The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 237

**Splash—** A flounder slapped the water’s surface with its tail, sending droplets flying. The Noryangjin Fish Market was quieter than usual, quiet enough to hear the sound of the fish’s tail. Most of the Hunters who would normally gather information there were either injured or too busy running around, leaving no other choice.

A week had passed since monsters rained down from the sky, and the world had quickly begun to settle back into place. Having already experienced similar incidents twice before, people were quick to recover. The government reported that the incident was caused by a rift, and that Hunters had resolved the issue. However, most people didn’t believe it. Hundreds of massive monsters falling from the sky couldn’t be merely the result of a simple rift!

Various conspiracy theories started to emerge: It was a failed experiment, the rifts were malfunctioning, it was a sign the white hole would disappear, and so on. However, the doomsayers who usually fanned the flames of such theories were notably absent this time. It was as if they had vanished completely. In the end, the conspiracy theories led nowhere and were soon forgotten. Life seemed to return to normal, at least for those unaware of the impending doom.

And now.

A man hurried through the quiet fish market. His dark blue hair fluttered with each step. As he passed, the vendors in their plastic aprons called out to him.

“Hey, are you feeling better?”

“Of course. I’m fine now.”

“The guy who collapsed right in front of the market entrance says he’s fine, huh! You should come by for some fish stew tonight! Bring your brother too!”

Ugh. Mackerel’s younger brother averted his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ah, please don’t bring that up. It wasn’t like I could help it.”

On the day monsters fell from the sky, the younger brother Mackerel had been found sprawled at the entrance of the fish market. And just moments before the vendors were about to lock the doors to protect themselves from the monsters. Apparently, his older brother had nearly passed out in shock.

But how was that my fault? Who knew if those white monsters were using some sort of mental attack? However, the vendors didn’t seem to agree. One of them swung a net in his direction.

“What do you mean ‘couldn’t help it’? Do you know how freaked out your brother was? He cried like the sky was falling!”

“Ugh, I don’t want to hear it! It’s just overprotectiveness…”

Mackerel stopped in front of the sign for *Rose Fisheries*. He gave a small bow. Sitting on a small chair, fanning herself, Rose gestured toward the room attached to the shop.

“You’re here? He’s inside.”

“What’s he doing?”

“Not sure. He just asked to rent the room, so I let him.”

“Hah, dealing with nuisances isn’t my job…”

Grumbling, Mackerel opened the firmly shut door. Light spilled into the dark room as he poked his head in and whispered.

“Hey, hey, are you there?”

The light illuminated the yellow floor mat and the colorful, flashy cushion. Mackerel raised his voice a bit.

“Hey? You asleep? Even if you are, you’d have heard my voice by now.”

Screw it. He pushed the door wide open. Finally, he spotted a long figure lying askew. The tall young man was using the colorful cushion as both his pillow and blanket, legs stretched out lazily. Light reflected off a shiny mask on his face. The mask slowly turned to face Mackerel, a distorted voice responding.

“What?”

It was J. The black-masked national hero, the top Hunter who was credited with handling the recent chaos. But here he was, lying around like a slacker in a dingy room. If it weren’t for the black mask, he’d look like any ordinary unemployed man lounging around.

Why was he even here? Mackerel was curious himself. On the night the monsters fell, J had appeared at the Awakener Bureau carrying the beaten-up Song Joheon on his back. Beside him was a scowling Lee Sa-young. That much was known publicly, but only a select few, including Mackerel, knew the deeper details.

Anyway, since then, the Awakener Bureau had been on high alert, so much so that they even asked for help from Mackerel’s side, often referred to as the *Outsiders*.

Mackerel scratched his head roughly and snapped at him.

“What do you mean, ‘What’? Aren’t you busy? Shouldn’t the Bureau be in chaos right now? That whole situation was a total disaster!”

“Nope. I’m completely free.”

“There’s no way! What about dealing with Song Joheon? And the whole meeting with Prometheus? Even the Director’s been short on hands and had to ask us for help!”

Instead of responding, J pretended to pick at his ear.

“I’m on strike. The Director even gave me permission.”

“Strike? You’ve finally lost it! How could you go on strike when we’re this busy?”

“Just think of me as a blanket lying here.”

“What kind of blanket is this obvious? And this is a business, you know. You can’t just use it like some kind of inn.”

“I’ll pay.”

“How much?”

“I’ll kick out any troublemakers.”

“Well, I’ll be…”

“No… I’ve done so much. Can’t I at least go on strike…? It’s my right, you know…”

J muttered like a drunken man as he sluggishly sat up. Mackerel quickly glanced at Rose, but she shook her head, signaling that she hadn’t given him any alcohol. J reached for a kernel of popcorn on the table. **Crunch**. With just a little pressure, the kernel flattened completely. With his head hanging low, he murmured,

“They said I’m not needed.”

If his older brother heard that, he’d throw a fit. Alarmed, Mackerel scanned the area, then threw off his shoes and rushed inside, closing the door with a loud thud. He whispered urgently.

“Who said you’re not needed? Who dared to say such wicked words?”

“There is someone, an ungrateful bastard.”

“Who? Who’s this ungrateful bastard?”

At that, J’s head jerked up. The glossy black mask stared at Mackerel. He beckoned him closer with a curl of his finger. Mackerel cautiously sat across from J and leaned in. J whispered,

“…Listen.”

“Yes, sir. Should I charge you for this counseling?”

“Shut up. Imagine there’s someone I’m pretty close with. No, very close with? No… someone I was kinda close with? Sort of like family. You get it.”

Three times in one sentence, he redefined the relationship. Mackerel tilted his head and cut straight to the point.

“So, you’re not close anymore?”

J hesitated, murmuring,

“…Maybe we are… kinda close? Or maybe it’s just me?”

Sensing a juicy story, Mackerel instinctively perked up. This was going to be good—at least a drama on the scale of a romantic quarrel. A worldwide celebrity like J sharing such intimate details? Mackerel rubbed his hands together eagerly.

“Yes, yes, I see. But what happened?”

“Well, they went through some tough times.”

“Right.”

“And I think it was partly my fault because I wasn’t around?”

“Okay… yes.”

“So, I’ve been worried about them. I want to help, comfort them, you know? I could see they were struggling.”

“I understand, sir.”

“But that bastard told me it’s none of my business and to stay out of it.”

“Oh.”

“So we fought. I even grabbed their collar.”

Mackerel raised his hand.

“Mind if I ask a question, sir?”

“What is it?”

“Is the other person still alive?”

“They’re perfectly fine.”

“Ah, okay. Please continue.”

At least it wasn’t some random Hunter or civilian. Mackerel nodded in agreement, mentally narrowing down the list of potential candidates.

“Anyway, during the fight, they said, ‘Don’t you get it? I’m telling you I don’t need you anymore.’”

“Oh my God.”

Mackerel covered his mouth in shock. The nerve of someone to say that to a hero like J.

“They said I’m useless…”

**Crunch**, J crushed the popcorn in his hand to dust. He slumped over the table, burying his head in his arms. Meanwhile, a certain figure formed in Mackerel’s mind. A figure dressed in black from head to toe. Someone who could talk back to J like that and still walk away unscathed. Mackerel had watched that video from the fish market’s surveillance room countless times. The person in that video was none other than the newly awakened Lee Sa-young.

‘Could it be…?’

Even though he tried to dismiss the thought, Mackerel couldn’t stop his curiosity from bubbling up. He leaned in and whispered conspiratorially.

“Mind if I say something honestly, sir?”

“Go ahead.”

“That bastard sounds pretty ungrateful.”

“……”

The breathing near him stopped. J slowly lifted his head, the black mask tilting sideways.

“What did you just say?”

“……”

“What did you just say?”

Oh, for crying out loud. Mackerel rolled his eyes upward.

‘Dealing with these kinds of people is so exhausting…’

He deeply empathized with all service workers at that moment. Instead of answering, Mackerel quickly jumped up as **bang!** J’s fist slammed the table, cracking it. J shouted,

“But they’re not *that* ungrateful!”