Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 305

The Core was the undisputed hottest topic in the entire world. Once an enigmatic domain that no one could explore, the veil began to lift about a year and three months ago, all thanks to Behemoth. People found themselves both terrified and fascinated by the completely unknown world that began to reveal itself. As a result, any news related to the Core or Behemoth was guaranteed to attract a flood of clicks.

Kim Na-Ryeong, a reporter for Hunter News, sat on a shaded bench, taking a short break from the sun after wandering around looking for a story. She took a sip of iced tea from her cup and used her other hand to fan her neck, where sweat trickled down.

“Phew. It totally feels like summer today,” she remarked.

After cooling off a bit, she pulled out her smartphone and browsed through online articles. A headline labeled “Breaking News” caught her eye, and she quickly tapped on it.

(Breaking News) Hunter’s Bureau Releases ‘Deep Realm Ranking’!

Deep Realm Rankings

1st (Tie): Baal & Imfelheim

2nd: Murmu

3rd: Illeina

.

.

.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed, reading through the article.

The ranking information everyone had been wondering about was finally released. According to the article, the rankings were compiled from posts found on the “forum” that adventurers in the Core could access. The Hunter’s Bureau stated that the information might not be entirely accurate and should only be used as a reference.

From first place down to the hundredth, the rankings measured individual power.

While catching breaking news was important, identifying trends within those reports was even more crucial. Na-Ryeong carefully read through each name on the list of the Deep Realm Rankers until her eyes suddenly stopped on one.

“19th: Kiriel”

Huh, this name sounds familiar... She tried to recall where she had heard it before, but her memory was hazy. Still, she was sure it belonged to someone she knew.

As she pondered, her gaze fell on a young man walking past a convenience store. His mixed-race features and middle-part hairstyle were unmistakable.

“Right... I think it was someone who looked just like... that.”

Na-Ryeong’s eyes widened as she recognized him as Kiriel, the man she had previously interviewed with her senior, Choi Ho-Seok, about a comic book café that had opened inside a Fissure.

Jumping up from the bench, she rushed over and stood in front of him.

“E-excuse me! Mr. Kiriel, right?”

Kiriel crossed his arms and gave a confident sniff. “You know me, human?”

“Yes! Don’t you remember me? I’m Kim Na-Ryeong from Hunter News. You know, the reporter who interviewed you about your comic book café.”

Hearing her words, Kiriel’s memory was jogged. He recalled the interview that Hunter News conducted shortly after the café opened. Truth be told, he owed a lot to that news feature. After the article was published, the store’s traffic had skyrocketed overnight.

“Ah, right. I remember now,” he said. “So, what business do you have with me?”

“It’s not really business... I just saw the Deep Realm rankings that the Hunter’s Bureau released, and your name was on the list. Then I happened to see you walking by.”

Of course, Na-Ryeong didn’t actually think this Kiriel was that Kiriel from the Deep Realm Rankings. Experts had said that if a Ranker from the Deep Realm ever appeared on Earth, the planet would be reduced to rubble in an instant. And as far as she could see, Earth was still perfectly intact.

“Oh. So, what rank am I?” Kiriel asked casually.

“U-uh, nineteenth,” she answered without thinking, surprised at how naturally he put himself in the “other” Kiriel’s shoes.

Hearing his rank, Kiriel’s expression stiffened.

“Damn. I dropped one spot,” he muttered.

Na-Ryeong let out an awkward laugh. Wow, it didn’t even take him a second to get into the role.

She checked the time on her phone; it was 11 AM. She needed to write an article soon, but no good story ideas had come to mind.

Glancing sideways, she hesitated before asking, “Um, Mr. Kiriel...”

“What?”

“Would you be open to another interview about your comic book café...?”

Kiriel’s eyes widened in surprise. “Are you serious?”

If his café got featured in the newspaper again, it would definitely benefit his sales. He had no reason to refuse.

“Only if you’re okay with it, of course,” she added.

“When?” Kiriel asked enthusiastically.

“Um... how about right now?”

In that instant, light rippled around Na-Ryeong. “H-huh? What’s happening—”

Before she could finish her sentence, the two vanished with a flash.

***

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.

Just moments ago, she had been in the middle of the city in Seoul. But when she opened her eyes, the scenery had completely changed. The honking cars and towering skyscrapers were gone, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the comic book café.

She gasped. “W-what in the world just happened...”

Then, she heard a greeting. “Welcome, meow~”

“Ahhh!” Startled by the sudden voice behind her, Na-Ryeong spun around to see a black cat.

No humans were in sight. Confused, she looked around, wondering where the voice had come from.

The cat, Malleus, looked up at her and spoke again. “One comic, a hundred won, meow~”

Stunned, Na-Ryeong could only stare blankly at Kiriel.

***

Having just finished reading the newspaper, Do-Jun neatly folded it and placed it on the dining table.

“Hello, my King.” Smiling like an innocent child, Murmu stood before him.

He had mentioned visiting this week, and today seemed to be the day.

Do-Jun greeted him. “It’s been a while. So, today’s the day, huh?”

“Yes. I’m here to volunteer at the orphanage. Speaking of, do you know where Kiriel is?”

Do-Jun closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.

“The comic book café,” he said.

“Thank you.”

“Do you need any money?”

“O-oh, um, if you could spare a little, I would be most grateful.”

Chuckling softly, Do-Jun took out his wallet and handed Murmu two 50,000-won bills—something like a vacation per diem.

The ever-diligent Murmu never failed to volunteer for the community whenever he visited Earth. And each time, Do-Jun made sure to give him a little spending money.

***

With a thunderous crash, someone burst in from the entrance of the F-rank Fissure in Huam-dong. It was Murmu. As he landed, he made sure to do it gently so that his impact wouldn’t disturb the ground.

Na-Ryeong had been watching the entire sequence of events and stared in awe. Today was filled with one astonishing event after another, leaving her speechless so many times she lost count. After all, she had just found out that Kiriel and Malleus were actual Rankers from the Deep Realm.

“Kiriel, come on, let’s go,” Murmu called.

“Go where?” Kiriel asked.

“To volunteer.”

“Ah, right. Hang on a second. I’m currently giving an interview as the owner of this comic book café.”

“Interview? What’s that?”

“Hah, it means boosting the café’s revenue.”

“Wow, Kiriel, you really know everything. You’re so smart,” Murmu remarked in awe.

Na-Ryeong blinked in confusion. She asked, “Uh, M-mr. Kiriel... is this person also from the Deep Realm?”

“Yeah.”

“I-I see. Sir, may I ask your name...?”

“I’m Murmu.”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Wait... You’re ranked second in the Deep Realm!”

“Well, on Earth, I’m the senior,” Kiriel interjected.

“O-oh, okay. Anyway.”

This was a huge scoop. The fact that Rankers from the Deep Realm had come to Earth was an exclusive reveal that no one else knew! As a second-year reporter for Hunter News, Na-Ryeong’s eyes sparkled with excitement. This was the chance of a lifetime, practically served on a silver platter.

“M-mr. Murmu, would you be willing to do an interview as well?” she asked tentatively.

“Me?”

“Yes!”

Murmu pondered briefly. Interview... boost comic book café revenue... which makes Kiriel happy... receive more help on Earth...

Having finished his mental calculation, Murmu promptly accepted the proposal. However, he couldn’t stay long.

“I can only stay here until 2 PM. I have to volunteer with Kiriel after that.”

“Then I’ll ask the questions right away—wait, volunteer?”

“Yes. Kiriel said the King of Earth likes it when we volunteer. In fact, I even received pocket money from the king today—double what I got last time. Last time, it was 50,000 won. This time, he gave me 100,000. Truly, a remarkable improvement.”

“What...?”

For a moment, Na-Ryeong’s mind went blank. But she quickly pulled herself together and began jotting down notes.

***

“Kiriel, it’s time,” Murmu announced after checking the time.

Kiriel nodded. It was time to head to the orphanage. With a flash, the two vanished.

Na-Ryeong glanced over the notes she had scribbled in her notebook. The information seemed too unbelievable to be true. Still, if she published this article, it would surely become a sensation.

Though the two had left, one Ranker from the Deep Realm still remained. Malleus was looking at her with bright, curious eyes. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

“Ah, right! It was Malleus, right? So, how did you come to Earth?” she asked.

“Because the food here is delicious, meow,” Malleus replied.

***

Na-Ryeong arrived at the Hunter News office just before the end of the workday. The entire twelfth floor of the large building on Sejong-daero served as the company’s office. When the elevator doors opened with a ding, she stepped out, clutching her notebook tightly as if it were a sacred treasure. Her face radiated excitement.

The moment Choi Ho-Seok spotted her stepping off the elevator, he heaved a sigh.

“Oh, senior!” Na-Ryeong ran toward him.

Their expressions were polar opposites.

“Hey, where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling you all afternoon! Didn’t I tell you to be back by 3 PM? You haven’t even reported to the team leader about tomorrow’s articles. What have you been doing?”

“S-sorry! I was chasing down a huge scoop...”

“A huge scoop?”

Hearing the word “scoop” softened Choi Ho-Seok’s stern expression just a little.

“What’s the story?” he asked.

“Ta-da! Take a look at this!” She handed him her notebook.

As he began reading through her notes, his face slowly stiffened. Finally, he closed the notebook with a decisive thwap.

“So, you’re saying Rankers from the Deep Realm are doing... volunteer work on Earth?” he snapped.

“Yep.”

“And that Malleus guy came because the food’s good?”

“Yeeep.”

“And Murmu received 100,000 won in pocket money from someone called ‘the King of Earth’?”

“Yes!”

Choi Ho-Seok pressed his fingers against his temples. “Did you even think about the backlash we’ll get if this goes out?”

“Huh...?”

“Let’s not do anything stupid, Na-Ryeong.”

“But... but it’s true!”

“Enough. Just go with the winner announcement from the last Hunter Quiz.”

Choi Ho-Seok walked away, leaving Na-Ryeong pouting in frustration.

“Damn... Why did I even go through all that trouble...?” Sighing, she headed off to finalize the Hunter Quiz winner announcements.

Wait, who is this “King of Earth,” anyway? she suddenly wondered.

***

For some reason, Yong-Yong woke up early today. He sat by the front door, tail wagging, waiting expectantly. Faint footsteps echoed from the hallway outside. When he heard something fall outside, his ears perked up.

“It’s here!”

It was the newspaper.

Yong-Yong quickly grabbed it in his mouth, darted into the living room, and spread the newspaper open, turning directly to page two, the Hunter News section. His eyes moved over the text until he located what he needed, printed in the lower right corner.

“358th Hunter Quiz Winners”

Yong-Yong’s eyes sparkled as he skimmed down the list of winners.

“YongYongV”

“Hehehe...”

The Hunter Quiz was a weekly event where participants submitted answers, and five winners were randomly selected to receive prizes. This was Yong-Yong’s lucky week.

The bathroom door opened, and Do-Jun stepped out after washing his face and brushing his teeth.

“Master! I won!” Yong-Yong cried, rushing over with the newspaper in his mouth.

Taking the paper, Do-Jun scanned the Hunter News section. Sure enough, Yong-Yong’s nickname was listed among the winners. This week’s prize was beef short ribs worth 200,000 won, to be delivered to their door.