The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 267

“Don’t worry. I’ll do my best.”

Yoon Gaeul’s eyes sparkled as she clenched her fists determinedly. It was no use. Getting her to understand the message was impossible. Uijae nodded weakly, and Gaeul’s shoulders slumped.

“So… please don’t talk about things like it’s the end.”

“……”

“If J isn’t here…”

“…Alright, I get it.”

Without him, the world's end would only come faster. After his death, Jeong Bin and Ma Tae-bok would follow. But there was nothing he could do. His death was certain, and he couldn’t intervene in an already determined past.

Watching over a world doomed to fall like this was…

‘…Might as well gather some information.’

Uijae thought back to the people he knew. Perhaps, in this world, his aunt might still be alive. Holding on to that faint hope, he asked,

“Do you know a Hunter named Park Hye-kyung?”

“Of course. She was Director Ham’s right-hand.”

The past tense felt ominous. Uijae’s lips moved silently before he managed to ask,

“She’s… gone?”

“Yes, with the Director.”

“……”

“…J?”

“It’s nothing.”

He looked up at the ceiling. Another end was waiting for him, even after fleeing from one. What was left for him to do here? He turned his gaze to Gaeul, who was watching him with concern. He knew. He knew of the nights she woke up crying, yet kept moving forward.

“Yoon Gaeul.”

“Yes, J?”

“One day… there will be a decision you’ll have to make.”

Gaeul looked puzzled. But Uijae was certain. He had to say this now. If not now, he’d never get the chance. Reaching out, he held her hand firmly.

“Don’t hesitate. Have confidence, conviction.”

“…J?”

“Do what you have to. Your choice isn’t wrong.”

“……”

“Understand?”

After a long silence, Gaeul slowly nodded, as if savoring his words. Only then did Uijae smile.

Yeah, this was enough.

Just then, Gaeul straightened, startled. She quickly grabbed a cord and came over. Was Lee Sa-young coming back? Gaeul hurriedly tied Uijae’s wrists and stepped back from the bed. The door swung open, and Gaeul raised her voice.

“No, no matter how much you ask, I won’t untie him!”

“……”

“……”

Gaeul’s acting skills were lacking. Who’d believe that, Sa-young? Uijae looked at the ceiling with a resigned expression. The gas mask-wearing figure glanced back and forth between Gaeul and Uijae lying on the bed, then tilted his head toward her.

“Go on.”

“Yes, yes!”

Gaeul clenched her fist encouragingly toward Uijae before quickly leaving the room. Standing at a fair distance from the bed, Sa-young stared at Uijae.

Then—

A soft chuckle slipped out.

“I’ll let it slide, just this once.”

“……”

What a sharp-witted guy.

Uijae closed his eyes, feigning ignorance. Just wait until he got better. A lazy voice continued,

“Tell me when your body recovers.”

He opened one eye to look at Sa-young.

“…Why?”

“I found some things. I’d like to escape this place just as much as you…”

“What exactly did you find?”

Holding a neatly folded note between his gloved fingers, Sa-young flicked it. The note landed squarely on Uijae’s chest. What was this supposed to mean? Uijae glared at him with both eyes wide open.

“What? You’re messing with me?”

“Once you’re recovered enough to untie that cord yourself, check it then.”

“You little…”

He’s definitely messing with me. It was practically a challenge directed at him. Uijae gritted his teeth and clenched his fist. And then—

“You disrespectful brat!”

He lifted it with all his might.

Crack!

Along with the bed’s metal guardrails.

“……”

“……”

Sa-young stared at him, dumbfounded, and Uijae looked equally stunned. Just what kind of cord wouldn’t snap? Awkwardly, he tried to reattach the broken rail. Just then,

Slam!

The door burst open again, and an exasperated Nam Woo-jin yelled,

“What are you two doing now?”

But he fell silent as he took in the scene in the room. Uijae also stayed silent. Sa-young tapped his gas mask and spoke.

“It’s nothing…”

“……”

“He’s just really, really eager to be discharged, it seems.”

“…Ah, haha.”

Uijae scratched his head with an embarrassed laugh, the broken guardrail swinging along with his hand that still hadn’t been untied.

"Grill more."

"What’s this? I thought you said you didn’t want to eat more because you’d feel heavy and it would make fighting difficult."

"Shut up. Just grill more already."

Perched on the edge of the desk with her legs crossed, Honeybee gnawed on her squid snack with a huff. Ma Tae-bok wordlessly raised his index finger, a small flame flickering at its tip. The buttered squid sizzled as it curled up in the fire, filling the air with a rich aroma. Honeybee gazed down at Ma Tae-bok, focusing intently on grilling—the taste, the warmth, the delicious smell, and even his gestures and expressions all seemed so real.

“……”

It was a sight she missed deeply. A scene she wanted desperately to reclaim—not something to witness in this fake world, but in the real one.

Honeybee bit her lip, fighting back tears, and turned her head sharply. Ma Tae-bok spoke.

"Just wait a bit longer."

"I know that."

Did he hear the strain in her voice? She hoped he hadn’t. Thankfully, he continued grilling without comment. She looked up at the ceiling, at the stacks of paperwork, at the cross on the wall. It was exactly like the guild leader’s office in HB Guild.

‘Is this really a dungeon?’

It was so vivid. Could it even be considered just another reality? Honeybee angrily bit down on the squid snack, glaring at the ceiling. Just then, Ma Tae-bok broke the silence.

“Honeybee.”

“What?”

“Is something bothering you?”

“……”

“You don’t seem to be in the best mood.”

She stayed silent for a moment, then cautiously began.

“If, let’s say…”

“Mm.”

“Let’s say you made a choice. Like, putting your life on the line for it.”

Ma Tae-bok nodded, encouraging her to continue. Honeybee swung her legs idly as she continued her question.

“Did you do it because it was the best choice?”

“Of course.”

The reply came without hesitation. She knew he would answer like this, yet hearing it still tugged at her heart. Resting her chin in her hand, she struggled to hold back tears, and finally murmured,

“That’s the worst.”

“……”

She jumped down from the desk and stood on the floor, her back turned to him.

“Grill a few more, will you? To share with J.”

“…Alright. Is J doing okay?”

“Hmm?”

As Honeybee looked back, surprised, Ma Tae-bok glanced at her.

“I heard he collapsed again recently.”

The word “again” lingered in her mind. Now that she thought about it, Nam Woo-jin had also been worrying over J’s health. Could he really be that unwell?

‘But…’

She’d seen a vision of Jeong Bin’s head being severed, but never one of J’s death. Honeybee frowned, watching Ma Tae-bok carefully pack the squid legs and snacks into a box.

“Take care of him, too, alright? Even though we’re not in the same guild…”

“Has anyone figured out why he keeps collapsing?”

“Not yet, from what I hear.”

“……”

Honeybee scowled. This was something she needed to investigate further.

---

A puff of hazy smoke drifted through the air, blending with the white ash floating around. The sea, blanketed in whitening, had long lost its blue. Waves laced with white ash lapped at his bare feet before pulling back. Could this still be called a sea when it had lost its salty smell, its blue color, and its life?

Despite his attempts to leave, he always found himself back here, to this sea.

The young man stood there, letting his feet and pants grow wet. His tousled navy hair swayed in the breeze, and his glasses reflected the foggy sea. Just then, a gruff voice sounded from behind him.

“What, you planning to drown yourself?”

“……”

It was an elderly woman, her back hunched as she clicked her tongue, gesturing toward the house with her wrinkled hand.

“You’ve got a visitor.”

“…A visitor?”

He asked in surprise, but the old woman gave no reply. She hobbled away as if she’d said all she wanted. The young man took a long drag on his cigarette, exhaling ashes toward the sea, then turned his back on it. White ash clung to his wet feet.

The small village by the sea was silent. Hunters were too busy managing the whitening in major cities to bother with a remote place like this. The remaining villagers were mostly locals with nowhere to go or those oblivious to the end drawing near.

Barefoot, he walked along the bumpy path, leaving white footprints behind him. He stopped in front of a house with a blue roof, dusted in white ash. He could sense someone’s presence. Could he just ignore it and return to the sea? But there was no way they hadn’t noticed his presence by now.

‘Where did I slip up…?’

Not that it mattered now. The young man sighed deeply and stepped through the half-open gate. Beyond the small yard, two shadowy figures were sitting on the porch. A man in a gas mask and another in a black mask. What were these men, who belonged in Seoul, doing in such a remote place?

The man in the sleek black mask spoke, his voice distorted.

“Mackerel.”

“……”

“I have a question for you.”

The young man took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lighting a new one and inhaling deeply. His indigo eyes closed slowly behind scratched glasses, and he answered in a weary tone.

“Not sure how you found me…”

The smoke dispersed into the air.

“But I’m done with that life.”