Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 257

After returning from the tenth floor of the Core, Do-Jun ate dinner, took a shower, and then went to the bedroom to start updating the Core strategy guide based on the information he had gathered from the tenth floor. It involved documenting the terrain, features, monster appearances, and types of trials. The key was to condense the critical points into an easily understandable format.

Do-Jun then checked Ivela’s Pouch. It was filled with Hidden Pieces he had collected while exploring each floor, as well as artifacts he had received from Imfelheim in exchange for kimbap. At this point, Ivela’s Pouch was practically a treasure trove.

Maybe I should get rid of some of this when I have time, Do-Jun thought while glancing out the window at the gloomy sky.

A heavy thunderstorm warning had been issued for that evening. Rain poured outside as if a hole had been punched in the sky. Suddenly, a bright flash of lightning burst from the dark, cloud-covered sky, followed by the loud crash of thunder.

From the bedroom, Do-Jun looked at the living room where the children were huddled together, chatting. Listening closely, it seemed they were planning to watch a horror movie followed by a game afterward.

Do-Jun remained seated at his desk, lit only by a small lamp, as he worked on his laptop and sipped coffee from a cup beside it.

***

With all the lights off, Do-Jun joined the children in the living room to watch the horror movie.

⌜Ted, no! If you open that door, you’ll die! ⌟

The movie’s title, A Stormy Night, perfectly matched the weather outside. It was about a child left home alone while their parents were on a business trip, surviving encounters with various ghosts hiding in the house.

Thunder and lightning from the actual storm outside echoed through the house.

“Scawy!” Byeol, who was easily frightened, climbed onto Do-Jun’s lap, closing her eyes tightly.

She clearly wanted the movie to end as soon as possible, asking, “Is movie over yet?” every other minute. The movie was rated suitable for ages seven and up, and the grotesque ghosts and sudden jump scares were clearly too much for her.

“What if the ghost takes me away?” Byeol asked fearfully, on the verge of tears.

“Byeol, don’t worry. Ghosts like that don’t exist in the real worl—” Just as Karsiel was about to reassure Byeol, thunder struck again in perfect sync with a flash of lightning in the movie.

Karsiel also flinched and clung to Do-Jun. It seemed she was scared of the movie as well. Meanwhile, Yoon-Hee, who was most vulnerable to the horror genre, covered her eyes with her hands, cautiously peeking through her fingers.

“What’s so scary about this?” Yong-Yong asked, clearly unaffected by the movie. He remained calm and indifferent. Surprisingly, he had always been unfazed by horror movies.

The movie ended after an hour and a half, and Do-Jun turned on the living room lights. The children’s faces were pale, their fear heightened by the ongoing thunderstorm outside.

“It’s time to play the game,” Yong-Yong announced.

The rules were simple: each person would draw a line on a ladder game board. The unlucky person chosen by the ladder would have to sleep alone in the living room as punishment. Naturally, Byeol was exempt from the game, and the remaining four—Do-Jun, Yong-Yong, Karsiel, and Yoon-Hee—participated.

Do-Jun didn’t remember ever agreeing to join the game, but somehow, he found himself dragged into it.

“Everyone, draw one line. Let’s keep it fair.”

Yong-Yong, Karsiel, and Yoon-Hee each added a line to the ladder game sketched on a notebook. Whoever landed on “X” would be stuck sleeping alone in the living room.

Do-Jun looked at their faces, noticing their concern about the possibility of losing. With a sigh, he discreetly adjusted the ladder game by scratching in some lines before the game started. Thanks to his intervention, none of the children landed on “X.” Yong-Yong didn’t seem to care, but both Karsiel and Yoon-Hee let out heavy sighs of relief. Then, they realized something.

“So... the loser is...”

Do-Jun shrugged, went to the bedroom, grabbed a blanket and a pillow, then returned to the living room.

He laid the blanket on the floor and placed the pillow on top, saying, “It’s late. Go get some sleep, everyone.”

It was already 11 PM.

***

It had been a while since Do-Jun slept alone. Slightly closing his eyes, he began regulating his internal energy with a breath control technique that refined his internal energy, making it purer. Normally, one had to sit in a meditative position and focus deeply for this, but Do-Jun had long surpassed such limitations. He could enter a state of deep focus whenever he wished.

Then, someone slipped into his blanket with a soft rustle and wriggled up to his chest. It was Byeol. Do-Jun gently lifted the blanket and looked into her eyes. Blinking her wide eyes, Byeol stared back at him.

“Why aren’t you sleeping in your room?” he asked.

“It’s scawy. Aren’t you scared, Daddy?”

Do-Jun had never experienced fear. He had never been in a situation that called for it. But what could be so scary for Byeol, who slept surrounded by others in the same bed? Do-Jun couldn’t quite understand but simply chuckled softly, choosing to let it slide.

“Then do you want to sleep with Daddy?”

“Yes!”

Do-Jun stroked her head, listening to the gentle thumping of her tiny heartbeat. Gradually, the sound softened as she relaxed and closed her eyes.

“Warm, hehe,” Byeol muttered on her way to dreamland.

With a soft, inner hum, Do-Jun resumed his breath control.

***

At 1 AM, the bedroom door creaked open, followed by quiet footsteps.

Do-Jun opened his eyes just a little.

“S-sorry, Master. D-did I wake you?” It was Karsiel.

“No, I was already awake.”

“I didn’t think you’d be the one sleeping outside. I assumed you’d be sleeping with the rest of us... Even with Young Master and Lord Izaas, I still felt so scared without you there. I couldn’t bear it.”

Do-Jun looked down at Byeol, who was nestled against his chest, sound asleep. Maybe she had felt the same way. Still, having two people sneak into his room made it feel less like a punishment and more like a privilege.

“So... may I... sleep next to you?” Karsiel asked.

How could he refuse when she asked so earnestly?

Letting out a brief sigh, Do-Jun nodded. “Bring a pillow.”

Karsiel’s face lit up with a bright smile. “Yes, Master!”

She grabbed a small pillow she had been using and placed it next to Do-Jun’s right side before lying down with a satisfied smile.

***

At 3 AM, the bedroom door opened with a creak once again.

Do-Jun didn’t need to confirm the presence—he already knew who it was. A dragon was snoring loudly in the other room, leaving only one possible person: Yoon-Hee.

Outside, the torrential downpour raged on, and the sound of thunder echoed loudly.

Yoon-Hee entered the room, hugging a pillow tightly and flinching at the sound of thunder. She glanced at Byeol, who was curled up on Do-Jun’s chest, and at Karsiel, peacefully sleeping to his right. Then, noticing the empty space on his left side, she hesitated.

She waved her hand in front of Do-Jun’s face. After deciding he was asleep, she sighed in relief. Then, with a light plop, she placed her pillow beside him and carefully slid under the blanket on his left. A flash of lightning and the thunder that followed made Yoon-Hee gasp, but instead of screaming and waking everyone, she pressed her body closer to Do-Jun.

“Hmph, I didn’t think Father would be the one sleeping outside...” she muttered softly, hugging Do-Jun’s left arm close to her chest.

Maybe it was the warmth she felt, but despite the storm outside, Yoon-Hee stopped trembling. Instead, she started breathing softly and drifted into a deep sleep.

Do-Jun chose to remain silent.

***

At 4 AM, Yong-Yong let out a big yawn and woke up in the middle of the night.

Although they had watched a scary movie earlier, being with others had kept him from feeling afraid. At least, that’s how it should have been.

“W-what’s going on? Where is everyone?”

The bed was empty, and Karsiel, Byeol, and Yoon-Hee were nowhere to be found in the bedroom. For a moment, Yong-Yong’s face turned slightly pale. The gloomy weather outside, just as the weather forecast had predicted, wasn’t helping either.

He opened the door and stepped into the living room, only to find everyone sleeping there with Do-Jun. Meanwhile, the bed in the bedroom was empty.

Why was everyone out there?

At this point, Yong-Yong felt like he was the one who lost the game, not Do-Jun.

He glanced back and forth between the bedroom and the living room before finally closing the bedroom door. He walked over to the blanket on the floor and crawled to the spot where someone’s legs were stretched out. He curled up into a ball and began to snore softly.

***

Chirp, chirp.

The heavy rain from the night before had stopped as if it was all just a dream. The sky outside the balcony windows was bright and clear, with not a single cloud in sight.

It was now 8 AM. Usually, this would be the time to wake up, but today was Sunday.

Do-Jun, who had just finished his morning meditation, was about to sit up when he paused. Above him, Byeol was fast asleep. On either side of him were Yoon-Hee and Karsiel. And at his feet, Yong-Yong lay curled up.

According to the game, he was supposed to sleep alone in the living room and wake up alone. Yet somehow, all the family members ended up there, sleeping soundly together.

“Mmph... I can’t eat anymore,” Yong-Yong murmured in his sleep.

Do-Jun woke up to a morning that felt just like any other. The only thing different was the room they'd spent the night in. He'd made a point to adjust the game so the rest of the family could get a good night's sleep in the bedroom.

Do-Jun got up using Snow Steps, a stealth technique, moving silently and leaving no trace to avoid waking the others. He turned up the temperature on the electric heating mat spread out on the living room floor by one level. Then, he brought an extra blanket from the bedroom and spread it over them.

He sat on the sofa, gazing at his sleeping family for a while, his chin resting on his hand. Then, he picked up his smartphone and tapped the camera button.

Click!

One photo captured the entire family in a peaceful moment.

Do-Jun set the photo as his smartphone wallpaper. With a faint smile, he headed toward the kitchen, planning to prepare breakfast.