The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 262
“What?”
“Pfft!”
Honeybee clamped her hand over her mouth, turning her head away. Even J’s shoulders were shaking slightly. Was he mistaken? But… Jung Bin mumbled to himself as he gathered the papers scattered on the floor.
“Someone got caught up in excessive force, or maybe you dealt with a variant and decided to handle something annoying on the side… Didn’t you come here because of something like that?”
“…No.”
Lee Sa-young gritted his teeth and replied. Honeybee was gasping for air, laughing so hard she was nearly in tears. By this point, Jung Bin was feeling a bit embarrassed, too. If it wasn’t for something that serious…
“Otherwise, the three of you wouldn’t have come to see me all at once, would you…?”
Is that not the case? Really? Is that not it? He barely held back the words that had risen to his throat. But knowing Lee Sa-young would likely lash out if he asked, Jung Bin cleared his throat and clasped his hands together.
“My apologies for the suspicion. Then… what brings you here?”
“Um~… well, there’s a bit of an issue?”
Honeybee rolled her eyes. Honeybee might flit about here and there, but seeing even Lee Sa-young, who usually avoided Jung Bin, and J, who often took rests due to his health, was unusual. It had to be something significant. Jung Bin’s expression turned slightly serious, and he leaned forward.
“I’m ready. What’s the issue?”
“It’s Sa-young.”
As Cha Eui-jae spoke up, everyone’s attention turned to him. He firmly held onto Lee Sa-young’s arm as he tried to step back.
“Sa-young’s memory… well, it’s a bit off.”
“Pardon?”
Jung Bin tilted his head in confusion. Honeybee grabbed onto Lee Sa-young’s other arm, holding him tight like prison guards restraining a prisoner. Wiping away a tear at the corner of her eye, Honeybee spoke.
“Well, you see, some of his memories have… vanished? He’s become incredibly nice.”
“Excuse me?”
Jung Bin’s eyes went wide as he looked at Lee Sa-young. Haaa. Lee Sa-young let out a long sigh and stared up at the ceiling with a deeply frowning face.
***
A moment ago, in the wasteland, Honeybee, walking ahead, suddenly spoke up.
“I’ve been thinking about it.”
“If it’s something pointless, keep it to yourself.”
“Shut up. Since it’s come to this, let’s go with the amnesia tactic.”
“Not even worth listening to.”
Lee Sa-young scoffed, crossing his arms. Honeybee whirled around, looking annoyed.
“Ah, why! We need information. If we just ask them to explain the situation right away, they’ll think it’s strange, don’t you think?”
“What Honeybee is saying is that we might have replaced our counterparts in this world?”
“Exactly. This is an apocalyptic world, and if there are people we know here, then we should exist here too. But there can’t be two of the same person in one place, right?”
It was similar to what ‘Hong Ye-seong’ had said. He used to borrow Kkokko’s body to avoid the situation of two Hong Ye-seongs existing at once. Honeybee raised a finger.
“That person recognized me as Honeybee earlier. But wouldn’t they think it strange if I suddenly asked, ‘What year and day is it now?’ And besides…”
Honeybee glanced at the air. A white system window had appeared there. It had shown up right when they started to see remnants of the city scattered across the horizon.
[Blend in seamlessly.]
Was this a dungeon’s clear condition? But it was different from what they usually saw. No dungeon name, no description, just a single command-like sentence. And for a trio that stood out as much as they did, it was an incredibly difficult task. Hunters fighting on the front lines of the apocalypse,
‘Pardon me, but how far has the apocalypse progressed?’
‘Who’s dead and who’s still alive?’
‘Is this place doomed?’
If they went around asking questions like that…
‘Are you out of your mind?’
People would think they were crazy. It seemed everyone was having similar thoughts. Even Lee Sa-young, who had been giving contrary opinions, shrugged as if to say, “Do as you wish.”
Is it my turn to step up? Cha Eui-jae, who was more physically adept at ‘amnesia’ than anyone, clenched his fist and asked.
“So, who’s going to play the amnesiac?”
“What’s with that fist? You’re not planning to punch someone, are you?”
“Is there a problem with that?”
“Just act, okay? Just act. I can’t do it— I’m no good at acting.”
“Not because you’re incapable due to ‘amnesia’?”
Honeybee launched a playful kick, buzzing like a bee. Behind his mask, Cha Eui-jae’s lips twitched. Guess there was no choice. Lee Sa-young wasn’t likely to act, so as the best actor among them, it was up to him to step in. Just as he raised his hand.
“I’ll—”
“No choice, I’ll do it.”
Lee Sa-young interrupted him mid-sentence. Cha Eui-jae looked at him in disbelief. What kind of acting could
he
possibly do? However, thanks to the mask, his shock didn’t seem to show. Lee Sa-young instead looked at Cha Eui-jae with a peculiar expression. With an exaggerated click of his tongue, he scoffed.
“What kind of acting could someone who can’t lie possibly do?”
“What are you talking about? Haven’t you seen my acting skills? If I hadn’t been a hunter, I would’ve been an actor.”
“Oh, sure. Let’s assume you’re acting… But.”
Lee Sa-young tilted his head and twisted his lips in a sneer. It was almost mocking.
“Didn’t a new incident happen every time you act?”
“…”
Recalling the past, Cha Eui-jae bowed his head, solemn. Objectively, his acting had been decent, but it was true he ultimately solved everything with his fists. Lee Sa-young slapped his hand against his cheek with an exaggerated sigh.
“Sorry, but there’s no Seo Min-gi here to clean up, nor are my lackeys…”
Damn it!
“Well, if Lee Sa-young’s the one doing it, there won’t be any suspicion.”
Even Honeybee backed up Lee Sa-young. This was betrayal. Cha Eui-jae turned his head sharply to look at Honeybee. She placed a finger to her lips and said cheerfully,
“No one will think it strange if he just keeps his mouth shut!”
It was a harsh but honest truth, spoken with no malice.
***
Lee Sa-young has issues with his memory.
Jung Bin immediately pulled the three of them and headed to Nam Woo-jin. The Guild Leader of the Seowon Guild was holed up in a small, dim underground room. Piles of books and papers filled the space, with a dim crimson light flickering, casting shadows across the books. After some rustling sounds, a man in a white lab coat appeared, his tied-back white hair swaying slightly.
“What is it? I told you not to disturb me unless it was important…”
Thank goodness. He doesn’t look like a mummy yet. Cha Eui-jae felt a bit relieved. Nam Woo-jin looked slightly thin, but still fine. For now, at least. Jung Bin gestured to Lee Sa-young, who was standing behind him.
“It appears Hunter Lee Sa-young has had some issues with his memory.”
“Memory?”
Nam Woo-jin furrowed his brow slightly and tilted his head as if to ask for more explanation. Jung Bin asked.
“We were in such a hurry that I couldn’t ask, but were you attacked by a monster?”
“I don’t know. I can’t remember.”
Lee Sa-young responded with a sullen face. Amnesia was proving to be quite a convenient tool. Whatever it was, he could just claim he didn’t remember. Cha Eui-jae gave Honeybee a discreet thumbs-up. Nam Woo-jin scratched his head in irritation and looked at Cha Eui-jae.
“J, what about you? Aren’t you supposed to be resting?”
“Oh, I came along because I heard Sa-young was having issues.”
“How’s your health?”
Jung Bin also looked at Cha Eui-jae with a concerned gaze. His mouth responded almost automatically.
“I’m feeling better at the moment. Thank you for your concern.”
“Seems that way. While you’re here, get checked up, just in case. It’d be a problem if you collapsed again. And Honeybee?”
“Hm? Oh, I was the one who found Lee Sa-young! I contacted J, too.”
“I received a report that you entered a restricted area. Is that where you found him?”
“Uh… yes, that’s right.”
“What were you doing there?”
“Th-that…”
It seemed her claim of not being good at acting was true; despite their preplanned story, Honeybee’s words were starting to drag. She glanced at Cha Eui-jae, who quickly stepped in.
“I asked her for help. There’s something I’m looking for, but I can’t move around easily by myself.”
“Can you tell me what that is?”
“No, not right now. I’ll tell you once I’m certain.”
“…Understood. So, a monster might’ve taken his memory…”
Jung Bin, looking troubled, touched his chin and fell into thought. Nam Woo-jin crossed his arms and asked.
“Has all of his memory been wiped, or only certain parts?”
“It seems he’s only lost specific memories. He remembers people like me, Honeybee, and Jung Bin… but seems to have forgotten recent events entirely.”
While Cha Eui-jae rattled on fluently, Lee Sa-young continued to stare at the ceiling, looking visibly displeased. Honeybee stiffly pointed to Jung Bin and Nam Woo-jin.
“It’s good that we’re explaining it, but since we’ve brought an expert along, wouldn’t it be better to have them explain?”
“An expert? You’re not going to explain it yourselves?”
“I’m not confident in explaining things!”
“Neither am I.”
It looked that way. These were people who usually let their fists do the talking whenever something happened.
Nam Woo-jin let out a long sigh and gestured for them to follow. Perfect, it worked. Jung Bin spoke with a gentle smile.
“Apologies, but I have work to finish, so I’ll be heading off.”
“Go ahead. You three, follow me…”
Dragging his worn Crocs along, Nam Woo-jin made his way down a long hallway. His brusque voice came from his back as he walked ahead.
“Let me start by saying this. This world is ending; it’s facing total collapse.”
Ah, so he’s diving straight into the main point, huh?
