The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 252

People holding Bibles bustled as they filed out. Gyugyu waved at those who sent him a smile, but once the crowd dispersed, he slumped into his seat, melting like wax. At that moment, a middle-aged man in a suit approached with a displeased expression.

“Sit up straight.”

“I was sitting straight just a moment ago~”

“And what’s with that hair color? How are you supposed to set an example like that?”

“Why, isn’t it cute~?”

“Cute? You look like a delinquent. Cut your hair properly!”

“What’s wrong with it~? These days, you need something memorable to survive. Don’t you think it looks nice?”

Gyugyu cupped his chin with his hands in a flower pose. His father snorted in disapproval and turned away, walking off into the distance. His mother, coughing lightly, chuckled softly.

“Well, it is nice. Just don’t dye it too much; you’ll ruin your hair.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Gyugyu responded with a drawl. His mother sighed, watching his father disappear from sight.

“That man… Still, try to understand him, okay? The world’s a scary place right now. He’s worried about you.”

“Oh, worried about what? As long as I’m here, there’s nothing to worry about, Mom.”

“Even so. Things are pretty tense these days. I was going to stop you from coming today.”

“Why’s that?”

Gyugyu blinked innocently as if he didn’t know a thing. His mother glanced around and lowered her voice, gripping his arm.

“People aren’t looking kindly at Hunters these days. You may be the pastor’s son, so it’s not as bad for you…”

Was that why? Throughout the service, he had felt the sharp, prickling stares. Gyugyu puffed out his cheeks as if to prove a point.

“What’s so bad about how people see Hunters?”

“You don’t know? Hunters… they’re turning into monsters. It scares me to death.”

Gyugyu rolled his eyes. He had seen that scene many times while working with Honeybee. But it was due to addiction to drugs, not something that happened for no reason. The smile on Gyugyu’s lips faded, replaced by a crafted, playful grin. He stretched lazily.

“What do you mean~? That’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“For heaven’s sake! How can you be a Hunter and not know? There are so many of those spiny monsters roaming around. They’re all Awakeners that turned.”

“Oh, I’ve heard something like that. But who’s saying it’s the Awakeners turning?”

“People at church! Some even said they saw a Hunter themselves… Everyone’s terrified.”

“...”

“Be careful. If only Awakeners are turning, what if you’re next…”

Worry creased his mother’s face. It was true that Awakeners had mutated due to drugs. But now it seemed a rumor had spread that anyone who was an Awakener could mutate, regardless of drugs. It was likely the work of Prometheus. If the rumor had spread even to devout churchgoers…

“Does the director even know about this?”

Gyugyu scratched his messy hair. Could this rumor have spread abroad as well? After all, there were quite a few overseas Hunters, some of whom had also fallen into Prometheus’s drug addiction—hedonists who couldn’t be satisfied with anything less extreme.

Come to think of it…

“Recently, all of them have been out of touch…”

“...”

If he dug any deeper, he’d probably get caught up in a mess. But it was hard to just let go, given the gravity of the rumors. Even those he’d worked with… As much as it annoyed him, he couldn’t help but worry. Gyugyu clicked his tongue softly. Meanwhile, his mother gently stroked his arm.

“I’m glad you’ve been staying in Korea for so long this time. You’re always traveling overseas; I’ve been so worried.”

She probably had some inkling that he’d be leaving again soon. He gave her a broad smile, taking her hand.

“It’s actually safer overseas. I eat bread for breakfast, so don’t worry about me.”

“It’s not that, I just miss you.”

Coughing again, she lowered her head. Gyugyu asked with concern.

“Are you catching a cold?”

“No, it’s not a cold, but I can’t stop coughing.”

“Did you go to the doctor?”

“Oh, I’ve already gotten some cough medicine. Don’t worry.”

“...”

Gyugyu stared at his mother’s face. Now that he thought about it, there had been quite a bit of coughing during the service too. Several people other than his mother had been coughing. If it was just a flu outbreak, that’d be fine, but… Gyugyu expertly maintained his smile, squeezing his mother’s hand.

“I’ll bring some ginger tea next time~ That’ll help with the coughing.”

“Oh, my dear son, you’re the best.”

She opened her arms, and Gyugyu leaned into her embrace, curling up against her. But the smile had already disappeared from his face.

---

A wet, choking sound accompanied the liquid that soaked Uijae’s shoulder. Sa-young, resting his chin on Uijae’s shoulder, trembled violently in his arms. His body was cold, unnaturally so, like a corpse. Uijae gritted his teeth. Since the moment he had seen Sa-young crawling on the ground, coughing up blood, a haunting image had been burned into his mind—the sight of Cha Uijae slumped over a black coffin.

And inside the coffin, lying still… Sa-young.

“No.”

Uijae tightened his grip around Sa-young. Baewon-woo, pacing nervously nearby, asked anxiously.

“Hey, how much longer until Romantic Opener gets here?”

Minggijeok, fiddling with the earpiece in his ear, responded.

“They’ve just arrived at the Seowon Guild. The door should open soon.”

At that moment, a large wooden door appeared in the air. A heavy creaking sound echoed as if it hadn’t been opened in ages. On the other side of the door, Romantic Opener clung to the doorknob, dry-heaving, while Nam Woojin clutched a crumpled piece of paper and a broken pen. His wide, white eyes scanned the scene beyond the door. Baewon-woo called out urgently.

“Guildmaster Nam Woojin! Please, help Sa-young!”

“What the hell happened to him? And why is J here?”

“It’s a long story, but please, hurry! He’s still coughing up blood.”

“Ha… You’re all causing a scene…”

Nam Woojin sighed in irritation, running his hands over his face, then threw aside the paper and pen. He rummaged through the clutter on his desk and asked.

“How long can the door stay open?”

“As long as Romantic Opener can stay conscious!”

“Such a vague answer! Just come through to this side! It’ll be faster than carrying all this equipment over. Hurry, or do you want him to die?”

Nam Woojin snapped impatiently. Uijae was the first to move. He rose with Sa-young in his arms and swiftly leaped over Romantic Opener, who was hanging onto the door handle. The room they entered resembled a surgery room. Nam Woojin hurriedly donned a gas mask and thick gloves, pointing down a hallway.

“There’s a space specifically for Lee Sa-young. It’s a sealed, sterile room, so move quickly before he drips any more blood.”

Marionette gestured for Uijae to follow. Holding Sa-young tightly, Uijae followed Marionette into a pitch-black room. From ceiling to floor, everything was black, with only the furniture and the operating table standing out in their natural colors. Uijae moved to lay Sa-young on the table, but—

“...”

A large hand gripped Uijae’s shoulder firmly. Sa-young was clinging to him. His dull, violet eyes wavered with fear. Uijae met his gaze and spoke softly.

“Lee Sa-young.”

“...”

“It’s okay.”

“...”

“I’m staying right here. Next to you.”

Sa-young’s lips, stained with black blood, moved silently. His grip on Uijae’s shoulder slackened, and the faint light in his violet eyes flickered before his eyelids drooped shut. Uijae laid his limp body on the table and checked his pulse. Thankfully, he was still breathing. Moments later, Nam Woojin, now fully dressed in a gas mask and protective suit, strode into the room. He narrowed his eyes at J, looking him up and down.

“You’re in one piece, it seems.”

“...”

“I only need to save one person, then… That’s a relief.”

Nam Woojin finally seemed to regain his composure and switched to a more formal tone. He examined Sa-young’s face and body, frowning slightly, then motioned to Uijae.

“Does he have any resistance to poison?”

“Yes.”

“Then help me undress him.”

“Excuse me?”

“I need to check for other injuries. Just take off his shirt.”

Damn it. Uijae began removing the soaked black coat Sa-young was wearing. He rolled up the black shirt beneath it from the hem, but Nam Woojin clicked his tongue and handed Uijae a scalpel.

“You’ll be here forever if you do it that way. Just cut it.”

Damn it! Uijae lifted the blood-soaked shirt and sliced it down the middle with the scalpel. Sa-you

ng’s toned muscles and chest were exposed, but before Uijae could notice that, something else caught his eye.

“...Looks like he fought some kind of monster, huh?”

“...”

A massive wound, stretching across his abdomen and chest, slowly came into view.