Chapter 121: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 121
The thunder that none could withstand.
"Step back from ■■■."
His words rumbled like a growl as he tightened his grip on the massive, rugged hammer 'Mjolnir' in his hand.
Soon after, the fiery giant Surtr—who seemed ready to devour the entire world—began to convulse and scream.
"Thor—!"
Kang-jun stared intently at the divine figure standing protectively before him, shielding him from the others.
The god bearing the epithet "Thunder That None Could Withstand," Thor, took the form of a muscular human male.
His limbs were thick as logs, and his long golden hair carried an air of sacredness.
"The thunder that none could withstand..."
Kang-jun had received fervent encouragement from him through system messages before.
Thor swept his long hair back and spoke in his characteristically bold tone.
"I've wanted to meet you for a long time."
"Me?"
"I was moved by your narrative."
The Abyss, which had lacked any real excitement for ages, had grown lively with the appearance of ■■■.
Like all divine beings, Thor had taken an interest in ■■■, observing every move in detail.
At first, it might have just been for amusement—watching ■■■'s actions with simple enjoyment and enthusiasm.
"But the entire Asgard Star Cluster owes you a great debt."
"What debt?"
"Because of you, the 'Scheduled Day of Destruction' has been postponed indefinitely."
Kang-jun muttered at those words.
"The Scheduled Day of Destruction..."
It was the time when he had personally erased Hela, ruler of Niflheim's underworld, beyond the Calamity-grade Gate in New Delhi, India.
[ Due to your intervention, the narrative of the Asgard Star Cluster has undergone major revisions. ]
[ The Asgard Star Cluster's 'Scheduled Day of Destruction' has been postponed indefinitely. ]
[ Some divine beings of the Asgard Star Cluster express gratitude to you for delaying their destruction. ]
A few cryptic system messages flashed through his mind—ones he hadn't fully understood at the time.
"You also eliminated my 'nemesis.'"
Originally, Thor had been fated to perish in battle against Jörmungandr on Asgard's destined day of doom.
But...
Uroboros, the "largest serpent in the worldview," coiled in the depths of the Abyss, had swallowed Jörmungandr whole.
"You are the savior of the star cluster..."
Thor clenched Mjolnir tightly.
"And the benefactor of my life..."
His voice resonated through the Abyss.
"I swear upon all the achievements and narratives I have built—until my last breath, I shall stand as your ally..."
A brief silence followed.
"And fight solely for you."
At that moment.
[ Some divine beings who heard Thor's 'oath' are unable to hide their shock. ]
[ A portion of the Abyss's divine beings express deep envy toward you. ]
System messages appeared before Kang-jun's eyes.
Thor swung Mjolnir once more.
The sky roared in response.
Dozens of lightning bolts struck the ground violently.
CRACK, BOOM, RUMBLE—!
Surtr, who had been contemplating, finally spoke.
"I shall withdraw."
If the only enemy had been ■■■ alone, perhaps. But with Thor, a high-ranking god of the Asgard Star Cluster, joining the fray...
Victory was impossible. It was better to retreat and regroup for another day.
"Fenrir."
He turned to Fenrir.
"We are leaving."
Fenrir, in turn, bit the nape of his father Loki—now reduced to a tattered mess—and lifted him.
"Thor."
Surtr spoke again.
"Do you know why we called that day the 'Scheduled Day of Destruction'?"
Silence lingered.
"It was literally predestined."
"Nonsense..."
"Though it's true that ■■■'s intervention altered the narrative."
Surtr sneered openly.
"Jörmungandr, who was to bring the flood, was devoured. 'Naglfar,' which was to unleash hell's legions upon Asgard, was plundered."
This had been the preordained destruction narrative of the Asgard Star Cluster before ■■■ appeared.
"But."
Surtr's divine form began to dissipate.
"But 'that day' is the reason for my existence..."
Only his voice remained in the empty space.
"Ragnarök."
A chilling tone.
"The Scheduled Day of Destruction will come in some form—to trample and burn Asgard."
Fenrir, still gripping his battered father by the nape, vanished beyond the Gate.
"Well then..."
Thor turned to Kang-jun.
"That settles it for now."
He added,
"I'd like to formally invite you to the Asgard Star Cluster soon—to properly host you."
"An invitation?"
"There are matters to discuss, things I must explain to you..."
Thor trailed off vaguely, then looked down at his own fading hand.
"I manifested abruptly, so time is short for a proper conversation."
He spoke again.
"I'll come for you soon."
"How will you know where to find me?"
"Tell me where you'll be."
Kang-jun also had questions for him.
Like the message in his status window's 'Level' section.
[ Level: 59 ]
[ The Level field has been locked. ]
[ Fulfill specific conditions to unlock it. ]
[ Condition: Complete the altered narrative of the Asgard Star Cluster. ]
He needed to reach Level 60 to summon another familiar to Earth.
The sudden lock on his level had to be resolved.
"Tell me where you'll be..."
Kang-jun added,
"Yeoksam Atville."
The name of the villa where he and his family lived.
Thor repeated the words softly a few times.
"I'll remember."
Gradually, his divine form also began to fade.
"We'll meet again soon at 'Yeoksam Atville.'"
With those words, Thor vanished abruptly.
At the same time.
"What the hell is even happening..."
The Hunters stationed near the Gate to suppress it couldn't comprehend the situation.
Kang-jun had appeared in a monstrous form, emitting an eerie, chilling aura that obscured their vision.
A barrier of black magic formed, and the dust storm raised by the gale winds further blocked their sight.
Then—
The relentless winds gradually subsided, and the black magic barrier dissipated.
Thud, thud...
Kang-jun emerged, his robe's hood pulled low again.
"I told you to go home. Why are you still here?"
The Hunters hesitated, unable to respond.
Reading the fear in their eyes, Kang-jun answered.
"Fine."
It was a familiar yet unpleasant gaze.
Not that he blamed them.
"I'm leaving."
With that, Kang-jun leaped toward Naglfar, still floating in the air.
"You've worked hard," Kazan said, as if waiting.
"Let's go home," Kang-jun replied calmly.
Late at night.
"Appa..."
Seol, awakened by the thunder, realized Kang-jun wasn't beside her.
"Where go..."
It was pitch black outside.
"Seol scared..."
Then she shook her head.
"No, Seol brave."
She buried her nose in Kang-jun's pillow, sniffing.
"Appa smell..."
It was a comforting scent.
Just as she was about to fall back asleep—
"My lord, have you returned?"
A voice from behind the closed door made Seol perk up her ears.
"Appa?"
The sound of her family talking echoed from beyond the door.
"My lord, I humbly suggest hiding your current form from Her Highness, lest she be frightened—"
Grandfather's words were met with Appa's reply.
"Yeah, I should."
His voice sounded sad.
"She'd hate it."
Seol sat up.
Pitter-patter...
She went straight to the door and stepped outside.
"Appa back?"
The moment she saw him—
"Ah, Appa..."
Seol's eyes widened as she stared at Kang-jun's face.
Lunar Eclipse.
Only half of his melted skin and muscles had regenerated.
"Seol..."
Kang-jun hastily pulled his hood lower.
"D-Don't look. Go back to your room—"
Then Seol burst into tears.
"Waaaaah..."
Kang-jun stammered.
"I-I'm sorry."
He didn't know what he was apologizing for—he just was.
This was the last face he wanted her to see.
His hands trembled violently.
"Appaaa..."
Seol frantically opened the TV stand drawer and pulled out a first-aid kit filled with ointments.
"Appa, why hurt..."
Clutching a tube in her tiny hand, she approached him.
"Appa, this make better..."
"Seol..."
"Seol use this too..."
She squeezed a bit of ointment onto her fingertips and gently spread it over Kang-jun's skeletal face.
"Appa, no hurt..."
Her trembling hands kept applying it.
"Never hurt again..."
Over and over, she spread the ointment.
"Seol hate Appa hurt..."
Kang-jun bowed his head.
His eyes burned.
Tears streamed down.
How long had it been?
He couldn't remember the last time he had cried.
"Appa, cry 'cause hurt?"
"Seol..."
"No cry, get better, get better..."
Meanwhile, Kang-jun's skin began to heal.
Not because of the ointment.
The Lunar Eclipse night was ending, and dawn approached.
Kang-jun pulled Seol into a tight embrace.
Her small hands applying ointment felt like solace.
The days he had struggled to remain human but failed.
The days he had drifted, unable to blend in with them.
Her touch was comfort for all those days.
"Thank you..."
He had agonized over how to keep his humanity but found no answer.
But now...
He had learned how to preserve it.
"Seol, thank you..."
This child kept reminding him of his humanity.
Stirring forgotten emotions, unfamiliar feelings.
He wanted to keep learning from her.
"I love you..."
A year since returning to Earth.
Kang-jun...
Spoke the word "love."