Chapter 371 – Gentlemen Walking the Path of Dominance (1)
The exhaustion of parents raising children fades away.
The anticipation of the amusement park is buried in the long waiting line.
And no one cares about any of these things.
On a Children’s Day where rest has become a shallow joke,
a bunch of barking idiots were walking toward kindergarten.
“Finally, the day the guild’s founding goal is achieved.”
“I’ve dreamed of this day!”
“Yay! I’m so happy!”
They are none other than the members of the ‘Dominance – The Path of Excellence’ guild.
They were proving to be a large guild by their overwhelming numbers.
And naturally, the diversity of their members was vast as well.
Middle-aged, elderly, young women, and men, among others.
“It’s time to farm my fourth wife.”
“Since it’s come to this, I should aim for someone else’s daughter before mine!”
Even the Executive Director and Vice Master, who hadn’t attended the meeting the day before, were present.
You could say that all the guild members were gathered—except for Kim Shinwoo.
“This mission requires speed. Got it?”
“Guild Master! I have a question!”
In the midst of it, a rookie hurriedly spoke up.
In his mind, he thought he sounded calm, but.
The slight tremble in his voice hinted at a bit of anxiety.
This naturally led to the criticisms of others.
“You said speed is essential, but what the hell is this guy talking about?”
“How many times have I said we need to hurry!”
“At this rate, the kids will grow up already!!!”
“No, it’s okay. Go ahead. We still have some ease, after all.”
Still, when the Guild Master gestured, the criticisms died down a bit.
Taking that opportunity, the rookie cautiously asked the Guild Master a more specific question.
Trying to shake off the bit of anxiety stuck in his heart.
“Guild Master, can we just go in right away?”
“Sure. I’ve already told the kindergarten director.”
“Indeed, you are the Guild Master!”
Thanks to the Guild Master’s answer,
the rookie’s last bit of anxiety melted away like snow.
Now all that was left was to quickly get everyone into the kindergarten.
With even the fragments of negative emotions transformed into anticipation,
the Guild Master suddenly stopped walking and looked back at everyone.
“Ah, just in case, I’ll mention this.”
As soon as he spoke, eager eyes all gathered on the Guild Master.
Meeting their gaze, the Guild Master gently smiled.
“Today is a public holiday, so anyone who wants to rest now can go home.”
The sudden words from the Guild Master settled the excited atmosphere.
What followed was a short yet heavy silence.
And then—
“Are you telling us to wait until the kids grow up?”
“What the hell! Do you want a penalty kick?”
“Even if you’re the Guild Master, you’ve crossed the line this time!”
“Stop playing with our feelings, let’s go get the kids already!!!”
It was a cacophony of protests.
With just their fervor alone, it felt like they could kill someone,
but the Guild Master simply smiled in the face of it.
As if he rather enjoyed it.
The grievances only grew louder, but as the Guild Master subtly posed a question, they began to quiet down one by one.
“You all seem very passionate. Then I’ll ask you one question.”
Everyone, with complicated feelings, waited for the Guild Master’s next words,
and to untangle their knotted hearts, the Guild Master’s mouth slowly opened.
“What is kindergarten, exactly?”
At that statement, two enthusiastic rookies quickly raised their hands.
Truly the model behavior of rookies.
Of course, what came out of their mouths were—
“It’s the paradise of children, Kid-topia!”
“No! It’s the space where kids run around, Kid-Park!”
Far from being model answers.
In fact, their statements were quite dangerous.
They could be sued by any company at a moment’s notice.
“It’s not a perfect answer, but it’s a satisfactory response!”
The Guild Master clapped his hands and expressed his admiration,
but the bold rookies quickly expressed their doubts.
Why was their answer lacking?
“Is that not enough?”
“What is the correct answer! Teach us!”
If we must argue, it seemed like they lacked humanity more than anything.
But anyone who worried about that wouldn’t be here.
Soon, the Guild Master cleared his throat,
and willingly opened his mouth to meet the eager gazes of many.
“It’s a shopping mall.”
For a moment, doubts began to fill the eyes looking at the Guild Master,
but as soon as the Guild Master continued speaking,
“Because you go for ‘Kid-shopping’!”
Those doubts were instantly resolved, and everyone couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
One would mistake them for martial artists shaking off their stress.
Well, if you must argue, that would be a fitting description.
“This is the Dominance, huh…”
“I almost fainted from shock! This is the aura of the Pe King…!”
“That was truly a remarkable statement grounded in Pe-minism!”
There were no human beings among the martial artists.
Seeing their admiration, the Guild Master smiled contentedly and began to quickly explain the plans they were about to execute.
There wasn’t much of a plan, to be honest.
Check the number of kids.
Lure them with enticing items.
Then move with the caught kids in tow.
And once the tasks are completed, take them back to kindergarten—that would be all.
“How does that sound? Simple, right?”
The Guild Master finished explaining with a bright smile.
As if their future was truly bright.
“So we just need to stuff the kids into this ‘Kids box,’ right?”
“We’ll hook them with something like an ‘iPad’ they’d enjoy!”
“By the way, my car is an ‘i50’! This is truly perfect for the occasion!”
“Haha! Thanks to you all, our country has become an ‘i-IT’ powerhouse!”
Although their conversation painted a future that’s infinitely gloomy.
Before long, the noisy procession reached its climax.
Finally, they arrived in front of the kindergarten.
Just then, the Guild Master shook hands with someone waiting in front.
“Welcome. Everything is ready.”
“Nice to meet you, Director.”
The person was the director of the kindergarten whom the Guild Master had contacted beforehand.
The two exchanged bright smiles and began expressing their gratitude.
“I received the deposit fee properly. I’ll use it wisely.”
“Ah, Director, you should say it properly. It’s a support fund.”
“Ah, right. It’s the kindergarten support fund. Hahaha.”
“Anyway, we are the ones who should be thankful. Hehe.”
Their laughter seemed to grow deeper.
“Ah, but I didn’t expect you to send a vanguard.”
“…Pardon?”
If not for the director’s subsequent words.
An awkward silence arose from their differing perceptions.
The Guild Master felt a slight chill; something felt off.
“…Wait, isn’t it? It seems quite a number of people came?”
“Ah, right. Yes, we did send a vanguard.”
To that, the Guild Master had to affirm it.
There was no way he could let this golden opportunity slip away.
“Ah, what a relief.”
“Haha…ha…”
“All are gathered in the innermost ‘Star Class.’ If you can’t see them there, they should be in the room inside.”
“…Thank you.”
While maintaining the least awkward smile possible,
the Guild Master quickly scanned the gathering of guild members with his eyes.
‘……Looks like no one is missing here…’
As soon as they entered the kindergarten, soon after, a team leader quickly approached the Guild Master.
He was showing at least some awareness befitting a team leader.
After all, he had maintained silence before the kindergarten director until then.
“Guild Master, is something wrong?”
“Haha… it’s nothing. The vanguard arrived earlier than I expected.”
Eventually, the Guild Master forced a smile as he responded.
“Truly, you are the Guild Master! You are this thorough in preparations!”
“W-well, of course…”
In response to that, the team leader expressed his admiration.
Meanwhile, the Guild Master’s heart was racing with impatience.
‘Is there a competitor…?’
It felt ridiculous to think if anyone would compete over this.
Yet, for the Guild Master, it was only natural to be dead serious.
This guild was created for this very purpose.
But that worry didn’t last long.
The Guild Master was sure of himself.
‘But surely, no one will dare attempt anything in front of these members.’
The kindergarten was not a place where abilities were permitted.
Even though they weren’t armed, anyone could push through with sheer numerical violence.
If anyone dared use abilities against them, they would be immediately captured.
Regardless, this worry faded entirely.
They began to move forward once again.
“Let’s go, everyone. Paradise is just ahead.”
After a short yet seemingly long time walking down the hallway,
they finally arrived at the door marked ‘Star Class’ that they had been aiming for.
“Everyone, paradise lies behind this door.”
The Guild Master, unable to hide his excitement, spoke softly yet excitedly.
As soon as everyone heard that, they erupted into small cheers.
Except for two individuals.
‘……What is this… some strange person…?’
‘Why… are there no kids…?’
That was Park Mira, known as the rookie cutter, and the Executive Director.
The only two in the guild with the regression ability.
Yet both had previously submitted that they didn’t have the regression ability.
Coincidentally, both had regressed immediately after witnessing a similarly short future.
But neither dared to speak up.
Doing so would mean admitting they had regression abilities.
In the end, they rationalized it for themselves.
‘Well, it must be the vanguard that the Guild Master sent.’
‘As the director said a moment ago, they’re probably inside.’
Above all, in the presence of the overwhelming pressure of the crowd,
they couldn’t suddenly say that they shouldn’t enter.
“My cousin goes here! That kid is mine!”
“I want to aim for that kid too, then!”
“Son of a dog.”
“Mom!!!!!!!”
“Give me my mama!!!”
Soon, with the thin door bursting open like an explosion,
a massive crowd burst into the room, brimming with excitement.
And what they found inside that room was—
A strange being clad in a black robe and helmet.
“Mama…?”
“W-where did Mama go…?”
“Hey, vanguard! Where did you hide our Mama!?”
Some called for their mothers weakly, but the reply they heard from the being was far from what they expected.
“I am your father.”
The content.
And the tone of voice.
“You motherless sons of bitches.”
