Chapter 190 Even the Almighty is New to Being a Dad Chapter 191
Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood Chapter 191
Kang-jun's gaze fell upon the elderly man collapsed on the ground.
'Dehydration symptoms.'
First, he calmed the startled Seol.
"Seol-ah, it's okay."
Having seen numerous soldiers collapse from dehydration during training and war, Kang-jun was well-versed in proper emergency procedures.
"Grandfather, try to relax your body."
Supporting the fallen man's neck to secure his airway, Kang-jun moved him into the shade to escape the scorching sunlight.
"Could you open your mouth slightly?"
The old man parted his lips...
"Don't swallow yet, just hold it."
Kang-jun poured a small amount of water into his mouth and monitored his recovery. It was simple dehydration—with some rest, he'd recover soon.
'Still...'
Why had this frail old man been repeating the same words under the blazing sun?
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
Kang-jun's eyes moved to the placard the man had dropped, where red marker spelled out:
An unexpected heaviness settled in Kang-jun's chest.
"What a wretched world," he muttered again.
"Why does everyone have such painful stories?"
And so Kang-jun remained by the old man's side until consciousness returned.
North Sea Udon Shop.
"Me eat well!" Seol shouted loudly...
"Seol-ah, Daddy will cool it for you."
Kang-jun speared the thick udon noodles with a fork, twirling them into neat circles before blowing gently to cool them.
"Um..."
It was then.
"How can I ever repay this kindness...?"
The old man, staring blankly at the steaming bowl before him, spoke hesitantly.
"No repayment needed."
"But I nearly..."
Had father and daughter not helped?
He surely would have died on the street.
"This udon is truly delicious."
"Huh?"
"Try it before it gets cold."
Reluctantly, the old man nodded and picked up his chopsticks.
"Thank you for the meal."
Exhausted from his long battle, even the chopsticks felt heavy.
Everything tasted like sand.
When had it started?
The old man often skipped meals.
When hunger kept him awake...
He drowned it in strong liquor.
My son, my son.
My boy who melted in his prime.
How hot must it have been, my son?
And here I am, shamelessly alive.
'Shameless indeed...'
Shamelessly putting food in my mouth.
Chewing...
Swallowing without issue.
Clatter.
The chopsticks fell from his hands.
"Does it not suit your taste?"
At owner Jeong Pil-sang's question, the old man shook his head.
"It's excellent."
"Then why—"
"My appetite is small."
Kang-jun interjected:
"To win, you must eat."
"Huh?"
"Eat like your life depends on it."
Kang-jun met the old man's gaze.
"I don't know your full story."
"Yes..."
"But you're fighting a hard battle."
Kang-jun added quietly:
"So eat."
"......"
"Eat with venom."
After a pause, the old man picked up his chopsticks again.
Chew, chew.
Grinding the sandy noodles between his teeth.
"Seol no can eat more..."
Soon after, Seol patted her bulging belly. "Pang, pang!"
"Me eat well..."
Hopping down from her chair excitedly, she asked:
"Daddy, Seol play outside now?"
When Kang-jun said "Sure," she dashed out immediately...
"Grandfather."
Kang-jun turned to the old man forcing down noodles.
"What battle are you fighting?"
A profound silence filled North Sea Udon.
Jeong Pil-sang and Baal also stared intently at the old man...
"I taught him to learn skills."
The old man spoke methodically.
"Why did I ever teach him that?"
His reflection wavered in the clear broth.
He'd lost his son.
Dark shadows hung beneath his eyes, cheeks sunken deep.
"I failed as a parent."
A bitter smile.
"I pushed him toward death."
The story was short and brutal.
His son died.
Fell into a molten steel furnace.
"When we heard he'd been hired as a regular at Industrial Steel, we were so happy, blind to what lay ahead..."
The old man sobbed.
"They said he slipped while feeding scrap metal into the furnace. Melted instantly."
The molten steel exceeded 1,600°C—not even a body remained.
"An industrial accident."
The old man objected:
"After investigating, I learned it wasn't just my boy's mistake."
"Then..."
"The site manager said it was bound to happen eventually."
He continued:
"Safety negligence was rampant. Everyone worked pushed to limits, ignoring protocols."
Pil-sang asked:
"Did the company compensate?"
The old man shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Then..."
"Just silence."
Bowing deeply, he muttered:
"Thank you for the meal."
Then, looking around, he added quietly:
"I just want an apology."
That's all he sought.
A sincere apology...
And change.
"I'll fight until then."
Kang-jun responded:
"I wish you strength."
"Thank you."
"If you're ever hungry..."
Kang-jun glanced at Pil-sang...
"Yes, come anytime."
Pil-sang finished the thought.
"We'll support you this way."
The old man smiled bitterly.
Then...
Staggered out weakly.
Next morning, early.
"-This summer's heatwave breaks 40-year records..."
The old man watched the weather report with hollow eyes, eating watered rice.
"Heatwave, they say."
Why did forecasts always claim "record-breaking" heat each summer?
"Another once-in-years heatwave..."
He smiled bitterly.
How hot could it be?
Compared to the furnace that melted his son...
"Haah..."
He ate properly for once.
"To win, you must eat."
"Eat like your life depends on it."
The young man's words echoed.
Yes, to win, he must eat.
To fight to the end.
"I'm going."
After murmuring to his son's portrait, he left.
As always, clutching a hand-painted placard.
He took his position again.
Before the crossing crowds, screaming until his throat tore:
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
Is anyone listening?
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
Please pay attention!
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
My heart is rotting.
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
Have pity on us...
"Industrial Steel killed my son!"
Won't you lend an ear?
"Industrial Steel—"
As he prepared to shout again—
Screech!
A black sedan stopped.
"Damn nuisance in this heat..."
A middle-aged man emerged, striding toward him.
"Hey, old man."
Confused, the old man asked:
"Who...?"
"Industrial Steel's legal counsel."
"Why would—"
"What exactly are you doing?"
The lawyer's aggressive tone made the old man shrink.
"Do you know this constitutes defamation and insult?"
"What nonsense—"
"Want to spend your final years in jail? Stop this."
The old man grabbed the lawyer's lapel, veins bulging:
"You inhuman bastards! You killed my son in that furnace and talk of jail—?!"
The lawyer glared, unyielding:
"It was an unavoidable 'industrial accident' caused by worker negligence—how many times must we explain?"
Shaking free, he snarled:
"Be grateful we're not suing for damages!"
"Wh-what kind of—?"
"Your son ruined 15 tons of molten steel!"
The lawyer demanded:
"Can you even compensate that?"
"You... you evil—!"
"Do you know how much that costs?!"
"My son died!"
As the old man grabbed the lawyer's collar, shaking him violently—
Thud!
Shoved hard, he fell backward.
"Tch..."
Straening his disheveled tie, the lawyer raised his hand, cursing:
"Fucking hell..."
Then someone caught his wrist.
"And who the hell—?"
The young man holding him answered quietly:
"Confident in your wealth, I see."
"I said who—"
"I'm rather wealthy myself."
It was Kang-jun.
"That much money to spare?"
He'd been walking Seol to daycare when he witnessed the scene.
"Daddy..."
Seol clung to Kang-jun's leg, frightened eyes on the lawyer.
"Seol-ah."
Kang-jun said:
"Today's financial education."
"Whazzat...?"
"Instead of daycare."
Glaring at the lawyer:
"Daddy will teach proper money management firsthand."
Taking out his phone, he made a call:
"I'll acquire Industrial Steel."
The lawyer scoffed:
"Madman..."
Meanwhile, Kang-jun issued orders:
"If they resist acquisition, use any means necessary to force a fire sale."
From the other end:
-Your Immortal Majesty.
Kazan responded:
-I'll arrange it immediately.
Ending the call...
"Grandfather."
Kang-jun offered his hand.
"Let's go."
As their hands met:
"Your fight moved me..."
Helping him up:
"I must intervene."
In that moment—
'Ah...'
The old man's instincts whispered.
This outstretched hand...
Was undeniably salvation's grasp.