Chapter 271 – Side Story 2 – Min Su-ho

Until entering kindergarten, Su-ho didn’t know what his father did for a living.

He learned that his father was a hunter because Min Do-jun happened to appear on TV that was playing at kindergarten.

“Oh! That’s daddy!”

The teacher’s hand, which had been changing channels to put on a children’s program, stopped.

“Su-ho, what are you talking about?”

“That person on TV is my daddy.”

The kindergarten teacher’s gaze stayed on the TV.

The screen was showing Min Do-jun under the theme of “the hero who saved the world.”

‘Hunter Min Do-jun is Su-ho’s father?’

Since his mother always came to pick him up at dismissal time, she didn’t know who Su-ho’s father was…

‘Come to think of it, they have the same surname, don’t they?’

Just as she was surprised by this unexpected information, Su-ho’s mother appeared.

“Hello, teacher. I came to pick up our Su-ho.”

“Ah… you’re here? Su-ho, your mom is here.”

“Mommyyy!”

Watching Su-ho run into Cha Ye-rin’s arms, the teacher quietly approached and asked.

“Excuse me, Su-ho’s mother. I have something to ask you…”

“What is it…? Don’t tell me Su-ho did something wrong?”

“It’s not that, but he just called Hunter Min Do-jun on TV his daddy, so I was wondering if it’s true…”

“Ah…”

At those words, Cha Ye-rin’s expression hardened.

She wanted to live as quietly as possible.

“Yes, that’s right. He’s Su-ho’s father.”

“Gasp! Really? Come to think of it, the guild name is also Guardian Guild…!”

“Shh. Please keep this just between us, teacher. We want to live as normally as possible.”

“I-I will.”

There would be nothing good and only trouble if the fact that his father was Min Do-jun became known.

Others might look at them through colored glasses, and especially it could be a burden for her son Su-ho.

He would receive attention from people around the world for being Min Do-jun’s son.

“Su-ho.”

“Yes, mommy.”

Su-ho looked at his mother, who grabbed him with a serious expression after returning home.

“Were you surprised to see daddy on TV?”

“Yeah! I was surprised and happy to see daddy, who I see at home, also on TV.”

“You’ll see him sometimes. I haven’t told you until now, but daddy is a very famous person.”

“Really? Famous enough for everyone in the world to know?”

“That’s right. But even though he’s famous, you can’t act like you know him or brag about it.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because it becomes troublesome in various ways. So even if daddy appears on TV, you have to pretend you don’t know, okay? Can you do that?”

“Mm… okay.”

Cha Ye-rin thought this would prevent rumors from spreading.

However, the next day.

“Oh my, Su-ho’s mother is here?”

“It must be hard raising a child, right?”

“Please have some drinks here while you wait to pick up Su-ho.”

Seeing the kindergarten teachers being unusually friendly compared to the day before, she felt like she had made a pointless request.

“Su-ho is so sharp and well-mannered.”

“Sometimes he seems like a grown adult, doesn’t he? Ho ho ho!”

Cha Ye-rin made an uncomfortable expression at the burdensome flattery.

She fully understood why celebrities try to hide their children’s personal information.

‘When I get home, I should ask oppa to move…’

It was unavoidable to live quietly like ordinary people.

* * *

When he was young, he simply hid it because his mother told him to hide it.

The fact that his father was the hunter who saved Korea.

But after entering elementary school, Su-ho had to deal with temptation.

Friends from well-off families kept bragging about their fathers.

“You know Daehyun Group, right? My dad works there.”

“Wow, that’s a big company. Amazing.”

“My dad is a chicken restaurant owner.”

“Wow, nice. Then you must order chicken all the time, right?”

“My dad is a firefighter. He’s saved tons of people.”

“That’s amazing. Su-ho, what does your dad do?”

“Huh? M-my dad?”

Su-ho, who was debating whether to tell or not, ultimately couldn’t resist his itching mouth.

“H-hunter. He’s retired now though…”

“Wowww! Hunter?”

Hunter, who defeated monsters with powerful strength, was ranked as the number one job elementary students wanted to have.

It wasn’t unreasonable for them to be so enthusiastic with sparkling eyes.

“So cool! A hunter!”

“He must break walls and fly around in the sky, right?”

“W-well? I’ve never seen it so I don’t really know…”

“Your dad is a hunter but you’ve never seen him use his abilities?”

“What’s your dad’s job class? Is he a swordsman? Or a mage?”

“…”

Actually, Su-ho only knew that his father was amazing but didn’t know the details.

Min Do-jun never showed his abilities, and Su-ho wasn’t particularly interested in hunters.

“I don’t know either.”

“What do you know then?”

That’s when it happened.

“Their dad is a hunter?”

A child twice Su-ho’s size approached with crossed arms.

It was a child named Im Tae-yang from the next class who had come to play.

“Hey, Min Su-ho. Is your dad a hunter?”

“Uh? Yeah…”

“Who is he? My dad works at the Hunter Management Center, so if you just give me the name, I can look up his ranking.”

When asked for the name, Su-ho fell into contemplation.

‘She told me not to tell…’

Seeing Su-ho hesitating, Im Tae-yang’s lips curled up.

It was clear mockery.

“Can’t say it? This kid is totally lying.”

“I-it’s true though?”

“Then tell me. The name.”

“H-he’s retired now so you might not know.”

“Kek kek, is he some unknown low-tier hunter?”

“No! My dad is famous…”

“Famous?”

“N-no.”

“Kek kek, look at him making stuff up because he’s embarrassed to say the name. Don’t worry. Even if he comes out with a low ranking, I won’t spread it around…”

“Min Do-jun.”

“Huh?”

Su-ho, whose pride was hurt, said in a low voice.

“My dad’s name is Min Do-jun.”

Silence flowed.

But that was only for a moment.

“Where the hell are you making stuff up?”

Im Tae-yang frowned as if he had heard an unfunny joke.

“Ranking 1st Hunter Min Do-jun is your dad? You should know when to stop lying.”

‘Ranking 1st?’

He was hearing this for the first time.

The fact that his father was ranking 1st.

‘I knew he was famous enough to appear on TV, but his ranking was that high?’

He had no interest in the hunter industry to begin with, and his family hushed it up saying there was no need to know, so he didn’t even know the ranking.

“Lying kid.”

Su-ho got angry at Im Tae-yang’s words.

“I’m not lying!”

“Did you think I’d believe you just because you have the same surname?”

“It’s really true!”

“Your dad is really Hunter Min Do-jun?”

“Yes!”

“If you’re lying, you get slapped 10 times. Deal?”

“…Deal!”

“Good. Just wait. I’ll call my dad and check.”

While making the call, Im Tae-yang smiled triumphantly.

“You’re dead. Did you think I couldn’t check? My dad said he’s best friends with Hunter Min Do-jun. If I ask, everything will come out, you bastard. Oh! Dad!”

Im Tae-yang shouted to his father.

“Dad! You said you’re best friends with Hunter Min Do-jun, right? There’s some kid here insisting his dad is Min Do-jun. Oh, really? Got it.”

After ending the call, Im Tae-yang immediately growled at Su-ho.

“You bastard, where are you making stuff up? My dad says Hunter Min Do-jun doesn’t have a son.”

“What?”

“You lost. Get ready for your slaps, you bastard.”

Just as Im Tae-yang raised his thick arm like his build.

Smack-

The arm he was about to swing was caught by someone.

“Huh?”

“D-daddy?”

The person who caught Im Tae-yang’s arm was none other than Min Do-jun.

“M-Min, Min Do-jun Hunter?”

At Min Do-jun’s sudden appearance, not only the class children but even his son Su-ho were flustered.

“Do kids play like this these days?”

“I-is Min Do-jun really Su-ho’s dad?”

“Kid. You should use honorifics in front of adults. Am I your friend?”

“S-sorry.”

Im Tae-yang couldn’t even lift his head in front of Min Do-jun.

The fact that he was outmatched in build because he was an adult played a part, but above all, his gaze was too frightening.

‘Wh-what kind of look is that…’

He felt the intimidation and fear as if he was actually facing a tiger.

“You were making an interesting bet with my son? If you lose, what? 10 slaps?”

“H-how did you…”

“Call him. Your dad.”

At Min Do-jun’s command, Im Tae-yang picked up his phone with trembling hands.

“Uh, um… Dad. It’s me… H-Hunter Min Do-jun wants to talk…”

Min Do-jun snatched the phone at an invisible speed.

“Who are you? Who are you to go around impersonating being best friends with me?”

-…

“Not talking? Just know that your son is next to me.”

-D-Do-jun. It’s me. It’s Hyung-chan…

“Im Hyung-chan?”

Im Hyung-chan was Min Do-jun’s high school classmate.

They hadn’t met even once since the last class reunion.

“Hey, nice to hear from you. How long has it been? 20 years?”

-Uh, yeah. Has it been that long? Haha…

“Laughing?”

-…

“Since when were you and I best friends? The guy who tried to backstab me?”

-Wh-when did I ever do that…!

Of course, he had dealt with it before being backstabbed so there was no loss, but that’s how it was before regression.

That’s why Min Do-jun couldn’t view him favorably.

“Even now you’re impersonating being best friends with me and tarnishing my image, aren’t you?”

-I-I’m sorry about that…

“Whatever. Do kids play by slapping each other these days?”

-What do you mean by that…

Min Do-jun told him about the bet between Su-ho and Im Tae-yang without omission.

As if he had been right there.

“What do you think? Your son was the one who proposed the bet first.”

-This kid making useless bets…

“But why did you lie saying I don’t have a son?”

-…

“Did you want to win the bet that badly?”

-No, I thought the other kid was lying…

“I don’t need excuses. Anyway, since my son won, you wouldn’t have anything to say if I slapped your son 10 times, right?”

-…A bet is a bet.

“But I’m going to hit him instead of my son Su-ho. That’s okay, right?”

-Huh?

Im Hyung-chan on the other end of the call was surprised, and Im Tae-yang listening beside him was also surprised.

“You made my son almost get hit with a lie that didn’t exist in the first place. You acknowledge that, right?”

-Uh, um…

“So there’s no problem if I hit him as a substitute. Right?”

-D-Do-jun. It’s a bit much for you to get involved in kids’ games…

“Hey, do you really think I’d hit a little kid hard?”

Im Tae-yang turned pale at the sight of Min Do-jun grinning while looking at him.

“Or you could get hit instead of your son. You’re not without responsibility for spreading false rumors about being best friends with me, are you?”

-Ah, okay. I-I’ll get hit.

“Yeah. Good thinking. Then hurry up and come to the school.”

-I’m at the company right now…

“Stop making excuses and come within 10 minutes. For every minute you’re late, I’ll add one more hit.”

The call ended there.

“You heard? Your dad is getting hit instead.”

“Ahh…”

Im Tae-yang regretted it.

If only he hadn’t made such a bet, his father wouldn’t have to get hit.

But Min Do-jun had no intention of hitting a father in front of his child.

‘Su-ho is watching too, so I can’t do that.’

In Min Do-jun’s sight was Su-ho, who was watching the situation with a bewildered face.

“Su-ho.”

“Yeah?”

“I think we’ll have to transfer schools.”

“…Again?”

At first, Su-ho didn’t understand why he had to hide the fact that his father was a hunter.

But as of today, he learned.

The fact that revealing he was a hunter made things troublesome in various ways.

“Let’s go.”

Min Do-jun took his son’s hand and left the school.

In the place where the father and son disappeared, only Im Hyung-chan, who had arrived late at the school, was catching his breath.