The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 250

"What do you mean by that…?"

"Sorry, but I need to go downstairs immediately," the instructor said hurriedly as he disappeared down the stairs. Uijae stared at the small framed photo again before placing it back in its spot. The resemblance between the two men really did make them look like brothers. Just then, Haeun popped her head around the corner.

"Uncle, what’s going on?"

"Nothing. Just play a bit longer. I need to talk to the instructor."

"Okay!"

The murmuring voices from downstairs were growing louder. Uijae placed the frame back on the shelf and followed after the instructor. He stopped midway down the stairs and looked out over the entrance of the building, where a group of people had gathered. They were of various ages and genders, but all wore white clothing, with some holding picket signs.

**[Awakeners cannot be trusted!]**

**[Let’s overcome crises with our own strength!]**

"......"

Wearing white wasn’t inherently an issue, but considering the picket signs and the chants calling for Awakeners to leave, it was clear enough.

*Are they with Prometheus?* Uijae thought, frowning as he observed the group. To his surprise, he recognized a few faces. They were local shopkeepers and residents from the neighborhood he used to see when he worked at the haejangguk restaurant. These were civilians, not Awakeners. A respectable-looking middle-aged man started speaking quietly to the instructor.

"Mr. Bae, have you thought about our offer?"

"I’m not sure what you mean," the instructor replied, his expression neutral.

"Oh, you know what I’m talking about. We mentioned last time that you’d be a great addition to our group."

"I thought I made myself clear when I declined your offer."

"Now, now. Who rejects something outright like that?"

"You didn’t bring all these people here just because I declined, did you?"

"We’re not ‘gathering’—we just stopped by on our way. Thought you might reconsider if we dropped in."

The instructor shook his head firmly, his face resolute.

"The children are scared. Please don’t come here with so many people."

"Scared? Of what? We’re their neighbors, part of this community."

Murmurs of agreement rose from the group. The instructor looked troubled, and so did Uijae. These people hadn’t seemed so unreasonable before. Finally, the instructor took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

"If you keep doing this, I’ll have to report you to the police."

"The police? What would you report us for?"

"For disrupting business. You’re blocking the path that the children use."

"Ha ha... Sure, why don’t you go ahead and try that! *Cough, cough*."

The middle-aged man started coughing lightly, and soon others in the group began coughing as well. It seemed like the standoff would drag on unless someone intervened. And it was about time Uijae did just that. Even though he hadn’t acted in a while, he still had his old instincts. Covering his nose, he raised his voice from the top of the stairs.

"Instructor~! Minji just fell down~!"

"......"

The instructor looked up in surprise, his eyes meeting Uijae’s blank expression as he stood at the top of the stairs, pinching his nose.

"Her knee is bleeding~! She’s crying!"

"...I’ll go check on her."

*Cough, cough.*

The middle-aged man glared at the instructor, clearly displeased, but then he turned his back, and the crowd at the entrance dispersed like a receding tide. Chants of "Awakeners, leave" echoed faintly as their coughing slowly faded away. The instructor climbed the stairs toward Uijae, bowing his head slightly.

"Thank you. That ended quicker than I expected."

"Do those people come here often?"

"Well, yes. It’s been happening more frequently."

"Are they affiliated with some strange group... or anything like that?"

"Not that I know of. Most of them are locals from around here. But the man who made that offer... I hadn’t seen him before."

"What kind of offer?"

"They called it a ‘community gathering,’ just a social club, but I turned them down. It seemed suspicious... and I’m not one for socializing."

The instructor gestured for them to head back upstairs. Uijae followed, deep in thought. What those people were preaching was remarkably similar to Prometheus’s rhetoric. If Prometheus had indeed gained a foothold in the public consciousness after the last incident, and if that middle-aged man was inciting people against Awakeners...

"......"

"We try to make sure the children aren’t affected by all this. It might be hard to believe, but..." the instructor continued, looking fondly at the entrance to the dojo, where a group of kids had gathered, watching curiously. Haeun, too, ran over with a bright smile. Uijae crouched down to meet her eye to eye.

"Haeun, do you want to train here?"

"Yes!"

"Well, there you have it," Uijae said, grinning at the instructor. The instructor, who had been looking at him with a blank expression, smiled back.

"Alright, then."

"But wait."

"Yes?"

"Are you *sure* you’re not related to Baewon-guy?"

"......"

The instructor turned his head, pretending he hadn’t heard the question.

---

"So, that’s what happened."

The sound of fingers rapidly typing filled the dimly lit room, where screens surrounding them flickered with various video feeds. Mackerel’s office was dark, illuminated only by a bluish glow. Uijae had come straight to the fish market after enrolling Haeun in the taekwondo academy, hoping to ask about the incident. He had, of course, slightly tweaked the story to avoid revealing his identity, making it seem like he had just seen the events by chance.

Little Mackerel, who had been unwrapping candy beside his older brother, shrugged.

"Those kinds of people are popping up all over the place lately. How’d you happen to see them?"

"Is it that common?"

"Yep. I told you we’ve been busy here at the market, right? Everyone’s been investigating this stuff. We even had to dust off the old Damas truck for it."

Little Mackerel pushed a round candy into Big Mackerel’s mouth as he continued.

"Like you thought, Prometheus has been setting up communities everywhere. They’ve found the perfect way to tap into people’s fears. They offer comfort to those who’ve lost family or been injured... It feels almost like a religious charity group."

"It’s sacrilegious."

"It is. But for people who have nowhere else to turn, it’s a sweet sanctuary. People naturally crave attention and connection. No one can survive on their own."

"......"

"That’s why the Awakener Management Bureau hasn’t made any moves. You’ve been ordered not to get involved too, haven’t you?"

"Yeah."

"More and more people are learning that Awakeners can mutate, especially with the drug stuff going around. It’s feeding the distrust. In this situation, it’s best not to act rashly... That’s my take, at least."

Little Mackerel shrugged and ruffled Big Mackerel’s hair playfully, causing him to flinch.

"S-stop messing with me..."

"You never play with me anymore. You’re always staring at those monitors."

"By the way, what happened to the hunters who were held captive? Were they part of the deal?"

"Oh, you didn’t hear? They were transferred to the Awakener Management Bureau. From there, they were moved to the Seowon Guild."

"......"

"They’re researching an antidote now."

"And how are they doing?"

"Some of them have already started to mutate, so it’s not looking good."

"......"

"If you want my free advice..."

Little Mackerel tossed something in Uijae’s direction. He caught it skillfully—a packet of red ginseng candy. Its bitter aroma wafted through the air.

"They’re going to be targeting you. Continuously."

"Me? Why?"

"Don’t try to understand the mind of crazy people. I’m just saying be careful. Don’t stick your neck out unless you have to. Not that I expect you to listen."

"......"

"And that’s the end of my free advice! By the way, when are you going to pay me for using me as a chauffeur?"

"I’ll bring it next time. You accept mana stones, right?"

"Absolutely~"

Little Mackerel bowed dramatically. At that moment, Big Mackerel, who had been typing quietly the whole time, spoke up.

"Is there some kind of cold going around lately?"

"A cold? Why?"

"......"

Behind his black-framed glasses, Big Mackerel’s indigo eyes narrowed. With a click, the screens shifted to show footage of the fish market’s vendors. In different locations, the vendors were all coughing lightly. The sound was oddly familiar. Little Mackerel moved closer to the screen.

"They’re all coughing at the same time? What, did they have a secret company dinner we didn’t know about?"

"I-It’s probably just a coincidence. Most likely just a regular cold, but..."

The people in front of the taekwondo academy had been coughing as they left as well. Uijae had brushed it off at the time, thinking nothing of it, but now...

"Earlier... those people I saw at that meeting... They were coughing too."

"......"

A heavy silence fell over the room. Little Mackerel, who had been grinning moments before, now looked more serious

 as he quickly pulled out his phone and started making calls. Big Mackerel cautiously spoke to Uijae.

"J..."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I-I think you should be careful... It might sound like an overreaction, but we can’t rule out the possibility of something serious."

"......"

Uijae stayed silent. Just then, his work phone—one Mackerel had set up for him—buzzed. The caller ID showed it was Baewon-guy, Baewon-woo. Uijae answered, and a loud voice burst from the speaker.

—"J! J! Can you come here right away?"

"Wait, what? Right now? Where?"

—"Sa-young! Something’s wrong with Sa-young’s condition! Please come to Incheon as soon as possible!"

Uijae’s grip on the phone tightened. From the speaker, the faint sounds of people coughing echoed even louder in the background.

______________________

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~!