Absolute Beginner Dad Episode 184

I once heard that in surveys about respected professions, firefighters consistently ranked number one.

Ah, maybe not anymore these days.

Actors, models, singers, athletes...

Nowadays, Hunters are the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠most admired.

Hunters receive both respect and envy from the masses.

Some covet their power, others their wealth and influence.

Not that Hunters aren't deserving of respect, but...

"You've done something truly remarkable."

Firefighters, too, are just as worthy of admiration as Hunters.

No—

Considering that Hunters receive substantial compensation and glory for facing danger...

Perhaps firefighters deserve even more respect.

"Those days are behind me now."

At those words, Chae-ah's father awkwardly tugged his cap lower, as if trying to hide.

"Now, I'm just a shameful dad."

Chae-ah was still too young to understand the weight of the scars etched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠into this man's face.

I couldn't know for sure, but...

It was obvious that on the day he got hurt, he had thrown his life on the line for someone else.

"She might not understand yet, but someday, she will."

I believed that before long, she would come to know the kind of life her father had lived.

That he had been brave enough to risk his life to save others...

That there was nothing to be ashamed of—only pride.

"Thank you for saying that."

Kang-jun bowed politely before casually adding,

"Since I'm picking up Seol anyway, why don't I bring Chae-ah out too?"

"Ah, I'd really appreciate that..."

"Just wait here a moment. I'll bring her right out."

With that, Kang-jun turned and strode into the daycare building.

Clomp, clomp.

Before long, he entered the annex where the toddler class was held.

"Seol-ah."

When Kang-jun peeked through the open classroom door, Seol immediately dropped the blocks she was playing with and came running.

"Daaddyy!"

In the distance, he spotted Chae-ah.

She glanced at him briefly...

Then went back to fiddling with her blocks alone.

"Chae-ah, come out with me."

"With you?"

"I'll take you to your dad."

Kang-jun then glanced at the homeroom teacher, Lee Ji-hee, and added,

"Her father is waiting at the front gate."

"Ah, understood."

"Chae-ah, grab your bag and come with me and Seol."

Soon, Seol and Chae-ah sat side by side, packing their bags...

"Huh?"

Kang-jun noticed several character dolls dangling from Chae-ah's backpack.

"Let's go."

Holding both girls' hands, Kang-jun led them across the daycare playground.

"Chae-ah, you've got dolls on your bag?"

"Yeah, my favowite ones."

"They look familiar, though..."

Seol suddenly cut in.

"Daddy, it's those uncles and aunties from TV!"

Kang-jun let out a small, involuntary "Ah!"

They were the S-rank Hunters frequently featured in the news.

No wonder they looked familiar—they were dolls modeled after them.

"You like Hunters, Chae-ah?"

"Yeah, they're weally cool."

"Why do you think they're cool?"

"Hmm... 'cause they pwotect people?"

Just then, Kang-jun spotted Chae-ah's father pacing near the front gate.

"Chae-ah, your dad used to be a cool firefighter who protected people too, right?"

Chae-ah pouted and muttered,

"Don't know."

Then she grumbled sullenly,

"Daddy just looks like a monster."

You couldn't force understanding on a child.

Kids were intuitive, their thinking primal.

Hmm.

Even knowing it was meddling, Kang-jun couldn't help but feel bothered.

He wanted Chae-ah to know more about her father.

To hear about the incredible things he'd done.

To understand there was nothing to be ashamed of.

How can I show her?

Just then—

"Chae-ah!"

Her father, who had been waiting at the gate, rushed over.

"Thank you so much."

As he tightly grasped his daughter's hand and bowed to Kang-jun, Kang-jun stopped him.

"Sir."

"Yes?"

A brief silence passed.

"Are you free this evening?"

"Free?"

"Could you spare some time?"

Perhaps because the request was so sudden,

The man's lips twitched wordlessly.

Kang-jun pressed politely.

"Let me buy you a drink."

"A drink?"

"I'd like us parents to get to know each other."

They exchanged contact details.

"I'll call you later tonight."

Chae-ah's father nodded awkwardly. "Okay."

Kang-jun bowed once more before turning to leave—then suddenly stopped.

"Ah."

As if remembering something, he turned back.

"Sir, by the way..."

"Yes?"

"Do you like udon?"

North Sea Udon would be the perfect place.

It was a bit embarrassing, but...

He was curious about this man's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠life.

"Here's your udon."

Jeong Pil-sang set down a freshly boiled bowl.

"Thank you."

Chae-ah's father bowed slightly in gratitude.

"The udon here is really good."

"Is that so?"

"You should try it before it gets cold."

At Kang-jun's words, the man hesitated, his discomfort plain.

"If I take off my mask, it's... unsightly."

Baal answered for him.

"What's a few scars matter?"

His tone was gruff, but the intent was kind.

"Ain't nobody here so weak they'd flinch at something like that."

Baal glanced at Jeong Pil-sang.

"Boss, back me up."

Jeong Pil-sang nodded. "Of course."

Only then did Chae-ah's father finally remove his mask and set it aside.

"Then... excuse me."

The udon shop staff's blunt speech was a bit jarring, but that was all.

The shop was quiet, not crowded—strangely comforting.

"He's got a headache."

"Ah, no wonder..."

"But his heart's in the right place."

"I see."

Kang-jun twisted open a soju bottle, glancing at the man's face.

Earlier, he'd only seen the side of his head—now, he could see severe burns covering his entire face.

"Let me pour you a drink."

The man gripped his glass as Kang-jun filled it.

Glug-glug.

Then, with utmost politeness, he returned the gesture.

"Let me pour for you too."

They filled each other's glasses...

Clink!

—and downed them in one go.

"Khh—"

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠man winced involuntarily, then carefully sipped the steaming udon broth before speaking.

"We haven't even introduced ourselves yet."

His voice was low and gentle.

"I'm Lee Doo-hyun."

"Lee Kang-jun."

"Let's have another."

As they emptied bottle after bottle, their conversation meandered—

From parenting struggles to sports like soccer and baseball.

Even politics, diplomacy, and public safety.

"Feels like I'm getting drunk faster than usual tonight."

Doo-hyun mumbled, his eyes half-lidded as he slumped forward.

His face was flushed, clearly feeling the alcohol.

"Sir, by the way..."

Kang-jun steered the conversation.

"Have you retired completely?"

"Yeah. I developed... trauma."

He downed another shot, his voice tinged with complicated emotions.

"How can someone afraid of fire keep being a firefighter?"

Given the extent of his scars, he must have been at a massive blaze.

And if he'd brushed against death itself, anyone would fear fire after that.

"I ran away by retiring."

He smiled bitterly.

"My whole life changed."

He forced a detached tone as he vented about the years that followed.

"I tried finding a new job, but... with my face, it wasn't easy."

"I see."

"We lived off my compensation—a million won a month—and what my wife earned. But the payments kept getting cut."

He poured himself another drink.

"They said budget shortages forced reductions."

His voice grew weaker.

"At least the daycare issue got resolved. Getting free, quality education for Chae-ah is a blessing..."

Doo-hyun hiccuped, lowering his voice.

"I heard there's a 'sponsor' for the daycare—some VVIP from a secret wealthy group."

"Is that so?"

"I don't know who they are, but if I ever meet them, I'd thank them a thousand times."

He picked up the bottle again, murmuring.

"They're the reason we're alive."

"......"

"Someone like me..."

Soon, he began nodding off like a sick chicken.

A little more, and he'd pass out.

"You should stop drinking now."

Doo-hyun mumbled, "Ah..." then slapped his cheeks weakly, slurring.

"Yeah... that's probably best..."

His head drooped, bobbing as he fought sleep.

"Sir."

At Kang-jun's call, he blearily opened his eyes.

"If someone promised to grant you one wish—anything—what would you ask for?"

Doo-hyun mumbled, "A wish... a wish..." before looking at Kang-jun with unfocused eyes.

"Anything at all?"

"Yes. If that were possible."

"What would you wish for?"

Kang-jun was certain he'd ask to return to how he was before the accident.

"Wouldn't you wish to go back to before the accident?"

Doo-hyun shook his head. "No."

His voice was calm.

"If I could make two wishes, sure, I'd wish for that too."

"Then...?"

"Honestly, I wouldn't even think—I'd just ask you to answer my question."

Kang-jun blinked.

"Your question?"

Doo-hyun hiccuped. "Yeah."

"There's something I've always wondered."

His eyes grew distant.

Probably reliving the past.

"That day... I saw something."

Kang-jun watched him, waiting.

"It looked... like a person."

"And?"

"I wanted to save them."

He dredged up the memory.

"Lee Doo-hyun, are you insane?!"

"Get out now!"

"There's no one in there!"

"Even if there was, you can't save them!"

The ceiling of the burning building was collapsing.

The heat seared through his gear.

Thick smoke made it impossible to see an inch ahead.

"I wanted to save them."

Back then, he hesitated—then ran back inside.

"I'll save them even if I die!"

If what he saw was a person, he guessed it was a child.

The thought of his newborn daughter made him charge in.

No matter what, he had to save them.

Even if it cost him his life.

With faith that God would protect his family, he ran—

THUD!

Something struck his head—

CRASH!

—and he was buried under rubble.

Even now, he saw that black shape in his dreams.

Was it a person? The doubt haunted him.

"I still lose sleep."

His voice cracked.

"If it was a person, I should've saved them. Was it? Was it? It weighs on me..."

Tears streamed down his face.

"I regret it so much..."

His voice was raw.

"Not saving them..."

Then, his body gave out—

THUD!

—and he collapsed onto the table.

"Should've saved them..."

Mumbling regrets, he passed out.

"Damn, he's out cold."

Baal smirked, but Jeong Pil-sang sighed.

"What an incredible man."

He turned to Kang-jun.

"There's a room in the back where he can rest. Don't worry."

Baal twitched. "My room!"

Kang-jun, meanwhile, was lost in thought.

Hmm...

He drained his last drink.

"Then, I'll leave him to you."

With that, he stood—

Clomp, clomp.

—and stepped outside to make a call.

"Hey, it's me."

A groggy voice answered.

- What's up at this hour...?

It was Seo Do-cheol, Director of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau.

"I need all S-rank Hunters assembled for a personal matter."

- What kind of personal matter...?

Kang-jun looked up at the bright moon.

"A retirement ceremony."

He wanted Chae-ah to know.

What kind of man her father was.

How proud she should be.

- A retirement ceremony...?

Kang-jun answered simply.

"Yeah."

A brief silence.

"For a firefighter living with regret."

You couldn't force a child to understand.

That belief hadn't changed.

But some things had to be made clear.

He would make Chae-ah understand her father's life.

"Do this for me."

*- Understood.

Children only believed what they saw.

Well then...

All he had to do was show her.

"Yeah, let's show her..."

The moment the S-rank Hunters Chae-ah admired so much—

Paid their respects to her father.