Chapter 141: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad Is New At This Too - Chapter 141
If the word "annihilation" had a physical form, would it look like this?
The sky burned crimson as volcanic ash swirled violently.
Amidst this chaos, the very axis of the world trembled uncontrollably.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
And in the midst of it all, an uncountable horde of 'Flame Giants' charged forward with terrifying ferocity...
Kang-jun, his gaze icy as he observed them, issued a quiet command.
"Listen well, Chancellor."
Crabsley bowed deeply in response...
"Their destination is 'Earth.'"
"Then..."
"Not a single one shall pass."
Fragments of divine power swirled violently around Kang-jun.
"And."
He added in his characteristically dignified tone:
"Leave none alive."
"Yes, my lord."
"Cut them all down."
After another deferential "Yes, my lord," Crabsley finally raised his head slightly to observe their enemies before murmuring in a low voice:
"Shaltia von de Crabsley, Choi Dol-soi, currently serving as Imperial Chancellor, shall carry out my lord's command..."
Crabsley's eyes gradually darkened to a deeper crimson.
"...and summarily execute all traitors who dare covet Earth, where His Most Noble and Exalted Majesty currently reigns."
"Dol-soi."
Kang-jun added:
"Let's have some fun for the first time in a while."
With that, both Kang-jun and Crabsley kicked off the ground, launching themselves into a brutal collision with the onrushing Flame Giants.
CRASH—!
Thus began the chaotic battle...
And amidst it all—
The 'narrative' resonated once more.
『 The prophesied day of destruction, Ragnarök, was originally a narrative granted to the great star cluster 'Asgard.' 』
『 The Apocalypse. 』
『 The narrative of Asgard, which should have ended in annihilation, has encountered a minute change. 』
With each dull, thunderous impact, another massive Flame Giant collapsed in ruin.
『 Ragnarök. 』
Kang-jun and Crabsley tore through the battlefield like savage beasts let loose among a flock of helpless sheep, sowing chaos in their wake...
『 This was originally a narrative of inevitable destruction. 』
『 Even those who bear the grandiose title of 'gods'... 』
『 ...could not escape this myth of annihilation. 』
The raging flames that had engulfed the bodies of the Flame Giants flickered out the moment their lives were extinguished—
WHOOSH—!
—only to roar back to life the instant Kang-jun's black magic resurrected them.
However...
The flames that now wreathed the revived giants were no longer red, but a deep, ink-like black.
『 As all things must... 』
『 ...even the core narrative of Gi... 』
『 ...has begun to change. 』
All of Muspelheim trembled violently.
『 This change was triggered by the intervention of a being utterly unrelated to the original narrative. 』
『 ■■■. 』
『 Through his interference, the conclusion of Ragnarök—the narrative of annihilation—has been diverted onto a different path. 』
The tide of battle had long since shifted.
Though they had once seemed hopelessly outnumbered...
Now, Kang-jun's side too was bolstered by a considerable force of giants.
"I cannot deny the might of that 'Epithet.'"
At last, Surtr rose from his throne.
"But that's as far as you go."
The corners of his lips, hidden within the raging flames, curled upward.
『 Enemy of the entire Cthulhu Star Cluster... 』
『 For the sake of ■■■■... 』
『 Become a tool to be used... 』
『 Surrender that Epithet... 』
Even the 「Outer Entities」, who had been silently observing from the edges of the battlefield, now charged toward Kang-jun and Crabsley with frenzied abandon.
"No matter how mighty that Epithet may be, a mere inner being like you could never stand against the 「Outer Entities」!"
Crabsley swallowed dryly before asking in a bewildered tone:
"My lord, what exactly are these...?"
The sinister, alien aura radiating from these sudden interlopers had instinctively made him shrink back in primal dread.
'Dangerous...'
Crabsley had wandered through the many dimensions of the Abyss, encountering numerous self-proclaimed 'Absolute Ones' who ruled over their respective realms.
Though it had always been his lord, Kang-jun, who engaged them in life-or-death battles, Crabsley prided himself on having considerable experience.
But never before had he faced a species that triggered his instincts to scream warnings of danger so viscerally.
Unprecedented beings.
Their grotesque forms defied description with mere words, their movements too swift for the eye to follow as they closed in with murderous intent...
'Truly dangerous entities...'
Then Kang-jun asked:
"Are you afraid?"
Crabsley nodded.
"I humbly confess—I am gripped by overwhelming fear."
Even now, the creatures were closing the distance with every passing second...
"What frightens you?"
Crabsley answered solemnly:
"You commanded that not a single one be allowed to escape, and that all must be slain."
"I did."
"I fear I may fail to fulfill that command."
The enemies were now within arm's reach.
"You're not afraid of death?"
Crabsley let out a soft chuckle.
"Of course I am."
Kang-jun murmured, "In that case..." before gathering his divine power and whispering almost pleadingly:
"Then die shamelessly for me."
From Kang-jun's body, the accumulated narratives and the living text that comprised his being began to spill forth, swirling violently.
Though Kang-jun had recently fought and even defeated the 「Outer Entities」 once before...
That victory had only been possible because, unlike now, he hadn't been at a numerical disadvantage...
"I cannot guarantee victory."
At these words, Crabsley's eyes trembled violently.
"If even my lord cannot guarantee victory..."
Hadn't every self-proclaimed 'Absolute One' they'd faced thus far fallen within mere dozens of exchanges?
"Even if it kills you, hold them back."
Crabsley bowed silently in acknowledgment—
—having sensed Kang-jun's sincerity.
Without the slightest hesitation, he replied:
"I shall carry out your command."
Having served Kang-jun for centuries, he knew full well—
Just how precious Kang-jun considered his current daily life...
How desperately he wished to protect those entwined with it.
"I am at a loss for how to repay the honor of this glorious death my lord has bestowed upon me."
His voice overflowed with sincerity.
"I humbly beg forgiveness if, in carrying out this divine mandate, I should truly meet my end..."
"Of course."
"...without having trained a successor to take my place, thus failing in my duty as your servant."
Kang-jun answered bitterly, "Naturally," and...
"I am undeserving."
Crabsley finally raised his head.
He too would protect this at all costs.
He too had come to cherish his life on Earth.
He loved the lively, warm atmosphere of the imperial household.
He adored the emperor's gentle-hearted younger sister.
He treasured the princess, wise beyond her years yet utterly adorable.
He savored the nightly family dinners gathered around the table.
He delighted in the small comforts of this more advanced civilization.
He looked forward to the convenience store's monthly new product releases.
He enjoyed the entertainment available through smartphones.
He relished the endless opportunities to learn and grow.
But what he loved most was something else entirely.
"My lord."
He loved it because his lord loved it.
He loved seeing him smile so often.
He cherished his sustained cheerfulness.
Step.
He took a single stride forward.
"Though I do not fear death..."
His tone brimmed with resolve.
"...I would prefer to live."
Crabsley continued calmly:
"I wish to witness Her Highness enter the academy, make friends, pursue greater knowledge, meet her match, and marry."
"......"
"I long to imagine the look of happiness on my lord's face as he watches these moments—the anticipation is unbearable."
Then, with a bright smile, he added:
"I will survive by any means necessary."
The next instant—
『 Embrace glorious annihilation for ■■■■... 』
『 Offer yourself as fertilizer for the end of all things... 』
The Outer Entities, now right before them, shrieked incomprehensibly as they unleashed a blinding barrage of attacks too fast to follow...
CRASH—!
Kang-jun and Crabsley kicked off the ground once more, meeting the 'unprecedented beings' with all their might.
BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!
The long, razor-sharp spears Kang-jun manifested through his black magic repeatedly impaled the creatures' bodies...
『 ■■■■... 』
Yet even when bristling like porcupines, they showed no sign of fatigue, continuing their frenzied assault relentlessly.
Amidst the chaotic battle, Crabsley stole glances at his lord and couldn't help but murmur, "Hah..."
'Even with numerical superiority, how can there exist beings capable of rivaling my lord...?'
At that moment—
SCHLUCK!
A tentacle from one of the Outer Entities pierced clean through Crabsley's abdomen...
"Guh—kgh...!"
Thin streams of blood spilled weakly from his parted lips.
"Grand Duke—!"
Kang-jun too bore numerous wounds, large and small.
"KHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
From the cliff above, Surtr erupted in mad laughter.
"What fitting ends for upstarts who relied solely on an Epithet!"
Kang-jun immediately kicked off the ground, rushing toward Crabsley where he lay fallen...
"■■■■, meet your doom!"
Surtr roared with glee.
"Perish alongside the Asgard Star Cluster!"
Surtr leapt down, landing heavily on the battlefield.
Flames wreathed his raised hands as...
...he advanced toward Kang-jun, who cradled his loyal servant.
He strode forward without hesitation.
"This is your end."
Kang-jun, kneeling with Crabsley in his arms, silently glared up at Surtr...
"Be recorded in history with none left to remember you."
"......"
"I have proven the reason for my existence—and you have lost."
Surtr grinned viciously.
"Submit to fate and meet your end by my hand."
As Crabsley weakly murmured, "My lord..."—
The 'narrative' resonated once more throughout the Abyss.
『 With the Outer Entities' intervention, is Asgard's prophesied day of doom finally flowing toward its predetermined conclusion? 』
The resonance grew stronger.
『 For a moment, it seemed so. 』
『 But with ■■■'s involvement... 』
『 ...it could not be. 』
At that instant—
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE—!
The sky of Muspelheim split apart.
Eyes gleamed from beyond...
...followed by the appearance of an enormous serpent.
「 Uroboros, the mightiest serpent within this worldview, hereby declares its participation in Ragnarök. 」
The next moment—
BOOOOOOM—!
A massive lightning bolt struck down across Muspelheim...
"My friend."
Thor materialized, Mjölnir in hand.
"Once again, I bring thanks on behalf of all Asgard."
Even after Thor's manifestation, the lightning continued unabated, striking down again and again...
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
With each peal, another Asgardian deity manifested in Muspelheim to express their gratitude.
"Our hesitation made us late."
Odin...
"Pray forgive us..."
Heimdall...
"Savior of our star cluster..."
Not just them—deities bearing vast narratives and achievements manifested one after another...
"You damned bastards—!"
A brash voice rang out.
"Do you even know who you're dealing with?!"
Surtr looked up at the voice's owner and frowned.
"That's..."
A deity bearing the Epithet 'Great Sage Equal to Heaven'—
Sun Wukong.
The Abyss's most infamous god of mischief had descended.
"He's this one's sworn elder brother!"
The Great Sage, having descended atop a cloud, dropped to the ground as his divine power surged—
—splitting his form into countless copies.
WHOOSH—!
The multiplied 'Great Sages' spun their staffs in unison and shouted:
"You're all DEAD—!"
Suddenly—
HOWL—!
A gale-force wind sent Surtr skidding backward, arms crossed against the pressure...
"You cheating stone monkey!"
A deity with massive horns erupting from his temples suddenly appeared, waving a fan and howling:
"Must you always rush ahead to hog big brother's favor?!"
The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven, the Bull Demon King, had manifested.
GRR! GRR! GRR!
Though not as massive as Uroboros, three enormous wolves materialized—
Fenrir, destined to contribute to Asgard's destruction, and his sons Sköll and Hati.
The wolves naturally positioned themselves behind Kang-jun, glaring at Surtr as if ready to devour him whole...
『 Fenrir, having abandoned his destined role to avenge his father... 』
『 ...commanded his son Sköll to trigger an eclipse to aid ■■■. 』
Muspelheim's moon turned red.
Like the dimensional sky—
A deep, vivid crimson.
WHOOSH—!
Kang-jun's body was engulfed in black flames, his flesh and muscle rapidly melting away...
"Are you alright?"
After confirming Crabsley's condition and receiving a weak "Yes...," Kang-jun stood and added quietly:
"I rescind my command."
Crabsley looked up at his lord's back...
"Do not die."
Kang-jun continued:
"Live—and stay with me to the end."
As Kang-jun reveled in the surging power, his glowing crimson eyes locked onto Surtr...
"Thought you could act tough with numbers, huh?"
He added:
"Now it's our turn, bastard."