The Hunter’s Gonna Lay Low

Chapter 286

TL NOTE:

? **Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ** ?  

Dear Readers,  

On these festive days that fill the air with joy and warmth, I want to thank you for your support and enthusiasm for the novels I translate. Thanks to you, each chapter is worth the effort, and I am truly grateful to have such a wonderful community of readers.  

May your Christmas be filled with love, laughter, and treasured moments with family and friends. And as we enter the New Year, I wish you endless happiness, success, and new adventures - both in life and in the stories we share.  

Thank you for being a part of this journey. There are many more exciting chapters ahead!  

***

Cold wind seeped through the gaps in the makeshift wall patched with wooden planks. Inside the roughly repaired infirmary, hastily fixed by Sa-young, the two men lay together on a narrow patient bed. To be precise, Uijae was being unilaterally held by Sa-young. For about half a day.

With every breath, Uijae could feel the rise and fall of the chest pressed against his back. He bit the inside of his cheek, closing his eyes. He had only come here to sleep for a bit, but instead of sleeping, he hadn’t even been able to close his eyes.

‘This is so damn uncomfortable…’

His hypersensitive senses picked up Sa-young’s presence behind him all too clearly. The lukewarm body heat, the faint rustling sounds, the smallest muscular movements—everything. Uijae thought about peeling off the arms and legs wrapped around his waist and legs but gave up. Sure, he could push them off, but it was obvious that they’d end up breaking something in the process, like, say, the bed.

Apparently, Lee Sa-young had calculated how much time was left before Uijae’s death. As the countdown ticked away, the frequency and duration of these moments of physical closeness increased. Uijae couldn’t bring himself to push Sa-young away. If he was being honest, the warmth reassured him. And, truth be told, the longer they stayed close, the more the synchronization rate visibly dropped.

Sa-young, who had been rubbing his lips and the tip of his nose against the back of Uijae’s neck, grumbled.

“Stop squirming.”

“You’re the one to talk. Hey… Do you really want to do this in such a cramped place?”

“I’m doing this because it’s cramped. Keeps things nice and cozy.”

Sa-young suddenly grazed Uijae’s nape with his teeth. The audacity. Uijae flinched, curling up instinctively, then kicked Sa-young’s ankle with his heel. “Ow.” A small, playful whine escaped Sa-young’s lips.

Ever since Sa-young had boldly declared that Uijae should die in front of him, he hadn’t looked away from him—not for a second. Not just his gaze, but his whole body stayed glued to Uijae, following him everywhere. Eating together? A given. Even during these fleeting attempts at sleep, he stuck close.

As a result, Uijae…

‘This guy… He’s clingier than a kraken’s suction cups.’

It was exhausting.

At this rate, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Sa-young had already noticed Uijae’s vision problems. Honestly, it was a miracle he’d managed to hide it this long. But confessing now…

‘It’s way too late for that.’

Several days had already passed. If he brought it up now, he’d have to deal with the fallout—accusations of irresponsibility, questions about his sanity, and ultimately, being confined for his “own safety.” And that confinement wouldn’t be metaphorical. Sa-young would probably carry him around like luggage. No, thank you.

‘Better to just hold out for two more days.’

In 48 hours, whether he liked it or not, things would resolve themselves. Uijae lightly tapped the hand wrapped around his waist.

“I can’t sleep anymore. Move. I’ve got work to do.”

“Sleep a little longer. I already talked to Jeong Bin.”

“About what?”

“I told him you’re taking the day off.”

“What? Who gave you the right to decide that?”

“I did.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

Uijae kicked off the thin blanket and sprang up. Naturally, Sa-young, who had wrapped himself around Uijae’s body, was dragged along with him. Sa-young brushed his messy hair back, muttering under his breath.

“You just can’t stay still, can you…”

“And you’ve got no idea how valuable time is, you brat.”

“You’re still young too, you know.”

“Shut up.”

With nothing specific to do, Uijae wandered around the Seowon Guild headquarters, Sa-young trailing after him like an overgrown puppy. What baffled Uijae was how everyone seemed to take it in stride, as though it were perfectly normal. Even Yoon Gaeul, a passing student, chimed in with a cheerful laugh.

“You two really get along well!”

This? Really?

Uijae glanced back over his shoulder. He couldn’t see Sa-young’s expression, which was always a disappointment. He filled the gap with imagination. Sa-young was probably wearing a smug, triumphant grin, like he always did.

Just then, Jeong Bin’s voice called out from behind them.

“Lee Sa-young, could I have a word?”

“What’s up?”

“A rift has appeared, and we’re short on personnel. Could you head over?”

Uijae pointed to himself.

“I can go.”

“No.”

“No,” Jeong Bin and Sa-young said in unison. Jeong Bin cleared his throat and continued.

“You should rest. I heard you’re not feeling well.”

“No, I’m fine—this is nothing…”

“You’ve already spent several days clearing rifts and monsters on your own. You’ve done plenty. Take a break for now.”

“Exactly. I’ll go alone. Where’s the location?”

“Come to the office, and I’ll give you the details there.”

“Got it.”

A gloved hand lightly tapped Uijae’s arm. In a low voice, Sa-young murmured,

“I’ll be back.”

“Yeah, see you.”

Sa-young and Jeong Bin’s footsteps receded into the distance. Uijae scratched his head as he stared in the direction they had gone. For some reason, an odd emptiness welled up inside him.

‘It’s ridiculous to feel this way just because Sa-young isn’t here…’

Being alone was lonely. Facing death alone was even lonelier.

He started walking, aimlessly, letting his feet carry him wherever they pleased.

And then—

[Synchronization system malfunction cause identified.]
[Reassessing synchronization rate!]

A pure white screen appeared in the darkness as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.

Uijae’s eyes widened. Before he had time to process the system message, more white windows flooded his vision.

[Synchronization rate increasing.]
[Synchronization rate increasing.]
[Synchronization rate increasing.]
[…]
[…]
[Reassessing synchronization rate….]

Thunk. Suddenly, his breathing grew erratic. Damn it. Uijae clutched at his constricted throat. No matter how deeply he gasped for air, the rapid breathing wouldn’t settle. His arms flailed in the void until they finally gripped a nearby bookshelf.

But perhaps he had gripped it too hard.

Crash! The bookshelf shredded like paper, its books spilling out in a torrent. Uijae gritted his teeth and bent forward. His vision swam, his heartbeats thundered, consuming all other sounds. Sweat beaded along his temples and nape, cold and clammy. Bitter bile rose in his mouth.

He collapsed onto the scattered books, burying his head against the ground. He ripped off his mask, his breath rasping as he heaved.

“Ugh…!”

Only bitter fluid came out. He panted as his forehead rubbed against the floor, his fingers scraping the surface. No matter what he did, the suffocating pressure wouldn’t subside. Tears brimmed in his eyes, his nose stung, and his body thrashed uncontrollably, colliding with the scattered books and shards of the broken shelf.

Once more, the white screen emerged in the pitch-black void.

[Reassessment complete.]
[Current synchronization rate….]

The strength drained from his fingertips, which left long streaks across the ground. Uijae curled into a ball. Slowly, the searing pain coursed through his entire body—his burning forehead, the scraped fingertips, the bruises from the books and shelf fragments, and his raw throat stinging with stomach acid. His entire body felt drained.

Through his damp, blinking eyes, the system screen flickered faintly into view.

[100%]

A fit of coughing wracked his body. Uijae covered his mouth with his hand. Something wet spread across his palm. It didn’t taste like blood.

The ground beneath his cheek vibrated. Footsteps approached, their pressure growing like an encroaching tidal wave. Summoning all his remaining strength, he tried to flee, but his legs wouldn’t move.

In the end, he could only crawl, dragging himself across the floor.

Run.

Where?

Everywhere around him was darkness. Desperate, Uijae pressed forward, only to bash his forehead against something hard. A sharp pain radiated outwards. No matter where he looked, nothing was visible. A surge of panic engulfed him.

Clutching his head, he collapsed to the floor. Damn it. His body trembled involuntarily, no matter how much he willed it to stop. He slammed his head against the ground.

Something terrifying was approaching.

And then—

“…Hyung?”

The footsteps halted.

At the sound of the voice, Uijae’s body jolted. He struggled against the overwhelming pressure pinning him down. His entire body quivered uncontrollably. Slowly, he raised his head, gazing in the direction of the voice. But there was nothing.

Uijae’s eyes darted through the void.

“……”

No more voices came. Slowly, with immense effort, Uijae forced his lips to part.

“…Sa-young?”

“……”

He was about to ask if Sa-young was really there, but his words caught in his throat. The last shreds of his rational mind screamed at him to look away. Don’t let him see. Don’t let him see you like this.

But as the footsteps approached once more, even that sliver of sanity was washed away.

“…Sa-young-ah.”

His voice trembled miserably. Uijae reached out in the direction where Sa-young might be. His hand grasped at nothing.

But soon, another hand reached out and clasped his.

The oppressive weight crushing him intensified, accompanied by a pain so sharp it felt as though his hand would shatter. Uijae’s mind went blank, and he could say no more. His eyes closed.

Sa-young released the tension in his body. The limp figure in his arms was in a wretched state—cheeks flushed a sickly red, a forehead tinged with blood, hair and clothes soaked in sweat.

But above all else…

Sa-young carefully opened Uijae’s hand, which he had been holding. In the black glove…

“……”

Blood and a translucent white fluid were smeared across it.