Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood - Chapter 57

"Breaking News: The Global Awakened Association has designated Seoul, South Korea, as the predicted emergence zone for a 'Calamity-grade Gate'!"

"In response, Director Seo Do-cheol of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau has convened an emergency press conference, declaring this an unprecedented crisis with the potential to lead to the nation's 'annihilation'..."

From the backseat of his luxury sedan, Director Seo Do-cheol slowly took in the scene outside his window.

HONK! HONK! HOOOOONK!

Vehicles trapped in gridlocked traffic blared their horns in chaotic unison, as if they had all agreed to do so.

"Move your damn car, assholes!"

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"Just go forward already!"

Drivers leaned out their windows, hurling anxious curses at each other without pause.

WHOOSH—WHOOSH—WHOOSH!

Above, fighter jets swarmed the skies like a scene straight out of war.

"The traffic congestion is worse than anticipated," remarked his aide from the passenger seat.

Director Seo responded in a measured tone, "So it seems..."

The aide licked his lower lip before cautiously adding, "Some drivers have started abandoning their cars and fleeing on foot..."

Seo Do-cheol massaged his throbbing temples and issued his next order as calmly as possible.

"A Calamity-grade Gate poses an unprecedented emergency—one that could very well lead to the nation's annihilation."

"Yes, sir..."

"Immediately notify the military and police that, under the Bureau Director's authority, they are permitted to disable any unmanned vehicles obstructing the roads."

In emergencies like this, Seo Do-cheol wielded immense executive power.

Though he couldn't directly command the military or police, they were obligated to comply with his directives—and in extreme cases, he even held conscription rights to requisition private property.

In other words, abandoned cars blocking evacuation routes could be shoved aside without consequence.

"Turn up the radio, would you?"

The aide promptly adjusted the volume, and the tense, resolute voice of a young news anchor grew clearer.

"—Director Seo has also mobilized all of the nation's S-rank Hunters and requested international support from allied nations for gate suppression—"

Seo closed his eyes, listening before muttering bitterly under his breath.

"Of all the countries in the world... why South Korea?"

Since the emergence of Gates on Earth, only one Calamity-grade Gate had ever appeared.

The New Delhi Gate, India...

Six months ago, that Gate had reduced all of Southeast Asia to ruins within days.

Not just India—Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Pakistan, and even Afghanistan had been ravaged by the monstrous hordes that poured forth.

And worse?

Countless top-ranked Hunters from around the world had died attempting to suppress it.

'Even Jung Yoon-chan, Korea's former No. 1 Hunter, went missing during the New Delhi Gate suppression...'

Now, in just a few hours, a Gate of that same catastrophic scale was set to emerge in the heart of Seoul.

Soon, all of Korea's elite Hunters would be deployed to suppress it.

Neighboring nations like China and Japan had also pledged reinforcements, hoping to prevent the disaster from spilling across borders.

'But at best, that'll only buy us time.'

If New Delhi was any indication, humanity still stood no chance against a Calamity-grade Gate.

'A few days at most...'

By then, the Republic of Korea would be wiped from the map without a trace.

'The nation is finished.'

His final duty now was to evacuate as many citizens as possible from the Gate's reach.

"Director."

The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror and spoke carefully.

"My apologies, but the traffic is too congested. You'll have to proceed on foot from here."

The moment they entered the Insa-dong district, the gridlock had worsened exponentially.

If they had been inching forward earlier, now they were completely immobilized.

"Understood."

Seo Do-cheol suddenly turned to the driver and asked, as casually as he could manage,

"You don't happen to have a cigarette, do you?"

"Ah—yes, I do."

"Mind sparing one?"

The driver pulled a cigarette from his inner coat pocket and handed it over, hesitating.

"Sir... didn't you quit?"

Seo gave a wry smile.

"I did."

His late wife had nagged him endlessly to quit smoking while she was alive.

Ironically...

He had only succeeded after she was gone—killed in a Gate incident.

Of course, he had never shared that sentimental backstory with his colleagues.

"Smoking is bad for your health," he added.

"But I suppose we've moved past the luxury of worrying about things like that."

"Sir?" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"If dying slowly from smoking-related illness were still an option, that'd be a blessed life."

He carefully tucked the cigarette into his inner pocket.

"Not in this world."

If death was coming for him, he'd at least like to enjoy one last smoke before it did.

'You'd understand, wouldn't you?'

Had he died before her, she might have lit a cigarette for him instead of incense.

Probably.

ZZZZZZZZZZZT—!

A thin, jagged crack split the sky high above Seoul.

A sign that the Gate's emergence was imminent.

Perched on her broom in midair, a young woman with a doll-like face murmured under her breath.

"Wow... so this is a Calamity-grade Gate..."

She was Seol Eun-bin, the "Ice Witch," ranked 15th among S-rank Hunters.

She cupped her hands and shouted down below.

"What's the assembly status?!"

A bald, hulking man slammed his fists together with a BAM! and answered.

"Looks like they're just starting to trickle in!"

This was Go Du-yeol, the "Iron Man," ranked 6th—the same S-rank Hunter who had once been knocked out by a slap from Kang-jun.

"Tch."

A handsome young man standing beside him, arms crossed, interjected.

"Soldiers who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rely solely on courage meet reckless deaths. Calm yourselves and wait patiently until the Gate fully manifests." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

This was Kang Sung-hyun, the "Black Wolf," guild master of the prestigious Solitude guild and Korea's 5th-ranked S-rank Hunter.

"Everyone's terrified, so stay back. I'll personally slaughter every last monster that comes through—not a single one escapes."

A stern-faced woman who looked like a strict dorm matron growled her declaration.

Yoon Hee-soo, the "Swift Blade," ranked 3rd.

"It's nice to see familiar faces again, though I wish it weren't under such dire circumstances."

Jo Min-jin, the "Guide," ranked 4th, added with a gentle smile.

And so—

Not just them, but countless other Hunters gradually gathered at the predicted emergence site.

Even Hunters from neighboring nations, fearing secondary fallout if Korea failed, began arriving.

Starting with Japan's No. 1 S-rank Hunter, the "Nuclear Samurai," and his Shogun Guild...

Followed by China's undisputed top Hunter, "Taichang Feng," and his Tempest Faction.

Then—

Another deafening roar echoed as the crack in the sky spread like a spider's web.

Not all forces had assembled yet...

But the Gate's emergence had already begun.

"Need a quick favor."

After putting his sister and Seol to sleep with a slumber spell, Kang-jun entrusted their safety to Chief Steward Kazan and left the building.

Step. Step.

Not far away, a familiar energy began radiating unmistakably.

'Divine power...'

Moreover—

Its owner was blatantly directing that energy toward him, as if summoning him.

Likely a god from Asgard.

The divine signature perfectly matched that of the Nornir, the goddesses he had slaughtered before the auction.

Then—

Kang-jun abruptly stopped mid-step and stared into a dark alleyway ahead.

"Hic... hic..."

A child's sobs echoed from within.

"What're you doing here?"

A boy of about six or seven, hiding between piles of trash, hiccuped as he spoke.

"Hic... I-I lost my mom..."

"And?"

"Hic... I got scared, so I hid..."

Kang-jun sighed. "Haa." He reached out and ruffled the boy's hair.

"Nothing's gonna happen to you."

"Hic..."

"You know the way home?"

The boy nodded.

"Then wipe your tears and go straight back."

Just then, a thunderous noise erupted from the sky—fighter jets roaring past.

VROOOOM—!

Armored vehicles rumbled down the streets like a warzone.

Kang-jun shook his head and muttered under his breath.

"What a goddamn miserable world..."

Then, to the boy:

"Hey, stop crying and go home already, alright?"

Grumbling, he knelt on one knee and added,

"Y'know, your uncle here's actually the strongest Hunter in the world." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"R-Really?"

"Yeah. Super Ultra Tank-Ula level Hunter."

The boy tilted his head.

"That's a thing?"

Kang-jun frowned.

"Damn, kid, you've been lied to your whole life, huh?"

"N-No..."

"Why so suspicious?"

He lightly patted the boy's frail shoulders.

"Anyway, I'm on my way to beat up all the monsters right now, so quit crying and wait at home like a good kid."

"But I'm scared..."

"Go watch cartoons. Draw. Play hide-and-seek by yourself. Do something—your mom'll come back."

He added firmly,

"Don't just stand in the middle of the street crying like a coward. Be a kid. Play. Don't overthink it."

The boy's eyes welled up again.

"Hey, I said stop."

"Sniff..."

"I hate hearing kids cry."

Wiping the boy's tears, he murmured,

"Just makes my chest hurt for no reason."

He gave the boy's backside a light pat.

"Think you can make it home on your own, tough guy?"

"Y-Yeah..."

"On three, run and don't look back."

Kang-jun counted slowly, and the boy sprinted off with all his might.

"Goddamn so-called gods..."

There were clearly too many of these "gods" underfoot to count.

Hell, hadn't he himself recently attained divinity by gaining divine status and authority?

Yet here the world was—in shambles.

A world unfit for raising children...

A world unfit for children to grow up in...

"I don't like it."

If "gods" were beings that made children tremble in fear, then they had no place in this world.

Especially not in the world his daughter would live in.

Shoving his hands back into his pockets, Kang-jun resumed walking.

Step. Step.

The sound of his dragging slippers followed behind him.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZT—!

The Gate's emergence accelerated—

GULP.

The Hunters gathered at the scene could only stare, dumbstruck.

They had all been prepared to sacrifice themselves for peace...

But the energy radiating from the Gate had already overwhelmed them.

The dread it exuded was incomparable to any Gate they had faced before.

Then—

"The hell're you all standing around for?"

A sharp voice cut through from behind.

Go Du-yeol furrowed his brow and spun around—

"Move."

—only to be shoved aside roughly by the speaker.

"Ghk—!"

Staggering like a newborn foal, he barely kept his balance.

"W-What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"Hey, stop! Stop right now!"

"Are you planning to enter the Gate alone?!"

"Reinforcements are coming—!"

The other Hunters shouted after the hooded figure now walking toward the Gate.

But the young man ignored them entirely, his steps unwavering.

Then—

WHOOSH!

In one sudden leap, he hurled himself straight into the still-forming Gate.

"Wh—What the fuck?!"

As everyone stood frozen in shock—

Go Du-yeol's eyes widened.

"Th-That voice just now..."

He stammered, certainty dawning.

"Kwak... Kwak Du-pal?! My sworn brother?!"

He would bet his life on it.

That icy voice—

'Even if I die, it's not your fault.'

The same man who had become his sworn brother through a slap-fight (?) and shared sweaty, sticky dreams of blacksmithing together—

Kwak Du-pal (probably).