The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 16
“You’re going to bore a hole in my face.”
Lee Sa-young said lazily, resting his chin on his hand. The voice that had come from inside the gas mask now flowed from his lips. His black hair and calm violet eyes matched his voice well. His long, thick eyelashes cast shadows with every blink.
With a smoothly curved nose and a small mole just below his plump lips, he had an overall delicate and finely drawn appearance. Although he had a refined and ornate look, there was also a hint of languor.
Oddly enough, Cha Eui-jae understood why Lee Sa-young wore a gas mask. If he went around showing that face to everyone, it would surely cause a lot of trouble.
Though Cha Eui-jae found many things about Lee Sa-young unpleasant, he objectively acknowledged that his face was captivating in a different way compared to the gas mask. With the mask on, he was just a crazy person to avoid, but without it, he was a crazy person who lived up to his looks.
Some of the remaining hunters glanced at Lee Sa-young, but he didn’t seem particularly uncomfortable. He appeared accustomed to being the center of attention. On the contrary, when they met Lee Sa-young’s gaze, the hunters quickly looked away as if they had been stung.
Lee Sa-young silently cleaned up around him and picked up his spoon. Simultaneously, Cha Eui-jae, having finished his task, started to walk away. He was curious about what Lee Sa-young would say about the hangover soup. Slowing his pace to eavesdrop, he overheard Bae Won-woo trying to scratch his itch.
“How is it? Tasty?”
“The broth is hot.”
“It’s fresh off the stove, so of course it’s hot, you crazy fool. I meant the taste.”
“The meat is tender.”
“Right? The meat here separates from the bone really easily.”
“Yeah, it’s okay.”
Lee Sa-young gave a small nod. Though it was a tepid response, it was reassuring not to hear any complaints. Cha Eui-jae felt slightly relieved.
While finishing up the dishes in the kitchen, Cha Eui-jae kept glancing at the hall. Contrary to how he had picked a fight before ordering, Lee Sa-young was now eating quietly without causing any more trouble. A brief peace settled in the hangover soup restaurant while the two ate in the eye of the storm.
When he was almost done with the dishes, Lee Sa-young was the first to get up. Shortly after, Bae Won-woo also stood in front of the counter and called out to Cha Eui-jae.
“Hey, part-timer, can you take the payment?”
“Yes, just a moment—”
Cha Eui-jae removed his rubber gloves and wiped the moisture off his hands on a nearby cloth. On his way to the counter, he noticed the table with two stone bowls, one completely empty and the other with a bit of broth left. Though they hadn’t ordered extra, Cha Eui-jae was surprised that Bae Won-woo had only eaten one bowl.
“It’s thirty thousand won.”
Lee Sa-young handed over two fifty-thousand won bills. Was he showing off his money? Cha Eui-jae thought, ‘What a weirdo,’ as he took only one bill. When he returned twenty thousand won as change, Lee Sa-young looked more perplexed.
“That includes the cost of the tableware.”
“…Why?”
“Didn’t I tell you my name?”
“Yes, you did.”
“Didn’t you look me up?”
Blinking lightly, Lee Sa-young said in an impressed tone.
“You really don’t know who I am.”
Then he slightly opened his mouth and revealed his tongue. It was black from root to tip, unlike the usual crimson. Confirming that Cha Eui-jae’s eyes were fixed on it, Lee Sa-young lightly bit his tongue with his front teeth.
“I have poison in my mouth too, so—”
‘Wait a second, what the hell.’
“I don’t usually eat out.”
No wonder there was a circle of space around this guy! Cha Eui-jae unconsciously glanced back at the table where Lee Sa-young and Bae Won-woo had eaten. He had thought the gloves were enough for safety, but who would have guessed this snake had poison in its mouth too? This is why you should read the entire article, not just the headline. There was a reason for the gas mask. Lee Sa-young smiled sweetly.
“Huh… we really need to get to know each other better.”
‘No, you crazy bastard.’
“I’ll be back.”
Cha Eui-jae’s next words came out aloud.
“Don’t come back.”
“Next time, tell me your name.”
“I said don’t come back.”
Cha Eui-jae glared openly at Bae Won-woo, signaling them to get lost. Catching the hint perfectly, Bae Won-woo started to gently push Lee Sa-young’s back. But Korea’s number one ranked hunter wasn’t that easy to move. As he was barely budged, Lee Sa-young suddenly spoke.
“Your hair.”
“Huh?”
“It’s black? Did you dye it?”
Damn, how did he know that? Thankfully, his poker face trait was still active. Cha Eui-jae shamelessly replied.
“What are you talking about?”
“It seemed a bit gray before.”
‘Why does this masked guy have such good eyesight?’
It was fortunate that Park Ha-eun reminded him to dye his hair again, Cha Eui-jae thought he should get her the slime toy she wanted as a reward. He answered.
“You must have seen wrong. Why would a normal person have gray hair?”
Lee Sa-young didn’t bother to respond to Cha Eui-jae’s rebuttal and continued.
“And your eyes.”
“…What?”
“They’re black.”
“Koreans have black eyes.”
“That’s odd.”
Lee Sa-young, now wearing his gas mask again, looked at Cha Eui-jae through the lenses.
“When I saw you then, they were blue.”
Cha Eui-jae’s spine tingled for a moment. Had he noticed before he turned off the tracker’s vision in that brief instant?
‘This guy is really troublesome.’
As Cha Eui-jae’s lips began to tighten, Lee Sa-young’s violet eyes narrowed, and he stepped back.
“Well… that’s all for today. See you, Hyung.”
“Goodbye, customer.”
“Won’t you call me Sa-young?”
“Just go.”
Lee Sa-young left with a small chuckle. Bae Won-woo, scratching his head in confusion, gave a bow and left the restaurant. A silence filled the hangover soup restaurant after the storm had passed. Cha Eui-jae looked at the two fifty-thousand won bills left on the counter and muttered.
“What a crazy bastard…”
***
《Pado Guild Blind Post》
[※Please use manners while posting!]
[※Posts that don’t follow the rules may be deleted without notice.]
Title: [Anonymous] We’ve been having team dinners at the hangover soup restaurant almost every day lately
Is this normal?
I’m starting to suspect we’re being harassed at work as a team…
The soup is good… but eating it every day is a bit much…
Comments (14)
—Is it the vice guild leader’s team? ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
⤷Yeah…
—The vice guild leader loves hangover soup, doesn’t he? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ is he taking the whole team now?
⤷The guild leader pre-paid 5 million won at the soup place.
⤷???
⤷What?
⤷Not the vice guild leader, but the guild leader?????
⤷Five million won?
⤷Yeah, he tried to pre-pay 15 million won, but the part-timer and the vice guild leader stopped him, so he only did 5 million.
⤷Why didn’t he pre-pay at a high-end beef restaurant? Why the hangover soup restaurant?
⤷IDK… so we’re eating hangover soup every day… At least we’re saving on meal costs…
⤷240 is a free spirit, but this is a whole new level of crazy.
⤷Right.
***
《JisikON》
Q. [Question] I’m being harassed by a hunter while working
Hello, I work at a small shop. If a hunter harasses me, where should I report it? I’m torn between the police and the Awakened Management Bureau.
A. [Selected Answer]
According to the Awakened Special Law, cases involving Awakeners should be reported to the Awakened Management Bureau. If you report it to the police, it will be transferred to the Awakened Management Bureau anyway, which will take more time. Report it directly to the Bureau from the start.
I don’t know what kind of harassment you experienced… is it abuse of power by a hunter? You could use the public’s bad sentiment towards abusive hunters by posting anonymously to get the issue publicized. If the hunter belongs to a guild, their legal team will likely contact you to settle. If it’s a freelance hunter, I can’t guarantee it… but if you know a reporter, consider giving an interview.
⤷Q+ [Follow-up Question from the Inquirer]
If I report to the Bureau, will they send a hunter?
⤷A+ [Follow-up Answer]
Usually, an investigator is sent first, but if it’s a well-known hunter and there’s solid evidence, the Bureau’s hunter will come directly.
A. Who? ㅋㅋ Is there still a hunter abusing their power? Give me the initials, and I’ll expose them.
A. Next time they come, record the audio and spread it online to enforce justice.
Comments (5)
—If it’s a high-ranking hunter, they have good hearing and are quick to notice. Using a regular device to record might be obvious. Breaking the device? That’s nothing to them. If you want to record, use a device made from dungeon rewards or imbued with magic stones.
⤷Easier said than done ** ㅋㅋㅋㅋ How can a regular person get a device made from dungeon rewards or magic stones?
⤷If you have hunter connections and money, it’s easy.
⤷Having hunter connections and money makes anything easy~
A. This is Park Min from Hanmin Ilbo. If you are interested in an interview, please send an email to the address below. Anonymity guaranteed.
