The Returner Chapter 267

Wuuuong!

A Gate opened up in front of the NDF building. Yi Ji-Hyuk trudged out from the portal with a slightly fatigued expression on his face.

"H-mm?" (Erukana)

Erukana looked at him with a slightly dissatisfied expression.

"Darling, your Gate was a little unstable compared to in the past. Can't you make it smoother the next time?" (Erukana)

"…………." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

I think I can split your bloody head open quite smoothly, though! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

Just as Yi Ji-Hyuk began quaking in his boots, Choi Jeong-Hoon, carrying an awkward expression, came up to him.

"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"What now?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I'm sorry, but uh, our agents need to come back as well, so if you could open another Gate to that place….." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"You think I'm a taxi or a subway train?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"If we get technical about it, then it's closer to a subway…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's eyes shot up, causing Choi Jeong-Hoon to grin slyly and shifted his head away.

"Ehehe, please, we'll be in your care." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Aigo…. What has my life come to…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

When he tried to open a new Gate, Erukana suddenly began tilting her head.

"Darling?" (Erukana)

"….What now?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"What are you trying to do?" (Erukana)

"He's asking me to open a new Gate so that some people can come here." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Come here? Those people in that place?" (Erukana)

"Yeah." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Erukana giggled softly before her expression suddenly transformed into one of a scary predator ready to devour, her glare landing straight on Choi Jeong-Hoon.

"Human, a measly little punk like you dares to boss my darling around?" (Erukana)

Wu-du-duk!

Their gazes met and just like that, not only his mind but his actual body began to shrink back from the sheer, overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

"Keuh-heuk…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon wanted to urgently offer up an excuse, but his muscles twisting and writhing all on their own didn't permit his mouth to open.

"Stop it." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"But, darling!" (Erukana)

"I said, stop it." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hng." (Erukana)

Erukana turned her head away ever so slightly.

When she did, all the pressure crushing Choi Jeong-Hoon's body receded away, allowing him to spit out heavy, laboured breathing.

"Heo-uh-uhk." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

The pain was akin to taking a trip to hell and back.

"You should be grateful for the rest of your life that he decided to transport someone as worthless as you, yet you wish to inflict my darling with even more inconvenience? Do you really need to learn how to crawl like a bug to wake up?" (Erukana)

"I told you to stop it!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng! If that's what you want, darling!" (Erukana)

As if the glare from a second was a total lie, Erukana beamed brightly and clung onto Yi Ji-Hyuk's arms again.

"Hah-aaaahhhh…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He grabbed his head, hard.

This is why she's so dang scary! This….! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"Isn't it fine to open one up for them, anyway?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"No, these kids might learn a bad habit if you do. So, no. Besides, why do you need to waste energy for that? What are they, anyway?" (Erukana)

"….There's this thing called affection between people, you know?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ah, like, with a pet? Why didn't you say so earlier? But, for a bunch of pets, these kids just don't look all that cute, don't you agree? People do have different tastes, I guess. If my darling likes them, then I also like them, too." (Erukana)

"………"

Yi Ji-Hyuk's shoulders drooped down really low toward the ground.

Seeing that spectacle, Choi Jeong-Hoon's own shoulders slumped forward, as well.

What the freak. What's the matter with that man? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

If it was him, he'd welcome the expression of love from such a beautiful woman with his arms wide open, yet why was Yi Ji-Hyuk so dissatisfied with this whole thing?

Judging from how she was behaving right now, it didn't seem like she had done something bad to him in the past, either.

Yi Ji-Hyuk sneakily pushed Erukana clinging onto his arm and swung his hand to create another Gate.

‘But, there definitely is an effect.' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Now normally, he'd complain for a long time, asking why he should do something like this, but after Erukana stepped forward to cause a scene first, he was opening a Gate without saying anything else.

Didn't it feel like this might be beneficial for everyone, somehow?

Yi Ji-Hyuk finished opening the Gate and trudged back inside, prompting others to follow him as well.

Did Choi Jeong-Hoon make a mistake in thinking that his shoulders looked far heavier today for some reason?

"Awwww……" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Erukana began raising a fuss after seeing Yi Ji-Hyuk slumped over a chair in the conference room.

"My darling, you must be feeling tired after opening those Gates. Should I recharge your Mana reserve?" (Erukana)

"….But, you seem to have even less Mana than me, though?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ehehe, I had to leave some behind since I wanted to cross over on my own. Even still, I did bring a good selection along with me." (Erukana)

Yi Ji-Hyuk covered his face.

He should feel some sort of affection towards her since she crossed over after going through so much hardship, yet why couldn't he stop groaning under his breath?

He desperately stopped the tears threatening to break out of his eyes.

Tremble, tremble….

Aigo, that surprised me! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon was surprised by something vibrating intensely next to him and quickly looked over.

I thought there's an oscillator here or something. Your auto vibration mode is really a killer, lady. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

As a matter of fact, she was trembling so much that he ended up feeling concerned for her.

"P-please, calm down." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"What did I do now?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

What's this?

Could this be an unconscious vibration function?

If she sings in this state, she should be able to blow the roof off this place, now wouldn't she? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon erased the dumb thoughts swimming in his head and sent a signal to Seo Ah-Young with his eye. She then cautiously embraced Jeong Hae-Min from behind and settled her down on a chair.

"Please, calm down, unni." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Keu-heuk." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min clenched her fists tightly.

Just how long was she supposed to endure this sight?

"By the way…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon cautiously raised his voice.

"How did the two of you meet?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Eh?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk asked back dazedly.

Choi Jeong-Hoon dry coughed and continued on.

"Actually, don't you find it slightly weird? One person is a human being, while the other is a demon king? The combination here is a bit strange." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Strange??" (Erukana)

Erukana began glaring at him, causing Choi Jeong-Hoon to quickly clarify himself.

"W-what I meant was, you two don't look awkward but like, it's such a miraculous encounter so, like, uh…. Right, it's quite mystifying, you see! I wouldn't dream of thinking any other way, you know? Heheh." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Seo Ah-Young's eyes narrowed into  slits.

Her glare landed like a sharp scalpel on his back and he could only shrink his neck back.

So cold.

A cold, cold glare stabbed into his back.

In front of him, the scariest woman imaginable in all dimensions, while to his back, the scariest woman in mankind.

What on earth was up with this situation taking place inside such a tiny conference room?!

Choi Jeong-Hoon quickly swallowed back his tears.

I told you, even if I possess the thickest face in the world, I can't keep it up against a demon king.

Who can criticise me for prostrating in front of a demon king??

It's not like I'm a warrior hero of this place, too! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Coward." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Keuk." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon's back suddenly stood up straight.

How dare she call me a coward? How can she say something so humiliating?? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon had been looking after Yi Ji-Hyuk, someone that everyone else ran away from while trying not to make eye contact, until now, even though he felt like he was being sucked dry.

Not even a brave soul unhesitantly stepping into a lion's cage to tear into a dead deer alongside the lions wouldn't have the balls to call Choi Jeong-Hoon a coward.

But then, she called him a coward?!

"Well, I'm a bit…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Hahahaha….

He wasn't like this normally, but for today, he was kind of scared.

He laughed awkwardly and shrunk away, prompting Seo Ah-Young to spat out a long sigh.

Why am I with that man…. (Seo Ah-Young's inner monologue)

"So, you want to know how I met him?" (Erukana)

Fortunately, Erukana butted in and helped Choi Jeong-Hoon out of his troubles.

"Kyahk! I really need to recount that with my own lips??" (Erukana)

Excuse me.

Please, don't make an embarrassed expression with a face like yours. Please.

It just doesn't go along with your regular image, you know?

I mean, an addition of a leather whip would complete your outfit in my eyes, so how could you be blushing so profusely like that?! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon desperately worked hard to stop himself from raising his voice. Meanwhile, Erukana continued on.

"It was like destiny." (Erukana)

"….More like hell." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Even I can't tell how something so fateful could have happened!" (Erukana)

"It was an accident." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ehehe~, it's like, a god lead us into meeting each other." (Erukana)

"….Latrel, that bi*ch!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Erukana formed a serious expression as she spoke.

"But darling, you know that Latrel doesn't have any connection with me." (Erukana)

"But, she's a god, right? Isn't she like a main god on that side, too?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Berafe and the demon world aren't the same, though." (Erukana)

"Ah, you're right." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon determined that if these two were left alone to chat among themselves, he'd not get to hear the rest of the story and end up swimming in a lake of tangents so he quickly set up the reference line they could follow.

He wanted to hear what he wanted to hear and nothing else!

"And so, how did you two meet?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Hul, why are you getting angry?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Human? Did you just get snappy at us?" (Erukana)

"N-no, that's like, not…" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

He failed.

Choi Jeong-Hoon found himself in a situation of getting beaten up to death just because he dared to raise his voice, so he desperately tried to weasel his way out of it.

"I was too impatient to find out, you see." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"H-ng?" (Erukana)

Erukana smiled seductively.

Choi Jeong-Hoon felt this momentary dizziness taking over and dazedly stared at her - only for someone behind him to pinch his back flesh and twist it, hard.

"Kkeuh-euhhhhhk?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

That… seriously hurt.

After being subjected to the intense force capable of tearing his clothes apart, he couldn't even scream out properly and only managed to gasp out a pained whimper through his wide-open mouth.

"You better wake up!" (Seo Ah-Young)

What should I call this situation?

In front of me, there's a demon king, and behind me, there's a witch.

Ah, so the old saying ‘Enemies at all corners' must mean this situation. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Well, if you're that curious, I should tell you, then." (Erukana)

Erukana looked at Yi Ji-Hyuk with love-filled eyes, before rubbing her cheek against his.

"So, how did my darling and I meet? That's very simple, really. My darling called out to me with an ardent heart. And that's why I crossed dimensions to meet him, you see! Where can you find an encounter more fated than this?" (Erukana)

"Eh?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Affeldrichae sighed under her breath and began interpreting what Erukana said.

"The demon Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk summoned to form a contract with just so happened to be none other than Erukannim." (Affeldrichae)

"Uh, mm, so, I guess you can only use dark magic through a contract?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Now normally, yes. Or you wouldn't be able to replenish dark Mana." (Affeldrichae)

"Oh…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Not sure what she's talking about, but well, it sounds like Yi Ji-Hyuk summoned Erukana in order to use her like a petrol station. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"By the way…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon tilted his head.

"It seems that humans using dark magic must be pretty rare? I mean, she's calling a meeting under such circumstances a fated one and all that." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Eh….." (Affeldrichae)

Affeldrichae stared at him as if he was an idiot, and he could only shrink back again.

‘Did I say something wrong again?' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

It seemed that his fortune for the day was a rough one, what's with every female under the sun criticising him from left, right, and centre.

"Please think about it. In order to learn how to use dark magic, you need to summon a demon first." (Affeldrichae)

"Yes, you said that." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Let's say, you wanted to learn Taekwondo, so you went to the nearest gym." (Affeldrichae)

"Okay." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Do you think that from the very first day you arrive there, a national representative-level coach would suddenly start talking to you?" (Affeldrichae)

"No, I'm sure that wouldn't happen." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't know anything about dark magic, and only wanted to create a connection to the demon world." (Affeldrichae)

"………" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"But then, a demon king showed up." (Affeldrichae)

Choi Jeong-Hoon stared at Yi Ji-Hyuk with a glum look on his face.

Now that he thought about it, there was this preconceived notion that this guy went around causing trouble because he had gotten stronger.

But, as it turned out, he was simply a trouble magnet from the get-go.

"It is indeed an incredibly unlikely event." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"It's destiny!" (Erukana)

Erukana stuck even closer to Yi Ji-Hyuk and rubbed herself all over him, causing some sort of whitish something to escape out from his mouth.

‘Is, is that a soul of a person?' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

And demons are supposed to cheat you out of your own soul!

They have so many varied methods, don't they! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"I see. So, if you contact the demon world normally, you'd sign a contract with a demon. But, there's something I don't understand. According to the lore passed down on Earth… when you sign a contract with a demon, isn't there a corresponding price to pay?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Such as one's soul or some sort of sacrifice?

"You're right. Normally, one would use their soul as the collateral and sign the contract." (Affeldrichae)

"In that case?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Did that mean Yi Ji-Hyuk's soul was now subservient to Erukana, then?

Wasn't that a very serious problem?

Especially so, when he couldn't even offer up any form of resistance and sit there completely dazed?

"No, what you fear didn't happen. Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't offer his soul to sign the contract." (Affeldrichae)

"Pardon?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Because, he doesn't have a soul, per se." (Affeldrichae)

"…….."

Haha, well….

That's not all that surprising, is it….

That man is kinda like that.

Not a thing is right with him, whether it's logic or his humanity, so why should his soul be alright in that mess?

Hahahaha….

….Son of a bi*ch. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon's migraine was getting harsher and harsher.

< 267. If the demon king is scarier than mom -2 > Fin.

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Chapter end