Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C66

Chapter 66

With his latest-model phone in hand, Sanghui let out a deep sigh as he browsed a portal site. A single article filled the screen.

“Damn it… Hyung, does Woong-hyung still not know about this?”

“Judging by how the Deputy Guild Master acted while bathing Jaehee earlier, he really doesn’t seem to know. He can’t lie to save his life.”

“Haah… Of all times, why does this have to blow up while Iheun-hyung is on a business trip?! Should we just hide Yeongung-hyung’s phone or something? Tch—though honestly, he barely uses SNS, so maybe it’ll pass quietly…”

Even Hamgyeol, who would normally tell Sanghui to stop overreacting, sounded worried this time.

“A scandal like this isn’t just any scandal. What are we supposed to do about the Deputy Guild Master…”

At that moment, Yeongung peeked his head out from behind the whispering idiots. In the living room, the magical beast cat Pepper was playing with Jaehee.

“What am I not supposed to know? Whose scandal broke?”

Startled, Sanghui hastily shoved his phone into his pocket.

“Ah—shit! Give some warning before sneaking up like that!”

Yeongung held out his palm.

“Take it out.”

“W-what… what!”

“What you hid in your pocket.”

“….”

“Unlock the screen.”

Caught red-handed, Sanghui had no room to escape. He unlocked the phone with his fingerprint and handed it over. As Yeongung read the screen, his expression turned icy.

‘Tako Guild Master and Rank 1 Hunter Won Iheun to wed the eldest daughter of Mujin Group…’

At Yeongung’s stiff voice, Sanghui and Hamgyeol hurried to defend their absent superior.

“Hyung! No way it’s real, right? It’s just another stock-market rumor reporters turned into an article.”

“Exactly! Why would the Master marry Mujin Group’s eldest daughter when he has you and Jaehee?”

Ignoring them, Yeongung searched the name mentioned in the article.

“Kim Rahee…”

A name that matched her urban appearance. A dominant omega, she was a world-class pianist who had placed multiple times in international European competitions. Despite being the eldest daughter, she had long withdrawn from corporate succession battles to pursue art.

Yeongung tried to recall how Mujin Group connected to Iheun.

“Did this leak come from Iheun’s family side…?”

Mujin Group, having reclaimed the defense industry after the Awakening Era, had risen to the top ranks of the conglomerates. With exclusive government defense contracts, they maintained close ties to the Ministry of National Defense.

Given that background, a political marriage between Mujin Group and Iheun’s family—rooted in the military and the Hunter Association—was only natural.

“But hyung,” Sanghui asked hesitantly, “they haven’t registered their marriage yet, right?”

“……”

“Ahaha—wow, that was tone-deaf. That’s really not the timing for that question, is it…?”

Despite his carefree demeanor, Sanghui sometimes hit nerves dead-on. At the mention of marriage registration, Hamgyeol grew even more uneasy, glancing at Yeongung’s empty left ring finger.

“I don’t care about timing. Hyung, are you and Iheun-hyung not legally married? Then whose registry is Jaehee under…?”

“Jaehee is registered under me. Under the fake identity ‘Yeongjun.’”

Yeongung answered calmly, but his thoughts grew complicated—not because of Iheun’s scandal, but because of Jaehee’s registration.

When he’d gone into hiding, he’d had no choice but to register Jaehee under the false identity Yeongjun. Even now, on paper, Yeong Jaehee was still Yeongjun’s son. The thought that this couldn’t go on forever jolted Yeongung back to himself.

Misreading his expression as anger, Sanghui asked cautiously,

“Hyung… are you mad?”

“No. Why would I be? Like you said, it’s just stock-market gossip.”

“R-right? That’s our Yeongung-hyung! You’re not the type to get shaken by trashy gossip articles.”

Hamgyeol, however, pointed out the real concern.

“Deputy Guild Master, since you know now… the reaction on communities and SNS isn’t normal. It’s spreading too fast to dismiss as rumors. And the bigger issue is that Mujin Group’s eldest daughter is taking an ambiguous stance—almost as if the reports are true.”

It seemed Kim Rahee didn’t dislike the political marriage being pushed by both families. After all, was there really an omega in the world who could refuse Won Iheun? If it were me, I’d accept in a heartbeat.

Yeongung replied curtly,

“So? What do you expect me to do.”

“You’re really just going to let this be?”

“Where’s Won Iheun.”

Only now noticing Iheun’s absence, Yeongung looked for the main party involved. Hamgyeol explained awkwardly,

“…It’s Monday. The Guild Master is on his regular trip with Dr. Richmond.”

Right—Monday. Every Monday was the day Iheun went searching for ways to break the system’s restriction.

Yeongung had lost track of time lately. With Jaehee no longer attending daycare, they spent far more time together, and caring for Pepper—who was growing rapidly after finding suitable food—left little room for anything else.

“Mr. Perfect Won Iheun sure is busy as hell today too.”

The wrong people broke out in cold sweat.

“So hyung, what are you going to do?”

“What do you think? I’ll show them properly.”

Instead of stewing over his alpha’s scandal, Yeongung smiled coolly.

“What happens when you mess with someone who’s already taken.”

[Dad, Dad!]

On the phone screen, Jaehee stretched out his arms, asking to be held.

“Jaehee, my baby. If you miss Dad, can you hold out for just two nights? On the day the sun rises for the third time, Dad will go ‘ta-da!’ and show up. Promise.”

Jaehee mimicked Yeongung’s pinky-promise gesture with his tiny finger. Just then, the now-cat-sized Pepper tried to headbutt the phone screen.

[Hey! The phone’s gonna fall! You dumb cat! This is a limited-edition model!]

Sanghui barely caught the slipping phone, but Pepper didn’t move, staring intently at Yeongung on the screen.

Pepper’s golden eyes were beautiful—nothing like the grimy state he’d been in when rescued from the rift. No tear stains, no discharge—clean and healthy. Yeongung looked on fondly at the result of his care.

Then Jaehee suddenly bit Pepper’s tail.

Pepper willingly offered it, showing no irritation at all—he had fully accepted Jaehee now.

[Leave the dough to me. Butler, have a safe trip.]

“Pepper… why are you suddenly using cat-speak you never used before? And where did the ‘nya’ come from?”

[It’s cuter this way, nya. I know everything, nya. Where I learned it is a secret, nya. Butler just has to find me cute, nyaaaang.]

“…You’re unbelievable. Fine—do whatever you want!”

Muttering ‘hopeless’, Yeongung ended the call with his beloved ones.

“So it’s been a while since I’ve been here.”

Looking up at the high-rise building, the massive sign read: Hunter Association Central Headquarters.

Today, Yeongung had come to have the internal chip he’d once removed re-implanted—by his own choice.

As he entered, he recalled his conversation with the idiot duo.

“I might return.”

“What?”

“Excuse me?”

He’d dropped the words like a stone into calm water during lunch. Sanghui had dropped his spoon. Hamgyeol had nearly choked on his soup.

“The Association President’s gonna clutch his neck and collapse again.”

“I heard the board’s been itching to come after the Deputy Guild Master.”

“You risked your life removing that chip, but the VIPs went crazy calling you back.”

“Honestly, you can live peacefully on Muhaedo only because Sayoung’s backing you.”

“And I heard there was a private deal between Iheun-hyung and the Association President.”

That last part stuck with Yeongung—a deal even his closest aides didn’t know the details of.

Even without Iheun’s scandal, it was one of the reasons Yeongung had decided to return.

Passing through the revolving door, he walked straight to the reception desk.

The staff member, mechanically greeting visitors, froze when she recognized him—eyes wide as if struck from behind.

“H-how can I help you… Y-Yeongung Hunter?!”

“It’s been a while. The Association President is in, right?”

Lowering his mask, Yeongung curled one corner of his mouth into a smile. He signaled Sayoung, who had followed him in shadow, that he no longer needed to erase his presence.

“Uh—how—ah, no, my goodness…! I’ll connect the hotline immediately—!”

Snapping out of it, the staff hurriedly accessed the security program and reached for the red button.