Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood - Chapter 190

Kang-jun examined his reflection in the mirror.

"Hmm..."

The custom-tailored suit he'd ordered through Kazan had just arrived. Made by an exceptional tailor using only premium fabrics and entirely handcrafted, it felt unfamiliar after wearing nothing but shabby training clothes and casual wear every day.

"Just feels awkward and stuffy for no reason."

Just as Kang-jun finished changing and stepped into the living room—

"You look absolutely dashing."

Kazan, who had delivered the completed custom suit, began clapping exaggeratedly.

"Kang-jun, it suits you well."

"Really?"

"Yeah, you look like a proper businessman."

Encouraged by Soo-bin's compliment, Kang-jun muttered softly, "Is that so?" when—

"Your Immortal Majesty."

Kazan cleared his throat unnecessarily before broaching the subject.

"Though it may be presumptuous to mention, I heard you have an arranged marriage meeting approaching."

"It's not exactly an arranged marriage yet—"

"Should you entrust this matter to me, I shall endeavor to see it through to matrimony."

When Kang-jun echoed, "Endeavor?" Kazan continued rambling.

"I've already reserved the finest fine-dining restaurant with a panoramic view of Seoul's nightscape."

"Oh?"

"I've arranged for a philharmonic orchestra to provide pleasant background music during dinner, along with a fireworks display."

Kazan added immediately.

"I've prepared fireworks worth approximately 1.65 billion won, timed to ignite when you two finish your meal."

Kang-jun asked again.

"You've got everything planned out, don't you?"

Growing even more enthusiastic, Kazan continued.

"Afterwards, I've arranged a luxury yacht for private time where you two can have serious convers—"

At this, Soo-bin nodded and murmured in a soft voice.

"Wow, it's like a drama..."

That's when—

"Tch."

Seol, who had been silently listening while hugging her doll, stuck out her lips.

"Seol, what's wrong?"

Without answering, Seol abruptly turned her head and marched into her room.

"What's with her..."

Kang-jun then looked at Iriel.

"Iriel, about Seol—"

"A banquet accompanied by orchestral music..."

"Iriel?"

"A spectacular fireworks display..."

"Iriel?"

"Even an intimate rendezvous on the deck..."

Muttering to herself, she suddenly approached Kazan and whispered something in his ear.

"Gasp!"

Though the exact words remained unknown, Kazan's face turned deathly pale after hearing Iriel's whisper.

"Orchestra, banquet, fireworks, rendezvous..."

Iriel too disappeared into her room.

"Why's she acting like that too..."

Kang-jun then asked Kazan.

"What did you just whisper to her?"

Kazan shook his head.

"It's nothing..."

The unspoken continuation being that if he dared utter another word about it, she'd rip out his tongue—followed by a torrent of profanity too vulgar to even voice aloud.

The sheer magnitude of the verbal assault left one dizzy and speechless.

That evening.

"Seol?"

When Kang-jun opened her door, Seol startled and slammed her notebook shut.

"Oh? What were you doing?"

"J-just writing..."

"Still not feeling better?"

Seol shook her head several times.

"I'm totally fine..."

A blatant lie.

"Yeah?"

Her mood had been foul for days, her usual liveliness completely gone.

"Time for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bed."

In a deflated voice, Seol answered "Okay..." and listlessly collapsed onto her bed.

"Want me to pat you to sleep?"

Normally she would have nodded, but for some reason, only a sulky reply came.

"Daddy, you don't think Seol is a baby, right?"

"Huh?"

"Seol isn't a baby anymore, so you don't have to pat me."

Flustered, Kang-jun scratched his head awkwardly.

"Is she hitting puberty already...?"

How much time passed like this?

Squeak, squeak—

The sound of sleeping breaths emerged.

"Huh?"

Then Seol's notebook on the desk caught his eye.

A diary.

After checking that Seol was sound asleep—

Rustle.

He carefully opened the diary and began reading.

(Probably meant to write 'God'.)

Kang-jun murmured low.

"Greedy?"

Why was she worrying about this?

Kang-jun's expression gradually darkened.

The letter was written in tiny, meticulous handwriting with her small hands.

So that's why she looked so startled when he opened the door.

"Hmm."

Kang-jun gazed at the sleeping Seol.

"I had no idea."

He never imagined Seol's recent gloominess was because of his arranged meeting.

"And here I was thinking..."

His only thought had been to try meeting someone for Seol's sake.

Pat, pat.

Kang-jun sat beside Seol and began gently patting her back.

"Mmm—"

The sleeping Seol squirmed before finding a comfortable position and breathing steadily.

The day of the meeting arrived.

"I'll be back."

Though he'd already lost interest in the meeting, he prepared to at least make an appearance out of courtesy before leaving.

"Wait—"

Just as Iriel began following him—

"Iri-ell."

Seol stopped her.

"Yes, Your Highness?"

"You going?"

"Well actually..."

Iriel answered in a whisper.

"I thought to follow His Lordship."

"Daddy?"

"Curious about this meeting person..."

Seol clasped her hands, eyes glistening as she pleaded.

"Can Seol come too?"

After brief hesitation, Iriel nodded.

"Yes, very well..."

If even she was this curious, how much more must the princess want to see the woman who might become her mother?

"But..."

Iriel pressed a finger to her lips.

"We must be careful not to get caught."

Thus began their covert mission.

Clomp, clomp.

They'd nearly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reached the fine-dining building when—

"Oh, Instructor?"

"Cadet Jo Min-jin?"

They unexpectedly encountered Rank 4 Hunter Guide Jo Min-jin.

"Where are you headed?"

As Iriel hesitated—

"Following Daddy to meet lady!"

"Oh, then—"

"Uh-huh, but gotta go secret."

Guide Jo Min-jin then cried out earnestly.

"I-Instructor! Me too!"

"What?"

"I want to come along!"

"Why?"

"Because arranged meetings are my dream!"

Iriel's brow furrowed.

How could that be a dream?

"Someday I want to have one but have no idea what people talk about..."

After a flat "I see," Iriel reluctantly nodded and added warningly.

"Then follow quietly."

Thus their party grew by one.

"Seol?"

Not far ahead, they ran into Seol's homeroom teacher Lee Ji-hee.

"Wow, teacher!"

"Seol, where are you going?"

"Going see meeting!"

When Ji-hee asked "Your father's meeting?" and glanced at Iriel and Jo Min-jin—

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"May I join you?"

Iriel questioned suspiciously.

"And your reason would be...?"

Ji-hee rambled.

"Since she might become a parent, I should learn about her in advance..."

Thus their party grew to four.

Seated at the table, Kang-jun politely greeted his match.

"Hello."

The young woman across from him bowed slightly.

"I'm Kim Yoo-jung."

Kang-jun responded evenly.

"Lee Kang-jun."

Then, glancing sideways at his back, he murmured softly.

"Got some stalkers."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, never mind."

He continued.

"Truthfully, I came out of courtesy."

"Ah...?"

"I'm not really prepared yet."

Her eyes wavered.

"I see..."

Kang-jun went on.

"Family pressure made me accept this meeting, but perhaps I was too hasty."

"Then..."

"I'm not the type who can handle multiple things at once like others."

He sipped water before adding.

"As you know, I have a four-year-old daughter from my late wife."

"Yes, I heard..."

"Frankly, right now, loving just that child feels overwhelming enough."

Kang-jun met her gaze.

"I don't think there's room in my heart for anyone else yet."

She nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Kang-jun thanked her politely before asking carefully.

"I'd like to treat you to dinner as apology, if that's alright?"

She declined.

"No, it's fine."

Gathering her handbag, she stood.

"I completely understand. I'll tell the matchmaker we just didn't click."

Kang-jun nodded.

"Thank you for your consideration."

As she left—

"You there."

At Kang-jun's voice, the four women hiding by the entrance, holding their breaths while watching the meeting, all jumped.

"Why'd you all follow me?"

He gazed at their hiding spot and said gently.

"Let's have dinner together."

Seol emerged first—

"Daddy!"

Kang-jun scooped her up onto his lap as—

"My Lord..."

Iriel appeared next, followed by—

"Hello, Father."

Ji-hee, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally—

"Long time no see..."

Guide Jo Min-jin.

"Teacher, and you—"

While Iriel and Seol made sense, how did Seol's homeroom teacher and an S-rank Hunter end up following?

"Please, have a seat."

Kang-jun smoothly ordered a full-course meal for five.

"Daddy, where lady go?"

When Seol asked about his match, Kang-jun sipped champagne and answered.

"I was honest with her."

Seol asked again, "What you say?"

"Daddy told her my heart only has room for Seol right now, so giving it to someone else would be hard."

Seol beamed.

'Thank goodness.'

'What a relief.'

'How fortunate.'

The other three women also bowed their heads to hide their smiles.

BOOM! CRACKLE!

Suddenly, enormous fireworks exploded outside the window—the 1.65 billion won display Kazan had prepared.

"Beautiful."

Kang-jun murmured while gazing outside.

"Daddy pretty."

Seol wasn't looking at the fireworks but at her father's face glowing red from their light.

The other three women did the same.

Despite the spectacular fireworks, all eyes remained fixed on Kang-jun's profile.

Thus concluded the matchmaking incident.

Squeak, squeak, squeak.

Seol toddled along.

"Whee, so fun..."

Wearing the squeaky shoes she'd received as a gift after yesterday's dinner, she'd come outside to play.

"But hot..."

The sunlight was unbearably intense.

Squeak, squeak.

Seol kept walking when—

"Industrial Steel killed my son!"

The same elderly man she'd seen while holding her father's hand on the way to daycare stood at the crosswalk again today.

"Industrial Steel killed my..."

Dripping sweat, the shouting man staggered before collapsing with a groan.

"Ah! What do?"

Seol scurried over.

"Child..."

She immediately took water from her panda backpack.

"Mister, want drink?"

"You're giving this to grandpa?"

"Uh-huh, drink all!"

The man gulped it down—suffering from dehydration and exhaustion.

With great effort, he rose.

"Ugh..."

This heat was nothing.

He could endure it.

No—he had to.

"Ugh..."

Compared to the agony his son must have felt falling into the smelting furnace, this was truly nothing, he thought as he stood.

"Industrial Steel killed my..."

Then—

Spin.

The man's vision began swirling.

Thud!

He collapsed onto the scorching asphalt.

"Mister...?"

Seol's eyes widened.

"Daddy..."

As fearfully called out—

Whoosh.

A dark wind blew in.

"Seol."

The inky wind, saturated with ominous energy, carried none other than Kang-jun.