Daddy is too Strong-Chapter 308

“Ryu Jun-Yeol. Stop playing that weird game and go over to the Academy already.” That was the first thing Kang-Hyun said as he stepped into the office, holding an official document sent by the Academy.

Jun-Yeol, who had been engrossed in a dating sim on his smartphone, glanced at the document placed before him. The request was simple: the academy wanted him to give a lecture to second-year students.

***

S-rank Hunters were occasionally invited to the Academy to give lectures to the students. While stories of real-world Hunting experience were important, these lectures also offered students valuable industry insights from active Hunters on the front lines.

By the time students reached their second year, they usually had a decent understanding of how the Hunter industry operated. As a result, the lecture content tended to be somewhat routine: gathering intel before entering a Fissure, formulating a plan, handling emergencies, dividing profits from monster by-products, current market trends, and so on.

“That concludes today’s lecture. I’ll be in the counseling room this afternoon. If you have any questions, feel free to stop by. Enjoy your lunch,” Jun-Yeol said.

Murmurs filled the air as students filtered out of the auditorium, but a few students lingered, clearly waiting to speak with Jun-Yeol.

Suppressing a sigh, he assumed they were hoping to curry favor with an S-rank Hunter.

“Counseling starts at 2 PM, so come by later. I need to eat, too, you know,” he told them.

***

The meals provided by the Academy were quite good, which made sense given their high tuition fees.

Jun-Yeol finished two bowls of stone pot fish roe rice and made his way to the counseling room, tucked away in the corner of the Academy’s main building. The space, resembling a large cafeteria, was easily over 150 square meters.

Nice. No one’s here yet.

There was still an hour before his counseling sessions began at 2 PM. Taking out his smartphone, Jun-Yeol launched his dating sim app and quickly muted the sound. Getting caught by students playing such a game would be a serious blow to the reputation of the Spear King.

Thirty minutes later, as he was still engrossed in the game, the counseling room’s automatic door slid open, and a male student hesitantly stepped inside.

Swiftly, Jun-Yeol slipped his phone back into his pocket and picked up the book beside him, Is the Economy on the Right Track?, and pretended to read.

“E-excuse me, sir...”

“You here for counseling?”

The student nodded shyly. Clearing his throat, Jun-Yeol set the book down, crossed his arms, and adopted an expression that screamed “authority, seriousness, sternness.”

“Go ahead. What did you come to discuss?” he asked.

“Well... there’s someone I like, and I wanted to ask for advice on what to do.”

“Hmm, I see. There’s someone you like... Wait, what?” Jun-Yeol was caught off guard.

Of all things, a dating consultation? From South Korea’s second-ranked S-rank Hunter? It was absurd.

“I heard you’re a master of romance, sir,” the student explained. “I read about it online. You’re pretty famous.”

“I am...?”

“Yes.”

This was utter nonsense. Jun-Yeol had never been in a real relationship. Although he had virtually dated and even married numerous characters in dating sims, his experience with real women was nonexistent. He had no idea how such a bizarre rumor had started. He resigned himself to the situation as he suppressed a sigh.

He said, “Alright, go on. What’s bothering you?”

“Well... I like a girl named Park Hye-Won from the next-door class.”

“Are you two close?”

“We... say hi when we see each other.”

“I see. So, what’s the problem?”

“I’m not sure how to approach her,” admitted the male student.

Jun-Yeol answered without much thought, “Confess.”

“Huh? J-just confess?” 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

“Yeah. But do it with all your heart.”

Although initially startled, the student soon clenched his fists with determination, eyes blazing with newfound resolve.

“Okay! Thank you, sir!”

After watching the student leave and making sure he wasn’t coming back, or anything, Jun-Yeol pulled out his smartphone again.

***

“Hey, did you hear? Hunter Ryu Jun-Yeol is a total romance master.”

“Just listening to his advice practically guarantees success in love!”

“He made seven couples happen today—that says it all.”

Unaware of the commotion outside, Jun-Yeol remained in the counseling room, glued to his phone screen, dating virtual women.

⌜Oppa, I’m really disappointed in you!⌟

“No, Rachel! Don’t go!”

Alas, his own romantic endeavors were a string of tragic failures. With tears in his eyes, he pressed the “Load last save point” button, determined to try again. He had lost count of how many times he had tried to get past this part of the game.

Whatever. I’m gonna go get some air. He decided.

It was already 4 PM. Just one more hour, and his work for the day would be done. He raised his arms to stretch his stiff body, then headed out of the building.

The expansive campus of the National Hunter Academy, larger than many universities, showcased a sleek, modern design and was built recently.

As he stepped outside, his gaze landed on the track field, where a female student was sprinting at full speed, her hair streaming behind her. Unlike other students lounging in groups with takeout coffee cups, she seemed wholly focused on her training, evident from her sweat-soaked appearance. She crossed the finish line with quick taps of her feet, slowed her pace, and staggered over to a shaded bench, collapsing onto it as she tried to catch her breath.

Jun-Yeol recognized her. She was Jung Hye-Jung, the daughter of the head of Je-Il Smithy.

He approached and sat down next to her, saying, “You should just chill like the others. Running like that won’t increase your stamina stat even by one point.”

“Ah! H-Hunter Ryu! I’m sorry—I didn’t realize you were here. I should’ve said hello first, sorry!”

“Don’t worry about it. I didn’t sit down expecting a greeting. Just relax.”

“T-thank you, sir,” Hye-Jung said.

“Do you run like this every day?”

“Uh, no... I just felt a bit down today, so I needed to clear my head...”

“I see,” Jun-Yeol replied with a nod, thinking that she must’ve had a valid reason.

A brief silence fell between them. After gazing up at the sky for a moment, Hye-Jung stole a glance at Jun-Yeol. Then, hesitantly, she said, “Hunter Ryu, I heard you’re quite knowledgeable about relationships.”

“Who told you that...?”

“It’s a pretty well-known rumor.”

He had, in fact, boasted about his supposed wealth of romantic experience. But that had only been a bluff directed at Kang-Hyun and Ae-Kyung, fellow guild members. Regardless, Jun-Yeol decided to let it slide.

“Were you running because of your relationship troubles?” he asked.

Hye-Jung smiled faintly, though her expression still carried a hint of bitterness. “Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“Would you mind giving me some advice?”

“Why is everyone coming to me for relationship advice today...? Alright, fine. Sure.”

“There’s a boy I like. But... he likes someone else. I keep telling myself to give up, but it’s easier said than done. Maybe if the two of them just got together already, it wouldn’t be so hard.”

Jun-Yeol crossed his arms and exhaled thoughtfully. In dating sims, love triangles always ramped up the difficulty. After all, someone had to end up heartbroken.

“What about the girl? Does she like him back?” he asked.

“No, she doesn’t. It’s completely one-sided.” Hye-Jung let out a deep breath, a wry smile tugging at her lips. “When we were little, he used to say he’d marry me, you know? He doesn’t even remember that.”

“Wait, you guys are childhood friends?”

“Yes...”

“Since when?”

“Since we were five, I think.”

“That’s a long time.”

“It is. Way over ten years now.”

Silence lingered between them.

Jun-Yeol had a hunch about the identities of the “boy” and “girl” she was referring to.

“If you ask me, I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” he said eventually.

“Huh?”

“Er, this is just a random thought, but... In the game I play, if the childhood friend and the main character talked about getting married, no matter how young they were, then she’s the true heroine, you know? Uh, by true heroine, I mean the one who ends up with the guy in the end.”

Hye-Jung burst out laughing. “Hunter Ryu... Do you play... dating simulation games...?”

“N-no! Absolutely not!” Jun-Yeol quickly averted his gaze, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

“Anyway, back to my problem... Do you think I should just wait?” she asked.

“No.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Confess. When the time feels right, call his name gently and tell him how you feel. Be sincere.”

This time, his advice was genuine. Of course, it was also based on his experience playing dating sims.

“What if he doesn’t feel the same way?” Hye-Jung asked.

“Then confess again.”

“And if he still rejects me?”

“Then bring him to me.”

Hye-Jung burst into laughter, the tension in her chest easing. “Phew. I feel a lot better now. Thank you.”

Just then, the doors of the main building swung open, and a boy stepped out. It was Jin-Soo.

Glancing around as if searching for someone, he muttered, “Where did she go?”

Spotting the duo beneath the shade of a tree near the sports field, he broke into a jog toward their bench.

“Hey! Hye-Jung—!” Jin-Soo abruptly stopped mid-stride.

His gaze landed on Jun-Yeol seated beside her. Startled, he instinctively bowed in greeting.

“Ah, hello, sir—”

Hye-Jung’s soft voice interrupted him. “Jin-Soo.”

There was something different about her tone. It was gentler, but also more serious.

“I like you.”

A breeze stirred her hair, causing it to flutter lightly.

“What...?” Jin-Soo blinked, caught off guard.

Jun-Yeol was equally surprised.

But Hye-Jung paid no mind, her gaze unwavering. “I’ve liked you for a long time.”

It was clear she wasn’t joking.

“For a long... time.” She repeated.

Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she smiled faintly.

“Sorry... I just couldn’t hold it in anymore.”

Then, a single tear slid down her cheek. “I tried so hard to keep it in... but... I’m sorry... I’m so sorry...”

She turned to leave even as she spoke, but Jin-Soo grabbed her wrist before she could take a step. Unable to resist his strength, Hye-Jung turned back toward him.

And then, he pulled her into a tight embrace.

Hye-Jung’s eyes widened in shock. Jin-Soo held her tight, so tight as if he were trying to crush her in his embrace.

“Seo... Jin-Soo...?” Hye-Jung whispered.

“I’m sorry... I really am. Just... let me stay like this for a while,” Jin-Soo said.

In that moment, he felt a wave of self-loathing wash over him. He had known for a long time that she liked him. Yet he had ignored her feelings, assuming she would always be there. Hidden behind the walls of time and shared memories, he had simply watched from afar, taking her presence for granted. And now, he had made someone truly precious to him cry.

I’m a piece of garbage, he thought in disgust.

He had always known she was the only one for him. He realized that he had been enjoying watching her suppress her jealousy. Seeing her tears made him realize just how much he had messed up.

Hmm... Meanwhile, Jun-Yeol quietly rose from the bench, stepping away without a sound so as not to disturb them.

The clock mounted on the façade of the Academy’s main building showed that it was now 5 PM.

His work was done.