Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C77

Chapter 77

Yeongung was breathing in the gentle fragrance of the flowers while waiting for Won Iheun when an unfamiliar number called.

He skimmed the eleven digits, then flipped his phone face-down. Urgent matters were always delivered through the Awakened Network—there was no reason to answer a strange call.

But the caller was persistent.

Yeongung raised one eyebrow.

“What is it.”

Bzz—bzz.

The vibration was impossible to ignore. Wearing a thoroughly annoyed expression, he was just about to block the number when a message arrived.

[Sender: 010-xxxx-xxxx]

Hunter-nim, it’s Kim Rahee. Please answer the call.

“…Kim Rahee?”

Yeongung tapped the screen absently, hesitating. Just as he considered answering, Won Iheun’s warning resurfaced in his mind.

It was amusing seeing you get jealous because of her, but from now on, don’t meet her. Especially not in person.

Iheun had clearly disliked even the smallest point of contact between Yeongung and Kim Rahee.

Still, the phone kept vibrating.

Iheun’s absence was longer than expected. The food that had been warm only moments ago had gone cold. Yeongung stabbed at his salad with a fork, thought for a moment, then made up his mind.

He pressed the green button.

“This is Yeongung.”

[…H-Hunter-nim?]

“Yes, Kim Rahee-ssi.”

He deliberately used her full name. Not Rahee-ssi.

Even though Iheun wasn’t here to hear it, Yeongung had no intention of doing something his lover disliked.

“So. What’s the matter? And how did you get my number.”

Despite his flat tone, Kim Rahee sounded excited. Behind her voice, staff members squealed loudly.

[Ah—just a second! Everyone, please be quiet!]

“…”

Her voice shifted completely—soft, controlled.

[…Ahem. Sorry. It was a bit noisy.]

She could’ve been a voice actress, Yeongung thought idly, then cut straight to the point.

“That’s fine. More importantly—why did you release those articles?”

[Ah, the articles…! Y-you saw them?]

“I saw everything. That the arranged marriage was false, and that your so-called ideal type is me.”

Yeongung lightly touched the ring hanging at his neck as he spoke quietly.

“I have someone precious. Someone I’d trade my life for.”

[…]

“I don’t want to create situations that make that person uncomfortable. I can’t control every outside factor—but since you and I already know each other, I’m asking you directly.”

No feints. No evasions.

A clean, straight pitch.

For once, Kim Rahee went silent.

“Please don’t tell reporters things like I’m your ideal type. He’s a very jealous person.”

Only then did Yeongung hear a loud bang from the other end.

[…This is pissing me off.]

“…What?”

[N-no, I didn’t mean you!]

“Then what.”

Had she just smashed a table?

[I’m pissed at Won Iheun. That bastard. I found you first. I liked you first. Why does everything I want always end up in his hands?]

Iheun’s dismissive explanation of their past rivalry crossed Yeongung’s mind.

We’ve had similar tastes since childhood. She was always the one losing what she wanted—to me.

Their bad blood ran deeper than he’d thought.

[I knew about you two back when you were just sex partners. Do you have any idea how hard that lunatic worked to keep me away from you?]

…She knew?

Yeongung’s eyes shook.

[Inequality. That’s what this is. I can’t just let it go.]

She sounded genuinely furious.

[Do you know why Won Iheun talks so stiffly in front of you? Like a soldier?]

“…No. Maybe because of his military days.”

[Ha! Please. He looks down on the whole world. He just wants to look grown-up in front of you.]

Yeongung frowned as her insults escalated.

Then she dropped something that made his ears perk up.

[Remember that magazine interview after your coming-of-age ceremony?]

“…Vaguely.”

[They asked: Do you prefer older or younger partners?]

The memory sharpened.

Older, probably. I don’t plan on dating right now, but if I do… I’d like someone mature. Someone I can learn from.

“…That feels like a stretch.”

[I laughed at him back then. Told him copying an adult tone didn’t make him one.]

Yeongung was twenty. Iheun was eighteen.

If she was telling the truth…

[That bastard’s sharp. He’s blowing up my phone right now. Check if there’s a tracker app on yours—he might’ve cloned your phone.]

“…What?”

[I had something else to say, but oh well. We’ll talk again. Promise you won’t block my number. If you do—]

“…If I do?”

[I’ll release another article. Saying I’ll stay single forever if I can’t marry Yeongung.]

“….”

It was a terrifying threat.

[D-Don’t forget! You promised!]

The call ended.

Ding.

Another notification.

“What now…”

He opened the message.

‘Have you seen the rabbit that lives in the amusement park?’

A video file was attached.

Yeongung played it.

Jaehee—wearing the pink rabbit pajamas Yeongung had bought—was hopping around Hunter World. Each time the child jumped, the long rabbit ears on the hood bounced cheerfully.

Just like Yeongung’s own rabbit headband.

After a few steps, Jaehee wobbled—and a fox scooped him up.

Won Iheun.