The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 107
J carefully examined the boy again. His face was pale, and his chapped lips were tightly shut. He seemed quite displeased.
How could he express his feelings just with the shape of his mouth? Despite being on the verge of fainting from the pain, he still managed to firmly express his intentions even in extreme situations.
‘They say people get mean when they’re in pain.’
Was this kid becoming vicious because of the pain, or was it his original personality? J’s curiosity was piqued. Lost in thought while scrutinizing the boy, J suddenly asked,
“Do you remember me?”
“…”
“I brought you back, from there. It was me.”
Even though the story was vague, the boy seemed to understand, as his tightly shut lips loosened a bit. His head turned slightly more towards J, as if he remembered that time.
‘It would be better if he didn’t remember that.’
If the melted figure that had been protecting the boy was really his parent or family… even more so. J bit the inside of his cheek. Human memory doesn’t move as one wishes, and memories one wants to forget only become clearer over time. J, staring at the boy’s bandaged face, said,
“I heard you can’t talk yet… Can you move your fingers?”
In response, the boy’s fingertips twitched. J propped his chin up and muttered,
“Then just move your fingers. I’ll try my best to understand.”
“…”
“I’m good at talking to myself and reading people.”
“…”
“Got it? Can you move your fingers?”
The boy’s fingertips wiggled. J smiled broadly.
“Yeah, like that.”
Beep, beep, beep… Amid the somewhat rough and labored breathing, there was a quieter breath mixed in. The hospital room, which would usually only echo one person’s breathing, seemed a bit fuller. It was a rare moment of peace. With his eyes closed, J whispered,
“I’m J.”
“…”
“It’s not my real name, but just call me that. I’m a hunter, quite high-ranked, and affiliated with the Awakened Management Bureau… That’s about it. Oh, darn… I don’t really have much else to say.”
The boy’s fingers twitched. J watched the boy’s fingers move diligently. He had boldly claimed he’d understand everything, but in truth…
‘I have no idea what he’s saying.’
It was completely incomprehensible. J awkwardly twisted his lips in embarrassment.
Well, time would solve this too. The more time they spent together, the better he’d get at understanding the boy’s slight movements. After all, he was quite good at learning. Tapping his mask with his finger, J said absentmindedly,
“You won’t see my real face even when you’re healthy. I’m wearing a mask. So don’t be too sad about your eyes being injured… They can be treated.”
“…”
“The voice you’re hearing now isn’t mine either. The mask alters my voice.”
“…”
“Oh, want to touch it once? Can you move your arm?”
J moved closer to the bed and gently rolled up the boy’s sleeve.
But the bandaged arm was covered in tubes and needles, with no space to spare. It looked like the researchers or doctors would rush in at any moment if he even moved it a bit.
J reluctantly put his hands behind his back and stared into the air.
“…I guess that’s not possible.”
“…”
“Your arm’s in no condition to be touched. Sorry.”
The boy’s busy fingers stopped abruptly. His lips puckered again. J, coughing lightly, turned his head slightly.
“I’ll let you touch it when you’re healthier.”
“…”
The boy’s head, which had been turning away, slowly started to turn back towards J. J quickly spoke,
“Really, I promise. I’ll let you touch it.”
J hurriedly reached out and lightly touched the boy’s pinky with his own. Shaking hands was impossible in the current state. No matter how careful he was, the boy was a severely weakened civilian, and J was a top-tier Awakener.
Fortunately, it seemed to work. The boy turned his head back towards J. Relieved, J began to gently fiddle with the boy’s fingers, as if handling a precious porcelain.
“Scratch my hand if it hurts.”
“…”
“But don’t scratch too hard, your fingers might break.”
Every place he touched made the bandaged hand flinch. It was fun to watch, like a mimosa plant. J, fiddling with the bandages and fingers, murmured,
“You must be bored being alone.”
Just then, his watch buzzed with a long beep. It was a call.
“Oh.”
How much time had passed? As J quickly came to his senses and let go of the boy’s hand, the faint fingers brushed against the back of J’s hand. J’s eyes widened. The boy’s fingers were reaching out to him. Surprised, J clasped the boy’s hand.
“What, does it hurt?”
“…”
The fingers moved slightly as if to say yes. J, looking troubled, said,
“…But I have to go because of this call… I really have to go. I’ll call the nurse for you.”
“…”
The boy’s lips pouted. Without thinking, J blurted out,
“I’ll come again.”
“…”
The lips stayed puckered. Groaning, J looked up at the ceiling and said,
“…I’ll try to come as often as I can. But I don’t know how often that will be.”
“…”
The lips seemed to pout even more. Damn, he shouldn’t have been so honest. J was never good at lying. He sighed.
“Sorry. Just wait a bit.”
“…”
“I’ll come back as soon as possible. Okay?”
Finally, the boy’s fingers lightly poked J’s palm and withdrew. He still didn’t look happy, though. J lightly touched the bandaged cheek and then pulled his hand back.
“See you next time.”
J turned and headed towards the door. As he opened it, Ga-young, who had been sitting in a chair with her arms crossed and eyes closed, quickly opened her eyes. She must have dozed off. Rubbing her mouth, she stood up hastily.
“You’re out already! You could have stayed longer.”
“No, I got a call from the Bureau.”
“Aren’t you too busy? Dungeons, rifts… And you’re bringing us materials too.”
“Well… It can’t be helped.”
Closing the door with a click, J shrugged. They walked in silence as they retraced their steps. As they neared the research room, J spoke.
“By the way.”
“Yes! Please, go ahead.”
“Can you make me a card for accessing the hospital room? My own card.”
“Uh?”
Ga-young looked at J with her mouth agape. J, hands behind his back, spoke with a smile in his voice.
“I’ve donated quite a bit… That should be possible, right?”
***
Time passed quickly again. At least this time, it felt lighter than the time before.
Drip, drip, drip, blood droplets fell like rain as he swung his spear through the air. J shook off the blood from his spear and headed towards the dungeon exit. As his body was pulled, familiar scenery appeared before his eyes.
He stood at the gate of a dilapidated house. It was a rare case of a house turning into a dungeon, so J had personally entered it. Fortunately, it was a relatively peaceful place. A hunter waiting at the entrance handed him a white towel damp with water. J took the towel, wiped the blood from his hands, and pressed his in-ear.
“This is J.”
A gentle voice asked,
—How was the dungeon?
“It was fine. It was forest-shaped, and there were quite a few useful things. I killed all the monsters and the dungeon master… So how about sending in an investigation and research team?”
—Alright. But…
There was a moment of silence. J checked his in-ear with a puzzled look. The connection wasn’t cut. Ham Seok-jeong was unusually hesitant. After a brief silence, she asked,
—Is there something good that happened to you recently?
“…Pardon?”
J stopped in his tracks and blankly checked his watch. He thought he might be talking to his aunt instead of the director, but it was the director. Why would the director ask something like this? Just as J was about to fall into confusion, Ham Seok-jeong quickly continued,
—No, you seem happier these days, that’s all.
“…”
—…It’s not a complaint. I think I said something unnecessary. Just forget it.
“Oh, no.”
J answered in a dazed voice.
“Um… Thank you for your concern.”
—…Alright. It’s relatively quiet today, so get some rest.
“Yes…”
The call ended. Not much had changed, but was it enough for Ham Seok-jeong to ask about it? J scratched his head and gestured to the hunter waiting beside him.
“Thank you. You can head back too.”
“Aren’t you going back to the Bureau with us?”
“Oh, no. I have somewhere else to go.”
“Understood. Thank you for your hard work.”
The hunter bowed and disappeared. J walked slowly. His steps, initially normal, quickened as he reached a familiar alley, and he was almost running by the time he saw the white building.
Entering through the staff entrance, taking the elevator, climbing the stairs, walking down the hallway, and swiping his ID card. Beep, a cheerful mechanical sound accompanied the familiar hospital room door. J’s grin widened as he swung the white door open.
The bed in the center of the pristine hospital room was still surrounded by machines. However, it wasn’t as quiet and bleak as before.
The boy, who had been leaning against the bed, slowly turned his head. His face, still wrapped in bandages, was different from before. Previously, only his nose and mouth were exposed, but now his entire face, including his eyes, nose, and mouth, was visible. Although his eyes were clouded and blurred due to the venom, they were clearly focused on J.
J spread his arms wide.
“Hyung’s here!”
The boy’s blurred eyes narrowed, almost as if he were smiling.
