The Hunter's Gonna Lay Low-Chapter 192

Only Lee Sayoung knows J's existence in this reconstructed world—a selfish, primal desire brought to life. A fleeting memory surfaced in Uijae's mind: a whisper from when he first encountered the Sayoung who had created this world. Blood-soaked visions turned to darkness, and the whisper echoed from within.

*“Come back... Quiet... please...”*

Come back where? The voice was undoubtedly Sayoung’s, ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ although the details remained hazy. Uijae glanced at Sayoung, who was sitting with his legs crossed, staring into space. His silhouette looked especially lonely.

Feeling the need to break the silence, Uijae tapped the table with his finger, producing a sharp click. Sayoung turned his head toward him. Uijae asked bluntly, “What about you?”

“Hm?” Sayoung responded, his violet eyes locking onto Uijae.

“Would you want me to live like that too?” Uijae’s question hung in the air, testing the waters.

Sayoung’s gaze wandered over Uijae, assessing him from head to toe with a glint of amusement. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he rested his chin on his hands. “And what do you think?”

“Don’t mess around. I’m asking seriously.”

Sayoung dragged his fingers along the rim of his cup, thinking aloud, “Even if I told you to live quietly, you’re inherently incapable of that, aren’t you? I learned that the hard way after we reconnected.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Uijae retorted, though his tone was more amused than offended.

Sayoung’s long eyes curved into a playful smile. However, his next words were anything but playful.

“I used to want to put chains on you—around your wrists and ankles.”

Uijae’s eyes widened in disbelief. *Chains?* Sayoung sighed dramatically, his long lashes fluttering in a way that seemed almost pitiful.

“You were always bouncing around like a rubber ball the moment I took my eyes off you. What choice did I have? If I chained you, maybe you'd finally calm down a bit.”

His eyelashes fluttered delicately, and his expression softened, as if Uijae had been the one putting him through endless trouble. Yet Sayoung was the one making the harsh threats. Sayoung’s pale fingers tapped his cheek.

“Anyway, after everything that’s happened... I realized chaining you down completely is impossible. And now...”

Sayoung’s hand, pale like a snake, slithered across the table toward Uijae. As his cold fingers brushed against Uijae’s wrist, Uijae instinctively tensed up. Sayoung’s eyes gleamed as he spoke softly, “After those three months of lying in bed, I’m sure of it.”

“...What do you mean?”

Sayoung’s fingers curled around Uijae’s wrist. The cold sensation tightened around his skin, and Sayoung smiled angelically.

“Now, you’d let me catch you if I tried.”

His grip tightened, drawing Uijae’s body forward. As Uijae’s heartbeat quickened, Sayoung brought his lips to Uijae’s knuckles.

*Crackle!*

A white spark erupted from Sayoung’s body, and Uijae shot to his feet, alarmed. “Hey!”

“Damn it,” Sayoung gritted out, his expression twisted in pain as he clutched his arm, trying to withstand the shock. The white sparks crackled louder, and soon after, a system window appeared before them both.

---

**[Warning: Act according to your assigned role.]**

**[Lee Sayoung's role is “beloved younger brother.”]**

---

Reading the message, Sayoung’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “What, kissing someone’s hand isn’t part of being a little brother?”

*Well, it’s certainly not normal,* Uijae thought dryly. *Little brothers usually don’t kiss their older brothers’ hands like that.*

Uijae took a step back, awkwardly scratching his neck. The sparks eventually faded from Sayoung’s body, and when the last one disappeared, Sayoung slumped onto the table with an exasperated groan.

“This place is disgustingly conservative...”

Uijae couldn’t help but feel relieved—he’d nearly lost his composure back there. Rubbing his wrist where Sayoung had held him, Uijae asked, “Are you okay?”

“I’ll live,” Sayoung replied, sitting up slowly with a frustrated look on his face. Uijae sat back down across from him and crossed his legs.

“Well, now we know what kind of place this is. Even if I can’t interact with things, you still can. So let’s keep searching for information.”

“And what makes you think we’ll find anything useful?” Sayoung gestured toward his soda, where condensation had started to form on the cup.

“This place is so obsessively detailed, right down to the smallest thing. He even erased your existence from this world entirely. It won’t be easy to find any cracks.”

“There’s no such thing as a perfect world,” Uijae muttered.

If Sayoung—or more accurately, the alternate Sayoung—had wandered alone in a world ravaged by destruction, then what would have happened to his mind over time? Would he have gone mad? Or become something beyond human?

Uijae recalled the blank expression of the other Sayoung, the way his face had shed tears without betraying any hint of sadness. If Uijae had been forced to wander a destroyed world without dying or giving up, perhaps the first thing to go would have been his emotions. Numb to the pain of loneliness, Sayoung must have discarded his ability to feel long ago.

“Somewhere, there’s a piece he missed,” Uijae concluded aloud, folding his arms.

Sayoung shrugged nonchalantly, spreading his hands as if to say, *If you say so.*

“So... where are we headed next?”

Uijae tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating his options before raising two fingers. Sayoung raised a brow, signaling Uijae to explain.

“Option one, we find Hong Yeseong.”

Sayoung immediately turned his head away, unimpressed. Uijae ignored him and dropped one finger.

“Option two, we find Yun Gaeul.”

“And those are the best options you came up with?”

“They’re both key figures connected to the apocalypse. It’s not like I suggested we go to a hangover soup restaurant.”

“Don’t you remember? Last time, you shouted about needing to find a hangover soup restaurant during an apocalypse.”

“That was because there was a critical clue there! Thanks to that, we got here!” Uijae huffed.

Sayoung sighed and pulled out his phone, dialing someone. The name on the screen read “Madman.”

It wasn’t hard to guess who that was. Uijae stifled a laugh. The phone rang a few times before it was answered.

“Hello?”

---

Hong Yeseong, with his scruffy brown hair, greeted them energetically, practically bouncing with excitement. They were now in Hong Yeseong’s hotel suite, where he was temporarily staying due to some request from the Awakener Management Bureau.

As Hong rummaged through the mini-fridge, Uijae stared at the chicken perched on his head, narrowing his eyes in suspicion. The memory of a certain nightmare was still fresh in his mind.

Kkokko tilted its head, looking innocent as it pecked at Hong Yeseong’s hair. Despite its harmless appearance, Uijae couldn’t shake the unease. *It was just like this last time, before things suddenly went wrong.*

Hong, oblivious to Uijae’s concerns, turned around and beamed at them. “So, what’s up? Something interesting happening? I’ve been so bored lately!”

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

“Hong Yeseong,” Sayoung interrupted calmly.

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“Can you see him?”

“See who?”

Hong blinked in confusion, glancing around the room. Even the chicken mimicked his head tilting. Uijae tried reaching out to touch them, but his hand passed through both Hong and the Kkokko like before.

“Try using your sensory abilities,” Sayoung suggested.

“Hmm? Oh, sure.”

Hong’s innocent expression faded into focus as golden patterns spun within his eyes. His sensory powers activated, but after a long moment of observation, he shook his head.

“I don’t see anything weird. What, you think there’s a ghost here? Should I recommend you to a shaman I know? They’re really good with talismans and warding evil spirits.”

“Sayoung,” Uijae sighed.

“Yes, hyung?”

“Knock him out.”

*Wham!*

Sayoung’s hand struck Hong Yeseong’s neck in a swift chop, and with a pitiful squawk, Hong collapsed to the floor, unconscious. The chicken flapped helplessly before settling in Sayoung’s hands. Holding the bird, Sayoung muttered darkly, “So, he’s watching us through this featherbrain, huh?”

“Yeah, and he said this chicken helped the one who created this world,” Uijae replied, staring at the bird.

“Annoying,” Sayoung grumbled, narrowing his eyes.

Uijae held his watch near the Kkokko’s head. “Come on out. We have questions.”

Suddenly, a burst of white light exploded from the Kkokko.