Chapter 151: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One's First Time Being a Dad Episode 151
The morning at North Sea Udon Shop was as bustling as ever with preparations for the day's business.
The heat radiating from the stove made the entire shop uncomfortably warm.
"It's hot, so hot..."
Boiling the broth was grueling work.
"Whew—"
Jeong Pil-sang wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with the towel draped around his neck and vigorously stirred the large ladle.
Right now, he was completely absorbed in preparing the bonito broth for the day's business, sweating profusely as he poured his heart into it.
"Huh—?"
Just then, sensing a presence, he abruptly turned his head and stared intently at the shop's entrance, where the door had slowly begun to open.
'A customer already...?'
Unable to suppress his apologetic feelings, he started rambling awkwardly.
"Customer, thank you for gracing us with your visit, but what should we do? We haven't finished all the preparations yet, so you'll have to wait quite a while..."
He was already thinking that if the customer insisted, he'd whip up a dish not even on the menu just for them.
"Did I come too early?"
The first customer of the day suddenly spoke.
"Kang-jun!"
Kang-jun naturally took a seat and asked in his usual indifferent tone.
"Is it okay if I sit here and wait?"
"You didn't even call ahead..."
"I came to an udon shop to eat udon."
Pil-sang quickly checked the broth's condition and then continued explaining in his warm, friendly manner.
"Luckily, the broth is just about ready. I'll boil a portion of noodles real quick and have it out in no time, so just wait a little bit."
Kang-jun nodded slightly and added quietly as he glanced around the shop.
"Take your time making it."
"One bowl of udon, right?"
"I've got one more person coming."
After a brief "One more?" Pil-sang started boiling the noodles and added,
"Then I'll bring out two bowls right away."
Kang-jun then casually asked,
"Hey, can you grab a bottle of soju too?"
"You're drinking in broad daylight?"
"If you're gonna drink, it's gotta be during the day."
Kang-jun answered nonchalantly, pouring soju into his glass before adding in a low, amused tone,
"I'll be too busy looking after my daughter in the afternoon."
"That pretty girl who came with you last time—she's your daughter, right?"
"Yeah, she looks just like me, so of course she's pretty."
Pil-sang dropped two portions of udon noodles—which he made fresh daily—into the freshly boiling water with a splash and asked, "Really now?"
Then, with long wooden chopsticks, he deftly stirred the noodles to keep them from clumping together, a bright smile spreading across his face.
It had been over a decade since they last talked like this, yet it still felt as familiar as ever.
"By the way, where the hell have you been all this time?"
"Well, I just..."
"Actually, I've met up with some of our old classmates now and then."
Pil-sang strained the perfectly cooked noodles and vigorously shook off the excess water before continuing.
"Quite a few of them have made it big."
"Oh?"
"You'd probably be surprised if you saw them now."
As he finished speaking, Pil-sang began rinsing the noodles in cold water and muttered again.
"Everyone's changed a lot..."
Ever since the phenomenon of Gates appeared, the world had been turned upside down overnight.
Amid the chaos, those who seized the opportunity succeeded in what people called "social mobility."
Most of them were those who had jumped early into the booming "Gate industry."
"You might not remember, but Dae-geon—that guy's a co-founder of a major Hunter guild now..."
"Who was that again?"
"You remember Gwang-min, the one who bullied us relentlessly? That bastard hit the jackpot."
Kang-jun almost blurted out, "I hit it too," but swallowed the words back down.
"He awakened and became a Hunter."
"Really?"
"He's practically a celebrity now."
Pil-sang ladled steaming hot broth into colorful bowls and carefully arranged the noodles and toppings.
"He got promoted to a B-rank Hunter not long ago."
"Well, good for him..."
"Though, you're the one who's really made it."
Kang-jun awkwardly muttered, "Made it? What are you talking about?" before downing a shot of soju in one gulp.
"Eat before it gets cold."
"I'll enjoy it."
"Blow on it—it's hot."
According to a real estate agent he'd overheard, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that practically the entire commercial district belonged to his old friend Kang-jun.
And wasn't he some kind of special-tier member in a "secret gathering of the ultra-wealthy" run by goblins, with assets in the tens of billions at minimum?
Pil-sang was inwardly certain that, purely in terms of wealth, none of their classmates could even come close to what Kang-jun had achieved.
Plus, the last time he'd seen Kang-jun with his rabbit-like daughter, happily eating udon together, he'd looked genuinely content.
"Anyway, you're the most impressive one."
After saying that, Pil-sang wiped the table with a rag and asked again, gently this time.
"So, how have you been all this time?"
Kang-jun, who had been slurping his udon loudly, glanced up at Pil-sang and answered quietly.
"Just went somewhere for a while."
"Where?"
"Just overseas for business."
"Oh?"
After briefly sifting through old memories, Pil-sang let out a sigh as if he finally understood.
"No wonder... you were abroad the whole time."
"Huh?"
"Actually, I asked around everywhere."
At that, Kang-jun abruptly stopped eating.
The truth was...
He had thought no one would be waiting for him.
'It had been three hundred years, after all...'
His interpersonal relationships hadn't been great to begin with, and the only blood relative he had was his older sister.
He had assumed everyone would have forgotten about him, too busy living their own lives.
"Every time I went to a class reunion, I kept asking if anyone had heard from you. But no one knew anything, so I started getting worried..."
Then, with a bitter smile, he added,
"You know how chaotic the world is these days. I couldn't help but wonder if something bad had happened—all sorts of useless thoughts crossed my mind..."
After finishing, he picked up the soju bottle and refilled Kang-jun's glass before continuing.
"Eventually, I got too caught up in making ends meet to keep looking. But still, running into you like this—what a relief."
He added awkwardly,
"Thanks to having a good friend, I could keep running this shop without worrying too much..."
Then, with sincerity, he said,
"Thank you."
Kang-jun shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
"What's there to thank me for?"
Then he asked again,
"By the way, is it okay if I ask what kind of business you did overseas?"
"Huh?"
"Making that much money—it must've been something incredible..."
Just as Kang-jun was about to answer—
Click—
The firmly shut door opened...
"Ah, your companion must be here?"
Pil-sang turned his head toward the slowly opening entrance—then froze in shock.
"Wh...?"
As if he couldn't believe his eyes, he rubbed them vigorously and muttered.
"Why is Hunter Jung Yoon-chan here...?"
Standing before them was Korea's top-ranked S-class hunter, a face seen countless times through TV and mass media.
"My apologies for being late."
And yet, this very Jung Yoon-chan was bowing at a perfect ninety-degree angle to my friend Kang-jun.
Kang-jun, utterly unfazed, continued devouring his udon while treating Yoon-chan with casual indifference.
"It's fine. Sit down and eat."
"It looks delicious."
"Yeah, the udon here is exceptional."
Kang-jun set down his chopsticks with a soft "Ah," then gestured toward Jung Pil-sang, who stood frozen in bewilderment.
"But first, introductions. This is Jung Pil-sang, owner of North Sea Udon."
He added without pause, "He's my friend."
At those words, Yoon-chan's already deferential demeanor grew twice as polite.
"It's an honor to meet you."
"N-no, the honor is mine..."
"I look forward to your continued kindness."
Pil-sang awkwardly shook Yoon-chan's hand before hesitantly offering, "Sh-should I give you two some privacy...?"
Kang-jun answered without looking up. "Don't worry about it."
He then casually poured soju into Yoon-chan's glass and asked in his usual dry tone, "So what's up?"
"Huh?"
"You said you had something urgent to discuss."
When Yoon-chan glanced uncertainly at Pil-sang, Kang-jun picked up his own glass and reassured him, "It's fine."
"My progress has stalled."
This directly contradicted what Iriel had told him that morning.
"I want to grow strong enough to contribute to maintaining peace, but I don't know how to take the next step..."
To Kang-jun, this was utterly foreign.
He'd simply grown stronger by eating well and sleeping soundly.
Day by day, his power had spiraled beyond control until he could split mountains and seas with a single strike.
'That's all there was to it...'
Having no advice to offer, he silently refilled Yoon-chan's glass instead.
"What does your instructor say?"
Yoon-chan smiled bitterly. "That the trick is having no tricks."
"Vague."
"I agree completely, but I can't help feeling impatient."
Yoon-chan muttered, "At this rate, I'll just be leeching off the peace Immortal and the imperial family built..."
However harsh, it was undeniable.
They were fighting battles beyond these hunters' comprehension.
Hadn't Ragnarok proven that?
In conflicts surrounding the world, they had no place.
At least, not yet.
But they had their own battles to fight.
People revered and admired them.
They had clear duties to protect through their own strength.
"You're a hero."
At Kang-jun's words, Yoon-chan's head drooped slightly.
'A hero...?'
Even after learning Dr. Alpha Boom had used his comrades' corpses as test subjects, he still hesitated.
Hiding behind noble concerns for peace, he remained incapable of decisive action.
Yoon-chan's hand slipped into his pocket, fingers brushing against a carefully folded note.
That morning, he'd received the location of Dr. Alpha Boom's current secret research facility.
Yet here he sat, keeping this from the Bureau.
What right did he have to call himself a hero?
"I..."
Contrary to their beliefs...
I'm no hero.
He swallowed the words.
"The whole world believes in you. They pretend at peace, relying on you."
"That's..."
"They can't keep your action figures in stock, can they?"
Kang-jun pressed on. "Sucks, but what can you do?"
"Huh?"
"Endure and overcome."
Yoon-chan suddenly asked, "What if... you could gain greater power through unethical means?"
"Hmm?"
"If immoral methods could give you strength to protect everyone..."
Kang-jun considered. "Well, I don't know the specifics."
"Yes."
"But if it bothers your conscience, don't do it."
He tried seeing it from Yoon-chan's perspective.
Rather than the masses who depended on him...
Kang-jun imagined his own family in their place.
"You've got me."
"Huh?"
"You'll be fine."
Kang-jun set down his glass with a tap.
Then asked plainly, "Doesn't my existence comfort you?"
"Well, I suppose..."
"To them, you're that comfort."
Kang-jun emphasized, "So," refilling Yoon-chan's glass, "think and act like the hero you are."
Yoon-chan stood abruptly.
"Thank you."
He bowed deeply at the waist.
"I'm terribly sorry, but may I take my leave?"
"Huh?"
"Something I've put off... I should handle it."
Kang-jun waved him off. "Sure, go ahead."
As Yoon-chan exited the shop...
"Hmm."
Kang-jun swirled his glass, lost in thought.
Though uncertain, experience told him...
Yoon-chan had left with the eyes of one resolved to die.
"Damn, this bothers me..."
Pulling out his wallet, Kang-jun tossed several bills on the table.
"My treat."
"A-are you leaving already?"
"Yeah. I'll be back soon."
Outside, Kang-jun channeled mana to instantly sober up.
Then...
He stared down the alley where Yoon-chan had disappeared.
"Follow him or not..."
How much time had passed?
"Huh?"
Director Seo Do-cheol burst into the special training room in a panic.
"Instructor! Emergency!"
"Emergency?"
"Hunter Jung Yoon-chan just—!"
Catching his breath, he showed the message received moments ago:
Rubbing his temples, Iriel addressed the hunters: "Today's training is self-directed."
Then asked Seo, "Is this Dr. Alpha Boom truly so dangerous?"
"Going alone to his stronghold seems reckless..."
Iriel recalled researchers' warnings—the man commanded military might rivaling nations.
A solo infiltration was suicide.
"But why make such a rash decision—?"
Collecting himself, Iriel demanded, "Where?"
"Here's the live GPS tracker."
"I'll retrieve him immediately."
"A-alone, sir?"
"No, we'll go together."
At Seo's murmured "Together...?", Iriel shrugged.
"The Library."
With that, he strode out.
Fortunately, an excellent candidate awaited there.