## Chapter 1619 – The Prodigal Son of the Demonic Sect – Children of the Demonic Sect

The hunting hour.

I ran on all fours, tracking the children.

“Ice! I-ice! Hngh!”

Claire squeezed her eyes shut, bringing her hands together at her chest, shivering. So freaking cute! This is my daughter, alright!

“Ice can’t be eaten…!”

But since she’s in ice form, I have to pass.

ㅡCreep, creep.

I scan for prey once more. Maybe they learned their lesson after seeing Zbell and Nick get eliminated, but the kids were a little more seasoned now.

And the biggest reason the kids were more seasoned…

“E-everyone! Scatter in three directions!”

…was Diehl’s influence.

She was doing her best to command and coordinate organically. If I went to catch one, the other kids would free the frozen ones. She was directing them like that.

“Hehehe!”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

She’s definitely Kadia’s daughter.
So smart.

“Ah, Father! You won’t be able to eat us anymore!”

Squeezing out every last bit of courage, Diehl made that adorable declaration. That trembling, yet valiant figure was so lovable.

“Hahaha! Is that so, my lovely Diehl!”
“It’s Kadiel!”
“It’s a nickname, a nickname. Let’s move on. Anyway, Diehl! Do you really think you can beat this father of yours!”
“Y-you’re not my father! You’re a monster!”
“Ho! How sharp! Truly Kadia’s daughter!”
“Y-you speak my mother’s name…!”

Diehl panics at the mention of her mother’s name!

Taking advantage of that opening, I slowly slide my foot and move towards Diehl!

“Kadiel unnie! Don’t be fooled! Papa is moving little by little!”
“What?!”

Oh.

“I’ve been found out. Hahahaha!”
“Everyone, run! Quickly!”

Aisha shouted as we started running again. Every time I see her, I feel like Aisha is completely different from Arirang. She really feels like a confident young girl.

“Just hold on a little longer! It’s almost time!”

And Hilda announced the time.

“Ho. So it’s almost time, huh? You think you can survive if you just hold out until then.”

I deliberately spoke in a terrifying voice.

“I-isn’t that right…?”

Rishka asked in a flustered tone.

“Of course, that’s right. You can survive if you just hold out. But can you hold out?”

ㅡFwoosh!

At that moment.

I unleashed wings of light.

“KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!”

And roared as I soared into the sky!

“He flew!”
“Kyaaaaaaaak!”
“Mama! Mamaaa!”

The berserk pattern always comes out when the time limit is almost up. I was planning on losing this game anyway. But just because professional wrestlers have predetermined outcomes doesn’t mean they slack off during the match.

Until the time limit is up.

I’ll show you the ultimate pattern.

ㅡWhoosh!

I immediately darted through the children!

“I, ice!”
“Ice!”

The children collectively used Ice.

“N-no! Unnies! Don’t all use Ice together!”

Elica cried out, but it was no use! The children had no ability to deal with a monster flying at high speed! They could only shout Ice!

“Elicaaaaaa!”
“Kyaaaaaak!”

Well, something like that.

I unleashed the final berserk pattern, driving the children into a desperate crisis. The panicked children spammed Ice. Of course, the surviving children tried their best to save their comrades, but they couldn’t do much during the flight pattern.

In the end, the only one left was…

Diehl.

“Diehl! Now only you’re left!”
“Hngh!”

Had she lost her courage?

Diehl, who was stepping back, lost her footing and collapsed. I licked my lips as I watched her.

And.

ㅡSnap!

I opened my mouth wide and charged!

“Kya, kyaaaaaaaak!”

The moment Diehl screamed!

ㅡHalt!

I slammed on the brakes and stopped in place!

“A, ah…? Father?”
“…”

That’s right!

The time limit was up!

“Ka, Kadiel! The time is up! The time is up!”
“We survived! We all survived!”
“We wonnnn!”

Aisha, Hilda, and Kaina shouted.

This is all acting.

“Waaaaaa!”

Look.

At that joyous, happy expression.

I became a monster to see that face.

ㅡCrackle.

The burning wings dissipate.

And the monster returns to being a father.

“Kuh…! Keuhak…! You held out well, you little brats!!!”

While shouting a cliché farewell.

“N-now go back! Give us back Papa!”
“Go back! Go back! Monster, go back!”
“Disappear!”

Elica, Claire, and Kadiel shouted in turn. They’ve all grown up so well. The best part about the final boss who utters a final farewell is that you have to scold them.

“Keuhaaaaaaaak!”

I screamed like that.

“Hng, hngh?! Wh, where am I?!”

Finally, the monster Kim Kat vanished, and Papa Kim Kat returned. I, who had returned, pretended to be someone who had lost their memory and checked my body.

“What on earth is going on! I, I was definitely…!”

As I was doing that.

“Papa!”
“Papa!”

The children ran over crying…!
To hug me!

“Aigoo! My babies! What on earth is going on!”
“Pappa!”
“Father!”

ㅡEmbrace!

I hugged all the children who were hugging me in my big arms.

“Heuaaaang!”
“Euaaaang!”

The children burst into tears of relief.

“Papa is back!”

No matter what, children are innocent. As the rules dictated, the outcome was decided, and when I pretended that the curse was lifted and I had returned to being their father, they accepted me as their father without a shred of doubt and cried tears of relief.

That’s what babies are like.

“I don’t know what happened, but Papa is back! Aigoo! These cute little things! Smooch, smooch, smooch! Demonic Sect Kisses!”

I immediately grabbed each one and planted kisses on their cheeks.

“I, it tickles. Father…”

The children, who had been recognizing me as a monster and were terrified just a moment ago, were greatly delighted and happy to receive my kisses.

“Ah! Papa! But what about Lizbell and Winnieck!”

That’s when Kaina brought it up.

“Th, that’s right!”
“They got eaten!”
“But Papa is back!”

The children seemed to realize it then and discussed it with each other. To reassure them, I said.

“Hehehe, it’s okay. Dad’s curse has been lifted, so they’ve all returned properly. They’ll be in the room by now.”
“Really!”
“Of course. Of course.”
“Hooray!”
“Yay!”

A heartwarming atmosphere.

The father who had become an evil spirit had returned to being human, and the children who had been eaten had also returned to the present world.

With this, the Demonic Sect Ice Fire was over.

Without the intervention of my women.

“Hehehe, that’s why I deliberately did Ice Fire, which has a short playtime.”

If it had been longer, they might have barged in after getting off work. Thinking about that makes my back tingle again.

“Anyway, kids! Let’s go back to Nick and Zbell!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”

I immediately led the baby ducklings back to the game over room. As soon as we entered the room, Nick and Zbell raised their heads and shouted.

“Ah!”
“Ah!”

At the same time, the children who were following me charged towards Nick and Zbell.

“Winnieck oppa! Heuaang!”
“Lizbell, I’m sorry!”
“Kaina unnie! You betrayed me again!”
“I’m sorry!”

A joyful reunion time.

The nine children, who had gathered in one place again, chattered and enjoyed themselves, talking about the game they had just played.

“Then Papa flew!”
“That’s right, that’s right!”

They were just sparkling their eyes as they talked. They were so scared just a moment ago.

“Father! Have you really returned?!”

That’s when Nick came up to me and asked.

“Yeah. I’m back.”

I immediately stroked Nick’s pink hair.

“Keuheuk…! Father!”

He hugged my calf and burst into tears.

“Yes, yes. Papa is back.”
“Keuheueuk!”
“Crybaby.”
“Huh?”
“No, it’s nothing. Were you very scared?”
“Yes!”
“Scaredy-cat.”
“Huh?”
“No. It’s nothing.”
“…”

Aigoo, this cute little thing!
He’s my eldest son!!!

I loved him so much that I vigorously ruffled Nick’s hair!

“Nick, I love you! Aigoo! Why are you so cute!”
“Ueoreoreoek!”
“I really freaking love you! Nick!”

Anyway, while I was doing that.

“Eueut…!”

Zbell came up to me with her hand on her chest.

Also with a very wary face.

“Zbell!”
“Pa, Papa…? Are you really Papa?”
“Yeah! You heard the story! Dad is back!”
“Heuk…! Heueuk!”

Zbell jumped up and tried to hug my neck, and I lowered my posture to catch Zbell.

“Papa, you really came back…?!”

ㅡTremble, tremble.

I could feel Zbell trembling in my arms. I gently patted Zbell’s back and spoke softly.

“Of course. I really came back. You don’t have to worry anymore. I’m the coolest dad in the world.”
“Heueueueuk! Heut! Papa! I was really scared!”
“I’m sorry. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”
“Heuaaaaang!”

I guess I’ll have to comfort Zbell a little today.

Well, it’s almost time for my women to get off work.

“Kids. Then wait here for Mom. She’ll be here soon.”
“Yes!”
“Yesss!”
“Mama!”

Liz noona will probably come to my room if she doesn’t see Zbell. I opened the gate leading directly to my room and kidnapped Zbell.

ㅡHop.

And hopped onto the bed.

“Okay, okay. Zbell. Dad is back to normal, so don’t cry.”
“Heueuk! Heueueueut…! Papa! I’m so glad!”
“Right? I’m glad too, right? I’m so glad, really.”
“Heut!”
“That’s right, that’s right.”

ㅡPat, pat.

I keep patting her back.

“…”

As I was doing that, Zbell’s trembling stopped.

“Zbell, have you calmed down?”
“Yeah… I’ve calmed down.”
“Hehehe, that’s a relief. Can you stop crying now?”
“Yes… Papa.”
“Okay, okay. Zbell is a good girl. Shall we go down now?”

As I was about to put Zbell down.

ㅡGrip.

Zbell hugged me tightly, as if she didn’t want to let go.

“Zbell?”
“Papa… I don’t want to let go.”
“Aigoo. Do you like Dad that much?”
“I’m afraid Papa will turn into a monster again if I let go… Heut.”

So that’s why she’s anxious.

“Hehehe, I see. Then let’s keep hugging Dad tightly.”
“…”

I lay back down on the bed.

Zbell clung to my torso like a cicada.

“…Papa.”
“Why.”
“Why do you always turn into a monster?”
“I only change when we’re playing. Did Zbell not have fun playing?”
“No… I had fun playing Ice Fire today. But it was also really scary…”

This is a game, but it’s also real at the same time.

Children still can’t distinguish between reality and unreality. The fact that they believe in Santa Claus is proof of that.

That’s why children want to play monster with me, but when it actually starts, they’re genuinely scared. Well, isn’t that the psychology of children?

I keep doing it because they like it.

“Was Zbell scared?”
“Yes… I was most scared when Papa ate me.”

Zbell said that and kept pressing her forehead against my chest like a cat trying to burrow into my arms.

“Are you going to keep turning into a monster?”
“I have to change when we play. Why? Do you not like it when Dad turns into a monster?”
“I don’t like it… but I also like it… It’s just like that…”
“A woman’s heart is like a reed.”

ㅡStroke, stroke.

I stroked the back of Zbell’s head. Her head is so small that it fits perfectly in my hand.

“Papa’s hands are big and warm…”
“Right?”
“Ah! But! Papa! Kaina unnie keeps bullying me!”
“Kaina?”
“Yes! Kaina unnie keeps betraying me and making things difficult for me! Papa, scold her!”
“Kaina keeps making things difficult for you?!”

I answer with surprise!

“Yes!”
“Then should Dad turn into a monster and say ‘You rascal, Kaina!’?!”

I ask with even greater surprise.

“Ye, yes?! No! No! Don’t turn into a monster!”

The flustered Zbell tried to fix the situation.

“Don’t turn into a monster, just say ‘You rascal’?”
“Yes! Please do that! Kaina unnie is really too much!”
“Hehehe, okay. Dad will say ‘You rascal’.”

Is it because of Karin and Liz’s personalities?

Kaina and Zbell get tangled up in many ways.

“Yes… Papa.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“Papa. When you say ‘You rascal’ to Kaina unnie, don’t really turn into a monster?”
“Yeah. I got it. I won’t turn into a monster.”
“Really, really?”
“Really, really.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I really won’t turn into a monster.”
“You can’t turn into a monster?”

Zbell keeps checking, as if she’s anxious.

She’s really cute.

“Hehehe, I’m telling you, I really won’t turn into a monster.”
“What are you not going to do?”
“Ah.”

When I raised my head, Liz was standing there with her arms crossed.

“Mama!”
“What? No! I thought Zbell was talking! Don’t confuse me!”