Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 31

“Are you a PK?”

At those words, the Solomon Guild Hunters froze in place. At a crossroads of choices, several thoughts ran through Choi Kyu-Sik’s mind.

This opponent was immune to his skill, Disease.

He didn’t know why, but one thing was clear: even if the three of them attacked together, there was no guarantee of them winning.

I can’t die here, Choi Kyu-Sik thought, eyes darting around, looking for a way out.

Then, his gaze landed on Do-Jun.

Why does that bastard look so calm?

PK, or Player Killer, was even more terrifying than monsters in some ways. And yet, the civil servant in front of him showed no fear. In fact, there was a slight smirk on his lips, as if he had known all along.

Suddenly, Ye-Ji’s words flashed through Choi Kyu-Sik’s mind.

“If Mr. Administrator says it’s left, then it’s left.”

“But please don’t leave my side.”

After following Do-Jun’s advice and taking the left path at the first crossroads, it took them less than ten minutes to reach the boss room through a shortcut they hadn’t known about.

He wondered if the civil servant had some special Ability, but then he remembered Ye-Ji’s insistence that he stay close to her.

That must mean he was so weak that he couldn’t even take care of himself!

I’ll take him hostage.

Then, he would offer the civil servant as a sacrifice to open the Treasure Chest of Shark Tooth.

Shark Tooth is the boss monster of a B-rank Great Fissure. If it’s the boss monster’s treasure chest, it has to be something at least A-rank.

That was their chance to turn the tables and the last opportunity for Choi Kyu-Sik’s group.

And when the scheming was complete in his head, Choi Kyu-Sik swiftly put his plan into action.

He launched himself off the ground and charged at Do-Jun, immobilized him from behind, and pressed a dagger against his neck.

“Don’t move, or I’ll kill him.”

“M-mr. Administrator!” Ye-Ji’s face went pale, and her body began to tremble.

She had let her guard down. Guarding Do-Jun should have been the first thing she did when the message regarding the Disease skill popped up.

Instead, her first thought was her confidence to win even three against one. Her arrogance had made her forget about Do-Jun.

Do-Jun glanced at the dagger pressed against his neck, then looked at Ye-Ji, whose face was as white as a sheet, clearly in shock.

Actually, he had roughly anticipated Choi Kyu-Sik to pull something like this. He simply let it happen. A mere knife like this wouldn’t even leave a small scratch on him, but he decided to play along for a bit.

“What do you intend to do with me?” His tone was stiff as if he was reading from a textbook.

Choi Kyu-Sik found Do-Jun’s lack of fear a bit odd, but he didn’t dwell on it. What mattered was Ye-Ji’s reaction.

“If you want him alive, stay put and don’t make any moves,” Choi Kyu-Sik said to Ye-Ji.

“N-no, Mr-Mr. Ad...ministrator...” Ye-Ji half sobbed from her panic.

Why hadn’t she realized sooner? Why hadn’t she handled this more wisely?

The pressure on her chest was tightening with the overwhelming sense of regret.

Choi Kyu-Sik opened the bronze door, still holding the dagger against Do-Jun’s neck. Like that, the three Hunters of the Solomon Guild entered the boss room with Do-Jun as their hostage.

Bang!

When the door slammed shut, Ye-Ji collapsed to the ground.

***

Bang!

Cho Hyun-Jin shut the door and grinned.

The boss monster, Shark Tooth, was hovering about fifty meters in the air. That thing wouldn’t launch a pre-emptive attack unless someone crossed the red line on the ground.

At least, that was the rule it was supposed to follow.

Whoosh!

Realizing that four challengers had entered its territory, Shark Tooth rushed forward at high speed. But then, it made a sharp U-turn and started to flee.

Do-Jun chuckled as he watched Shark Tooth turn tail and run.

“W-what was that?” Kim Hong-Yeop muttered, startled as he withdrew the shield he had extended.

Shark Tooth shouldn’t have been able to cross the restriction line, but it had come right up to the bronze door.

“The red line is gone...” Choi Kyu-Sik’s eyes widened as he quickly checked the quest list. “What the fuck is this?”

[Special Quest: Sacrifice]

[This quest has already been completed.]

He quickly turned his head to discover the opened treasure chest.

“What the hell happened here?!”

He released Do-Jun and rushed to the treasure chest, only to realize it was completely empty.

He gritted his teeth at the unexpected turn of events.

Could someone else have come here?

No, that was impossible.

If that were the case, the number of Mermaids would have significantly decreased. Although they didn’t run into any Mermaids in the first thirty minutes after entering the Fissure, everything returned to normal afterward.

Do-Jun looked down at the three confused Hunters with a cold gaze.

“You must be wondering where the contents of the treasure chest went. Ah, it’s a bummer, huh? After all, you’ve worked so hard to sacrifice nine people for it already.”

“What? H-how do you know that...?” Choi Kyu-Sik’s eyes widened.

Nine sacrifices.

That was information only they knew. So how could a mere civil servant who had just entered this Fissure today know about it?

“The contents are with Ye-Ji,” Do-Jun informed them.

“Cut the bullshit. Are you saying she knew about the boss room?”

“No, I’m the one who knew. After I talked to you on the phone yesterday, I came to check it out.”

“What?” Choi Kyu-Sik said in disbelief.

Came to check it out? What did that even mean?

This was a Great Fissure. It was never supposed to be a place where someone could just casually waltz in and out, like a neighborhood park.

“The sword Ye-Ji was holding—that’s the treasure from the chest,” Do-Jun said again.

“Shut the fuck up, you bastard!” Choi Kyu-Sik’s face turned red with anger.

“You three died the moment you took me hostage,” Do-Jun said, narrowing his cold eyes.

The three Hunters flinched.

W-what’s with those eyes...? Is he really human?

It was as if he was looking at something insignificant, something feeble. His eyes saw them as nothing more than worthless creatures. An involuntary shiver ran down their spines.

I am scared? Me, Choi Kyu-Sik?

Choi Kyu-Sik gripped his dagger tightly and charged at Do-Jun. “Die, you son of a bitch!”

And just as he was about to stab the cocky civil servant in the stomach.

Claaaaang!

An invisible barrier blocked the dagger, making Choi Kyu-Sik frown in confusion.

“What are you doing, Choi Kyu-Sik?! Kill him already!”

His watching party members thought Choi Kyu-Sik was just hesitating to stab Do-Jun.

“I’d rather not dirty my hands with your blood,” Do-Jun said, then looked at Shark Tooth, who was trembling in the corner. He then gave a command. “I’ll let you live if you take care of this trash for me.”

Watching Do-Jun speak to Shark Tooth, Choi Kyu-Sik was beyond disbelief and burst into laughter.

“Pfft, hahaha! What is this fucking idiot say—” But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

Crunch!

Shark Tooth had approached unnoticed and swallowed Choi Kyu-Sik whole.

Thud!

Seeing their comrade’s limbs dismembered in an instant, the remaining two Hunters collapsed on the spot.

“This... this can’t be happening...”

After practically deleting Choi Kyu-Sik, Shark Tooth crept up to Do-Jun, who patted its body and murmured, “Go.”

Shark Tooth’s eyes glowed a bright red.

Whoooosh!

It charged at the remaining two.

“Aaaargh!”

Their screams echoed throughout the chamber.

***

“Ugh... sniff... Mr. Administrator...” Ye-Ji was slumped against the bronze door, sobbing uncontrollably.

She stared blankly at the faintly glowing sword tattoo on her wrist, praying that this light would not fade away.

Bang! Crack!

“Aaaargh!”

A strange noise and a scream echoed from inside.

Fortunately, the scream didn’t belong to Do-Jun, but as her anxiety grew, only more tears streamed down her face.

“It’s all my fault. Everything... my fault...”

If only she had paid more attention to Do-Jun.

No, she shouldn’t have let him come to such a dangerous place in the first place. The mere idea of an ordinary person entering a Great Fissure was incredibly risky.

“I should have... protected him...”

At that moment, the tattoo of the Vow on her wrist began to turn red without her even realizing it. Simultaneously, a red aura began to rise from her body.

“I will...”

I’ll kill them all.

Rumble.

As the cave started to quake, the bronze door opened. At the same time, Ye-Ji quickly turned around.

“M-mr. Administra...tor?”

Do-Jun looked down at Ye-Ji, whose eyes were wet with tears. She sprang up and hugged Do-Jun tightly.

“Ye-Ye-Ji?”

“Sob... sniff... waaah!” Ye-Ji burst into tears.

The red aura that had been emanating from her body began to dissipate. Do-Jun didn’t miss this sight. Rather, he couldn’t miss it.

That aura just now... What was that?

It was a terrifying amount of murderous intent.

Do-Jun examined the tattoo on his wrist and discovered it wasn’t just his imagination. Although it had returned to normal as if nothing had happened, the tattoo had glowed red just moments ago, and he felt a massive energy coming from it.

Pat, pat.

Perhaps it was because of Do-Jun’s careful touch, but Ye-Ji’s trembling body seemed to calm down, and the frightening, murderous intent completely disappeared.

“I’m sorry for making you worry,” Do-Jun apologized.

But Ye-Ji shook her head. Right now, she didn’t want to think about anything other than the fact that Do-Jun was alive—the only thing that mattered to her at this moment.

Ye-Ji rubbed her face against Do-Jun’s chest, smearing and staining his white shirt with her tears, snot, and makeup.

“Mr. Administrator.”

“Yes.”

“I promise I’ll never let you be in danger again.”

“You certainly shouldn’t. That’s what our contract is for...”

Do-Jun couldn’t finish his sentence when he noticed that Ye-Ji’s eyes were empty when looking at him. He decided to flick her forehead instead.

“Ouch!”

Ye-Ji winced and rubbed her forehead. “That hurts, Mr. Administrator.”

“That’s why I did it. To knock some sense into you.”

Only then did her eyes regain their vitality, perhaps thanks to the flick.

“Yes! From now on, I’ll be fully alert and protect you, Mr. Administrator! If anyone dares to even lay a finger on you, I’ll kill them!”

Flick!

“Ouch! W-what is it this time?”

“Where did you get the idea of killing someone? I don’t want you to become a murderer, Ye-Ji. Just take care of the monsters.”

“But what if you’re in danger, Mr. Administrator?” Ye-Ji said as she puffed out her cheeks.

Do-Jun sighed and started walking back the way they came.

“W-wait up, Mr. Administrator!”

Just as they were leaving the cave, Ye-Ji saw the boss monster floating in the air beyond the bronze door and a pool of blood on the ground.

“What happened in there...?”

***

That night, at 11 PM, when he didn’t have to worry about being interrupted by anyone, Do-Jun was studying in his room.

“In modern society, where smartphones are widespread, conversations between fathers and children have decreased compared to the past, and correspondingly, the bond between parents...”

“To promote emotional development in children, it’s important to share hobbies or enjoy cultural activities together...”

Do-Jun drew a line under the text with a highlighter. He was reading 50 Ways to Be a Good Father—the first book he had bought at the bookstore after becoming a father.

There was a knock on his door, followed by Yoon-Hee’s voice. “F-father, are you asleep...?”

Do-Jun quickly closed the book and hid it in his desk drawer.

“No, what’s up?”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

“Can I come in for a moment?”

“Sure.”

Creak.

Yoon-Hee, dressed in pajamas, slowly opened the door and carefully stepped inside, holding a piece of paper.

“I-I was just wondering... if you were free tomorrow.”

Do-Jun took the paper Yoon-Hee handed him.

“2019 Hunter Festival”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a festival held every year. They sell and display Hunter equipment and goods, and there are performances and sparring matches. Experienced Hunters also provide mentoring sessions...”

Yoon-Hee fidgeted, gauging Do-Jun’s reaction.

Seeing that he wasn’t reacting much, she continued, “Y-you probably can’t, right...? You need to rest on Sundays too...”

“To promote emotional development in children, it’s important to share hobbies or enjoy cultural activities together...”

Do-Jun recalled the passage he had just highlighted.

“Let’s go.”

“R-really?” Yoon-Hee’s face brightened up instantly.

Do-Jun nodded, thinking, Look how happy she is. How could I say no?