The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 235

There was a distinct *click* as the call ended. Uijae handed the phone back to Sayeong, grateful that he wasn’t the one making the big decisions. He recalled the faces of the guild leaders who had passionately made their cases earlier. Being from a small to medium-sized guild, they probably knew each other well, possibly even like family. Uijae couldn’t help but wonder what decision he would have made if it had been up to him.

‘I might have just destroyed everything before deciding...’

While Uijae shifted uncomfortably, Sayeong gestured toward Ivan with his chin.

"You heard everything, right?"

Ivan was already grinning ear to ear. He kept nodding, fiddling with his fingers.

"Of-of course! We'll set the schedule on our side and contact you. Hahaha, this is a huge step forward. We've taken a great step toward a new world...!"

Ivan's crooked, hunched posture swayed side to side, making him look slightly deranged as he started to hum quietly.

But something about the scene bothered Uijae. The aftermath of Sayeong's massacre still lingered. When Uijae first saw the area, he had braced for an all-out war, but Ivan didn’t seem to care at all. Uijae crossed his arms and gestured to the ground.

"This."

"Huh, what do you mean?"

"Here."

It was only then that Ivan glanced down at the ground they were standing on. Although Sayeong had partially cleaned up his venomous attack, the traces of the battle remained—scratches from people clawing at the ground in terror, bullet holes, footprints running toward the buildings.

Ivan blinked.

"Wh-what about it?"

Uijae's face twisted in slight disbelief. Ivan pondered for a moment before finally clapping his hands together in realization.

"You're worried about the people who d-died! How compassionate of you! It takes a big heart to care about such sacrifices. Is that why they call you a hero?"

"...."

"But don't worry! Thanks to your cooperation, we’ve established a connection with the Bureau."

Ivan stretched his arms wide, drawing a large circle in the air.

"A small sacrifice for a greater cause, right? When you think of it that way... it's not such a big deal."

Uijae's face contorted behind his mask. *A small sacrifice for the greater good.* He had moved in ways that aligned with that phrase before, but it always rubbed him the wrong way. No matter the situation, justifying sacrifices was something he couldn't stand. Especially not for the people who had died here.

‘I don’t like this guy...’

Feeling irritated, Uijae snapped at Ivan.

"Bring Song Joheon over."

"W-what?"

"We’ll deal with his crimes ourselves. He’s not someone you can just leave lying on the ground. Bring him over. And don’t pull any stunts."

"..."

"And bring Yoon Gaeul as well. The conversation should have ended long ago."

Ivan scratched his head and shifted his eyes nervously, but eventually nodded and disappeared into the building. Uijae briefly wondered if he should have asked Ivan to release the captive hunters too. But most of them were in a drugged state, their minds shattered and their aggression heightened. Releasing them as they were could cause another disaster.

He turned to look at Minggijeok.

"Minggijeok, do you think the Seowon Guild can treat the captured hunters?"

"Hmm..."

Minggijeok pushed his sunglasses up and sighed.

"To be honest, even if we transfer them, there’s a high chance we won’t be able to treat them. We’ve still got Matthew underground at the Seowon Guild, but there hasn’t been any substantial progress. They say they're analyzing the drugs, but who knows."

"..."

"Still, it would be safer. At least they wouldn’t be experimented on any further."

"No."

Sayeong, with his eyes closed, murmured quietly.

"Contact the director. Include a condition to take custody of the captive hunters. They'll negotiate anyway. I’m sure they anticipated we’d demand something like this."

"Oh, uh, yes."

"Most of those people still have somewhere to go... people waiting for them."

"...."

"We should send them back."

Sayeong's long eyelashes fluttered, and his gaze met Uijae's. The faint smile in his violet eyes gave Uijae a strange sense of relief, as though some of the heavy burden in his chest was melting away. Uijae pressed his fist to his chest, trying to calm the strange feeling.

After a while, Minggijeok raised his hand.

"I’ll head to the Awakened Bureau now. Guild leader, how did you get here?"

"I rode with Kang Jisoo on her motorcycle."

"And Kang Jisoo is?"

"Waiting nearby. Take her with you."

"How will you get back?"

"I’ll find a way."

"Then I'll call a van for you instead of taking Kang Jisoo. She has work to do too."

"Do what you want."

"Alright, I’ll be off then."

Minggijeok gave a slight bow and vanished into the shadows. For the first time in a long while, silence descended upon them. Uijae felt like he should ask if Sayeong was alright, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out.

Just then, he heard footsteps approaching from inside the building. They were light, not those of combat personnel—more like familiar footsteps. It didn’t seem like Song Joheon. Could it be Yoon Gaeul? Uijae tried to focus, but then he felt Sayeong’s arm twitch next to him. Uijae quickly turned to check on him.

Sayeong’s arm and shoulder were tense, his neck was pale, and sweat dripped from his disheveled hair. Something was wrong. Uijae whispered softly.

"What's wrong...?"

"...."

Was he about to pass out again? There was no response. Sayeong’s lips parted as if to say something, but closed again several times. Instead of answering, he reached out and grabbed Uijae's arm tightly, almost painfully so. Then, he leaned forward, resting his head against Uijae's shoulder. His breathing was shallow and fast, and his pulse was racing. Uijae whispered urgently.

"Are you hurt? Tell me if you are."

Sayeong shook his head against Uijae’s shoulder, signaling he wasn’t in pain. But his condition was clearly off. Uijae reached out, brushing through his hair gently.

"Sayeong, are you sure you're alright? If something’s wrong, you need to tell me honestly..."

"...Just a moment."

Sayeong’s cracked voice mumbled.

"Just give me... a moment. I’ll be fine... soon."

Hot breath tickled Uijae’s neck, and he heard the grinding sound of teeth. Sayeong’s grip tightened on his arm, but Uijae couldn’t focus on the pain.

‘...I didn’t even call him Sayeong just now.’

No matter how out of it he was, Sayeong would always insist on being addressed formally, with his surname. Yet, here he was, clinging to Uijae without correcting him. Uijae’s instincts warned him that this was serious.

Just as he was about to search his inventory for a scroll from Hong Yesung, a familiar voice echoed brightly.

"Huh? Why are you two out here by yourselves? Where’s Ivan? I thought the conversation would be over by now~"

Sayeong’s entire body shuddered as though he’d been struck. Uijae turned his head slowly. It was Ga-yeong, standing there in her white lab coat, adjusting her glasses with a smile. Next to her...

"...Gaeul?"

Yoon Gaeul was standing there, her hands clasped together, her posture tense. She flinched when Uijae called her name and averted her gaze. Her lips were pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead. Something was wrong. Had they experimented on her, too? Had they drugged her? Uijae glared at Ga-yeong.

"What did you do to her?"

"What did I do? Oh, nothing~"

Ga-yeong wrapped an arm around Yoon Gaeul’s shoulders, pulling her closer with a smile.

"I just had a little chat with her. But you’re always so suspicious, aren’t you~?"

"...."

Gaeul bit her lip, her body trembling unnaturally. Clearly, she had been through something. Uijae clenched his fists, but Ga-yeong raised her hands dramatically in mock defense.

"Come on, no need to get so worked up! I really did just talk to her. And Gaeul here has something she wants to say, right?"

Gaeul nodded slightly, and at the same time, Sayeong’s grip tightened even further on Uijae’s arm, the pain making Uijae wince. Gaeul fidgeted with her hands and mumbled.

"You... remember when you said you'd save me, right? J, I was so happy when you came with me. It felt so reassuring. I trust you more than anyone. But..."

Her voice grew softer.

"I just... wanted to know more."

"..."

"Anyway, what I’m trying to say is..."

She slowly lifted her head, her eyes gleaming with a golden hue. There was hesitation, but within those eyes... was also certainty.

"...I'm staying here. You can just leave."

The rapid breathing at Uijae’s ear suddenly stopped.