The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 275
Rustle, rustle. The grass swayed. Not long after, a small head emerged from between the gaps…
“Bawk, bawk?”
A glossy body with eyes like black beans. It was Kkokko, Hong Ye-seong’s companion. Kkokko tilted its head as it looked at Lee Sa-young and Honeybee. Honeybee scowled and pointed at Kkokko.
“Wait, isn’t that Hong Ye-seong’s chicken?”
“Looks like it.”
“Why’d it suddenly show up?”
“Maybe it came to greet us.”
“It didn’t show even a feather tip when I threatened to burn down the mountain.”
“Maybe it just didn’t want to talk to you.”
“Ugh, there’s nothing likable about it!”
Ignoring Honeybee’s complaints, Kkokko wobbled its head back and forth as it approached the picnic mat, inspecting Cha Eui-jae, who was wrapped in a coat, from all angles. Soon, Kkokko spread its wings wide.
“Cluck! Bawk-bawk!”
“What’s it saying?”
“How would I know?”
“What do you even know, then?”
“More than you.”
Golden eyes met purple ones. Sparks flew in the air. Just as the two clenched their fists, Kkokko shook its head and let out a deep sigh.
“Bawk…”
“Did it just sigh?”
“Probably.”
“It’s just as irritating as its owner. Hey!”
The moment Honeybee shouted again, a small coughing sound came from beneath the coat. Everyone froze in place.
Lee Sa-young knelt down and examined Cha Eui-jae’s face. Though not fully visible, he could see through the gas mask lenses that the area around his eyes was slightly contorted. Sweat soaked his temples and the back of his neck, and his breathing was labored. Lee Sa-young carefully lifted Cha Eui-jae into his arms. His body was burning hot.
“…”
Cha Eui-jae had been this sick before. Lee Sa-young’s memories clearly held images of him coughing up blood, collapsing, and suffering from fevers. But the difference between memory and reality was stark. Lee Sa-young didn’t dare put any strength into his hands as he held Cha Eui-jae, frozen with helplessness. It felt as though even the slightest wrong move could put Cha Eui-jae’s life at risk.
In the meantime, Honeybee hoisted Romantic Opener onto her back and shouted,
“This is why your owner sent you, right? There’s a sick person here. At least show us a place to lay him down. You can do that much, can’t you?”
“Bawk.”
Kkokko flapped its wings as if signaling them to follow. It headed deeper into the forest. Without hesitation, Lee Sa-young chased the white figure. It wouldn’t joke around with someone’s life at stake.
They walked for what felt like a long time, with mist slowly enveloping the surroundings. Eventually, they reached a long, endless wall, tall pine trees beyond it, and plumes of smoke rising into the air. Kkokko pecked at a gate adorned with protective ropes and talismans. With a creak, the gate slowly opened. Beyond it was a wide dirt yard and a serene hanok. In one corner of the yard, a kiln burned bright red.
“…”
The hanok showed no sign of life. It didn’t even seem inhabited. Kkokko confidently walked ahead and opened the sliding doors of the porch with its beak. Inside the two rooms, thick bedding was already laid out.
“Bawk.”
“One for each room, huh? I’ll take this one.”
“Alright.”
Honeybee carried Romantic Opener into the opposite room. Following Kkokko’s gestures, Lee Sa-young gently laid Cha Eui-jae onto the bedding. He placed a pillow under his head, removed his shoes, and covered him with a blanket. Then he paused as he noticed Honeybee bustling about through the partially open door.
Lee Sa-young firmly closed and locked the door. With delicate care, as though handling something fragile, he unfastened the gas mask and lifted it off. Revealed beneath was Cha Eui-jae’s sweat-drenched gray hair and a flushed face with fever spots blooming red. Soft, labored breaths escaped through slightly parted lips. Lee Sa-young kept his hands as gentle as possible, brushing back the damp hair.
“…”
Cha Eui-jae’s eyelids fluttered, and unfocused eyes emerged from beneath them. He squinted as if in confusion, blinking several times before his lips moved.
“Sa-young…”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Where… are we?”
“Where Hong Ye-seong is. Just rest for now.”
When Lee Sa-young cupped Cha Eui-jae’s cheek with his gloved hand, Cha Eui-jae stirred briefly before leaning his face into the palm. Even through the glove, Lee Sa-young could feel the searing heat. Cha Eui-jae slowly closed his eyes.
“Cold…”
“…”
“Sa-young.”
“Yes.”
“I’m… going to sleep for a bit.”
“…Alright.”
Lee Sa-young gently brushed his thumb along Cha Eui-jae’s temple and cheek. Soon, steady breathing filled the room. The sight of him finding peace and sleeping vulnerably, trusting him, was overwhelming. Lee Sa-young softly murmured.
“Good night.”
He thought, if time stopped here, he wouldn’t mind.
Conflicted feelings swirled within him— his hope for Cha Eui-jae’s swift recovery and his selfish desire to keep him here by his side. His hand lingered, alternating between clenching and relaxing.
The helpless Cha Eui-jae, the Cha Eui-jae who depended on him, the Cha Eui-jae who trusted him—
Nothing was more satisfying.
Lee Sa-young let out a long sigh. He could sense Honeybee’s presence outside the door. He knew he needed to leave before she could enter the room, but he couldn’t bring himself to move just yet. With a soft sigh, Lee Sa-young tenderly brushed Cha Eui-jae’s cheek one last time before calling out.
“Don’t come in here.”
The footsteps outside stilled. A shadow appeared against the paper door. Honeybee stood with her hands on her hips.
A sharp voice replied,
“I wasn’t planning to, okay? Did you take J’s gas mask off?”
“Yes.”
“I know how to respect boundaries, thanks. I’ll take a look around, so just take care of J!”
The sound of Honeybee and Kkokko’s retreating footsteps echoed. Lee Sa-young exhaled softly and stood up. He thought of bringing a cold towel for Cha Eui-jae’s fever.
***
Cha Eui-jae opened his eyes. The smell of old books filled the air. He was standing in a library filled with countless shelves of books. What was this? Hadn’t he escaped from the hospital and moved somewhere else? Cha Eui-jae rotated his arms and jumped lightly in place. The heavy, painful sensation in his body was gone. He felt perfectly fine. He touched his face. He was wearing J’s signature black mask.
‘Is this a dream, or was I captured again by Nam Woo-jin after escaping?’
He had to doubt everything. He might have lost his memory again. Cha Eui-jae pinched the back of his hand hard. It didn’t hurt. So, it was a dream.
At that moment, he heard a noise behind him. Cha Eui-jae quickly turned his head. A student wearing round glasses, a school uniform skirt, and gym pants beneath it stood there. It was Yoon Ga-eul. Cha Eui-jae tilted his head.
“Ga-eul? Student Ga-eul?”
Yoon Ga-eul, who was looking around in confusion, also tilted her head with a bewildered expression.
“J… J?”
“What are you doing here?”
“That’s what I should ask. Uh… huh?”
Yoon Ga-eul touched her lips and then checked her attire. She fiddled with her uniform skirt, then suddenly raised her head and took a step closer to Cha Eui-jae.
“Wait, you’re the J I know, right? Not some fragment of a ruined world?”
Cha Eui-jae also looked up at his hair. Ash gray. He carefully observed Yoon Ga-eul. Her outfit and youthful face— she was undoubtedly the Yoon Ga-eul he knew. In the ruined world, Yoon Ga-eul was an adult. He rubbed the chin of his mask, murmuring.
“…It seems that way. And you’re the Student Ga-eul I know, right?”
“Yes, yes. Probably.”
“Have you taken the college entrance exam?”
“No, not yet…”
“Then, do you still believe in me?”
“Of course!”
Yoon Ga-eul’s eyes sparkled. Unbelievable! Cha Eui-jae couldn’t contain his joy and spread his arms wide. Yoon Ga-eul quickly ran into his embrace, and the two hugged tightly. Though neither could feel warmth or touch, it didn’t matter. Could this be another instance of Yoon Ga-eul reaching out to him in a dream, like when she had previously sent a call for help?
‘Then this time, I’ll have to deliver information from my side…’
Cha Eui-jae broke the hug. Gripping Yoon Ga-eul’s shoulders with a serious expression, he began to speak.
“Can you deliver a message to Jung Bin?”
“Huh? Oh… yes, I’ll try.”
“Honeybee, Lee Sa-young, and I entered an eroded dungeon and got trapped in a new kind of dungeon. A lot of time must have passed in reality by now.”
“Okay, okay.”
“We’ll find a way to return somehow, so don’t worry. Also, tell them not to send any more people into the eroded dungeon.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Yes. And I’ve discovered some things about the end…”
“Yes! I’m listening.”
“There are stages to the end—”
Before Cha Eui-jae could continue, a choking sensation gripped his throat. His eyes widened. He couldn’t speak. At the same time, his vision was flooded with red.
[Error detected. Error detected. Error detected.]
[Unauthorized information.]
[Warning.]
[Warning.]
[Warning.]
[Warning.]
[Warning.]
[Penalty imposed!]
Countless red notifications filled his sight. Even in a dream, this information was blocked? Before Cha Eui-jae could even mutter a complaint, something powerful forcefully pushed him away.
Thud!
In an instant, Yoon Ga-eul seemed to vanish into the distance. She reached out a hand, but she was too far away to be seen.
And then, Cha Eui-jae opened his eyes.
“…”
He opened his eyes.
And closed them. Opened them. Closed them. Opened them.
Darkness.
Complete darkness.
