The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 119
The air hung heavy. Jung Bin placed the notebook on his lap and clasped his hands together, closing his eyes tightly. The bodies buried in that place. Among them, there would be several hunters Jung Bin knew.
And the last survivor who had witnessed their final moments…
“It’s a miracle that you came back.”
In a world where countless hunters lost their minds watching their comrades die right beside them, this was especially true. It was a story no one who hadn’t experienced it could dare to console or claim to understand. So, Jung Bin barely opened his mouth, speaking formally.
“…Yes, I understand why you appeared in the eroded dungeon. If that’s the reason, of course, we should cooperate. You’ll need information on the eroded dungeon as well, won’t you?”
“Are you okay with that?”
“There’s no reason not to be. As you said, you’re a hero of this nation.”
Kuk. J let out a short groan and twisted his body in a small wriggle. The reaction was more intense than expected, making Jung Bin, who had spoken with genuine intent, awkwardly scratch the back of his neck.
Jung Bin cleared his throat briefly and furrowed his brows slightly.
“Ah, but providing information on the eroded dungeon might take some time. It’s not under my jurisdiction.”
“Who manages it?”
“You might have heard of him… Guild Leader Nam Woo-jin of the Seowon Guild manages it. He was the first to discover it, and he’s been observing it ever since.”
At that moment, J’s shoulders twitched. Jung Bin, who was watching him with a puzzled expression, pressed the temple of his head with the tip of his pen.
“He’ll get it sorted out quickly if we ask. Should I avoid mentioning that you requested it?”
“…Yes, for now.”
“Understood. And…”
Jung Bin quickly began organizing J’s requests. Data on Prometheus, the first appearance of Lee Sa-young, who was one of Prometheus’ test subjects…
It would be best to relay whatever information he could now, as there was no guarantee they would be able to contact each other again like today. Soon, Jung Bin looked up. J was still standing upright. Jung Bin cautiously asked,
“How much do you know about Prometheus?”
J answered smoothly without a moment’s hesitation.
“That they lure in awakeners using drugs and create artificial awakeners by using them. In the past, they used ordinary people with peculiarities like rift victims as test subjects. They claim to prevent the apocalypse, but they’re just a bunch of incompetent, fake fanatics without any success stories.”
“…”
“…”
A brief silence passed between them. It felt like their eyes met behind the mask.
“…”
‘Perhaps he had the eyes of a puppy that just made a mistake.’ Jung Bin suddenly had that conviction. In any case, he stared blankly at the black mask, lost in thought.
‘There’s nothing more to convey.’
J’s summarization skills were exceptional. After all, he had condensed a report spanning hundreds of pages into a three-sentence summary, perfectly hitting all the key points. It was so flawless that Jung Bin wanted to share it with his subordinates. He couldn’t help but blurt out,
“You already know everything…”
“…”
“…”
J, who had been exercising his right to remain silent, slowly squatted down in front of Jung Bin. He pressed his fist against the corner of his masked mouth and mumbled.
“Can I take back what I just said?”
“It seems you’ve come too far to take it back…”
“Can’t you just pretend you didn’t hear it? We have that kind of bond, don’t we?”
“I’m sorry.”
“…Damn.”
J let out a gloomy curse and, after a long moment of contemplation, opened his mouth.
“Then do you know what this so-called apocalypse those fanatics are talking about is?”
“Ah, the apocalypse.”
Jung Bin organized his thoughts and slowly began to speak.
“Prometheus has beings known as Seers. They claim to see a future where the apocalypse comes in their dreams. Although they are all different individuals, the apocalyptic scenes they describe are surprisingly similar.”
“So they’re acting based solely on that? That such an apocalypse will really come?”
“Yes.”
Jung Bin smiled bitterly.
“It’s hard to believe, really. It does sound like a cult. But even if it’s a lie, the problem is that they believe it, grow their influence, and harm others. And…”
A girl with glasses naturally came to his mind.
The girl who sees fragments of the world, Yoon Ga-eul. She foresaw the apocalypse and predicted that it would come to this world as well. Jung Bin sighed, rubbing his mouth.
“…The apocalypse will indeed come. I can’t explain in detail, but… hmm… I suppose it’s okay to tell you. There’s a hunter who reads special information. They, too, predicted the apocalypse. And there’s credible evidence.”
J’s shoulders twitched again, this time more noticeably.
As expected, even someone like him would be surprised to hear that the apocalypse was coming. Jung Bin looked at J sympathetically. Surviving that hellish rift only to face the apocalypse now. It was enough to shock anyone.
“That’s why we were looking for you, J. We concluded that we need you to stop the apocalypse.”
And Cha Eui-jae thought to himself.
‘What should I do?’
His kind old colleague, Jung Bin, was looking at his black mask with a concerned face, seemingly worried that Cha Eui-jae might be in shock.
Shock? He was shocked. In a different way.
‘Fuck…’
It was fortunate he was wearing a mask. His current unsettled feelings and expression would be impossible to hide, even with his poker face ability.
Anyway, this was a big problem.
‘I knew too much…’
Most of the information Jung Bin had painstakingly provided wasn’t new at all!
Cha Eui-jae began to reflect on himself. He had certainly tried to live quietly. He didn’t know how, but he had made an effort, at least. And he had failed spectacularly. Judging by the fact that a mere hangover soup shop employee knew everything from the top-secret information strictly managed by the Awakened Management Bureau to the purpose of a cult organization!
‘Nam Woo-jin, who manages the information on the eroded dungeon?’
He knew him. Not just acquaintances; he had even met him directly, treated his grandmother, and given him a black ticket.
‘The hunter who reads special information and predicted the apocalypse?’
He knew that person too. It was probably Yoon Ga-eul. She had been the one to visit the hangover soup shop first, predict the apocalypse, and even show him the image of a world already destroyed.
At this point, he was afraid of himself. Without realizing it, Cha Eui-jae muttered.
“I guess I’m not destined to live quietly…”
“Sorry?”
“Nothing. What about Lee Sa-young?”
“Lee Sa-young… When he first appeared…”
Jung Bin furrowed his brows again, as if trying to recall the memory, and then slowly began to speak.
“It was seven years ago. The Awakened Management Bureau received a tip. About a research facility abducting people for experiments…”
***
Seven years ago.
On a cold night, while the clouds covered the moon, figures hidden in the darkness moved silently. The man at the front, crouching low, signaled to those behind him. All movement ceased.
The man who gave the signal, Jung Bin, adjusted the bulletproof helmet and mask he had put on to cover his face. The mountainside was eerily quiet. Not even the usual deer cries could be heard.
A burly man crouched behind a tree whispered.
“…Captain, are you sure this is the place? There’s no sign of anything, no presence, nothing.”
“If the report is true, it should be here.”
“Good grief…”
“If it’s a false report, that would actually be a good thing. Please verify.”
Jung Bin responded briefly, gesturing to the burly man. The man, Bae Won-woo, pulled out a night vision scope and scanned the area.
At that moment, a sweet scent wafted through the air, tickling their noses. Jung Bin frowned. Turning around, he saw that the others had also noticed the scent.
“Do you smell something?”
“Yeah, suddenly there’s…”
“Cap, Captain!”
Bae Won-woo suddenly raised his voice. Jung Bin quickly turned around.
“What is it?”
“Ah, you have to see this for yourself… there’s something, or rather, someone…”
Clearly flustered, Bae Won-woo hurriedly handed the night vision scope to Jung Bin. Like Bae Won-woo, Jung Bin scanned the surroundings with the scope. Then, his eyes widened.
Amid the lush forest stood a stark white building. But why had the hunters, with their sharp senses, failed to notice such an out-of-place structure?
As if to answer, a breeze blew. The clouds parted. The full moon, which had been hidden behind the clouds, slowly emerged, and ‘it’ shone under the light. Jung Bin unconsciously murmured,
“…Oh my God.”
The building was covered in a sticky, pitch-black substance. No, could that even be called a liquid? It pulsated as if alive, covering every intact surface of the building.
Sssss… A sound of something melting filled the air. Everything around them was corroding.
And in the midst of it all, there was something white.
“Is that…”
“A person, right?”
An excited Bae Won-woo asked. Jung Bin did not answer and lowered the scope. With the darkness lifted, they could now see it with the naked eye. In the middle of the building, covered entirely by the black substance, there was one spot— an untouched, white, rounded area.
The wind blows. The boy’s long, messy hair, which covers the nape of his neck, flutters in the breeze. The sweet scent lingers in the air.
And there…
“…”
A boy in loose white patient clothing was standing there.
