Absolute Dad: First Time Ever Chapter 198

Kang-jun took a deep breath.

Something was boiling inside him.

Pure, undiluted malice.

Whoosh—

A sharp dagger materialized in his palm, forged from black magic as a catalyst. The blade thrummed with such dense killing intent that it seemed capable of piercing through steel like paper.

"Finish it!" Ares shouted.

"Gladly."

Kang-jun answered curtly before slashing downward, driving the dagger straight through Ares' chest.

"Ghk—!"

Living Text erupted from his mouth like a geyser. Kang-jun showed no signs of stopping, ruthlessly stabbing him over and over—his chest, both shoulders, and finally his abdomen.

Ares' body slumped, limp. After hundreds of punctures, his form was little more than tattered rags.

Thunk!

Kang-jun buried the dagger in his throat one last time.

"Ghh—!"

More Living Text spilled from his lips.

"I'm sure they're all watching."

"Ghh—!"

"I'll make an example out of you."

Kang-jun pried Ares' mouth open with both hands, then shoved one deep inside.

"Ngk—!"

He seized the god's tongue with crushing force.

"You spat words that should never have left your mouth. Now, you'll pay the price."

At that moment, the Narrative resonated:

『Once, there was one who dared speak of ■■■'s family.』

『Susanoo, the storm deity of Takamagahara.』

『He, too, met his end with his tongue torn out.』

Kang-jun added quietly, "Those who utter what must never be spoken have always been dealt with this way."

Ares stared up at him with wide, terrified eyes. Instinctively, he knew—his tongue would be ripped out soon.

"Pay your debt."

With a brutal yank, Kang-jun tore it free.

『Ares, the war deity of Olympus, was no exception.』

『The valiant god who led countless battles...』

『Had his tongue ripped out for daring to speak of ■■■'s family...』

Living Text gushed from Ares like a flood.

『And was annihilated in disgrace.』

His body shattered into polygonal fragments, scattering into the void.

[The deity Ares of the Olympus Star Cluster has been annihilated.]

[You have absorbed a portion of Ares' divine power.]

[The deities of the Olympus Star Cluster are enraged.]

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

System messages flooded Kang-jun's vision.

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

The same notification repeated several times before—

[You have acquired a new authority: *Commanding Vanguard.]

Kang-jun emotionlessly examined his new power.

[*Commanding Vanguard]

[Grade: EX]

[Effect: Allows tactical command of troops based on 49 offensive and defensive strategies.]

"Military tactics, huh..."

Nazgul suddenly came to mind.

Now that he had mastered warfare...

Could he finally win at chess?

[This world has drawn slightly closer to the "next word."]

[You have acquired one character from the main narrative of "승" (承).]

Ding!

['Gi', '■,' '■', '■', '■', 'Ah'] ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The howling of wolves echoed once more.

Skoll and Hati, obeying Kang-jun's will, began to move.

The lunar eclipse ended, and the sky returned to its natural hue.

[This Gate will now vanish.]

It was time to forget the malice.

To return to peaceful, tranquil—

Everyday life.

***

Several days passed swiftly.

Kang-jun settled back into his peaceful routine.

"Kang-jun, are you picking up Seol today?"

Tying his shoelaces tightly at the entrance, Kang-jun nodded at Lee Soo-bin's question.

"Yeah, it's almost time."

He opened the front door and stepped outside, announcing loudly:

"I'll be back."

Just then—

"Wait!"

Soo-bin called out urgently.

"Can you drop off a lunchbox for Lady Gyu-ri?"

"Iriel?"

"Yeah, she forgot hers this morning."

Iriel was still working as an instructor at the Bureau, overseeing training for Korea's S-rank Hunters.

'Seems like it suits her.'

Moreover, her monthly salary wasn't small, and he'd heard she'd become obsessed with saving money.

As a result—

She woke up at dawn every day to pack her own lunch before heading to work.

"Sure, I'll take it."

As Kang-jun grabbed the lunchbox and was about to leave—

Breaking news: Last weekend's Hunter promotion exam at the Seoul branch of the Bureau has produced a new S-rank Hunter.

Director Seo Do-cheol held a press conference to briefly introduce the 'Smoking Man,' who has now joined the ranks of S-rank Hunters—

Kang-jun glanced at the TV in the living room before refocusing.

"I'll be back soon."

"Be careful."

With that, he left.

***

Kang-jun headed straight to the daycare to pick up Seol.

As they walked through the streets, they chatted about her day.

"What did you learn today, Seol?"

"Then, Seol will ask you a question!"

Suddenly, Seol stopped walking and looked up at him with utmost seriousness.

"Is smoking bad or not bad?"

She must have had a lesson about the dangers of smoking.

Kang-jun shrugged lightly and feigned ignorance.

"Hmm, I'm not sure?"

Seol's eyes sparkled as she declared:

"The answer is not bad!"

"Why?"

"Smoking is bad for your body!"

She raised a tiny index finger emphatically.

"Especially for kids!"

"I see—"

"Kids really shouldn't smoke!"

As they crossed a bustling plaza—

"Ooh?"

Seol's eyes lit up at a makeshift stage in the distance.

"Is there some event?"

A young magician was performing, surrounded by a packed crowd.

Clap clap clap clap!

A white dove flew out of the magician's hat, drawing cheers.

"Wow, so cool—!"

Seol watched, mesmerized.

'Let's watch for a bit...'

They stood there for a while, enjoying the show.

Even in a world of supernatural abilities and magic, magicians still existed—

A fact Kang-jun found oddly perplexing.

"Thank you!"

Only after the performance ended did they resume walking.

"Daddy, do you know magic tricks too?"

Seol's eyes sparkled with hope.

"Well, I'm good at magic, but—"

Seol pouted.

"Seol thought Daddy could do everything..."

Kang-jun chuckled.

"Isn't magic cooler?"

"But Seol knows magic too!"

Wait, how does that work?

Just then—

"Daddy, this isn't the way home?"

"Yeah, we're stopping by the Bureau first."

"Seol thought we were lost!"

Kang-jun shook the lunchbox lightly.

"Iriel forgot her lunch."

As they neared the Bureau's Seoul branch—

"Eugh—"

Seol scrunched her nose and pinched it shut.

"Daddy, someone's smoking!"

A man was smoking near the building's entrance.

"Yeah, let's go inside quickly."

Kang-jun shot the man a glare and was about to lead Seol inside when—

Seol suddenly pulled free, marched right up to the man, and declared:

"Mister, smoking is bad for you!" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The man frowned.

Undeterred, Seol continued:

"Especially for kids!"

"You little brat—"

"Kids really shouldn't be around it!"

She tilted her head.

"Understand?"

Just then—

"Since when do brats lecture adults?"

Seol's eyes widened as she looked back at Kang-jun.

"Every word she said was true. Got a problem?"

Kang-jun stepped forward.

The man scoffed.

"Oh, you her parent?"

"And if I am?"

"Then teach her some manners."

He blew a cloud of smoke directly at Kang-jun.

"Kids shouldn't butt into adult business. Who does this shrimp think she is, lecturing me—"

Kang-jun narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Wait, you—"

The man's face looked familiar.

"The new S-rank Hunter?"

The smoker nodded smugly.

"That's right. The 'Smoking Man' himself."

He blew another puff of smoke into Kang-jun's face.

Kang-jun closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He didn't want to lose his temper in front of Seol.

Opening his eyes calmly, he spoke in a measured tone:

"Put it out."

"Hey, who the hell are you to order me around?"

"You're smoking in the middle of a public walkway."

"You know who I am?"

"I saw you on the news—"

"I'm a Hunter. I protect people like you."

He thumped his chest proudly.

"An S-rank Hunter."

"Yeah, I gathered."

"'Gathered'? Listen here—"

"Just put it out, will you?"

Kang-jun's voice hardened.

"You're smoking in a crowded area. And you just heard a kid tell you how harmful it is."

The Smoking Man took another deep drag, then blew it directly into Kang-jun's face.

"What're you gonna do if I don't?"

"......"

"Well? What'll you do?"

Kang-jun suddenly crouched in front of Seol and spoke softly.

"Seol, you asked if Daddy knows magic tricks, right?"

"Mm-hmm..."

"Daddy lied. I do know magic."

Seol crossed her arms.

"Daddy, lying is bad!"

"It was a promise I had to keep."

"What promise?"

Kang-jun sighed dramatically.

"Magicians made a pinky promise to hide their magic from ordinary people."

"Ohhh..."

"But I can't keep secrets from Seol, the person I love most in the world."

"Really?"

Kang-jun nodded.

"Yeah. But you have to keep it a secret, okay?"

"Seol will keep the secret!"

"Then, should Daddy show you a magic trick?"

Seol gasped.

"What trick?"

Kang-jun paused for effect.

"It's called..."

He pointed at the Smoking Man with his thumb.

"Making that mister disappear." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The Smoking Man blinked. "What?"

As he stomped toward Kang-jun threateningly—

"Wow, so cool!"

"Want to see it now?"

"Mm-hmm! Seol wants to see!"

"Close your eyes for a second."

"Seol's eyes are closed!"

"Count to three, then open them."

Kang-jun stood up.

"When you open your eyes, that mister will go poof and vanish."

Seol squeezed her eyes shut.

"Oh, and cover your ears too."

She clamped her hands over her ears as well.

"One—"

As Seol began counting—

"Two—"

The Smoking Man grabbed Kang-jun's shoulder roughly.

"Hey, what the hell are you—"

"Three—"

CRASH! BANG! THUD! SNAP!

A series of horrifyingly violent noises erupted—brief but intense.

"Daddy, can I open my eyes?"

Kang-jun smiled.

"Go ahead."

Seol slowly opened her eyes.

Kang-jun spread his arms wide.

"Ta-da!"

Seol looked around in amazement before clapping excitedly.

"Wow! How'd he disappear?!"

He hadn't disappeared.

To be precise—

He'd been struck twenty-three times in an instant.

Knocked unconscious.

And unceremoniously stuffed inside a large dumpster in a nearby alley.

That was Kang-jun's magic trick.