Chapter Text
The Monarch’s Toughest Raid
The war with the Monarchs was over.
But the world had not reset.
Gates still tore open the sky like wounds that refused to heal, and the people of Seoul had long since learned that the swirl of blue light in the clouds could mean anything from minor inconvenience… to total catastrophe.
But inside the Sung household, a far more difficult battle was underway.
One involving baby bottles, stubborn Hunters, and one extremely overprotective ant.
“Explain it to me again,” said Sung Jin-woo, leaning against the kitchen counter with folded arms. “Slowly this time.”
His voice had once shaken monsters.
Now it sounded like a tired husband who had already lost the argument but refused to surrender.
Across the kitchen, Cha Hae-in zipped up her hunter gear.
“I’m going back to work.”
“You’re rushing this.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
Jin-Woo sighed.
“Our son,” he said patiently, “is nine months old. Nine. Months. Old.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Yes. I am aware.”
“We have more money than the Korean government,” he continued. “If you want luxury, I can clear a dungeon break before breakfast.”
“That’s not the point.”
She stepped toward him and poked his chest.
“I am an S-Rank Hunter, Jin-Woo. When gates open and people scream, I feel it in my bones.”
She gestured toward the window.
“If I sit at home forever, I’ll go insane.”
Jin-Woo rubbed the back of his neck.
“…You could try hobbies.”
“Hobbies?”
“Yes.”
“Like what?”
“Gardening.”
“You control an army of undead.”
“Indoor gardening.”
She stared at him.
“…I married an idiot.”
He grinned.
At that moment the door opened.
“Oppa, I’m here—”
Sung Jin-Ah stepped into the kitchen, her arms full of bags from her visit to a nearby market.
She paused.
“…Why are you both wearing battle expressions in the kitchen?”
Hae-In pointed dramatically.
“Your brother refuses to hire a nanny.”
Jin-Woo pointed back.
“Your sister-in-law wants to return to fighting monsters while our son still thinks spoons are magical artifacts.”
Jin-Ah blinked.
“…That sounds reasonable.”
“Which one?”
“Yes.”
She dropped her bags onto the counter and grabbed a drink.
“Also,” she added, “the neighbors asked if the giant black shadow crawling across the ceiling yesterday was normal.”
Jin-Woo coughed.
“That might’ve been Beru.”
In the living room, the topic of discussion was currently sitting on the carpet.
Beru looked like a nightmare given form.
His towering ant body gleamed like polished obsidian under the sunlight pouring through the window. Layered plates of chitin overlapped across his torso like armor forged by some alien blacksmith. His limbs were long and blade-edged, though currently tucked carefully inward so nothing sharp pointed toward the tiny human in front of him.
His antennae twitched constantly.
His compound eyes glowed faintly violet.
And in the center of this terrifying creature…
Was a baby.
Sung Su-ho crawled forward at alarming speed.
“YOUNG LIEGE!” Beru exclaimed.
His voice echoed like stone grinding together.
“The floor is treacherous!”
Su-Ho squealed happily.
He slapped the carpet.
Then he reached Beru’s leg.
Then he began climbing it.
Beru froze.
“AH.”
The infant grabbed one of Beru’s antennae.
“Gaa!”
Beru stiffened like a statue.
“Your Majesty’s offspring possesses incredible grip strength,” he whispered reverently.
Su-Ho tugged harder.
“GAA!”
Beru carefully lifted him.
His massive claws—normally capable of slicing armored hunters in half—moved with absurd precision as he cradled the child.
The baby grabbed his mandible.
“Please do not pull the mandible, Young Liege,” Beru murmured gently.
Su-Ho pulled harder.
“…I shall endure.”
Jin-Ah entered the living room, bags still in hand, and froze.
“Oppa.”
Jin-Woo appeared beside her.
“Yes?”
“…The giant ant is letting the baby chew his face.”
“Correct.”
Beru stood proudly.
“The Prince tests my durability.”
Su-Ho slapped his forehead.
Jin-Ah sighed.
“Why is this normal in my life?”
Inside his mind, Beru was deeply satisfied.
Igris would be too rigid.
Bellion too formal.
But I…
…possess the perfect balance of lethality and childcare.
Su-Ho grabbed both antennae.
Beru did not move.
“I will endure any suffering for the Young Liege.”
The baby drooled on his face.
“…Any suffering.”
Two weeks later…
Chaos.
The twelfth nanny candidate ran screaming from the house.
“WAIT!” Hae-In shouted.
The woman did not wait.
She sprinted down the street.
Inside the dining room, Hae-In dropped into a chair.
“This is a nightmare.”
Jin-Woo sipped tea.
“I warned you.”
She pointed at Beru.
“This is YOUR fault.”
Beru tilted his head.
“Explain.”
“The last nanny asked if you were friendly!”
Beru nodded.
“I answered honestly.”
Flashback:
The candidate had nervously pointed.
“…Is the guard dog friendly?”
Beru leaned forward.
His mandibles clicked.
“I prefer harvesting the heads of my enemies.”
The woman fainted.
Beru continued.
“But the Great King commands I guard the Prince. If you fail him, your passing shall be swift.”
End flashback.
Back in the dining room:
“BERU!” Hae-In groaned.
“That was mercy!”
“You can’t threaten the nanny!”
“I did not threaten. I explained consequences.”
Jin-Woo snorted into his tea.
The door opened again.
“Did someone die this time?” Jin-Ah asked.
“No,” Hae-In said weakly.
“Just another nanny.”
Jin-Ah sat down, smiling mischievously.
“…Have you tried not terrifying them?”
Beru spoke immediately.
“I radiate safety.”
“YOU LOOK LIKE A DEMON.”
“A protective demon.”
The stalemate ended thanks to Park Kyung-hye.
She arrived that evening carrying bags of food.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
Hae-In sighed.
“Every agency blacklisted us.”
Kyung-Hye looked toward Beru.
He was attempting to fold baby clothes.
With claws.
It was not going well.
“…Yes,” she said slowly. “I can see why.”
Then she smiled.
“But I may have a solution.”
Everyone looked up.
“There’s a woman who visits my shop,” she explained.
“She’s Japanese but speaks perfect Korean. Former kindergarten teacher. Professional nanny.”
Jin-Woo narrowed his eyes.
“Is she easily frightened?”
Kyung-Hye smiled mysteriously.
“She once broke up a fight between drunk hunters.”
Jin-Ah grinned.
“Oh, I like her already.”
Hae-In grabbed Kyung-Hye’s hands.
“Do you think she’ll come?”
“She’s curious,” Kyung-Hye said.
“She said a house with a dedicated guardian is the safest place for a child.”
Everyone looked at Beru.
He stood taller.
“I shall evaluate her.”
“No threats!” Hae-In said immediately.
“…No direct threats.”
Jin-Woo smirked.
“Well,” he said.
“Let’s see if this nanny can survive the Shadow Monarch’s house.”
Beru’s eyes glowed.
“I look forward to the trial.”
Su-Ho clapped happily.
No one was sure why.