Chapter 27: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One's First Time Being a Dad - Episode 27
Deep in the back alleys of Jongno, in an old building that had stood for ages, there was a pawnshop that had been around for a very long time.
It was the perfect embodiment of the antiquated term 'old establishment'...
[ Pawnshop Great Wealth ]
If not for the four-character name crudely painted in red on the white signboard, no one would have guessed the true nature of this place.
Inside the pawnshop.
Two elderly men with long hair sat facing each other across a Go board, appearing at first glance to be silently engrossed in their match.
Black and White.
The two old men were dressed in starkly contrasting colors from head to toe—one entirely in black, the other in white.
The Twin Freaks of Black and White.
These two elders were part of the Anti-Management Bureau Union's core leadership, among the twelve key figures known as the 'Twelve Executives.'
Clack—
The 'Black Freak,' who had just placed a black stone on the board with a crisp sound, was the first to speak.
"According to the orders from above, the recent 'Target Abduction Operation' ended in failure."
The 'White Freak' placed a white stone and asked in return.
"Wasn't that an operation involving two of the Twelve Executives?"
Black Freak gave a short reply. "It was."
"But not only did it fail, it seems the entire team was annihilated."
White Freak muttered in disbelief, "Annihilated..." as he tried to make sense of the jumbled thoughts in his head.
True, the Insect Artisan and Torture Technician leading the operation were the lowest-ranking among the Twelve Executives...
But even so, they were still executives. He was certain they weren't so incompetent as to be wiped out so easily.
"Who could have silently turned an operation team—comprising two executives and dozens of elite operatives—into corpses without a trace...?"
Then he asked again.
"Brother, what are our orders now?"
"They want us to personally step in and abduct the target."
"Brother, why is 'that person' so fixated on this target?"
"Probably because he's a 'symbolic figure.'"
The rookie Hunter 'Filial Son Kim Bong-gu,' now the Union's target, was being hailed as a new hero by every media outlet.
If they could either recruit such a symbolic figure to their side or publicly execute him in front of the masses...
It would naturally sow doubt about the necessity and effectiveness of the Management Bureau itself.
"Not to mention, losing two executives over this target has only made 'that person' more determined..."
His younger brother, White Freak, kept his gaze fixed on the Go board as he calmly asked in a low, quiet voice.
"Brother, when do you plan to move?"
Black Freak fiddled with a few black stones in his hand before answering.
"Little brother, why drag things out over catching a single minnow?"
Then he placed another black stone on the board with a sharp clack and added.
"Let's observe the situation and act as swiftly as possible."
"Huh, my ears have been itching weirdly all day..."
Bong-gu, walking slowly up a steep mountain trail, scratched his ear and muttered offhandedly.
Just ahead of him, Kang-jun replied nonchalantly.
"Probably someone's cursing you behind your back."
"I haven't done anything to deserve that..."
"I'm sure there are a few people plotting to kill you."
"Come on, why do you keep joking like that?"
Kang-jun nearly told him it wasn't a joke but swallowed the words instead.
'No point making him anxious.'
Sure, Bong-gu's misfortune was mostly his own doing, but Kang-jun would be the one most inconvenienced if something happened to him.
Not only would he lose his errand boy, but even booking Gates would be impossible without Bong-gu.
So Kang-jun had decided to put him through intense combat training for the time being.
"Are there any limits on how many Gates one person can book? Like a quota per hunter or something..."
"Not that I know of."
"Then couldn't a skilled individual or a small group monopolize all the Gates in the country?"
Bong-gu tilted his head slightly.
"Well, that's pretty much impossible."
Then he launched into an explanation.
"Gates appear by the dozens every day, but there are only so many Hunters to clear them, right?"
"Yeah?"
"And parties usually take at least a few days off after clearing a Gate. It's an unspoken rule."
Kang-jun gave him a questioning look, and Bong-gu rolled his eyes before shrugging.
"Gate raids aren't just any job—they're life-or-death situations."
"That so?"
"No matter how much wealth and fame you chase, you've got to be alive to enjoy them. So everyone's extra careful about safety."
Even the highest-ranked Hunters weren't exempt from this.
Most stuck to Gates matching their rank, so higher-ranked Hunters—who tackled the most dangerous ones—actually took longer breaks.
"Between all that, it's physically impossible for an individual or small group to monopolize Gates."
Kang-jun nodded thoughtfully before asking casually.
"So, as long as you're capable, you can book as many Gates as you want?"
"Right."
"Then starting tomorrow, we can hit two or three a day. One's just teasing me."
Wait, was he serious?
"Why aren't you answering?"
Ah, he was serious.
'Well, maybe he'll change his mind after today's raid.'
The unsolved Bukhansan Gate they were about to tackle had been classified as a B-rank threat by the Management Bureau.
And considering the minimum recommended party size was five or six, the number of monsters inside had to be substantial.
'Even if Brother's power surpasses S-rank Hunters, clearing a Gate like this every day would be pushing it...'
Bong-gu figured experiencing a B-rank Gate firsthand might make Kang-jun reconsider.
Unfortunately...
It wouldn't take long for him to realize how wrong he was.
Thanks to the Management Bureau staff desperately trying to stop them at the Gate's entrance, their entry was delayed considerably.
Their reason? A party consisting of just one C-rank Awakened and a porter was far too understaffed for such a dangerous location.
Only after submitting a liability waiver—a document absolving the Bureau of responsibility in case of death—were they finally allowed inside.
[ You have entered the Dimensional Gate Lizardman's Forest! ]
Just as Kang-jun and Bong-gu (after much trouble) stepped into the Gate...
'First, I'll demonstrate—watch closely.'
Kang-jun stretched casually before speaking in an utterly relaxed tone.
What followed was something Bong-gu could hardly believe, even as he witnessed it firsthand.
Lizardmen.
Massive, scaly creatures with long, flicking tongues, exuding sheer menace.
They were classic beastmen—humanoid bodies with lizard heads—and among the trickiest monsters to face due to their tactical intelligence and weapon mastery.
"Krrrglek...!"
"Kglek...!"
"Krrrglek...!"
They advanced, each wielding a gleaming blue sword, but...
"Think about it—swords, by design, can't deal fatal blows at point-blank range."
Kang-jun's figure blurred forward mid-explanation.
WHOOSH—!
A thunderous crash echoed as the lead Lizardman's head exploded like a rubber ball.
"Whoa..."
While Bong-gu gaped, Kang-jun flicked blood off his hand and continued as if nothing had happened.
"For now, let's focus on mastering every part of your body for offense."
"But Brother, I'm a magic-type Awakened."
"Mages are called glass cannons because they're helpless once enemies close in, right?"
Even as he spoke, Kang-jun moved like lightning, annihilating the surrounding Lizardmen with single strikes.
CRUNCH—!
A flawless display of martial arts—elbows, knees, forehead, shoulders, even his back—all turned into lethal weapons.
"Learning some close combat lets you keep the advantage even at close range. More weapons in your arsenal never hurt."
"Whoa..."
"And when you need quick results, shoring up weaknesses is way more efficient than adding new strengths."
Bong-gu could only stare, mesmerized by the almost beautiful brutality.
After effortlessly slaughtering dozens of Lizardmen, Kang-jun glanced at the dazed Bong-gu.
"See?"
Bong-gu blinked.
"Easy, right?"
"Huh?"
"Your turn."
...This guy.