Chapter 172 Even the Almighty is New to Being a Dad Chapter 173
Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood - Chapter 173
The spacious living room was filled with nothing but the incessant, chaotic clatter of buttons being frantically mashed.
Tap, tap, tap—
Not only the two divine beings from Huaguoshan, but even Crabsley, Thor, and even Kang-jun himself were completely absorbed in the game, their eyes bloodshot from concentration.
Amidst this—
Myeong-ryun stood transfixed, staring blankly at the screen of the arcade machine Sun Wukong was playing.
"Yoga Fire!"
The character Sun Wukong was controlling suddenly spewed a torrent of blazing flames from its mouth.
"My heavens..."
Though he didn't fully understand, judging by the effortless manipulation of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements, this was undoubtedly an unfathomably advanced Taoist technique.
"Just how long must I...?"
Hadn't he already spent three hundred years in grueling cultivation?
Every day, he honed his mind through meditation and refined his Taoist arts.
Yet even he couldn't wield Yin-Yang and the Five Elements with such freedom.
"The world is vast indeed..."
Hesitantly, Myeong-ryun asked,
"Great Sage, might you tell me the name of that technique you just used?"
Sun Wukong answered shortly.
"Yoga Fire."
Then added,
"Tilt the joystick down, then smoothly rotate it forward while pressing punch."
Though he didn't understand, Myeong-ryun nodded vaguely—
"Hadouken!"
This time, the character controlled by the "Great Sage" clasped his hands together and unleashed a massive energy wave from his palms.
"Hadouken!"
"Hadouken!"
"Hadouken!"
Again and again, in rapid succession.
"My heavens..."
Myeong-ryun, who had been silently watching, paled in astonishment.
"A Taoist art that freely commands the wind element of Yin-Yang... Truly, a realm beyond comprehension..."
Then he asked the Great Sage,
"What is the name of that technique?"
"Hadouken."
"Hadouken, Hadouken, Hadouken..."
Myeong-ryun repeated the name of the technique (?) as if to sear it into his memory—
"There's also this one."
The Great Sage abruptly manipulated the joystick in a dazzling motion, rapidly mashing buttons—
"Tatsumaki Senpukyaku!"
His character leaped high into the air, spinning like a whirlwind as it delivered a flurry of kicks.
"Such incredible martial technique..."
"This is 'Tatsumaki Senpukyaku.'"
"I see, Tatsumaki Senpukyaku..."
"Yeah, the input's a bit tricky."
Every day, he spent hours in meditation, refining his mind and Taoist arts—
'I've neglected my martial training...'
A sudden doubt struck him.
Had he truly been desperate enough?
Had he genuinely sought Ascension to Immortality?
'I've been lazy...'
Watching the characters on the screen display such mastery of Taoist arts and martial techniques, he finally understood why he had stagnated.
'I must strive harder...'
As he wallowed in self-reflection—
"By the way, what brings you here?"
Sun Wukong's sudden question made Myeong-ryun blink. "Huh?"
"You came all the way from Huaguoshan to Earth. Must be something important."
Only then remembering his purpose, Myeong-ryun spoke up.
"While meditating and observing the celestial currents, I sensed an unusual disturbance. I came to report it."
"An unusual disturbance?"
"Yes. The cosmic currents beyond our world are growing erratic. I fear a great upheaval may soon occur..."
Sun Wukong set down the controller.
"'Beyond our world'—you mean them, right?"
"Beyond" referred to the Outer Entities.
Namely—
The great star cluster, Cthulhu.
"Yes, precisely."
Sun Wukong fell into thought.
"Now that you mention it..."
Those beings, who originally dwelled beyond the Abyss and never interfered, had recently begun meddling in worldly affairs.
Ragnarok.
During the battle where he and the Great Sage had fought to aid their elder brother, several Outer Entities had been stationed on the opposing side.
"What are they planning...?"
This was unprecedented since Sun Wukong had attained godhood by claiming divine authority.
"Among the countless stars of the outer cosmos, the brightest one has been pulsating—contracting and expanding as if awakening, growing larger by the moment."
Sun Wukong's eyes narrowed.
"Bright, you say?"
In astrological terms, a bright star signified a divine being, its luminosity representing their divine power.
"Yes, exceedingly so."
Sun Wukong pressed further.
"And Earth?"
The celestial bodies surrounding Earth were also shining brilliantly.
"I noticed because a single star there was radiating light surpassing all others combined, but..."
Myeong-ryun added quietly,
"Comparing the brightest star around Earth to the brightest among the Outer Entities is like holding a candle to the sun..."
At that, Sun Wukong glanced at Kang-jun, who was still engrossed in the game.
'If the brightest star around Earth is Elder Brother...'
Then that meant—
'This omen implies even Elder Brother may not be able to oppose the brightest among the Outer Entities...'
Just then, Kang-jun turned his head sharply.
"Hey, you're not focusing."
"Ah, well—"
"Focus."
Sun Wukong picked up the controller again and muttered,
"Got it."
Myeong-ryun simply nodded.
"Honored guest, instead of just watching, why not try playing yourself?"
Crabsley's sudden offer made Myeong-ryun's eyes widen.
"May I really?"
Crabsley nodded.
"I have to head to work soon anyway. Feel free to take my seat."
"Thank you."
Myeong-ryun immediately sat before the arcade machine and gripped the joystick.
Thump, thump.
His heart raced.
"Hoo..."
Merely watching had already brought him closer to the principles of martial arts.
'If I were to act myself...'
He selected the character that most resembled him and began—
"Round 1, Fight!"
He steeled himself—
"Huh?"
But the difficulty was far higher than expected. Flailing helplessly, he was swiftly KO'd.
"Man, this guy's hopeless at games."
Kang-jun scoffed.
"Myeong-ryun."
Sun Wukong consoled him.
"You're better off playing 'Pong.'"
The next day.
"Seol, I'm heading out."
Seol nodded vigorously, tiny fists clenched.
"Daddy, Seol will cheer for you!"
Thus bolstered by his daughter's support, Kang-jun prepared to challenge the reigning champion of the local arcade—a fourth-grader.
"Alright, today's the day I win..."
Muttering to himself, Kang-jun turned with the gravitas of a general marching to war.
"Forward, men."
With Kang-jun leading, the two divine beings of Huaguoshan, Thor, Crabsley, and even Myeong-ryun followed.
"Kid!"
Entering the arcade, Kang-jun pulled out a handful of 500-won coins from his pocket.
"Today, we settle this."
The boy, sucking on candy while playing, nodded indifferently.
"Yeah, put your coins in the other side."
How much time passed?
"My heavens..."
The result was another crushing defeat.
"Again!"
No matter how many times he challenged, the outcome remained the same.
Loss after loss after loss.
"Dammit..."
Realizing he'd exhausted all his coins, Kang-jun slumped in defeat.
"Fifty losses, zero wins..."
The other gods tried as well, but the result was identical.
"Ugh, this is infuriating!"
"Grr!"
"Is he unbeatable?!"
Myeong-ryun could only watch in awe.
'They're all so skilled, yet...'
How could the boy on the other machine be so untouchable that none could win even once?
"I gotta go to cram school."
The boy slung his backpack over his shoulder and stood. Kang-jun quickly called after him.
"W-we'll settle this tomorrow!"
"Yeah."
"Be ready!"
Like a defeated villain, Kang-jun hastily ushered his group out of the arcade.
"Hmm..."
Myeong-ryun fiddled with the 500-won coin Sun Wukong had given him, then cautiously took a seat at the arcade machine.
"Shall I try...?"
Though rigorous training was essential—
Sometimes, observing masters in action yielded greater enlightenment.
Now was such a time.
"I think I've got it..."
After watching their plays, he felt as if he'd grasped something profound.
Clink.
He inserted the coin.
Tap—
Selected his character.
Click, click, clack—
Moved the joystick.
"Grandpa, can you beat the final boss?"
"Whoa, this grandpa's amazing!"
"I've never even seen the last stage!"
Had he truly attained enlightenment?
"K.O!"
Myeong-ryun swiftly defeated opponent after opponent, then the final boss—
"Whoa, grandpa beat the game!"
When he came to, a crowd of children had gathered behind him.
"Huh?"
Myeong-ryun stared blankly at the screen.
It was time to enter his name for the high score.
But the foreign characters left him baffled.
"Grandpa, you gotta put your name in!"
"My name?"
"Yeah, you set a new record!"
Setting a record, leaving his name.
Mastering the arts, gaining renown.
It mirrored the life he sought.
"Ah..."
A child asked,
"What's your name, grandpa?"
"My name?"
"I'll type it for you."
Myeong-ryun answered.
"Myeong-ryun the Immortal."
A wish to be recorded, even in an arcade, as an immortal.
"Then I'll put 'MR.S'!"
"Write it as I said."
"It means 'Immortal Myeong-ryun'!"
And so—
1. MR.S
The name "Immortal Myeong-ryun" was etched into the machine.
Would he one day leave his name and ascend to the immortal realm?
Could he forsake the mortal world and become a transcendent being?
"Good..."
He was pleased to see his name.
Then—
The arcade owner approached.
"Sir, hold on..."
He smacked the machine—Bang! Bang!
"Why's this thing freezing up...?"
Then he turned it off and on again.
"Huh?"
The machine rebooted—
Myeong-ryun's record was gone.
The machine had reset.
"You can play again now."
Myeong-ryun murmured,
"All is fleeting..."
Then smiled serenely.
"All is fleeting..."
Why had he been so fixated on immortality?
He simply needed to refine himself.
Cultivation wasn't for records.
"I've learned a simple truth at last."
No—
"Better late than never."
As Myeong-ryun beamed—
Whoooooosh!
A radiant light flooded the arcade—
Flap, flap—
A crane descended gracefully from the heavens.
As if expecting it, Myeong-ryun mounted the crane—
And soared into the sky.
"Wh-what the?!"
Everyone in the arcade gaped in shock.
"Myeong-ryun, why aren't you—?"
Belatedly realizing Myeong-ryun hadn't followed, Sun Wukong returned—
"Did you see the old man who was here?"
A child answered,
"He rode a crane and flew to heaven..."
Sun Wukong muttered, "My heavens..."
Then said softly,
"He achieved Ascension..."
And whispered again,
"He became an immortal."
Myeong-ryun, the Taoist of Huaguoshan.
After four centuries of cultivation—
He attained enlightenment through gaming.
And thus—
Ascended to immortality.
The day after Myeong-ryun's ascension—
"Hahaha! Kid, I finally beat you!"
Kang-jun had at last triumphed over his nemesis.
"You're not even a warm-up!"
"......"
"Rookie! Amateur! Trash!"
The boy, utterly deflated by the taunts, trudged out of the arcade.
Behind him, Kang-jun, the two divine beings, and Thor celebrated.
"We did it!"
"We defeated him!"
"Victory at last!"
As the boy exited, a faint smile touched his lips.
Step, step.
His gait changed.
Tap, tap, taptaptap!
He broke into a sprint—
"I did as you asked."
Turning a corner, the boy spoke to an elderly man waiting in the alley.
"Good work."
It was Crabsley.
"You made sure to lose convincingly?"
"Of course. No doubt."
"They didn't suspect?"
"I threw it perfectly."
Crabsley nodded and pulled something from his pocket.
"Your payment."
A gift certificate.
"Yes!"
The boy grinned.
"Call me anytime you need me again."
Crabsley nodded.
For some reason—
It reminded him of a movie he'd seen recently.
A noir film.