Chapter 118. Daddy Is Here

The day after returning from the Giant Woodland, Kim Do-Joon was already back at the shop. He had sent Siwelin home, telling her to rest. Then, he prepared for the day’s business alone.

Although it seemed like he was pushing himself, this was almost like a break for him. Compared to navigating labyrinths, dungeons, or enduring tough training, manning the store wasn’t all that exhausting.

However, things were a bit different today. There were noticeably more people than usual. After a busy morning, Kim Do-Joon could finally catch a breath in the afternoon.

“Hey, I'm telling you! It's real!”

“Stop lying. How could that even be possible? How can the owner be the same guy from the footage?”

Kim Do-Joon overheard a commotion from outside the shop. Curious, he stood up to check what was happening, assuming it was from customers.

Outside the store, Lee Dong-Gyu, a C-rank Hunter, was pounding his chest in annoyance. He was a regular at this store. Sure, it was because of the stunning clerk, but that wasn’t the point right now. And yet, his friend, who usually shopped at the big, well-known stores, didn’t seem to get it!

“I swear it’s true! I saw the owner watching the store once. I clearly remember him! He is Hunter Kim Do-Joon!”

“No way. Why would someone like him be running a shop? Come on, it makes no sense!”

“You’ll see. Just ask the clerk. Then, you’ll know for sure.”

Still met with disbelief from his friend, Lee Dong-Gyu threw open the door to the shop with a firm resolve.

Ding—

“Welcome.”

As soon as they saw Kim Do-Joon standing behind the counter, both men froze in their tracks. Lee Dong-Gyu, who hadn’t expected to meet the owner in person, was just as shocked as his friend, who had never seen him before. They both gulped nervously.

“See? I told you.”

“M-maybe he just looks like him? You know, there are always a few people who look alike in the world...”

The two whispered to each other in hushed voices. Of course, with Kim Do-Joon’s sharp hearing, he caught every word. He let out a quiet sigh.

In fact, this was why the shop had been so crowded today. Just like these two, a wave of regulars had been flooding in ever since the footage from the Giant Woodland aired. They had recognized him.

“S-Sir! Mr. Kim!” one of them stammered.

“Are you looking for something in particular?” Kim Do-Joon asked, feigning ignorance.

“I’m a huge fan! Could I shake your hand? Please?”

“Oh, uh, sure.”

Kim Do-Joon awkwardly extended his hand, and the man clasped it instantly, as if he were shaking hands with a living legend. Meanwhile, the customer beamed with excitement, seemingly unable to believe his luck.

After all, this was the man who’d taken down the monster that not even Ko Cheng-Cheon could defeat. Although Kim Do-Joon was currently an A-rank, everyone believed he’d rise to S-rank in no time.

Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable when he saw the awestruck look on the customer’s face. Even though he wasn’t a celebrity, they were acting like fans.

Moreover, it wasn’t just this one guy. Since this morning, there had been more than a few similar cases.

“Now I see why Yeon Hong-Ah hates being in the spotlight,” Kim Do-Joon muttered to himself.

Although she was an S-rank Hunter who had returned to the country, not a single outlet reported on her homecoming. She remained entirely off the media's radar, having deliberately avoided any form of exposure.

That was understandable since being on the receiving end of this much attention from strangers wasn’t exactly pleasant.

A few minutes later, after finishing their enthusiastic conversations and buying an entire box of potions, the customers finally left.

“Thank you! I’ll definitely come back again!”

“Me too! I’ll see you next time!”

With that, the shop was silent once more.

Kim Do-Joon sighed deeply as he sat down at the counter. His eyes drifted to the TV, which was playing in the background. He stared at the screen, lost in thought.

“Maybe it’s time to close up the shop for good...”

That familiar thought crept back into his mind. In truth, he had known for a while now that he could just close the shop. His income as a Hunter was already several times—no, several dozen times—greater than what the shop brought in.

He had kept the store open out of habit, appreciating the steady income, but now, it hardly mattered anymore. Besides, the reward from the Giant Woodland alone could secure his family's financial future forever.

At least, if something ever happened to him, his daughter would be financially secure. Although it was a bit morbid, the thought did cross his mind, giving him some comfort.

Hence, maybe it was time to shut down the shop. The only thing holding him back was his attachment to this place.

For the past six years, this shop had been like a second home to him through thick and thin. He’d stayed up countless nights here, worrying about his hospitalized daughter’s future. It was here, too, that they’d celebrated Kim So-Eun’s release from the hospital, hosting a small party.

Here, he’d sworn to himself to cure her illness, Nine Yin Absolute Meridians. Here, he had first summoned and met Siwelin.

This place definitely held many memories, and leaving would feel bittersweet. Nevertheless, he also knew that keeping the shop open out of sentimentality wouldn’t be fair to Siwelin. She had to take care of the store whenever he was away, which was most of the time.

I shouldn’t make any decisions just yet. I should talk it over with Siwelin and decide from there.

With that in mind, he pushed the matter aside for the time being, focusing on running the store.

***

For the next few days, Kim Do-Joon ran the shop, using the time as a chance to rest. One day, he even closed the store entirely to take his family on a small outing. Whenever there were no pressing issues, he made it a habit to take them out for a day trip once a week, or at least every ten days.

After a few days of this routine, quite a short break, considering he had just completed an S-rank dungeon, he found himself holding the key to the Tier 7 Labyrinth.

[Labyrinth Key: Tier 7 Slime Grassland]

Rarity

- Common

Classification

- Key

Effect

- Grants entry to the labyrinth 'Slime Grassland.'

Hmm...

Kim Do-Joon raised an eyebrow at the labyrinth’s name.

Slimes were weak monsters with jelly-like bodies, usually found in F-rank dungeons. While their squishy form made them highly resistant to physical attacks, it also rendered them practically useless in terms of offense. They rarely attacked humans, and their Compatibility was only around 2–3%.

How could something as weak as that appear in a Tier 7 Labyrinth?

It just didn’t make sense. Still, instead of dwelling on it, Kim Do-Joon decided it’d be best if he went in and saw for himself.

With a shrug, he copy-pasted the key’s effect onto himself and used it.

[You have entered the Slime Grassland.]

Then, a vast expanse of lush green fields unfolded before his eyes.

[While staying in this region, the Blessing of Quees will be applied.]

Before he could take in the surroundings or even process what that blessing was, something completely unexpected happened.

[You have received the Blessing of Quees.]

[You will be given rewards for successfully clearing the labyrinth]

[Reward List]

1. Teleportation Stone

2. Tier 8 Labyrinth Key (Random)

Even though he had just entered, a message flashed before his eyes, saying that he had cleared the labyrinth.

***

“What...?”

His eyes widened in disbelief. He had barely set foot in the place, and the stage was already over. The absurdity of the situation left him completely baffled. This was the first time such a thing had happened to him.

Curious, he checked the Blessing mentioned in the message.

[Blessing of Quees]

[

This is a blessing from Quees, the goddess of peace. Her will, which quells all conflict, imbues this area, allowing wounds to heal faster. The blessing disappears when one leaves the territory.]

So, faster healing... but how is that related to clearing the labyrinth?

The connection between receiving the blessing and completing the labyrinth was still unclear.

How is getting a blessing the way to clear this labyrinth? Is it just how the rules work here?

Kim Do-Joon shook his head, deciding to explore the area rather than overthink it. Surely, this couldn’t be it.

The vast grasslands stretched out in all directions, radiating peace. Green fields rolled out before him, and a crystal-clear stream flowed lazily nearby. The sky was a perfect blue, without a single cloud, and the sunlight was warm yet not overbearing.

If he wasn’t in the labyrinth right now, he’d have thought it was a perfect spot for a family picnic. He noticed small slimes bouncing around in the distance, moving aimlessly across the field.

[Pink Slime]

Compatibility

- 2%

The Pink Slime didn’t even seem to care about him, treating him like another piece of the landscape, like a tree or rock. Their Compatibility made it apparent that they were no threat.

There's got to be something more here, though.

With this thought in mind, Kim Do-Joon quickened his pace, exploring the vast area. By the time the sun had started to set, painting the sky in shades of madder, Kim Do-Joon found himself sitting atop a small hill, looking over the tranquil landscape.

After spending an entire day exploring, he had come to one simple conclusion: there was absolutely nothing here.

There were no dangerous monsters nor terrifying bosses lurking in the shadows. Unlike the usual sharp, tense atmosphere of other labyrinths, there wasn’t even a hint of hostility in the air.

The only other place remotely similar to this was the Sky Road, where Jecheon Seong resided. However, even there, the atmosphere had only changed in certain parts, like the staircases leading up to higher levels.

Here, though, the atmosphere was wholly peaceful, almost like the world itself had let out a long, contented sigh.

It must be because of the Blessing of Quees...

"Well, I guess I'll head back."

It felt a bit anticlimactic. He had expected to dive headfirst into some intense battle, but the labyrinth was more peaceful than his own home. Well-rested, he was eager to get back to work. Kim Do-Joon chuckled again, feeling like a workaholic.

With that, Kim Do-Joon activated his Teleportation Stone and headed home.

***

A month had passed, in which Kim Do-Joon had mainly focused on clearing A-rank dungeons and gaining more experience points. At one point, he even set aside some time to return to the Slime Grassland for another look. He spent nearly a week exploring it, hoping to find something he had missed.

However, the result was the same. The Slime Grassland was nothing more than a peaceful rest area with no real threats or challenges.

Alright, I’m done with this place. I’ll head to the 8th-tier labyrinth next.

Kim Do-Joon decided, giving up on trying to find anything of significance in the Slime Grassland. He now set his sights on the next challenge, the Tier 8 labyrinth.

However, he had something else to do that day, which was to pick up Kim So-Eun from kindergarten.

“Daddy!” a cheerful voice called out.

"Hello!” Kwon Soo-Young, Kim So-Eun’s teacher, smiled as she greeted Kim Do-Joon at the kindergarten.

Kim So-Eun was holding tightly onto her hand, smiling brightly. Seeing his daughter so close with her teacher, Kim Do-Joon couldn’t help but smile himself.

"Thank you as always. Is So-Eun doing well?" Kim Do-Joon asked.

“Of course! She’s a real mood-maker for the whole class!” Kwon Soo-Young replied in a warm voice.

Kim Do-Joon chatted with her briefly, asking his usual questions, such as how Kim So-Eun was getting along with her classmates, and whether she had faced any challenges.

After a short conversation, he took Kim So-Eun’s hand and headed toward the parking lot.

"Did you have fun today?" Kim Do-Joon asked as he picked up his daughter.

"Yeah! We drew pictures today!" she exclaimed with a beaming smile.

"Oh? What did you draw?"

"I'll show you later!" Kim So-Eun said, clutching her backpack tightly as if it held a precious secret.

Kim Do-Joon chuckled at the sight. She was always full of surprises.

Just then, a voice cut through the air.

"Hey, isn't that Hunter Kim Do-Joon?"

"It really is!" another voice chimed in.

"Is that his niece? Or maybe his daughter?"

Turning his head, Kim Do-Joon saw three students from the Academy, dressed in their uniforms, running excitedly toward him.

"Hunter Kim Do-Joon! Can we get your autograph?" one of them asked eagerly.

"Is she your daughter? She's so cute!" another student gushed.

Caught off guard by their sudden approach, Kim Do-Joon blinked in surprise. He noticed the awe in the eyes of these students, all aspiring Hunters themselves. They seemed to worship the ground he walked on. After all, he was on the brink of becoming an S-rank Hunter, an elite status that most could only dream of attaining.

Kim So-Eun wasn’t as thrilled. She was shy around strangers, especially ones who were so eager. She quickly hid behind her father’s leg, peeking out cautiously.

One of the students, noticing her hesitance, knelt down and offered her a small lollipop. Kim So-Eun hesitated for a moment, before slowly reaching out and accepting the treat.

Meanwhile, Kim Do-Joon found a pen and piece of paper thrust into his hands.

"I don’t really have an autograph..." Kim Do-Joon muttered, feeling a bit awkward.

He wasn’t one for the spotlight. If he were younger, maybe he would have enjoyed this kind of attention, but fame didn’t appeal to him these days.

"That's okay! Just write anything! Even a short message!" the student insisted.

“Alright then...”

With a sigh, Kim Do-Joon scratched his cheek and picked up the pen.

Maybe just something simple like “Be happy” might work...

However, before the tip of the pen could touch the paper, a deep rumble shook the ground.

“Found you.”

Boom!

Kim Do-Joon snapped his head around, eyes sharp and alert. The source of the disturbance was near the entrance to the Academy, where something enormous and black shot up into the sky. A colossal root, as dark as night, erupted from the earth, towering high as if tearing the heavens asunder.

"What the—!"

"I-it’s the root!”

The students around him froze in panic, their faces went pale as fear settled in.

Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—

Alarms blared throughout the Academy grounds.

Kim Do-Joon, too, watched the scene with a serious expression, already assessing the situation. Momentarily, his features softened as he turned back to his daughter. He couldn’t afford to make her worry.

"So-Eun, come here," he said gently with a look of tranquility, scooping her up into his arms. She also clung tightly to him.

"A-are we going to be okay, Daddy?" Kim So-Eun’s small voice quivered.

The sound of the sirens unsettled her.

"It’s okay. Daddy's here," he reassured her, patting her back in reassurance.

Seeing Kim Do-Joon’s calm demeanor, the students began to pull themselves together.

"Right! We’ve got an S-rank Hunter here. What’s there to worry about?" one of them muttered, trying to bolster his courage.

"Yeah, and there are still guards and teachers around, too," another added, albeit their voice still held traces of fear.

Despite their words, unease clung to the air and the situation quickly escalated.

Boom! Boom!

Dozens of roots started to burst from the ground all around the Academy, surrounding the entire campus. Instead of releasing monsters like normal roots, they formed a dome-like barrier, encasing the Academy inside.

Beep— Beep— Beep— Click.

As the last bit of sunlight disappeared behind the black roots, plunging the area into darkness, the blaring sirens abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie silence in their wake.

What met their eyes was something out of a nightmare—a twisted, chaotic landscape. White trees had sprung up everywhere, intertwining with the Academy buildings. It was as if the entire world had been warped into a tangled forest, trapping them inside.