The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 213 end
A moment ago.
Lee Sa-young opened his eyes. The landscape that appeared was a familiar one— an achromatic beach. Another “me” stood there, with lavender-colored eyes.
The uninvited guest with lavender eyes nodded his head instead of greeting. Swoosh… the gray sea moved slowly, with waves breaking before they could reach his feet. Lee Sa-young didn’t hide his displeasure, folding his arms and tilting his head.
“I thought you said you wouldn’t show up anymore.”
The uninvited guest slowly shook his head.
“I didn’t call you. You were dragged in here.”
Behind the uninvited guest, the waves seemed to reflect his figure. He was becoming more transparent. No wonder he had been having thoughts that weren’t his own lately. Lee Sa-young and ‘Lee Sa-young’ were slowly merging into one. This was both welcome and unwelcome at the same time. Lee Sa-young asked again.
“Dragged in here?”
“Yes. And… you’ve got a watch now.”
The uninvited guest motioned toward Lee Sa-young with his chin. Lee Sa-young raised his right hand. At some point, a broken watch had appeared on his wrist. It was the one his Hyung always wore. The fact that it was now on his wrist…
“…Shit.”
Whatever this meant, it wasn’t good news. A sinister energy started creeping out from Lee Sa-young. The uninvited guest shrugged his shoulders. Lee Sa-young tried to take off the watch, but it wouldn’t come off. It was like a shackle. Gritting his teeth, he asked.
“Tell me how to get out.”
“Time has to pass. Until our consciousness recovers.”
Lee Sa-young twisted his lips.
“…Ha… So I have to wait months again?”
“Not quite… but.”
Suddenly, his body felt incredibly heavy. Just like when he’d been bound by Jung Bin’s chains. The agony that made even breathing difficult surged up. Lee Sa-young let out a small grunt and bent forward. Thud, his knees sank into the white sand. He fell to all fours, grabbing the sand in his fists. Controlling his power was becoming difficult. Black venom was oozing out from various parts of his body. Sticky black venom dripped from the corner of his mouth.
The uninvited guest continued to watch him with an emotionless gaze.
“You’ll have to wait. Until your soul can overcome the fear of the apocalypse.”
Overcome fear? Something— either venom or tears— rolled down Lee Sa-young’s cheek. Despite his trembling from the pain, he glared at the uninvited guest. Through his quivering lips came a cold voice.
“There’s no… time for that.”
“You’re right. The apocalypse is coming.”
“Think of… a way.”
“Then… let’s try this.”
Shuffle… The uninvited guest stepped closer, leaving faint footprints in the white sand. Standing right in front of Lee Sa-young, he crouched down to meet his eyes. A transparent finger touched Lee Sa-young’s forehead.
“Let’s pull out your subconscious.”
“Hah…”
How would that help? The white sand beneath him was melting into black venom. Lee Sa-young, who was lying in the center of the venom, lifted his head. Through his ragged breathing and disheveled hair, his violet eyes gleamed with a murderous aura. The uninvited guest smiled. It was the same smile as Lee Sa-young’s.
“Isn’t there a hole in your memory?”
“…”
“Just like you saw my memories, I saw yours. There were some strange black patches. Did you erase parts of your memory on purpose?”
“…No.”
“Then how about we scrape off that paint… You could forget the pain, and learn more about yourself at the same time.”
Ugh, so annoying. As expected, every suggestion from this guy was exactly how Lee Sa-young would think. If he had to endure this time anyway, it was better to gain some information, even if it meant facing greater pain. Lee Sa-young closed his eyes. The uninvited guest’s transparent finger pierced sharply into his mind.
***
Cha Eui-jae fidgeted with his phone. A message from Lee Sa-young, asking where he was. Thankfully, it seemed like he had regained consciousness. Cha Eui-jae let out a small sigh of relief. Should he send a message? Call? Hearing his voice would reassure him. As soon as he pressed the call button and held the phone to his ear—
“Oh my! Could it be? J, is that really you?”
“…”
A strangely familiar voice. Cha Eui-jae snapped his head up. Through the crowd of people turning their backs and fleeing from J, a woman was approaching. She was the only one looking at J.
Dressed in a white lab coat, her long hair twisted up and pinned with a large clip. Round glasses. Shoes with a slight heel, slacks, and her white coat rolled up to her elbows. A research ID card dangled from her neck. Even amidst the chaos, her coat, unblemished by even a speck of dust or a drop of blood, fluttered in the air. Tap, her shoes stepped into a puddle of blood without hesitation. Cha Eui-jae stared at her face. She was definitely familiar.
‘Where have I seen her?’
The woman slowly raised her head. Behind her round glasses, her large eyes were smiling. It was a smile that seemed both fox-like and snake-like.
Where…
“…Ah.”
With a confident expression, the woman thrust her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. It was unmistakable. She looked older than in his memories, but…
“The child’s condition is gradually improving. The antidote we developed seems to be effective. It’s all thanks to you, J!”
“Starting today, how about you visit the child’s room directly? You’ve always been looking through the glass.”
“Oh, no rush! Stay as long as you need.”
“But are you going to keep calling him ‘that boy’?”
Yes, she was the awakened potion-maker. Introduced by the hospital director himself. One of the researchers in charge of Lee Sa-young’s treatment. When everyone else kept their distance from him, she was the first to approach him warmly. Cha Eui-jae cautiously pulled out a name buried deep in his memory.
“Ga…young?”
“Oh my, oh my! You remember!”
Ga-young, the researcher who had taken care of Lee Sa-young while he was in the hospital, clapped her hands and laughed brightly.
“I thought you wouldn’t remember. I’m honored.”
“How could I not remember?”
“Really, ever since you went into the West Sea rift and disappeared… everyone’s been so worried~ Are you okay? Judging by how you’re walking around like this, I guess you’re fine?”
“…Yes.”
“That’s a relief~ Really. I’m so grateful.”
Ga-young smiled sweetly. There was so much he wanted to ask her. What happened to Lee Sa-young after he went into the West Sea rift? Where did all the researchers who took care of him go? Why had all the hospital records been erased? Where had she been until now, and why was she here now? Could she possibly be…
Brrrrr, the dial tone stretched on.
A strange feeling of unease sealed Cha Eui-jae’s lips shut. In the end, he wiped the blood from the window and said,
“…It’s dangerous for you to be here.”
“Oh, yes, yes. But don’t worry about me. We’re getting everyone evacuated~”
Ga-young remained standing there, hands still tucked into her lab coat pockets. Cha Eui-jae glanced at the rectangular card hanging around her neck. It was her ID badge. Ga-young, Samra Guild.
“…”
Her brown eyes scanned Cha Eui-jae from head to toe as if studying him. In the distance, faint sounds of wailing could be heard. The monsters that had been devouring humans seemed to have appeared elsewhere. Even though the sound was loud enough for civilians to hear, Ga-young showed no signs of fear.
‘Can a non-combat awakened like her really be this calm?’
Even if she trusted J, it was odd for someone to show absolutely no fear in this situation. The growing sense of unease continued to swell within him. Nevertheless, Cha Eui-jae spoke again, hoping his feeling was wrong.
“…Why are you here? Did the Awakened Management Bureau give you orders?”
“Awakened? Oh…”
Ga-young’s lively voice dropped slightly, carrying a hint of mockery. Her narrowed eyes grew even more slanted. She covered her mouth with her hand as she answered.
“As if.”
“…”
“By the way, who are you calling? The Director?”
“…”
The dial tone continued to ring. There was no sign that anyone would pick up. He had just sent a message. Cha Eui-jae didn’t answer. Ga-young tilted her head, then raised the corners of her lips.
“Oh, are you calling Guild Leader Lee Sa-young? He won’t be able to answer right now.”
“…”
“Don’t you have so many questions for me? J.”
A mechanical voice spoke through the phone. The person you are trying to reach is unavailable… Cha Eui-jae hung up and turned to look at Ga-young. She was standing in a puddle of blood. Boldly. She let out an exaggerated sigh.
“Are you pretending not to know, or do you really not know? If it’s the latter, I’d be a bit disappointed. You’ve realized it, haven’t you? Or do you need some more time to process reality?”
Cha Eui-jae suppressed his emotions as much as he could and answered.
“I hope I’m wrong.”
Sighing, Ga-young rested her chin on her hand.
“You know, I thought back then too… you’re such a fool. I like foolish people, really. I almost wish you weren’t awakened.”
“…”
“Well, it’s fine. I have fond memories of you, after all…”
The distant wail of a monster cut off abruptly with a final shriek. Keeeeh… Ga-young hummed a small tune as she whistled. Then, something heavy landed behind her with a thud. A squelching sound followed as some kind of viscous liquid dripped.
“I’m grateful to you for many things. So let me introduce you to this.”
Cha Eui-jae turned around. A massive figure, easily two heads taller than Cha Eui-jae, was lumbering toward him. It had limbs, resembling a human in shape, though its arms were unnaturally long. Aside from that, it walked like a person. The flesh visible beneath its black cloak was grotesquely distorted and crudely stitched together in different colors. On its head…
‘A gas mask…’
It was wearing a gas mask. Its eyes weren’t visible behind the lenses.
With every step it took, thick black liquid splattered onto the ground. The asphalt hissed and melted wherever the liquid touched. Cha Eui-jae recognized that venom. The creature gave Cha Eui-jae a fleeting glance, but as if uninterested, it lumbered over to Ga-young. It knelt down before her with a heavy thud. Ga-young beamed.
“Good job. You took care of it well?”
“Yes… ma’am.”
The creature nodded slowly. At some point, Ga-young had put on black leather gloves, similar to the ones Lee Sa-young often wore. Smiling, she looked at Cha Eui-jae.
“Doesn’t it look familiar?”
