Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 61

It was a peaceful Saturday morning.

“Work trip... again?” Yoon-Hee muttered as she paused while preparing breakfast.

Do-Jun nodded and sipped his coffee at the dining table. Yoon-Hee glanced at the four movie tickets tucked into her apron pocket.

But it’s the weekend...

She hadn’t mentioned it to Do-Jun yet, but a few days ago, she had received a scholarship of 500,000 won from the Academy. She planned to take everyone out for dinner and a movie with it.

“Yeah, it’s the same job. Why, did you have something in mind?” Do-Jun asked her.

Yoon-Hee shook her head, knowing she shouldn’t complain to someone who worked so hard. However, she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

That was when Yong-Yong trudged over. He tapped Do-Jun’s leg with his front paw and spoke with a dejected expression. “She said... we’d eat out today... and watch a movie too...”

Before Do-Jun returned home the previous night, Yoon-Hee had shown the movie tickets to Yong-Yong and Karsiel, explaining that she had received a scholarship and that they would all go out together on Saturday. She also told them she planned to surprise Do-Jun on the day of.

After hearing this, Yong-Yong eagerly looked forward to the day.

“This is the first I’ve heard about it...” Listening to Yong-Yong, Do-Jun shifted his gaze to Yoon-Hee.

“Well... actually... I got a scholarship... and thought we could all go out this weekend to eat and have fun. I was going to tell you today...” Yoon-Hee fidgeted with her hands, speaking cautiously.

Seeing her hesitating and being so careful, Do-Jun felt a pang of guilt. He had promised himself he would be a good father, even buying books to learn how to be one, but he had failed to pay attention to the little things.

“Hmm.” Do-Jun stroked his chin in thought.

He remembered reading that parents were spending less and less time with their children in modern society and that participating in hobbies together or going on outings was beneficial for nurturing a child's emotional well-being.

“I-it’s really okay. We can go next week instead. Besides, I don’t want to interfere with your work...”

Yoon-Hee forced a smile as she spoke, but seeing her trying so hard to act like everything was fine made Do-Jun’s guilt grow even more.

After a moment of thought, he made his decision. “If I’m back by five, will we have enough time to catch the movie and dinner?”

“Well, yes, but I don’t want to pressure you...”

“You earned a scholarship and wanted to treat us, so it’s only right that I return as soon as possible.” Do-Jun smiled warmly at her.

Yong-Yong’s face lit up, his ears perked up, and his tail began to wag. “Yay, Master!”

***

A brilliant light shone in an open square. As the light faded, the figure of a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a young girl in a dress appeared.

It’s 10 AM already.

Do-Jun checked his wristwatch. At the latest, he needed to clear the third stage of the Tutorial Zone by 3 PM to make it back home by five. Even if he couldn’t clear it in time, he planned to use his Light Foot skill to leave the Core by 3 PM.

Poof!

“Welcome back,” Tusitala greeted Do-Jun.

“Thanks. Any issues?”

“None, thanks to you.”

The two exchanged casual, formal greetings.

Tusitala thought it was almost surreal to feel such a peaceful atmosphere in the Core, which was usually filled with blood and screams. One never knew how things were going to turn out.

“Shall we proceed then?”

They headed to the third stage of the Tutorial.

***

[You have entered the third stage of the Tutorial Zone.]

[Recommended Magic Resistance is 1.5. Your Magic Resistance is exceedingly high. All your stats are greatly enhanced by the Blessing of the Deep Realm.]

When Do-Jun opened his eyes, he found himself in a space roughly 330 square meters in size and surrounded by stone walls.

He and Karsiel stood on a one-square-meter floating platform suspended in the air, with lava flowing below them.

Similar platforms were ahead of them, spaced two meters apart, at the end of which was a single monster standing guard in front of a staircase leading upward.

[Skill Ring (Colorless) has been granted.]

With a sudden message, a colorless ring was placed in Do-Jun’s hand. He checked the artifact’s stats.

[Skill Ring (Colorless)]

Category: Accessory / Support

Grade: 5

Number of sockets: 0

Description: A ring that enables Skill usage.

“The Skill Ring. In some ways, it’s the most important artifact. Even Armorize, the skill you acquired earlier that was essential for surviving in the Core, can’t be used without this ring in here,” Tusitala explained.

“But I could use skills just fine without it before.”

“Technically, this place isn’t considered the Core. It’s just a tutorial, a place to prepare adventurers before they enter the Core. Normally, in the Core, you need a Skill Ring to use any skills, and its most important aspect is the number of sockets.”

Tusitala continued, “If the ring has one socket, you can equip one skill. But be cautious—once a skill is placed, it can’t be removed.”

Do-Jun nodded.

He could freely use his skills in the Tutorial Zone without the Skill Ring, but that would change once properly inside the Core.

“But the ring has zero sockets right now. I can’t place any skills in it.”

“That’s right. You need to increase the number of sockets.” Tusitala looked at the monster guarding the stairs to the second floor and continued, “Doing that is simple. Defeat the gatekeepers on each floor. This tower has seven floors. Defeat all seven gatekeepers, and the Skill Ring will turn purple, allowing you to store up to seven skills. Of course, you don’t have to clear all the floors. You can skip to the next tutorial stage after defeating just the first gatekeeper.”

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Most challengers only reached the red or orange stage, meaning most only had up to two sockets.

Tusitala observed Do-Jun, who seemed to be contemplating something.

To face the Transcendents, he has to at least get to blue.

The Transcendents possessed a minimum of five skills. In the Core, the difference between having one more skill could be as vast as the difference between heaven and earth.

“I have a question,” Do-Jun said.

“Go ahead.”

“Do I have to beat these gatekeepers in order?”

“Sorry...? I’m not really sure. But why do you ask?”

Do-Jun glanced at his wristwatch and muttered, “I’m in a bit of a rush today.”

Do-Jun leaped toward the platform near the wall and tapped the stone wall with his fingers.

Then, drawing his right arm back, he clenched his fist.

Tusitala watched him, eyes widening. “Y-you’re not going to...!”

Bang! Thud!

A massive hole appeared with a single punch, and Tusitala’s jaw dropped in shock.

In all the years of watching countless challengers, she had never seen anything like this before.

***

[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]

[Your Magic Resistance has permanently increased by 5.]

As he walked toward the railing and looked down, Do-Jun realized he was so high that the bottom wasn’t visible anymore.

He was literally in the clouds.

[Caution! The difficulty level far exceeds the tutorial.]

[Your Magic Resistance is significantly lower than the recommended 85. All your stats are greatly reduced by the Curse of the Deep Realm.]

Do-Jun expanded his qi sense and detected an enormous presence at the top of the tower, but it wasn’t the gatekeeper of the seventh floor. It was something far more elevated.

Do-Jun gathered the True Qi from his dantian. He didn’t pay any attention to the message, indicating his abilities had decreased due to insufficient Magic Resistance.

Bang!

The ground he stood on caved in, and Do-Jun’s figure vanished.

It was the re-emergence of the Heavenly Demon’s Sovereign Steps that once struck terror into the hearts of countless martial artists in the Central Plains.

***

Upon reaching the top of the tower, Do-Jun’s eyes narrowed at the giant Imoogi[1] coiled before his eyes.

Sticky liquid soon started to flow from the creature’s entire body, vaporizing and spreading out.

Poison, huh? Do-Jun thought.

Without a hint of concern for the poisonous mist, Do-Jun walked toward the Imoogi.

It didn’t take long for the mist to envelop him, but it failed to harm Do-Jun, who had reached the highest level of Poison Immunity.

Kyaaaah!

The Imoogi’s skin began to glow in seven rainbow colors, and it opened its massive jaws wide, threatening Do-Jun. Its murderous intent was evident as if to say it would kill him if he took another step.

No, it was a defensive mechanism born out of fear and terror.

“Are you afraid?” Do-Jun asked as his arm started to turn pitch black.

Seeing this, the Imoogi let out a roar, lunging at Do-Jun with its gaping mouth to swallow him whole.

Then, a thunderous sound erupted from the sky.

***

Rumble!

Suddenly, the tower shook violently as if it might collapse at any moment. Karsiel, who was standing on the platform, lost her balance and sat down in place.

What on earth was happening up there?

“Wait... where did it go?”

The lava flowing below the platform had vanished, and so had the gatekeeper guarding the entrance to the second floor. Instead, the floor began to shimmer, revealing the doorway to the next tutorial stage.

“I guess I got lucky,” Do-Jun said.

“Y-you scared me! When did you get here?!” Tusitala said, shocked.

At some point, Do-Jun had appeared on the platform, but Tusitala hadn’t sensed his presence at all. She just stood there, bewildered.

“Huh...? Why is it still colorless?” Tusitala tilted her head, staring at the Skill Ring on Do-Jun’s finger.

The ring’s color should have changed based on his achievements, but it remained in its original, colorless state.

Instead of answering, Do-Jun showed her the ring’s stats.

[Skill Enhancement Ring]

Category: Accessory / Support

Rating: Treasure of the Deep Realm

Socket Count: 7

Description: A ring that enables the use of Skills. When a Skill is registered in the socket, the effect of the registered Skill is enhanced. However, once registered, the Skill cannot be removed or replaced, so it must be chosen carefully.

Tusitala was taken aback as she read the stats, and with good reason—there were seven sockets, and most importantly, it had the ability to enhance skills.

She had never heard of or seen a Skill Ring with such an option before.

[You have ranked first in the third stage of the Tutorial Zone.]

[Would you like to announce your achievement to the Core?]

Looking annoyed at the same old message, Do-Jun waved it away and checked the time on his wristwatch.

***

4:30 PM.

Sitting on the sofa, Do-Jun watched Yong-Yong joyfully running around the living room and chuckled.

How was he so excited to be going out?

“That’s that, but what on earth is she doing?” Do-Jun sighed as he thought of Yoon-Hee, who hadn’t come out of the bedroom for the past hour.

It was almost time to leave if they wanted to get to the movies in time.

Unable to wait any longer, he swung the door open.

He saw clothes strewn all over the bed, with Yoon-Hee trying on different outfits in front of a full-length mirror.

“Hah, what should I wear... F-father?” Yoon-Hee’s face turned beet red after being caught while contemplating what to wear.

Do-Jun looked at her impassively, then quietly closed the door and muttered, “Do we need to move...?”

He thought to himself that he needed to get her a room of her own.

1. In Korean folklore, an Imoogi is a lesser dragon resembling a large serpent and is said to be the origin of all dragons. ☜