The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low - Chap 310
Three days had passed since the child was rescued. Gyu-Gyu had visited Prometheus’s chapel multiple times on his own, and fortunately, it seemed they hadn’t noticed the child was missing. Security hadn’t been tightened either. Maybe the test subject had come up with a good cover. Or perhaps the disappearance of a single child wasn’t worth their concern. It was impossible to know.
Nam Woo-jin had agreed to take responsibility for the rescued child. Jung Bin, Gyu-Gyu, Nam Woo-jin, and J were gathered in a small monitoring room. Watching the sleeping child through the one-way mirror, Nam Woo-jin said,
“People who undergo immediate mutation are usually civilians. Those who mutate partially… they’re mostly under the influence of the system.”
“But that child isn’t an Awakened, is he?”
“Globally speaking, don’t most Awakenings start from high school age or older?”
“That’s correct.”
“Well, if they’re too young, they might not be able to withstand the Awakening and just die. Seems like the system takes a lot into account. Let’s just call him a potential Awakened the system has marked.”
That made sense. Cha Eui-jae himself had Awakened when he was in high school. He nodded in agreement. Jung Bin tapped his arm and asked,
“Anyway… J-nim, you infiltrated and brought the child out safely… How about your results, Gyu-Gyu-nim?”
“Me?”
Gyu-Gyu twisted a strand of his hair in circles as he replied.
“It’s just a cult~ People praying, listening to the so-called Prophet, crying their eyes out, begging them to heal their kid, their friend, their other half.”
“…”
“Well, I guess they didn’t realize their loved ones were being used for human experimentation~”
Gyu-Gyu gave a crooked grin. Jung Bin, rarely showing displeasure, looked at him with clear disapproval before sighing and brushing his hair back.
“Understood for now. Gyu-Gyu-nim, can you continue infiltrating periodically?”
“Huh? You want to hire me? I’m expensive, you know.”
Gyu-Gyu formed a circle with his thumb and index finger. Jung Bin responded with a calm smile.
“You’ll be going anyway, won’t you? You’re a filial son. I’ll make sure to pay for the information.”
“Oh right. All the informants are useless now. So you want to use me~?”
“Haha. Of course not. It’s just that you’re so skilled.”
“Liar. I should charge you extra for being cheeky.”
Sparks flew behind their grins. Meanwhile, Nam Woo-jin, who had been getting a report from a boy who suddenly appeared, shouted angrily.
“If you’re going to fight, do it outside! Get out!”
“Aw, so uptight.”
Gyu-Gyu grumbled and shuffled out of the room. Cha Eui-jae sighed and grabbed Jung Bin, who was straightening his clothes.
“Um, Jung Bin-ssi.”
“Yes, J-nim? What is it?”
Jung Bin answered with a gentle smile. Cha Eui-jae hesitated for a moment, then asked directly,
“Is anyone on the team showing signs of mutation?”
“…Sorry? Signs of mutation?”
Jung Bin blinked in surprise. Cha Eui-jae quickly spilled his words like a rapid-fire gun.
“Like suddenly having white hair or skin, or growing scales, fur, or feathers on their body…”
“Hm, not that I know of… Do you know something?”
“…You should be careful.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say, “That person is going to kill you.” As much as he wanted to stay by Jung Bin’s side, opening the closed dungeon was the priority. Cha Eui-jae glanced sideways toward the wide-open door and added,
“Don’t be alone. Stay with someone besides your team.”
“…”
“Promise me.”
Click. The sound of dice clattering together echoed back, as if answering him.
***
Jongno 3-ga underground dungeon. The researchers were gathered together, dancing.
“Oh my god! Look at this brilliance!”
“So beautiful… Ah, to finally see the real Tomato Market Magic Stone with my own eyes!”
“With this, we’ll have more than enough energy!”
Well, it wasn’t quite dancing, more like movements of overwhelming emotion. They flailed their limbs like a group of monkeys who had just discovered fire, gathered in a circle. At the center stood Kkokko, wings proudly spread, holding a magic stone in its beak with great dignity.
Cha Eui-jae sat a little off to the side, resting his chin on his hand, watching the scene unfold.
After rescuing the child and entrusting him to Nam Woo-jin, Cha Eui-jae had contacted Hong Ye-seong. He needed to check on the magic stone he had previously given him.
“Huh? Used the magic stone? No way! That thing’s way too rare. I’ve got like, a hundred ideas on what to make with it. Still in the planning phase, y’know? Gotta make something perfect. Why do you ask?”
“…Could you give it back?”
“What? You can’t just give something and take it back!”
“Please.”
“…Huh?”
“Just once. I’m begging you. Please.”
“…Wait, wait, are you okay?”
Cha Eui-jae couldn’t answer. He took his time choosing his words, but there was nothing he could actually say aloud. He wasn’t okay. Not at all. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw that body thrashing in the glass chamber.
Right now, he wanted to see Lee Sa-young more than anything.
Perhaps sensing something was seriously wrong, Hong Ye-seong didn’t press him and readily agreed to return the magic stone.
“We’re friends, after all!”
And now, here came Kkokko, proudly holding the magic stone in its beak.
After its little show-off moment, Kkokko handed the stone to a researcher, then trotted over to Cha Eui-jae and nestled itself on his knee. Cha Eui-jae rubbed the smooth feathers on its head with his fingers.
“Tell your owner I said thanks.”
“Bawk.”
Kkokko nodded its head. A moment later, someone shouted,
“J-nim! Please get ready!”
Cha Eui-jae gently moved Kkokko off his lap and stepped up to a solid wall. Hoo. He steadied his breath. He placed his hand on the wall. Cold energy crawled up through his palm. Vmmmmmmm. The corridor began to shake. The vibrations were far stronger than before.
Flash!
A brilliant white light flooded the passage. A powerful force slammed into Cha Eui-jae’s back. He gathered the torrent of incoming energy into a single point, channeling it through his palm, directing it toward the sealed gate. His entire body trembled. He clenched his teeth. He felt something spherical begin to form in his palm.
‘Just a little… more!’
Cha Eui-jae focused every fiber of his being into his hand. He shaped that energy ball, bigger, and even bigger.
At last—
Pop! The energy burst outward in a massive expansion.
Cheers erupted from behind. Strangely, the voices felt distant. Maybe because he had poured every ounce of his strength into it. His body was weak, drained. Cha Eui-jae slowly opened his eyes. Right before him, the familiar blue portal entrance he had visited a few times shimmered in the air.
‘…I did it.’
His heart thumped. Thump, thump. A smile crept onto his lips.
‘I’ll finally see him.’
As he turned to move, his leg buckled hard.
‘Ah, damn.’
His body tilted toward the portal. J-nim! The panicked screams of others grew faint. Well, it didn’t matter, did it? He was going there anyway. Cha Eui-jae let the portal pull him in without resistance.
In a haze, he kept repeating in his mind,
‘Wait for me, Lee Sa-young…’
And then it happened. Just before his eyes closed, a pure white screen appeared in his vision. It was filled with rows and rows of text, but in his foggy state, he couldn’t make sense of it.
Something like… warning? Entity Cha Eui-jae? Modification? He lazily waved his hand. His body and his consciousness sank deeper into the darkness.
‘It’ll show up again when I wake up…’
Clinging to a strange faith in the system.
***
Thud.
Thud.
Something was poking Cha Eui-jae’s side. Ugh, what the… Cha Eui-jae shifted his body. Once again, thud. Something jabbed his side. It felt like… the toe of a shoe, maybe.
Who the hell kicks someone in the ribs? Cha Eui-jae grimaced and lifted his head. A tall, shadowy figure loomed over him. A sweet scent wafted through the air.
Cha Eui-jae’s eyes snapped open.
“…Lee Sa-young!”
Lee Sa-young turned his head. A pale complexion. A face that had grown even sharper since Cha Eui-jae last saw him. Sunken, violet eyes stared back. Unable to hide his joy, Cha Eui-jae struggled upright, his body swaying. He threw his arms open wide toward Lee Sa-young.
“Sa-young-ah!”
But.
“…Hoo.”
A short sigh filled with obvious annoyance was all he got in return. Lee Sa-young stared at Cha Eui-jae with a blank expression, then—
“…”
—walked right past him.
Whoosh. A gust of wind swept by. His attitude was shockingly cold. Cha Eui-jae’s outstretched fingers curled awkwardly. He stared, dumbfounded, at Lee Sa-young’s retreating back.
What the hell? Did he just… ignore me?
Well, sure, he wasn’t expecting a tearful, cinematic reunion. But still, maybe a little emotion…? Cha Eui-jae pouted. Am I the only one who missed you?
‘…Is he mad?’
Was it because he left like that at the end? That would make sense. Lee Sa-young’s moods were always twisted up like pretzels. Damn. Just got here and already he had to start playing therapist.
“Hey, Lee Sa-young—”
Cha Eui-jae pushed himself to his feet. Just as he moved to grab Lee Sa-young’s arm—
“…Tch.”
Clamp!
A large hand grabbed Cha Eui-jae’s throat without hesitation. Lee Sa-young lifted him effortlessly by the neck. Cha Eui-jae’s eyes widened in shock. His feet left the ground. He instinctively grabbed at the hand around his throat.
A cold voice muttered,
“I don’t know what kind of gutter you crawled out of…”
Icy fingers tightened without mercy. Cha Eui-jae gritted his teeth. His airway began to close off. Those sunken violet eyes gleamed coldly.
And in them was nothing but…
“But you should know better than to pick a fight without checking who you’re up against. Got it?”
…pure killing intent.
