Hero’s Child C37

Chapter 37

Uichan knew if he didn’t ask now, he never would. So he spoke—the questions he’d been turning over in his mind all night. Even voicing them took immense courage.

“If, without your knowledge, a child of yours were to come into existence… what would you think, Noah?”

Noah didn’t answer right away. The question seemed to catch him entirely off guard. Leaning back against the bench, he stared into empty space for a long time. Only when the wind rustled through the trees did he finally speak.

“Well… I’ve never really thought about that. It’s not something I see happening, but… I guess I’d say now isn’t the right time. For heroes, having children can be dangerous. Villains might target them. And right now, my work as a hero comes before having kids.”

Uichan’s hands clenched unconsciously in his lap, his gaze dropping.

“…Then what about later? Would you ever want children in the future?”

“That’s too far ahead for me to say. It’s not that I dislike the idea, but… I guess I’m just not ready. Besides, I’ve always thought that if I’m with someone I truly connect with, kids aren’t necessary. Sometimes, having a child can end up being a burden to the one you love.”

Outwardly, Uichan appeared calm, but his heart was pounding wildly, like a wheel spinning off its axle.

“So… in other words, you don’t want them right now.”

“Something like that. I don’t want to see my future partner struggling because of me. If it came to that, I’d rather leave it to fate. Though… I don’t know if life ever really goes the way I want it to.”

“……”

He had once thought—maybe, when he revealed the truth about the children to their three fathers, even if they didn’t welcome the news, at least they might respect his decision. After all, the pregnancy was the result of all their carelessness.

But other nights, fear consumed him—what if they tried to take the babies away? He’d stayed awake countless times, swearing that if it came to that, he’d fight to the end. He’d raise them on his own, even if it meant standing against all three.

But now… today, he realized those had all been naïve, wishful thoughts.

So Noah didn’t want children after all. Heat crept into Uichan’s face. Of course—Noah was still so young, just at the height of his life. For someone like him, parenthood was far too soon.

And besides, he was right. If the world learned that one of the three major heroes had a child, villains would seize that weakness without hesitation. It was all reasonable, and yet, for some reason, Uichan’s chest burned as though scalded.

Ah… then I can’t tell him about the babies.

Condensation dripped from his melting drink, soaking the paper holder around the cup. Uichan fiddled absently with it until a loud voice startled him. Song Ojun had flung open the office window, shouting.

Clatter—Bang!

“Uichan! A job just came in! You know Mangsoon, the cat next door? Grandma Sunja went to her meeting today and forgot to feed her! She says the little rascal only likes you, so go on—move it!”

Mangsoon was Grandma Sunja’s house cat. Whenever the cat escaped or went unfed, she often placed small requests with Nonhier for help. Today, it seemed to be a feeding mission rather than a rescue.

“I should get going, then. Thank you for the drink.”

“You’re taking a request in your condition? Wait—how about I go instead? You should rest today, hyung.”

Noah quickly gathered their trash and stood. The moment Uichan tried to rise, saying it was fine, Noah trailed right after him. The younger man seemed restless, and the instant Uichan took a limping step, Noah’s hand gripped his shoulder, gently forcing him back onto the bench.

“Just sit down, okay?”

“But… Mangsoon scratches everyone except me. So I should really be the one to go.”

“Don’t worry. I’m good with animals too. They all like it when I lift them up into the air.”

…That sounded more like suspending them midair.

As he said that, Noah brushed aside the sweat-damp strands of hair sticking to Uichan’s forehead. Uichan’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment, the warmth of the hand on his nape oddly familiar.

He looked up at him. That single touch dragged a memory to the surface—like rewinding a film reel. Yes… it had been Noah who’d kissed him first in that pit.

The hand that had cradled his neck back then had pulled him in without hesitation. Noah’s lips had met his in a series of quick, birdlike pecks—innocent at first. When Uichan had gasped, he’d clumsily pushed his tongue in, fumbling yet persistent.

It had been Uichan’s first time too. Not knowing when to breathe, he’d simply leaned back, helpless, overwhelmed. And that hand—large and steady—had been the same hand touching him now. Noah’s hands were so much bigger than anyone else’s.

While Uichan blinked in confusion, Noah suddenly said,

“I’ve thought this since the first time I met you, hyung.”

“Yes?”

“You have a habit when you walk.”

A habit?

Uichan instinctively looked down at his legs. Noah chuckled awkwardly, crouching in front of him. His lowered gaze trailed up, meeting Uichan’s.

“Don’t get me wrong, but… this foot. You’ve injured it before, haven’t you?”

“No, never.”

He truly hadn’t. He’d never suffered any major injuries before. He had no idea what “habit” Noah was referring to. When he flexed his foot, Noah shook his head, his fingers instead brushing the ankle of Uichan’s injured leg.

“When you take your first step with this foot, you lower your head slightly, and your shoulder tilts forward. Most people wouldn’t notice, but to me, it’s obvious. Know why?”

“Well, I wouldn’t know…”

The warmth of Noah’s touch spread softly over his skin as he traced the curve of his ankle, checking for any lingering wounds.

“I know someone else who does the same thing,” Noah murmured. “That’s why I always thought I’d be the one to find them first. I’ve never seen anyone else move that way.”

Uichan realized, instantly and instinctively, that he shouldn’t answer. Whoever Noah was talking about—it was almost certainly who Uichan suspected. Yes… someone like Under Doom.

“……”

He lowered his eyes, fixating on the patterned bricks beneath his feet, as if counting them. But Noah ducked his head, trying to meet his gaze. Startled, Uichan leaned back, and Noah gave a sheepish grin.

The problem was their proximity. One exhale and their lips would touch. There was nowhere left to retreat. Uichan steadied his racing heart, afraid that if he spoke now, he’d say something he couldn’t take back.

Then a warm breath swept across his lips.

“But you know, hyung—you have that same habit.”

“……”

“Quite the coincidence, isn’t it?”

Uichan’s eyes widened. He jerked his head aside, shoulders curling in, but in that fleeting motion, Noah’s lips brushed against his—soft, fleeting, but unmistakable.

From somewhere nearby, Song Ojun’s booming voice rang out again, shouting for Uichan to hurry up. Thankfully, the bushes between them hid the scene from sight.

“Ah… there are always interruptions.”

Noah’s hand still rested on Uichan’s nape. Even though sweat beaded on his skin, Noah didn’t seem the least bit bothered.

“The drink you had,” he said casually, “was a Vanilla Cream Choco Frappuccino.”

Uichan still held the damp cup holder, the drink nearly empty. Maybe Noah simply liked the way he’d been clutching it. The younger man smiled gently, his eyes warm.

“You seemed to enjoy it. I’ll take care of the cat, so go home and rest, okay?”

Before Uichan could respond, Noah’s hand slipped away. His footsteps receded—step, step, step—until only silence remained. Uichan leaned back against the bench, exhaling deeply.

“Ha…”

His mind was a storm. Did he realize? Did he see through me?

There had to be a reason for those words. Perhaps Noah suspected that Uichan was Under Doom. His perceptiveness—how else could he have noticed? He’d said he’d recognized the habit from their very first meeting.

“No… no, that’s impossible.”

Maybe it was just a passing remark. Uichan rubbed at his lips with the back of his hand, trying to erase the sensation that still clung there. But the soft press of Noah’s mouth wouldn’t fade.

A few moments later, he rose, hurriedly leaving before Noah could return.

After leaving the park, Uichan turned away from the Nonhier office and headed for the main street instead. His original plan had been to tell Song Ojun he’d be taking some time off and then visit the hospital to have his thigh checked.

But after running into Noah, he hadn’t managed to say a word—and had ended up walking out.

“Should I just stop by the hospital first and tell him after?”

By the time he finished, Noah would’ve gone back anyway. Uichan stopped, gazing up at a building lined with clinic signs. One in particular caught his eye—a hospital with both orthopedic and dermatology departments. And right beside it, of all things, a large obstetrics and gynecology sign.

He could still hear Noah’s words echoing faintly in his mind:

Well… I’ve never really thought about that. It’s not something I see happening, but I guess I’d say now isn’t the right time. For heroes, having children can be dangerous… Villains might target them. And right now, my work as a hero comes before having kids.

Originally, Uichan’s plan had been to steal their ability registry files and use them to register the babies’ births. But he’d overlooked one crucial detail—submitting those documents would automatically expose the fact that the children’s fathers were none other than the three greatest heroes of their age.