Chapter 172: Summons
Prometheus causes the awakened to mutate.
After the Day of Change, the awakened begin to mutate.
Though the conclusion is the same, the process differs. The former has a clear cause, while the latter is nothing more than an unfounded rumor. However, sometimes, the root of a problem lies within the rumors.
Lee Sa-young stared intently at the black figure riding atop the massive whale. Indeed, Cha Eui-jae's hair had lightened compared to three months ago. Lee Sa-young flicked his fingers and asked,
"What causes the mutations? What's behind it?"
The younger Mackerel clapped his fingers together, as if he had been waiting for this.
"That's exactly it. After the Day of Change, the awakened start to mutate! Why? How?"
Then he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.
"There's nothing. The most important part is missing. But there's evidence and results that the awakened have mutated, right? People have seen it with their own eyes, and there are pictures."
"..."
"So, people began filling in the blanks themselves to create a plausible story. The system's curse, the awakened's sins, someone's revenge, and so on... the repertoire is quite varied."
The stories might sound laughable to those who know the truth. But this wasn't a matter to be taken lightly. Fear without a solid basis can paralyze a person's mind. Lee Sa-young tilted his head. The smile disappeared from the younger Mackerel's face, the pale blue light casting shadows across his features.
"Maybe that's why the rumors are spreading so quickly. Hunters who are in tune with these things have probably heard it at least once— about the awakened mutating. Some hunters actually believe it. Right, hyung?"
"Y-yeah."
"Man, some idiot even came to us asking what he should do if he mutates, begging us to tell him how to prevent it."
For a moment, Lee Sa-young wondered if the Awakened Management Bureau hadn't intervened. But he quickly dismissed the thought from his mind.
The Awakened Management Bureau is a conservative public institution. They wouldn't act recklessly, and even if they tried to address the rumors, a half-baked explanation would likely only cause more confusion. They hadn't even fully mapped out the drug distribution channels, after all.
The younger Mackerel started playing with his brother's hair.
"We know it's nonsense, but the vast majority don't. The rumors have smartly tapped into the anxieties of people since the Day of Change..."
"..."
"The awakened may be strong, but their numbers are tiny compared to civilians. They can't afford to ignore public opinion. J's recent actions helped keep things under control for a while, but now things are getting worse."
Lee Sa-young tilted his head. Prometheus. They wanted to prevent the apocalypse through human power. Unfortunately, his memories of being dragged to their labs and experimented on weren't clear. Only a vague sense of the experience remained.
"If your brain forgot, that means it was a great shock. Don't push yourself too hard."
Jung Bin, back when they were living in the mountains with Bae Won-woo in a remote cottage, had told him not to force himself to remember if it was too difficult. But Lee Sa-young stubbornly pieced together his fragmented memories. What he had dredged up from those foggy recollections was;
—"Hopefully, the experiment we did on you succeeds. Right? You're good at enduring pain, aren't you? You've held up well so far."
—"If it succeeds, humanity will take a big step forward in fighting against the apocalypse. With our own strength!"
A strangely familiar woman's voice and a seething, overwhelming rage.
While Lee Sa-young was lost in thought, the younger Mackerel was busy teasing his brother by taking off and putting on his glasses.
"What's their goal?"
"Well..."
The younger Mackerel blew a bubble with his mouth, which floated into the air. He took his brother's glasses and mumbled,
"Considering the group's tendencies... probably to sow distrust toward the awakened and hunters."
"..."
"I couldn't say it earlier because you were in front of me, but it's obvious why they've targeted J. When you think of hunters, you think of J. Even people who don't like hunters recognize J's achievements, don't they?"
"..."
Lee Sa-young only lifted his head after hearing J's name. The younger Mackerel continued rambling.
"The first awakened, saved the country, dealt with the West Sea Rift, came back alive when everyone thought he was dead, took down a whale when it seemed like everything was doomed again, defeated monsters like Hong Gil-dong. Do you know how many stories there are of people claiming J saved their lives?"
"Aha..."
"As long as J is standing tall, you won't be able to fan the flames of distrust against hunters."
Yeah, J sure has been busy while I've been asleep. Lee Sa-young suppressed the sarcastic remark that tried to bubble up.
In truth, Cha Eui-jae wasn't the type of person to sit quietly and do nothing just because someone told him to. It was in his nature. As long as he was alive, he had to do something. He'd get anxious if he stayed idle. He couldn't rest, no matter how hard he tried. A man born to live loudly— that was Cha Eui-jae.
'Would he have been quieter if he hadn't become a hunter?'
An image of Cha Eui-jae in a school uniform floated up in Lee Sa-young's mind. Carrying a large backpack to school, studying in class, taking naps, eating lunch in the cafeteria, chatting with friends. Lee Sa-young's brow furrowed. No matter what scene he imagined, people always swarmed around Cha Eui-jae.
"..."
Ah, forget it. Lee Sa-young tilted his head back and let out a small sigh. His gas mask hissed as the air escaped. The younger Mackerel clapped his hands with a loud smack.
"Anyway, to summarize! Prometheus has changed its methods since the Day of Change. They used to distribute drugs and kidnap awakened ones to experiment on them..."
The screens surrounding Lee Sa-young lit up with a flood of text. All of it carried a similar message: "You are chosen
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