Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 21

A middle-aged man let out a thoughtful "Hmm?" as he carefully examined the resume handed to him.

'Choi Dol-soi?'

It was the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠name of an elderly applicant introduced by a long-time regular customer for a part-time job interview.

But something felt... off.

The person sitting across from him was visibly nervous to an almost uncomfortable degree. Beads of cold sweat dripped continuously down his face, and his eyes darted around restlessly, unable to settle in one place.

"Excuse me, sir?"

"Y-yes!"

"Aren't you feeling too warm?"

Having run this convenience store in the same location for over ten years and conducted hundreds of interviews, the store owner had seen his share of applicants.

But this?

Never before had he interviewed someone dressed in such a dazzling 'tuxedo', complete with old-fashioned round glasses that were hard to find these days.

"A-ah! I'm f-fine, thank you!"

The store owner slightly furrowed his brows at the oddly archaic speech pattern before cautiously continuing:

"Sir, there's no need to be so nervous. It's just a convenience store part-time position, no need to—"

"N-no, it's not that!"

"First, I apologize for suddenly moving up the interview schedule. Due to... yesterday's incident, all our current part-timers quit en masse..."

The store owner nodded before asking:

"Actually, I heard about your situation through Soo-bin. She mentioned you're suffering from memory loss after returning from a Gate incident?"

At this, 'Crabsley' vigorously nodded his head and responded in a booming voice:

"Y-yes, that's correct!"

The store owner muttered, "Um, sir..." before speaking cautiously:

"You really don't need to be this tense..."

While he didn't dislike the applicant's desperate attitude, he couldn't understand why the man kept adding unnecessary "-yo" endings to his sentences.

For example, saying "Gwaenchanseumnida-yo" instead of just "Gwaenchanseumnida," or "Animnida-yo" instead of "Animnida."

These forced honorific endings on perfectly normal sentences kept making the atmosphere increasingly awkward.

'Why is he like this...?'

The reason for Crabsley's extreme tension was simple:

'This is my first mission on Earth's dimension. I must succeed at all costs...'

He believed this convenience store interview was not only his first task assigned by his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lord but also the first step toward 'nation-building.'

Moreover, hadn't his lord clearly explained that his status here was that of a 'slave'?

Thus, to avoid offending the ruling class humans, he was doing his utmost to appear as servile as possible—straining to adopt the most vulgar and lowly speech patterns he could manage.

The store owner sighed softly before continuing in a gentle tone:

"Even if you're hired, the morning shift is quite relaxed. At most, you'll just handle customer service, inventory, and cleaning..."

Truthfully, he had already decided to hire him—this was just a formality. The applicant came recommended by a long-time regular, and they urgently needed staff.

But then—

Crabsley suddenly shot up from his seat, bending at a perfect 90-degree angle as he shouted:

"If you grant me this opportunity, I'll work until my bones turn to dust and my body crumbles away! I'll devote my entire being to this task-yo!"

"Whoa, damn. Scared me..." The store owner swallowed dryly before awkwardly responding:

"N-no need to go that far. Just avoid being late or absent and—"

"Please give me just this one chance! It's the dream of a lifetime-yo!"

By this point, the store owner couldn't help but mutter, "Wow," in quiet amazement.

This was the polar opposite of the indifferent, take-it-or-leave-it attitudes displayed by countless other applicants over the years.

He was... moved.

Without realizing it, the store owner started clapping softly. "Clap, clap, clap." As if enchanted, he murmured:

"Oh man... y-you're hired..."

Then in an almost inaudible voice, he added:

"P-please start tomorrow..."

Only then did Crabsley raise his head, repeatedly shouting "Thank you!" with exaggerated gestures—before suddenly freezing.

'Wait... what should I call this ruling-class human?'

He was utterly confused about how to address the store owner who had just hired him.

Crabsley carefully organized the chaotic thoughts in his mind:

'My status here is merely that of a slave...'

Their gazes met momentarily in the air.

'That human is part of the ruling class that reigns above me...'

There could only be one answer.

"M-master! Thank you so much-yo!"

Silence fell once more.

Knock knock.

At the sudden sound, Iliel approached the door and demanded sharply:

"Who goes there?"

A familiar voice answered from beyond:

"Uh, it's Kim Bong-gu..."

Hearing this, the "imprisoned" Kang-jun responded solemnly:

"Let him in."

"Yes, my lord." As Iliel opened the door, Bong-gu appeared holding armfuls of toys.

"Miss, we meet again?"

"Miss?"

"I was at the Gate yesterday when—"

"Silence."

Bong-gu blinked. "Huh?" But Iliel didn't respond, simply turning back toward the bathroom.

"W-wait, why—"

As Bong-gu stood dumbfounded, Crabsley—now inexplicably wearing a convenience store vest—burst into hearty laughter:

"Haha! Lady Iliel never speaks with those weaker than herself. Don't take it personally."

"Oh..." Bong-gu frowned slightly. "But sir, where did you get that convenience store vest—"

"Haha! Sharp eyes! Just as you suspect!"

"Did you... find it in a clothing bin or something?"

Suddenly, Crabsley shouted "Welcome!" while bowing deeply with hands clasped:

"Welcome to GU Convenience Store!"

"Huh?"

"How may I assist you today?"

Switching to an exaggerated customer service voice, Crabsley proudly explained:

"As you can see, starting today I've been appointed as the weekday morning shift part-timer at the local GU Convenience Store!"

"C-congratulations..." Bong-gu glanced around searching for Kang-jun. "Huh?"

His eyes landed on Kang-jun—trapped on the balcony in nothing but his underwear.

"Uh... bro, why are you out there like that?"

"My imprisonment here is part of a tragic legend."

"But it's cold—shouldn't you at least put on clothes—"

"Ah, my state of undress is also part of a tragic legend..."

As Bong-gu stared blankly, Seol piped up:

"Uncle went to jail 'cause he's a thief!"

"Jail?"

"Yeah! Bad people go to jail!"

Seol—who had been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠comfortably seated while guarding Kang-jun's balcony prison—nodded seriously.

Bong-gu smiled and asked gently:

"Were you playing cops and robbers with daddy?"

"Mmhm! But uncle's a thief too, so he goes to jail."

"Me too?" Bong-gu pointed at himself.

Just then—

"What are you doing? Come here."

Kang-jun, alone on the balcony, suddenly grinned and beckoned.

"Newbie, come over. I can tell this is your first time, right?"

"......"

"Relax—this is a perfectly normal household."

Kim Bong-gu stepped inside the balcony, still visibly flustered, and closed the door behind him.

"Brother, judging by how immersed you were in playing, it seems you've been trapped here for quite a while..."

"Yeah, I got stuck right after lunch, so I must've been in there for at least three or four hours..."

When Bong-gu muttered, "Good grief," under his breath, Kang-jun shrugged and replied,

"At least they let me use the bathroom."

"Well, that's merciful of them."

A brief silence settled between them.

"Actually, I was hospitalized at the Awakener Medical Center since last night. I rushed through the discharge procedures first thing this morning, but everyone kept stopping me, so I barely got out just now."

"You looked fine—were you injured or something?"

"No, not exactly. There were... circumstances. I figured I should report to you, and there's something I'd like to ask for as well..."

Bong-gu trailed off vaguely before glancing at Kang-jun and finally getting to the point.

"Brother, it seems like this whole mess has been quietly swept under the rug."

"Good work. So, what did you want to ask?"

Bong-gu began explaining the situation in detail, and Kang-jun, still in his underwear, crossed his arms and listened intently.

"So, you're saying you have to take a 'rank promotion evaluation' at the end of the year, and you're worried you'll embarrass yourself?"

Bong-gu nodded vigorously. "Yes, Brother."

"And what do you want me to do about it?"

"Huh?"

"You want me to cheer you on?"

Bong-gu floundered, struggling to hide his panic.

"N-No, not that! I was thinking... if you could train me in the meantime, I might actually stand a chance..."

Kang-jun shook his head and cut him off.

"Hey, Bong-gu. Think about this logically."

"Yes?"

"Do you really think cramming at the last minute will turn a zero into a perfect score?"

Bong-gu let out a defeated "Ah..." as if struck by sudden enlightenment, his shoulders slumping.

"But you could probably bump it up by about ten points."

"T-Ten points?"

"That guy from before should be worth around ten points."

"That guy?"

Bong-gu's eyes widened. "Y-You don't mean..."

"The necromancer from the Anti-Management Bureau Alliance that you took down last time...?"

Kang-jun answered casually, "Yeah," before adding,

"But the real question is—will that even be enough?"

"It is! More than enough! Honestly, it's overkill!"

Kang-jun tilted his head. "Really?" After a few nods, he replied offhandedly,

"Then show up at my place by eight tomorrow morning."

"Brother, thank you! Really, really, thank you!"

Then, as if remembering something, he gasped and added,

"Oh, and before the promotion test, there's going to be a big Memorial and Award Ceremony."

"Memorial and Award Ceremony?"

"Yeah, to honor the hunters who died during the gate suppression and award medals to the survivors."

Just then, Crabsley, who had been eavesdropping while practicing his greetings near the balcony window, suddenly chimed in cheerfully.

"Well, well, young Bong-gu! Looks like you're finally stepping into the spotlight, eh? I sincerely congratulate you!"

"Huh?"

"Receiving a medal of valor in front of the whole nation—if that's not success, what is?"

Kang-jun nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, take lots of commemorative photos with your sister while you're at it."

"Photos?"

"Once your mother recovers, you'll want to show her everything, right?"

Bong-gu hesitated. "Well..."

"I think I'll have to go alone."

"Why?"

"My sister's a high school senior this year, and the CSATs are coming up."

He scratched his head awkwardly.

"She threw a fit about wanting to come, but I talked her out of it. A third-year student should be studying every second right now..."

"So you're going by yourself?"

"My mom would want Ju-hee to focus on getting into a good university more than taking photos together."

Kang-jun fell silent for a moment, then unexpectedly sank into deep thought.

A long-buried memory had surfaced.

Come to think of it... I was always alone too.

Images of his elementary, middle, and high school entrance and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠graduation ceremonies flashed through his mind—events he had attended by himself.

As a child, he had watched enviously as his classmates arrived with their families, feeling a pang of loneliness.

His older sister, who was practically a parent to him, was always too busy and exhausted for him to even ask her to come.

"I'll go with you."

"Huh?"

"It's a special occasion, isn't it?"

Kang-jun added flatly,

"Being alone on a day like that just makes you feel weird."

"Brother, you don't have to... Thank you so much..."

"If you're that grateful, don't just say it—pay me back in kind."

Just then, Seol, who had been watching from inside, finally noticed the toy in Bong-gu's hand and gasped.

"Ooooh! It's Princess Sophie—Seol's favorite in the whole world!"

Bong-gu smiled. "Yeah, Uncle brought it for you."

Seol shrieked with joy and immediately opened the balcony door again.

"Uncle, Seol wants to play with Princess Sophie!"

As Bong-gu finally escaped the balcony, Kang-jun eyed Seol cautiously before tentatively asking,

"What about... me?"

Seol thought for a moment before declaring firmly,

"No! Thieves stay in timeout!"

Kang-jun muttered, "But I didn't steal anything..." before glaring resentfully at Bong-gu.

"You sneaky little..."

"Huh? What?"

"Bribing the warden like that..."

"Bribe?"

Bong-gu feigned offense before grinning.

"Let's call it bail money, shall we?"

"What?"

"Then I'll see you whenever you're released. Bye!"

"Hey!"

Left alone on the balcony again, Kang-jun could only stare in disbelief.

Bzzzzzzzz—

Suddenly, a flying insect buzzed into his line of sight.

"Huh?"

His expression darkened as he snatched it out of the air and crushed it without hesitation.

"What the...?"

His sharp gaze pierced through the window, scanning the distance.

The reason?

He had sensed magic emanating from the insect he just killed.

Somewhere in a large park not too far from Kang-jun's residence...

"Tch. The connection's been cut."

A handsome man holding an open newspaper frowned as he spoke.

"What? Why—?"

A girl sitting on a bench, swinging her legs as she ate ice cream, jolted in surprise.

"My scout insect was neutralized."

"You mean...?"

"It seems our target realized he was being watched."

The girl bit her lower lip. "D-Did it at least gather any intel?"

"Since it didn't return, all data is lost."

"Kim Bong-gu, the Filial Son... He's definitely not ordinary."

The man nodded, deep in thought.

Damn it. I underestimated the target.

His scout insects were so subtle that even S-rank hunters sensitive to mana rarely noticed them.

They operated on such minimal mana that only those with extremely high mana sensitivity could detect them.

And yet...

This wasn't a complete loss.

At the very least, the target's mana sensitivity is S-rank or higher.

Not only that—the fact that he had physically caught and crushed the insect in an instant meant...

His reflexes and combat ability are likely on par with at least an A-rank hunter.

It seemed he would have to revise the upcoming operation, significantly increasing both the quality and quantity of forces deployed.

Folding the newspaper neatly, the man stood up and murmured,

"Let's go."

In the next moment, the two vanished without a trace—

As if they had never been there at all.