Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood - Chapter 144

The Chaos of the Abyss.

This was the name of a certain dimension existing somewhere on the distant outskirts, far removed from the heart of the Abyss.

Viewed from afar.

It resembled a planet.

A massive planet of devouring black light.

A dark, spherical planet of consuming blackness, no different in form from any other celestial body.

Encircled by a long golden band, its surface was glossy and polished.

At first glance, it appeared as aesthetically pleasing as an obsidian sphere meticulously carved by a master artisan.

But just as stars shine merely from nuclear fusion, the truth of this planet was far from beautiful.

The outer beings.

This Chaos was both the birthplace of unprecedented entities feared by all deities and the object of their fervent worship.

■■■■.

The entire Chaos of the Abyss could be considered one massive "organism" composed of his flesh and spirit.

Writhing—

The colossal planet had been subtly expanding and contracting with each breath of the slumbering ■■■■.

With each inhalation, the entire dimension expanded; with each exhalation, it contracted once more.

「 At last, the world's narrative has reached ascension. 」

It observed the world in dreams.

Watched Ragnarök unfold...

And curled its lips in an unsettling smile.

「 The day the world finally approaches its last word. 」

He was a being born for inevitable destruction.

「 This body shall open its eyes again. 」

The one who grasped the last word.

■■■■.

He curled tighter.

「 The world is but an illusion born from this body's 'dream'... 」

According to legends long passed among the outer beings, the world was recorded as nothing more than his "dream."

Thus...

The day would inevitably come when he awoke from deep slumber, and the entire world would vanish without a trace.

「 All things shall perish... 」

「 ■■■... 」

「 Continue forward... 」

His voice rumbled low.

「 So this body may open its eyes. 」

「 Toward the last word... 」

「 Advance without rest. 」

The young man smiled brightly as he spoke.

"It is truly an honor to serve my lord's sister."

The youth's appearance evoked the relentless, merciless chill of midwinter, where icy winds ceaselessly howled.

He was undoubtedly a peerless beauty, lacking nothing to be called one...

Yet, gazing at his pale, almost violet-tinged skin, one couldn't help but recall ominous words like "corpse" or "death."

"Hello..."

Even after exchanging introductions and greetings, Lee Soo-bin couldn't take her eyes off the young man's appearance.

His strikingly red lips looked as if thick blood had been slathered over a dead person's mouth...

His dark eyes held a serene depth, as though carrying the sorrow of the entire world alone.

"I am 'Alteonic Ren Dibalde.' I once held the position of Minister of Magic, one of the five core departments of the Huang Kingdom."

The young man's gaze then shifted downward to the little girl peering up at him.

"The young princess, I see."

He knelt on one knee, meeting Seol's eyes, and murmured softly.

"How adorable..."

Reflected in his eyes, blacker than anything in the world, was the still-wary figure of the little girl.

"Alishea Ren Dibalde."

Seol, as if making some grand resolution, took a deep breath and introduced herself as she had been taught.

"Hewwo? I'm Seowi."

After a brief pause, Seol fidgeted with her fingers shyly.

"I'm two years old and bwave."

"Oh-ho."

"My favowite is Abba."

As Seol finished her introduction with a bow, Dibalde responded with a deep, formal bow of his own.

"It is an honor to meet you."

Watching the silent exchange of greetings, Kang-jun glanced around and muttered.

"Well, introductions are done..."

Then, with a jerk of his chin toward the firmly closed bedroom door, he spoke in his usual authoritative tone.

"Since there aren't any spare rooms right now, I suppose you'll have to share with Grand Duke Crabsley..."

At this, Dibalde brightened.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"No time to be bored!"

He chattered excitedly.

"I'll go take a look right away!"

Kang-jun cautioned him.

"You still need rest while your wounds heal, so try not to cause a ruckus."

Despite the vampire race's unique regenerative abilities allowing Crabsley's wounds from Ragnarök to heal relatively quickly...

Hadn't he suffered a grievous injury, with a gaping hole in his abdomen large enough to see through?

As a result, he had taken leave from the convenience store and spent days solely focused on recovery.

"Yes, I shall heed your words."

As Dibalde busily moved to inspect his future living quarters, he suddenly froze in place.

"Huh?"

He had spotted the full-length mirror in the living room.

He stared at his reflection.

"Ah..."

His cheeks began to flush.

"Here we go again..."

Kang-jun muttered as Iriel chimed in.

"Yes, it's starting again."

"How does he do this every day?"

"It's truly baffling."

Kang-jun then said to Lee Soo-bin.

"Just so you know, this happens every time he sees a mirror."

"Huh?"

"I think his record was five days?"

Kang-jun added.

"Once, he stared at a mirror nonstop for five whole days without a break."

Iriel joined in.

"Not a single bite of bread or sip of water—just guarding the mirror."

Lee Soo-bin turned her head slightly to look at Dibalde.

"Why...?"

Though she didn't understand what Kang-jun and Iriel were talking about...

"Still, he's really handsome."

Completely absorbed in admiring his own face, even his profile was nothing short of a masterpiece.

"He could be a celebrity..."

Kang-jun chuckled quietly.

"He's definitely capable, but sometimes I just want to punch him when he gets like this..."

Iriel immediately responded.

"Didn't he once squander the imperial budget recklessly on luxury and adornments?"

"Ah, right."

"Who would've thought he'd drain research funds on clothes, jewelry, and cosmetics..."

Kang-jun summed him up succinctly.

"In short, he's not right in the head."

That evening.

Bubble, bubble—

As she simmered the stew, Lee Soo-bin murmured softly.

"Ah, I forgot the tofu..."

Then, calling out "Seol-ah," she gestured and asked.

"Can you tell Daddy to buy one block of tofu?"

"Errand!"

"Yes, that's right. Ask Daddy to run this errand for tofu."

Seol nodded and immediately scampered over to Kang-jun, who was sprawled on the living room sofa.

"Ab-ba, Seowi do errand?"

"What errand?"

"Promise to say yes first!"

"Fine, tell me."

"Okay? Buy one block tofu."

Kang-jun figured his sister must have asked for a "tofu errand."

"Tofu?"

Kang-jun stretched lazily on the sofa.

"I'm tired..."

He, too, was still recovering his stamina after the recent "Ragnarök."

Having pushed himself harder than usual, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the accumulated fatigue hadn't yet dissipated.

"Is Iriel home?"

"No, she went out."

"Crabsley's resting..."

"Yes, he's sick."

Just as Kang-jun reluctantly began to rise from the sofa—

Creak...

Dibalde hummed as he opened the door and stepped into the living room.

"Perfect timing."

"Yes?"

"Your first mission."

Dibalde beamed and responded enthusiastically.

"Yes, my lord!"

He stood proudly before Kang-jun and added.

"Command me as you will."

Kang-jun pulled out a few crumpled bills from his pocket and handed them over.

"If you head right after leaving the imperial residence, you'll find a small grocery store called 'Gagopa Super.'"

Dibalde exclaimed, "Ah!" and nodded repeatedly.

"I saw it on my way here."

"Really?"

"Remembered it clearly."

"Good."

Kang-jun shooed him away like a fly and added.

"Go buy one block of tofu."

"Tofu is..."

"Just ask for one block of tofu."

Muttering "One block of tofu, please..." several times, Dibalde nodded with determination.

"As this is the first mission bestowed by my lord, I shall ensure its success without fail."

Clutching the bills Kang-jun had given him, Dibalde left the villa.

"Ab-ba!"

Seol puffed out her cheeks.

"Ugh, really..."

She grumbled repeatedly.

"Ab-ba, you're really tired, huh?"

"Huh? Why?"

"You're not listening to Seowi at all."

Seol shook her head firmly and added sternly.

"Not even doing Seowi's errand."

Then, sighing dramatically like an actor on stage, she muttered.

"Ugh, who ignores their kid like this?"

She seemed to be perfectly mimicking the words Lee Soo-bin had scolded her with earlier when she refused to brush her teeth.

"Not normal at all!"

"Huh?"

"Only putting up with you 'cause you're cute!"

Having flawlessly recreated even the follow-up remark, Seol immediately snuggled into Kang-jun's arms and patted his back with her tiny hands.

"Got it?"

Kang-jun chuckled and hugged her tightly. "Yeah."

After leaving the house, Dibalde muttered.

"He said to the right..."

Exiting the front gate, he turned right and continued walking.

Step, step...

As he walked expressionlessly, countless eyes turned toward him.

Alteonic Ren Dibalde.

He was once a grand mage of immense fame and authority on the Anux Continent.

A prodigious talent.

By the mere age of twenty, he had ascended to the position of Tower Lord and subsequently published endless groundbreaking theses that shook the world.

He was credited with single-handedly systematizing and advancing the theories and spells used by nearly every mage across the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continent...

By twenty-five, he reached the 8th Circle and was hailed by the world as a genius blessed by the heavens.

However, his fame wasn't solely due to his innate magical talent...

"So handsome..."

He was the foremost "beauty" of the Anux Continent.

"I wish to meet Dibalde..."

"Let me marry him..."

"Just one meeting, please..."

Countless noblewomen who had glimpsed him in person reportedly died of lovesickness...

"Yes, I'm truly handsome..."

"Being handsome is unbearably wonderful."

"How can anyone be this handsome?"

"Thrilling, joyous, blissful."

"Handsomeness is the best, no matter what anyone says."

He was an extreme narcissist.

"I must live forever."

His reason for deciding to become a lich and delving into dark magic was simple and clear.

"I want to keep living with this face..."

"Cheer for me more..."

"Praise me for being handsome..."

While most liches sought immortality to attain absolute knowledge and wisdom beyond human lifespans...

He was different.

Though absolute knowledge and wisdom were nice, what tormented him most was the thought of his beautiful face eventually aging and withering.

"I must prevent growing old and sick..."

"I'll enjoy my 'handsomeness' even as an undead..."

"Though I'd rather not end up a skull..."

"I love plump, firm skin most in the world..."

Thus, he perfected his own unique spell...

And was reborn as an undead while largely retaining his appearance.

Step, step.

Soon, the distant "Gagopa Super" came into view.

"One block of tofu, please..."

As Dibalde repeated the code phrase while walking—

"Huh?"

He spotted his reflection in a car window and stopped dead in his tracks.

"So handsome..."

He stood motionless, silently staring at his reflection in the parked car's window.

He had completely forgotten about the "tofu errand" Kang-jun had assigned him.

He simply stood there, scrutinizing his reflection from every angle.

"Always fresh, truly thrilling..."

The sun set completely.

Dark night fell.

He remained rooted in place.

"How can anyone be this handsome...?"

He was a narcissist.