The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 270

Cold waves lapped against his legs and feet. Uijae didn’t care and kept moving forward. Splish, splash. By the time he was soaked up to his waist, just like Mackerel had been moments before, he turned around. Lee Sa-young was standing on the white sand, where the waves kissed his feet, watching him. His gas mask was off. His curly black hair and long coat tails billowed in the wind. He looked...

“I... can’t go.”

“…”

“If I go in… you might die.”

He looked desolate.

“…”

Was he like this when he was waiting for me at the West Sea? It felt strange, as if he’d glimpsed something he shouldn’t have. Uijae took off the mask covering his face and threw it toward Sa-young with all his strength. Startled, Sa-young caught the mask reflexively, his eyes widening. Uijae pointed at him.

“I’ll be back.”

“…”

“Wait for me!”

With those words, Uijae waded deeper into the sea. The cold water and white ash kept pulling him down. When the water reached his neck, Uijae took a deep breath and plunged himself into the depths.

And left behind, alone, was Lee Sa-young.

“…”

He traced the mask with his fingers, then, cautiously, kissed it.

---

The whitened sea was stagnant water.

‘Now I understand why he said that.’

Not a single piece of seaweed, fish, shellfish, or even sand and stones at the bottom could be seen—just emptiness. The water was pitch-dark, without a speck of light. It was a wasteland where nothing could live.

No matter how resilient Uijae was, surviving in the water for long was impossible. Fortunately, not too far away, something moved. The familiar checkered shirt Mackerel had been wearing. Uijae swam quickly toward it. Mackerel, ghostly pale, was sinking limply.

‘Like hell, you’re going to die in front of me.’

Just as he stretched out his hand, something appeared in his field of vision.

A system window.

---

[Warning! You are overwriting previously recorded memories. Consequences are unpredictable.]

[Do you still wish to proceed?]

---

Do I want to proceed?

‘Of course I do!’

Uijae grabbed the checkered shirt with all his might. Suddenly, the flashing system window transformed. A burst of bright light spilled out.

---

[That’s the way it has to be, for my ??.]

[This time, don’t fail.]

---

Uijae’s eyes snapped open. The light faded away as if melting, leaving only the limp form of Mackerel behind.

‘Just now… was that…’

The tone… didn’t it sound like ‘Hong Yesung’?

But thoughts would have to wait. Getting Mackerel out of the water came first. Was this guy even breathing? Tucking Mackerel under his left arm, Uijae began swimming up to the surface with all his strength.

Then, it happened.

---

[Warning! Penalty for altering records will be imposed.]

[Caution! System imposes physical penalty. Weakness…]

---

‘What?’

Both Mackerel and Uijae felt increasingly heavy, like weights dragging them down. He could feel his strength fading. No, this isn’t happening. Why is the system doing this? Is it insane?

‘Of all times, why now…!’

No matter how he struggled, he kept sinking. Damn it! Uijae gritted his teeth. He didn’t want to be buried down here with Mackerel. But he couldn’t let go of him, either.

‘I’ll do whatever it takes…!’

Lee Sa-young’s face came to mind—the look of loneliness on his face. He couldn’t leave him behind again. He had promised to come back.

Uijae’s eyes glowed a bright blue. As he clutched Mackerel tightly, something solid touched his foot.

‘…Huh?’

He looked down. In the pitch-black depths, something white undulated beneath them. Bubbles rose around it, lifting both him and Mackerel toward the surface.

Lowering himself, Uijae brushed his hand over whatever he was standing on. It was smooth and cold. He released a carefully held breath, his voice dispersing through the bubbles.

“…Are you his brother?”

The surface beneath him shivered slightly. Using his Tracker’s Eye, he could see something enormous swimming beneath them. It wasn’t a fish but a mutated creature with the shape of one—something that was likely once human.

“…”

Uijae closed his eyes. Could even a mutated monster retain a shred of consciousness?

For this moment, he wanted to believe it did.

---

At the very last second, when he was out of breath, they burst out of the cold sea’s surface.

“Argh!”

Splash! Cold water drenched them once again as they tumbled into the shallows. Fortunately, they were in water shallow enough for Uijae to feel the ground beneath him. Sprawled out on all fours, he gasped for air, coughing harshly as a cautious hand gripped his shoulder.

“Are you alright?”

Blinking through his blurry vision, Uijae looked up. Sa-young was holding him with a worried expression, kneeling in the water without concern for his soaked coat and pants.

Uijae wiped his wet face and looked over to the side. Mackerel was lying on his back, staring blankly up at the sky. Uijae gestured toward him with a nod.

“Is he alive?”

“He’s breathing.”

“Barely made it… limp as he is… I almost had to perform CPR.”

Sa-young’s face hardened.

“Don’t even think about it.”

“Just a thought, that’s all. Gotta keep him alive, don’t I?”

Uijae tried to stand but stumbled, losing his balance and falling forward. This time, a strong arm caught him. Sa-young narrowed his eyes.

“…Again?”

“…It happened.”

Uijae looked away awkwardly. The arm holding him grew gentler.

“Are you seriously insane? You almost lost your strength in that ocean—do you know you nearly died? Are you crazy?”

Though Sa-young’s voice rose in volume, Uijae simply shrugged, unfazed. What’s this? Something felt off about his body. It was different from the sensation when Sa-young’s energy suppressed him. This was… a chilling cold.

Oh, right. I’m freezing. This civilian body really is uncomfortable. Uijae sniffed.

“Sa-young.”

“What?”

“I’m cold.”

“…Damn it.”

Muttering a quiet curse, Sa-young took off his coat and wrapped it around Uijae, then lifted him up. Uijae shook his head, droplets of water flicking off his hair. Sa-young frowned.

“What, are you a dog? Sit still, there’s no towel…”

“I’ll dry off on my own.”

“You’ll catch a cold before that happens.”

“When’s the last time I caught a cold? Can’t even remember.”

“Well, today could be that day, so hold still.”

“Sa-young.”

“What?”

“Bring Mackerel too, will you?”

“He’s an Awakener. He’ll survive lying there for a while. You come first.”

Sa-young carried Uijae away from the beach to a low concrete wall, where he carefully set him down. Then, rummaging through his inventory, he pulled out various cloth items and piled them over Uijae. Heavy… Uijae huddled beneath the weight.

“This should be enough.”

“Are you really alright?”

“Yeah. Any more, and I’ll be crushed.”

Though he was joking, Sa-young’s face grew serious as he quickly removed some items. Uijae chuckled awkwardly.

“Kidding.”

“…”

“…Sorry.”

“Don’t make jokes like that.”

“But the weight was real.”

“Of course, it was…”

Sa-young turned away sharply, heading back toward the shore. Watching his retreating back, Uijae called out.

“Lee Sa-young!”

“What?”

Sa-young turned to look at him. Struggling against the bundles of cloth, Uijae lifted his right arm and waved.

“I’m back.”

“…”

Sa-young ruffled his tangled hair, heaving a loud sigh, and slowly walked toward the white sea to fetch the Mackerel Uijae had pulled ashore.

---

Yoon Gaeul opened her eyes.

It was a strange yet familiar ceiling above her. Books were piled up in mountainous stacks among the ruins, with people in white coats bustling around. It was the Seowon Guild, in the remnants of the ruined world. Alright, it’s a memory fragment. Gaeul quickly adjusted.

Recently, she’d been seeing fragments of the ruined world more often. Was there something her other self wanted to convey? If only they could communicate directly.

With a sigh, Gaeul began walking. She headed toward the lounge. Sitting on the sofa was a young man who hadn’t touched the tea or snacks.

Clearing her throat, Gaeul sat on the sofa opposite him, smiling as her lips moved on their own.

“Hello, I’m Yoon Gaeul. I work at Seowon Guild, assisting Dr. Nam Woo-jin. J mentioned you.”

“…”

The young man in the dark hat simply nodded, his indigo hair peeking out beneath it. Gaeul rolled her eyes. So, this was back when J was still alive. Is this person a Hunter? Or just shy? Fortunately, her other self provided an answer.

“Well, J said you were a Hunter

 but didn’t tell me your name. How should I address you?”

Gaeul extended her hand. The young man stared at it, then eventually shook it.

“…Mackerel.”

His hand was chillingly cold.

“Call me Mackerel.”

---

Gaeul opened her eyes again. The white ceiling greeted her. It was the ceiling of her room in Prometheus’ headquarters. Immediately upon waking, she looked around. Thankfully, Ga-young wasn’t there.

Sighing in relief, Gaeul rubbed her hands together. She could still feel the coldness of that hand.

‘Mackerel, huh…’

Gaeul rolled her eyes, questioning herself.

‘What are you trying to show me, Yoon Gaeul?’

There was no answer.

______________________

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~!