Absolute One, First-Time Father Episode 79

After the commotion settled, the official kindergarten entrance ceremony finally began.

"The curriculum of Snow White Kindergarten is as follows. Over the next twelve months until graduation in February, we will cover twelve subjects in total..."

Kang-jun's gaze remained fixed on Seol, who sat primly in her yellow uniform, looking every bit the well-behaved little girl.

"She's really grown up..."

Kang Sung-hyun, who had been silently observing Kang-jun, finally decided to sort through the tangled mess of thoughts in his head.

'How the hell did I end up at the entrance ceremony of a child I've never even met the moment I returned to Korea...?'

There were too many things he wanted to ask Kang-jun, but his current position left him no choice but to follow along.

'And to think he's the father of a kid who looks about four or five... That's the last thing I expected.'

Judging by his appearance, Kang-jun couldn't be older than his early to mid-twenties.

'This is just raising more and more questions...'

Blended among the crowd of parents, he looked like nothing more than a slightly young father.

At the very least, he didn't look like someone capable of single-handedly suppressing a Calamity-grade Gate.

'And some of them seemed to already know the kid, too...'

The child had called Go Du-yeol, the "Iron Man," "Big Uncle," and had even referred to the Swift Blade, Yoon Hee-soo, as "Auntie" before running off to play with her.

Even the notoriously elitist private bank manager, who was infamous for looking down on anyone who wasn't a high-value client, had been completely docile around the little girl.

'Just what in the...'

As Kang Sung-hyun stared at Kang-jun's profile, lost in a spiral of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠increasingly convoluted thoughts—

Kang-jun glanced back at him, brow slightly furrowed, and growled,

"Hey, why the hell are you staring at me like that?"

"Well..."

"Whatever. You followed me here for a reason."

Kang-jun kept his eyes forward as he spoke.

"What do you want to know?"

At that, not just Kang Sung-hyun but every hunter present immediately perked up.

"We're curious about the 'direction' your power will take."

The reason they had followed Kang-jun to this kindergarten ceremony instead of immediately reporting to the Hunter Management Bureau and focusing on recovery was simple—

They needed to clarify whether Kang-jun, with his overwhelming strength that defied all standards, was an "enemy" or an "ally."

"I have no interest in playing hero."

"Then...?"

"My power will be used for my own gain."

The hunters' expressions darkened instantly.

"However."

Kang-jun's gaze shifted toward the children gathered in the auditorium, already laughing and playing among themselves.

"Preserving the peace before my eyes is also part of my own gain."

In other words...

"So we can interpret that as you'll continue contributing to the peace of our nation and the world?"

Kang-jun let out an awkward "Hmph," clearing his throat before answering.

"Yeah, think whatever the hell you want."

Then he added,

"But if you want my help..."

"Yes?"

"You'd better keep your mouths shut."

"I have no intention of stepping into the spotlight."

Just then—

"Once again, we sincerely thank our honored guests for attending. With this, Snow White Kindergarten's entrance ceremony and orientation have officially concluded."

The ceremony was over.

"Additionally, the play facilities in the main building will remain open all day today. Those who wish to use them are welcome to do so freely..."

At that, Lee Soo-bin approached Kang-jun, hesitated for a moment, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then cautiously asked,

"Kang-jun, are you busy?"

When he shook his head and said "No," she continued carefully,

"It seems the play facilities are open today. I was thinking maybe we could let Seol play for a bit before heading back..."

Kang-jun answered immediately.

"Sure, she'd love that."

Then, waving toward Seol in the distance, he called out warmly,

"Seol! Let's go play!"

"Yay! So exciting!" Seol cheered, immediately running over and leaping into his arms.

Watching this, the hunters were suddenly reminded of what Kim Bong-gu, the "Filial Son," had said inside the Calamity-grade Gate.

"Yes, everyone will make it back alive."

"I guarantee it—no one will die."

"Tomorrow's Seol's kindergarten entrance ceremony, after all."

Only now did they truly understand the meaning behind those words.

This father and daughter would become the counterweight maintaining peace.

It was the truth.

"GAAAAAH!"

A loud scream echoed from the play area in the kindergarten's main building.

Go Du-yeol was being mercilessly kicked by a swarm of children.

"Yah! Let's defeat the octopus monster!"

"Everyone, charge!"

"If we work together, we can beat him!"

Seol was no exception.

"Hiyah! Hiyah!"

Mixing in with the other kids, she relentlessly swung her tiny fists toward Du-yeol's stomach.

Meanwhile, Kang-jun sat in the cafeteria beside the play area, leisurely sipping coffee as he watched Seol play.

"How relaxing."

His sister, Lee Soo-bin, was already deep in conversation with other parents, completely absorbed in gossip.

Then—

Kang-jun glanced sideways at Yoon Hee-soo, who had been hovering awkwardly a few steps away, and asked,

"Got something to say?"

"No, it's just..."

"Why are you still here?"

Aside from Bong-gu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Du-yeol, who had prior connections with Kang-jun, all the other hunters had left immediately after the ceremony.

Yet for some reason, Yoon Hee-soo had lingered, following them all the way to the play area.

"You're making me nervous. Just sit down."

At Kang-jun's gesture, Bong-gu pulled out a chair for her.

"Thank you..."

She sat down awkwardly, still hesitant.

"You seemed pretty good with kids earlier."

Kang-jun spoke first.

"Come to think of it, last time too..."

Back when the Calamity-grade Gate had appeared in Insa-dong, she had pulled candy from her handbag and given it to Seol.

"You like sweets?"

"No."

"But you were carrying candy."

After a brief pause, she answered in a voice tinged with sadness.

"Kids like them."

"You must like kids, then."

"Yes..." she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Then, in a more serious tone, she finally broached the subject.

"I... had a daughter."

Kang-jun frowned. "Had?"

The past tense bothered him.

"Hye-su would've been about Seol's age now. She loved talking—chattering excitedly whenever she got the chance..."

As Kang-jun pictured Seol tugging at his sleeve, babbling about everything and nothing—

Yoon Hee-soo's voice suddenly seemed to waver, as if damp with tears.

"When she slept, she looked just like an angel..."

Her eyes reddened.

"Her smile was so pretty..."

Her emotions surged.

"She was such a sweet child..."

"She's gone?"

"Yes. Because of a Gate."

Kang-jun studied her face silently.

This was a side of her he'd never seen in the media.

She was the hunter who ranked first in Gate suppression contributions every year.

The image the media painted of her was that of a ruthless, emotionless empress of slaughter—

A woman born solely to butcher monsters.

"So that's the wound you carry."

He recalled how, even when everyone else had panicked inside the Calamity-grade Gate, she had remained composed, rallying her comrades.

Even when she could barely grip her sword, let alone swing it, she had refused to lose her will to fight.

"Your driving force was grief."

She wiped her tears and answered,

"Maybe."

Kang-jun replied bluntly,

"That fucking sucks."

Then he added,

"Really fucking sucks."

For some reason, Yoon Hee-soo found his crude words to be the warmest comfort and understanding she had ever received.

Sometimes, it was like that.

A single, genuine phrase, devoid of embellishment, could shake one's heart more violently than any flowery speech.

This was one of those moments.

She wiped her tears and continued softly,

"I've buried it in my heart now."

Kang-jun took a sip of coffee before replying,

"You're a terrible liar."

Then, she spoke again.

"There's something I want to ask."

He gestured for her to continue.

"If the Calamity-grade Gate in New Delhi really was a gathering place for the dead..."

Her voice was steady.

"Would Hye-su be there somewhere?"

Kang-jun answered immediately.

"No."

The Abyss contained countless underworlds beyond the "Eternal Spring of Rest" he ruled.

There was no way to know which underworld her daughter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠might reside in.

"Will I ever see Hye-su again...?"

Her voice trembled violently.

Her usually immaculate appearance was disheveled.

A few strands of her tightly tied hair had come loose.

"Probably not."

It wasn't necessarily impossible.

He had the means to traverse the underworlds.

'If I ride Naglfar back to the underworld and find a passage connecting to others, maybe there's a way...'

But even if he searched every underworld, he couldn't guarantee he'd find her.

He didn't even know what form her daughter might take in the afterlife.

'If she looks like the grotesque dead of Niflheim's underworld, maybe it's better not to meet again...'

It would require an excessive amount of time and effort, with no guarantee of a positive outcome.

"Just assume it's impossible."

He answered firmly.

"It's not something you can achieve on your own."

Though it was a heartbreaking story, he saw no reason to interfere.

He couldn't fulfill everyone's wishes—this conclusion was based on fairness.

"Please... just once, help me..."

As Yoon Hee-soo covered her face with both hands, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs—

"Whew... tired..."

Seol returned.

"Auntie, why crying...?"

When Seol began patting Yoon Hee-soo's back, her sobs grew even louder.

"Daddy no help, so cry?"

Seol looked up at Kang-jun.

"Daddy..."

Kang-jun muttered, "This is troublesome..."

"Help Auntie, no?"

Kang-jun rubbed his forehead and sighed.

"Yeah, I'll help..."

Then he added,

"I'll help in every way I can."

In the end, the decision was Seol's to make.