Chapter 16

A vicious hiss tore through the air.

“Last one down!”

“Woooooo—!”

“Oh my god, these damn chimeras—! It’s finally over! Guildmaster, Vice Guildmaster! We’re really doing beef barbecue tonight, right? After staring at grilled chimeras all day, I’m craving charcoal steak.”

The moment the final creature that had stubbornly clung to life was wiped out, cheers erupted from the guild members.

Chimeras, by their species nature, possess extremely strong breeding instincts. A female lays eggs the moment she dies, so the safest method is to burn every last one and sever the line entirely. Because of that, Yeongung had organized teams centered around Hunters who handled fire-based abilities, splitting them between the group that escaped the gate and the swarm densely packed below the entrance.

Fortunately, thanks to Won Iheun’s precise scanning and Yeongung’s strategy, they were able to respond quickly and eradicate the chimeras before they could devour new bodies and evolve further.

By the time the extermination ended, the sealed dome-like barrier had turned Jamsu Bridge into a boiling steam room. The nauseating stench of burning chimera flesh filled the air, but the guild members—well accustomed to the scent of monster corpses—weren’t bothered in the slightest. If anything, it sharpened their craving for beef.

At first, Yeongung had been furious at the Association’s mess-up, but the gate was safely destroyed, and he had finally fought side-by-side with Iheun again. Up until that moment, his mood had actually been fairly good.

But after the operation ended, his lingering curiosity unraveled in the worst possible direction, and his condition plummeted.

“It’s been a while, Iheun.”

“…Lee Rubin.”

Won Iheun remembered the Omega Yeongung had once held in his arms. And Yeongung was forced once again to confront the reality that—

In Iheun’s memory, the one person missing was himself.

It was humiliating. Wretched.

At the appearance of Lee Rubin—an undeniably beautiful man—the guild members stirred. He was the sort of man who would make anyone turn for a second glance: delicate frame, petite build, a soft, androgynous face that was the perfect textbook example of a dominant Omega. The complete opposite of Yeongung, who was often mistaken for an Alpha.

Looking back, most of Iheun’s past partners had possessed that exact sort of quiet, refined beauty.

The village idiot duo’s eyes sparkled as if watching a drama unfold. In particular, Sanghee’s Alpha instincts reacted strongly.

“Woah… he’s gorgeous! I knew our Master was a legend—hooking up again already, huh? Hehehe.”

As Iheun had said many times, Sanghee truly had no sense. Yeongung smacked the back of his head.

“Ow! What was that for!?”

“Don’t say rude things so carelessly.”

Finally realizing what he’d said, Sanghee blushed and scratched at the spot where he’d been hit.

“Hyung, but why didn’t you fight today? You like being on the frontlines way more than giving orders from the back.”

“Sanghee, if you keep trying to use that tiny brain, the last of your neurons will die.”

No sense normally—but weirdly perceptive when it came to the stuff Yeongung didn’t want noticed.

“Hmmm…”

Yeongung pretended not to notice Sanghee’s suspicious stare.

During today’s operation, Yeongung had stayed in the rear, giving commands. His entire body had buzzed with the urge to leap into battle, but he restrained himself—for the safety of Creamie, who was growing inside him.

Turning away from the two men at the center of attention, Yeongung grabbed Hamgyeol’s shoulder.

“I’m not feeling well. I’m heading back first. Hamgyeol, take care of the cleanup.”

He knew perfectly well:

Lee Rubin was just as powerless as he was, and to Iheun, past partners meant absolutely nothing.

“But knowing that doesn’t make it easier. I’m so damn pathetic.”

Pregnancy had weakened his stamina, and emotional fatigue weighed heavily. All he wanted was to return to the dorm and collapse into bed.

Heading toward the parking lot, he stopped the secretary carrying a briefcase.

“Are you heading back to the office?”

“Yes, I have some documents to drop off. What about you, Hunter?”

“You brought the guild car today, right? Could you drop me off at the dorm on your way?”

“Of course! Please get in. I’ll take good care of our precious Hunter.”

“Thank you.”

Yeongung sank deeply into the leather seat of the passenger side. Before long, sleepiness washed over him as the car moved down the road.

“If you’re tired, feel free to nap. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”

“I’m not rude enough to sleep next to the person driving.”

His answer made the secretary laugh in surprise.

“Rude? Hahaha.”

“It’s not an excuse, but maybe it’s because you drive well. I’m not usually the type to fall asleep in cars.”

“You had a long, exhausting day. Don’t worry—I won’t think of it as rude. Please sleep comfortably.”

“…Then… really? Can I?”

“Yes, yes!”

Once she confirmed he was adjusting into a sleeping posture, she turned on some quiet classical music.

“Oh my. This feels unreal—chatting casually with Hunter Yeongung like this.”

It was a lullaby from Mozart—something the orphanage director used to play for him. Yeongung nodded sleepily and murmured half-coherent replies.

“Well… is it… unreal…”

She lowered the speaker volume further.

“You really don’t know? So many staff members want to get close to you! Though of course Hamgyeol and Sanghee already are.”

“Is that… so…”

For a moment, the fog of drowsiness lifted.

“Should I tell you this? Ah, whatever. Don’t tell the Master I said anything.”

“…Mm-hm…”

What else had he missed about Iheun…?

“The Idiot Duo is clueless, but every other employee sees it clearly.”

“…”

“Master Won Iheun hates it. When someone other than him stands too close to you. If anyone tries to approach, he glares like he’ll murder them. He only tolerates me because it’s work-related. Look, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”

A bastard…?

The story piqued his curiosity—but sleep tugged harder, and his head drooped forward.

“No way… that can’t be…”

Soft black jelly. Perked ears. Sleek beige fur.

A familiar, adorable silhouette stood on a distant hill.

Ah… a dream.

Even if it wasn’t real, Yeongung cherished every dream where he could see Creamie.

“Creamie!”

The baby snow leopard ran toward him at full speed and leaped into his arms.

“…?”

But the size was different. Creamie had grown visibly—his fangs were sharper, his claws longer. He was unmistakably a predator now.

Though to Yeongung, he still looked like a slightly larger cat.

“What were you doing, sweetheart?”

Thump, thump.

Creamie slapped the ground with his tail, as if urging Yeongung to look. Something was pinned beneath him.

“A toy? Show Daddy.”

“Graaa.”

Under Creamie’s plump bottom was a photograph of a man.

“Oh… Lee Rubin?”

The moment the name left Yeongung’s lips, the snow leopard raked his claws across the photo. A few scratches weren’t enough—so he bit down hard, tearing chunks out.

Then, he stuck the picture onto a tree trunk like a target and headbutted it.

“Hey! You’ll hurt yourself!”

Even while pulling the excited cub away, the corners of Yeongung’s mouth refused to come down.

Truth be told, the way Rubin had subtly brushed against Iheun’s arm and shoulder had irritated him too.

After thoroughly destroying the photo, Creamie leaped into Yeongung’s arms, pressing soft jelly paws to his cheeks and rubbing his nose against him—comforting his sulking father.

If he was this precious even now, how beautiful would he be when he was born?

Yeongung found himself looking forward to that day more and more.

“Creamie really is the best…”

A blissful smile still lingered on Yeongung’s lips when two shadows fell over him.

“Oh my. Talking in your sleep—how cute.”

“…Let’s head in.”

Seeing Hunter Yeongung disheveled and asleep was a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle. The secretary instinctively raised her phone to take a picture, then immediately lowered it, fearing the consequences.

When they reached the dorm, Won Iheun—who had arrived earlier, likely by telekinetic movement—was waiting at the entrance. The secretary recalled Yeongung insisting that Iheun would “never do something like that,” and she wanted to ask him, Really? Even after this?

And perhaps because she had carpooled alone with the Vice Guildmaster, Iheun’s attitude today was noticeably icier.

Awkwardness hung in the air, so the secretary, armed with her capitalist smile, attempted conversation. Iheun may have been blunt, but he was wealthy, handsome, and a prestigious boss.

“You’re not joining the after-party, Master?”

“I gave them my card.”

He answered curtly, then wiped away the lingering traces of Yeongung’s pheromones from the inside of the car.

“If he ever asks for a ride again, send him to me.”

Shattering even the possibility of future carpools—her expression fell.

Iheun released just enough pheromones not to overwhelm him and lowered his neck toward the sleeping Omega. Drawn by instinct, Yeongung wrapped his arms around Iheun’s neck.

“Good.”

Seeing the Omega seek him out even in his sleep brought a deeply satisfied smile to Iheun’s lips.

“Oh my…”

The Beta secretary couldn’t sense pheromones, but the sight itself was overwhelmingly intimate—like she’d stumbled upon a forbidden romance.

“You didn’t see anything.”

Leaving her with that single sentence, Iheun lifted Yeongung into his arms and disappeared into the building—looking like a general returning home with the most precious spoils of war.

“Wow. What… what did I just witness? Holy— Moving a sleeping person shouldn’t be that sensual!”

Left alone, the secretary fanned her flushed face and squeaked,

“Oh my god— insane—!”