Chapter 61: Even the Absolute Being Is a First-Time Dad
Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 61
"Earlier, by any chance..."
Yoon Hee-soo, who had been about to ask Kang-jun something, found herself swallowing back the words before they could leave her mouth.
'Right, there's no way...'
Even if the man before her perfectly matched the appearance of that young hunter who had single-handedly entered a Calamity-grade Gate...
'It doesn't make sense.'
If this man had truly entered a Calamity-grade Gate alone, how could he have returned completely unscathed?
"Earlier what?"
When Kang-jun asked again, Lee Soo-bin suddenly interjected.
"Kang-jun, do you know this person?"
Seeing Kang-jun shake his head, Yoon Hee-soo bowed slightly and spoke in a quiet tone.
"I'm sorry for bothering you."
"Huh?"
"I thought you were someone I knew..."
Kang-jun responded casually.
"Well, it happens."
Just as Kang-jun was about to continue on his way—
"Your daughter is really pretty."
Yoon Hee-soo crouched down in front of Seol with a warm smile.
"Sweetheart, what's your name?"
"I'm Seol-i!"
"How old are you?"
Seol slowly folded her tiny fingers one by one before answering brightly.
"I'm three!"
Yoon Hee-soo stroked Seol's hair as she replied, "I see."
"My, aren't you smart?"
Then, with a strangely sorrowful expression, she waved lightly and added:
"Take care, okay?"
Her voice grew distant as she murmured:
"Grow up healthy and strong."
Seol gave a little bow before following Kang-jun and Lee Soo-bin.
Yoon Hee-soo silently watched Seol's retreating figure, her expression darkening.
"Hye-su..."
The sight of Seol toddling away overlapped in her mind with the image of her own daughter, who had been lost during a Gate incident.
[Director Seo Do-cheol of the Awakened and Gate Management Bureau announced today that the Calamity-grade Gate detected near Insa-dong has self-destructed...]
[Academia has launched extensive research into this unprecedented phenomenon of spontaneous Gate collapse...]
Director Seo, staring at the TV with a troubled expression, turned it off completely with a click of the remote.
Beep—!
Rubbing his throbbing temples, he muttered under his breath:
"What in the world is going on...?"
The Calamity-grade Gate that had appeared over Insa-dong had vanished.
Witnesses claimed an unidentified hunter had entered it alone...
But could even the most exceptional hunter suppress a Calamity-grade Gate single-handedly?
Absolutely impossible.
As Director Seo brooded alone, the man sitting across from him spoke calmly.
"Perhaps you should take some comfort in this outcome."
He lifted the teabag from his cup repeatedly as he continued in measured tones:
"We've overcome an immediate crisis—isn't that enough for now?"
The speaker was none other than Kang Sung-hyun, guild master of 'Solitude', one of Korea's top guilds...
Ranked 5th among S-class hunters and known as the 'Black Wolf'.
"But between the recent dismantling of the Anti-Bureau Alliance and now this...unfathomable events keep occurring one after another..."
Not only had today's Calamity-grade Gate suddenly self-destructed...
But just recently, someone had single-handedly destroyed the troublesome Anti-Bureau Alliance in a single night, hadn't they?
Tap, tap, tap...
Director Seo drummed his long fingers on the armrest before cautiously adding:
"Who on earth..."
Kang Sung-hyun carefully offered his opinion:
"Admittedly everything is baffling, but obsessing over it won't bring answers."
He then handed over prepared documents.
"I've compiled a list of hunters suitable for the Southeast Asia Reclamation Team."
Director Seo slowly scanned the names from top to bottom.
Reclamation Team.
The Global Awakened Association had formally requested Korea's cooperation in reclaiming the Southeast Asian continent.
Half a year ago, humanity had lost an entire continent to monsters pouring from a Calamity-grade Gate in New Delhi, India.
Southeast Asia.
The letter requested assembling and dispatching a 'Reclamation Team' to retake this land of death where humans could no longer set foot.
Due to political considerations, Korea had agreed, with Solitude Guild authorized to organize the team.
Flip, flip...
As Director Seo reviewed the documents, he suddenly sighed deeply.
"If the Insa-dong Gate hadn't self-destructed, Korea might have faced similar devastation..."
Kang Sung-hyun nodded.
"Yes, likely..."
He added vaguely:
"Officially, the Reclamation Team's mission is to subjugate monsters and suppress Gates in Southeast Asia..."
After sipping his tea, he continued:
"But Korea's team will ultimately prioritize rescuing 'that person' who went missing during the New Delhi Gate suppression six months ago."
Director Seo narrowed his eyes thoughtfully before asking cautiously:
"After all this time...you still believe he's alive?"
The man who had consistently held Korea's S-rank #1 position since Gates first appeared.
Time Reaper Jung Yoon-chan.
A national hero and asset who had disappeared during the New Delhi operation.
Officially listed as missing since no body was recovered, but given the Gate's grade...
"Surely the 'golden time' for rescue has long passed..."
To Director Seo's skepticism, Kang Sung-hyun responded firmly:
"Considering his unique ability, I'm certain he's waiting to be rescued."
Director Seo licked his parched lower lip.
Every top-ranked hunter connected to Jung Yoon-chan insisted he was alive.
"I'll review the Reclamation Team composition further before responding."
Director Seo organized the documents and added gravely:
"Let me add—my hope is that the team's ultimate goal becomes 'survival', not suppression or rescue."
His gaze drifted to a framed photo on the side table—his late wife, lost unexpectedly.
"Yes, understood..."
Kang Sung-hyun replied heavily, thinking:
This world is stained with wounds wherever you look.
"Ah."
As if remembering something, Kang Sung-hyun continued:
"There's one more hunter I'd like included, though not listed."
Director Seo silently stared until Kang Sung-hyun carefully added:
"B-rank hunter, Filial Son Kim Bong-gu."
Director Seo's brow furrowed slightly.
"Filial Son Kim Bong-gu recently passed his rank exam for B-class, correct...?"
Most Reclamation Team members were S-class or top A-class hunters.
While Kim Bong-gu was a rising star with impressive recent performances...
"Considering experience and capability, he seems underqualified for the Southeast Asia mission..."
Kang Sung-hyun responded immediately:
"I obtained and analyzed footage of his promotion exam multiple times."
After a pause, he added:
"He possesses astonishing talent—with proper guidance, reaching S-class isn't impossible."
Meaning: if Kim Bong-gu agrees, they'll force experience upon him to cultivate that potential.
"Kim Bong-gu..."
Director Seo murmured the familiar name before nodding.
"Very well, for now."
Squeak, squeak, squeak...
Adorable sounds accompanied Seol's every toddling step.
The shoes Bong-gu had brought as a gift—unable to visit empty-handed—squeaked with each pressure on the soles.
"So cute."
Seol loved them so much she refused to take them off.
"Yeah, adorable..."
Seol had recently discovered the joy of walking.
She wanted to explore everywhere.
After watching her awhile, Kang-jun asked casually:
"Been doing alright?"
Bong-gu nodded politely.
"I've mostly been home lately. My mother's still recovering after being bedridden so long..."
When Bong-gu trailed off, Kang-jun asked curiously:
"So why come out today?"
"Asked my brother to watch her."
Then he added:
"There were things I needed to discuss with you."
"Like what?"
"About the Gate that appeared in Insa-dong days ago then vanished..."
Bong-gu glanced around before whispering:
"You suppressed it, right?"
Kang-jun answered without hesitation.
"Yep."
As if it were nothing, he kept smiling at Seol.
"I knew it..."
Bong-gu nodded several times before Kang-jun turned back curiously.
"What did you want to tell me?"
"Oh!" Bong-gu pulled out his phone to show a message.
"A few days ago, the Bureau suddenly sent me a 'request for cooperation'."
"Request?"
"They're dispatching a Reclamation Team to Southeast Asia to subjugate monsters and suppress abandoned Calamity-grade Gates..."
Kang-jun asked:
"They want your help?"
"Yes."
"You?"
"Yes."
Kang-jun tsked before adding teasingly:
"Must be desperate for manpower..."
Just then, Seol—having excitedly explored the house—came squeaking back to hug Kang-jun.
Bong-gu gently stroked Seol's soft cheek before voicing his dilemma.
"I haven't decided yet—haven't even replied. Wanted your advice..."
Kang-jun answered firmly:
"Don't go."
Then added:
"Why invite danger?"
"But..."
"Does justice put food on the table?"
Kang-jun looked at Bong-gu.
"Someone else will handle it."
"Yes..."
"Think of your mother who just recovered."
Suddenly Seol looked up at Bong-gu and asked:
"Uncle, go where?"
Flustered, Bong-gu nodded and explained simply:
"There's a country full of bad monsters. Uncle's friends asked me to help fight them, but I'm not sure."
Seol's eyes sparkled.
"Wowww..."
Then she turned to Kang-jun and hinted:
"Daddy go too?"
"Me? No—"
"Daddy fight too!"
"But—"
"Daddy strong!"
Seol trembled dramatically.
"Cause Seol-i scared of monsters mostest..."
"Scared?"
"Yeah! And worry 'bout monster country friends..."
Without hesitation, Kang-jun replied:
"Okay then, Daddy will go defeat them all."
He turned to Bong-gu.
"When do you leave?"
"Huh?"
"Take me with you."
Bong-gu's eyes widened at the unexpected request.
"Got it?"
Dazedly, Bong-gu nodded.
'Is he serious?'
Probably.
Looking back...
This was always how it went.
Bong-gu's gaze shifted to Seol's radiant smile.
'Perhaps...'
One day, this child's words might bring world peace—or conversely, its destruction.