Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 21

This should do it, Min-Ji thought excitedly.

The measuring machine was accurate to about seventy percent, and even the remaining thirty percent produced a reading that was only one rank off.

When this device was first introduced, most S-rank Hunters, including Min-Ji, received S-rank results. They also expected Do-Jun to display at least an A-rank, if not higher.

Do-Jun lay down on a platform attached to the machine that resembled an MRI scanner. The assistant standing beside it confirmed that Do-Jun was ready and pressed the start button.

Whirrrr.

The platform started moving, and Do-Jun’s body was slowly fed into the machine.

Soon, dozens of holes in the machine’s circular tube started emitting a blue light that was none other than mana.

Do-Jun knew what to expect, having already watched Yoon-Hee undergo the measurement process ahead of him.

The mana emitted from the machine was supposed to flow into the subject’s body for analysis, but Do-Jun had no intention of accepting it into his body.

Hummm.

The mana that emanated from the machine circulated around Do-Jun’s body, but all it could do was hover over him, unable to enter. It was as if the mana and Do-Jun’s body were magnets of the same polarity, repelling each other.

[Measurement complete.]

With the conclusion of the measurement, Do-Jun emerged from the machine.

[The results will now be printed.]

He picked up the printed result sheet, and on it said:

[Potential: -]

[Expected Skill Grade upon Awakening: -]

Nothing was displayed, disappointing Do-Jun as he had hoped for an F-rank. He looked at the assistant, wondering if he needed to redo the measurement.

However, the assistant glanced at the result slip in Do-Jun’s hand, scratched his head apologetically, and said, “Cheer up...”

“Do I need to retake the assessment?” Do-Jun asked.

“No. There’s no need,” the assistant answered.

Everyone gathered around Do-Jun to check the result slip.

Min-Ji said with an incredulous look, “That can’t be...”

The others had similar reactions.

The result having no value indicated that this individual had no talent as a Hunter whatsoever.

Cases of blank measurements like this were extremely rare, as even those with minimal talent would produce a result of F or E-rank.

“R-run it one more time!” Min-Ji urged the assistant.

But the assistant shook his head, looking troubled.

The measurement process put a lot of strain on the body. Although there were no outward symptoms, the measurement involved a large amount of mana circulating inside the body and exiting all at once. Therefore, one needed ample rest for at least a whole day after undergoing the process. In fact, resting for over a week was recommended for ordinary people.

“I’m also puzzled by the result,” Kang-Hyun murmured, stroking his chin.

He had thought that Do-Jun’s build was beyond exceptional, nearly perfect, and that if he trained a bit, he could easily hunt E-rank monsters.

“Well, maybe the results would change with physical enhancement. Occasionally, some people Awaken while undergoing physical enhancement, so don’t be too disheartened, Supervisor Lee,” Kang-Hyun consoled him.

Do-Jun just shrugged in response. He never had the slightest intention of becoming a Hunter. If he wanted to, he would have become one long ago.

Watching the unfazed Do-Jun, Min-Ji thought, Was it really just my imagination back then?

That couldn’t be.

The memory was too vivid to be mere imagination. Though it was only for a moment, the aura Do-Jun emitted had definitely overwhelmed her.

Min-Ji rubbed her lips while watching Do-Jun chatting with the others.

***

A few days later, on a Friday evening, three hours past sunset.

Do-Jun entered the meeting room, separated by glass partitions within the Fissure Management Division, carrying three dinner boxes he had bought from a bento chain store near Seoul City Hall.

Inside the meeting room, Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo were intensely typing away on their laptops, staring intently at their screens.

“Dinner’s here,” Do-Jun announced.

The clock on the wall in the room already pointed past 9 PM.

Seeing the dinner boxes and barley tea that Do-Jun had brought, Cheol-Soo pressed the Enter key irritably and got up from his seat.

“Man, I thought I was going to die from starvation. Hyuk-Soo! Let’s eat first.”

Hyuk-Soo stretched and nodded. He had shadows under his eyes.

Both Cheol-Soo and Hyuk-Soo were a mess, having practically lived in the office for the past two days without going home once.

“Chief, I’m going to go to the sauna after we eat,” Hyuk-Soo said.

“You idiot, if you’re going, we’re all going together.”

Their hair was greasy from not being washed since Wednesday, their beards were unkempt, and their shirts smelled faintly of sweat.

Do-Jun quietly set the dinner and tea at each person’s spot.

“By the way, Do-Jun, how come you look fresh? Did you go home behind our backs?”

Do-Jun shook his head in response to the question.

How could he shamelessly go home when his direct supervisor and chief were working tirelessly? Hyuk-Soo and Cheol-Soo knew that Do-Jun would never even think of something like that, but they still found it strange that Do-Jun always appeared freshly groomed and didn’t have even the slightest scent of sweat.

Do-Jun sighed and opened his smartphone. He checked his messages to find that he had thirty-seven unread messages piled up and eleven missed calls—all from Yoon-Hee.

Click.

Do-Jun took a picture of his dinner and sent it to Yoon-Hee.

Then, a moment later, his phone rang, and the screen displayed the caller’s name.

[Seol Yoon-Hee]

Do-Jun hesitated for a moment before pressing the answer button.

“Hello?”

—All-nighter at the office again?

“Seems like it.”

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—Your dinner looks a bit too simple. Should I bring some side dishes?

“No, it’s fine. This is good enough.”

—What about a change of clothes?

“I’m still good.”

—Do you need anything else? Like some fresh socks...

Do-Jun sighed.

“It’s okay. I gotta eat. Let’s talk later.”

Beep.

Do-Jun ended the call immediately. Although it might have seemed a bit cold, if he hadn’t, the conversation would have continued.

“Do-Jun, are you seeing someone?” Cheol-Soo asked, while Hyuk-Soo, aware of Do-Jun’s situation, chuckled as he opened his bento box.

Inside the box was rice covered with egg, bulgogi, spinach, stir-fried anchovies, and other typical side dishes.

“How about we go out to eat breakfast tomorrow?” Hyuk-Soo suggested, trying to change the subject.

“Yeah. I was just about to say that. This is already the fourth meal in a row eating these boxes. Tsk,” Cheol-Soo grumbled discontentedly.

Although the contents of the box always changed, it was still getting tiring.

“Do-Jun.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“I asked if you were seeing someone.”

“No, I am not.”

“I have a third eye for these things. Just spill it. Is it Hunter Ye-Ji?” Cheol-Soo asked with a mischievous grin.

Noticing the troubled look on Do-Jun’s face, Hyuk-Soo decided to help out. “Chief, are you set on going for the Fissure on Inwangsan Mountain?”

“Yeah, probably. Sigh. I really do hate this season.”

Fissure field trip—a regular program operated by the Hunter Academy where they took their new students to see C-rank or lower Fissures. The Fissure Management Division, responsible for managing the Fissures of those ranks, selected appropriate Fissures and provided the tour.

“We’ve been working overtime for days because of this, haha,” Hyuk-Soo said with a hearty laugh.

“Admit it, Hyuk-Soo. You like being at work more than staying home, don’t you?”

“Me?” Hyuk-Soo smiled as he brought some bulgogi to his mouth.

Feeling grateful that his senior helped him, Do-Jun turned to look at the whiteboard, which was packed with ideas and diagrams.

Over the past two days, they had erased and rewritten it dozens, no, hundreds of times during meetings.

Yoon-Hee will be there too, Do-Jun thought.

Being one of the hundred new students, Yoon-Hee would naturally be at the Fissure tour that the Fissure Management Division selected.

Should I give her a heads-up? As he contemplated, Do-Jun flipped through the paperwork from their meeting.

The Fissure was an F-rank Fissure located in Inwangsan Mountain, 1-9, Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

It shouldn’t be dangerous.

The Fissure was supposed to have only a few goblins inside with no boss monsters, and the entry of Hunters had been restricted until the tour scheduled for the following Wednesday.

And it’s fully mapped out as well.

The map data had already been sent to the academy through official channels, so there shouldn’t be any issues with conducting the tour.

However, there was one problem.

She already found out that I work in the Fissure Management Division...

Yoon-Hee was present when Do-Jun introduced himself and disclosed his affiliation in his conversation with Young-Chul, the Chief of the Hunter’s Bureau. Since then, she had been interrogating him every night about what kind of work he did at Seoul City Hall.

Do-Jun had vaguely dodged the questions and made his escape every time.

I can’t hide it forever.

***

The following morning at 8 AM.

Do-Jun froze in front of the door to his house. When he spread his senses to check inside, he sensed one person beyond the door.

Ah, I’m afraid to go in.

[Missed Calls: 8]

[Unread Messages: 21]

He had set his phone to silent mode and had even forgotten to call her.

These were the two things Do-Jun was at fault for.

Creaaaak.

When he carefully opened the door and went inside, he saw Yoon-Hee leaning against the wall, dozing off with a blanket wrapped around her.

“Phew.” Do-Jun sighed in relief and gently carried Yoon-Hee to the mattress laid out in the living room. Then he placed a pillow under her head and covered her with a thick blanket.

That’s when he noticed the food on the dining table: two plates of fried rice wrapped in plastic wrap, now cold.

Looking at them made Do-Jun feel guilty, as though he had done something wrong.

“Father...?” Yoon-Hee murmured as she sluggishly opened her eyes and tried to get up. She probably woke up because he moved her from her spot.

Do-Jun gently laid her down again and said, “You must be tired. Go back to sleep.”

But his words seemed to only have made her more irritated. Yoon-Hee furrowed her brows with a dissatisfied expression.

“Come sit for a second,” she said, patting the mattress.

“Alright...”

“Now, tell me this. Why didn’t you answer my calls? Were you not the one who said you’d call back? And you didn’t even send me a single text afterward. Did you not think that the person waiting for you might get worried?”

If he were to make an excuse, Do-Jun could have mentioned that he had set his phone to silent mode, but knowing that this might only make things worse, he decided not to say it.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized instead.

“Please be sure to give me a heads-up next time you work late. That’s all I’m asking for.”

When Do-Jun nodded, Yoon-Hee smiled in satisfaction.

“Oh, right. Father, I’m going on a field trip to a Fissure next Wednesday. It’s only an F-rank, but it’ll be my first time entering a Fissure. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Yoon-Hee took out a few sheets of paper from her bag containing information about the tour, the Fissure’s rank and location, and a map. Surely enough, it was the F-rank Fissure located in Inwangsan Mountain.

“And you work in the Fissure Management Division, right? What did you say you do there?” Yoon-Hee asked with a smile.

Do-Jun hesitated before answering, “O-oh, I just work on rules and regulations for Fissure management...?”

“So... do you go inside the Fissures for that too?”

He carefully observed her reaction, but there was no sign of her frowning or any displeasure.

Do-Jun nodded slightly.