Chapter 115: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad 115
Kang-jun swung the slipper in his hand repeatedly—
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
Each strike echoed with a deafening crack, sending shockwaves through the air.
"Ugh...."
Thin streaks of blood trickled from the gaps between Kang Jin-hyuk's slightly parted lips, followed by a few teeth that had been knocked loose from the relentless beating. The sight was so brutal it would make anyone wince.
His cheeks were swollen beyond recognition, his nose bridge long since shattered, leaving his face a mangled mess.
"Hrk... ugh...."
Jin-hyuk curled into a defensive ball, raising his limbs in a feeble attempt to shield himself—only to further provoke Kang-jun's fury.
"Block this."
Kang-jun tightened his grip on the slipper and swung with even more force.
Whack!
Whack!
Whack!
The sheer impact left Jin-hyuk's limbs limp and useless, like a marionette with its strings cut. He couldn't even stand on his own anymore.
"Wake up."
A weak groan escaped Jin-hyuk's lips.
"Ugh...."
The only reason he hadn't collapsed yet was because Kang-jun was gripping his hair, forcibly keeping him upright.
"Hey, keep talking."
"S-sorry...."
"I said keep talking."
"P-please... have mercy...."
Kang-jun leaned in, his voice a whisper.
"Don't you dare die here."
"Huh...?"
"Because I'll see you again outside."
Jin-hyuk's pupils trembled violently.
"Just wait a little longer."
If Kang-jun had his way, he would've ended Jin-hyuk right then and there. But with so many witnesses—some even children—and his own sister watching wide-eyed, he couldn't.
Once we're out, I'll have Crabsley or Iriel hunt him down and slit his throat where no one can see.
"But before that...."
Kang-jun carelessly tossed his now-tattered slipper aside and pressed a hand against Jin-hyuk's abdomen, murmuring under his breath.
"Found it."
Then—
"This'll sting."
With a light push, mana surged from Kang-jun's fingertips. A sharp crack echoed from deep within Jin-hyuk's chest.
Crrrk—!
The sound came from his Circle—the core that stored his mana—shattering into pieces.
"Ghk—!"
Jin-hyuk's eyes bulged in horror as an unbearable pain wracked his body.
"N-no...."
He could feel it—his mana, once coursing through his veins, was melting away like snow under the sun.
"Wait quietly for the day you die."
In an instant, Kang-jun had reduced Jin-hyuk to a cripple. He turned to Lee Soo-bin, who was staring at him in shock.
"Noona."
She responded faintly.
"Yeah...."
Kang-jun reached out.
"Let's go."
Carrying Soo-bin on his back, Kang-jun covered an immense distance in an impossibly short time.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With each leap, he soared high into the air before landing far ahead, repeating the motion effortlessly.
"Noona, you okay?"
Soo-bin clung tightly to his back, her voice trembling.
"A-a little scary...."
Kang-jun replied flatly.
"Just hang on."
The scorching desert heat made breathing difficult, and the shifting sands threatened to swallow their feet whole. Walking normally here would've been impossible—dehydration and heatstroke were inevitable.
"Kang-jun, about earlier...."
Kang-jun hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"Thank you."
The unexpected words left him stunned.
"Huh?"
He had braced himself for a scolding—never gratitude.
"I didn't hear everything...."
"Yeah."
"But I caught some of it."
Soo-bin shuddered, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It was terrifying...."
A brief silence followed.
"Did you... really awaken?"
Kang-jun muttered, "Awaken...." before leaping again.
"Something like that."
Soo-bin's mind raced with the absurd stories she'd heard from her family—tales she'd dismissed as roleplay among Gate survivors.
"His Majesty unified the Anux Continent through sheer might, reigning as the Absolute One of neighboring dimensions...."
"Lady Soo-bin, the truth is, His Majesty has long since achieved a state akin to immortality...."
"Even the most learned minds of an entire dimension couldn't devise a way to grant him eternal rest...."
The old man's words resurfaced.
"I served as the head of the Imperial Household Agency, one of the five core institutions of the Anux Imperial Court, assisting His Majesty directly...."
"There are temples dedicated to His Majesty across the continent. On the anniversary of his ascension, the people observe fasting and prayer...."
The young noblewoman's voice echoed next.
"Tch, acting like an emperor now?"
"Nothing will happen."
"I'll protect you, so don't worry."
Her brother's calm reassurances played in her mind.
"Then... everything you've said until now...."
Just as she was about to ask—
SKREEEEEEE—!
A monstrous scorpion, hidden deep beneath the sands, erupted from the ground.
"Kieeeek!"
Kang-jun answered casually.
"All true."
Black spears materialized behind him—dozens of them, sharp and deadly.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
In the blink of an eye, they pierced through the scorpion's armored hide, reducing it to pulp.
Thud.
Kang-jun leaped again.
"I ruled as emperor of a continent for centuries...."
The desert blurred past them.
"I was unmatched across dimensions...."
Yet his voice remained clear in her ears.
"But I was homesick...."
He had wealth beyond measure.
Power beyond limits.
No—the world itself was his.
But none of it mattered.
He missed home.
He missed his sister.
He missed the mundane days he'd left behind.
"I hated this body—unaging, unyielding. I tried to end it myself countless times...."
Another swarm of giant scorpions emerged from the sands.
"But now I'm back."
With a single wave of his hand, the monsters disintegrated into dust.
"Noona, you know...."
Kang-jun spoke calmly as he annihilated the creatures around them.
"If I'd known this life was waiting for me, I wouldn't have wasted time wallowing in despair."
The last scorpion crumbled. Kang-jun landed softly, like a cat.
"Now, I want to live."
He turned his head slightly, meeting Soo-bin's gaze with unwavering sincerity.
"I want to keep living like this."
Just then—
BOOM! BOOM!
The ground trembled as a monstrous roar shook the desert.
[The Gate 'Desert of Death' boss monster, Sand Worm, has awakened.]
A colossal centipede-like creature burst from the sands, towering over them.
"So let's...."
Kang-jun leaped again, charging straight at the Sand Worm without hesitation.
"Keep living like this."
Thud.
His fist collided with the monster's head—
KABOOOOOM—!
The Sand Worm, an S-rank Gate's boss, exploded into chunks of flesh and green blood.
"Kang-jun, later...."
Soo-bin's voice shook.
"Tell me everything later."
Her brother's centuries in another world felt unfathomable.
"Tell me what you went through."
She couldn't begin to imagine the nights he'd endured.
"I want to hear it all."
Kang-jun nodded.
"Yeah. I'll tell you everything."
[The Gate 'Desert of Death' boss monster, Sand Worm, has been defeated.]
A chime rang in their ears.
[This Gate will soon disappear.]
The system messages announcing their victory appeared.
"Let's go back."
Kang-jun smiled.
"Let's go home."
Emerging from the Gate, Kang-jun silenced the gathered Hunters and Director Seo Do-cheol with a single sentence.
"I have to pick up my daughter."
The rest of the day passed like any other.
Morning came as usual.
"Kang-jun, did Seol get to school okay?"
"Yeah, she just got on the bus."
Kang-jun headed to his room, about to lie down for a nap, when—
"Hey, have you seen the TV remote?"
Soo-bin's voice called from outside.
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
He summoned a Skeleton Warrior and handed it the remote.
"You took it to your room again...."
With a lazy wave, he ordered,
"Hey, take this to Noona."
Nod, nod.
The skeleton clattered away, its bones rattling as it headed to the living room.
Soo-bin, lounging on the couch with her phone, didn't look up.
"Thanks."
She reached out—then froze.
Her head snapped up.
"KYAAAAAH—!"
She screamed before she could stop herself.
"What's wrong?"
Kang-jun rushed out.
"Wh-what is this?!"
She pointed at the skeleton, wide-eyed.
"Oh, just a summon."
"But—!"
"And it's a great dancer."
He patted the skeleton's shoulder.
"Do 'Rollin'."
The skeleton immediately began clattering through the choreography of a popular idol group's hit song.
"M-make it stop...."
"Don't like it?"
"N-no, it's just... weird."
A skeletal warrior with glowing red eyes nailing girl group dance moves was... unsettling.
"It's too good...."
"Told you it could dance."
"Why is its groove so smooth?!"
"I have an eye for talent."
And just like that, another layer of their shared secret was peeled back, blending seamlessly into their daily life.
"By the way, where's the young lady?"
"Iriel?"
"Yeah, where'd she go?"
Kang-jun answered simply.
"Sent her on an errand."
His tone was casual.