Chapter 54: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 54
The next day, a flood of packages arrived.
"Is this Lee Kang-jun's residence?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Could you sign here?"
Soo-bin approached and asked,
"Goodness, what's all this?"
Kang-jun shrugged slightly before answering.
"I picked up some gifts for everyone while I was in the U.S. with Bong-gu. Ended up buying quite a bit, so I had them shipped."
At his words, Soo-bin echoed, "Gifts?" just as Kang-jun nodded several times and replied,
"Nothing fancy, just some souvenirs while I was there..."
Then Kang-jun spotted a small box labeled "Noona" and said,
"Here, this one's yours."
"Oh, it's lotion?"
Inside the first package was the 'Youth Ointment' he had won at the pre-auction.
"They say it's really good for skin whitening and wrinkle removal."
"Really? I don't recognize the brand..."
"Don't hold back—use it generously."
The 'Youth Ointment' Kang-jun had gifted Soo-bin was an elven concoction that had once traded for high prices even on the Anux continent.
'The main consumers were probably noblewomen.'
Though he didn't know the exact manufacturing process, he'd heard it required rare ingredients like the stems of tree spirits.
Then—
Soo-bin opened the dazzling golden container and scooped a generous amount of the thick ointment onto the back of her hand.
"It looks expensive..."
For reference, the amount Kang-jun had spent to win this single jar of 'Youth Ointment' was a staggering 100 billion won.
Which meant...
The amount Soo-bin had just spread on her hand was worth at least hundreds of millions of won.
Not that Kang-jun cared.
"Wow, I just put a little on, but my skin already feels smoother?"
"That fast?"
"Yeah, I was just running out of lotion too. Perfect timing."
Soo-bin added gratefully,
"Thanks, I'll use it well."
"Let me know when it runs out."
"What, you'll buy me more?"
Kang-jun gave a vague nod before methodically checking the remaining boxes.
"Found it."
The box containing Seol's gift.
"Sorry, but if you're not busy, could you hand these out?"
"Wouldn't it be better if you did it yourself?"
"I need to have an important talk with Seol."
Soo-bin nodded.
"Alright, sure..."
Kang-jun immediately headed to the bedroom while—
"Everyone, come out!"
Soo-bin gathered the whole family in the living room.
"Madam, you called?"
The first to appear was none other than Iriel.
"Kang-jun bought gifts for everyone."
She then found the box labeled 'Iriel' and handed it over, asking coyly,
"I'm curious—mind if I watch you open it?"
"Of course, Madam Soo-bin. I shall obey."
Iriel's gift was perfume.
"Ah, the 'Witch's Pheromone' fragrance."
"Witch's Pheromone?"
"It's a scent I used to adore."
Iriel spritzed some on her wrists.
Pshh—
A bewitching smile curled on her lips as she added,
"The allure of this fragrance is truly exquisite."
"Oh, it smells wonderful."
"That you remembered..."
Iriel's cheeks flushed like autumn persimmons as she trailed off.
Just then, Crabsley emerged from his room, eyes brimming with anticipation as he asked Soo-bin,
"Madam, is there... perchance a gift for me?"
"Let's see... Ah, yours seems to be..."
Soo-bin tilted her head.
"Packed in styrofoam—must be something perishable?"
Crabsley carefully pried open the lid of his styrofoam box—
"Good heavens..."
Nestled between ice packs to preserve freshness were rows of vacuum-sealed pouches filled with dark red liquid.
Sniff sniff.
The pungent, metallic scent wafting from them confirmed it was high-quality blood.
'And so much of it...'
Enough to last an ogre several months if consumed one pouch a day.
"Is it some kind of health drink?"
Of course, Soo-bin couldn't possibly know the truth, though her guess wasn't entirely off.
"Looks like red ginseng extract or fruit juice..."
As everyone enjoyed their small happiness thanks to Kang-jun's gifts—
'Hmph...'
Marvas sat curled in a corner, sulking as he squeezed a poor toy ball.
'No gift for me...?'
Ever since being bestowed the new name 'Gaeddongi' by Immortal, he had secretly considered himself part of the imperial household.
He had guarded the entrance in case of emergencies and even taken on the bothersome task of babysitting 'Little Immortal.'
'Is this the thanks I get for my unwavering loyalty?'
He was furious.
No—
Thoroughly offended.
'If this is how it is, I'll have no choice but to reconsider my vengeance—'
Just then.
"Gaeddong, this must be yours."
At Soo-bin's words, Marvas' ears perked up.
"Woof?"
Soo-bin blinked in surprise.
"Huh, yours is the biggest?"
She struggled to lift a massive femur wrapped in plastic from the large styrofoam box.
"My goodness, what in the world—"
It was none other than a wyvern bone.
"Bark! Bark!"
Gaeddong immediately trotted to Soo-bin's feet, tail wagging furiously as he gazed up at the bone.
Any trace of vengeance vanished without a trace, replaced by lava-like fervor of loyalty bubbling up inside him.
'The rewards of loyalty—so exhilarating!'
He vowed—no, double-vowed—to play even harder with 'Little Immortal' today.
"Wow, so pretty..."
Seol's sparkling eyes eagerly scanned the finger-sized paint tubes neatly arranged in the box.
This gift seemed like a success.
Kang-jun puffed his chest proudly.
"They're twelve natural pigments extracted from rare minerals and plants in another world."
Seol raised her hand.
"Seol knows what this is!"
Then she added,
"It's water paint."
Kang-jun swallowed the lengthy explanation he'd prepared about how these weren't ordinary paints.
No matter what he said, to Seol, they'd just be 'normal paints' anyway.
Besides, she already looked perfectly content without knowing their value.
"Omo, how pretty."
"Mm?"
"Sooo pretty."
Entranced by the paints, Seol clasped her tiny hands together, eyes shining.
"Seol will draw a picture later!"
"Yeah, sounds good."
"What color should I use?"
Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly gasped and asked,
"Daddy, where's my airplane?"
Kang-jun smiled.
"Of course I got you one."
He pulled out a thick stack of documents and handed them to her.
But—
Seol's face fell as she took the papers.
"Ugh, really?"
Pouting, she blew out her cheeks.
"This isn't an airplane."
"Huh?"
"Daddy, this is just paper."
Flustered, Kang-jun stammered, "No, that's—" and launched into an explanation.
"These are ownership documents for a Boeing 747 luxury passenger jet—"
Just as he worried Seol might throw a tantrum—
"Daddy, it's okay."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry, Seol knows."
To his surprise, she comforted him before suddenly tearing a sheet from the stack.
"Because Seol can make one."
Giggling, she added,
"Auntie taught me!"
With intense focus, she began folding the paper into an airplane.
"Hmm, how was it again...?"
But soon, she scratched her head in frustration.
"Like this... no, like this..."
Watching her, Kang-jun chuckled softly.
"Want some help?"
"Mm!"
"First, fold this part..."
Before long, a reasonably convincing 'paper airplane' took shape.
"Wow, cool airplane!"
"Right?"
"Made it with Daddy!"
An airplane crafted from documents worth roughly 75 billion won.
Yet to Seol, it was just a 'paper airplane'—and she was utterly delighted.
She'd already been playing with it for ages, making whoosh noises as she flew it around.
Though far from its intended purpose, it didn't matter as long as Seol was happy.
She was overjoyed.
So—
That was enough.
Soon, breakfast arrived, and the family gathered around the table as usual.
"Seol's full."
Soo-bin eyed the still-heaping bowl of rice in front of Seol and asked,
"You're leaving this much?"
"Mm, no more."
Soo-bin sighed deeply before adopting a solemn tone.
"Didn't Auntie tell you about kids in other countries?"
Seol's face instantly fell.
"Sniff... Seol will eat it all..."
Kang-jun, surprised by her sudden compliance, asked Soo-bin,
"How'd you manage that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Mealtime's been a battlefield lately."
Soo-bin shrugged.
"I just told her there are kids in other countries who don't have food even when they're hungry."
Seol nodded vigorously and declared,
"Right! So no wasting!"
Then she sighed and added,
"Seol wants to share with hungry kids..."
"Really?"
"Mm! And toys too!"
Crabsley suddenly interjected.
"Your Highness's compassion for foreign subjects is as soft as silk..."
"Mm?"
"But starvation is hardly limited to distant lands."
He lowered his head slightly to meet Seol's eye level and continued gravely,
"Even around us, countless people struggle to afford daily meals."
Then he added,
"During my undercover employment at the convenience store, I witnessed many such souls."
All eyes turned to him.
"Yet the world remains cruelly unfair. Helpless to change it, one can only feel more frustrated."
For some reason, Crabsley's voice carried an uncharacteristic gloom.
"Madam Soo-bin, thank you for the meal."
Soo-bin blinked.
"Uh... Sir, is everything alright?"
"Your concern moves me deeply, but nothing is—"
"You've seemed down lately."
She made a mental note to cook something nice for him after work and asked,
"What time do you finish today?"
"Likely around midnight."
Kang-jun cut in.
"Your shifts have gotten longer, haven't they?"
Crabsley nodded.
"Apologies for the grievance, but a coworker suddenly abandoned his evening shifts, leaving me to shoulder the burden..."
Kang-jun studied him intently.
'That guy...'
His 'Korean patch' must've glitched again.
Clearly, something was up.
Looks like a convenience store visit was in order today.