Chapter 160 Even the Almighty is New to Being a Dad Chapter 161
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 161
Not long after, the banquet proceeded according to the planned sequence of events.
First, everyone enjoyed a splendid feast while listening to the Philharmonic Orchestra's performance...
Seol diligently moved around the banquet hall, expressing her gratitude to those who had helped her walk.
"Thank you so much for congratulating me."
The hunters gathered around circular tables smiled at Seol's sudden approach and greeting.
"We're the ones who should thank you for inviting us."
"Happy birthday."
"Make sure to listen to your dad well from now on."
As Seol continued making rounds through the banquet hall to personally thank everyone, something unexpected happened.
"It was all a misunderstanding."
The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven sucked the sauce off his fingers while speaking in a teasing tone.
"I can't stand males, you see."
At this, the Great Sage Who Levels Heaven responded irritably.
"How dare you say such things!"
As the two divine beings glared at each other, Thor, who had been eating relatively politely compared to them, interjected.
"Still, the fault lies with you two for providing the misunderstanding in the first place."
His words helped settle the situation somewhat.
"However," Thor added briefly, then gestured subtly toward a table behind them and whispered, "Unfortunately, it seems there are still those who haven't cleared up their misunderstanding."
The Great Sages then noticed Iriel glancing at them repeatedly, her face turning red for no apparent reason.
"Why does she keep looking at us..."
"There's something about her gaze I don't like..."
Unconsciously, Iriel kept stealing glances at the two Great Sages sitting far away while muttering to herself.
"Goodness, this is insane..."
Both of them had features reminiscent of beastfolk yet were undeniably handsome, which only fueled her imagination.
"My word, how could this..."
At that moment, Kang-jun, who had been busy expressing gratitude to all the attendees while guiding Seol, finally reached their table.
"You should've explained properly instead of cutting out all context like that."
"Brother, how were we supposed to know those words could have vulgar connotations?"
"From now on, don't omit details and explain everything properly."
Just as Iriel kept stealing glances at this scene, Kang-jun joined the frame in her imagination.
The sudden inclusion of Kang-jun in her 'imaginary scenario' caused her to mutter quietly:
"I must have finally lost my mind."
Suddenly, a nosebleed began streaming down her face.
"My lord, please just kill me..."
Crabsley, who had been focused on his meal, jumped up in alarm.
"Lady Iriel, are you alright?!"
Soo-bin reacted similarly.
"Tissue, where are the tissues...?"
Dibald quickly grabbed some tissues and began frantically wiping Iriel's face.
"Lady Iriel, what's suddenly come over you?"
Finally regaining her composure, Iriel alternated her gaze between Dibald and Crabsley's faces...
Her already flushed cheeks turned as red as persimmons, and the flow of her nosebleed increased exponentially.
The combination of a handsome elderly vampire and an undeniably attractive scholar proved too much for her imagination.
"I... I'm finished..." she murmured weakly.
"For some reason, I can't stop these blasphemous thoughts..."
Dibald exclaimed, "I don't know what you're talking about, but what won't stop right now is your bleeding!"
"Please forgive me for being possessed by 'demons,' you two..."
"This isn't about forgiveness—we need to stop the bleeding!"
Kang-jun glanced at the commotion.
It was a table where family members had gathered in small groups.
"Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves..."
The banquet continued in this warm atmosphere.
"Oh my..."
Seol covered her mouth in surprise.
"Seol-ah, happy birthday!"
"We came to congratulate you!"
"Happy birthday to you!"
Characters from Pororo and Friends, one of Seol's favorite animations, had suddenly appeared in the banquet hall.
"How did you know to come?"
They were actually actors hired by Kazan wearing character masks, but Seol, unaware of this, was deeply moved.
"Thank you so much, friends..."
After taking photos with the 'Pororo and Friends' actors, Seol whispered in Kang-jun's ear.
"Daddy."
Kang-jun leaned closer. "Hmm?"
"Seol is so happy right now."
She had said she was happy.
"The happiest in the whole world."
As her small mouth moved earnestly to express her happiness—
'Happy.'
Kang-jun felt as if the entire world had faded into the background.
It was quiet.
Despite so many people coming to celebrate his child's birthday.
"Daddy, Seol can touch happiness, it's so warm."
He felt as if only he and this child remained in the world.
"Then I'll split it in half."
The child smiled.
"Like when we share twin popsicles."
"Why?"
"Because I'll give Daddy the bigger half."
As he watched her smile, Kang-jun's eyes trembled intensely.
He had lived for centuries.
Yet until now, happiness had been an ambiguous, indefinable word to him.
"I might just give you all of it."
At this moment, Kang-jun could finally define happiness perfectly.
'My happiness is...'
It was clearly this small mouth telling him about her current happiness.
"Daddy too."
Kang-jun spoke.
"Daddy is happy too."
Perhaps it was because he had been so far away that he hadn't known.
Before reaching this child's side, he couldn't have known.
"Daddy is the happiest in the world too."
At these words, Seol spread her arms toward Kang-jun.
"Daddy."
Kang-jun knelt on one knee and hugged her.
'This small embrace, somehow...'
The warmth contained in this small embrace was melting his heart.
'It's melting me.'
His heart, frozen for centuries, kept thawing.
Hadn't it been frozen solid like an iceberg all this time?
Now it melted like snowflakes under the blazing sun.
Melting and flowing.
The direction of that flow was toward this small embrace.
It didn't matter if it melted away completely.
'Just...'
He only wished that his heart, flowing like this, would eventually reach this child's small embrace.
'I want to pool there.'
He hoped his flowing heart could gather within this child's small embrace.
"You've all waited patiently."
Kazan, standing at the podium, adjusted his bow tie and spoke.
"It's time for the gift presentation ceremony to conclude our young lady's birthday banquet."
After surveying the attendees, he continued.
"To the honored guest who prepared the best gift selected by our young lady, we will present a 'Blank Exchange Coupon,' so please pay close attention."
Bong-gu raised his hand abruptly. "What's a Blank Exchange Coupon?"
Kazan answered succinctly. "It's a coupon personally issued by Immortal, similar in concept to a blank check."
Bong-gu asked again. "So you'll grant anything written on it, like a blank check?"
Kazan responded as if he'd been waiting for the question. "Precisely!"
He then elaborated extensively about the 'Blank Exchange Coupon.'
"Whether it's rare elixirs, artifacts, alchemical materials, skill books—anything goes."
"Wow..."
"Or if preferred, the equivalent amount in cash can be exchanged instead."
Murmurs spread throughout the venue at his words.
"If you win first place, what would you write?"
At Ice Witch Seol Eun-bin's subtle question, Iron Man Go Du-yeol smirked.
"I'd ask for a 'Daily Weight Training Coupon.'"
"What's that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like—a coupon to work out with His Majesty every day."
He added, "It's something money can't buy."
Kang Sung-hyun retorted, "Talk after you actually win first place."
"It's practically guaranteed."
"What gift did you prepare?"
Go Du-yeol lifted a box at his feet.
"A weightlifting belt and straps, shoes suitable for deadlifts and squats, and finally, dumbbells."
Seol Eun-bin muttered quietly, "At least you won't be last."
"What?"
"Don't even dream about first place."
At that moment, a divine being at the next table spoke up.
"Hey, you there."
The Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven said irritably, "You're being so loud I couldn't help overhearing, and your words are quite offensive."
Go Du-yeol glared at him. "What did you say?"
'Are they beastfolk or something?'
The Great Sage lifted his chin proudly. "Sorry, but first place is ours."
Go Du-yeol snapped, "What could you possibly have prepared—"
"We prepared rice cakes packed with rare elixirs from Flower-Fruit Mountain."
"Elixirs?"
"Starting with ten-thousand-year-old fleeceflower root, golden spirit mushrooms, white immortals, fire and ice crystals, among others..."
The hunters' jaws dropped.
"Good heavens..."
The mentioned elixirs were all incredibly rare items that couldn't be easily obtained regardless of price.
"Dammit, this is frustrating..."
Go Du-yeol clenched his fists, sensing defeat.
"Who would have thought someone would actually make rice cakes stuffed with such precious elixirs..."
The Great Sage, appearing offended, immediately protested.
"Hey, this isn't just any ordinary rice cake."
"That's right, it's packed with medicinal herbs—"
"No, not that. It's honey rice cake."
Pyeongcheon Daeseong chimed in.
"We pounded the glutinous rice for days to achieve the perfect chewiness, then loaded it with just the right amount of sweet sugar to make it irresistible to children."
Jecheon Daeseong nodded vigorously. "Exactly, exactly." He rubbed his nose bridge with visible pride as he added,
"Though we've prepared an extraordinary gift, there's no need to make a fuss or overreact."
Then, puffing out his chest, he continued,
"Just so you know, we three brothers are so close we once vowed to die on the same day at the same hour."
"Three brothers?"
"Indeed. Since it's our 'eldest brother's' daughter's birthday, it's only right for us younger brothers to prepare something like this."
Of course, Kang-jun had never made any such death pact.
At that moment, Go Du-yeol squinted his bleary eyes and interjected,
"Oh ho, so you're the younger brothers?"
"What, jealous?"
"No reason to be."
Though he'd already accepted that first place in the gift competition was out of reach...
He seemed relieved to find he still had one-upmanship over them.
"I made the same vow too!"
(Of course, he'd never made any such pact with Kang-jun either.)
"So you're also the hyungnim's sworn brother?"
"That's right—in fact, I'm the eldest hyungnim!"
Go Du-yeol immediately turned to Kang-jun and bellowed,
"Little bro!"
Kang-jun frowned deeply at the sudden outburst.
"Why are you making such a racket again?"
Jecheon and Pyeongcheon Daeseong exchanged bewildered glances.
"Wait..."
"Then that means..."
Was this person their eldest hyungnim's own hyungnim?
"Why'd you call me?" Kang-jun asked.
Go Du-yeol puffed out his chest and retorted,
"Does a hyungnim need a reason to call his dongsaeng?"
"Annoying..."
"I called because I felt like it. Now go back to whatever you were doing."
Jecheon Daeseong licked his parched lips nervously and blurted,
"Something this trivial isn't enough to prove you're the hyungnim's hyungnim!"
Then Seol piped up.
"He is hyungnim."
"What...?"
"Hyungnim majayo."
She beamed up at Go Du-yeol and declared,
"Ung! Tiger Hyungnim!"
The two Flower-Fruit Mountain deities stared at each other in shock.
"Stone Monkey, why did you instigate this nonsense?!"
"Fool, you went along with it too!"
"Apologize to the eldest hyungnim at once!"
"No, you apologize first!"
As if synchronized, both deities simultaneously bowed to Go Du-yeol.
"W-we greet the first hyungnim..."
"Please forgive our disrespect..."
Since he was their hyungnim's hyungnim, that made him their grand-hyungnim by extension.
"Haha, well, these things happen!"
"Thank you for your forgiveness."
"A toast to brotherly forgiveness!"
As Go Du-yeol magnanimously played along, Kang-jun shook his head.
"Idiots really do flock together."
Just then—
"Honored guests, please come forward to present your gifts to the young lady."
Kazan made the announcement.
"First up—Lord Choi Dol-soi!"
Crabsley stepped onto the stage carrying a wooden case.
"Your Highness, behold."
He opened the case with a flourish.
"Six throwing daggers."
Inside gleamed razor-sharp blades honed to deadly edges.
"By four years old, one should start learning to handle daggers, no?"
"Grandpa, this is dangerous..."
"Start by practicing on livestock like cows or chickens first—"
Kang-jun shouted,
"Drag him offstage now!"
And so Crabsley was hauled away.
"Who brings such dangerous gifts...?"
Next, Ilian ascended the stage with her present.
"Princess."
She produced a set of brass knuckles.
"Ilian, what's this?"
"They're called knuckles."
She declared proudly,
"Keep these in your kindergarten bag. If anyone bullies you, slip these on and strike their philtrum or solar plexus—problem solved."
"Fighting is bad..."
"Nonsense! Rude creatures who only understand violence will appear. Be prepared."
She glanced at Crabsley being dragged away and added,
"Our lord would never allow His Highness's treasure to wield blades, yet someone brought daggers? Tsk."
Kang-jun sighed.
"Same for you."
"Eh?"
"Drag her out too."
"My lord!"
Ilian joined Crabsley in exile.
"Let us hope the remaining guests have brought appropriate gifts..."
Kazan continued,
"Next, Kim Bong-gu."
Bong-gu presented a teddy bear.
"Seol, do you like it?"
"Uwaa, so cute..."
One by one, S-rank hunters presented sensible gifts—all except Go Du-yeol.
"Seol, you said you wanted a piano last time?"
"Ung! Daddy said real one too big..."
"So auntie brought a much smaller piano."
Yoon Hee-soo gifted a child's keyboard.
"Ta-da! Winter Princess magic wand."
Jung Yoon-chan gave a wand from Seol's favorite cartoon.
"Too much will rot your teeth, so eat sparingly—and always brush afterward."
Kang Sung-hyun presented boxes of famous macarons he'd queued for since dawn.
"Our turn approaches."
Finally, the Flower-Fruit Mountain deities stepped up.
"Behold!"
They unveiled honey rice cakes from their bundle.
"We infused them with rare medicinal herbs!"
"Uwaa! Seori love rice cakes! How you know?!"
"One bite boosts strength and health!"
Kazan inquired,
"You mentioned medicinal herbs—could you specify which?"
Jecheon Daeseong proudly listed:
"Ten-thousand-year-old shouwu, golden spirit mushrooms, white immortals' peaches, fire and ice crystals—every rare herb we could find!"
After mental calculations, Kazan nodded.
"A strong contender for first place!"
As the deities preened—
"My turn yet?!"
Thor thrust his hand up. Kazan gestured,
"Please come up."
Thor marched onstage and produced a leather flask.
"One sip of Mímir's Well will make you wise!"
"Really make smart?"
"Down it in one gulp, and you'll master any subject."
Seol often wished to be smarter—Daddy always smiled when she shared kindergarten lessons.
"Seori love become smart!"
Thor side-eyed the deities and boasted additional effects:
"I even added Asgard's exclusive herbs for health—twice as good as honey cakes!"
Seol's eyes sparkled.
"Uwaa..."
Kazan declared,
"It's a close race!"
"Next—Immortal."
Kang-jun cleared his throat and approached the stage.
"How does this ring look?"
"Uwaa, pwetty..."
"I have a matching one."
He slipped an identical ring onto Seol's finger.
"Uwaa, like princess..."
Kang-jun explained,
"If danger comes while wearing this, Daddy will appear before you."
"Really?"
"Of course. It's a magic ring that protects you from all harm."
Kazan added,
"Forged by dwarf master Dvergr—orichalcum set with a dragon's tear. Just the labor cost approaches trillions. Runic engravings provide top-tier protective spells."
The hunters gasped. Seol whispered, staring at her ring,
"Seori love pwetty ring most..."
Kang-jun's gift seemed the clear winner—until:
"Next, Lee Soo-bin!"
Soo-bin stood hesitantly.
"It's... humble compared to others..."
She produced a Hello Kitty necklace.
"Ta-da! Cute necklace!"
"Uwaa! Hello Kitty?!"
"There's a secret."
She pressed the pendant—click—revealing a hidden photo compartment.
"Uwaa!"
Soo-bin fastened it around Seol's neck.
"Do you like it?"
"Seori love this most!"
"Compared to the other gifts—"
Seol shook her head fiercely.
"This necklace Seori love best in world!"
Kazan asked,
"Truly, Your Highness?"
"Ung! Love this!"
"More than any other gift?"
"Ung! Best!"
After a strained pause, Kazan announced,
"As this was the final gift... the winner is clear."
As other contenders gaped in disbelief—
"Her Highness has chosen—Lee Soo-bin's Hello Kitty necklace!"
Against gifts worth astronomical sums, the simple necklace took first place.
"Why...?"
Kang-jun noticed Seol repeatedly clicking the pendant open—click, click—until he saw...
"Ah...?"
Inside was a photo of Kang-jun and Soo-bin, smiling together.