Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 117

Somewhere in the Abyss, within a certain dimension.

The Spirit Realm.

This sacred land, the foundation and origin of all spirits, was once counted among the most hallowed sanctuaries across the vast expanse of the Abyss.

At least...

Until that bastard Immortal led his army of the dead to invade and plunder the World Tree—the source of all spiritual energy.

Thud, thud.

As the colossal being surveyed the Spirit Realm now reduced to wasteland, a voice heavy with emptiness muttered:

"The Spirit Realm..."

Around the massive figure, auras of five colors shimmered like heat haze, constantly undulating.

The Spirit King.

This towering presence was once the sovereign who ruled over all spirits of this realm, watching over them from above.

"How did this verdant sanctuary, once overflowing with vitality, come to such a state..."

In the past, this place had been akin to an immense forest—lush with all manner of flowers and grasses, densely packed with towering trees.

But...

The colossal divine tree, the World Tree that was their source, had been stolen. In its wake, all plant life withered away.

"Immortal..."

That man was the architect of the Spirit Realm's tragedy.

"For a king who supposedly governed all spirits, you were disappointingly weak."

The Spirit King had been defeated in their life-or-death struggle...

"By the way, what's that tree over there?"

Helplessly robbed of the World Tree and his artifacts.

"Wow, just looking up at this thing might strain my neck. Planting something this grand in the Imperial Palace courtyard would really set the mood..."

All the spirits scattered.

"Mother Tree is gone..."

"I can barely breathe..."

"We should leave our homeland..."

With the World Tree—which had always emanated warm, comforting mana—gone, countless spirits abandoned their home.

"O wretched one..."

Though this dimension now teetered on the brink of ruin...

"The day of vengeance has finally come."

His retribution was only beginning.

Creak, creak—

A fissure split open across the ink-black sky of the Spirit Realm, and from beyond it, three enormous wolves pulled a chariot forth.

The Spirit King immediately prostrated himself in reverence as two divine beings descended from the gently landing chariot.

"Are you the Spirit King?"

The question came from the towering divine being wreathed in colossal flames—Surtr, the Fire Giant.

"Y-yes, that is correct..."

Next, the divine being from the star cluster Asgard—Loki, the giant with stitched lips—stepped forward, his voice laced with skepticism.

"Do you truly know of Immortal's weakness?"

Having realized he lacked the power to avenge that day's humiliation alone, the Spirit King had resolved to enlist the aid of other divine beings.

Still bowing low, the Spirit King explained the weakness he had deduced from his experiences, his tone exceedingly deferential.

"When Immortal led his army of the dead to assault the Spirit Realm, I resisted him for quite some time to protect this land."

Surtr pressed further.

"So you discovered his weakness then?"

As if waiting for the question, the Spirit King promptly replied, "Indeed," and launched into a lengthy explanation.

"After observing him over roughly a month of relentless battle, I noticed he always took the vanguard of his forces... except..."

The Spirit King paused, recalling the past with emphasis.

"One day."

A brief silence lingered.

"There was a day when Immortal not only refrained from leading his legion but didn't even show his face at all."

The two divine beings showed interest...

"Lunar Eclipse."

The Spirit King revealed the secret.

"On the day the crimson moon rose, for reasons unknown, he never appeared on the battlefield."

The Spirit King couldn't help but wonder—had he seized the advantage that day, perhaps he could have saved the Spirit Realm.

"Given that he never appeared, even as my forces were forced into retreat..."

Loki interjected.

"Does his power wane during that time?"

"That is my conjecture."

"If true, that is quite intriguing."

Surtr nodded in agreement.

"Indeed..."

Even the 'Discarded ■■■,' known to possess power so immense that no divine being could confidently oppose it, had fallen to him.

Such overwhelming power surely came with an equal cost—it stood to reason that a restriction like this might exist.

"The information we've gained from him may prove quite useful..."

At Loki's murmur, Surtr responded.

"I share that thought..."

Then, in a low voice, he added:

"Perhaps this time, we can truly seize the epithet '■■■'..."

Loki declared:

"This time, I shall take action."

And then continued:

"When the lunar eclipse soon arrives on Earth, I will strike the moment his power falters and end him once and for all."

With bravado, Loki stroked the mane of his son Fenrir and spoke.

"My kin."

Fenrir howled.

"Bring forth the eclipse upon his world."

The two wolves standing guard beside him—one crimson, one azure—joined their father in a chorus of howls.

Sköll and Hati.

Born under the fate of ceaselessly chasing the sun and moon to devour them.

"That day..."

A strange light flickered in Loki's eyes.

"I will claim not only vengeance for Jörmungandr, whom he destroyed, but also the epithet '■■■'—essential for the day of destined ruin."

And so, a new plan was set into motion.

"Everyone, come get pizza—!"

At Soo-bin's call, the family members trickled out of their rooms into the living room.

"My, my, pizza at this late hour."

At Crabsley's remark, Soo-bin tilted her head and asked curiously:

"If pizza's too heavy for a late-night snack, should I cut up some fruit instead?"

Crabsley frantically waved his hands, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"Oh no, my mouth is watering just thinking about it..."

Soo-bin blinked. "Excuse me?" Then, without realizing it, she chuckled and muttered:

"Seriously, your Korean patch must be bugged..."

Just as she was about to serve Crabsley a slice of pizza—

"W-wait, ma'am!"

Iriel interjected urgently.

"M-may I humbly request a moment to take a photo before you serve it...?"

Soo-bin readily agreed, "Of course," then asked as Iriel carefully framed the pizza with her smartphone:

"By the way, why the sudden photo?"

"I've started an 'Insta.'"

Then added:

"Hashtag, late-night food-gram..."

"Huh?"

"Hashtag, kneel before me..."

Soo-bin was thoroughly confused.

"Done with the photos?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Then, elders first..."

As Soo-bin moved to serve Crabsley again, she suddenly paused and asked:

"But didn't you say before that you're of the vampire species...?"

Crabsley kept his eyes fixed on the pizza as he answered quietly:

"Indeed, that is correct..."

Soo-bin pressed further:

"So... you can eat garlic sauce?"

"Of course."

"But vampires can't eat garlic."

Crabsley countered:

"With all due respect, is this not a prime example of the flaws in Earth's rote education system...?"

Soo-bin handed him the plate and asked again:

"In movies, vampires can't eat garlic..."

"Is salty garlic pickles not the ultimate rice thief?"

"They ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠have seizures when they see crosses..."

"I could stare at one until my eyes dry out and feel nothing."

"They melt if splashed with holy water or exposed to sunlight..."

"Unless I'm a snowman, how would that even work?"

"And don't they sleep in coffins...?"

"That was the case, but certainly not anymore."

Crabsley took a bite of pizza, chewing thoughtfully before adding:

"Is there not a saying about 'science' and beds?"

"Ah..."

"Plush mattresses, electric blankets, microfiber quilts."

After a pause, he continued:

"Having grown accustomed to such civilized comforts, returning to a hard, cold coffin seems rather unthinkable..."

Soo-bin, now stubborn, asked:

"Then what about the trope where a silver stake through the heart kills a vampire?"

Crabsley swallowed his pizza and replied:

"Would anyone—vampire or not—not meet their end if impaled through the heart with a silver stake...?"

Soo-bin sighed in resignation. "Fair point..." Meanwhile, Kang-jun picked up a slice and muttered:

"Just pizza, though?"

"Huh?"

"I told you to spend freely."

On the day Soo-bin learned the extent of their wealth, Kang-jun had urged her not to hold back on expenses.

Yet her spending habits seemed largely unchanged.

She hadn't splurged on anything she wanted, nor indulged in luxuries—just living much as she had before.

"What's wrong with pizza?"

Soo-bin cut a slice into bite-sized pieces for Seol and added softly:

"And, Kang-jun."

"Yeah?"

"I mean it."

She continued quietly:

"I just want things to stay like this. Not more, not less—just like this."

"Sure, whatever..."

"Oh, and I actually upgraded to extra cheese and stuffed crust. Added spaghetti and hot wings too."

Kang-jun chuckled.

"Good call."

He liked his sister's frugality.

Consumption couldn't bring happiness.

That path led only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to emptiness.

"Mmm, tasty...!"

Seol, munching on pizza, suddenly spoke up. Kang-jun smiled and asked:

"You like the pizza?"

Seol nodded vigorously ("Mhm!") before tilting her head in confusion.

"But isn't it weird?"

"Huh?"

"It tastes just like..."

Seol murmured seriously:

"The pizza Mommy and Daddy made together last time."

Kang-jun quickly defended:

"That just means they did a great job..."

Just then, the calm voice of a young news anchor from the TV filled the room.

—Shocking news: a murder has occurred at a hospital in central Seoul.

—What's more, the victim has been identified as an A-rank Hunter, intensifying public outcry...

Kang-jun's gaze snapped to the screen.

—According to police reports, the victim was killed in their hospital room while recovering from injuries sustained during a Gate suppression.

—Furthermore, signs of torture were found on the body, including the removal of the tongue, suggesting a premeditated act of vengeance.

—The perpetrator left no evidence behind, evading ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠both hospital and nearby CCTV cameras, complicating the investigation...

Kang-jun glanced at Soo-bin.

"Oops, forgot the cola!"

Soo-bin, however, seemed not to have heard the news.

—Next up...

Kang-jun exhaled in relief before turning his attention back to the TV.

—Signs of an impending lunar eclipse have been detected unexpectedly, years ahead of schedule...

Kang-jun's expression darkened.

"Lunar eclipse..."

Crabsley and Iriel tensed as well.

"My lord's 'rest period' approaches."

"Surely nothing will happen."

"At least we're not on a battlefield."

Kang-jun muttered, "Well..." and took a bite of pizza, downplaying it.

"What could possibly go wrong...?"

Then added:

"Just staying in for a day."

Just then, Soo-bin returned with cola and glasses.

"Who wants some?"

Seol tugged at Kang-jun's sleeve and whispered:

"Seol wanna try too..."

"No, not for kids."

"Pwease, just one sip..."

Seol added:

"Pwetty pwease..."

After a moment's hesitation, Kang-jun signaled Iriel, who smoothly distracted Soo-bin.

"Ma'am, might I humbly request a selfie with you...?"

As Iriel stole Soo-bin's attention, Kang-jun poured cola into a bottle cap.

"Just this much."

Seol eagerly downed the tiny serving in one gulp—

Shiver...!

Her tiny fists clenched as her whole body trembled, eyes flying wide open.

"W-what is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this...?"

Overwhelmed by the unfamiliar tingling on her tongue, she looked utterly shocked...

"Ugh..."

Kang-jun, equally stunned, clutched his chest.

"So... cute..."

She was adorable.