Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 158

The evaluation by the Bureau Chief and ten S-rank Hunters, along with the absurdly high eligibility criteria for applications, served a singular purpose: to raid the mysterious world known as the Core.

However, calling it a “raid” was more of a facade; in reality, it was simply an exploration. The actual raid was carried out solo by one man, Do-Jun. The general public remained unaware of the truth, believing that the raid on the Core was conducted by the Korean Rankers of the Hunter’s Bureau, led by Behemoth Guild.

However, even when the Core was fully raided, its dangers far exceeded any Fissure on Earth, so they couldn’t just assemble a random team of people for the conquest. That was why Young-Chul planned to deploy proven S-rank Hunters, as there was only so much the three First Hunters could do on their own.

“Thank you for answering my questions.” Young-Hwi lowered the microphone.

Like others who were unaware of the truth behind the Special Contract, he remained in shock for quite a while.

***

Murmurs spread through the crowd following this massive revelation. People chattered as they left the building.

“They’re selecting members for the Core raid... This is huge news.”

“It’s crazy that you have to be an S-rank Hunter just to qualify for the evaluation.”

“But if you get chosen, you’ll become a megastar instantly, right?”

“Man, even being an S-rank makes you a massive star. Can any of us even become S-rank in the first place?”

For the students who weren’t even official Hunters yet, the Core was a realm so unattainable that the term “special contract” vanished from their minds entirely.

On the first floor, Young-Chul approached Do-Jun carefully. “Supervisor Lee.”

Do-Jun smiled at him and said, “You gave an excellent response.”

“Thank you. I was worried I might have overstepped.”

Young-Chul had so many questions.

How far into the Core had Do-Jun made it? Were there any difficulties? Was there anything he could assist with? He also remembered seeing Do-Jun jotting down notes during the competition. Was there a student that Do-Jun had set his sights on?

Faced with the barrage of questions, Do-Jun gave a brief answer. “I’m currently on the fourth floor. Nothing particularly challenging so far...”

He then wondered if he should even call it a raid, as his trips to the Core weren’t much different from occasional strolls. However, for Young-Chul and the S-rank Hunters, the sight of Do-Jun single-handedly breaking through the Core was nothing short of a hero saving humanity.

“And I wasn’t really picking out any students today,” Do-Jun said.

“Oh? Then what were you writing in your notebook during the competition?”

Young-Chul’s expression grew serious.

“Oh, that...” Do-Jun chuckled and opened his notebook, revealing its contents.

Young-Chul froze in shock after seeing the notes, then looked up at Do-Jun. “Dinner menu ideas...?”

“Yes. Yoon-Hee is on a short trip with her friends, so I’m cooking tonight.”

For some reason, Young-Chul felt relieved. He secretly hoped Do-Jun would focus solely on the S-rank Hunters. Of course, he knew he was being a bit greedy, but he couldn’t help but prioritize his own Hunters. The Rankers needed to become even stronger, especially if they were to face the beings deep within the Core’s most mysterious region: the Deep Realm.

Could we even handle them? he wondered silently.

What kind of place was the Deep Realm? How powerful and terrifying were its monsters?

Young-Chul’s concerns only deepened.

***

Kiriel was in a great mood. A week ago, he had retrieved Gungnir from Do-Jun! An artifact of the Deep Realm, a hidden piece weapon said to be imbued with divine power, had earned him the title of “Divine Archer.”

“Gungnee?” Byeol asked curiously.

“Yes, you could call it my extension. Anyway, give my thanks to the King of Earth. I’ll be heading to the Deep Realm now. It’s been a pleasure.”

Looking at Byeol staring up at him, Kiriel couldn’t resist patting her head because she was just that cute. Although he usually disliked children, Byeol was different. He found himself wondering if this child might actually be a godsend.

“Are you leaving, Mistah?” Byeol asked.

“Yes.”

“Then when will you come back?”

“I’ll return when Wei Zhongqi lends me another page from his Book of Transfer.” Kiriel prepared to tear the last remaining page of the Book of Transfer, but he hesitated.

When would he be able to return to Earth? When would he get to see this child again?

Filled with regret, Kiriel decided to leave Byeol a parting gift. “Is there anything you want? Tell me.”

“I can’t think of anything wight now...” Byeol said.

However, as if on cue, her stomach rumbled, and she placed her hands on her belly. It had been two hours since lunch, and she was hungry.

“Mistah, have you tied taiyaki?”

***

Kiriel decided to get the taiyaki by himself and said, “Alright. Wait here. I’ll bring you this taiyaki thing.”

After receiving a thousand won from Byeol, he left Do-Jun’s apartment and walked for about a minute to find the nearby street vendor. According to Byeol, he could buy this thing called taiyaki there.

Kiriel pulled back the stall’s tarp and stepped inside to find a young man with long, silver hair tied back, pouring batter into fish-shaped molds.

He handed over the thousand-won bill and said, “Hey, give me that taiyaki thing right now.”

Hakase slowly raised his head and looked at the customer. The man carried a massive bow on his back, as tall as Hakase himself. He was clearly not human. The two looked at each other silently and immediately recognized each other’s presence.

How could they not? Hakase hadn’t forgotten the events that occurred thousands of years ago. He remembered this idiot-looking man in front of him, the one he had once battled until they were both drenched in blood. They had never resolved their fight due to the intervention of Izaas, who had ended the war.

“H-Hakase?” Kiriel broke the silence.

Hakase narrowed his eyes, glaring at Kiriel, and threatened, “Did you come here to die?”

Kiriel scoffed, pulled out his bow, and drew the bowstring, gathering his mana. He resolved to obliterate Hakase right then and there.

“W-wait, you dumbass!” Hakase shouted in a panic.

At his desperate cry, Kiriel paused and lowered his bow. “What is it?”

“If we fight here, the entire area will be destroyed. Let’s settle this in another dimension.”

“What do I care abou—” Kiriel froze mid-sentence.

Seeing his hesitation, Hakase swallowed nervously and said, “This is his territory.”

“T-thanks for the heads-up.”

“No problem.”

***

They entered a barren wasteland, a desolate expanse devoid of even a single blade of grass. This dimension, one among countless others, was uninhabitable for any living being.

“Let’s settle this here,” Hakase declared.

“Exactly what I wanted, you cocky lizard.”

“Dumbasses always talk so much.”

The two glared at each other, growling.

Kiriel pulled on Gungnir’s string. Although no arrow was nocked, magical energy swirled violently around the bowstring as it was drawn.

“Die.”

With a thunderous roar, an arrow made of light hurtled toward Hakase at an incredible speed. However, it never reached Hakase and instead exploded several kilometers away, shaking the ground violently.

Before the arrow could strike, the surrounding space warped, and the attack was teleported elsewhere. Space Warp was a power possessed by only the most elite dragons.

After using Space Warp, Hakase propelled himself forward, launching off the ground. Where his feet had been, a fiery trail burned, accelerating his charge.

“Dragon Spear.” A dazzling streak of light formed in Hakase’s hand and shot forward.

Kiriel sneered as if amused, swinging his bow diagonally to deflect the spear. The Dragon Spear veered off course, flying several kilometers away before embedding itself into the ground, creating a massive crater.

“Say goodbye to your feeble life, lizard!”

In an instant, Gungnir flashed brilliantly, and hundreds, no, thousands of arrows rained down from the sky like a storm.

Seeing this, Hakase gathered his magic and muttered, “Meteor.”

The sky split with a shrieking sound as fiery meteors began to fall. They collided with Kiriel’s arrows in a tremendous clash.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As time passed, cracks began to form in the very fabric of the dimension, unable to withstand the clash of their powers. However, the two locked in battle didn’t care. They charged at each other, fists raised for a decisive strike.

***

As soon as he left the office at 6 PM, Do-Jun stopped by a nearby grocery store to buy ingredients for that night’s dinner. The salespeople were shouting to advertise the produce on sale.

“Get them now! Fresh radishes for just five hundred won a bunch!”

“For the next thirty minutes only, mackerel on a flash sale!”

Do-Jun flipped through the various side dish options written in his notebook—recipes Yoon-Hee had prepared for him before.

“Radish and mackerel, huh...”

A dish immediately came to mind: braised mackerel with radish. It was simple to make but delicious, and Do-Jun decided there was no better choice for dinner. He picked up a bunch of radishes and two pre-cleaned mackerels. As for soup, he remembered there were leftover bean sprouts in the fridge, so he could make bean sprout soup.

His smartphone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from Yoon-Hee, accompanied by a photo of her and her friends enjoying a barbecue on the resort's terrace.

Seol Yoon-Hee: We’re going to a haunted house later.

Do-Jun found himself smiling. It seemed like Yoon-Hee was enjoying her time with her friends.

***

After finishing his shopping, Do-Jun walked home with a bag in one hand. For some reason, the street food stall by his house was temporarily closed. Suddenly, he sensed a massive energy fluctuation, and about five meters ahead, the air began to “shatter.”

Crack! Boom!

A Fissure erupted with a deafening noise, and two intertwined energies exploded outward in a thunderous crash! The force shattered the fence that divided the road from the sidewalk, and parts of the ground caved in, sending up a thick cloud of dust.

Through the haze, Do-Jun spotted two figures. As the dust settled, he observed two men tangled together, glaring at each other with murderous intent.

“You cocky liz—” ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

“You dumbas—”

Both men froze. Their fight abruptly stopped as they noticed the cold, piercing gaze of a man looking down at them.

Hakase and Kiriel’s faces turned pale instantly.

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