Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 379

It was the morning of the day.

The students in class 3-A had gathered for their morning meeting.

Yong-Yong addressed them. “Just because graduation is near doesn’t mean you should slack off. Your performance during this final period still affects your grades, so stay focused like usual, especially on independent study days like today. It’s easy to get lazy. Don’t just waste the day away. That’s all, dismissed.”

After the meeting ended, the students sat at their desks, completely deflated.

The class president buried his face in his arms and muttered, “Yoon-Hee, can’t you ask Yong-Yong if we can take just one day off?”

“Yeah. Just one day. Let us rest for just one day...”

“I think I actually prefer class days now. Seriously.”

“If we’re being reasonable, maybe just one Great Fissure to raid, then let us have the afternoon off.”

Voices of agreement echoed throughout the room.

Since independent study days had been approved for third-years, Class A had been under Yong-Yong’s so-called “mentorship.” They spent those days scouring Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, clearing Great Fissures one after another. Their skills had noticeably improved thanks to it, but they were mentally and physically at their limit.

“Yoon-Hee...?” the class president called again, but she didn’t answer. Chin propped in her hand, she sat silently, staring out the window.

Hye-Jung tilted her head and waved a hand in front of her face.

Only then did Yoon-Hee flinch and reply, “W-were you talking to me?”

“Why are you so spaced out today? The others are asking when Yong-Yong’s coming,” Hye-Jung said, puzzled.

Realizing all eyes were on her, Yoon-Hee paused for a moment before answering, “Yong-Yong’s got some personal stuff to take care of today, so he probably won’t be coming. No raid either...”

“Wait, really?”

The mood in the classroom shifted in an instant. What had felt like a funeral atmosphere turned into a party. The class president jumped to his feet, threw his arms in the air, and started making plans for how they’d spend the day.

“The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived! We’re finally gonna enjoy our youth!”

Of course, they could hang out on weekends anytime. But there was something indescribably thrilling about skipping class during school hours. That was what they couldn’t resist.

Seeing everyone’s excitement, Yoon-Hee recalled what Yong-Yong had said before heading down to the Deep Realm that morning. “I’ve got something today, so I won’t be joining you. The kids will be disappointed, so tell them I’ll make it up to them double next time, alright?”

“Um... actually...” Yoon-Hee was about to pass along the message, but stopped herself and scratched her cheek instead. She didn’t want to ruin the mood, so she kept it to herself.

“Yoon-Hee, is there anywhere you want to go today?” Jin-Soo asked.

“Ah... I...”

Truthfully, she didn’t feel like going anywhere. She hadn’t even planned on coming to the academy today. Everyone at home was heading to the Core tonight for the final battle, and staying behind by herself, she didn’t feel up to doing anything. But that didn’t mean she would go to the Core either. She didn’t think she could be of help.

“I’ve got some stuff to do at home, so I think I’ll just head home early,” she replied.

***

The walk home was no different from any other day, but for some reason, it felt strange. The scenery she always saw every day now seemed distant. These were places she passed all the time, so why did they feel so far away? Then it hit her.

“Ah, it’s because they’re gone.”

The people she had come to take for granted weren’t in town anymore. Yong-Yong, Karsiel, Hakase, Kiriel, Anne, Laghaim, even Wei Zhouqi, Imfelheim, and Murmu, who would occasionally stop by to visit, and the residents who sometimes came up from the Deep Realm to buy snacks—they were all... occupied.

It felt as if she’d woken from a dream. It was all real, of that she was certain. They had been here just yesterday.

Suddenly, she thought of the day her parents passed away in a car accident, and she was left all alone. A bitter smile crossed her lips, but it didn’t last long because she spotted Byeol coming out of the corner store, arms full of groceries. Blinking in surprise, Yoon-Hee ran over. Byeol should’ve been at daycare.

When she saw her mommy, Byeol smiled brightly.

“Byeol, you didn’t go to daycare today?” Yoon-Hee asked.

“I did, but appawently today’s a day off! So I came home!”

Inside the large bag in Byeol’s arms were cup noodles and mini sausages, at least ten in total.

Yoon-Hee couldn’t think of a reason for Byeol to buy so much food at once, so she couldn’t help but ask, “I see... But what’s all this in your hands?”

Byeol hesitated, unsure if she was in trouble. “It’s... for dinner snacks...”

“Ohhh, I get it. Our little Byeol bought snacks just in case you get hungry after dinner?”

Byeol shook her head and said, “Because when they’re done with overtime, they’re gonna be hungwy, wight? So Byeol’s gonna make snack for them!”

“Overtime...?”

“Yong-Yong and Sieh are working overtime tonight. They said they’ll be late. And... Daddy too...”

That morning, Yong-Yong and Karsiel had gone down to the Deep Realm to stop the monsters that would soon come pouring onto Earth. Yoon-Hee realized that they must have told Byeol they were working overtime.

***

A ruckus broke out at the Fissure Management Division at Seoul City Hall.

“What are they saying? An emergency drill on Family Day!?” Cheol-Soo shouted.

“The Hunter’s Bureau sent the official notice just ten minutes before the end of the workday,” Hyuk-Soo replied.

Cheol-Soo rubbed his face in disbelief. The other staff in the division looked just as shocked by the sudden announcement. These unannounced emergency drills happened maybe twice a year, but when one hit, it was always a gut punch.

“Let’s see... it’s scheduled for 11 PM,” said Hyuk-Soo, leaning back in his chair as he read through the printed directive.

As usual, it was a citizen evacuation drill. Public officials were to assist in moving citizens to the designated shelters in each district.

“Well, no choice. Orders are orders,” Cheol-Soo said.

“Still, it’s weird to have one this late at night, right, Chief?”

“Yeah. Normally they’re during work hours.”

Then, Do-Jun’s phone vibrated with a new message.

Yoon-Hee: Byeol bought cup noodles and sausages to cook as a snack when you, Yong-Yong, and Siel get home from work. ꉂꉂ(ᵔᗜᵔ)

He tapped on the attached photo. The dining table was stacked with cup noodles and sausages. In the corner of the photo, Byeol could be seen standing on tiptoe, holding the edge of the table as she looked up at the pile.

Do-Jun smiled without realizing it. She was just too cute. Then, he typed a reply.

Do-Jun: I guess I should wrap things up as quickly as possible.

***

Do-Jun looked out over the city’s nightscape from the rooftop of Seoul City Hall. Though it was summer, the breeze was just chilly enough to make an ordinary person shiver. It ruffled Do-Jun’s hair as it passed. From Ouroboros coiled around his wrist, a faint light began to glow.

“When the King of the Dimensions awakens, monsters will pour into the world.” That was the rumor Tusitala spread widely throughout the Core.

Everyone had been preparing countermeasures in their own way to stop the coming wave. For the past month, they had done everything they could to protect themselves, their comrades, and their homes.

However, Do-Jun knew that no matter how hard they tried, a bloodless victory was impossible. When the monsters came, people would be injured. Some would even die. He had felt it firsthand, over countless “returns” in the Central Plains, that war always came with sacrifice.

That was why the old Do-Jun had tried not to form attachments. The more one cared about, the more one had to protect. Yet, without even trying, he had formed so many bonds in this life. Still, he didn’t regret it.

The hour hand on his wristwatch moved toward eleven. At the same time, a message arrived on his phone. It was a disaster alert, sent by the Hunter Bureau.

Hunter’s Bureau: Training Alert—Emergency Disaster Message: As of 23:00 on August 31, 2022, an emergency has been declared due to a Fissure outbreak. All citizens are advised to evacuate to the nearest shelter immediately.

Sirens began to blare from all directions, repeating the message over speakers.

[This is the Hunter’s Bureau Emergency Center. As of 11 PM, an emergency state drill has been declared. Upon hearing this alert, stop all activity and evacuate immediately under the direction of public officials. Once again...]

Do-Jun pulled his employee ID from his pocket and hung it around his neck before walking toward the massive dimensional gate that had appeared before him. As soon as he stepped fully inside, the gate vanished as if it had never existed.

***

At the end of a long staircase that stretched toward the heavens along the Path of Dimensions, the King of the Dimensions sat on his throne, surveying the Deep Realm.

He pondered silently, Who in the world is this King of Earth, whom everyone follows?

He had known for some time that the King of Earth had acquired many followers. The creatures gathered in that world were inferior, lowly beings compared to himself, the King of Dimensions, but within the Deep Realm, they held power. The common folk were nothing of note, but the Transcendents, the dragons, Solomon’s seventy-two demons, the Usurpers... all of them were known as “Rankers.” The King of the Dimensions was certain that the King of Earth had to be one of them.

Who could it be?

If power alone was the measure, three individuals would undeniably be at the top: the Overlord, Solomon, and Laghaim. Of the three, the Overlord was the most outstanding. However, he was known as the ruler of the Deep Realm, not of Earth.

Well, it doesn’t matter who it is. All are equal before the power of nothingness.

The King of the Dimensions rose from his throne with a contorted grin and began descending the stairs, but stopped almost immediately.

“Is that...?” He stared at the entrance of the Path of Dimensions. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

With a crackling sound, the entrance began to open. It had never opened before. There were only two conditions under which the gate could be unsealed: The first was for the King of the Dimensions himself to unlock it with his Authority, and the second was for someone who had obtained the “Keys” to find the path and break the seal. Since he hadn’t used his Authority, it could only be the second case.

He fixed his eyes on the now fully opened entrance and saw a man walking through, neither fast nor slow—just steady footsteps. He stopped once he had fully entered the path, then raised his head to meet the King of the Dimensions’ gaze. There was a faint smile on his lips, but his eyes were cold and calm. Dark, inky black energy rose from him.

The King of the Dimension’s eyes widened. How?

This was the space of nothingness where only he was supposed to be able to wield any power. So what was that?

The King of the Dimensions gulped and thought, Am I... feeling threatened?

He, who stood above all living beings, threatened by a mere human?

Then, in that moment, the realization hit him like a bolt. It’s him.

This man was the King of Earth.