Hero Hunter is on Parental Leave C78

Chapter 78

Yeongung’s eyes locked onto the clock tower in the background of the video.

It was right in front of the food court where he was sitting.

It felt like he could almost hear the child’s laughter.

Turning off the video, Yeongung shot to his feet and ran toward the clock tower.

“So there really is a rabbit living in the amusement park.”

The moment he saw Jaehee in the rabbit outfit with his own eyes, Yeongung couldn’t hold back his smile.

The child, holding a heart-shaped balloon, was beaming happily in Won Iheun’s arms.

“Jaehee!”

At Yeongung’s call, both the man and the child turned around at the same time and waved. Their faces looked uncannily alike. Something prickled painfully in Yeongung’s chest.

It was a scene he’d seen countless times on Muhaedo—so why did it feel so overwhelming now?

“Appa!”

The child stretched his arms toward his omega parent.

Iheun set Jaehee down.

“Appa, appa!”

Slow but steady, Jaehee toddled toward Yeongung. With every step, his shoes made a soft pop-pop sound.

He stopped briefly, looking up with a proud expression, as if asking to be praised.

“Our son is the best!”

“Hehe. Appa!”

Yeongung watched the child’s chubby cheeks jiggle as he walked. Having not seen Jaehee for several days since coming to Seoul, his patience finally snapped.

He rushed forward.

“My prince! Didn’t you miss Appa?”

Lifting the little rabbit up to eye level, Yeongung showered him with kisses from crown to cheek. Jaehee quickly noticed that Yeongung’s headband matched his pajamas and tugged at the rabbit ears, imitating the animal.

“Kkaang, choong!”

The child was growing rapidly—both physically and linguistically—almost as if trying to make up for lost time. Yeongung had once worried whether this speed was another “wish” of the child, but Richmond had reassured him that it was within normal parameters for a child born from a rift.

Fearing a chill, Yeongung fastened Jaehee’s open pajamas. Thankfully, there was padded clothing underneath.

“No idea whose kid this is, but he’s adorable enough to kill.”

“Don’t say things like ‘kill,’ even as a joke.”

From behind, Iheun pulled both of them into his arms and lightly bit Yeongung’s earlobe in warning.

Watching the two adults, Jaehee let out a dramatic hngh and pretended to cry, clearly upset that he felt left out.

“I told you to watch your behavior in front of him. He absorbs everything like a sponge.”

Yeongung scolded him and nudged Iheun away with his shoulder. Iheun responded by pulling him in even tighter.

“It was a surprise event. Did you like it?”

“Yeah. Everything you prepared today—big satisfaction.”

That “everything” included the bouquet delivered earlier, though Iheun didn’t notice. He’d prepared so many events that one slipping past him wasn’t surprising.

“Who brought Jaehee here? Sanghui and Hamgyeol?”

Iheun gestured toward the bumper-car zone.

“Hyung, who else would it be!”

“Vice Guild Leader, we’re hurt! You came to Hunter World without us!”

Hamgyeol and Sanghui were driving like maniacs, clearly venting pent-up childcare stress. Bang! Bang! The bumper cars collided violently.

“…They’re not going to break that, are they?”

As Yeongung worried about damages, Jaehee wiggled excitedly.

“Ta, ta!”

“It’s ‘car,’ not ‘ta,’ young master.”

“Ta! Taaa!”

It wasn’t just the bumper cars colliding—another stubborn father-and-son showdown was brewing. Yeongung shook his head.

“I want to ride something with Jaehee.”

“There’s nothing he can ride—”

“But we’ve got two very special dads.”

“The monorail looked nice.”

It was a slow sightseeing train that looped through the indoor area and over Seokchon Lake—safe, seated, and perfect for a child.

“Let’s ride.”

Successfully changing the subject, Yeongung smiled.

Unfortunately, the father-son rivalry resumed—over something even more absurd.

Jaehee had started copying the way Yeongung called him “baby.”

“Jaehee, baby!”

The child slapped his tiny hand onto Yeongung’s face, claiming ownership, while glaring at Iheun.

“Appa, baby mine.”

“No. Your person will appear later. Appa belongs to Big Appa.”

But Jaehee didn’t accept it.

“Appa, baby mine!”

“Appa is Big Appa’s.”

“…Hngh—waaah! Jiji! Jiji!”

Iheun had been demoted from Big Appa to bad person.

Yeongung looked between them helplessly.

“Won Iheun, do you really need to compete with your own kid?”

“No. He’s exactly like me. I need to correct this early.”

Correct what, exactly? Yeongung didn’t want to ask.

He leaned in and spoke seriously.

“You’re both wrong. I belong to me.”

Both faces twisted. Especially Iheun’s.

Yeongung swallowed, suddenly afraid of future bedroom retaliation.

“Hmph.”

Jaehee puffed his cheeks in protest.

“You’ll ignore your dads once you grow up and find someone you like.”

He poked the child’s cheek gently and looked out the window.

The monorail emerged over Seokchon Lake.

“Ribbit, ribbit.”

Jaehee pressed his face to the glass, staring at the giant frog balloon floating on the water.

“Woah.”

Drool dripped from his open mouth as Yeongung wiped it away.

“Oh right—what about Pepper?”

“He’s Clingy No. 3. He threw a fit wanting to see you, so I brought him.”

“Where?”

“Inside Jaehee’s recognition bracelet.”

The bracelet allowed summoning without mana—perfect for emergencies. Since Pepper would eventually become Jaehee’s companion beast, it made sense.

Yeongung was about to praise Iheun—

When the giant frog balloon split open.

“Appa! Frog!”

And from inside it—

A swarm of monsters spilled out.