Chapter 175
Since things had come to this, I decided to attend the entrance ceremony. After all, my male life had been a mess during my corporate drone days, and my own childhood entrance ceremonies were chaotic.
-Mom, where’s Dad? Who’s that hyung?
-Hehehe. Your mom is my wife now. And you’re my Child.
-Shh. You say the most inappropriate things in front of the Child, xxx. Dad’s busy today and can’t make it, okay? This hyung will be your dad today. You don’t want to have an entrance ceremony without a dad, do you, xxx?
I should have realized he was the affair partner back then, goddammit. Even when I went to tell on him to my so-called father, that bastard was busy screwing his subordinate. It was a messed-up household. That’s a memory, alright. I decided not to give my child such bad memories.
“Alright, let’s go. I can’t let my daughter have bad memories like that.”
“What? Did something happen to you?”
“No, it’s just… something.”
And so, I left Songdo and, as a “Man,” headed to the Playground where the Hanseong Academy Middle School entrance ceremony was being held.
At the Academy’s School Gate, there were Hunters who appeared to be in charge of verifying admissions.
I thought it had been hastily established, but it seems that’s not entirely the case.
“Hello.”
“Oh my. Welcome. Uh, are you perhaps Otherworlders?”
From the outside, we probably look like a Married couple of Otherworlder origin. Well, I’m a handsome white-haired Awakened One, Rachel is a Pure-blood Elf, and our Child, Ray, can also be considered an Elf for now.
“Yes.”
“Oh my, an Elf.”
“Uh, well, yes. She’s an Elf. But do you assign classes based on grades, like in the High School Division?”
She doesn’t even have grades to begin with, but I asked out of curiosity. Rachel asked the person in charge. Surely they’re not dividing them by grades like elementary schoolers, are they?
“No. They all learn the same things, and classes are divided by grades when they move up to the High School Division.”
“I see. Thank you.”
If my daughter had been placed in a lower class based on grades, I wouldn’t have let it slide. After verifying the Saengdo, we entered the Playground, and it was quite crowded.
“Wow, there are so many people at the entrance ceremony.” “It’s an entrance ceremony, after all. But I heard they’re holding it in autumn and then immediately starting classes because it was rushed.” “Oh, you already looked into that much?” “It’s for my daughter. Of course.”
She’s truly devoted when it comes to Ray. After some time passed, the Parents/Guardians and fresh-faced children lined up on the Playground. Once all the Saengdo verifications were complete, a screen appeared in the distance.
[“Ah, mic test. Hmm. Ugh, what a bother.”]
[“Dean. So, non-face-to-face… No, we’re live now!”]
That wicked bitch is doing this via screen because she’s too lazy?
“Oh? Ahem. Good day, Parents/Guardians and Saengdo of Hanseong Academy Middle School. I am Lee Yeonghui, Dean of Hanseong Academy.”
I’ll have to deal with that woman sometime.
“Today marks the first entrance ceremony since the establishment of Hanseong Academy Middle School. The budding Saengdo who may one day be responsible for Korea, and their parents, are gathered here for a historic occasion…”
Kim Yeonghui personally presided over the entrance ceremony. And then I finally realized why classes would start immediately after the entrance ceremony. The entrance ceremony alone dragged on for a full two hours before it finally ended.
“That fucking bitch. What was she blabbering about for two hours?”
“Dad, is the Dean a fucking bitch?”
“Yep.”
SMACK!
Rachel’s palm landed squarely on my back.
“What are you teaching the Child?”
“She knows it all anyway. Ugh.”
A violent Elf beating her Husband! Anyway, Lee Yeonghui is a total bitch. That’s why she spouted that nonsense about starting classes right after the ceremony. I won’t let her get away with this. Huh? As we walked down the Corridor, there were some unusual figures ahead. There was a small being that reminded me of a Dwarf. Clearly not Human, with an Otherworlder vibe.
“Oh. Is that a Dwarf Tribe?”
It’s my first time seeing one in person. The Dwarf Tribe is usually only mentioned in descriptions. Its presence just a few lines.
“Hmm? Do you know us?”
A hairy Dwarf approached our married couple.
“No, I’ve just never seen a Dwarf Tribe member before.”
A Dwarf’s height. A bushy beard. Truly a Dwarf.
Well, if there are Elves in Korea, there’s no reason there shouldn’t be Dwarves.
“Hahahahaha! Ah, originally, I was a subcontractor supplying weapons for the Reform Guild. But my daughter just got Korean nationality, and she needs to go to school. So I sent her to middle school. Pleased to meet you. My name is Rak. And this is my wife, Kim Miyoung.”
I wasn’t particularly curious, but he just started introducing himself.
“Hello.”
The woman named Kim Miyoung bowed her head.
A hairy, bushy-bearded Dwarf combined with a somewhat thin Woman - that’s an odd pairing.
How does this married couple have sex?
Does the woman go on top? Or does the man pound her from behind like a dog?
Whatever it is, it’s probably a hairy shota fucking a woman.
Come to think of it, the woman being thin is a bit of a turn-off. Anyway, since they’re acting friendly, it’s only Korean courtesy to return the greeting, isn’t it?
“Ah, yes. My name is Yu Eunseok. Pleased to meet you. This is my wife, Rachel, an Elf.”
“Hello.”
“Hoo. An Elf, what a precious connection. Then that child is -”
“Yes. This is our daughter, Ray.”
I introduced Ray, stepping her forward.
There’s no harm in forging a connection with a Dwarf here.
“This Child is our daughter, Ryua. How about our Otherworlder Children get to know each other?”
The Dwarf introduced the brown-haired Girl. Oh, quite cute. Being a Dwarf Tribe member, she’s small. But being a Girl, her smallness is cute. A complete Legal Loli vibe? The Middle School uniform looks pretty nice too.
“Not bad. It seems our daughters are already trying to get friendly.”
No, not at all.
Ray greeted Ryua, then scanned her up and down, practically drooling.
Hmm, truly my daughter. She already seems to be picking out her prey.
Ryua is quite small, so it’s clear Ray is a lolicon.
My daughter is a lolicon. Kate’s virginity might be in danger in the near future.
Hang in there, Kate!
As they chattered on, seeing Ray and Ryua getting friendly was quite heartwarming.
Is this a parent’s heart?
Just as I was awakening to maternal and paternal love, a familiar face appeared.
He’s well-built, but his clothes are always rags.
Yes. Lee Heungbu. That human appeared.
“Dad. You’re an S-rank Hunter, so why is our Household always wearing torn clothes like this?”
There was a little girl wearing something other than a school uniform. It was just a black outfit that looked like a school uniform. Isn’t that a modified mourning dress? Wow, that’s truly awful. It feels like something someone would coordinate in a fashion-focused game to imitate an anime or manga character. He dresses his daughter like that?
“Th-that’s… It’s so this Dad can become stronger, I’ve told you many times!”
“Stronger for what?”
“If I become stronger, won’t I be able to provide for you all?”
He looks too poor for someone who says that. He says he’ll provide, but he maintains poverty to gain strength, uses that strength to provide for his Family, and in the end, poverty is never overcome. What a pathetic situation.
“We always just eat bean rice and kimchi! Waaah!” “That’s how I’ll get even stronger, isn’t it? I’m Korea’s proud S-rank Hunter!” “Other S-rank Hunters live rich lives! Waaah!”
The Child sat down and sobbed uncontrollably.
“Yejin. I’m sorry. But I promise, I’ll definitely buy you a school uniform later!”
“Everyone already treats me like a beggar!”
Hmm, a beggar. She certainly looks like one.
“Wow, she’s a beggar!”
Ray, too, unleashed verbal abuse on the child she’d just met.
“Look! She called me a beggar! Waaah!”
Unbelievable, she’s openly picking a fight.
“Ray, how can you say something like that?”
“Oops.”
Ray belatedly covered her mouth.
If you’re going to say it, say it behind her back. Honestly. “You, Human, that’s not it. Don’t you know how to phrase things more subtly? “You look poor.” That’s more appropriate, isn’t it?”
My wife, indeed. Yes, I should have used the indirect approach.
“No, you two, that’s not right.” “These humans! Are you even parents? How are you teaching your child? Like parent, like daughter! Don’t you care about your daughter?”
The Dwarf interjected, and Lee Heungbu started pointing fingers at us.
Glancing at Lee Heungbu’s daughter, I wondered. Does that bastard even have the right to say that?
“No, I particularly don’t want to hear it from you.” “Ha! You’re an unfit parent!” “Better than making your daughter look like a beggar, I suppose.” “Are you trying to pick a fight with me now?”
I’m a pacifist and don’t like fighting, but I can’t just stand by when someone makes their daughter look like a beggar.
“You. That Man is Lee Heungbu. He’s an S-rank Hunter!”
The Dwarf kept trying to stop me from the side.
No, I’m stronger.
“Are you going to fight that Man here? This is an Academy!”
Rachel tried to stop me, but I needed to make an example here. An S-rank Hunter is starving his daughter to get stronger! And that child is a cute, black-haired girl with a promising future! Girls that age especially shouldn’t be made fun of. She could end up getting bullied at the Academy.
“Shall we try it?” “Are you crazy? That’s Heungbu! A man like you who looks like a gigolo / effeminate man can’t possibly win!”
Wow, this Dwarf is incredibly rude. Should I beat this Human first? No. First, I’ll just beat Heungbu a bit. He’s a Cheongwadae-affiliated Hunter. They can’t just mess with me. But I might be able to provoke him a little.
“Hmph. My love for my daughter surpasses that Human’s.” “What did you say?”
Heungbu’s demeanor changed at my words. He’s an ignorant human by nature. Yet, in his own way, he values his family. This is true even though he doesn’t care about his family’s actual unhappiness. Isn’t Heungbu a truly regrettable character created by Author Yu Eunha? Unlike the Heungbu in the fairy tale, Lee Heungbu is truly ignorant and selfish. He’s no different from Nolbu.
“In short, I won’t lose to a man like you, who makes his daughter look like a beggar.”
“Hoo, alright then. Let’s see you try!”
WHAM!
I blocked Heungbu’s bare fist with surprising ease. As expected, there’s nothing Yongyong-i can’t block. I should show Ray, who’s always cooped up, her Dad’s impressive side.
“Oh dear, I knew this would happen. Huh?”
“My husband is so strong, he won’t lose to anyone.”
Rachel, praise me more, without reservation.
“No, that’s not a matter of strength or anything!”
The surprised Dwarf Married couple and Rachel’s confident expression. Yes. That’s how a husband should be cheered on.
“He’s always like that. If you pay attention, you lose.”
“Wooow! Dad’s the best!”
Hehe. Did you see that, Ray? This is your Dad’s power! I’m different from a Nouveau Riche / Upstart like Lee Heungbu, who has to fight with the power of poverty.
CRACK!
As I made a sound like bones being crushed, Lee Heungbu’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Hmph, look here. I love my daughter more than you do. You have no right to be a Father, you who raise a young daughter of that age like a beggar!” “Do you think I do this for no reason? It’s to preserve my abilities!” “But you’re weaker than me?”
What should I do? He’s weaker than me. As I mockingly squeezed Heungbu’s fist, distorting it, Heungbu’s face contorted.
“!!”
“Wow, you’re losing in words and in strength, so you must be quite embarrassed, aren’t you?”
Heungbu seemed to be putting up a decent fight, but I easily subdued him.
“How can you overpower me with sheer strength?” “Let’s keep it reasonable. Isn’t it embarrassing for a Cheongwadae-affiliated Hunter to act like this?”
It would be best to back down for his dignity at this point. But as I said, Lee Heungbu is ignorant and stubborn. In other words, he’s a hopeless case.
“Whether I’m Cheongwadae-affiliated or not doesn’t matter! I don’t care if my name is mentioned on the internet! My daughter is the most precious thing to me!”
Heungbu, with his thick build, tried to push me relentlessly in the Corridor. However, just as Rachel used her ability, a woman stepped in front of Heungbu, blocking him.
“Honey, stop it!”
Upon closer inspection, it was Lee Heungbu’s Wife. Did she just come from making pickled radish for fried chicken? I can smell chicken oil.