The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 252
People clutching their Bibles murmured softly as they made their way out. Gyu-Gyu waved back with a smile at those who greeted him, but as soon as everyone had left, he slumped, melting into himself. At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit approached with a disapproving look.
“Can’t you sit up straight?”
“I was sitting up straight just a minute ago~”
“And what’s with that hair color? How’s that supposed to set a good example for others?”
“What’s wrong with it? Isn’t it cute?”
“Cute? You look like a delinquent. Get a proper haircut, too!”
“Oh, come on~ Nowadays, you need something memorable to get by. Isn’t it pretty?”
Gyu-Gyu cupped his chin with both hands, smiling brightly. His father let out a disapproving grunt, turned away, and walked off. His mother, who had been standing nearby, laughed while coughing.
“Yes, it’s pretty. But don’t dye it too often, okay? Your hair will get damaged.”
“Yes, Mooom.”
Gyu-gyu replied in a drawn-out tone. His mother sighed as she watched his father disappear down the hallway.
“You know how he is… try to understand him. The world is in such a rough state these days. He’s only worried about you.”
“Oh, what’s there to worry about? I’m here, after all.”
“Still, things don’t look good these days. I almost told you not to come today.”
“Why?”
Gyu-gyu blinked innocently, as if clueless. His mother looked around and lowered her voice, gripping his arm.
“People are eyeing Hunters suspiciously. You might get away with it because you’re the pastor’s son, but…”
So that was it. No wonder he felt prickly stares throughout the service. Gyu-Gyu puffed up his cheeks defiantly.
“What’s there to look at us funny for?”
“You really don’t know? They’re saying Hunters are… turning into monsters. It terrifies me.”
Gyu-Gyu rolled his eyes. He’d seen it a few times himself while working with Honeybee. But that only happened to those addicted to certain drugs, not just anyone. His smile faded as he replaced it with a feigned, playful laugh, stretching his arms in a big, exaggerated yawn.
“What’s that supposed to mean~? This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
“Oh, don’t play dumb! You’re a Hunter; how could you not know? People say they’ve seen Hunters transform, covered in spikes and looking beastly. All of them were once Awakened.”
“Ah, I’ve heard something like that. But who said it’s Awakened people turning?”
“People at the church! Some have seen it themselves… everyone’s scared.”
“…”
“So, please be careful. If it only happens to the Awakened, then you could…”
Worry shadowed his mother’s face. It was true that Awakened who overdosed on Prometheus’s drug mutated. But to suggest that any Awakened could transform was clearly a rumor, probably spread by Prometheus. For it to reach even the devout churchgoers…
‘Does the director even know about this?’
Gyu-gyu scratched his tousled hair. Was this rumor spreading internationally as well? After all, he’d met several foreign Hunters who were already addicted to Prometheus’s drug— hedonists who needed extreme highs to feel anything.
Come to think of it…
‘They haven’t been in touch much recently…’
“…”
If he dug any deeper, he’d surely get caught up in something annoying. But he couldn’t ignore it, given how serious the rumors sounded. Even if those guys were a pain, he still worried about them. Gyu-Gyu clicked his tongue softly. Meanwhile, his mother gently patted his arm.
“I’m just happy my son is staying in Korea for a while. You’re always overseas, so it worries me to no end.”
Did she somehow sense he’d be leaving again soon? Smiling, he took her hand.
“It’s actually safer abroad. I even eat bread in the morning there. Don’t worry.”
“I miss you, that’s all.”
She coughed, turning her head and lowering it. Gyu-Gyu asked, concerned.
“Do you have a cold?”
“No, it’s not that, but this cough just won’t go away.”
“Did you see a doctor?”
“Oh, I already got some cough medicine. Don’t worry about it.”
“…”
Gyu-gyu looked intently at her face. Now that he thought about it, he’d heard quite a few coughs during the service. Several people were coughing, not just her. Hopefully, it was just a seasonal cold… Smiling brightly again, he took her hand.
“Next time, I’ll bring you some ginger tea~ to help with the cough.”
“Oh, my sweet boy, always looking after me.”
She opened her arms, and he leaned into her embrace, curling up against her. Yet, as she held him, the smile had completely faded from his face.
***
A wet, choking cough splattered something damp on his shoulder. Clinging to him, chin resting on his shoulder, Lee Sa-young’s body trembled violently. He was unnaturally cold, almost like a dead person. Cha Eui-jae clenched his teeth. Since the moment he’d seen Lee Sa-young crawling on the floor, vomiting blood, he couldn’t shake a haunting image from his mind— the vision of himself draped over a black coffin.
Lee Sa-young lying inside the coffin.
‘No.’
Cha Eui-jae tightened his grip on Lee Sa-young. Next to him, Bae Won-woo was anxiously shifting from foot to foot.
“Hey, hey, how much longer until Romantic Opener gets here?”
Seo Min-gi, who was standing nearby, fiddled with the in-ear communication device before replying.
“He just arrived at the Seowon Guild. The door should open soon.”
At that moment, a large wooden door materialized in the air. With a heavy, grating sound, it opened as if it hadn’t been used in ages. On the other side of the door stood the Romantic Opener, clutching the doorknob and retching, along with Nam Woo-jin, who held a crumpled piece of paper and a broken pen. With wide, pale eyes, Nam Woo-jin scanned the scene beyond the door. Bae Won-woo shouted hurriedly.
“Guild Leader Nam Woo-jin! Please help with Sa-young!”
“What’s with that look? And what’s J doing here, too?”
“It’s a long story; please, quickly! He’s still coughing up blood.”
“Haa… you guys are causing a scene, all of you…”
Nam Woo-jin ran a frustrated hand over his face, tossed the paper and pen aside, and rummaged through the chaotic desk before asking.
“How long can the door stay open?”
“As long as the Romantic Opener can hold it together!”
“What kind of vague answer is that? Just come over here, all of you!”
“Are you sure?”
“Would it take less time than you guys coming over here, or me packing up supplies to bring there? Get over here already! Or do you want him to die?”
Nam Woo-jin snapped impatiently. Cha Eui-jae moved first, springing to his feet with Lee Sa-young in his arms and leaping past the Romantic Opener clinging to the doorknob. They stepped into Nam Woo-jin’s makeshift surgery room. Nam Woo-jin, now wearing a gas mask and thick gloves, gestured to a corridor on the right.
“Take him to Lee Sa-young’s designated area. It’s contamination-proof, so hurry before he loses any more blood!”
The marionette boy motioned for them to follow. Clutching Lee Sa-young tightly, Cha Eui-jae followed the marionette to a pitch-black room. Everything was dark from the ceiling to the floor, save for a few pieces of furniture and a surgical table that retained their natural colors. Cha Eui-jae started to place Lee Sa-young on the table, but—
“…”
A large hand clutched Cha Eui-jae’s shoulder tightly. Lee Sa-young was clinging to him, his faintly violet eyes hazy and unsteady. Cha Eui-jae met Lee Sa-young’s gaze head-on.
“Lee Sa-young.”
“…”
“It’s okay.”
“…”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here, by your side.”
Lee Sa-young’s lips, stained with blackened blood, moved soundlessly. The hand gripping Cha Eui-jae’s shoulder loosened, and those dim violet eyes seemed to spin before the eyelids fluttered shut. As Cha Eui-jae gently laid the limp body down, he checked Lee Sa-young’s pulse. Thankfully, he was still breathing. Soon, Nam Woo-jin, fully dressed in a gas mask and heavy protective suit, strode in, eyeing J with a slight squint.
“Looks like you’re in one piece.”
“…”
“Well, it’s enough if we can save one. That’s something, at least.”
Nam Woo-jin finally composed himself, his tone now formal as he examined Lee Sa-young’s face and body. He clicked his tongue and gestured at Cha Eui-jae.
“Are you resistant to toxins?”
“Yes.”
“Then help me get his clothes off.”
“Excuse me?”
“I need to check for other injuries. Just remove his top.”
Damn it. Cha Eui-jae removed Lee Sa-young’s soaked black coat, lifting the black shirt beneath it from the stomach upward. Nam Woo-jin, however, clicked his tongue and handed him a scalpel.
“You’re going to take forever. Just cut it open.”
Damn it! Cha Eui-jae lifted the blood-soaked shirt and sliced it down the middle with the scalpel. The fabric peeled away, revealing firm muscles and a broad chest. But before the muscles, something else caught their attention—
“…Looks like he had a brawl with a beast, huh?”
“…”
A massive wound, stretching across his stomach and chest, was slowly becoming visible.
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