The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 160

‘I’m really losing it.’

Uijae's fingers twitched involuntarily, refusing to calm down despite his attempts. His rapidly beating heart wouldn’t settle. *Thump, thump, thump...* This wasn’t the kind of thrill he usually felt when facing a monster. No, Uijae was clearly shaken. Sayoung’s lazy voice echoed relentlessly in his ears.

‘Does your *hyung* kiss his little brother?’

Would you? If you were me, would you?

His inner conservative voice suddenly resurfaced, pointing fingers. Uijae agreed with it.

Yes, by the moral standards he had lived by, there was no way he should be kissing his brother. But Uijae had already kissed Sayoung countless times…

‘Damn it…’

…engaged in far too many intimate acts. Whether or not it had been beyond his control, it was he who initiated the first kiss, and just a moment ago, he hadn’t pushed Sayoung away. He had embraced him. He had welcomed the warmth of Sayoung’s touch, and—though he hated to admit it—he had enjoyed every kiss. He had wanted more, as if he were addicted.

‘Snap out of it!’

With a thud, Uijae banged his head against the pillar behind him. The sharp pain helped him regain a semblance of control.

‘Have I finally gone insane…?’

He massaged the back of his neck with a sigh. It still felt like Sayoung’s large hand was resting there, the low, sultry voice still whispering in his ear. His fingers curled in response, his body still hot from the intensity of it all. His flushed face refused to cool down.

Though spring had arrived, the evening air was still chilly. The cool breeze gently teased his hair, and the faint chirping of crickets could be heard in the distance. Uijae lifted his gaze and stared blankly at the sky. Inside the barrier, the White Hole was invisible.

‘You should really think carefully about who I am and what you want from me. Stop denying it.’

What exactly was Sayoung to him now? He was certainly no longer the brother figure Uijae had once wanted him to be. They had veered off that path long ago, and now, they had come too far.

So where were they headed now? What did Uijae want from Sayoung?

‘I...’

But as soon as he tried to dig deeper into his thoughts, the memory of Sayoung’s probing tongue flashed in his mind. Uijae rubbed his face and grabbed his hair in frustration before abruptly standing up. Moving his body was always the best way to clear his head. Naturally, he couldn’t avoid Sayoung’s gaze.

Sayoung, who had been prodding at the now completely curled-up Hong Yeseong, looked up and tilted his head.

“Where are you going?”

“…”

I’m just going for a walk, why do you ask? Uijae swallowed the words. If he spoke now, in his unstable state, Sayoung would only drag him further into the conversation. Sayoung, still watching him closely, smirked slightly.

“Your face is all red.”

“…”

Uijae didn’t respond, turning his head sharply away instead.

“Why aren’t you answering…?”

“…”

“Oh, are you done talking to me now? After everything that happened?”

His question was teasing, but there was amusement in his voice. Uijae ignored him, bending down to pick up his mask. Hiding his face behind it helped his racing heart calm down. Now, he could finally manage a proper response.

“Shut up.”

Well, maybe not that proper. Under normal circumstances, Sayoung would have teased him even more, but perhaps because he was in a good mood, he let it slide.

“Yeah, sure.”

Just then, a drowsy Hong Yeseong, who had been curled up like a pill bug, finally regained consciousness.

“Mmm… Stop kicking me… You crazy bastard…”

“Oh, you’re awake?”

“Huh? That... that annoying voice…”

From within the thick blanket, Hong Yeseong’s brown-haired head suddenly popped out. Still groggy, he blinked at Sayoung and Uijae before his eyes widened in shock.

“Wha—! You’re awake! Wait, why am I in a blanket? How long have I been sleeping?!”

Out of the three people and one chicken in the room, Uijae was the only one who knew the cause of Hong Yeseong’s sudden nap. Rubbing the back of his neck, Uijae casually responded.

“You passed out after drinking sikhye.”

“Me? Really? Blood sugar spike? Can Hunters even get diabetes? Oh right, I still need to tell you about how there are two Lee Sayoungs!”

Hong Yeseong scrambled to his feet, while Kkokko flapped around his legs. But Sayoung simply gave a short nod.

“It’s fine. I already know what’s going on.”

“You do? How?”

“I just do.”

His response was brief but clear. Hong Yeseong blinked up at him, eyes wide and watery with emotion.

“So… you’re just going to leave me behind again? You’re just going to use me and leave? I’m so bored…”

“Kkokkokk…”

Kkokko perched on Hong Yeseong’s head, adding its own sad wail, as if to complete the pitiful sight. But Sayoung wasn’t one to be moved easily. He stood there, expressionless, his posture relaxed as he looked down at them.

“Sorry, but I just woke up after three months. I need to figure out what’s going on.”

“I can tell you!”

“What would a guy who spends his time roasting rice crackers in the mountains know about the world… right?”

It was a brutal comment. Hong Yeseong’s body trembled, and Kkokko swayed with him like a little bobblehead.

“I—I…”

“But I know what you want.”

Sayoung leaned in and whispered in Hong Yeseong’s ear.

“I’ll take down the signal jammers for you.”

“Please, go right ahead, sir!”

“Kokkokkok!”

“Ah, I’m sorry, Kkokko!”

Hong Yeseong slammed his head against the floor in a show of gratitude, while Kkokko swiftly retaliated with a sharp slap from its white wings. Hong Yeseong’s pitiful cry echoed in the room.

Sayoung tugged on Uijae’s arm and whispered.

“Let’s go while they’re distracted.”

“Wait, shouldn’t we say goodbye?”

“If we say goodbye, we’ll be stuck here for five more minutes.”

That was a good enough reason. They exchanged determined nods, quickly put on their shoes, and made their escape from Hong Yeseong’s love shack.

The moment they stepped out of the barrier, they were greeted by the smell of rain. Uijae reached out a hand. Drizzling raindrops gently wet his palm. The mountain was already enveloped in darkness. Inside the barrier, it had been a dim evening, but with the rain, the surroundings were pitch black.

‘We’re halfway up the mountain.’

It’s easy to get lost on a mountain at night. Uijae glanced at Sayoung, who was standing beside him.

“Minggijeok should be waiting for us at the base. Let’s hurry down.”

Sayoung nodded silently. Uijae scanned the dark surroundings with eyes now adjusted to the night as they began their descent. Thankfully, he had memorized the path when they had climbed up. All the while, he kept an ear out for the sound of footsteps behind him. Then, from behind, Sayoung’s voice reached him.

“Have you been with Seo Mingi this whole time? While I was asleep?”

“Yeah.”

“What have you been doing for the last three months?”

“…Didn’t you already look up all the articles?”

“I want to hear it from you.”

“Well, you know… just the usual. Catching monsters. Clearing dungeons.”

“And kissing me while you were at it?”

“Hey.”

Uijae whipped around, irritated. In the darkness, Sayoung stifled a laugh behind his hand. The damp night air filled Uijae’s lungs. Even in the dark, those violet eyes gleamed.

“Did you wait for me?”

“…”

Uijae turned his back and began walking again. Maybe it was the rain washing away his hesitation. Maybe it was the depth of his longing, which had grown during the time apart. Either way, the answer came easier than he expected.

“Yeah.”

“…”

The sound of footsteps following him suddenly stopped. Uijae stopped as well. He waited for Sayoung to catch up, but it felt as if Sayoung were frozen in place. He glanced over his shoulder.

“…”

Sayoung stood there, still as a statue, blending in with the surrounding darkness. He looked lost, like someone who didn’t know where they were or like a child who had wandered off the path. His violet eyes darted around as if he were seeing something unfamiliar.

“…Sayoung?”

Uijae called his name cautiously. The eyes that had been staring off into space shifted toward him.

Had the other Sayoung surfaced again? No, the atmosphere hadn’t changed. Feeling confused, Uijae took a step closer.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“…Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

“Can you… hold my hand?”

Suddenly, everything around them lit up as lightning flashed. A low rumble of thunder followed. It looked like the rain was about to pour down in earnest. They needed to hurry down the mountain. But Uijae couldn’t stop thinking about the look he had seen on Sayoung’s face in that brief moment of light.

It was…

 anxiety.

He didn’t need to ask for clarification. The answer wouldn’t come. And they didn’t have time to waste on questions. Uijae reached out his hand.

“Only until we get down the mountain.”

“…Okay.”

A large, warm hand carefully grasped his, and for a moment, the touch hesitated before it gripped him firmly. From where their skin met, warmth slowly spread, filling Uijae with a sense of calm as they started walking together.

Sayoung followed behind Uijae, watching his back quietly. The smell of wet earth and grass filled his nose and lungs. Rain drenched his hair and body. But his hand remained firmly grasped in Uijae’s.

And yet, despite all that…

All he could see in his violet eyes was a white wasteland.

“…”

On top of the ruins of a desolate world, the dark figure of a man flickered in and out of view. Memories that were not his own played back in his mind. They whispered that Cha Uijae was already dead.

But Lee Sayoung knew Uijae was alive. He knew that those memories belonged to someone else—an unwelcome intruder. Sayoung clung tightly to the warmth of the hand in his grasp. Every time he squeezed, the warmth responded, growing stronger.

That was the only evidence he needed.

The proof that Cha Uijae was here, alive.

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TL NOTE: Please don't skimp on the stars and likes of the translation - it inspires me and gives me the strength to write more. Thank you~!