The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 263
It seemed Honeybee had thought the same thing, as she glared.
“You’re just going to get straight to the point?”
“Didn’t you all talk about it already? Beating around the bush would be a waste of time. Besides…”
Nam Woo-jin glanced briefly at J.
“You said he hasn’t forgotten his presence. Then I’m sure he’ll manage to do something about it.”
“…”
“As you know, we’re facing a severe manpower shortage. Just because you don’t have memories doesn’t mean you can sit back and do nothing.”
Irresponsible. From behind, Cha Eui-jae clenched his fist quietly. Nam Woo-jin opened the tightly closed door and entered.
In the dark room, a massive machine resembling a telescope stood in the center, and three blue magic stones were spinning around it. Unable to withstand the piercing gazes of Honeybee and Cha Eui-jae, Lee Sa-young pointed at the machine with his index finger.
“What is that?”
“It’s the Whitening Observer Device.”
What is that supposed to mean? Once again, Honeybee and Cha Eui-jae jabbed Lee Sa-young’s back. Lee Sa-young, with a scowl, asked again.
“…What does it mean?”
“Did you forget what Whitening is too?”
“Seems like I did.”
“And you two didn’t explain it to them?”
“We didn’t even know he didn’t know.”
Honeybee and Cha Eui-jae added shamelessly. Nam Woo-jin shot them a hard stare and sighed.
“…You really didn’t do anything. You remember it was discovered in the wasteland, right? Whitening refers to a phenomenon where, influenced by the end, land becomes uninhabitable. The wasteland is an area affected by Whitening. Land tainted with white ash becomes a barren, dead place where not a single blade of grass can grow.”
“What’s causing this to happen?”
“I told you before. This world is collapsing due to the apocalypse. It’s a phenomenon brought by the end.”
Nam Woo-jin spoke calmly, even as he mentioned the apocalypse and collapse. Lee Sa-young narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Are you just accepting the collapse?”
“Of course not. We’re still fighting it.”
“…”
“But at this rate… I don’t know.”
Nam Woo-jin held back his words. Cha Eui-jae, with hands clasped behind his back, thought carefully. In their world, the first stage of the apocalypse was the appearance of monsters. What about here?
“If you could tell us the stages or order of the apocalypse, it would be helpful.”
“Stages? Ah…”
It seemed like a good question. Nam Woo-jin nodded and then manipulated the observer. Soon, an image of a large-mouthed monster appeared in the air. A monster that had emerged in their world to devour humans.
“It started with the appearance of Big Mouths. After the black hole transformed into a white hole, they suddenly started appearing everywhere, eating humans, buildings— everything indiscriminately.”
“…”
“These creatures have poor eyesight but are sensitive to presence and smell. And everything they eat… vanishes completely. Obliteration would be the right word.”
Honeybee lowered her gaze and sighed.
“It’s as if their stomachs are connected to the world’s gaps. No matter how much they devour, their hunger is never sated. They keep eating, and eating, until their life runs out.”
“…”
“The number of Big Mouths naturally dwindled. We learned how to deal with them, and for some reason, they stopped appearing after a certain point. The next stage was… a monster wave.”
Cha Eui-jae and Honeybee raised their heads simultaneously. A monster wave— a phenomenon that hadn’t yet appeared in their world.
“Monsters affected by Whitening poured out of dungeons and gates. You could call it the stage of overwhelming numbers. Luckily, we managed to handle it, but these transformed monsters scatter white ash upon death.”
“…”
“As a result, the more monsters we kill, the faster the Whitening accelerates.”
“…What’s the next stage?”
“It’s happening now.”
Nam Woo-jin’s white-burned eyes fixed on the three of them. Bathed in the blue light of the magic stones, he looked strangely inhuman as he lifted the corners of his mouth into a smile.
“Mutation.”
“…”
“Humans are turning into monsters.”
Honeybee’s face hardened. They must all be recalling the same memory. She had left a comrade who had become a monster hidden behind the Seowon Guild. She didn’t know how long they’d remain there.
“Not many people know, but at least everyone here did. One person forgot.”
“Is there any way to stop it? Or a way to turn those who’ve become monsters back?”
Honeybee asked, pressing for an answer. Nam Woo-jin shrugged as if it was ridiculous to ask.
“Why ask what you already know? There isn’t. No way to stop it, no way to reverse it. However, humans exposed to Whitening for extended periods seem to mutate more quickly… That’s just a conjecture.”
“…”
“We’re working with other healers and researchers to find a vaccine, but… well, I’m not sure if it’ll be possible.”
His voice lacked strength. Honeybee bit her lip hard, and her clenched fists trembled. Cha Eui-jae stepped forward to shield her.
“Thank you for your time, Doctor.”
“J.”
Crossing his arms, Nam Woo-jin replied curtly.
“Take care of yourself. Got it? You don’t have to do everything. Saving the world is only possible while you’re still alive.”
“…”
“Your body is a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at any moment. Be careful. If it seems too much, run. And come straight to me. Understand?”
Cha Eui-jae blinked. Truthfully, he felt heavy. Ever since he entered the Seowon Guild and became this world’s J’s replacement, it had been like this. But he couldn’t show it. He nodded slowly, feeling a sharp pain in his chest.
“Yes.”
“…You may go now. I won’t keep you long. You’ll likely need to stick by Lee Sa-young’s side anyway.”
Nam Woo-jin waved his hand, dismissing the three of them. The door closed with a thud. Honeybee, who had been walking mechanically, suddenly stopped in her tracks. She looked back with a determined face.
“We don’t have anywhere else to go, right? Nothing urgent?”
“If we make something up, sure, but for now, no.”
“Then, I want to visit the HB Guild.”
“…”
“You don’t have to come along. I just want to go alone…”
Honeybee’s voice grew quieter. Was she hoping to see Matthew? In their original world, he hadn’t awakened for a long time. Cha Eui-jae understood that feeling well. He nodded slowly.
“All right.”
“…”
“Go ahead. We need information about other people anyway. Let’s meet at… the front of the Seowon Guild. Jung Bin will be there too.”
Honeybee looked to Lee Sa-young, as if seeking his opinion. Instead of answering, he gave a slight nod. Then, out of nowhere, Honeybee hugged Cha Eui-jae tightly, nearly suffocating him. Startled by the sudden warmth and pain, he only blinked. Honeybee whispered softly.
“Thank you.”
The fleeting embrace ended quickly. After letting go of Cha Eui-jae, Honeybee took off. Watching her figure quickly shrink into the distance, he massaged the shoulder she’d held, then felt a weight settle there. Lee Sa-young was leaning against him. Cha Eui-jae asked awkwardly.
“…What is it?”
“Why won’t you hug me?”
“That was Honeybee impulsively hugging me.”
“Yeah… and I saw you pat her back.”
“…”
Such a sharp observation. Better to defuse this before it spirals. Cha Eui-jae spread his arms wide. Lee Sa-young wrapped his arms around Cha Eui-jae’s waist and pulled him close, his solid frame filling his embrace. Cha Eui-jae patted Lee Sa-young’s broad back, soft hair brushing against his cheek, ear, and neck.
“Is this good enough?”
“…It’s fast.”
“Huh? What is?”
“Your heartbeat.”
“…”
“There’s also a scratchy sound…”
Fingers slipped between their tightly pressed chests, and a large hand settled over Cha Eui-jae’s heart. Lee Sa-young’s sly violet eyes fixed on Cha Eui-jae’s mask. Damn, he thought it was jealousy, but it turned out to be a condition check. Cha Eui-jae tried to push away, leaning back, but his arms didn’t have as much strength as he expected.
‘What?’
Confused, Cha Eui-jae’s fingers curled involuntarily against Lee Sa-young’s chest. The arms around his waist tightened even more. Even a normal embrace felt painful. Why is he so strong?
There was no choice.
Cha Eui-jae closed his eyes tightly and muttered.
“Flutt…”
“What?”
“You make my heart flutter, you idiot…”
“…”
The purple eyes blinked slowly, and then a faint smile appeared. Long lashes fluttered, and lips touched Cha Eui-jae’s smooth black mask.
“Oh… really? I make your heart flutter?”
“If you know that, let go! What if someone sees?”
“It’s fine. I can sense if anyone approaches.”
“Doesn’t matter. Let go…”
“It hurts, doesn’t it? Right now.”
“What are you talking—”
When Lee Sa-young tightened his grip around Cha Eui-jae’s waist, a small gasp escaped. Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth and bowed his head. A sharp pain surged through him. His body shook. Lee Sa-young released his grip, then carefully supported Cha Eui-jae’s swaying body. A light kiss touched the temple beaded with cold sweat.
“Stubborn.”
Cha Eui-jae struggled to steady his breathing, cursing under his breath. His vision blurred repeatedly.
“…Damn you…”
“I’m sorry. I had to do it this way because you wouldn’t admit it otherwise.”
The gentle touch stroking the nape of his neck was the last thing he felt. His vision faded to black.
