Chapter 45: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Even the Absolute One is New to Fatherhood - Episode 45
Aldebaran's human vessel, which had descended upon the world, began to scatter into fragmented polygons.
Kang-jun instantly sensed it—an indescribable, absolute force had intervened.
"Aldebaran."
No answer came.
"Interference...?"
Aldebaran, who had foreseen his own annihilation, had explicitly called this the "Creator God's interference."
What enlightenment had Aldebaran gained upon becoming a god? What had he been trying to convey?
What was the secret behind the epithet ■■■ he had mentioned? And what was the "truth of the abyss"?
Whoooosh—!
Suddenly, he felt it—the unique power Aldebaran had wielded was slowly flowing into him.
[ You have partially absorbed the divine power of the deity Aldebaran. ]
This was the divine power the system had mentioned.
It was different from mana, in both "grade" and "essence."
A sacred, sublime force.
"Divine power...."
Hadn't he already reached a level of strength where no one could oppose him, transcending common sense and rules?
And yet...
As this divine power seeped into his body, he could feel himself breaking past yet another "predetermined limit."
"Don't tell me I can grow even stronger from this...."
His muscles tightened further, and he could distinctly sense this new power coiling within him, fundamentally different from mana.
If he continued accumulating this divine power, could he too ascend to godhood?
If he became an omnipotent deity, could he deliver divine oracles or divine punishment like the gods did?
If even the minuscule divine power Aldebaran—a weakling by comparison—had possessed could excite him this much...
What heights could he reach if he seized all the divine power of the great gods?
The thought alone was unimaginable.
"Interesting...."
He wondered if this was how humanity had felt when they first realized the universe existed beyond Earth.
Like he had just taken his first step into an entirely unknown world—one he hadn't even been aware of before.
Yet, unease crept in.
If the gods of the great star clusters—like Asgard, who sought his life—possessed this power in abundance...
Would I be able to face them all alone?
Then, the cryptic words Aldebaran had left behind before vanishing resurfaced in his mind.
'As long as you hold the epithet ■■■, you will never know peace or happiness!'
'Behind that... that incomparably great epithet, trials and tribulations will always follow like a shadow!'
'Those who bear the epithet ■■■ rarely die, and even if they do, they are destined to return!'
The same mysterious voice he had heard when Aldebaran disappeared buzzed in his ears again, carrying an absolute authority.
'Chosen ■■■, defy the fate imposed upon you.'
'Do not yield to destiny. Seek only victory, again and again.'
'Do not disappoint the eyes watching over you.'
'Satisfy them by completing the narrative.'
The pain that came with this epithet was excruciating, enough to make his mind reel.
"Ugh...."
Kang-jun gasped for breath before collapsing to the ground. Crabsley rushed over in a panic.
"M-My liege!"
Kang-jun forced a composed nod.
"I'm... fine."
Crabsley watched him with concern, swallowing dryly before hesitantly pressing further.
"Are you... pushing yourself too hard?"
"I said I'm fine."
Reluctantly, Crabsley nodded and glanced around the chapel before adding,
"With Aldebaran's followers eradicated, we should prepare to return. It would be best to retreat to the imperial palace and rest."
Kang-jun answered as if he had been waiting for this.
"Yeah, let's go back."
Something unpleasant was bound to happen soon.
His mind was a tangled mess, everything still unclear...
But he didn't particularly care to dig deeper.
"Let's go home."
Right now, he just wanted to return.
The next morning.
Lee Soo-bin sat on the living room floor, humming as she folded laundry.
"Where should we move to...?"
Now that she had claimed the lottery winnings, she planned to relocate to a larger, safer place.
"With our family growing, a slightly bigger house would be nice...."
Currently, the house was cramped—she, Eriel, and Seol shared one room.
Kang-jun used the small room by himself, while Crabsley stayed in what had once been a storage space.
"If we move to a cheaper, spacious house in the suburbs, everyone could have their own room...."
Her gaze then drifted to Marbas.
"And if we find a place with a yard, our little troublemaker can run around to his heart's content."
Just then, Seol, freshly awake, toddled over, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Daddy, wanna watch Ding Dong Kindergarten."
"Just a sec," Soo-bin replied, grabbing the remote and turning on the TV.
Seol's daily routine always began with her favorite show, Ding Dong Kindergarten.
But for some reason, instead of the usual program, a news flash was airing.
[Director Seo Do-cheol of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau announced in an emergency press conference this morning that the Anti-Bureau Coalition has been completely eradicated.]
[The coalition had been operating from an abandoned church in the ruined city...]
[Director Seo confirmed that the coalition's leader, seven executives, and hundreds of wanted criminals had been eliminated...]
[When pressed for details, Director Seo maintained that specifics could not yet be disclosed, promising further updates later...]
Soo-bin stared blankly at the screen before murmuring in shock.
"Oh my, what in the world...?"
The news reported that the Anti-Bureau Coalition, notorious for terrorism and violent crimes, had been wiped out overnight.
"Seol-ah, the world's getting better, isn't it?"
Seol blinked. "Worwd?"
Nodding, Soo-bin replied, "By the time you're all grown up, maybe everything will be back to normal."
Seol, suddenly serious, asked again, "Den why no Ding Dong Kindergarten?"
Tears welled up in her eyes before she burst into full-blown sobs.
"What's wrong?"
Kang-jun rushed out of his room and scooped her up.
"Daddy, wanna watch Ding Dong Kindergarten...."
"Ding Dong Kindergarten?" Kang-jun echoed, glancing at Soo-bin.
She shrugged. "It's her favorite morning show. Must be canceled because of the news."
Kang-jun frowned. "Useless even in death..."
Soo-bin tilted her head. "Huh?"
Waving it off, Kang-jun turned to Seol.
"Seol-ah, how about we go out and play today?"
She sniffled. "Outside?"
"Yeah, we can hit the playground or something."
Soo-bin suddenly cut in. "Why not take her to the movies?"
"Movies?"
"Her favorite animated film just got a sequel."
Soo-bin smiled at Seol.
"Seol-ah, didn't you say you wanted to see Winter Princess 2?"
"Yeah! Wanna!"
"Then ask Daddy to take you."
Seol clasped her hands together, eyes sparkling.
"Daddy, go see Winter Princess 2 wif me? Pwease?"
Kang-jun nodded.
"Sure, let's go."
Then, as if entranced, he added,
"A hundred times."
Soon after, father and daughter arrived at a nearby theater.
"Let's see...."
Holding Seol's hand, Kang-jun approached the ticket counter and booked seats for the soonest showing.
"Back row, huh...."
The clerk explained that Winter Princess was in high demand—getting good seats on the spot was like "plucking stars from the sky."
"Next time, we'll book in advance...."
As Kang-jun muttered to himself, Seol tugged his sleeve.
"Daddy, wanna eat yummy stuff too."
His eyes landed on the snack bar.
"Right, you can't watch a movie without popcorn...."
Long-forgotten memories resurfaced.
After buying popcorn and orange juice for Seol, they sat on a bench, waiting for the showtime.
"Daddy, watch Winter Princess 3 wif me later too?"
"Maybe."
"Den 4, 5, 6, and 7 too!"
Kang-jun sighed.
"By the time Winter Princess 7 comes out, you might not even like cartoons anymore."
"Why? Wuv Winter Princess mostest!"
"You'll be all grown up then. Adults usually don't like animations."
Seol looked devastated.
"Daddy... hate Winter Princess?"
"Huh?"
"Daddy adult...."
Kang-jun waved his hands. "No, no, big misunderstanding. I'm one of the rare adults who loves cartoons."
"Weally?"
"Absolutely. Especially Winter Princess. Love it, love it, love it."
Seol sighed in relief, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth.
"Den when I adult, still watch wif Daddy."
Just then, the theater display announced that seating had begun for Winter Princess.
"Let's go in."
"Yay!"
They found their seats, and as Kang-jun waited for the movie to start, the cola he'd drunk earlier made itself known.
"Seol-ah, wanna come to the bathroom with Daddy?"
"Stay here."
"You sure you'll be okay alone?"
"Uh-huh! Seol brave!"
Kang-jun hesitated but finally nodded.
"I'll be right back."
If Soo-bin found out, she'd smack his back and scold, "Are you out of your mind?!"
But he had once heard that children should be raised like lions.
Maybe it was just a myth, but wasn't there something about lion cubs being thrown off cliffs to learn to climb back up?
(Not that he'd ever toss his precious Seol off a cliff, of course.)
Still, waiting alone for a bathroom trip should be fine...
After finishing up, Kang-jun hurried back to the theater.
"Oh, it hasn't started yet."
Luckily, the movie hadn't begun—ads still played on the screen.
Then—
From the back row, Seol was screaming toward the projection booth.
And...
The other audience members were watching her with fond smiles.
"Aww, so cute...."
"Adorable."
"Seriously precious."
Kang-jun focused his senses to hear her words clearly.
"NO START YET! MORE COMMERCIALS, PWEASE!"
Then, at the top of her lungs:
"DADDY STILL PEEING!"
Kang-jun clutched his chest.
"Ugh... too... cute...."
It was unbearably adorable.