Chapter Text
“Good morning early birds! The sun is rising and we are here at the Kiseungsu Rearing Facility together with the Monster Daddy himself,” the camera focuses on Bak Hayool with his dazzling smile and pearly white teeth. It seems extra dazzling this morning as he looks excitedly around. He has a microphone in his hand and only ironclad professionalism stops him from waving it all around as he waves the other hand showing the expansive gardens to the viewers.
“Just Han Yoojin is fine.” Yoojin tries to interject but Hayool doesn’t listen to him at all turning to show the camera Peace playing around on the grass, never straying far from Yoojin with so many strangers around. He would be rather still sleeping with Yoojin but can take one morning of this torture to please his dad.
There is a whole filming crew with Hayool that follows him around as he finishes the introduction to the morning show Early Bird With Bak Hayool, the newest show he is hosting. If it wasn’t for Bak Hayool’s innocent pleading and the way he dotes on Peace, Yoojin wouldn’t have been anywhere near such an annoying show. The clock is barely seven in the morning and Yoojin had gotten Comet to sleep only a few hours ago. Now the kid is up again and staring curiously from her nest. She will be a nightmare to put back to sleep after the filming is over. Yoojin is already dreading it.
“Today we have the privilege to see how an actual training session with the fan favorite Kiseungsu goes. I hope everyone’s as excited as I am to see Peace and Blue in action!” Hayool finishes his intro with an excited squeal that does not sound to be only for show. “But first, let’s sit down with the Monster Daddy for a moment and have a chat, shall we?” Hayool gestures towards the set that the crew meticulously put together an hour ago when they came in to prepare for the show. Morning sun is only now beginning to filter in from the glass roof and gives the garden table and the chairs a beautiful glow. It is the best place to host a morning show at. Hayool is very, very pleased and almost can’t contain his excitement over it. He has a good feeling about this show and his intuition is rarely wrong in these things. Call it a professional entertainer’s sixth sense, if you will.
Bak Hayool looks effortlessly refreshing. Mist in the air gives him that unattainable dewy look and his pale slacks and dress shirt don’t look too formal or too casual. Yoojin sighs in envy. They don’t have that much age difference, physically at least, but the difference is staggering. A part of him doesn’t want Hayool to awaken just to keep him from attaining godlike beauty. Han Yoojin can only imagine what he will look like after Awakening. The world will never be the same after that. He is lesser than a squid in comparison. Even Hyunjae and Yoohyun, Yoojin admits begrudgingly, must admit defeat in looks department when Bak Hayool awakens.
In contrast, Yoojin looks like he feels: exhausted. The stylists tried their best but by looking at their resigned expressions Yoojin knew they had utterly failed in their overly optimistic mission. He only hopes that he looks somewhat presentable sitting there next to Hayool and his smile that rivals the sunrise. Yoojin knows that he is even less than a mere squid next to Hayool.
“So tell me, Han Yoojin-nim, how does it feel like to be the most famous Dad in Korea right now?”
Something twitches in Yoojin’s eye as he sips from the tea cup set on the table. It’s lukewarm and watery. “I don’t know about that. I’m sure there are many real fathers worth such high praise. I’m just making sure Kiseungsu grow up well.”
“Always so humble, Han Yoojin-nim!” Hayool turns to look at the camera with a wink. “We all know how beloved you are online. All you need to do is check Twitter or Instagram to see just how much people love the kids and you. Let’s give some love to Monster Daddy on social media, yeah! Go check out his profile on Instagram and give it a follow if you for some reason haven’t already!”
“Well, the kids are cute,” Yoojin admits but his face has a reddish tint to it. Hayool laughs as he sees it but moves on.
Peace jumps on the garden table and from there on Yoojin’s lap with a smug smile on his face and his tail twitching slightly. He looks to the side where Yoohyun stands, just barely out of the camera view. He had refused the interview unless he was there present for safety reasons. Yoojin absentmindedly starts petting Peace and answers Hayool’s Kiseungsu-related questions with a more serious attitude.
“How did you find out you could tame monsters, Han Yoojin-nim? Were you scared the first time you interacted with dungeon monsters?”
Yoojin laughs a little and pats Peace’s head affectionately. There’s no way he could ever talk about the actual first time he met a dungeon monster but he can talk about the first time he met Peace. “Absolutely Not! Peace has been such a good kid from day one. He knows his dad is an F-rank and keeps his claws hidden. From the moment I met him, I thought he was the cutest little kid in the world. After Yoohyun-ie, of course.”
The camera turns to face Yoohyun, who is vigilantly staring at the crew, for a second. He doesn’t pay any attention to the camera but turns to stare at Peace with a smug smile of his own. Peace just turns around, refusing to even look at him.
“It looks like the Haeyeon Guild Leader and his Kiseungsu have a bit of a rivalry going on!”
“Nonsense, they get along merrily. See, go to Yoohyun, Peace!” Yoojin drops Peace from his lap and ushers him towards Yoohyun who looks like he would rather be in a dungeon. Peace turns to look at Yoojin pitifully but he just waves at him to go. “Go on, Peace, dad’s fine here.”
Kiang, Peace says mournfully but turns around and transforms into his adult form before trotting to Yoohyun. He sits obediently next to him but they make sure that neither of them is even accidentally touching the other. They don’t look happy about it but Yoojin has a proud smile on his face.
A burst of laughter erupts from high in the air where Blue has her nest. Hayool looks startled but regains his composure quickly. It’s slowly dawning to him that he has less control over the situation than he expected but signals for the cameras to zoom in on the source of the noise.
“Hunter Bak Yerim,” Yoohyun points up. Peace and Yoohyun exhale in relief as Yoojin’s attention shifts immediately to Blue’s nest and they can shuffle farther away from each other. Peace turns back to his juvenile form and runs to Yoojin who has risen from his seat.
“Yerim-ah!” Yoojin yells having completely forgotten about the cameras. “Get down from there! You’re not supposed to even be here.”
“It’s seems that we have a surprise guest today,” Hayool exclaims as Bak Yerim peeks from the nest, next to Blue who is still trying to sleep. “Bak Yerim, the one and only rising star of the Hunter world known for her young age and amazing abilities! I’m sure everyone has the already legendary battle between her and the Japanese Iwahata Gakuto. Our Water Goddess is indeed formidable!”
The camera zooms in on sheepish looking Yerim as she slowly floats down grumbling under her breath.
“But Ahjussi, it’s not fair!” Yerim whines as she descends in front of Yoojin who looks like he would take his slipper off if he was wearing any. “Yoohyun-oppa gets to be here and I can’t! It’s not fair! I can study later, and I’m not going to need those lessons anyways.”
“Yerim-ah, that’s not how it works!” Yoojin says frustrated. It looks like they have had this same exact discussion many times before. “All the kids your age go to school. That’s where you learn to socialise, at least! Get some friends! Learn discipline!”
“I have friends, ahjussi!” Yerim sounds affronted and tries to list a couple of names. “Hyuna-unnie, Soyoung-unnie, Blue—“
“Other than them, Yerim-ah. People your age, from school. Where you also study. And Blue is a gryphon, for godsake.”
“It looks like Korean’s favourite Water Goddess is in deep trouble,” Hayool narrates like a commentator but Yoojin is too far in scolding to notice that the film crew is still there and still filming. Hayool disregards the rest of the script and continues his commentary. They’re getting so much good material! Their viewers must be going crazy. The show’s social media assistant Nam Yeonah is giving ecstatic thumbs up and begs silently for him to continue. More and more people are tuning in to watch Early Bird With Bak Hayool as they speak. It’s even starting to trend on social media. “You too young viewers, listen well to the Monster Daddy and go to school like good kids and study well.”
“Stop bothering Hyung. He has more important things to do,” Yoohyun steps in front of Yerim and shoos her.
“Like you don’t have anywhere to be either!” Yerim accuses loudly and Yoojin’s attention snaps immediately to Yoohyun.
“What does Yerim-ie mean, Yoohyun-ah?” Yoojin asks, “You said you didn’t have anything else this morning.”
“He’s supposed to have a meeting with Hyuna-unnie. I know, she told me yesterday.”
“Bak Yerim, don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong!”
“Yoohyun-ah! Are you both playing hooky right now? Get back right this instant and go do your jobs!” Yoojin yells after the two of them but Yerim is flying higher in the air with Yoohyun following closely behind with a fire blade on his hand. Azure Willow leaves are scattered everywhere as he dashes after the girl. He is yelling something but it is lost in the wind as Yerim creates a water pillar on top of him extinguishing most of his flames.
Yoojin’s phone buzzes in his pocket with a message from Seok Simyeong. Yoohyun has stood the Breaker and the Seseong Guild leaders up but neither seemed angry about it. Seok Simyeong hopes that Yoojin could talk Yoohyun into apologising or at least into sending gift baskets. Yoojin dials the number but Simyeong doesn’t answer.
“That bastard!’ Yoojin mutters putting the phone back in his pocket, “Now he’s just passing all the work to me like in a game of hot potato. I’m not even part of the guild!”
“Life of the Monster Daddy doesn’t seem easy. Look at the deep frown on his face as he thinks about his S-class children. I am sure fathers all around Korea can relate to his plight right now.”
“Are you still filming?” Yoojin asks horrified as he finally notices the camera and Hayool’s narration. “This isn’t live right?” There’s a wide-eyed look of pure horror on Yoojin’s face as Hayool nods his head apologetically.
“The viewers are loving this,” Hayool consoles as Yoojin sits down on the garden chair. His tea is now cold and even more watery. They’re both dripping water and Hayool is still looking amazing. Yoojin wants to strangle someone.
“Are the cameras at least waterproof or do I need to compensate them to you?” Yoojin finally just sighs as the noises of the S-class fight continue on.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Hayool says and tries to continue like nothing hadn’t happened for the last half an hour, “I’m sure the viewers are dying to know if the life in the Kiseungsu Rearing Facility is always this lively?”
“They’re good kids, both of them, all of them,” Yoojin defends as fire and water clash above them. Thankfully the fire gets extinguished before it falls on them and the water is heated from the flames. “They’re full of energy like young kids are supposed to be. They’re getting along and know how to work together. Yerim-ie and Yoohyun-ie make a great team and they’re learning a lot from each other. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
“True words of a dad!” Hayool laughs but his smile falters a little as a loud crash interrupts them. The roof gives in.
“Oops, sorry, Ahjussi!” Yerim yells but doesn’t sound apologetic at all as the glass panels that were designed to take hits from even S-classes for a moment, collapse. “This was badly made! I get you a better one, I promise.”
“Hyung, this place isn’t nearly safe enough for you!” Yoohyun chimes in. “I think it’s better that you come back to staying at Haeyeon, you can stay at my place for as long as you want.”
“Hyung-nim, it looks like the kids are giving you grief again!” Moon Hyuna saunters in with anxious looking Noah who is trying to tell that Yoojin is busy at the moment. “I want to play, too.” Hyuna takes her enormous spear from her inventory and begins jogging towards the two fighting S-classes. “They need to be taught not to skip their appointments, it’s the perfect job for this responsible noona, right Hyung-nim?” Hyuna doesn’t look even slightly like a responsible noona at the moment but Hayool nods excitedly.
“Moon Hyuna-nim, the Breaker Guild Leader! One of the greatest female hunters out there. This keeps getting better and better!”
“Drop the female,” Hyuna bends towards Hayool and slaps her hand friendly on his shoulder. There’s a slightly vicious grin on her face, “It’s one of the greatest hunters out there!”
Ever since Hyuna got away from the pesky sponsors of the Breaker Guild, she had been avoiding limelight but now she is basking on it. “Look and see how one of the greatest hunters goes and teaches the youth how to behave in someone’s house!”
At this point, Yoojin has already given up. He’s sitting on the chair with contently purring Peace on his lap and drinks from the overflowing tea cup. He’s calculating how much this all is going to cost and to whom exactly will he be sending the bill. He, for sure, isn’t going to be paying for all this damage. He’s grateful they weren’t doing this interview at the studio. It probably wouldn’t have handled the damage as well as this building.
“My one and only partner, I have come bring you coffee,” the silky voice of Sung Hyunjae surprises Yoojin from behind. Peace growls but doesn’t move an inch from his favorite spot. Hyunjae gives the coffee to Yoojin and pulls a chair from seemingly thin air. He can’t possibly have a proper chair in his inventory, that’s just ludicrous, but Yoojin has no idea where else he would have gotten it so fast.
“I have been relieved from unpleasant work dealings and rushed to your side, my dear partner. I knew you were up to something here but I didn’t realise you had already gotten tired of the building. You should have told me and I would have gotten you the best architects to remodel it without such hassle.”
“Cut the crap, Sung Hyunjae-ssi.”
“How cruel,” Hyunjae clutches his chest like in pain, “You are always so cold to me, Yoojin-gun. I have slaved away to bring you the most satisfactory travel itinerary, all for my dearest and most valued customer.”
“I’m not buying your snake oil. Last time, I got trapped in a castle.”
“But a prince rescued you, does that mean nothing to you, Yoojin-gun?”
“I’ll give you one star for it.”
“Only one? I believe I deserve at least two, I prepared so much. And this time I have prepared twice as well. I’m sure you will find the trip satisfactory.”
“Is it child friendly?”
“Unfortunately the deal is for only you, our most valued customer.”
“Then I must decline. I don’t travel without my children.”
“Such cruel words, Yoojin-gun! Look at my face, don’t you see how tired I look, how thin I have gotten. I have barely eaten!”
“You look fine,” Yoojin rolls his eyes. Hyunjae looks as handsome as ever with his hair impeccably in place and clothes pristine. If anything, he is glowing with a smile on his face. “So handsome it disgusts me. Go away,”
Hayool coughs interrupting them. “We are still going live,” he reminds and Yoojin turns red. He had, in fact, completely forgotten not only that they were live but that Hayool was still here.
“Right. Shall I show you the training room and then you must be running out of time,” Yoojin tries feebly to direct them away from the utter chaos that is just getting worse and worse. He doesn’t even recognise this place anymore.
“We have all the time in the world,” Hayool assures Yoojin but receives a death glare and quickly agrees that they are running out of time and it is better to thank the Monster Daddy for his precious time and finish the show for the morning.
The crew of Early Birds With Bak Hayool leave the crumbling building gleefully with more than great reviews and the highest view rates of the whole show. For a moment, most of Korea had turned in to see what the utter chaos was all about.