The Hunter's Gonna Lay Low-Chapter 186

“Well, well, I had a strange feeling that I wanted to come to the Bureau today. I guess it was to meet you,” Song Joheon said, laughing loudly after shaking Uijae’s hand. Uijae, though not visibly showing it, smiled in return. Song glanced at the hallway leading to the director’s office behind Uijae.

“Were you here to meet Director Ham? It looks like you’re coming out after the meeting?”

“Yes. I just saw him,” Uijae replied.

“You should have come to see me too! You have no idea how shocked I was to hear you were back!”

“Were you only shocked?” Uijae couldn’t help but throw in a sarcastic comment. Song Joheon, however, shrugged his shoulders and replied easily.

“Of course, I was also happy! I’m not sure if you know, but... most of the first-generation Awakeners have either quit being Hunters or gone into seclusion. There aren’t many left to reminisce about the old days with.”

“...”

A grin spread across Song Joheon’s face, his sharp, tiger-like features softening with the smile.

“It’s truly a joy to meet an old comrade again. Welcome back.”

Song Joheon... What kind of person was he?

Most of the first-generation Awakeners, who awakened shortly after the Day of the Rift, were people with naturally superior physical abilities. Many of them had jobs related to physical labor, such as soldiers, police officers, or athletes before their awakening. Uijae, who had been an ordinary student before awakening, was considered an unusual case.

Song Joheon had been a soldier, and a high-ranking one at that. When the Bureau of Awakeners was established, there was a rivalry between him and Ham Seokjeong, who had a police background, for the position of director. Eventually, Song Joheon stepped down voluntarily. People gossiped that Song Joheon should have been the director, but those whispers faded quickly, as it became clear Ham Seokjeong’s abilities were superior.

As for what Song Joheon meant to J...

‘To be honest, I don’t feel much about him.’

During a time when S-ranks were rare, and even A-ranks were uncommon, there was a constant shortage of personnel in the Bureau, and it was common for the Awakeners to be overworked. Those who worked together formed tight bonds out of necessity, often crossing the line between life and death. However, Uijae had very few experiences working directly with Song Joheon—most of the time, he had only received instructions from him.

‘...So why do I feel so uneasy?’

Uijae couldn’t quite place the discomfort he felt. Song Joheon, rubbing his chin, stared intently at him.

“I wouldn’t recognize your face because of the mask, but... looking at you now, it seems like you haven’t changed much. Well, except for your hair color.”

“Is that so?”

“Haha, yes. Meanwhile, my hair’s gone all white. Oh, speaking of which... have you heard about the Council?”

“The Council?”

“Yes, it’s a place where rankers gather to discuss all sorts of issues. Ever since the Day of Change, the world’s been in chaos. I imagine you’d have a lot to contribute if you came...”

“J, there you are!”

Just then, a head of brown hair popped up from behind Song Joheon. It was Jung Bin, his hair slightly disheveled as if he had hurried there. Jung Bin smiled softly and bowed to both Uijae and Song Joheon.

“Oh, I didn’t realize you were here as well, Song Joheon. I hope I’m not interrupting anything...”

“Oh, it’s Jung Bin! Not too busy these days, I hope?”

“Haha, thanks to my guild leader’s hard work, I’ve ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) managed to get some rest.”

“Haha! So, what brings you here?”

“I urgently need to ask J for a favor. But if I’m interrupting, I can wait.”

Standing behind Song Joheon, Jung Bin winked discreetly. Uijae, feeling as though a lifeline had been thrown to him, quickly stepped in before Song Joheon could respond.

“Oh, we were just wrapping up. We were catching up on recent events, right?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Well, anyway. I heard you’ve been working with the Wave Guild recently. Have you finally decided to join a guild?”

“No, not really. I’ve just been working with them temporarily.”

“Haha, I see. Well, I hope you’ll consider joining our Samra Guild someday. It’s a large, well-organized guild, much better suited for someone like you.”

Song Joheon pulled out a business card and handed it over. *Song Joheon, Guild Master of the Samra Guild.*

“Please do visit Samra Guild sometime. You’d be welcomed anytime.”

“Thank you.”

“And as for the Wave Guild... be careful not to get too close to Lee Sayoung.”

Hearing Lee Sayoung’s name, Uijae raised his head. Song Joheon, who had been smiling kindly all this time, now looked concerned as he rubbed his chin and sighed.

“That kid... he’s still young and has no manners. You can never tell what he’s thinking. Don’t get too entangled with him, and be careful.”

“Ah, I see...”

“Well then, I’ll be on my way. Enjoy your conversation. And Jung Bin, keep up the good work.”

“Thank you. Have a good day.”

After patting Jung Bin’s shoulder, Song Joheon descended the stairs. Jung Bin listened carefully until the sound of footsteps and Song Joheon’s presence completely disappeared. Only then did he let out a small sigh and smile.

“He’s gone.”

Uijae cautiously asked, “So... what’s this favor you mentioned?”

“Oh, that? It was just an excuse.”

“What?”

“The director asked me to pull you aside.”

Jung Bin straightened his disheveled clothes and smiled sheepishly.

“I didn’t expect to find you in a situation like that. I hope I wasn’t intruding...”

“No, not at all. In fact, you arrived at just the right time. I was running out of things to say.”

“Well, that’s a relief.”

“By the way...”

Uijae hesitated, glancing at Jung Bin.

“The director asked me to get the house keys from you.”

“Ah, yes. The director entrusted them to me. Here, take them.”

Jung Bin pulled two keys from his suit pocket and handed them to Uijae. They were familiar items, yet they felt foreign in his hand. One key had a small rabbit keychain attached to it, while Uijae’s key had an old, faded plastic hero figure dangling from it.

“...Why didn’t the director just give them to me directly? Why did he leave them with you?”

“I’m not sure... He didn’t explain when he gave them to me.”

What could Ham Seokjeong have been thinking when he held onto the keys? If he hadn’t handed them over, they might have ended up forgotten in a drawer.

As Uijae absentmindedly fiddled with the keychain, he felt a strong energy coming from downstairs. He frowned. The energy was familiar—he could tell who it belonged to.

Jung Bin also seemed to sense it, as his smile became slightly awkward. Uijae whispered quietly.

“...Was he supposed to visit today?”

“Hmm, not that I recall. It seems like he showed up unannounced.”

The presence was rapidly approaching. Moments later, a figure emerged from behind Jung Bin, and Uijae felt a sense of déjà vu. A soft hissing sound escaped the figure’s mask.

“You two look like you’re having fun...”

It was Lee Sayoung, wearing a gas mask. Jung Bin politely stepped aside, bowing to both Sayoung and Uijae.

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“Well, my business here is done, so I’ll take my leave, J.”

“What?”

“Haha... I got called up during a meeting. My apologies. I’ll see you both later.”

Sayoung didn’t bother replying, only nodding slightly. Damn it, Song Joheon’s judgment of people seemed pretty spot-on. According to Ham Seokjeong, Jung Bin and Baewonwoo had been keeping an eye on Sayoung for a while, and yet, here he was, as rude as ever.

Sayoung gripped the railing and stared up at Uijae.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”

Since the day they had come face-to-face with the bear’s head, Uijae had consciously avoided Sayoung. Every time he saw Sayoung’s face, his heart pounded uncontrollably. Sharing the same house?

‘Absolutely not.’

But finding a place to stay had been difficult, and Uijae had ended up staying at a video room in a fish market, thanks to the mackerel’s help. Although he expected Sayoung to come after him immediately, for some reason, Sayoung hadn’t followed. Instead, he had sent a message through the mackerel.

*One week.*

A countdown? Creepy, but Uijae brushed it off. Now, as he stared at the gas mask, a sudden realization struck him.

Today marked exactly one week since he had escaped from Sayoung’s house!

‘That guy really keeps his word...’

Swallowing nervously, Uijae clasped his hands behind his back, causing the keys to jingle.

“There was no need to tell you I was coming to see the director.”

“What’s that in your hand?”

“House keys.”

“...House?”

Sayoung’s voice dropped an octave. The hissing sound of his

breathing through the mask seemed to grow harsher. Uijae quickly added more information.

“Not a new house. It’s the house I used to live in. The director’s been taking care of it.”

“Who even uses keys these days? Don’t most places use passcodes?”

“There was someone back in the day who had the ability to create locks. These are the keys they made.”

“Oh? They’re still alive, I see. The person who made them.”

“What?”

Uijae couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Did that really come out of Sayoung’s mouth?

Unfortunately, the cold, humorless voice that followed only confirmed his suspicion.

“If they died, the ability would be undone, wouldn’t it? The locks would just be regular ones, and any locksmith could open them.”

“You’re insane.”

The words slipped out. Was this guy threatening him? Sayoung narrowed his eyes and stepped closer.

“So, who said you could leave the house?”