Ch.172World’s Strongest Being’s Birthday – 2

It was a rare outing indeed. Fortunately, villains had been quiet lately, giving us a break.

Thanks to that, I could spend some peaceful time celebrating my wife’s birthday.

“It’s been so long since we could travel with peace of mind.”

“I know. This would have been impossible before.”

Park Yeonju smiled in response to Lee Chang’s words.

Thoroughly Korean names. Yet in reality, both were blonde, blue-eyed Westerners.

People who fell in love with South Korea and made their lives here.

And now, they were national benefactors who had given South Korea its strongest superhuman.

However, being Rina Lee’s parents and non-powered individuals themselves,

they were potential targets for villains, so the government provided top-level security.

That made it difficult for them to go out freely.

They took advantage of the recent decline in villain activity.

Instead of being surrounded by security personnel, they enjoyed some fresh air outside.

They also had a cozy meal together as a couple, without their noisy daughter.

“Happy birthday. Thank you for always being by my side.”

“Stop it, you’re embarrassing me. You’ve already given me enough presents.”

The two had known each other since childhood—friends, lovers, and now spouses.

After finishing their enjoyable time together, they returned to their nest.

Tomorrow they would again be confined to this house and secured areas for safety.

But each day was always joyful. It was good. Because they had a family they loved.

‘If only our daughter were a bit more well-behaved, it would be even better.’

They were thinking this as they opened the front door and stepped inside.

Bang!— Bang!—

“Oh my!”

“Mom! Happy birthday!!!”

They saw Rina standing there with both arms raised, setting off firecrackers.

Previously, she would clap with magical energy surrounding her hands, nearly bringing down the house.

Since then, they’d begged her to stick to firecrackers, which she had been faithfully doing.

“Did you enjoy your trip?”

“Yes, we did. And you remembered Mom’s birthday? I thought you’d forgotten since you didn’t message right away.”

Since this was an event their daughter always did, the couple wasn’t particularly surprised.

They thanked her, patted her head, and proceeded into the house as usual.

However, they couldn’t help but be shocked at the enormous birthday spread behind her.

“…Huh?”

“What is this, daughter? What’s all this?”

They knew well that when their daughter cooked, she created bombs, not food.

And not just in appearance. The taste was explosive too. It could kill someone.

Either from the stress of forcing oneself to eat it, or from getting hit by Rina after complaining about her cooking.

But everything laid out before them was actual “food.”

Various vegetable side dishes, japchae, carefully prepared braised pork ribs, and steaming seaweed soup.

It was literally food. Edible cuisine. Not bombs!

‘What’s going on all of a sudden?’

‘Did she order delivery? But deliveries here require resident contact first…’

Just as the couple was about to ask what was happening—

“Welcome home.”

The figure who appeared from behind was someone they had seen before.

Seojin Baek. The one their daughter had claimed to be in “that kind” of relationship with.

They’d seen him on YouTube recently as one of the most successful people these days.

Upon seeing him, the couple immediately thought the same thing:

‘Why is he here again? Don’t tell me our daughter threatened him to come?!’

“Ah, Mom! That’s not it! Don’t look at me like that!”

Meanwhile, Rina waved her hands frantically, as if guilty of something.

*

A birthday spread, huh. Damn, I’ve cooked for myself plenty, but this is my first time doing something like this.

In these situations, quickly browsing YouTube was quite helpful.

What menu items and preparation methods would create a quick yet impressive birthday meal?

First, I needed to stick with dishes I’d made before.

Starting with relatively simple vegetable side dishes, then japchae which always appears at important gatherings.

Add the essential braised ribs and seaweed soup that’s mandatory for birthdays.

I even asked Rina several times to be sure.

Do your parents love Korean food as much as you do?

She nodded and added:

“They pride themselves on having more Korean taste buds than most actual Koreans.”

Well, Rina herself is unusual, gobbling up soy-braised beans, stir-fried anchovies, and doenjang stew.

I decided to tackle the vegetable dishes, japchae, and several side dishes first.

Having done them before, it wasn’t difficult. Fortunately, I had enough ingredients.

“I love japchae! Make lots, lots!”

I wished Rina would stop popping in and out without actually helping.

Even when I asked her to leave, she’d say, “There must be something I can help with!”

Honestly, you helping would be you leaving the kitchen.

[Braised pork ribs? Not difficult at all. What you need to prepare is…]

They said they’d be back by lunchtime at the latest. Time was running out.

I had to perform the feat of making braised ribs while simultaneously cooking seaweed soup.

Every time I did something, Rina would say “Marry me!” which was driving me crazy.

“Oh! Mom and Dad are coming! Oppa! Are you done yet?!”

“Almost! Just wait a bit!”

“Should I go down and stall them?”

“That won’t be necessary!”

Click—

I barely finished preparing the table just as Rina’s parents arrived.

They were smiling at Rina’s antics as they entered, but froze when they saw the table.

Either surprised or bewildered by the unexpected sight.

“Welcome home.”

I greeted them casually, but their reaction was dramatic.

Seeing me wearing an apron, they immediately went to the kitchen to check the situation.

Then they went to Rina and asked, “Be honest. What did you do this time?”

“What did I do? Nothing!”

“If you did nothing, why is he here preparing your mother’s birthday meal?!”

“Well… that… hmm.”

Glancing at me nervously, Rina continued in a very serious voice:

“Mom. I really do have a very deep relationship with Seojin oppa.”

“…”

“Though it’s not certain yet, we might even get married.”

I waited patiently while Rina spoke.

I should also maintain a serious demeanor so her parents would accept…

Whack!—

…Huh?

“Ack?! My back! My back!! Why are you hitting me?!”

“You be honest. How rude were you to him? Hmm?! Didn’t I tell you? Just because you like someone doesn’t mean they like you back! Come here right now!”

“No! Really! I’m actually in that kind of relationship with Seojin oppa!”

At that, Rina’s mother turned sharply to look at me.

Normally, there should be anger toward the man who stole her daughter.

But what I saw was distrust toward her daughter and apology toward me.

As if saying, if her daughter had forced me somehow, I should speak up now.

Seeing that look, I hurried to respond.

“Um, everything Rina said is true. This isn’t because Rina did anything strange. Let’s stop this. This is my birthday gift to you, mother.”

“…Rina, you said?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. She asked me so many times to be casual with her… if that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Not at all. Not uncomfortable at all.”

Her mother slowly examined the birthday spread.

Her eyes widened with each dish she saw, clearly surprised.

Honestly, even I thought I’d gone overboard. The table was practically groaning under the weight.

“You… really prepared all this, by yourself?”

“It’s your birthday, so maybe I went a bit overboard? Haha.”

“It’s wonderful. Almost embarrassing to receive something so elaborate.”

Oh no, not at all, mother. You must have struggled raising a daughter like Rina.

The nation would acknowledge that too. Without you, she might have become a villain!

It’s only because you two kept her in check that she remains a superhuman!

“Ah! The food’s getting cold! Sit down quickly! After Seojin oppa prepared everything so carefully, you’re not just going to stand there staring, are you?!”

“Rina, what were you doing while Seojin was preparing everything?”

“Dad, why ask such an obvious question! Of course I was cheering him on enthusiastically!”

Oh my. I thought she might at least lie and say she helped cook.

Well, Rina, it seems you have at least a shred of conscience left.

“…Right. Good job.”

Half genuine praise, half embarrassment as a father with such a daughter.

The feeling was so obvious that I couldn’t help but smile.

Well, that aside. At this rate, the food really will get cold.

I don’t know about the rest, but ribs and seaweed soup taste terrible when cold!

“Both of you haven’t eaten yet, right? Please sit down. I prepared this birthday spread for you, and I’ll be disappointed if you don’t properly enjoy it.”

The parents sat down at the table, looking a bit awkward but willing.

Rina went to get some water from the kitchen, and as I was finishing the setup—

“Seojin-ssi.”

I turned at her mother’s call and found both parents staring at me intently.

“Truly, there was no blackmail or problematic situation, right?”

“No, nothing like that.”

“Maybe Rina forced you to drink and…”

“Absolutely not. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you both.”

With such a beautiful daughter, and me already having another woman…

No matter how crazy people think Rina is, it’s not right for her to cling to a man who’s taken.

I was worried about how to explain this to her parents later.

Grab—

“Oh.”

Suddenly, her mother took my hand. And her father grabbed my other hand.

Excuse me? Why are you both suddenly doing this? Did I do something wrong…?

“There’s a saying, Seojin-ssi.”

“Y-yes?”

“No refunds after opening.”

After hearing that and seeing her mother’s expression, I understood.

These two had really suffered because of their daughter.

“Really? Is it true? You’ll take responsibility for our Rina now?! A man’s word is worth its weight in gold! No refunds! No take-backs. Understood?!”

“Uh, um…”

“Please take good care of her, Seojin-ssi. Please take good care of our Rina.”

First the mother, then the father—I was simply dumbfounded.

“A girl who can’t even fry an egg, how did she find such a man…”

“Honey, it seems we have good son-in-law fortune after all.”

…I should treat them even better from now on, shouldn’t I?