Chapter 124: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad, First Time Too - Chapter 124
Inside the director's office at the Seoul branch of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau.
Rustle, rustle—
Director Seo Do-cheol meticulously scanned through a document with an endlessly serious expression.
It was a report detailing the suppression process of a Calamity-grade Gate that had recently appeared over Hyesan City in North Korea's Jagang Province.
He read and reread the report's contents with intense focus, not missing a single detail.
"Code Name Immortal..."
Real name: Lee Kang-jun.
"This time too..."
Had he not personally stepped forward, the suppression of that gate would have certainly failed.
"This is problematic..."
Could a single individual truly safeguard the world's peace?
Preposterous.
The weight of such responsibility was far too heavy for any one person to bear.
"We need to strengthen our forces..."
Recently, Director Seo had been allocating most of the bureau's budget toward initiatives that could enhance hunter capabilities.
Already, the majority of funds were being spent on procuring cutting-edge training programs developed by leading hunter nations...
As part of efforts to provide experience opportunities for domestic hunters, enormous expenditures were being made to acquire unclaimed gates.
"Insufficient..."
More efficient and groundbreaking solutions were needed.
For example...
What if Lee Kang-jun personally conducted training?
"We could achieve rapid results in a short period while also benefiting from motivational effects..."
His contemplation deepened.
"I'm unsure what kind of compensation we could offer that would appeal to him..."
Past experience showed that wealth and fame only moved the hearts of mediocre hunters.
To collaborate with someone who could obtain such things whenever they wished required something truly extraordinary.
"Hmm..."
As he remained lost in thought—
Knock knock.
A cautious knocking sounded...
"Director."
His secretary's voice came through the door.
"Hunter Jung Yoon-chan has arrived."
"Yes, please send him in."
As the door gradually opened, Jung Yoon-chan appeared dressed in an immaculate custom-tailored suit...
"To what do I owe this unexpected—"
Before Director Seo could finish rising from his seat, Jung Yoon-chan continued in an unmistakably triumphant tone.
"A few days ago."
Jung Yoon-chan comfortably seated himself on the reception sofa in the center of the office.
"I believe you asked me about ways to win that person's favor. Is that offer still valid?"
"Yes, certainly—"
"I think I've discovered a surefire method to earn his goodwill."
After muttering "Wh-what kind..." in a low voice, Director Seo immediately took the seat opposite him on the sofa...
"Yesterday, Immortal sent me a message."
"He initiated contact with you?"
Jung Yoon-chan chuckled before responding.
"Actually, we've been exchanging various messages regularly..."
"Your relationship has progressed to the point of casual conversation!"
"Normally it's just exchanging special characters."
After emphasizing "However," Jung Yoon-chan continued in a grave tone.
"Yesterday, he explicitly stated there was something he urgently needed my help with."
Director Seo's eyes widened.
"Good heavens, is that true?"
Jung Yoon-chan then revealed the main point.
"Snow White Kindergarten will soon be holding a parent-invited arts festival performance."
"That place is..."
"As you know, it's the early childhood education institution attended by Immortal's daughter, Lee Seol-i."
After briefly organizing his thoughts, Director Seo asked:
"Then what exactly is this matter requiring assistance?"
At this, Jung Yoon-chan began lightly tapping the sofa armrest while explaining in a low voice.
"Particularly for Seol-i's class, the 'Love Class,' they're preparing a children's play themed around 'Hunters' to showcase young heroes."
He confidently added:
"I've been appointed as a consulting advisor responsible for authenticating the play's details."
"Pardon?"
"I just returned from revising the script with the Love Class's homeroom teacher."
As Director Seo continued staring blankly at Jung Yoon-chan's face, he continued:
"Still don't understand?"
What did an arts festival performance matter?
"Immortal hopes his daughter's performance will be the most brilliant among all the shows at this 'Arts Festival.'"
Hearing this, Director Seo suddenly shouted "Eureka!" and stood up excitedly.
"This is our opportunity—!"
"Yes, it is."
"Our chance—!"
If through the bureau's multifaceted assistance, the Love Class's play became the most outstanding performance at Snow White Kindergarten's arts festival...
'We could strengthen our relationship.'
Though most government agencies' authority had become nominal in these chaotic times, the Management Bureau remained a clear exception.
"Excellent..."
Seo Do-cheol sat at the helm of such an organization—a man who wielded authority surpassing even national leaders in certain emergency situations.
"This concerns public peace and welfare. The bureau cannot remain idle."
Thus he declared his intention to participate...
"Moreover, this Snow White Kindergarten arts festival may very well be connected to our nation's future survival."
Director Seo added solemnly.
"We will assist proactively."
And so, completely unexpectedly, Snow White Kindergarten's parent-invited arts festival performance transformed into a national-level "large-scale project."
There's an old saying that too many cooks spoil the broth.
While old sayings are rarely wrong...
Occasionally, exceptions do occur.
What if all those cooks were experts in their field?
"Let's harness our collective intelligence."
At Jung Yoon-chan's words, the gathered S-rank hunters nodded in unison as if by prior agreement.
In fact...
Not just hunters—even the perpetually busy Seo Do-cheol had joined the meeting.
"First, let's examine the script."
The hunters carefully reviewed the script from beginning to end with bated breath...
The already adapted children's play about young heroes was extremely simple in content:
Hunters overcoming various trials to defeat the Demon King in his castle and save the world.
"How about inserting a scene here where the young heroes traverse a blizzard-swept snowfield on their way to the Demon King's castle?"
Proposed by Korea's 15th ranked S-class hunter:
The Ice Witch, Seol Eun-bin.
"Possible?"
Jung Yoon-chan asked...
"Of course, nothing to it."
Another hunter suggested:
"For the climactic battle between the heroes and Demon King, we could create light effects with illumination magic..."
Korea's 4th ranked S-class hunter:
The Guide, Jo Min-jin.
Jung Yoon-chan responded:
"That would make for much more impressive staging."
Just as the meeting was in full swing—
Creeeak.
The door to the kindergarten's teacher conference room opened...
"Everyone working hard?"
Kang-jun appeared holding an adorable Doberman puppy in his arms.
Yoon Hee-soo, who could be considered acquainted with Marbas, widened her eyes...
"Ah, the demon dog is here too..."
Upon briefly meeting Marbas's gaze, The Guide Jo Min-jin began sweating profusely with indescribable revulsion.
"Th-that thing..."
Meanwhile, the other hunters immediately stood to bow respectfully to Kang-jun.
"You've arrived?"
As Kang-jun casually responded "Yeah,"—
"Hey, little brother."
Go Du-yeol, Korea's 6th ranked S-class hunter who persistently claimed fraternal bonds with Kang-jun, suddenly asked:
"Who's going to play the Demon King and his minions?"
Kang-jun immediately snapped his fingers—
Whoooosh.
A coffin rose dramatically from the ground, from which emerged a fully armed skeleton warrior.
"Keeek..."
Kang-jun draped an arm over the skeleton's shoulder and explained:
"The minions will be played by undead."
Go Du-yeol muttered "Impressive..." before asking:
"And the Demon King?"
At that moment, the Doberman puppy Marbas leaped from Kang-jun's arms and declared:
「 It is I... 」
He continued with a sinister smile:
「 Though I, Marbas, who once oversaw the entire demon realm as 5th among the 72 Demons, never ascended to the Demon King's throne... 」
Several hunters visibly tensed and gulped at the demonic energy radiating from Marbas...
Thunk!
Kang-jun gave Marbas a knuckle rap on the head, picked him back up, and continued calmly:
"Casting is perfect, no worries."
Then he asked:
"Should I get some snacks?"
Jung Yoon-chan hastily replied:
"N-no need!"
Kang-jun shook his head.
"No, I'll get some."
After roughly counting heads with a glance, he added quietly:
"Keep working."
As Kang-jun left the conference room...
"I feel uneasy."
At Jung Yoon-chan's words, Yoon Hee-soo quietly agreed:
"Yeah, extremely uneasy..."
Then—
"Hey punk, watch where you're going—?!"
A booming voice came from outside...
"Huh?"
All the hunters stood simultaneously as if rehearsed.
"Sorry."
Followed immediately by Kang-jun's apologetic voice.
Korea's 2nd ranked A-class hunter:
Park Soo-chul.
He was extremely anxious.
'Why are Korea's S-class hunters serving as advisors for my son's kindergarten play performance?'
Normally, sensational rumors spread rapidly regardless of the speaker's intentions, didn't they?
Among parents, word had spread that multiple S-class hunters were advising the arts festival play.
"I don't know the details, but it's true."
"I'd like to meet and greet them..."
"They're probably in the teacher conference room in the annex."
When he asked his son's homeroom teacher, the circulating rumors were confirmed as entirely true...
As someone frequently mentioned as a future S-class candidate, Park Soo-chul headed to the conference room hoping to at least make an introduction.
That is—
Until he turned a corner, collided with a man holding a puppy, and fell flat on his back.
"Oof..."
As Park Soo-chul grimaced while rubbing his tailbone and glared murderously at Kang-jun—
"Hey punk, watch where you're going—?!"
When Park Soo-chul shouted, Kang-jun adjusted his training clothes slightly while petting Marbas and replied:
"Sorry."
Just as Kang-jun was about to continue on his way after this perfunctory apology—
Park Soo-chul urgently grabbed his shoulder.
"Hey, where's your proper apology?"
Kang-jun responded flatly:
"We both didn't see each other, right?"
"What, you little—?"
"Frankly, mutual fault."
"You're really..."
Having absolutely no desire to cause a scene at his daughter's kindergarten, Kang-jun sincerely apologized again.
"Still, I'm sorry."
"Apologize properly."
"I said I'm sorry."
"Get on your knees to apologize."
Kang-jun's eyebrow twitched.
"What?"
Park Soo-chul asked threateningly:
"Do you know who I am?"
"Who?"
"You'd faint if you knew."
Then—
"Who do you think you are?"
Jung Yoon-chan appeared...
"Ah, Senior Jung Yoon-chan—!"
Park Soo-chul continued:
"We once entered the Guro Station A-class gate together—do you remember me—?"
Suddenly, other S-class hunters appeared en masse.
Clearing his throat unnecessarily, Park Soo-chul—
"Greetings seniors! I'm junior Park Soo-chul, soon to take the S-class promotion exam!"
He bowed respectfully but...
"I asked who you think you are."
The hunters continued staring coldly, with Jung Yoon-chan repeating the question menacingly.
"Uh, well, you see..."
As Jung Yoon-chan approached:
"Are you in your right mind?"
"Pardon?"
"I asked if you're sane."
Jung Yoon-chan's gaze briefly shifted to Kang-jun.
"To think you'd dare—do you know who this is?"
"Who could he possibly—?"
"You'd faint if you knew."
Jung Yoon-chan threw Park Soo-chul's own words back at him before bowing to Kang-jun.
"My apologies, let me apologize on his behalf."
"That's acceptable."
"Please forgive us with your generous mercy."
"I said it's fine."
In the heavy silence that followed—
"Still..."
Kang-jun glanced at Park Soo-chul and added quietly:
"Feels a bit unpleasant."
Saying "I'll be back," Kang-jun walked away...
"Uh, well, I mean..."
Under the S-class hunters' piercing gazes, Park Soo-chul stammered, sensing things had gone terribly wrong.
Then belatedly appearing, Director Seo asked gravely:
"A-class rank 2 Hunter Park Soo-chul, correct?"
"D-director..."
"About to take the S-class promotion exam?"
"Yes..."
Seo added:
"Regrettably, the first criterion the bureau considers for S-class hunters is 'character.'"
"Pardon?"
"You seem to lack even the most basic qualification. Perhaps prepare for the next exam?"
Since this clearly meant he'd fail the upcoming exam, Park Soo-chul could only sigh...
"Good grief..."
Dark shadows fell across his face as—
Thud.
Having lost his chance to completely transform his life, his legs gave out and he collapsed.