Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 117

After the grueling forty-eight-hour exam, the Hunters lay exhausted in the waiting room, sprawled out wherever they could find space.

Their supply suits were covered in monster blood and slime. Their hair was matted, and the shadows under their eyes had extended down to their cheeks. Over the past two days, the Hunters had pushed themselves to their limits, repeatedly enduring challenges to qualify for an A-rank promotion.

“Good work,” Do-Jun said, approaching Ye-Ji.

She was slumped in one corner of the waiting room, and he handed her an electrolyte drink with a gentle smile.

“Thank you, Mr. Administrator...”

She drained the half-litre bottle in one go.

Using his qi sense, Do-Jun confirmed that her mana had been depleted long ago. The same was true for the other examinees; everyone had hit their physical limits and had persevered purely through sheer willpower.

“Wow, eighty percent of us passed...” a Hunter muttered.

Over the past few years, the pass rate for the A-rank promotion exam was always below thirty percent. But this batch had an unusually high passing rate, and the Hunters exchanged curious glances.

Yet, there was no mystery regarding it. In fact, it was an expected result.

Although the Hunters hadn’t voiced it yet, they had noticed specific details during the test that contributed to a favorable situation: combat support artifacts scattered about, inedible plants discreetly marked, and other similar items.

Moreover, even though there were numerous herd-type monsters, they never congregated in groups larger than three, and they frequently encountered monster corpses strewn about as if someone had cleared the path for them.

“It was you, wasn’t it? Supervisor Lee,” Min-Ji whispered to Do-Jun.

Although they didn’t know why he did it, the S-rank Hunters understood that Do-Jun had walked around in the camera blind spots, offering indirect help to the examinees.

“They just reminded me of myself,” Do-Jun replied, seeming nostalgic.

“Come again?”

Do-Jun recalled a time in the Martial World when his strength wasn’t even at a second-rate level. He remembered taking an entrance exam at the Heavenly Martial Academy. Along with his fellow entrants, he had to pass through a formation art test as part of their promotion exam. It had been a long time since he had participated in a group exam like this.

***

In the ground-level lobby of the Hunter’s Bureau.

The A-rank Hunter promotion exam results were displayed on a large screen while reporters from various networks waited for the Hunters. Naturally, they were there to interview the successful candidates. Among those who passed, one individual stood out.

“There she is!”

The reporters hurried over to Ye-Ji, raising their cameras and thrusting their microphones forward.

“How does it feel to have secured the first place?”

“What’s your awakened skill?”

“Do you have anything you’d like to say to the public?”

Ye-Ji, who had never been in such a spotlight before, looked completely flustered. Her face flushed as she stared blankly at the cameras flashing in rapid succession.

“S-sorry...? What is all this?” she asked cautiously.

She glanced at the results displayed on the large screen and was stunned. A few months ago, she had only been an F-rank Hunter. She could never have imagined passing the A-rank test, let alone finishing in first place.

“E-excuse me...”

Her gaze drifted down the stairs, spotting Do-Jun, who was just coming up from the basement. She looked at him with a silent plea for assistance. Do-Jun offered her a small smile and a thumbs-up before swiftly turning away to vanish from view.

“M-mr. Administrator!”

***

“Supervisor, no... I mean, Chief Supervisor!” a woman called out as she rushed toward Do-Jun.

Having changed from her supply suit into casual clothes, newly promoted A-ranked Hunter Yoo Ha-Na approached Do-Jun.

“Do you need something from me?” Do-Jun asked.

“Yes, I do.”

Yoo Ha-Na looked up at him. Though she was quite tall for a woman, she only reached Do-Jun’s chin. Nevertheless, she set that thought aside and cut straight to the point.

“Are you... by any chance, one of the First Hunters?” she asked.

The First Hunters were those who were the first to Awaken when the Fissures first appeared ten years ago. They were legends who had survived the chaos. Officially, the only known First Hunters were members of Behemoth Guild: Lee Kang-Hyun, Ryu Jun-Yeol, and Moon Ae-Kyung. However, rumors circulated that other undisclosed First Hunters might still exist, and Yoo Ha-Na had decided that Do-Jun was one of them.

“No, I’m not,” Do-Jun replied.

“Then what is it? How are you so strong? I know you didn’t become Chief Supervisor without reason. Do the S-rank Hunters know who you really are?”

It was a rapid-fire of questions.

Do-Jun sighed. It was one thing to subdue Heo Young-Chang, but the real problem seemed to arise after Yoo Ha-Na witnessed him take down an ogre. He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, yet he didn’t expect her to pursue him so doggedly afterward.

“I...” Do-Jun realized it would be a hassle to come up with an excuse, so he gave a vague response.

“Just believe whatever would help you sleep at night.”

Then, he turned to leave. However, Yoo Ha-Na blocked his path.

Just as Do-Jun frowned and was about to say something, Yoo Ha-Na dropped to her knees on the concrete floor, bowing deeply.

“What are you doing...?” Do-Jun asked her.

“Please, take me in as your disciple, First Hunter.”

Do-Jun clicked his tongue. He was about to refuse outright, but he stopped and decided to offer her a different option. He handed her one of his business cards.

Yoo Ha-Na looked up and read the card.

***

Sizzle.

Prawns battered in tempura bits were frying to a crispy, golden texture in the oil. The table was laden with so many dishes that it seemed about to collapse under the weight. Yoon-Hee hummed as she arranged the prawn tempura on a plate with salad and placed it on the table.

Standing beside her on a small stool, Karsiel peeled potatoes for the curry.

Today was the day Do-Jun would come home after working two consecutive nights, so they were both putting extra effort into the meal.

Hearing the sound of the automatic lock on the door, Yoon-Hee turned off the stove, removed her apron, and quickly ran to the door.

“I’m back,” Do-Jun announced.

At this point, Yoon-Hee usually responded with, “Welcome home!” and greeted him brightly, but this time, she just stood in the entryway, silently looking at him.

Do-Jun waved his hand in front of her face to get her attention. Without a word, Yoon-Hee threw her arms around him.

“What’s going on...?” Do-Jun asked, puzzled.

She stepped back without answering and returned to the kitchen.

“Masteeeeeeer! Welcome baaack! I missed you sooooo much!” Yong-Yong clung to his ankle, sniffling with tears and snot.

Do-Jun wondered why he was acting so dramatic today.

Byeol was peacefully dozing in the bedroom, and Karsiel was the only one acting normal.

“Welcome home, Master. Thank you for your hard work.” Karsiel bowed slightly.

“Thanks. How have you been?”

“I... I’ve been well... I guess.”

Shadows could be seen under Karsiel’s eyes upon closer inspection.

“I suppose I can finally wake Byeol...” she said.

***

Byeol sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to Do-Jun and shedding a bucket of tears.

Was this what it would feel like to reunite with a long-lost family member? Do-Jun wondered.

Watching from the side, Karsiel filled him in on the events of the past two days. Do-Jun listened quietly and chuckled to himself.

On the morning of the first day, Byeol had gone outside to play as usual and returned home by evening. That was when the problem first arose.

“Daddy’s late today, huh?”

At first, there was confusion. Do-Jun usually came home around 7 PM, but he hadn’t returned even by 8 PM, which made Byeol suspicious.

The second stage was denial. When it was almost time for bed, Byeol could see Do-Jun lying on the bed within arm’s reach like usual.

“What... what is going on?”

The third stage was fear. When the next day came, there was still no sign of Do-Jun, Byeol was filled with sadness and dread.

“Daddy abandoned me.”

The fourth stage was acceptance. Byeol was finally convinced that Do-Jun had left her, and her usual cheerfulness vanished. She spent the entire day staring blankly into thin air.

This was when the real problem began. Byeol’s started saying things that devolved pretty quickly.

“Yong-Yong, what did you do today?”

“Daddy’s gone, and you still eat just fine, huh? Yong-Yong?”

“There’s no meaning in life anymore.”

Hearing all the things Byeol said during his absence, Do-Jun couldn’t help but let out an incredulous laugh. His shirt was now soaked in snot.

Byeol looked up at him. “Daddy, I won’t ask for awowance anymore. I won’t compwain again.”

Do-Jun resolved to get home on time every day from now on.

***

After dinner, Do-Jun headed over to the Hunter’s Bureau and returned to the underground exam hall on the second basement floor.

The staff were busy clearing away the remains of monsters.

Do-Jun closed his eyes and extended his qi sense. freewebnσvel.cøm

There you are, he thought when he sensed a spirit in Sector C emitting power equivalent to an S-rank monster.

It was Sylphid, a high-rank wind spirit, who had been following him throughout the test. Apparently flustered by Do-Jun’s brief disappearance when he went home, Sylphid was wandering around, seemingly at a loss.

Do-Jun concealed his presence and landed quietly behind the spirit, who looked troubled.

He watched it in silence.

Eventually, the spirit turned around and, with a startled yelp of gibberish, quickly backed away, hiding behind a pine tree. Only its head peeked out as it cautiously observed Do-Jun.

Do-Jun sighed and gestured with his fingers.

The spirit shook its head vigorously with its eyes squeezed shut, clearly refusing.

Was it out of fear, or had he somehow made a bad impression? If that were the case, he wondered why it had been following him.

Finally, it spoke. “Mom’s scent...”

Its words puzzled Do-Jun, but he quickly understood. “Are you talking about Laghaim?”

The spirit nodded eagerly.

“You mean I smell like Laghaim?”

The spirit nodded again.

What the spirit called “scent” wasn’t something literal. It sensed the energy of the Spirit Queen Laghaim. Then, realizing something, the spirit suddenly darted over to Do-Jun and stared at him, soon coming to a conclusion.

“Dad?” it called out.

It seemed there was a major misunderstanding.

***

Do-Jun decided to hand Sylphid over to Laghaim.

Upon entering the Core’s second floor[1], the spirit flew around excitedly, and when it saw Laghaim walking over, it beamed and zoomed toward her.

“Mom!”

Seeing its joyful expression, Do-Jun couldn’t help but smile. So it turned out he’d been right to worry it might have gotten lost.

“Thank you, Master, for bringing Sylphid home,” Laghaim said.

“Master?” Sylphid repeated in puzzlement, looking back and forth between Laghaim and Do-Jun.

“He’s not Dad?”

“Well... not quite yet,” Laghaim replied, glancing nervously at Do-Jun.

1. The original had this as Fissure instead of the Core’s second floor. As we explained in Chapter 104, we believe that Laghaim can be met in the Core as its connection to the E-rank Fissure, Tomb of Spirits, was severed after Do-Jun and Yong-Yong exited the changed Fissure. ☜