Walking Daddy

- Is this Daddy?

“Yeah! You beat up bad monsters and save people! Just like Superman. So, Daddy, you’re Superman.”

I hugged So-Yeon without saying a word. I felt her warmth. I felt like I didn’t deserve this kind of love from her. I closed my eyes and remained there for a long while.

I felt So-Yeon squirming in my arms. She wasn’t trying to escape my hug, but was trying to hug me even more tightly. As the subtle scent of her shampoo tickled my nose, I suddenly felt sad. I couldn’t figure out why the shampoo’s scent had triggered this emotion, but my heart felt suddenly heavy.

I took out my notepad.

- So-Yeon sweetie.

“Hmm?”

- Do you still like Daddy?

“Hmm? Why wouldn’t I like you Daddy!? You’re my Daddy!”

- Well, Daddy’s been too busy to even play with my sweetie.

“I’m all grown up now! And the uncles and aunts are nice to me too. I have a lot of friends.”

- Then, you aren’t lonely even when Daddy doesn’t come back after going outside?

I followed up with a rather sensitive question. I was worried that she might take it the wrong way.

So-Yeon stared blankly at the sentence I wrote, and after a moment, she turned her bright eyes to meet mine.

“Why isn’t Daddy coming back?”

- Of course I’m coming back. I’ll come back quickly, since Daddy wants to see So-Yeon.

So-Yeon scratched her chin with her fingers, her expression growing perplexed. It seemed like she didn’t know what I was trying to say. I continued to write.

- Well, Daddy can’t always come back early. When work gets hard, Daddy has to stay out late, maybe even a few days. Is So-Yeon sweetie okay with this?

“Hmm… How many nights will you be away?”

- Unfortunately, Daddy doesn’t know either. It could be a day, two days, or maybe a few months. So that’s why Daddy wants to get permission from So-Yeon to go.

“And you won’t leave if I don’t let you go?”

- Daddy will stay here if So-Yeon doesn’t want me to go.

I smiled as warmly as possible so that So-Yeon wouldn’t get upset. She pondered for a moment, then asked with a puzzled expression,

“If Daddy doesn’t go out... Can Daddy play with me?”

- Yes, of course.

“Then what happens to the people outside if Daddy doesn’t leave?”

Her voice was so soft; it was barely a croak. She fidgeted as she waited for my reply.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t think of a proper answer to her question.

I couldn\'t be honest, but at the same time, I couldn\'t lie to her. I sighed and wrote down some words.

- Daddy thinks my So-Yeon is the most precious thing in the world. You know that too right, sweetheart?

"Yeah… But what about the people outside?”

- Well, they’ll have to figure something out on their own.

“Then no!”

So-yeon pouted her lower lip and turned away from me. As I put my hand on So-Yeon\'s shoulder, she shook it off and grunted, as if she was unhappy with my answer.

I wondered why she was suddenly acting this way. Was it because I said I wasn’t going to save other people?

My eyes fell on the Superman drawing she drew. I wondered if she was proud of me because I was like Superman.

I scratched my forehead, not knowing what to do.

So-yeon quickly turned around and picked up the sketchbook from the floor. She pointed to the man in the drawing.

“Daddy is Superman who beats up bad guys and saves good guys! Why won’t you go and save other people?”

- Daddy might come back late or might only come back after a couple of days if Daddy goes to save others. Is So-Yeon okay with this?

"Yeah! I’m okay with it now!"

Her anger turned to sadness in an instant. However, her expression soon grew complicated. It seemed that she also didn’t know how she was feeling about the whole thing.

It seemed like she wasn’t okay with me going out, but the fact that I wouldn’t be rescuing others was more disappointing to her.

I wondered if she was going back and forth between logic and emotion. She clearly understood the situation with her mind, but her heart wasn’t on board. It seemed like she was processing several complicated feelings.

I hugged her again. She looked awfully cute when she was thinking.

I was proud that So-Yeon had learned how to be understanding, and to care for others and their emotions.

‘My So-Yeon is becoming a more understanding person by the day.\'

I stroked So-Yeon\'s head. She finally spoke, her voice filled with regret.

“Daddy.”

I noticed that she was looking at me with puffy cheeks.

As I tilted my head, her voice took on a sulky tone.

“Can you come back early and play with me after saving a lot of people?”

It finally felt like she was telling me what she really wanted. It seemed like she couldn’t give up on either one of her options.

I was grateful and proud that she had turned into an amazing person who knew how to express her feelings to others honestly.

If that was so, I had to treat her as a proper human being, and not as a child.

- So-Yeon.

“...Yes?”

- Thank you for being honest. Since So-Yeon was honest with Daddy, Daddy will try to be honest as well.

She nodded without saying a word and looked at me in the eyes. I smiled gently and kept writing.

- The monsters outside are getting stronger and stronger. If Daddy doesn’t go and defeat the bad guys right now, the bad guys will get too strong for Daddy to do anything. What do you think will happen if that happens?

"Hmm… What?”

- The uncles and aunts that So-Yeon likes will be in danger.

"I don’t want that to happen."

- Right? Daddy doesn’t want that to happen either. So do you think it’ll be better for Daddy to go and defeat the bad guys before they get stronger?

She nodded again. This time, she nodded with a little more vigor. I stroked So-yeon\'s hair for a moment, then continued writing.

- Then, what should So-yeon do until Daddy comes back after defeating the bad guys?

"Hmm… I don\'t know."

- You have to study hard, listen to your uncles and aunts, and if the uncles and aunts get scared, you have to help them feel better. Okay sweetie?

Soyeon pursed her lips and nodded. I pinched So-Yeon\'s cheeks lightly, admiring her cuteness. She let out a cute little squeal, then hugged me.

I patted So-Yeon on the back to soothe her aching heart. I didn’t feel comfortable either, knowing that I had to make my young daughter understand this situation.

I remembered hearing about how maturing too quickly could adversely affect the emotional development of a child. I hoped that So-Yeon wouldn’t grow up like that.

So-Yeon rubbed her face against my chest.

“You have to come back in ten nights at the most.”

I rubbed Soyeon\'s back instead of answering.

There was a saying that time passed more slowly for children compared to adults. Even if you spent the same hour together, the hour would zoom past in an instant for an adult, while it was long enough to make a strong impression on a child.

So-Yeon was giving me ten nights. What one learned when one raised children was that ten nights could feel like an eternity for them. Maybe she meant that she wanted me to save that many people during the time I was away.

My heart ached once again as I realized just how generous and kind So-Yeon had grown to be.

After a while, So-Yeon looked up at me, large teardrops falling from the corners of her eyes. She held out her pinky finger. I smiled gently and promised her that, whenever I went out from now on, I would come back before ten nights passed.

“And Daddy has to play with me when Daddy gets back.”

I nodded vigorously. I vowed to myself that I would keep this promise no matter what.

* * *

I quickly headed to Shelter Silence. The sun had almost set, and darkness was just around the corner.

As I got closer to Silence\'s hospital, I saw Hwang Ji-Hye and Kim Hyeong-Jun waiting for me. It really seemed like they’d reached as soon as the sun went down, as mentioned earlier.

Kim Hyeong-Jun spotted me first and waved gently.

‘Over here, ahjussi.\'

\'You’re here early.\'

\'No, you’re late, ahjussi.\'

\'Did you have to wait long?\'

\'No. Actually, I just arrived as well.\'

Kim Hyeong-Jun smirked and scratched his head, as though embarrassed for acting like a jerk.

I chuckled and looked at Hwang Ji-Hye, who was standing next to him. She looked slightly nervous. I understood why she would be. After all, even though she was the group leader, she was only human.

I could tell that meeting the enemy leader face-to-face would be a nerve-wracking experience for her.

I took out my notepad.

- Don’t be nervous. We’re here with you.

“Who… Who says I’m nervous?” Hwang Ji-Hye asserted, frowning at me.

She pretended to be bold, but she couldn’t hide the tremor in her voice. I smiled faintly and nodded. She looked around and dropped her voice lower.

“Follow me. We have to exit without anyone noticing us. If you see anyone, tell me.”

I planned on tapping her on the arm instead, since I couldn’t talk.

Kim Hyeong-Jun and I followed her lead, walking as quietly as we could.

As we headed through the secluded pathway, we passed broken tree branches and tall grass. This definitely wasn’t an ordinary passageway.

We followed Hwang Ji-Hye for about three minutes, and found ourselves in front of a tall wall. She looked around, making sure that there was no one nearby.

After a moment, she crouched down and began moving branches aside, revealing a hatch that led to a tunnel in the ground, barely large enough for a single person to squeeze through. She gave me a once-over and then asked, “Do you think you can get through?”

I didn’t understand why she would ask me such a question. I was going to dig my way out if I had to.

Hwang Ji-Hye entered the hole first, followed by Kim Hyeong-Jun. I gritted my teeth as I passed through the tunnel. It was so narrow that most adult males would have trouble getting through. My physique didn’t help at all getting through it. I struggled using my hands and feet to push myself through.

I barely made it through to the other side. Hwang Ji-hye chuckled while brushing off the dirt off my body.

“Hyeon-Deok, you can easily jump over a wall this height, right?”

I nodded.

“Should I have just told you to jump over instead?”

“...”

This woman had some jokes under her belt.

I smacked my lips and forced a smile. Hwang Ji-Hye grinned.

"I’m just kidding. If you had jumped over the wall, the guards would’ve noticed. But from now on, you’ll have to lead the way.”

I walked in front, trying to keep my expression neutral. Kim Hyeong-Jun glanced at my face.

‘She got you good, ahjussi. Hahaha!’

\'Shut up.\'

I shushed him out of embarrassment and hurried to the apartment.

As we entered the living room, I saw the enemy leader, who looked a little tired.

He looked at me, Kim Hyeong-Jun, and Hwang Ji-Hye, then smirked.

“You’ve started dating now?”

I snorted at the enemy leader’s lousy provocation.

\'Well, we all know that you won’t be dating for sure.’

“Hahaha!”

The enemy leader burst into laughter and shook his head.

Hwang Ji-hye tilted her head after seeing our interaction.

“That guy… Why is he laughing all of a sudden?”

I scribbled an answer for her.

- We look into each other\'s eyes when we communicate.

“When you communicate? You can tell what the other person is thinking just by looking into their eyes?”

I nodded, and Hwang Ji-Hye looked back and forth between Kim Hyung-jun and me, unable to hide her surprise.

I figured it’d be pretty fascinating for her. But since I couldn’t explain it in depth, I looked back at the enemy leader.

\'So, have you taken your time to think?\'

“About what? Did I even have a choice? Or are you asking how I’ve been all this time? If I have to give you an answer, I’m getting used to having no arms and legs since your underlings have been biting them off whenever they begin to regenerate.”

The enemy leader was acting as though nothing could affect him, just as I expected. I wanted to know how long he could keep his cool.

I looked at Hwang Ji-Hye and signaled her to execute our plan.

After seeing me nod, she took out the photo from her pocket and walked in front of the enemy leader so that he could see it.

“The man in this photo, it’s you, isn’t it?”

The enemy leader looked at the photo calmly, but a frown quickly spread across his face.

His brazen attitude and cool demeanor disappeared, and he looked at us with cold, murderous eyes.

The enemy leader fixed his glowing red eyes on Hwang Ji-Hye.

“Why do you have this photo?”