Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C62

Chapter 62

Sanghui—who had never once disobeyed Yeongung’s orders—glared, whites of his eyes flashing, as if ghosts truly were his worst nightmare.

“If I get so scared I die of a heart attack, hyung, will you file this as an industrial accident?”

His face looked downright possessed. Yeongung stared at the collection of problem children surrounding him, utterly fed up.

“Honestly. One by one, you’re all acting out. Should I call a famous shaman and have a ritual done or something?”

At that moment, a man reached into Hamgyeol’s grocery bag, pulled out a zucchini, and smacked Sanghui on the head with it.

Even an ordinary zucchini became a weapon harder than a wooden practice sword in Won Iheun’s hands.

“That’s enough.”

Hit properly and brought back to his senses, Sanghui bowed his head deeply and apologized in formal speech. He knew better than anyone that when Iheun acted like this, self-preservation was wise.

“I—I’m sorry. I was out of line.”

The problem was that Sanghui’s near-insubordination toward Yeongung had truly irritated Iheun. He looked down coldly at the bowed subordinate.

Yeongung quickly stepped in, blocking him before he could slip into full instructor mode.

“He’s learned his lesson by now.”

Just moments ago, Sanghui had been acting possessed enough to deserve execution—but seeing him get properly scolded left Yeongung oddly uncomfortable. He preferred Sanghui cheerful rather than dejected.

Unfortunately, Yeongung taking Sanghui’s side sparked unintended jealousy in Iheun. He disliked how indulgent Yeongung was toward the idiot duo.

“You let things slide every time, so they don’t know their place.”

“I’ll discipline him properly later. Let’s stop here for today. We need to go home and put Jaehee to bed.”

Jaehee had recently begun sleeping through the night, so bedtime was still a while off—but Yeongung deliberately used the child as an excuse.

“…Fine. Just this once.”

“Yeah. Just this once.”

Sanghui, tense to the brim, apologized again.

“I’m sorry for being careless. I’ll be more mindful.”

Iheun moved away without responding. Yeongung glanced at his retreating back, then patted Sanghui’s shoulder twice.

“Come over to our place after dinner. We’ll eat and have a short meeting about how to handle the magical beast.”

“…Yes.”

Muhae Apartment, Building B, Unit 303

After dinner, the three gathered in the living room. Yeongung checked that Jaehee was sleeping soundly in the master bedroom, then sat in an empty spot on the sofa.

“Do you really think it’s a magical beast?”

“Given Jaehee’s reaction, a rift likely opened at the end of Building A’s fourth-floor corridor.”

“A rift? Not a gate?”

Hamgyeol asked, recalling the basic explanation he’d once heard from Dr. Richmond and Bertrand.

“Either a rift opened—or a beast slipped through a briefly opened rift.”

“I think the latter is more likely.”

“Agreed. And although it set a trap to lure humans…”

“…Although?”

Yeongung, who’d been quietly listening, joined in.

“It’s strange that it lures people but doesn’t consume them. What’s its goal?”

Iheun shifted closer to Yeongung.

“To know its form, someone has to go in.”

After thinking hard, Sanghui spoke heavily.

“…Hyung, I’ll go. It’s ridiculous for the leaders to handle something like this. If the Quesadilla Guild hears about it, they’ll laugh their asses off.”

“Don’t push it. The Guild Master’s already decided to go in.”

“But still—”

Hamgyeol opposed him, remembering how Sanghui had suffered nightmares for a month after watching a horror movie.

Unexpectedly, Yeongung backed Sanghui up.

“Then go together. This might erase your weakness. You’ve got how many people under you? Better to face it head-on now than embarrass yourself later.”

“Damn it, hyung! Bringing up my team is dirty. I can’t argue back.”

“You’re proud. Better one hard experience now than public humiliation later. And with Won Iheun beside you, what’s there to fear?”

“…Fine. Fuck it. It’ll work out somehow. I won’t be alone—and I’ll have the Guild Master who hunts ghosts with me.”

Clenching his fist, Sanghui steeled himself. Yeongung chuckled and teased,

“Let’s meet alive, okay?”

“Of course alive! Don’t jinx it!”

Laughing, Yeongung popped a slice of apple Iheun had peeled into his mouth. It was crisp and sweet.

“Oh, right. Sanghui, what’s your monster affinity stat?”

“Huh? It’s garbage. Why?”

“Depending on what it is, you’ll probably end up contracting that beast after this.”

“I can’t handle familiars. Iheun-hyung should raise it.”

At that, Yeongung—who’d earlier refused even rock-paper-scissors—suddenly grew interested.

“…Should I go instead?”

“You?”

“Yeah.”

Usually, rewards from cleared gates went to whoever ran the mission. Team rewards followed guild contracts, but solo rewards belonged solely to the individual. Under Tako Guild, unfair grabs never happened.

So Yeongung had assumed the beast would be Sanghui’s. Having a familiar was a hunter’s dream. But Sanghui showed no interest.

Knowing Iheun kept no familiars made Yeongung even more tempted. He wanted to resolve this himself and claim the beast.

Since Jaehee had reacted with “meow, meow,” the beast was likely feline.

“If my guess is right, it’s probably a cat-type magical beast. If it’s high-grade, it’d be good as Jaehee’s companion.”

That was Yeongung’s real motive.

He’d always had high monster affinity and once dreamed of becoming a tamer. He already had several contracted creatures—including the “dragon he absolutely hated in real life” that Iheun had gifted him.

Familiars never betray their acknowledged contractor. When Jaehee grew a bit more, it would be a good friend and protector. Imagining Jaehee playing with a cat-like beast made Yeongung smile.

Iheun, however, narrowed his eyes. He already disliked how many creatures followed Yeongung—and now he wanted another?

“You already have quite a few familiars.”

High-grade beasts were intelligent but difficult to manage. Until Jaehee grew older, Yeongung would inevitably be the one caring for it.

“It’s fine. I like animals anyway. Oh! Come to think of it, Jaehee really takes after me—he likes animals too.”

The moment he saw Yeongung’s radiant smile, Iheun knew he’d lose this battle.

“Then promise me this—don’t neglect me or treat me poorly because of it. Promise now. Before entering the rift.”

Yeongung’s neck and ears burned red as he hissed under his breath,

“Please… don’t embarrass me in front of the kids.”

The idiot duo theatrically picked at their ears.

“Hamgyeol, you hear something?”

“Huh? No. Isn’t it just you and me?”

“Enough. Hamgyeol stays with Jaehee. The three of us go in. Agreed?”

With that settled, Yeongung laid out his plan.

“Alright. Here’s what we’ll do…”

Five minutes to midnight.

Muhae Apartment, Building A, 4th Floor Corridor.

“So the crying comes from the end of the hall.”

“Yeah. Every night at midnight.”

“Not much time left.”

Sanghui stayed behind the two seniors. Iheun brushed off Sanghui’s grip on his shirt collar like shooing a bug.

“Back off.”

Awkwardly scratching his head, Sanghui voiced something that had bothered him.

“Why were people wearing casts? If the beast didn’t attack them, how’d they get hurt?”

Yeongung sent a cluster of fireflies toward the building’s exterior wall.

“See that door at the end leading to the external stairs? They panicked, stepped back, and fell from there.”

“…Idiots? Falling on their own?”

“Don’t think like a hunter. They’re unawakened civilians. You sure you wouldn’t panic?”

After a pause, Sanghui shook his head hard.

“…No. I’m only saying this because you’re here, but I’m scared shitless.”

“Then cling tightly to Won Iheun, the professional ghost hunter.”

After teasing him once more, Yeongung stepped closer to the external stairs. When he put weight on them, the rusted metal screeched ominously. The bolts looked loose enough to give way if a few adults ran at once.