as hurtling toward oblivion.
'This world is no different...'
However hard people tried to maintain peace, he'd believed the world was steadily marching toward ruin.
No—
He'd thought so until hearing that man would support humanity's survival and peace.
Shing—
He drew the sword at his waist.
The blade split the falling petal...
Which burst into flames.
"You there."
He called to an attendant following a few paces behind.
"Yes, Shogun?"
Unexpectedly, he issued an unusual order.
"See that the gardeners devote equal care to the rear garden's cherry trees."
The attendant bowed.
"At once."
Then Nuclear Samurai addressed Yoon-chan.
"I have a request."
"Please, go ahead."
"Will you visit again next spring?"
He added with a smile.
"I'll strive to show you even finer scenery here by then."
Long-forgotten emotions stirred within him.
Hope.
Hope that now seemed tangible.
Sometimes...
Someone's mere existence becomes another's hope.
Perhaps he too—
Could be someone's hope.
The world's future was changing.
The house had been lively since morning.
"Waaaaaah!"
Seol shouted excitedly...
"Otokae, so pitty!"
She rolled around joyfully...
"What wear go?"
Already worrying about what to wear.
"Kang-jun, why did you make such a promise? The weather forecast said all the petals fell because of the typhoon from Japan..."
Kang-jun replied nonchalantly.
"Well, flowers are everywhere—if we look hard enough, we'll find some still blooming..."
Seol's excitement came from Kang-jun promising to take her "flower viewing" this weekend.
'Well, if I tell Kazan, he'll figure something out...'
Having easily devised a solution, Kang-jun scratched his neck and told Seol.
"Seol, we need to get ready for school."
Drop-off time was approaching.
"Oong!"
Kang-jun deftly tied Seol's now-long hair into two neat pigtails with hairbands...
"Papa, hurry hair!"
"Almost done."
"Tell story no?"
When Kang-jun asked "A story?", Seol nodded eagerly.
"Snow White story!"
As Kang-jun focused on tying her hair neatly, he asked,
"Seol, you always want Snow White—don't you get bored? I know lots of other princess stories. How about—"
"No!" Seol puffed her cheeks. "Seol only like Snow White!"
It was puzzling.
'Is it really that entertaining...?'
He'd read Snow White hundreds if not thousands of times by now.
He could recite it flawlessly from memory without opening the book.
"Seol only like Snow White."
How could she remain so steadfast?
"Why?"
Seol answered immediately.
"Cuz same like me."
"Huh?"
"Snow Seol, me Lee Seol."
Ah—both names contained "Seol."
"So cute..."
As Kang-jun murmured,
"And both so pitty!"
"Other reason?"
"Um, and also cuz..."
Seol's voice softened.
"Snow White miss mommy too."
Kang-jun froze.
"If Seol have mommy, so happy."
"......"
"Cuz all fwiends have mommy."
Seol's voice grew gloomy.
"Only Seol no have."
He'd vowed to give her anything—
Except this one unfulfillable wish.
A first since becoming a father.
"Seol, hello?"
The school van stopped outside as Seol's homeroom teacher Lee Ji-hee stepped out.
"Good morning, sir?"
Seol immediately hugged Ji-hee's legs, shouting "Teacher!"
"Seol, your hair looks lovely today!"
Seol glanced back at Kang-jun and explained cheerfully.
"Papa tied it!"
Unconsciously, Ji-hee's gaze shifted to Kang-jun.
'How sweet...'
Then Seol called again.
"Teacher, teacher!"
And began proudly sharing this morning's promise from Kang-jun.
"Seol no go daycare—Papa take see super pitty flowers!"
Ji-hee asked, "Oh my, really?", stroking Seol's hair warmly.
"How enviable!"
Seol replied.
"You come too."
"Huh?"
"Teacher come too."
She looked at Kang-jun...
"Please..."
Kang-jun cleared his throat and spoke formally.
"Ms. Lee."
Internally repeating 'no way', Ji-hee studied Kang-jun's face...
"If it's not too much trouble..."
After a pause.
"Would you care to join us?"
Kang-jun bowed slightly.
"I'd be most grateful..."
A heavy silence fell.