Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 89

***

[Next stop, Bangbae Station. The doors will open on the right...]

Do-Jun was on the subway on his way home from work. As usual, he was reading a news article on Fissures and Hunters—a habit he had developed after returning to Earth. Keeping up with such news sometimes proved helpful in his work.

“The 2nd International Hunter Festival to be held at Busan BEXCO.”

“Starting on the 30th, the 2nd International Hunter Festival will take place at Busan BEXCO. Co-hosted by the Hunter’s Bureau and Busan BEXCO, Hunter’s Bureau Chief Jung Young-Chul expressed his hope that broad exchanges with Hunters from various countries would contribute to public safety. Reports of top-ranking Hunters attending have also caused an explosive response from citizens...”

His phone beeped from an incoming text message. He checked to see that it was from Yoon-Hee, reminding him to have dinner. Do-Jun smiled and replied yes.

She had arrived in Busan and sent him a photo of herself with Yong-Yong and Karsiel at the hotel. She looked like she was having fun.

The subway doors opened, and Do-Jun stepped onto the platform, tucking his phone into his pocket.

An irritating voice stood out among the sound of footsteps moving toward the turnstiles.

“You know the Phoenix Guild, right?”

A man was trying to hit on a woman leaning against a pillar.

The sweater she wore could not hide her curves and slim waist, and her skinny jeans seemed seconds away from blowing at the seams due to her thick thighs. Her tied-up hair and black sunglasses gave her a cold, distant look, which only made Jung Chang-Hoon more obsessed.

The woman let out an annoyed breath and replied, “I have a boyfriend.”

But Jung Chang-Hoon didn’t give up. It didn’t matter to him if she had a boyfriend. He had seduced many women with boyfriends before, using his good looks and the fact that he was a C-rank Hunter. This woman wouldn’t be any different.

“He’s not here right now, is he? How about you and I start our own little secret?”

“Ah, like I said...”

That woman is... I think she said her name was Moon Ae-Kyung, Do-Jun thought as he recognized her through the sunglasses covering her face.

The woman possessed an extraordinary level of mana, even among Hunters. Ranked third among Hunters in Korea, a member of Behemoth Guild, and one of the First Hunters.

However, that was all there was to it.

Do-Jun turned and headed for the turnstiles, having no reason to get involved.

Unexpectedly, Ae-Kyung rushed to Do-Jun, linking her arm with his, and said to Jung Chang-Hoon, “This is my boyfriend.”

Do-Jun stared at her in disbelief.

Ae-Kyung whispered, “Please just play along, Supervisor Lee.”

If they were inside a Fissure or even somewhere with fewer people, she would have easily crushed this pest of a man. Unfortunately, they were in a crowded subway, and Ae-Kyung didn’t want to cause a scene, so she had no choice but to turn to Do-Jun for help.

Do-Jun clicked his tongue and whispered back, “Then might as well make it convincing.”

Ae-Kyung wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but she nodded.

“I’m not just her boyfriend...” Do-Jun said.

Ae-Kyung frowned slightly as if to ask how this was more convincing. But then, Do-Jun wrapped his right arm around her waist and pulled her close.

“I’m her husband.”

“What?!” Ae-Kyung’s face turned red with embarrassment as she whipped her head around to stare at Do-Jun.

This is what you meant by making it convincing?!

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Her expression was one of silent protest.

***

Ae-Kyung found herself walking alongside Do-Jun all the way to his apartment.

She bowed deeply to him in gratitude. Though she had been a bit flustered when he referred to her as his wife, it was clear he did it for her sake.

Ae-Kyung glanced up at the old building where Do-Jun lived. On the outer wall, there was a sign that read Changshin Villa.

It didn’t suit him at all.

If he wanted, he could live in a much nicer, luxurious place.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?” Do-Jun asked her.

“Pardon? Oh, no, I wouldn’t want to impose any further.”

“Actually, there are a few things about the Core I’d like to discuss with you,” Do-Jun added.

“A-are you sure?”

Do-Jun nodded to ease Ae-Kyung’s mind.

If his family had been home, he wouldn’t have made the offer, but they were all away on Yoon-Hee’s school trip, so he figured this was a good chance to give her some information about the first floor of the Core.

Soon, they got off on the third floor.

Do-Jun entered the passcode into the door lock, turned the handle, and opened the door. The usually brightly lit home was dark and empty.

For a moment, the absence of his family felt more noticeable than usual.

When he turned on the lights, the room brightened to reveal the apartment’s interior.

“Please, have a seat,” Do-Jun offered.

“Thank you.”

Ae-Kyung sat down at the dining table, glancing around the room. The apartment looked small, probably less than seventy square meters.

Taking down a single S-rank monster would probably fetch him a much better place.

As Do-Jun took out some side dishes from the fridge and placed them in the microwave, he said, “Now that I’m alone, this place feels huge.”

“I’m sorry...?”

What was that supposed to mean? Huge? This place? And what did he mean by “now that I’m alone”?

It implied that he usually lived with someone.

“Oh, right. My daughter’s on a school trip, so I’ll be alone until the end of the week,” Do-Jun explained.

Ae-Kyung was stunned. He didn’t look like someone who had a daughter old enough to go on a school trip.

A school trip usually meant she was at least in the upper grades of elementary school, and as far as she knew, Do-Jun was in his mid-to-late twenties.

“Sorry, but... How old is your daughter?” she asked.

“She’s seventeen,” Do-Jun replied nonchalantly.

“What?”

Was that even possible? Still, Ae-Kyung didn’t press him for details. It seemed like a complicated family situation.

“Here, help yourself,” Do-Jun said.

The dishes were simple: braised tofu, sausages, and bulgogi, with various seasoned vegetables as side dishes. There was also a bowl of rice, about one serving.

It was an unfamiliar sight to Ae-Kyung, who was used to eating at hotels almost daily. She looked up to see Do-Jun eating heartily.

Cautiously, she picked up some vegetables with her chopsticks, placed them on her rice, and took a bite.

Her eyes widened.

Next, she tried a piece of braised tofu.

Seeing her reaction, Do-Jun chuckled and asked, “Tasty?”

She nodded. It was delicious. The hotel food was great, but this was something different.

“It’s... comforting.”

“Yeah. That’s why I prefer to eat at home when I can. My daughter’s a good cook.”

For some reason, the space she had just thought of as small and cramped now felt different. It felt cozy, filled with the warmth of people living there.

“And earlier, I mentioned I had something to tell you about the Core,” Do-Jun said.

“Ah, right. Yes.”

“Why don’t we head over there after dinner?” Do-Jun sipped his water and casually suggested as if the Core was just another park in his neighborhood.

***

The space before them seemed like a giant hole. Looking up, they saw the waterfall cascading down from what seemed like a sky-high distance.

Do-Jun and Ae-Kyung were standing on a piece of land jutting out from a steep cliff—the first floor of the Core. Ae-Kyung swallowed dryly, looking at the ten strange-looking birds flying by in a group. This was her first time entering the first floor of the Core.

Do-Jun zipped up his windbreaker to his neck and pulled out his SpacePad.

“Supervisor Lee...”

“Yes?”

Ae-Kyung looked at Do-Jun incredulously. He was wearing shorts and slippers, with one hand casually tucked into his pocket. She wanted to ask if he was on a grocery run but held it in.

“Never mind...” She almost felt ridiculous in her suit.

Just then, Do-Jun approached and showed her the screen of his SpacePad. It was a map of the first floor of the Core, clearly outlining the area with small red dots. When he tapped on the dots, information about the monsters and terrain at each location appeared.

“And... there are other adventurers here,” Do-Jun said and glanced around.

Not far below, about fifty meters down, they could see some people walking through the bushes.

Pointing at them, Do-Jun said to Ae-Kyung, “They’re just like us. The only difference is they came to the Core before us. These are the adventurers from the Wind Blood Alliance. You’ll find details about them in the reference materials I gave Chief Jung last time.”

Ae-Kyung swallowed as she thought that the greatest threat in the Core would be the other adventurers, not the monsters.

Status Windows from Earth were sealed, which meant that their Core-exclusive Status Windows would be far more advanced.

But... how is Supervisor Lee so relaxed?

In the Core, everyone’s power was reset.

At this moment, even Ae-Kyung’s Status Window from Earth was sealed. Her current stats, displayed in her Red Status Window, were pathetic, especially since she had yet to register any skills, meaning she had none.

He has to be in the same boat as me.

While peeking over the edge, Ae-Kyung made eye contact with the adventurers below. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly pulled back, feeling a wave of panic.

The three adventurers smirked and jumped toward her. “Haven’t seen this newbie before...”

Filled with tension, Ae-Kyung gripped her weapon. However, the adventurers’ expressions suddenly changed. Their faces turned pale as if they’d seen something horrifying.

“S-sorry! We must’ve been mistaken. W-we’ll be on our way.” They bowed so low it seemed their backs might break, then hurriedly turned to leave.

As Do-Jun watched them leave, he asked calmly, “Where do you think you’re going?”