Chapter 36: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute Dad 36
The machine room inside the Seoul branch of the Hunter Management Bureau was packed with equipment supplying and controlling electricity, water, and other utilities throughout the building.
From within that machine room, a repetitive clank, clank... echoed, and suddenly, thin cracks began splitting through the air like shattered glass.
Then, a portion of the space collapsed as if unable to withstand the pressure, crumbling apart like fragile shards.
Thud, thud...
From beyond the shattered space, dozens of men clad in black robes emerged, their faces hidden beneath deep hoods.
"Operation zone infiltration successful..."
The last man to step forward pulled back his hood, revealing his face in full.
War Rock.
He was the second-in-command of the Twelve Executives of the Anti-Management Bureau Coalition, recognized as the strongest magic-type Awakened within their ranks.
After scanning the elite mages he had handpicked for this operation, he spoke.
"Now, we begin the activation of the forbidden spell as planned."
The moment his words ended, the robed figures moved in perfect unison, forming a circular formation.
All of them pressed their palms against the ground and began chanting in an eerie, incomprehensible language.
—Εϝερψονε διες ανδ βεξομες τηε σερϝαντ οφ δεατη...
—Ιτ βεξομες α σανξτυαρψ μαδε οφ βονες, βονες...
—Εϝερψονε διες ανδ βεξομες τηε σερϝαντ οφ δεατη...
—Ιτ βεξομες α σανξτυαρψ μαδε οφ βονες, βονες...
Soon, a massive magic circle composed of thousands of intricate runes materialized across the floor, pulsing with a sinister crimson glow.
"Truly mesmerizing..."
War Rock watched from a distance, unconsciously chewing his lower lip in excitement.
It was beautiful.
Like admiring a masterpiece crafted by a perfectionist obsessed with aesthetic symmetry—each rune meticulously aligned in golden proportions.
'So this is the forbidden spell the Coalition Leader learned directly from the "Dethroned King of Death" through divine revelation...'
Activating this spell required dozens of mages to maintain intense focus while chanting for an extended period.
The mana required was beyond comprehension, and the conditions for activation were stricter than any high-tier magic.
'He said that the moment this spell activates, the life force of every living being in this area will be offered as a holy sacrifice for his return...'
A spell so overwhelming that it would instantly reduce thousands within the building to sacrificial offerings.
'And those sacrificed will rise again as undead, bound entirely to his will, reborn as loyal soldiers under his command...'
Success meant gaining an army of thousands in an instant.
True, most inside this building were civilians—but among them were also Hunters gathered for the promotion exam, including some of the invited S-rank Hunters.
In other words, this was the perfect opportunity to bolster the Coalition's forces in one stroke.
'If you succeed in activating this spell, when the new world dawns, the god will grant you eternal life in recognition of your service.'
'Can you do it?'
'Good. Then, through you, the great god's return—and the birth of a new world—will draw one step closer...'
A twisted smile crept across War Rock's face as he muttered under his breath.
"Eternal life in the new world..."
The great god had promised that upon his return, he would overturn all rules and laws, ushering in a new era where the strong ruled over the weak—a perfectly rational and natural order.
And to those who contributed to this grand undertaking, he would bestow immense power and immortality.
'No matter what, we must activate this spell...'
Recently, four of the Twelve Executives had gone missing.
He couldn't afford to let his guard down—he might be next.
"Huu..."
Drawing upon his mana, he transformed it into a thin, solid barrier, expanding it outward from his position.
First, he sealed the entire building—no one would enter or leave.
Whoooosh—!
Then, to ensure the spell's activation wouldn't be interrupted, he erected another barrier, sealing off all entrances to the machine room.
'Perfect...'
Now, all he had to do was maintain the barriers until the spell completed its work.
After all...
He had already confirmed that no one inside this building was capable of breaking his barriers.
'The promotion exam's judging panel is mostly composed of mid-to-low-tier S-rank Hunters...'
Most of the top-tier S-ranks had been dispatched to suppress Gates appearing across the country.
Only one exception—
The sole top-tier S-rank among the judges, "Iron Man" Go Du-yeol, was the only one worth worrying about.
'But even Go Du-yeol would need considerable time to break my barrier...'
He focused on reinforcing the barrier, making it denser and more resilient.
Soon, the forbidden spell would activate—marking the beginning of a new world.
Tap, tap, tap, tap...
A young girl with an annoyed expression drummed her fingers on the armrest before finally speaking up.
"Why is that bald idiot always late? The promotion exam started ages ago, and he still hasn't shown his face!"
She was "Ice Witch" Seol Eun-bin, S-rank Hunter ranked 15th, invited as a judge for this exam.
Beside her, "Divine Spear" Kang Joo-won, ranked 23rd, shrugged and replied casually.
"Who knows? Probably got lost again. You know how dumb he is—but he's not a bad guy."
The most recently promoted S-rank, "Drunkard" Baek Seung-jin (ranked 30th), chimed in.
"Senior Go Du-yeol isn't answering his phone. You don't think something happened...?"
Seol Eun-bin puffed her cheeks and grumbled.
"Seriously, with how chaotic things are lately, he should be more careful! Just two months ago, the Coalition attacked during the medal ceremony, didn't they?"
"Well, we still managed to suppress them without casualties—"
"But we never found out who actually suppressed them! For all we know, it could've been a second Coalition!"
Her argument was airtight. Even Kang Joo-won couldn't defend Go Du-yeol any further and shut his mouth.
Baek Seung-jin, who had been quietly observing, cautiously spoke up while eyeing the monitor on the conference room wall.
"Seniors, maybe we should focus on the judging for now..."
Just as Seol Eun-bin muttered, "Do any of you even have a brain...?" and turned to look at the monitor—
"Huh...?"
Her gaze flickered past the window—then froze.
Something was off.
The view of Seoul outside the window felt... distorted.
Like some enormous barrier had been draped over the city, making everything beyond the glass appear unnaturally opaque.
"A barrier...?"
At those words, not just Seol Eun-bin, but the other two judges' expressions hardened instantly.
If the Coalition was attacking, the S-rank judges would naturally be primary targets.
"Damn it—!"
All three shot up from their seats at once.
Meanwhile.
Go Du-yeol was pouring every ounce of strength into bench pressing, his face red with exertion.
"Senior, you can do it!"
"Grrk...!"
"I'll spot you!"
"Grrk...!"
And he wasn't alone—his most cherished junior was right there with him.
Lying on the bench, groaning, Go Du-yeol looked up at Kang-jun's face hovering above him.
"Senior, I knew you could do it!"
They had first met during the Hunter promotion exam.
A slap-fight had blossomed into friendship...
And now, they were inseparable workout partners.
"Senior, you're amazing!"
His junior handed him a water bottle with shining eyes.
"Haha, all thanks to you, kid!"
Go Du-yeol chugged the entire bottle in one go, then puffed out his chest.
"Alright, bro—chest bump!"
Their muscular chests collided with a smack, sending droplets of sweat flying.
What more could happiness be?
Spending all day lifting weights with this guy, then sharing a cold protein shake—that was the life.
But wait... what was his name again?
His most beloved junior, yet the name just wouldn't come to mind.
It had to be something manly, though...
"Your name is..."
The junior looked at him with trembling eyes.
Ma Pal-su, Jo Deok-chul, Na Dae-mul, Yong Maeng-deok, Yuk Man-chul, Heo Cheok-sal...
A few hyper-masculine names flashed through his mind before—lightning strike—it hit him.
"Ah, I remember now..."
"S-Senior?"
"Your name is..."
Go Du-yeol shouted with overflowing excitement.
"Your name is—Kwak Du-pal!"
He pulled his junior into a crushing hug.
Well, pretend hug.
He was actually feeling up his lats.
Never letting you go.
My eternal gym partner.
The reason Go Du-yeol's subconscious had suddenly renamed Kang-jun to "Kwak Du-pal" was simple:
They had never actually introduced themselves.
To be precise, before they could exchange names, Go Du-yeol had been knocked out cold by a single slap.
"Next up—deadlifts!"
"Wow, deadlifts...!"
"And then squats!"
"Senior, you're my idol!"
And so, Go Du-yeol continued wandering through his dreamscape.
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Crabsley examined the collapsed Go Du-yeol with a serious expression, noting the foam at his mouth.
"My liege, he's still breathing, at least."
"Good enough."
"Hm? But he's... smiling?"
Kang-jun waved it off.
"Leave him. Must be having a nice dream."
As he turned to head toward the exam venue, he suddenly stopped—
His gaze piercing through the tightly sealed steel door of the machine room in the distance.
Crabsley frowned deeply before speaking cautiously.
"My liege, this is definitely..."
Kang-jun nodded.
"Magic. No—a forbidden spell."
Beyond that door, dozens of people were straining their feeble mana, chanting a large-scale spell.
The mana swirling there was unstable, tainted with greed and desire.
Yet strangely, the texture of that mana felt... familiar.
As if he had encountered it before.
"Don't tell me—that guy?"
Crabsley tilted his head slightly, then muttered in disbelief.
"But 'that one' was surely defeated in battle against you long ago—"
Kang-jun cut him off.
"He didn't die."
Then added:
"He ran like a rat."
Without hesitation, Kang-jun strode toward the sealed steel door.
Crabsley followed without a second thought.