The Returner Chapter 268

"W-what do you mean by that? He doesn't have a soul??" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Affeldrichae replied as if it was nothing to be concerned about.

"It's not that Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk doesn't have a soul, but him during that time period had his soul fixed to himself, so he couldn't use that as the price to pay for the contract. In Berafe's common sense, it's not wrong to say that he didn't have a soul in that regard." (Affeldrichae)

"….I'm sorry, but can't you explain it in a way that I can understand? I'm just a human being, you see?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"M-mm, it is very difficult to provide an explanation matching the level of a human's intelligence." (Affeldrichae)

Did you know that you treating a person like an ape really gets on my nerves?

Sure, we might look like that to your eyes, but even dog owners wouldn't go ‘You're like a dog and can't understand me' in front of their pets, you know?!

Don't you agree that's the minimum level of consideration for others?? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"I was really shocked back then." (Erukana)

Erukana broke out into a fit of delighted laughter.

When one thought about it, Choi Jeong-Hoon's surprise right now would be no way near of hers back then.

"The first summoning in thousands of years and being transferred to that world was already surprising enough, yet the summoner didn't have a soul to offer! I was so shocked, you know." (Erukana)

"Hah-ahhh…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk spoke, sounding as if his soul had been sucked out.

"Why did it have to be you?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"H-ng. Darling, you called me, that's why." (Erukana)

"Groan…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk covered his face.

D*mn it!!

I only did as the instructions said! I only created the summoning circle according to what was in the textbook!!

I wasted over ten years trying to get my hands on that dark magic secret manual, but to think that I'd end up summoning a dang demon king!!

And that demon king happens to be Erukana! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

It was the beginning of his misfortune.

"What's this, you… don't have a soul to offer?" (Erukana)

He should've run away the moment he heard those words.

"Hah-aaahhh…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a sigh so deep that he might disappear into it, prompting Erukana to primly narrow her eyes.

"Darling, we're sharing a story of our wonderful past, so why are you making a face like that?" (Erukana)

"Wonderful past, is it…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Can I even call that part of my history ‘wonderful'?

You're supposed to be able to look back with rose-tinted glasses when enough time passes by, but seriously, I can't seem to find glasses rosy enough for that part of my life, you know?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"In this world, well, there are all sorts of ways to call reminiscence of the past, aren't there…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Moisture suddenly welled up in his eyes.

Do you know how difficult it was to get away from you?

But, you just had to chase me down to this place!

Oh, dear mother! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"In any case, that's how I first met my darling. Did you know how cute he was when he asked me, ‘Hul, does that mean I can't sign a contract with you'?" (Erukana)

"……." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon thought water was filling up inside his head all of a sudden. If he cracked his own head open now, wouldn't he find his brain twisted and scrambled like crazy all by itself?

She said ‘cute'.

She said that man is ‘cute'.

Is it because she's a demon king?!

Right, her tastes are so queer that it can't be understood by a human's logic! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Well, he is kinda cute." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min's follow-up declaration ensured that Choi Jeong-Hoon's brain would fly straight to the Andromeda galaxy.

CUTE???

Oh, I'm really sorry, but did you cover your eyes with something?

How can you say something like that unless you're insane??

I saw people calling snakes cute, sure, but even those people failed to make me think this way! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon stared at the two females with unreadable eyes, prompting them to shoot back knife-like glares in his direction.

‘Is this what everyone meant by living in the age of female-domination?' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon whimpered like a scolded dog and lowered his head, his shoulders twitching.

Oh, how sorrowful his life was.

"So, you didn't sign the contract with him?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Now originally, I wouldn't have, but my darling was so cute to say no. So, I made an exception and signed it for a special price." (Erukana)

This isn't like a department store discount sale, so what's up with this special price thing? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Was that something you can decide on your own like that?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Ng?" (Erukana)

Erukana's eyes went round in puzzlement.

"It's me who wants to sign a contract, so how can anyone have an opinion about that?" (Erukana)

Yes, of course. I thought you'd say that.

It's not like I have a problem with it or anything…. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Sure, it shouldn't have happened normally, but well, it doesn't really matter to me anyway. And that's how I got to meet my darling, too! Kyah-ah!" (Erukana)

Erukana rubbed her face all over Yi Ji-Hyuk's.

Was Choi Jeong-Hoon delusional when he thought that, the longer the rubbing continued, the paler Yi Ji-Hyuk's complexion got?

"Ah. So you met like that, and got married." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"No, not like that." (Erukana)

Erukana quickly and firmly shook her hand.

"Nope, that's the story from over a thousand years ago! Our connection continued on afterwards and eventually, we tied the knot, you see! We definitely are not the type to get hitched based on feelings of the moment, you know!" (Erukana)

"….Ah, I see." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon had no idea how to answer that, so he simply nodded his head along.

"Darling, it took too long to get to this point! From now on, let's be an alkong-dalkong couple!" (Erukana) (TL: Korean slang for being all lovey-dovey and stuff.)

"Uwaaaah!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Finally reaching his critical point, Yi Ji-Hyuk shot up from his spot and threw Erukana away again. She must've liked it though, as she burst out in a fit of giggles as she flew away.

"Alkong-dalkong, my foot!! Demon kings invade here whenever they get bored, insane idiots from Berafe and whatnot continue to invade like crazy, so what are you talking about, alkong-dalkong?! Gimme a freaking break!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"What do they have to do with us? It doesn't matter as long as we live our lives well, right?" (Erukana)

"The world is about to end! And also…!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk pointed his trembling finger at Erukana.

"We divorced! Remember that!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng? When?" (Erukana)

"I told you that I don't want to live with you anymore!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"But, that's just you saying that. And I don't remember agreeing to that, either? Isn't divorce only applicable when both sides agree to it?" (Erukana)

"Keuh… Keuh-heuk!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't know what else to say in the face of Erukana's sound logic and began shuddering uncontrollably.

This demoness of a b*tch!

No, hang on, she's a demon, isn't she?

Aigo, dear lord…. how did I get involved with this woman and end up paying for it even until now?? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon watching from the sidelines sneaked closer to Affeldrichae and asked her.

"By the way, do you know why Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk hates her that much?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"….I wonder why myself." (Affeldrichae)

Even she was tilting her head, evidently not understanding it herself.

She had already seen this a few times before, but now that she thought about it some more, she couldn't figure out why Yi Ji-Hyuk detested her that much.

When one got right down to it, wasn't she probably the best prospective bride one could ever hope for?

She was talented.

She had wealth.

And as for the looks, even Affeldrichae had to take a bow.

Not to forget, Affeldrichae's real appearance was a Dragon, but Erukana was the case of ‘what you see is what you get'. Meaning, she was the real Natural Born Beauty.

Her personality wasn't bad, she was a demon king from the demon world - not just any king, but someone who occupied the supreme position of the thirteenth seat, plus she even displayed such devotion to just one man with boundless affection, so this….

"….He's being too full of himself." (Affeldrichae)

No matter how hard she thought about it, it was the darnedest thing ever.

Yi Ji-Hyuk shot the two of them a powerful glare.

"What did I do?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"No, it's like, you don't seem to like her all that much…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Hey, both of you…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's eyes began shedding the unmistakable sweat drops of his heart.

"…Why don't you live with her first before saying that?! Why don't ya??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The intense emotion reverberating within his voice was amplifying the sense of futility. Just what did he go through to react like this?

"Did she do something terrible to you, then?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"No." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"If so, why?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk replied in a firm, unwavering voice.

"Out of humans that can't even live past one hundred years…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"….Over half of their marriages end up in divorce!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Okay, sure." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Now, think about living together for over one thousand years!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"……………"

Oh. So, like, that is….

Now that I think about it, it does sound rather terrifying, doesn't it…. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"I got sick and tired…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk grabbed his head and scratched it hard.

"Argh, your dandruff!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Even though Jeong Hae-Min immediately started rebuking him, he continued to scratch his head in sheer stupefaction, before falling into an open spot on the couch.

With a soulless face, he muttered out loudly.

"I thought I had finally gained my freedom, but who knew she'd chase me down to this place…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ehehe." (Erukana)

It vaguely sounded as if he was insulting her, yet Erukana didn't seem hurt at all as she rubbed her head all over the slumped-and-sagging Yi Ji-Hyuk's chest.

"….By the way, this lady, she… the way I see it." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Yes?" (Affeldrichae)

"She seems to be a certain type of demon that even I know of. I mean, it's such a stereotypical appearance that I can't think of any other…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Your suspicion is probably correct. I also found instances of her kind being mentioned even in this world, too." (Affeldrichae)

"Could she be then…?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Yes, she is a Succubus." (Affeldrichae)

That p*ssed him off.

That really, really riled him up good!

Wasn't a Succubus a demon overflowing with lust that even he had heard of??

A Succubus's main job was to seduce men, but rather than seducing Yi Ji-Hyuk, she was actually seduced by him instead and was acting like that!!

Wasn't that, like, dereliction of duty??

Choi Jeong-Hoon was rapidly filling up with this rage against the inexplicable unfairness of it all.

"D-does that mean?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon's neither-here-nor-there question was ably answered by Affeldrichae.

"Events you're thinking of didn't happen. It's true that she's a being that must suck out a person's vitality, and in all honesty, that's why she holds such a favourable view towards Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Affeldrichae)

"Pardon me?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"She's the Succubus Queen." (Affeldrichae)

"Okay." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"According to the lore known in this world, the female form is called Succubus while the male version is called Incubus, but in reality, these two are completely different races. Even though they both are referred to as nightmare demons, however." (Affeldrichae)

"They are not the same?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Yes. They drain vitality from the others in order to propagate, so that means they can't drain each other's vitality, now can they?" (Affeldrichae)

"….Uh? Now that I hear you, that makes sense?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Succubi seduced men, while Incubi seduced women to steal lifeforce from their victims, so if they tried to reproduce, wouldn't that be like draining each other's lives, then?

"Their ecology might be similar, but they are two different races. And they reproduce differently, as well. One receives seed from other species, while the other seeds their victims." (Affeldrichae)

"H-mm…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"The issue comes from there." (Affeldrichae)

"Excuse me?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Even demons have emotions. Demons are also capable of love and can hold affections, as well. To be more specific, she's not a literal demon, but one of the species commonly referred to as a demonic being." (Affeldrichae)

"Oh…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Since she's a much higher level of lifeform, her love is far more complex and also just as honest and pure, as well. However, when a Succubus falls in love, inevitably, the object of her affection will die." (Affeldrichae)

"Ah…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon could now understand what Affeldrichae was trying to say.

It was definitely a dilemma.

Sharing affection with her loved one resulting in the death of said person - when you think about it, wouldn't the race of Succubus a fairly sad one?

"And in case of Erukannim, she's not just any Succubus, but their Queen. Most demon kings can't even share any intimacy with her." (Affeldrichae)

"I guess so." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Just her gaze alone was enough to almost stop a man's heart, so….

He began to realise that it was a rather extraordinary thing.

"But then, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk was unaffected." (Affeldrichae)

"Pardon?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"In Berafe, he was…. well, not only did he not die, his vitality would be restored in full immediately, and the moment he's fully recovered, everything would reset back to the beginning, so you could say that he was life personified. And on top of that, he's also a humanoid, too." (Affeldrichae)

"Ah, you're right." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

For sure, Yi Ji-Hyuk was supposed to be an immortal on the other side, wasn't he?

I keep forgetting that since I got so used to seeing him getting hurt and vomit blood all the time this side. (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"So, that means?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Erukana raised her finger and wagged it side to side.

"That's wrong, human." (Erukana)

Her voice sounded firm, resolute.

"Although I can't say that reason was not a factor, the really important thing wasn't that. No, the truly important factor is that my darling here is the only person who managed to steal my heart for the first time since my birth, you see? The important thing is not the body, but one's heart!" (Erukana)

Uhm, that… I don't think that's something a Succubus should say, ma'am.

Please, you need to regain your sense of identity.

Not just any Succubus, but you're a Succubus Queen, so you shouldn't be saying that! (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Hah-ahhhh….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon kind of understand where Yi Ji-Hyuk's heavy, downtrodden groan was coming from.

"So, how did you fall in love with him?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"It'll be a long story, though…." (Erukana)

Erukana's cheeks blushed a little as she opened her lips.

< 268. If the demon king is scarier than mom -3 > Fin.

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Chapter end