Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood - Episode 138

It had been nothing more than an offhand joke.

'Just messing with them since they're being so annoyingly persistent...'

Not wanting to get dragged into their meaningless argument, he'd casually thrown out the remark without much thought.

That's all it was supposed to be...

Yet the two deities remained prostrated in deep bows, their foreheads still pressed to the ground as they continued speaking.

"Though it goes against our wishes..."

The ruler of Huaguoshan.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven.

His true name: Sun Wukong.

"Having sworn upon our achievements and narratives, we cannot go back on our word now..."

Sun Wukong began first.

"I too am taken aback by this unexpected answer..."

The Great Sage Pacifier of Heaven.

His true name: the Bull Demon King.

"Words once spoken cannot be taken back, so we have no choice but to honor you as our elder brother..."

The Bull Demon King added in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠agreement.

"Wait, what?"

Then the two deities boomed in unison:

"We shall devote our utmost loyalty in serving our elder brother."

"We will fulfill all duties of younger brothers."

Though they had appeared nearly drunk just moments ago, the unexpected turn of events had completely sobered them up. Being suddenly forced to acknowledge a virtual stranger as their elder brother would sober anyone up instantly.

Meanwhile, several other deities who had been silently observing this shocking scene exchanged hushed whispers:

"To take the ruler of Huaguoshan and the Bull Demon King as younger brothers... Now if you anger ■■■..."

"If you make enemies with ■■■ now, you'll have to face these two deities as well..."

Both were high-ranking deities with formidable standing in the Abyss, notorious for their overwhelming combat prowess and fiery tempers.

The Great Sage Equal to Heaven and the Bull Demon King.

Though they frequently quarreled—sometimes escalating to blows—over who should be the elder brother in situations like this...

The two deities bound by sworn brotherhood shared an unbreakable bond, willing to charge into certain death for each other without hesitation.

When united, their combined strength could rival an entire star cluster of average size...

Their relentless, almost insane determination—never tiring or giving up until their enemies were destroyed—made them feared by all.

There were even deities and star clusters who had suffered their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wrath over trivial matters like disliking their tone or gaze...

These two were practically deities whom everyone in the Abyss tried desperately not to antagonize.

"Ho..."

Thor sighed quietly.

"You've gained some formidable younger brothers."

"They don't look that impressive..."

"That's because you don't know them well."

Thor stated firmly.

"If they truly acknowledge you as their 'elder brother,' they wouldn't stop at mere gestures—even if you told them to die for no reason."

As Kang-jun stood speechless, staring down at the two deities, Sun Wukong and the Bull Demon King suddenly turned to face each other...

"Elder brother."

"Elder brother."

As if synchronized, they both growled the question simultaneously:

"Which of us gets to be the second elder brother?"

"Obviously it should be me, since my thighs are thicker!"

"Nonsense! The faster one should be second—that's me!"

It seemed this debate would continue for days unless Kang-jun personally intervened...

After brief contemplation, recalling a 'past incident,' Kang-jun snapped his fingers and proposed a solution.

"Decide it through a contest."

"A contest...?"

"Whoever wins becomes second elder brother."

The two deities' eyes sparkled as they listened intently...

"It's called the Idiot Contest."

Kang-jun promptly explained the rules of the 'Slap Fight' he'd once had with Go Du-yeol...

"Truly wise decision—!"

Seeing their delighted expressions, Kang-jun nodded a few times before adding quietly:

"Let me know who wins later."

Immediately, the two deities rushed out of the banquet hall, eager to settle their hierarchy...

"I should get going too."

Kang-jun also began preparing to return home.

After all that bragging about his daughter, he missed her terribly.

'Besides, if time flows differently between here and Earth...'

Days might have already passed on Earth, making it truly time to return.

"I'll invite you to Asgard soon."

Just as Kang-jun was being seen off by Thor, Odin, and other deities...

"We should get going too."

Surtr, who had been watching Kang-jun from a distance throughout the banquet, immediately began preparing to leave with Loki in tow.

"Let's go to them."

And so the revelry concluded.

Everyone...

Moved forward toward the 'next' chapter.

Meanwhile.

As Kang-jun had suspected, several days had already passed on Earth.

"Seol-ah."

Lee Ji-hee, the homeroom teacher of the Love Class, looked worriedly at Seol, who had been listless for days.

"Why do you look so down?"

Seol answered quietly:

"Daddy went to work."

"Yeah, he went on a business trip, right?"

"Daddy not coming back."

For days now, the father who had never missed picking her up from school was absent.

"Your dad went on a short business trip."

According to the 'aunt' she lived with, an important work matter had taken him overseas for a few days.

But...

Young as she was, Seol couldn't understand this temporary absence—it just felt endlessly hard and lonely.

'She's been so down for days...'

Ji-hee asked gently:

"He'll be back after a few more sleeps, right?"

Seol's voice trembled:

"But Daddy might not come back."

"Huh?"

"Cuz... when Seol baby... same thing..."

Puzzled, Ji-hee asked, "When you were a baby?" Seol nodded tearfully.

"Teacher... if Seol not listen good... and Daddy not come back... what Seol do...?"

Ji-hee waved her hands hastily.

"No, no, he'll be back soon."

"Really?"

"Yeah, just a few more nights—"

Then Ji-hee had an idea.

"Seol-ah, how about writing a letter to your dad?"

"Letter?"

"Yeah, you can write down what you want to say to him."

Seol hesitated.

"But Seol not know how write good yet..."

"Teacher will help, so don't worry."

"Okay! Seol write letter!"

At dismissal time.

Knock, knock.

Someone tapped on the classroom door.

"Teacher Ji-hee."

A teacher from the next class peeked in.

"Seol needs to get ready."

"But it's not time yet—"

"Her father came early today."

Hearing this, Seol—who had been playing with friends—froze. "Daddy...?"

"Teacher... Daddy here?"

Ji-hee smiled brightly.

"Yes, your dad ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came to pick you up."

"Seol... so happy..."

"Shall we go see him quickly?"

"Uh-huh! Seol see Daddy!"

They hurriedly prepared to leave...

"Seol-ah."

Spotting Kang-jun at the end of the hallway, Seol shrieked, "DADDY!" and sprinted toward him.

"Daddy... miss you so much..."

Clutching him like sticky rice cake, she nuzzled her soft cheeks against him.

"Why come so late?"

"Daddy's sorry."

"Thought you not come back..."

Kang-jun stiffened.

"Huh?"

Seol clung like she'd never let go, arms locked around his neck.

"Seol thought... if Seol not listen good... Daddy never come back again... scared..."

"No..."

"Cuz... when Seol baby... Daddy gone too... remember... so thought not coming back..."

She buried her face against him pleadingly.

"Stay with Seol now..."

Kang-jun stood frozen, unsure how to respond.

Then Ji-hee arrived, holding a heart-shaped paper.

"Seol, give him your letter!"

"Oh! Right!"

"Hello, sir."

Ji-hee tucked her hair behind an ear.

"Did your trip go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠well?"

Kang-jun answered awkwardly.

"Yes, smoothly."

Clearly, his sister had told people he was away on business.

"Seol missed you terribly—she's usually so attached to you."

"Is that so?"

"She's been so down, but seems better now."

Seol piped up:

"Teacher! Seol's letter!"

Ji-hee handed over the carefully held note.

"A letter she wrote for you."

"A letter..."

"I helped, but some characters are hers."

Kang-jun read it immediately.

Daddy Kang-jun. Love you.

Will listen good.

Come back soon.

Even if drink toothpaste, not angry.

Daddy. Daddy. Daddy.

Daddy. Love you.

The heart-shaped paper was filled with crooked, uneven characters of varying sizes.

"Ah..."

Why was it?

'Daddy. Daddy. Daddy.'

His heart ached imagining her small hands gripping the pen tightly to write those words.

"Sir, you know..."

Ji-hee spoke softly.

"When children learn Hangul, they usually start with their own names first."

Kang-jun kept his eyes on the letter. "Is that so?"

"But Seol's a bit different."

"Oh?"

"She learned 'Daddy' first."

Ji-hee added:

"The word 'Daddy' in the letter—she wrote that all by herself."

Kang-jun's eyes wavered.

"Daddy..."

Ji-hee continued:

"Seol must love you very much."

Kang-jun looked down at his daughter clinging to his leg like a cicada.

He was unbearably happy.

So happy...

It brought tears to his eyes.