Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 369

Kyuu! A sudden, adorable cry rang out from somewhere nearby.

Cecilia turned her gaze toward Do-Jun’s wrist, where a tiny baby snake was bouncing in place, letting out cheerful little sounds as if begging to be noticed. Do-Jun gave a small chuckle at the display and gently stroked Ouroboros’ head with his index finger.

Realizing that the creature coiled around Do-Jun’s wrist wasn’t just an ordinary Status Window Snake but Ouroboros himself, Cecilia was briefly stunned. Still, she showed no visible reaction. After all, Do-Jun was the man chosen by Ouroboros, and so it made perfect sense that Do-Jun had been acknowledged by him.

Kyuu, kyuu!

Cecilia heard something rustling and saw a zipper bag full of almonds. Seeing the Great Ouroboros allied with Do-Jun, Cecilia felt a strange wave of sentimentality.

“I see... Adventurer, you’ve already been acknowledged by—” She was interrupted when Do-Jun casually pulled out an almond and tossed it about ten meters away.

In a flash, Ouroboros darted after it like a pet, leaping high into the air and snapping at it. He ate the almond and returned.

Momentarily speechless, Cecilia shook her head and said again, “You’ve been ack—”

Only to be interrupted by the same thing.

“Acknowle—”

Kyuu!

After repeating the process several times, Do-Jun finally closed the zipper bag and tucked it away. Ouroboros let out a satisfied burp and coiled back into his bracelet form.

“W-what are you doing right now?” Cecilia asked hesitantly.

“Sometimes he practically begs me to play with him like that,” Do-Jun replied.

One day, Ouroboros saw a golden retriever playing fetch with a frisbee at a park, and since then, it had started asking Do-Jun to play food-fetching games every now and then.

Do-Jun shrugged it off like it was nothing, but if any other administrator had seen this scene, their jaw would have dropped. Even if Do-Jun was unlike any other adventurer, the idea of treating Ouroboros like a household pet was utterly unthinkable.

Cecilia stared blankly for a while before her face turned somber. “I’m sorry, adventurer.”

“Hm?”

“I... made you suffer so much.”

Do-Jun was put through countless returns, and it wasn’t a blessing. If anything, it had been a curse. To die, and die again, yet keep on living, with no end to the cycle in sight. Cecilia wasn’t sure exactly how much time he had experienced.

For a human, living for thousands, no, millions, billions of years must have been a torment. There was no doubt about it. That amount of time couldn’t possibly be considered short. No, it was far too long. Any ordinary person would’ve gone mad ages ago.

Do-Jun replied, “Really, I should be thanking you.”

“What do you mean...?”

“Thanks to you, I have the power to protect the people I love.”

According to what Cecilia said, without the help of Ouroboros and Cecilia, Do-Jun would never have been able to live the life he enjoyed now. Waking up every morning with a cup of coffee and the newspaper. Feeling a sense of purpose while working with colleagues. Coming home after work to a family that welcomed him warmly and sharing dinner with them. All those things he considered normal wouldn’t have existed in the first place.

“If it weren’t for you, the world would’ve remained in ruin,” Do-Jun said.

“Thank you for saying that. But I want to make one thing clear. The current Core was built by you, adventurer. We used to hate and resent one another. It was a harsh world where every day was a desperate struggle to survive. But now...”

Things were different. When one looked around the Core now, it brought a smile. The deep-rooted hatred was gone, and in its place, seeds of happiness were beginning to sprout. It was no longer a world where one had to kill someone, grind endlessly, or scheme and deceive just to live another day. Now, people trusted each other. They worked together. They cherished one another as comrades.

“I don’t think our world became the way it is today only because of your strength. If that were all it took, Ouroboros wouldn’t have chosen you,” Cecilia said.

She checked the Forum every day. She had watched the world known as the Core change daily from the front row, and it was reshaped by a single man named Lee Do-Jun. A butterfly effect spreading outward from a single human.

“Solomon, despite holding both Keys and being the strongest being in the entire universe, couldn’t become the King of the Dimensions. But you, Adventurer, you can do it. No, in fact, you’re the only one who can. You’re the only one who can rise above everyone else and bring about Ataraxia—peace. So please... stop him.” Her voice was filled with sorrow as she made the request.

Do-Jun understood why.

Cecilia probably still felt camaraderie for Solomon. After all, they had been the very first Transcendents. They rose and survived together in the Core. Solomon had likely kept Cecilia alive until now for the same reason.

“Alright...” Do-Jun smiled and reached out to pat Cecilia on the head.

She felt the warmth of his hand and was overcome with a quiet happiness. Then, watching his back as he departed for the Deep Realm, she raised her hand and waved.

***

Though the sun never rose in the Deep Realm, the brilliant blue moon high in the sky softly illuminated the land in its place. Some regions were mountainous, while others were vast oceans. Elsewhere, lava boiled violently, and lightning struck without pause. For adventurers newly arriving in this harsh environment, death could come quickly and without warning. That was why, at the “entrance” visible immediately upon stepping into the Deep Realm, a Guide was always on standby.

It’s been a thousand years. The Guide let out a long yawn, waiting idly for the arrival of a new adventurer.

His role was to assist those entering the Deep Realm for the first time, serving as a so-called helper. He helped adventurers transitioning from the fifteenth floor of the Core adjust to life in the Deep Realm.

The once-in-a-millennium Administrator Report Conference was coming up. It was an event where all administrators from the Core and the Deep Realm gathered in one place. Everyone was expected to report their activities and results to the god-tier administrators overseeing them.

The Guide knew the current situation wasn’t ideal. He had nothing to report because no new adventurers had come to the Deep Realm in a very long time.

Just then, the sound of the Deep Realm Portal activating rang out behind him. Startled, the Guide turned around toward the portal. A swirl of dazzling colors shimmered as a single adventurer emerged from the light. He couldn’t help but smile widely, though he quickly smoothed his expression into something more dignified.

A man stepped out of the portal. The Guide carefully examined his outfit. It was the shabbiest armor he’d ever seen on any adventurer. In fact, he wasn’t even sure it was armor. Still, he now had work to do.

“Welcome to the Deep Realm, adventurer!” he shouted in a deep, commanding voice.

Normally, adventurers would flinch a little and brace themselves, but this man showed no such reaction. Instead, Do-Jun opened the Interpreter and checked the Guide’s information.

The Guide welcomed him with complete sincerity and exceptional customer service. “Don’t think that just because you made it through the three trials, you’re something special! Compared to the true powerhouses of the Deep Realm, you’re less than a drop in the ocean! They possess strength beyond your wildest imagination, so don’t get cocky! Ah, and if you’re wondering who I am—I am the Guide! From this moment on, I will teach you how to survive in the Deep Realm. Consider yourself honored.”

Back when thousands of adventurers were pouring in, he often couldn’t be bothered and would brush them off. But now, grateful to finally have someone to train, and with the hope of boosting his own performance evaluation, he decided to pass on some knowledge about the Deep Realm’s geography and customs.

Do-Jun debated just walking away, but seeing the sparkle in the Guide’s eyes, he decided to give in.

The Guide spoke in a solemn tone, “First, the Deep Realm is filled with countless powerhouses. Surely you know this, adventurer!”

Do-Jun gave a slight nod.

A ranking board appeared in front of him.

The Guide pointed to one ranker after another. “It’s best to avoid these individuals whenever possible. But! As you roam the Deep Realm, you’ll inevitably run into them. Therefore, you must familiarize yourself with the ranking board starting today. Understood? Also, you must clearly memorize the territories each ranker controls.”

“Hm.”

“‘Hm’? That’s it? You clearly don’t understand the gravity of the situation. A single mistake could send you straight to your grave in the Deep Realm!”

“So I’ve heard,” Do-Jun commented dryly.

Next to the ranking board, the Guide projected a map of the Deep Realm. In the center of the map was a small red dot, and around that dot, a red circle had been drawn.

“Take note: this circle marks the territory of one of the powerhouses. Specifically, it belongs to the Transcendent known as Wei Zhongqi, the Jade-Faced Noble. He’s ranked within the top ten, and his strength is absolutely fearsome. You got that?”

Do-Jun lifted his gaze and looked toward the peak of Mount Yeongryunsan. Shrouded in thick mist, a small home sat perched at its summit. Wei Zhongqi had once traveled to Earth for the very first time. Now that Do-Jun stood here, looking up at his home, the roles felt oddly reversed.

“And these... traditions you mentioned?” Do-Jun asked.

“Hoho. Excellent question, adventurer. That would be paying respects to the rankers. You express your intent to get along with them. That way, your odds of survival go up just a little. You understand, yes?”

Seeing Do-Jun nod, the Guide replied, “Good, then follow me. I shall escort you to Wei Zhongqi’s residence. Oh, right, if you’re lucky, you might even get a taste of Earth’s food. Ah, you may not know what Earth food is. Allow me to explain just how delicious something called ramen can be...”

***

“To the noble Jade-Faced Noble! The humble Guide comes bearing a new adventurer to pay respects!”

Wei Zhongqi, who had just finished washing the dishes and was resting inside, let out a long sigh at the booming voice echoing from the courtyard. He had forgotten all about the old tradition: the “Welcome Visit.”

Back when things were busy, there were days when more than ten people showed up at once. And he couldn’t exactly turn away those who had come all this way.

He opened his door with a creak and stepped onto the porch. Upon seeing Do-Jun’s face, he blinked in mild surprise, then bowed his head in greeting. He hadn’t expected to see Do-Jun at his home today, but he knew it was bound to happen someday.