Player who Returned 10,000 years Later-Chapter 3Epilogue : Wedding Anniversary (1)

Crack, crack, crack!

A black Rift split across the air. Unlike the regular thirty to fifty-meter Rifts that Players call Gates, this one was easily over two hundred meters long.

“Krrrrrrk.”

A monstrous lifeform covered in mucus crawled out of the Rift. Its head was oval, and its black skin was like armor. Sharp teeth protruded from its wide mouth, and a hideous long tail with a hook at the end shook like a whip. Such monsters that looked similar to a certain sci-fi alien and could likely wipe out a military squad, poured out of the Rift like a waterfall.

“KARARARARARARA!”

“KRRK, GRRRRK!”

There were easily over a thousand of them. They landed softly on the ground and turned to bow toward the black Rift like loyal subordinates waiting for their king’s arrival.

Crack, crack—!

A colossal lifeform tore its way out of the Rift. It looked similar to the smaller lifeforms but was as large as Gulliver in Lilliput.

“━━━━━━━━!”

Its shriek transcended even sound. The lifeforms bowing to their Queen also raised their heads and shrieked. They greedily stared at the forest filled with green and the concrete city far in the distance. This world seemed to have a well-established civilization already but it was of no issue to the alien lifeforms who have taken over a dozen worlds. As always, they would devour all life on this planet, tear them apart, and use them as hosts for breeding.

“SKREEEEEEEEEE!”

“KRRRRRRRK!”

The alien lifeforms got ready to charge to the city as they drooled green saliva.

“Shut the hell up.”

Rumble—!

However, a voice echoed throughout the area, shaking the earth. A man with upturned eyes stood in the alien army’s way.

“Krrk?”

The oval-headed aliens tilted their heads in wonder as they stared at the being who seemed weak enough for his head to pop with a simple slap. However, it was only for a moment. They growled as if mocking the pathetic lifeform acting against the great Queen’s orders and charged at him.

“I guess it’s barely a challenge this time.”

Oh Kang-Woo clicked his tongue in boredom and flicked his wrist as he walked leisurely toward the black tsunami of aliens.

FWOOSH—!!!

Black flames enveloped the surroundings and engulfed the aliens. It looked as if a black sun had risen— the tens of thousands of aliens were burned by the black sun like pouring hot oil into an ant’s nest. No, burned wasn’t the right word.

Crunch, crunch, crunch!

No smoke or the scent of burning flesh rose from the black sun devouring thousands of aliens. All that came out was the sound of biting and chewing. Minced, broken, and trampled bits of flesh sank into the Demonic Sea.

“GYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH!”

The Queen screeched angrily after losing all of her offspring in the blink of an eye and walked forward.

“What? Are you sad about losing your kids? I guess you qualify as a parent, at least.”

Kang-Woo smiled and used the Authority of the Sky to fly up to eye level with the Queen.

“K-Krrrk.”

The Queen flinched after seeing Kang-Woo’s black irises and golden pupils. Its blind rage did not last long; it was overwhelmed by fear and turned to the Rift it had come out from.

“Or maybe not.”

Kang-Woo stared at the fleeing Queen uninterestedly and pointed his finger at the ground. A black drop of liquid that pooled on his finger fell to the ground, which instantly dyed black like spilling a bottle of ink.

“KYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH!”

Sprout—! Crack! Crunch!

Black blades shot up from the ground and mercilessly slashed the Queen. Its severed body parts sank into the black ground. The predators that conquered over a dozen worlds were defeated so easily.

Riiing!

[Fantastic work, Sir Guardian Deity!]

A blue message window appeared in front of Kang-Woo who devoured the alien lifeforms with the Authority of Predation.

“Yeah. This was the last of the Rifts over a hundred meters long, right?”

[Yes! That was all of the Rifts detected by the Gaia System!]

“It’s been calm for a while… why have so many started to appear lately?”

[I am still in the middle of trying to figure out the exact reason.]

“Okay. Let me know if there are any new developments.”

[There are a few small Rifts about thirty meters long. Will you leave them be?]

“Let the Players deal with Rifts that size.”

Kang-Woo was already busy enough dealing with large Rifts opening all over the world so he didn’t have time to deal with small ones.

“Besides, my wife complained to me how they were gonna make a living if I took care of all the Rifts.”

Kang-Woo shrugged, thinking about Cha Yeon-Joo giving him the cold shoulder because her guild profits from hunting monsters had significantly decreased.

‘I’ll at least report the Rifts’ locations.’

Kang-Woo texted Red Rose the locations of the new small Rifts and stretched.

[Will you be heading home now?]

“No, I’m thinking of getting a drink with a little bro.”

[By little bro… do you mean Mr. Kim Si-Hun?]

“Si-Hun is busy taking care of his baby these days.”

[Then…]

“I’m going to see Tae-Soo.”

[Oh, the only one among your acquaintances who has yet to get married.]

“Don’t say that to Tae-Soo.”

‘You’ll hurt his feelings.’

Kang-Woo turned around as he recalled his little brother who had become a golden bachelor.

***

They were in a bar street near Gangnam Station, always bustling regardless of what day of the week it was. A man large enough to make a table of four feel small raised his glass.

“For Kang-Woo hyung, whom I haven’t seen in so long!”

Clink!

The sound of beer glasses hitting echoed throughout the bar.

“Man, hyung-nim! How long has it been?”

“No idea. Has it been about half a year?”

“It’s been eight months, eight months! Do you have any idea how sad your little brother is from how hard it is to see you?”

“Dude, it’s already a miracle that I have time to drink with you when I have three kids.”

“Are you busy lately?”

“Don’t even get me started. I’m dying from overwork.”

Kang-Woo sighed as he took a sip of beer. Doing his job as a guardian deity and raising three kids simultaneously should have been impossible. Since he was the only one capable of closing Rifts, he needed to travel throughout the world to close them. Raising children would never have come to mind if it weren’t for Han Seol-Ah, Cha Yeon-Joo, and Lilith’s help.

“Hehe. But aren’t you happy seeing your children grow?”

“That’s an understatement.”

Kang-Woo couldn’t help but smile just from thinking about Kang-Hyun, Kang-Hee, and Lia growing healthily each day.

“Haha! I’m dying from jealousy!”

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“Do you have any plans for marriage?”

“I need a partner to get married! It’s not something I can just do!”

Kang Tae-Soo downed his beer glass and sighed deeply.

“I thought you were teaching newbie Players these days. Anyone you’ve taken an interest in there?”

“My students… all run away at the sight of my face.”

“Oh…”

Kang-Woo understood; it was weirder not to run away from this giant lump of muscle.

“Should I ask Yeon-Joo if there is anyone you might like in Red Rose?”

“It’s fine. I’ll find a partner on my own, so you don’t need to worry about me, hyung-nim!” Tae-Soo pounded his chest loudly and called for an employee. “Two more pints of beer!”

“Huh? Oh… Yes, sir. Just a moment, please.”

The employee was confused for a moment by Tae-Soo’s unique manner of speech that one would only hear in a martial arts film. He smiled awkwardly and walked to the kitchen.

‘This guy… I think he needs to fix the way he speaks if he wants to get a girlfriend.’

Kang-Woo sighed and shook his head.

“That aside, hyung-nim. How are the sisters-in-law doing these days?”

“They’re doing great.”

“Haha! What a relief! You’d better not neglect them no matter how precious your children are to you!”

“That’s a given.”

“And since you have more than one wife, you have to make sure to treat each one with care so that none of them feel left out!”

“I know.”

It was also why Kang-Woo had no choice but to refuse his precious youngest daughter’s wishes of wanting to sleep with him so that he could spend more time with his wives.

‘No matter how cute my children are, I can’t neglect my wives.’

Kang-Woo took another sip of beer.

Just then, Tae-Soo asked, “Then what have you prepared for the big event?”

“Huh? What event?”

“Haha! There is no need to worry! I, Kang Tae-Soo, a man among men, have lips as tight as my hard muscles! I will not tell the sisters-in-law even if they ask me!”

“Like I said, what are you talking ab—”

A chill ran down Kang-Woo’s back.

“Hm? I should be saying that to you. Isn’t your wedding anniversary in three days, hyung-nim?”

“Ah…”

Kang-Woo had completely forgotten his wedding anniversary.

“Don’t tell me… you forgot? Your tenth wedding anniversary, no less…?”

“H-Huh? W-Wait a second. There’s no way it’s already…”

Kang-Woo quickly took out his smartphone to check the date. It was March 21st— three days before the day he had his wedding with Seol-Ah.

“...”

Cold sweats trickled down his back. His thoughts tangled like a ball of yarn. He could only think of one thing in this situation.

“I’m fucked.”

The lovey-dovey epilogue of the Oh Kang-Woo family… FIN.