The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 267
“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”
Yoon Ga-eul’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her fist resolutely. This wasn’t going to work. Getting the message through to her was hopeless. Cha Eui-jae could only nod weakly, while Yoon Ga-eul’s shoulders drooped.
“So… please don’t talk like it’s over or anything like that.”
“…”
“If you’re not here…”
“…Okay, I understand.”
If he were gone, this world’s collapse would just accelerate. Once he died, Jung Bin and Matthew would follow. But there was nothing he could do. His death was certain, and he couldn’t interfere in a past already decided.
Watching a doomed world face its end like this…
‘…Might as well get more information.’
He thought over people he knew. Maybe his aunt was alive in this world? With a glimmer of hope, he asked,
“Do you know a Hunter named Park Hye-kyung?”
“Of course. She was Director Ham’s right-hand person.”
The past tense was ominous. Cha Eui-jae mouthed silently, then managed to ask,
“She… passed away?”
“Yes, along with the Director.”
“…”
“…J?”
“Nothing.”
He looked up at the ceiling. A world already fated for destruction was waiting at the end of his escape. What could he do? He turned his head to see Yoon Ga-eul looking at him with worry in her eyes. He knew her. He remembered the nights she’d woken up crying, yet she kept moving forward.
“Yoon Ga-eul.”
“Yes, J?”
“One day… a time will come when you’ll have to make a decision.”
Yoon Ga-eul looked puzzled. But Cha Eui-jae felt sure. This was the moment. If he didn’t say it now, he’d never get the chance. Reaching out, he took her hand firmly.
“When that time comes, don’t hesitate. Have confidence, be certain.”
“…J?”
“Do what you must. Your choice won’t be wrong.”
“…”
“Got it?”
Yoon Ga-eul was silent, mulling over his words. Then she nodded slowly, and Cha Eui-jae finally smiled.
That’s enough.
Just then, Yoon Ga-eul straightened up with a small jolt and hurriedly took the strap in her hand. Was Lee Sa-young coming back? She quickly bound Cha Eui-jae’s wrists and stepped back from the bed. At that moment, the door creaked open, and Yoon Ga-eul raised her voice.
“Oh, even if you keep asking, I’m not going to untie you!”
“…”
“…”
Yoon Ga-eul really had no talent for acting. Did she think that would fool Lee Sa-young? Cha Eui-jae glanced at the ceiling, resigned. Lee Sa-young, in his gas mask, looked between Yoon Ga-eul and Cha Eui-jae in the bed, and gave her a nod.
“Go on.”
“Y-Yes!”
Yoon Ga-eul threw Cha Eui-jae a “hang in there” gesture with her fist and quickly left the room. Standing a suitable distance from the bed, Lee Sa-young watched Cha Eui-jae.
Then.
A faint chuckle escaped him.
“I’ll let it slide this time.”
“…”
So annoyingly perceptive.
Cha Eui-jae closed his eyes, pretending not to notice. Just wait until I’m back to full health. Then a lazy voice continued.
“Let me know when you’re feeling better.”
Cha Eui-jae cracked one eye open to look at Lee Sa-young.
“…Why?”
“I did some digging. I want out of here too.”
“What did you dig up?”
“Some humans who might be useful.”
Between his gloved fingers, Lee Sa-young held a folded note. He flicked it, and it landed neatly on Cha Eui-jae’s stomach. What’s he playing at? Cha Eui-jae opened both eyes and glared at Lee Sa-young.
“What’s this? You think this is funny?”
“Check it when you’re well enough to untie yourself.”
“You…”
Was he actually messing with him? This was practically a taunt. Cha Eui-jae clenched his fists, gathering his strength, and then—
“You cheeky brat!”
—he raised his fists with a fierce grip.
Clank!
Along with the protective side rails attached to both sides of the bed.
“…”
“…”
Lee Sa-young stared at him in disbelief. Cha Eui-jae was equally surprised. What kind of strap wouldn’t snap like this? With a slightly awkward expression, he tried to reattach the broken rail and loosen the strap. Just then—
Bang!
The door swung open with a thud, and a tired-looking Nam Woo-jin yelled,
“What are you two doing now?!”
But he quickly fell silent as he took in the scene in the hospital room. Cha Eui-jae remained silent, too, while Lee Sa-young tapped the bottom of his gas mask with a smirk.
“It’s nothing serious…”
“…”
“Just that J is really, really eager to get discharged.”
“…Oh, haha.”
Cha Eui-jae chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head.
***
“Cook more.”
“What’s this? You used to say you wouldn’t eat more because it makes you sluggish in battle.”
“Shut up and hurry up.”
Honeybee chomped on a chewy rice cake, kicking her legs casually as she sat on the desk. Without another word, Matthew raised a finger, a spark igniting at the tip. The buttered squid began to curl as it sizzled in the flames. The smell was mouth-watering. Honeybee glanced down at the top of his head, watching him carefully control the temperature. The taste of the rice cake, the perfect warmth, the savory aroma, even the way Matthew moved, every little detail felt so real.
“…”
It was a familiar, longed-for sight. One she desperately wanted back. Not in some fake world like this, but in the real one.
Honeybee pressed her lips together, fighting back the sting of tears, and quickly turned her head away. Matthew spoke.
“Just wait a little longer.”
“I know, I do.”
Had he heard the crack in her voice? She hoped not. Thankfully, Matthew seemed focused on grilling the squid, showing no reaction. She looked up at the ceiling. The white tiles, the stacks of documents, even the cross on the wall— it all looked exactly like the HB Guild Leader’s office from her memory.
‘Is this really a dungeon?’
It was so vivid. Could this really be a separate reality? She bit into the rice cake a bit harder, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Then Matthew spoke.
“Honeybee.”
“What?”
“Is something wrong?”
“…”
“You seem upset.”
She was silent, but then spoke carefully.
“If, hypothetically.”
“Hmm.”
“You made a choice. Say… you risked your life, for example.”
Matthew nodded, as if prompting her to continue. Honeybee swung her crossed leg and asked her question.
“Did you do it because it was the best choice?”
“Of course.”
There was no hesitation in his answer. She knew he was that kind of person, but still… Honeybee rested her chin in her hand. The tears began welling up again, and she barely managed to get out,
“That’s the worst.”
“…”
She hopped down from the desk and stood with her back to him.
“Cook a few more. I’ll share them with J.”
“…Sure. How’s J doing?”
“Huh?”
Honeybee turned around, surprised, as Matthew shot her a glance.
“I heard he collapsed again recently.”
That word— again —stuck with her. Now that she thought about it, Nam Woo-jin had been worried about J’s health all this time. Was he really that frail?
‘But…’
Though she’d seen a vision of Jung Bin losing his head, she hadn’t seen J actually die. Honeybee frowned. Matthew carefully packed the squid legs and rice cakes into a box, speaking as he did.
“I’d like you to look out for him too. Even if he’s not in our guild…”
“Uh, they still don’t know why he’s collapsing?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“…”
Honeybee scowled. She would need to look into this a bit more.
***
Sigh. Wisps of cigarette smoke mixed with the pale ash and drifted away. The sea, blanketed in a white ash, had long since lost its blue color. The ashen waves, pale and lifeless, washed over his bare feet before retreating again. Could this place still be called the sea, when it had lost its characteristic salty smell, its blue hue, and its vitality?
Despite trying to leave so many times, he ultimately found himself returning here— to the sea.
The young man stood there for a long time, ignoring how the waves dampened his feet and trousers. His messy dark blue hair blew in the wind, and his glasses reflected the hazy sea. Then, a brusque voice called out from behind.
“Why, you planning to throw yourself in and die?”
“…”
It was an old woman with a hunched back. Clicking her tongue, she gestured back toward the house with her wrinkled hand.
“You’ve got a visitor.”
“…A visitor?”
He asked, puzzled, but got no response. As if she’d said all she intended to, the old woman hobbled away. Taking a final, deep drag from his cigarette, the young man flicked the ash toward the sea. Then he turned his back on the pale ocean. The wet ashes clung to his damp feet.
The small village by the seaside was silent. Hunters were busy dealing with the whitening happening in major cities and didn’t have the bandwidth to pay attention to such remote places. The remaining villagers were mostly locals, people without the means to leave or who were oblivious to the end approaching.
Barefoot, he walked over the uneven ground, leaving long, pale footprints in his wake. The man stopped in front of a blue-roofed house layered with ashen dust. He could sense a presence that wouldn’t usually be felt. Should he turn back and head toward the sea? But there was no way those people wouldn’t have noticed him by now.
‘Where did I slip up…?’
Well, it didn’t matter much now. What’s done is done. With a long sigh, he stepped through the half-open gate. Beyond the narrow yard, two shadowy figures sat on the veranda. One wore a gas mask, the other a smooth, black mask. What were people who should have been in Seoul doing out in a place like this?
The man in the black mask spoke. His voice was altered and distorted.
“Mackerel.”
“…”
“I have something to ask.”
The young man took out a new cigarette from his pack and lit it, drawing deeply until his cheek hollowed in. Through his scratched lenses, his dark blue eyes closed slowly. He replied in a weary tone.
“I don’t know how you managed to find me…”
The smoke dissipated into the air.
“…but I’m done with that life.”
