Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C56

Chapter 56

“So this is Muhaedo. I’ve finally come to the place I’ve only ever heard about.”

A flamboyant floral-patterned shirt fluttered in the sea breeze. Beneath white shorts, well-shaped calves moved with lively energy.

“Doctor, apartment 301 is this way.”

At that moment, Bertrand stopped his master from heading toward 303. Dr. Richmond pushed his black sunglasses up onto his head and double-checked the apartment number.

“Oh, thank you. As expected, you’re my excellent porter. I almost earned myself a yellow card from Master Won again.”

“…Please don’t call me Ber.”

Despite his porter’s resistance, the doctor stubbornly stuck with the nickname and paused to admire the ocean view visible down the apartment corridor.

“Ber-ber, my Ber. Don’t be shy. We’ll greet Hero later—let’s rest first. What I need right now is sweet milk tea and nap time.”

“I’ll go buy milk tea while you sleep.”

Bertrand replied flatly as he unlocked the door to 301 with the keycard.

“My capable little Berry.”

Ber was bad enough—Berry was downright mortifying. Bertrand briefly entertained the thought of sewing his unruly master’s mouth shut.

Dr. Richmond tossed his suitcase aside, strode into the bedroom, and threw himself onto the only bed without even washing up. Before long, his breathing evened out.

It was narcolepsy, the price he paid for overusing his abilities.

Bertrand straightened the blankets, stood the fallen suitcase upright, and quietly moved to leave—planning to speak with Yeongung while his noisy master slept.

“Ber.”

Dr. Richmond called out.

“Milk tea… snore, hff.”

At the deflating sleep talk, Bertrand finally relaxed. After confirming the doctor was deeply asleep, he left the apartment, already considering where to find a good black tea shop nearby.

“I’ll be installing cameras throughout the apartment, excluding the bathroom. Please live as you normally would—think of it as filming an observation program. The cameras are well hidden, so don’t mind them.”

Knocking on 303, Bertrand skipped formalities and went straight to the point. Yeongung listened calmly, unsurprised. Won Iheun, having just returned from his business trip, had already warned him.

And honestly, Yeongung was relieved the doctor himself wasn’t here.

“I’ll be staying in 301, observing and analyzing Jaehee’s behavior in real time.”

The idea of someone watching Yeongung on camera prickled Iheun’s nerves. As Bertrand finished, Iheun opened his mouth to object.

“Does it really have to go this far—”

Yeongung cut him off.

“It does. This is about our Jaehee.”

Not my child—our child.

Jaehee belonged to both Yeongung and Won Iheun.

“…Alright.”

Still, Yeongung worried about something else entirely. Bertrand had asked them to live normally. Who could really act natural with cameras installed at home?

“I’m not sure we can act without stiffening up, but we’ll try. How long will this take?”

“About a week should suffice.”

“Understood. You must be tired—please get some rest.”

Bertrand stood from the sofa, hesitating briefly.

“I’ll install the cameras tomorrow. I’ll give you one day’s grace, so… please make good use of the time before then.”

“…What?”

Yeongung missed the brief exchange of looks between Won Iheun and Bertrand, but he could feel the faint release of alpha pheromones.

“Whatever you’re thinking—wake up.”

It was almost time for Jaehee to wake from his nap. Lately, the child had grown especially clingy, panicking if Yeongung wasn’t there when he opened his eyes. Whenever Jaehee cried with that piercing little voice, Yeongung’s chest ached, wondering if he’d had a nightmare.

As Yeongung headed toward the bedroom, Iheun’s sour voice followed.

“Overprotecting a child isn’t good either.”

“That’s not something you should be saying.”

Iheun acted as though he were jealous of Yeongung prioritizing Jaehee—but in truth, his own overprotectiveness surpassed Yeongung’s by far.

When they’d first gone to Seoul to meet Dr. Richmond’s group, Won Iheun had hired a renovation hunter and completely remodeled the apartment. The supervision had been handled by Attorney Go.

Everything had been redesigned around Jaehee. All hazards were removed. The kitchen, laundry room, and furniture layout were optimized for childcare. Even every door threshold had been eliminated.

Yeongung approached Iheun, who stood with his arms crossed, lost in thought.

“Bastard, you’ve held out well so far. Let’s endure just a little longer.”

Chok.

Yeongung’s neat lips brushed lightly against the corner of the alpha’s eye before he darted into the bedroom, escaping before Iheun could grab him.

Iheun’s swollen arousal strained dangerously against his thin sweatpants. Yeongung’s skill at giving just enough—then pulling away—was lethal.

He hadn’t meant to provoke him, but Iheun felt anxious and unsteady all the same.

His captivating omega was unpredictable, prone to sudden, reckless acts whenever Iheun looked away. The more Iheun gained his heart, the greedier he became—the more he wanted, the thirstier he felt.

“Fuck… this is driving me insane.”

Iheun downed a glass of ice water in one go and headed for the bathroom to cool the heat flooding his body.

A week passed—just as promised.

Contrary to their worries, they soon stopped noticing the cameras. Bertrand spent the week closely observing the daily lives of Jaehee, Yeongung, and Won Iheun.

One strange thing remained: Dr. Richmond never showed himself once.

Seeing the empty seat beside Bertrand, Yeongung asked,

“Didn’t Dr. Richmond come down with you?”

“He’s staying in the lodging you provided. He’s currently occupied with his own work.”

Bertrand answered vaguely and pulled out a thick observation log.

“Jaehee responds most strongly to positive verbal expressions made by Mr. Yeong.”

“I’m sorry, but that sounds like a diagnosis anyone could make.”

Positive reinforcement was a basic principle of parenting psychology. Yeongung’s expression dimmed—until Bertrand opened the notebook.

“Over seven days, Jaehee reacted 374 times to phrases such as *‘pretty,’ ‘cute,’ ‘I love you,’ ‘my baby.’”

The page was filled with columns of affectionate words, each marked with the number of times Yeongung had used them.

Yeongung already knew he was a doting parent—but seeing it quantified was embarrassing.

“That’s… a little mortifying. I tried to restrain myself. Too much of anything can be harmful.”

“It was harmful.”

“…What?”

“The child has confined himself within the affection you give him.”

Shock rippled through Yeongung. Bertrand guided his hand to rest beside Jaehee’s sleeping head.

“I entered his mental space myself last time. This time, I’ll connect you to it. Even if you’re afraid, don’t run—face it.”

“I’ll go.”

Won Iheun seized Yeongung’s hand, his expression icy.

“Connect me, not Yeongung Hunter, to Jaehee’s consciousness.”

Entering another person’s mental world consumed enormous mana. And this time, Bertrand—the ability holder—wouldn’t even be entering himself.

If something went wrong, Yeongung might not be able to return.

Considering all risks, Iheun, as a Searcher, should have gone.

But Bertrand shook his head.

“For this to be resolved, it must be Mr. Yeong.”

As if he understood all of Iheun’s fears, Yeongung gently patted the back of his hand.

“It’s okay. I’ll go.”

Perhaps Jaehee had inherited both parents’ stubbornness. Seeing the unwavering resolve in Yeongung’s eyes, Iheun let out a deep sigh.

“I won’t wait long. If you’re late, I’m coming after you. Understood?”

“I promise. I’ll be right back.”

Light bloomed from where their hands touched, spreading until it filled the room like a lamp. As Yeongung closed his eyes, Bertrand whispered:

“Please come back safely.”