Chapter 161 Even the Almighty is New to Being a Dad Chapter 162
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Chapter 162
It was a photograph.
Nestled neatly inside the Hello Kitty pendant that Seol was peering into was a picture of us together from some time ago.
"Huh..."
It must have been taken just a few days prior.
"Can you both look here for a second?"
The memory surfaced abruptly—when Noona suddenly pointed her phone camera at us while I was reading a book to Seol sitting on my lap.
Was it then?
Noticing my gaze, Seol glanced back before proudly showing me the pendant clutched tightly in her hand.
"Dada, wook at dis!"
Seol came scampering over.
"If you open dis, Dada inside!"
"Seol's there too?"
"Uh-huh! Dada an' Seol togeder!"
The child repeatedly opened and closed the pendant in her hand several times.
"Now when Seol miss Dada, open and see inside, 'kay?"
Then she rubbed the pendant against her cheek contentedly and murmured:
"So Seol wuv dis lots..."
At that moment, Lee Soo-bin sidled up beside me and placed a light hand on my shoulder, asking triumphantly:
"See? I told you I'd win."
Though by nature I detested losing more than death itself...
"I lost."
This kind of defeat didn't seem so bad.
How should I put it...
It was a rare defeat that actually lifted my spirits.
The banquet continued late into the night without end.
"My lord, is something troubling you?"
At Crabsley's question, Kang-jun shook his head.
"There's nothing troubling me at all."
Then he added:
"It's been so long."
Crabsley's lips curled into a bright smile at those words.
Looking back, the Kang-jun of the past was always exhausted.
What had weighed so heavily upon his lord?
The mountains of state affairs?
The welfare of the people?
Or perhaps nostalgia for his homeland?
"You've changed greatly."
At Crabsley's words, Kang-jun asked in return:
"Does this version of me displease you?"
A brief silence flowed between them.
"How could that be?"
Crabsley paused before continuing:
"I am striving to change alongside you."
Just then—
"Brothers, have a drink—!"
Go Du-yeol, thoroughly drunk with bleary eyes, poured wine for the two deities from Flower-Fruit Mountain...
"We shall return the toast!"
The two deities likewise filled Du-yeol's cup to the brim.
"Come now, drink like men!"
Soon after, a pleasant "Clink!" rang out as they drained their cups in one go, faces already flushed crimson.
Thor was no different.
Caught in their midst, he downed drink after drink, chattering and laughing uproariously as they enjoyed their merry time.
"They've grown close already."
Kang-jun quietly observed the scene before shaking his head.
"Strangely close, it seems."
Wasn't it natural for so-called strong individuals to recognize each other easily?
Come to think of it...
By similar logic, 'idiots' must also recognize their own kind with ease.
'As for the others...'
Kang-jun's gaze swept across the banquet hall's attendees.
"The spider climbs the moon~!"
Seol was performing a nursery rhyme and dance learned from daycare.
"Wow, she's good!"
Jung Yoon-chan, quietly watching, suddenly pulled out his wallet and rummaged through it...
"Here, for your talent!"
When he produced a thick wad of bills, Soo-bin intervened.
"Wait, those are all checks!"
"No, after such a performance—"
"Even idol booking fees don't cost that much—!"
Hunters who spent their days in grueling "training" and "missions" seemed wholly absorbed in this rare moment of joy.
"I always hated banquets."
The phrase he'd constantly uttered in the past flashed through his mind.
Back then, he'd scorned those who placed excessive importance on camaraderie.
But now he understood the nobles who held daily feasts.
'Rather enjoyable.'
The warm conviviality filling the banquet hall pleased him.
The atmosphere of everyone laughing and chatting together was nice.
No wonder people were so obsessed with banquets.
"Um..."
At that moment, 'Guide Jo Min-jin' approached cautiously.
Ranked 4th among S-class hunters.
True to her epithet 'Guide', she wielded divine power.
"What is it?"
After licking her dry lips, she asked obliquely:
"I'm curious about their identities."
Her gaze shifted to scrutinize the two deities from Flower-Fruit Mountain and Thor's seated figures...
"Can't you tell at a glance?"
"Pardon?"
"They're idiots."
After a muttered "That's not..." she hesitated before continuing in a fading voice:
"I sense an extraordinary power beyond mortal reach. Undeniably sacred yet somehow terrifyingly dangerous..."
Then she glanced back at Kang-jun and added quietly:
"Much like yourself."
His reply was brief:
"Good intuition."
He pondered briefly how best to explain them.
"They're allies."
Still doubtful, Jo Min-jin stared intently at Kang-jun's face.
"I don't know everything about this world either, but I likely understand more than you all do."
Suddenly Ragnarök came to mind.
What if...
Had he failed to stop Ragnarök?
'Those flames would have spread to Earth.'
The enemies faced by the alliance formed around Kang-jun as its axis would have been beyond any hunter's ability to confront.
"Rest assured—this world has no shortage of foes far beyond your capabilities."
"I see..."
"Countless adversaries powerful enough to leave you in despair and defeat if you rashly oppose them."
Jo Min-jin bowed her head, sorting through chaotic thoughts.
'Now that I think of it...'
Had Kang-jun not personally intervened, Earth might have faced destruction multiple times over.
She knew this.
Striving to be useful, she trained daily and participated in gate suppression missions when possible.
Were hunters progressing?
Progress was undeniable.
Slow, but occurring nonetheless.
Yet recently, she'd been painfully realizing they might never truly aid Kang-jun.
"Could we ever be of help?"
At her faintly trembling question, Kang-jun looked down at her.
Her large eyes quivered like aspen leaves in winter winds.
"I never sought your help."
"So we truly can't assist..."
"You've all seemed dispirited lately."
Kang-jun paused before continuing:
"I'll protect this peace."
"......"
"By any means necessary."
Jo Min-jin tucked stray hair behind her ear, awaiting Kang-jun's next words.
"Just do what you can."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll handle the battles beyond your strength."
Kang-jun added succinctly:
"We'll each do our part."
His gaze fell upon Seol.
"Until this dangerous, wretched world..."
"......"
"Becomes worthy of being called peaceful."
With that, Kang-jun flicked Jo Min-jin's forehead with a "Tap!"
"Smile on a day like today."
"Yes..."
"It's a rare good occasion."
Turning to the silently waiting Crabsley, he said simply "Let's go," then added quietly:
"We should enjoy the banquet too."
A brief "Yes, my lord," preceded Crabsley following Kang-jun, leaving Jo Min-jin alone.
"Oww..."
Rubbing her stinging forehead, she found herself smiling inexplicably.
For some reason, her cheeks had turned as red as autumn persimmons.
In Area 51, Dr. Henderson, overseeing Saint Merrem's care, studied her vitals with grave concern.
"Her condition has improved..."
After fluctuating between life and death daily, Merrem's vitals had recently stabilized.
"Despite no special measures, Saint Merrem's health continues recovering daily."
It was inexplicable.
"After repeatedly teetering on death's edge... How could this happen...?"
Just then—
"Saint Merrem has awakened!"
Dr. Henderson rushed to her side, checking her complexion before urgently asking:
"Merrem, are you alright?"
Muttering to herself, she collected her thoughts and nodded weakly:
"Yes, I'm fine..."
Then she continued immediately:
"Since that world's narrative entered '*承' (Continuation), everything feels vastly improved."
"What does that—"
"I can see a much clearer 'future' now, and exert far greater influence."
After a pause, she forced a smile and added:
"But I keep getting so sleepy..."
As her eyelids drooped heavily, Dr. Henderson asked again:
"Did you see another future?"
Nodding weakly, she continued with effort:
"The Demon King will awaken soon."
"Demon King...?"
"A dangerous ruler of the demon realm."
She then asked:
"Do you remember the demon Andromalius who appeared three years ago?"
"Of course!" the doctor exclaimed passionately, recalling the events before pressing:
"That boss monster from the Calamity-grade Gate in the American West—immensely powerful and intelligent?"
She nodded.
"Andromalius was the lowest-ranked among the 72 Demons."
"Then the Demon King is...?"
"The 'Demon King' soon arriving on Earth is the highest-ranked Archdemon among them."
The doctor's expression darkened instantly.
"Once reigning supreme over the demon realm, he was defeated long ago by Immortal, barely escaping with his life."
"Then..."
"Having hibernated in the abyss's outer dimensions, he's nearly regained his lost power and will soon descend upon Earth."
She continued smoothly:
"He is undoubtedly an incomparable threat."
"Sigh..."
"Yet in the future I saw..."
Struggling against drowsiness, she added:
"He seemed utterly nonthreatening."
"Pardon?"
"Rather pitiable, actually."
Nodding off, she laboriously continued:
"He was... cooking something..."
"Cooking?"
"Definitely cooking..."
Her fading voice pressed on:
"My deity remarked the Demon King had... unfortunately chosen the wrong era..."
With that, she sank back into deep slumber...
"Merrem! Merrem!"
Only the doctor's shouts echoed through the lab.
Past midnight.
"Haah."
Lying in bed, Kang-jun suddenly exhaled deeply.
Then he pressed a pillow over Du-yeol's snoring face.
"Ghhhhuuuuuhhh..."
The incessant noise was unbearable.
"Deafeningly loud..."
To make matters worse, grating teeth-gnashing sounds rose from below the bed.
"Maddening."
The two deities from Flower-Fruit Mountain and Thor—too drunk to resist—lay tangled together, grinding their teeth violently.
"Damn it..."
Normally, this would be time to pat Seol's sleeping back, but thanks to the 'Idiot Alliance's' drunkenness, he endured a torturous night.
"Ghhhhuuuuuhhh—"
"Grind, gnnnnd—"
Listening to their ensemble, Kang-jun shook his head.
He must be dreaming of speeding down Germany's Autobahn in a sports car.
Creeeak—
The door opened...
"My lord."
Marbas entered.
"What is it?"
His expression was grave.
"Our brother's presence grows nearer."
"What?"
"The highest-ranked Archdemon among the 72 Demons..."
Trailing off vaguely, Marbas sniffed the air before continuing:
"Baal."
Then he added:
"Eldest brother's scent intensifies."
Kang-jun replied quietly:
"Perfect timing."
He nudged the tangled deities with his foot and muttered dismissively:
"Hey, wake up."
Rubbing their eyes, the groggy deities slowly roused...
"Idiot orchestra, prepare for deployment."
They stared blankly at Kang-jun.
"What? I said prepare!"
He rejoiced at escaping a night with these furry black morons.