Absolute One Is Also New to Fatherhood Episode 86

"So you're telling me you gathered us all here and caused this uproar just to modify a single clause about 'filial impiety'?"

King Yama exhaled sharply through his nose, his brow deeply furrowed in displeasure as he posed the question. Throughout this, he stubbornly avoided meeting Kang-jun's gaze, instead fidgeting with his thick fingers while staring at the floor.

"Correct."

Kang-jun's response was brief as he cut to the chase.

"Dying before one's parents is clearly an act of filial impiety, but I believe exceptions should be made under certain circumstances."

"Exceptions?"

"I recently encountered a child who fell into the 'River of Three Crossings' before their destined time due to an unfortunate accident."

Kang-jun paused to collect himself before continuing smoothly.

"Just a helpless child who met an unjust end—completely against their will."

His gaze swept across the assembled deities governing various underworld realms.

"And yet, simply because this child left the world before their parents, they're condemned for filial impiety and must cross the Abyssal Depths beneath the River of Three Crossings?"

"That's..."

"When I asked the ferryman, he said after crossing the Abyssal Depths, the child would face judgment and punishment. Is that correct?"

A heavy silence fell over the council chamber.

"Answer me this."

Kang-jun turned to King Yama, whose face had been twisted in displeasure throughout.

"Do you consider this justice?"

He pressed further.

"That little one lost their life unfairly before experiencing all they should have—isn't that injustice enough...?"

His eyes scanned the assembly.

"Why must they endure such cruel punishment?"

King Yama's thick lips moved wordlessly before he finally managed, "Well..."

"We encounter countless souls daily—far more than you can imagine—and must judge their karma with limited resources."

"And?"

"While it may seem unfair from the child's perspective, we can't possibly consider every soul's individual circumstances..."

Kang-jun cut him off.

"So you're saying you'll turn a blind eye to the problem because you're too busy with your current workload? Is that it?"

Another weighty silence filled the chamber before Kang-jun ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠continued in measured tones.

"Moreover, the grieving parents suffering from their child's so-called 'impiety' would never wish for their child to be punished."

His gaze swept across the assembled deities before his voice turned icy.

"By what right do we presume to punish such children?"

"It's simply how the underworld's laws were established long ago—we have no choice but to..."

"Exactly. That's why I've gathered you all—to fix those damnable underworld laws."

Kang-jun thought of his daughter Seol as he spoke clearly and deliberately.

"For parents left behind, their remaining days in the living world are no different from hell itself."

"......"

"No delicacy will taste like anything but dirt in their mouths. They'll struggle through each day only to collapse when memories of their child surface."

His tone couldn't have been more solemn.

"Frankly, I'm not even convinced these wrongfully deceased children have committed any sin at all..."

Trailing off, he added:

"But if we must call it a sin, then from now on, the parents will bear that penalty instead."

Then he presented his solution.

"Therefore, instead of sending such children to the Abyssal Depths beneath the River of Three Crossings, we'll provide them the safest passage possible."

At this, King Yama nodded several times before murmuring:

"So you propose establishing a high, sturdy bridge at the river's midpoint—a safe crossing point for the River of Three Crossings..."

Perhaps he hadn't expected Kang-jun to propose something so reasonable?

After a thoughtful "Hmm..." King Yama showed genuine interest and asked:

"And what of these souls' final destination?"

Kang-jun answered plainly.

"I'll take them."

All eyes turned to him.

"To the underworld I govern—Niflheim's 'Eternal Spring of Rest.' They'll live there peacefully with simple tasks to occupy them."

Though unfamiliar with other underworlds beyond Eternal Spring, Kang-jun assumed most were gloomy places for the dead. In contrast, Eternal Spring—bursting with flowers everywhere—seemed most suitable for children.

As the deities exchanged glances, King Yama was first to nod and speak.

"I approve."

Next, Osiris—who had stood facing away throughout the meeting—also nodded.

"Approved..."

The humiliating position had left him eager to agree to anything. With such a reasonable proposal before him, he nodded emphatically.

"Approved."

When Hades added his agreement, Kang-jun looked to Izanami—still fidgeting nervously...

Nod.

As she nodded, Kang-jun said "Good," then declared in a voice imbued with divine authority:

"Then this council is adjourned."

Ding!

A chime sounded as system messages appeared before all deities:

[ The deity governing Niflheim's Eternal Spring of Rest, '■■■,' who convened the Underworld Grand Council, has declared the meeting adjourned. ]

Osiris—forced to face away from Kang-jun throughout—finally exhaled and spoke softly:

"■■■..."

After a pause heavy with silence:

"It seems today's events won't be easily forgotten."

The words carried clear warning.

"You'd do well to forget them."

Osiris was first to storm out of the council chamber...

[ Lord of Abydos Osiris vows revenge for today's humiliation. ]

[ All deities of the great star cluster 'Kemet' will regard you with hostility. ]

As these unpleasant messages appeared before Kang-jun...

Izanami rose cautiously and bowed toward him before hurriedly exiting without a backward glance.

[ Izanami of the Seven Underworlds vows revenge for today's humiliation. ]

[ Deities of the great star cluster 'Takamagahara' now hold bitter enmity toward you. ]

Next, King Yama stood.

"I took you for a reckless fool who couldn't tell front from back, but it seems you're not entirely witless after all."

Despite his earlier objections, King Yama showed no hostility—only grumbled:

"I thought you unfit to govern even a single underworld, but you've shown surprising initiative and competence."

"Flattery will get you nowhere."

"Regardless, correcting that flawed law—something we'd have had to address eventually—has lifted a weight from my mind."

Pausing, he added after deliberate silence:

"But mark my words—it would serve you well to mend that impertinent tongue of yours."

With final thuds, King Yama too departed hastily...

Leaving only Kang-jun at the head table and Hades—who showed no intention of leaving.

"■■■..."

Hades called softly, a gentle smile playing on his lips as his voice rippled with chilling energy:

"I do hope you haven't forgotten the favor I granted you today."

"Favor?"

"Not only did I yield my position among the Five Great Kings..."

Trailing off, Hades stroked Cerberus' fur beside him before continuing:

"But I also warned you—countless deities now covet your ■■■. You'd do well to avoid unnecessary displays of power."

He carried on as if desperate to publicize his trivial "favors."

What a piece of work.

It felt like he was deliberately emphasizing his favor to make sure it was properly acknowledged—perhaps describing it as "shrewdly reiterating" would be more fitting...

"I never asked for any favors."

At those words, Hades nodded a few times before fixing his gaze on Kang-jun and speaking.

"From what I hear, you've already made enemies with some of the deities from the great star cluster Asgard. And today, that list just grew longer."

Kang-jun responded immediately, his tone utterly indifferent, as if it were no big deal.

"Don't care."

Hades replied, "As valiant as they say," before continuing in a measured voice.

"If you promise not to forget the favor I've done for you today, I'd like to offer a few more small kindnesses..."

When Kang-jun frowned in displeasure, Hades muttered, "No, no..." and quickly amended his words.

"Given your fiery temperament, I doubt you'd make such a promise so readily..."

Kang-jun smirked. "You read me well." He stood up, cradling Marbas, who had been curled up on his lap.

"I'll take my leave now."

Just as Kang-jun was about to exit the conference hall and return to the docks—his original location—Hades suddenly spoke again.

"I swear it upon the River Styx."

"What kind of frozen hell oath is this?"

"I'll grant you a favor with no strings attached."

Kang-jun narrowed his eyes.

"Why?"

Hades shrugged and rose from his seat.

"Because I have a feeling that someday, I might need your help in return."

Kang-jun scoffed.

"Too bad. I have less than a speck of dust's worth of interest in helping you, now or ever."

Hades nodded calmly, unfazed.

"When the time comes that I need your aid, whether or not you choose to give it will be entirely up to you."

He added,

"There's no compulsion."

"What kind of favor are we talking about?"

"Useful information."

From Kang-jun's perspective, it was a deal with no downside. No reason to refuse.

"Speak."

Hades continued,

"While passing the dull days in my underworld, I happened to witness something... interesting."

"Interesting how?"

"A few deities from Asgard—those who stand in complete opposition to you—were plotting something rather ominous."

He paused, letting the silence linger, before continuing in his chilling voice.

"Do you know of a dimension called '■■' somewhere in the outer reaches of the Abyss?"

"What dimension?"

"Ah, so you know nothing of it. A calamity slumbers there."

Kang-jun's brow furrowed.

"What are you talking about?"

Hades spoke again, his words vague as if grasping at clouds.

"Some gods from Asgard are moving to awaken that calamity and bring it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠forth."

"And?"

"They likely intend to incite it to destroy you—and then seize the epithet '■■■' from you in the aftermath."

Kang-jun answered flatly.

"Waste of effort."

"Are you so sure?"

"I cannot die."

Hades' expression darkened.

"That calamity's known epithet is 'The Calamity Wrought by Time,' but I know its true name."

"True name?"

"Even you would struggle against it—but knowing its true name might change things."

A brief silence fell.

"Its true name is—"

Suddenly, a blinding white light engulfed them.

[The Creator God intervenes, blocking the divine secret Hades sought to reveal!]

[The Underworld Conference has officially concluded!]

[You will shortly be returned to your original location!]

[3...]

[2...]

[1...]

Amidst this, Hades' final words echoed in Kang-jun's ears like a haunting whisper.

"Its true name is..."

A voice, faint yet heavy with meaning.

"The Scrapped ■■■."

And just like that, Kang-jun and Marbas were forcibly returned to the docks of the Sanzu River, whether they liked it or not.

"Tch. Now I'm just left with a bad taste..."

Meanwhile, his flagship, Naglfar, had already docked and anchored at the pier.

It seemed time to properly conclude this Underworld Expedition, which had begun with a single request from Seol.

When Kang-jun and Marbas reappeared in the ship's cabin, Yoon Hee-soo immediately hid her daughter behind her back and asked nervously,

"Y-You're not leaving already, are you?"

She looked like a wild animal shielding its young—pitiful, even.

But not even Kang-jun could defy the natural order of life and death.

"It's time to let her go."

At those words, Yoon Hee-soo suddenly dropped to her knees, clasping her hands desperately.

"Just a little longer... please, just a little longer..."

Kang-jun shook his head firmly, feigning indifference. But Yoon Hee-soo only sobbed harder.

"Please... please..."

"I promise her happiness."

Having convened the council and amended the Laws of the Underworld, there would be no trial, no harsh punishment.

She would be sent straight to The Eternal Spring of Rest in Niflheim, where she would be given light tasks—tending flower gardens and playing freely in a land where blossoms bloomed endlessly.

"And when your time comes, I'll summon you there so you can reunite with your daughter."

Yoon Hee-soo clutched her child tightly, murmuring like a madwoman, "Hye-su... Hye-su..."

"Then... now..."

If dying was the only way to be with her daughter, she would have gladly done so right then.

Her hands suddenly shot up, gripping her own throat with all her strength—

Kang-jun seized her wrists, forcing them away, and spoke gently, as if soothing a child.

"Regrettably, if you take your own life, you may never see her again."

Though he wasn't fully versed in the Underworld's laws, even children who died unjustly weren't spared harsh treatment.

Given that, suicide would hardly earn leniency.

"Mom."

Hye-su suddenly wrapped her arms around Yoon Hee-soo, patting her back softly.

"Mom, later..."

She added,

"We'll meet again later."

"Hye-su..."

"I'll wait for you."

The child was composed.

"Mom, be strong, okay?"

"Our Hye-su..."

"Hye-su is strong too."

She smiled.

"You said you'd defeat all the bad monsters, right?"

Yoon Hee-soo let out a soft "Ah..." and nodded blankly, answering in a daze.

"Yeah... Mom will defeat them all..."

Hye-su hugged her again.

"You have to defeat them all before coming back." ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Yeah, I'll defeat them all..."

"You can do it without me, right?"

Yoon Hee-soo bit her lip and nodded. Hye-su hesitated before asking again,

"You can live without me, right?"

The child who had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hesitated at the river's edge, unable to cross because of her mother's words—"You can't live without me."

Now, with all the courage in her tiny heart, she finally voiced the question she had buried for so long.

"I don't know..."

Hye-su smiled brightly, like fresh spring grass.

"But live, Mom."

She whispered into her mother's ear,

"Even without me... live."

Yoon Hee-soo nodded weakly.

In front of her child, who was trying so hard to be brave...

She had no choice but to be brave too.

As the child stepped onto the docks, gripping the ferryman's hand tightly—

Screeeech—

A sudden tear split the air, and from beyond it, a large carriage emerged.

"Let's go."

Loaded with the toys Seol had packed for her, the carriage sped toward The Eternal Spring of Rest beyond the rift.

"Bye, Mom!"

Hye-su leaned out the small window, waving her tiny hand with forced cheer.

It was a farewell they had known was coming.

Yet despite that, Yoon Hee-sou wept uncontrollably.

Watching the scene, Kang-jun felt an unfamiliar tightness in his chest.

Sorrow.

The fact that he could now empathize with another's grief felt strange.

"Let's go back."

With that, Naglfar turned away from the docks and set sail for the world of the living.