Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C49

Chapter 49

Yeongung buried his nose against the crown of Jaehee’s head and breathed in the soft, powdery scent clinging to the child. He was the one who had declared they would live separately, yet the urge to take those words back rose sharply.

“I miss you.”

The truth slipped out without warning.

“Huh? What did you just say? I didn’t hear you—I was checking a message.”

“It was just me talking to myself.”

It was a relief that the Eraser in front of him was the type who couldn’t focus on more than one thing at a time.

“Anyway, why are you fighting? He’s younger than you, no matter what.”

“No, before being younger than me—”

Honestly, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone besides his hyung who would casually classify the Tako Guild Master as just a ‘younger guy.’ Sayoung couldn’t bring himself to voice that retort and only wore a frustrated expression instead.

“When I first met Won Iheun, he was sixteen. Back then, he was shorter than me and had an even more androgynous look than he does now. Do you think our Jaehee will have that kind of image when he’s a teenager too?”

Though Won Iheun himself considered that period the darkest chapter of his life, Yeongung cherished the Iheun of those days. A fond smile curved Yeongung’s lips as he reminisced.

“Well, you never know once he grows up. He might resemble you more. People change a lot as they grow.”

“Does it even matter who he resembles? As long as he grows up healthy, that’s enough.”

Listening in, Sayoung nodded.

“True. Either way, he was definitely born holding double gold spoons in both hands.”

“Double gold spoons?”

“I mean Jaehee was born with a premium face card. Both you and Master Won have top-tier looks.”

Sayoung swept his palm theatrically over Yeongung’s face, then suddenly tossed a new question at him while he was off guard.

“So, hyung—when did you first realize it?”

“Realize what? And seriously, with how curious you are, how did you even hold back until now?”

“What’s more entertaining than someone else’s love life? Plus, maybe it’s because I’ve been single my whole life, but I love watching dating shows.”

The gleam in his eyes made it obvious he was determined to get an answer. Yeongung pretended not to understand, then let out a light sigh and began to speak—sharing a chronicle of unrequited love he had never even confessed to Lee Chahyeon.

“I think I realized it pretty late. At first, it was just simple fondness—caring for a younger colleague.”

“And when was that?”

“…When he showed up with an Omega.”

“Damn, that guild master’s a jerk.”

At Sayoung’s scowl—like someone who’d lived through it himself—Yeongung replied calmly.

“Why would he be? It’s not like he cheated while having a lover.”

That was the first time he’d recognized another man as an Alpha. Yeongung had been bewildered by his own feelings back then. Maybe it was because he was an extreme recessive, closer to a Beta. Even after joining the Tako Guild and living alongside extreme dominant Alphas, he’d never viewed them through the lens of secondary genders. But for the first time, the fact that Won Iheun was an Alpha—and that he himself was an Omega—hit him to the bone.

“He showed up drenched head to toe in pheromones I’d never smelled before, acting like nothing was wrong, and coming right up to me. It pissed me off.”

Standing beside him wrapped in another Omega’s pheromones made anger surge in his chest. Extreme dominants had the strongest sex drive among secondary genders—so why hadn’t he thought of it before? That Won Iheun might have an Omega partner.

Yeongung had always been far removed from indulgence and had little sexual desire, so he’d never really talked about that sort of thing with anyone. The same went for Won Iheun. Their conversations were usually about clearing the next gate, rare items earned as rewards, or how to use skills more efficiently—topics far removed from sexuality.

But the moment he imagined an Omega hooking their calves around Iheun’s waist and taking him inside, his mouth turned bitter. His heart dropped with a heavy thud—a truly awful feeling.

“The funny thing is, once I noticed, I couldn’t unsee it. He’d go out every night. I hated watching that, so I stopped him. Told him to do it with me instead.”

It had felt desperate back then, but looking back now, it was downright comedic.

“That’s insane. Hyung, you were hardcore.”

“Hardcore, my ass. I was just… lagging behind on my own, getting frustrated alone. Peak pathetic. The more I talk, the more I sound like a total loser.”

“No way, that’s courage! Pathe—uh…?”

Sayoung trailed off, as if he’d spotted something.

“…?”

He barely managed to keep Yeongung’s face facing forward and started babbling whatever came to mind. Right then, the station announcement chimed in, saying they’d arrived at Namhae Station.

“Hyung…! It’s time to get off!”

When Sayoung sneaked another glance toward the diagonal seat behind them, the presence that had startled him was thankfully gone. He’d already activated a sound-blocking skill so nearby passengers couldn’t hear their conversation. And yet, a man wearing a black baseball cap low over his face had been eavesdropping. That man—sent by Won Iheun—was Won Iheun himself.

How much had he heard? No—how long had he been there? Sayoung ground his teeth at the man’s audacity. It was astonishing that he’d slipped past Sayoung’s surveillance with his stealth techniques—and terrifying to think that he’d overheard Yeongung’s innermost feelings.

Yeongung came into view, checking to make sure nothing had been left behind on the train. Sayoung looked at the Absolute that hunters worshipped with a pitying gaze, then lightly patted the straight shoulders burdened with a baby bag.

“Kh—fighting.”

At the sudden, oddly comforting gesture, Yeongung looked baffled. But you weren’t supposed to try to understand weirdos. Passing by Sayoung—who muttered, “Just think of it as your fate, hyung”—Yeongung got off the high-speed train.

The moment his foot hit the concrete platform, the briny scent of the sea slammed into his senses. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the nostalgic smell. He’d only lived on Muhaedo Island for two years, yet somehow it felt more like home than Seoul, where he’d been born and raised.

“Sayoung. Cut the nonsense and hurry. We don’t have much time before boarding.”

There was still a long way to go before reaching the island by boat.

Perhaps worn out by the long journey, the child didn’t wake up until they reached home. Yeongung had worried about seasickness, so in that sense it was a relief. He laid the deeply sleeping Jaehee in the rocking bed and wiped the child’s hands and feet with a towel soaked in lukewarm water.

He placed the Tintinping plushie into the small hand that was sucking on its thumb, then covered him with a thin blanket so he wouldn’t get a stomachache. Only then did he leave the bedroom. Ever since the night Jaehee had suddenly spiked a high fever at dawn, the bedroom door was always left open.

After washing up roughly, Yeongung habitually opened the upper cabinet and took out the pill case. He tipped two capsules into his palm, filled a cup with cold water, and swallowed them down in one gulp.

“Phew.”

Staring at the capsule—half red, half white—he recalled what Sayoung had said earlier that day.

‘Hyung, are you taking your meds properly?’

‘…I was just asking because I couldn’t remember what your face used to look like.’

‘Have you ever caught glimpses of your real face? I changed the refinement process starting with the meds I gave you recently.’

“Hm. Changed the refinement process, huh.”

He’d spent quite a bit of time with Sayoung. The guy was meticulous about work—if he’d changed the recipe, he should’ve informed him in advance.

“Suspicious.”

He cracked the capsule open to inspect the powder inside, but couldn’t find anything unusual in its color, shape, taste, or scent.

“He’s not the type to mess with medicine.”

Pushing aside the faint unease, Yeongung lay back with his head resting on the sofa’s armrest. After returning to real combat in Seoul for the first time in a while, his body—like a child’s—seemed thoroughly exhausted.

His gaze lingered on the large photo of Jaehee hanging on the living room wall as his eyelids slowly drooped. He still had to put away the luggage spread out on the dining table and deal with the laundry from their not-quite-a-trip. Thinking of the chores piling up, he tried to shake off the drowsiness—but his heavy body refused to obey.

The clock showed it was massage time. For the past month, Yeongung had received massages from Won Iheun at exactly this hour. After getting home and washing up, he’d lie on the sofa, and Iheun would approach, starting from the soles of his feet. His body, trained by another man, seemed to be waiting for that rich, familiar touch—but unfortunately, Yeongung couldn’t indulge it. He’d declared separate living arrangements, so for now, it was just him and Jaehee.

I’ll do the chores early tomorrow. For now, sleep.

Having settled on that plan, Yeongung yawned and rubbed his sleepy eyes.

Beep-beep-beep.

A cheerful electronic sound came from the front door. Someone was entering the digital lock code.

“Ah, shit—what the hell, is this a horror movie?”

Before Yeongung could check the wall pad display, the intruder was faster. Kicking off his shoes, Won Iheun strode inside and smiled brightly when he saw Yeongung frozen in place.

“I’m back.”

Just hours after declaring they’d live separately, the man had returned.

Did I really miss that bastard so much that I’m hallucinating? Yeongung rubbed his eyes roughly. A beauty smiling so brightly it bordered on radiant stood before him. He closed his eyes and opened them again. The same beauty was still there, watching him with concern.

“That’s Won Iheun.”

“Yes. That’s me.”

“We said we’d live separately this afternoon.”

“That’s right.”

“Ah…! You mixed up the apartments. This is 303, and the place you moved into is next door—302. Since you’ve lived in 303 all this time, it’s an easy mistake.”

But instead of heading next door, the man looked at Yeongung as if he were adorable.

“I’m back—to 303.”

As Yeongung stood there stammering, dumbfounded, the man approached and sat down beside him on the sofa.