* * *
– Lee Cheongmyeong is amazing.
– Adult Lee Cheongmyeong is refreshing, but child Lee Cheongmyeong is an angel.
– Lee Cheongmyeong is a dangerous hunter. My heart is pounding.
– Our baby, does the candy taste good? Are you happy? I’m getting a nosebleed.
– I finally understand what it means to break the earth.
– But the Delta Team leader really speaks well.
– I only knew about Lee Cheongmyeong from Seoul Center. He looks amazing!
– My heart is calling for fandom. Team leader, since you’re a caregiving hunter, would you consider taking care of a 360-month-old (30 years old) girl too? I eat well and do everything by myself.
– LOL this is awesome. Look at those cheeks… I want to bite them.
From the corner of the meeting room, Ahn Eunseon watched the broadcast while keeping an eye out for intruders. Her expression soured.
The live chat, which had been constantly praising Lee Cheongmyeong, quickly shifted its focus to Do Hajun.
Everyone was talking about how caring Do Hajun was.
– Look at how Do Hajun wipes off the drool right away when Cheongmyeong’s eating candy. So sweet!
‘No! He only wiped it because he was worried he’d drool on his pants!’
– And what about how he keeps brushing back his hair while making eye contact? That look in his eyes is seriously guilty. Guilty!
‘He is not making eye contact; he’s using his skills. Brushing back his hair is to see better!’
– How can he play with a 3-year-old kid with his hand while holding a press conference? Is that a skill of a caregiving hunter?
‘He’s not playing with the kid; he’s just trying to distract him.’
Ahn Eunseon screamed that the people were being deceived.
But the live chat continued to be filled with praises for Do Hajun, ignoring Ahn Eunseon’s feelings.
– Can he really increase his rank?
A breaking news interview about breaking the impossible was released, and the chat window scrolled even faster.
However, there were more concerns in the chat about Lee Cheongmyeong’s skill control after turning into a child than positive comments.
– What’s the point of being SSS-rank if he can’t use his skills properly? If he misuses them, won’t ordinary people get hit by the water bombs?
– There’s talk in the National Assembly about filling SBC. Wouldn’t it be better to fill SBC than to create an SSS-rank?
– They say hunters are privileged. Should ordinary people have to tremble because of an SSS-rank? Aren’t SS-rank accidents not considered accidents?
Concerns turned into sarcasm, and the number of malicious chats increased.
“Seriously. Since when has rank been a privilege?! They know that the higher the rank, the more they risk their lives to fight, and they still talk like this?!”
Unlike Ahn Eunseon, the reporters seemed to have the same thought and asked Do Hajun questions.
And like magic, the skill unfolded.
In fact, Ahn Eunseon also couldn’t trust Lee Cheongmyeong. Even though she had seen him control his skills while standing next to him, she thought it was all a coincidence.
But Lee Cheongmyeong thought deeply about Do Hajun’s words and used his skills.
There was no coercion, only gentle persuasion.
Since the decision to use the skills was entirely up to Lee Cheongmyeong, it shattered the prejudice that a child wouldn’t be able to make a judgment.
Ahn Eunseon quickly turned her eyes to the chat window.
The chat window had stopped. It meant everyone was so captivated that they didn’t have the leisure to type.
And when all the skills ended smoothly, the previously silent chat exploded.
– Wow… it actually worked?
– Did that really just happen?
– Wasn’t the kid forced to do it? Isn’t that abuse?
– No, if the kid didn’t like it, he wouldn’t make that face.
– Cheongmyeong… so cute. Cheongmyeong watered the plant… He tried to give it a lot because he wanted it to grow a lot.
– To those who were whining about accidents, here’s a fact: as soon as Do Hajun arrived, Lee Cheongmyeong’s skills were immediately controlled.
Amazement at Lee Cheongmyeong’s skills. Perfect control. And admiration for Do Hajun, who eliminated prejudice.
When Lee Cheongmyeong, who had just used his skills perfectly, fell asleep, the screen zoomed in on his face.
The face, with one chubby cheek squished and mouth slightly open in sleep, didn’t look like that of a hunter who had just executed perfect skills.
– Caregiving skills are the best!!!!!!!!
– We shouldn’t be worried that Lee Cheongmyeong became a baby! This is an opportunity for our country!
– Cheongmyeong, listen to your older brother and grow up well. Become SSS-rank. You can do it!
Watching the sleeping Lee Cheongmyeong, Ahn Eunseon turned off the live broadcast.
Do Hajun, who believed in keeping his promises, answered all the reporters’ questions, even if it took extra time.
Moreover, Lee Cheongmyeong had already done his part, and no one was taking photos of the two of them together.
So Lee Cheongmyeong could leave the press conference now.
Since Lee Cheongmyeong, once asleep, didn’t wake up easily, Ahn Eunseon smiled slyly and pressed her wireless earpiece.
“Switch with me.”
– No.
“I’m going to release frogs in your spot.”
Threatening a team member who hated frogs, Ahn Eunseon switched positions and approached Do Hajun with quick steps.
The reporters, focused on Do Hajun’s answers, didn’t pay attention to Ahn Eunseon.
Standing next to Jeon Haneul, Ahn Eunseon saw Lee Cheongmyeong leaning on Do Hajun’s shoulder.
Lee Cheongmyeong’s face, smelling sweet with every breath, was as fair as jade.
“Team Leader, I’ll take Cheongmyeong.”
Just as she was about to take the slipping Lee Cheongmyeong, Do Hajun shook his head.
Even though he had fallen asleep quickly, he didn’t seem to be in a deep sleep.
“Aww.”
As soon as Ahn Eunseon’s voice was heard, Lee Cheongmyeong whimpered, indicating it was a light sleep.
“Go. Before he starts crying.”
“It’s ‘aww’.”
Although baby Lee Cheongmyeong fell asleep again with Do Hajun’s comforting touch, adult Ahn Eunseon left the spot with tears in her eyes.
The seemingly endless press conference ended with everyone satisfied.
“Jun, Cheongmyeong is hungry.”
“Okay, let’s go eat.”
The face of Lee Cheongmyeong, who had just woken up and smiled at Do Hajun, was even fairer than before, and Do Hajun smiled back at him.
Reporters who had briefly put down their cameras instinctively picked them up again to take pictures of the two.
And those photos became the main images in all morning newspapers and online news the next day.
– Lee Cheongmyeong was not a hunter but a 3-year-old child.
with that title.
* * *
“Hmm.”
Do Hajun looked closely at Lee Cheongmyeong.
“Why are you looking at Cheongmyeong like that?”
Ahn Eunseon, holding the emergency duty roster she had made, asked.
Do Hajun didn’t answer and continued to watch Lee Cheongmyeong closely as he looked at his phone.
A week had passed since the press conference.
Just as Shin Misook said, perceptions of Lee Cheongmyeong had changed after the press conference.
So they maintained their daily routine, but something was off about Lee Cheongmyeong.
‘I fed him breakfast, drew a lot of pictures with him, and he took a good nap. Why?’
[Status: Bored. Frustrated.]
[Lee Cheongmyeong is feeling frustrated.]
Lee Cheongmyeong is looking for something interesting to do.
[Status Ailment: If boredom and frustration persist, there is a low probability of using skills impulsively.]
Frustration? Is it indigestion or a respiratory issue?
Do Hajun carefully examined Lee Cheongmyeong’s status window, but there was nothing particularly unusual.
“Cheongmyeong.”
“Yes?”
A bright smile appeared on the face that turned back to look at him.
“Does your stomach hurt?”
Lee Cheongmyeong shook his head.
This was a question Do Hajun had asked every time since the ‘frustration’ status ailment appeared, but Lee Cheongmyeong always shook his head.
Although the status shown in the window was normal, Do Hajun, concerned that there might be an unseen problem, picked up Lee Cheongmyeong.
“Let’s visit the infirmary.”
“The infirmary? Are you sick? I’ll go with you!”
As Ahn Eunseon trailed after them, Lee Cheongmyeong buried his face in Do Hajun’s chest.
“Don’t come. Redo the emergency duty roster.”
“You haven’t even looked at it!”
“Even without looking, I know you scheduled it avoiding weekends and holidays. Redo it fairly. Also, print what I asked for and put it on my desk.”
Ignoring Ahn Eunseon’s protests, Do Hajun quickly walked towards the infirmary.
However, there wasn’t much to be gained from the infirmary.
“He seems perfectly fine.”
“But it keeps saying he’s frustrated. Could he have eaten something odd like a crayon when I wasn’t looking…?”
“Hmm, he said he felt frustrated?”
“Yes.”
The infirmary chief looked at Lee Cheongmyeong, who was fidgeting with his fingers, and asked,
“Since when?”
“Since last night.”
“What happened last night?”
“Nothing different from usual. Came home from work, took a bath, watched TV, and slept.”
“Could the bath be the issue?”
“No, he loves baths.”
Given that Lee Cheongmyeong was a water hunter, he loved baths so much that he would throw off his clothes as soon as he got home.
“What did you watch on TV?”
“A program on EBS.”
The channel, which had always been set to the news, was now fixed on EBS.
Judging that educational broadcasts on EBS were better than the harsh news, and that there were many programs Lee Cheongmyeong would like around the time he got home, Do Hajun let him watch EBS while he took a bath.
The infirmary doctor picked up his phone, tapped it a few times, and then handed it to Do Hajun.
“Is this what was on during your off time?”
The program title from the previous night appeared on the phone screen, and Do Hajun nodded.
The infirmary chief retrieved his phone and smiled brightly.
“He probably feels cooped up inside the house.”
“Sorry?”
“You two have been staying inside the house for quite some time now, haven’t you? Kids his age need to run around and play. Take him to an amusement park.”
“An amusement park?”
* * *
“Wow! This is crazy! It’s Cheongmyeong! It’s really Cheongmyeong!!”
“Hey!!! Lee Cheongmyeong is here. He’s even cuter in person! This is insane!”
“Destroy the earth! Cheongmyeong, look over here. Ahhh!!”
[Lee Cheongmyeong is enjoying himself.]
[Stress level decreases. ▼10]
[Lee Cheongmyeong is very excited.]
[Happiness level increases. ▲30]
Despite the crowd of people staring at him, Lee Cheongmyeong swung his legs joyfully in Do Hajun’s arms.
Although he didn’t entirely trust the infirmary doctor’s words, it was true that Lee Cheongmyeong had only been to the office or home.
While it was understandable for him as an adult, he wondered if he had kept Lee Cheongmyeong, still a child, too confined.
Therefore, the next day, he disguised the team members as regular visitors and brought them to an amusement park, just in case.
But who would’ve thought that Lee Cheongmyeong’s status ailment would be resolved so quickly.
“Do you like it, Cheongmyeong?”
“Yes! I love it!!”
“Did you want to come to the amusement park?”
“Yes!”
“Then why didn’t you say so?”
Instead of answering, Lee Cheongmyeong buried his face in his chest.
Is he embarrassed or just unable to say it?
Even as a Caregiving hunter, Do Hajun couldn’t read the child’s mind. Instead of asking again, he patted his back and headed to the ticket booth.
“Excuse me, is this Lee Cheongmyeong Hunter?!”
* * *
*Summary page is only available for login users. Non-users can view the chapters on the chapter list.*
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