The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 134
It was hard to believe. Cha Eui-jae, who was still fiddling with the doorknob, asked seriously.
“Is that even possible? For a human to create a dungeon?”
“Well…”
Lee Sa-young shrugged.
“It’s just a possibility. I’m not sure. The chances are low.”
“…I suppose so.”
“But… among the people I know with that much narcissism…”
He glanced at the doorknob and continued.
“There’s only Hong Ye-seong.”
Cha Eui-jae also knew Hong Ye-seong’s abilities, having used the window he created. His skills were indeed impressive. But no matter how skilled an artisan is, creating a dungeon seems like something within the system’s domain.
The image of Hong Ye-seong getting slapped by Kkokko flashed through his mind, along with him giving a thumbs-up. And that time he trembled like a newborn alpaca while holding Jung Bin.
‘…Him?’
Cha Eui-jae looked around.
‘This?’
…No way. It seemed more plausible that he had only created the doorknob. Cha Eui-jae shook his head to dismiss the thought. Just then, Lee Sa-young muttered.
“If by any chance, this was really made by Hong Ye-seong…”
“…”
“Then it’s actually not so bad. There’s no need to worry.”
“Huh? Why?”
Shouldn’t that be something to worry about? Cha Eui-jae looked up at Lee Sa-young with a puzzled expression. Lee Sa-young lowered his gaze, seemingly lost in thought as he fiddled with his lower lip.
“Because… even though he’s a bit out of his mind, he’s not a bad guy.”
Was he serious?
Cha Eui-jae’s face was filled with doubt. Lee Sa-young let out a small laugh.
“I probably know Hong Ye-seong better than you do, Hyung.”
“…That’s true.”
“Trust me, just this once. He doesn’t have bad intentions. And besides…”
“…”
“Good things will happen, more than you think.”
Lee Sa-young extended his hand to Cha Eui-jae, who was still squatting.
“Get up.”
“Okay.”
Cha Eui-jae took the offered hand without hesitation. Lee Sa-young pulled him up with force, and Cha Eui-jae brushed off his pants.
Then, looking at Lee Sa-young, who had his hands on his hips and was squinting, Cha Eui-jae instinctively knew. The interrogation was about to begin.
“I just took my eyes off you for a moment, and… why did you open the door?”
“Well… I need to figure out how to clear the dungeon. We can’t stay stuck here forever.”
“You could’ve done it with me.”
“No, you haven’t awakened yet. You’re just a normal person right now, and I can handle things immediately if something happens.”
“Oh, here we go with the excuses again.”
“…”
“You always do this.”
Lee Sa-young twisted his lips. His displeasure was obvious, but Cha Eui-jae couldn’t back down on this issue. If he were in his original body, maybe, but he couldn’t let an unawakened person face the dangers of the dungeon. Especially if that person was Lee Sa-young.
“Fine, that aside. But why were you just staring blankly out the door, as if you were about to fall off?”
“That was because I was startled.”
“If it happens again, you might actually fall.”
“It won’t happen next time.”
“How can I believe that?”
Cha Eui-jae hesitated and looked up. Lee Sa-young’s delicate face was shadowed with a faint gloom. His lips moved slightly.
“How can I believe you, how can I?”
There were many things he wanted to say, things he was about to say. But at that moment, seeing that face, it was like someone had spilled white paint all over his thoughts, and all his words disappeared. He could only stare blankly at Lee Sa-young.
Lee Sa-young, glaring at Cha Eui-jae, let out a frustrated sigh.
“Now I see why you awakened.”
“…”
“It must’ve been out of frustration and anger.”
“…”
“Because you couldn’t do anything.”
Lee Sa-young snapped sharply before turning and disappearing down the hallway. Left alone, Cha Eui-jae looked down at his empty hands. In this body, there were no cracks on his palms, no shimmering golden chains.
The sound of footsteps stopped, and the sound of water ceased. Silence filled the space. Cha Eui-jae stood in the entranceway, staring at the empty hallway.
Why did I think Lee Sa-young would be okay?
In the midst of the silence, he heard a faint sound of breathing. As if in a trance, Cha Eui-jae began to move. He stepped onto the wooden floor and crossed the long hallway. A blue sea photograph passed by his vision.
At the end of the hallway, Lee Sa-young was standing by the sink, his head bowed. Without hesitation, Cha Eui-jae approached and wrapped his arms around the broad back. The body in his arms flinched, and the breathing became slightly rougher. He pressed his ear against the back. The heart was beating rapidly. Cha Eui-jae murmured softly.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
Cha Eui-jae was a mess. He had been since the moment he entered the West Sea rift, up until now. It had become too normal for him. But there was someone for whom it wasn’t normal. Someone who worried about him.
Cha Eui-jae tightened his grip around Lee Sa-young’s waist.
Just because someone says it’s okay, doesn’t mean everything will be okay.
“You were worried, weren’t you?”
“…”
“I’m sorry.”
A knot in his heart that he didn’t even know was there began to dissolve. Lee Sa-young placed his hand on top of Cha Eui-jae’s, gently pushing him away. When Cha Eui-jae loosened his grip, Lee Sa-young turned around.
Cha Eui-jae couldn’t see his face. He was immediately pulled into an embrace. A large hand cradled the back of his head and his waist. Long fingers tangled gently in his hair.
Are you listening to my heartbeat right now?
Cha Eui-jae blinked and wrapped his arms around Lee Sa-young’s neck, resting his head on the sturdy shoulder.
I hope he can’t hear it.
Both of their hearts were pounding, all over the place.
***
Let’s assume that this space was created by Hong Ye-seong. Hmm… it’s hard to believe, but even the almighty Hong Ye-seong seemed to have no control over the TV program schedule.
‘Or… did he mess with it and this is the result?’
Ignoring the hair tickling the back of his neck, Cha Eui-jae pressed the remote control buttons firmly.
Only documentaries were playing on the TV. A smart octopus teacher, the daily life of penguins, a panda lazily napping in a tree, a family of elephants, and so on. Even the entertainment channels were showing videos of tigers yawning.
‘I was hoping to watch a movie.’
Cha Eui-jae put down the remote on a channel where penguins were sliding across the ice on their bellies. From nearby, he could hear soft, steady breathing. Cha Eui-jae pulled the person closer by their shoulder. Lee Sa-young, with his eyes closed, mumbled softly.
Hugging and apologizing? That was nice. Holding him? That was nice too. Though it seemed like situations that required an apology kept happening. Anyway,
Lee Sa-young didn’t let go of Cha Eui-jae for a long time. Even when Cha Eui-jae tried to move away by loosening his arms around Lee Sa-young’s neck, Lee Sa-young growled in protest. But they couldn’t stay like that forever. The sun was slowly setting outside, as seen through the window. It seems that time flows differently in this space.
‘Who knows? Maybe spending a day here is the clear condition.’
For once, he entertained an optimistic thought. So, patting Lee Sa-young on the back, who clung to him like a koala, he suggested they watch a movie on the sofa after finishing the dishes. Only then did Lee Sa-young finally release him from his embrace.
And now, here they were. No movie, just animal documentaries on TV, and Lee Sa-young taking a nap beside him.
Though Lee Sa-young didn’t show it, he must have been very stressed or tired because as soon as he settled next to Cha Eui-jae, he began nodding off. Feeling sorry for his head bobbing around, Cha Eui-jae let him rest against him…
‘It might be better to just put him to bed.’
While he was wrestling with the TV, darkness had already taken over where the sunset had faded. Looking out into the dim light outside, Cha Eui-jae turned off the TV and gently shook Lee Sa-young awake.
“Wake up. Let’s go to bed.”
“…Huh? Mmm.”
Lee Sa-young slowly lifted his head. Cha Eui-jae stood up and offered his hand.
“Come on, get up.”
“…”
Lee Sa-young obediently took his hand. As Cha Eui-jae led him to the bedroom, he was confronted with the king-sized bed he had momentarily forgotten about. A slight headache began to creep in, but Lee Sa-young came first. Cha Eui-jae pulled back the covers, and Lee Sa-young quietly climbed into bed. After tucking the blanket up to his neck, Lee Sa-young slowly opened his eyes.
“…What about you, Hyung?”
“Me?”
“Aren’t you going to sleep?”
“…”
When Cha Eui-jae hesitated without answering, Lee Sa-young’s sleepy eyes sharpened.
“Don’t start talking nonsense about sleeping on the sofa again… lie down next to me.”
‘Damn.’
“There are even two pillows…”
Why is he so sharp, even when he’s sleepy? With his lips tightly pressed together, Cha Eui-jae lay down next to him. Lee Sa-young quickly pulled the blanket over him. Cha Eui-jae turned on the nightlight on his side and stared blankly at the ceiling.
The soft orange light, the sound of breathing right next to him, the cozy mattress, and the warm blanket.
“…”
Is it okay for things to be this perfect?
This place feels like a box filled only with precious and good things. So sweet and perfect that I don’t want to break it.
‘Ah.’
Cha Eui-jae’s mouth opened slightly. Is this why Lee Sa-young was needed?
He turned his body toward Lee Sa-young, who had also shifted his head in his direction as if sensing the movement.
Sleepy violet eyes looked at Cha Eui-jae. He propped himself up on his elbow and observed Lee Sa-young.
“…Hyung?”
Lee Sa-young called out to him in a slightly hoarse voice. Instead of answering, Cha Eui-jae reached out and held the hand hidden under the blanket. He could clearly feel the band wrapped around the first knuckle of Lee Sa-young’s finger. As stiff fingers intertwined with his, they fit together without a gap. His thumb gently stroked the back of Lee Sa-young’s hand.
He knew instinctively.
The owner of this memory is Cha Eui-jae. After all, this place is a collection of everything Cha Eui-jae is vulnerable to.
If that’s the case, the way to clear it should be exactly as Cha Eui-jae thinks.
I’ve always wanted to say this.
It might have been an ordinary part of everyday life. But not for the two who visited this place now. That’s why they had to bear the anxiety about the unknown and take a longer journey back.
‘But it’s okay.’
Cha Eui-jae smiled. He reached out and covered Lee Sa-young’s eyes. Just before they were hidden, he saw Lee Sa-young’s eyes widen. Cha Eui-jae sat up and placed his lips on the back of his hand, whispering softly.
Doing what seems obvious but isn’t.
“Good night.”
At the same time, a bright white window appeared.
[Dungeon Clear!]
The thick, soft blanket, the plush mattress, the gentle bedroom light— everything began to turn into white ash and scatter. But the warmth felt from the touch of skin and the grip of hands remained tangible.
That alone was real.
