The Returner Chapter 273

"Ji-Hyuk-ah." (mom)

"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Please take the guest to the guest room." (mom)

"T-to the room?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Well, we still have enough spare bedrooms, don't we?" (mom)

Without any concrete plan in mind, Choi Jeong-Hoon got Yi Ji-Hyuk's family a very spacious home and that resulted in an oversupply of rooms. There were five on the ground floor alone, while the first floor had even more.

One of them was occupied by Affeldrichae, but lots more were still ownerless, so the family was even seriously considering adopting cats or something.

So, it'd not be a problem to rent out a room to a guest.

Erukana and Affeldrichae.

A demon king and a Dragon Lord living under the same roof would surely lead to disaster, but…. well, it wasn't as if this would be the first time that happened, so nothing new to panic over that one, really.

No, the real issue here was….

"M-mom, I'm telling you, you mustn't!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

….Yi Ji-Hyuk definitely didn't want this situation at all.

He figured that Park Seon-Deok would chase this dang demon away if he brought her home, so what was up with this situation?

Basically, he wanted to film a makjang drama about a conflict between a mother and the daughter-in-law, but instead, its genre morphed to a human documentary about a multicultural family!

"Mom! She definitely didn't come from a poor place!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Does your mother look like an idiot to you?" (mom)

"N-ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Park Seon-Deok pointed to the bag in front.

"How much do you think this costs?" (mom)

"Well, that…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Expensive.

Yup, it must be stinking expensive.

All those shiny stuff on it, I'm sure it's not zircon, right?

What kind of a bag is adorned from top to bottom in diamond, anyway??

And most importantly, what did she do after arriving on Earth that she was able to afford something as crazy as that??

Isn't this, like, a scary-powerful ability to adapt?? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"I'm sure she's very wealthy. After all, do you think a poor girl would buy something like that as a gift? However, is money everything in this world?" (mom)

"….Well, no. Not really, but…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"If money was indeed everything, mother would've been happier. You also make a lot, don't you." (mom)

"Mom, that declaration sounds kinda….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Why are you criticising your son, anyway?!

Aren't I a good boy?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"When you travel from a distant country, whether you have money on you or not, it's your heart that grows weaker. Didn't you know that?" (mom)

Of course I know. I know too dang well.

Mom, you say that because you have no idea what I did after I got there. I know that truth better than anyone alive. (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a long, long sigh.

"Mah-der." (Erukana)

"….Titles you call me with are rather colourful, it seems. What's the matter?" (mom)

"I can't sleep in another room." (Erukana)

"Ng? What do you mean?" (mom)

Erukana tightly grasped Park Seon-Deok's hand and spoke ardently. "I heard that a couple must sleep in one room. Erukana might not know much about this world, but still know that husband and wife must stay together." (Erukana)

"Y-you're right." (mom)

Park Seon-Deok ended up nodding her head.

"We're not a couple!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

At that point, Yi Ji Hyuk's loud protest didn't even enter Park Seon-Deok's ears..

"Be quiet." (mom)

"Mom! If you keep doing this, I'll really…!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"….Be. Quiet." (mom)

"…Yes, mom." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The murderous intent emitted from mom caused Yi Ji-Hyuk to obediently shut his mouth.

The greatest form of opposition he could put up at the moment was to grumble at a decibel low enough for mom to barely hear him.

"Mom, whose side are you on, anyway?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Tsk." (mom)

Unfortunately, even that tiny bit of opposition had to dissipate into nothingness under Madam Park Seon-Deok's hostile glare, like some sort of bubbles under the hot sun.

"I see. You said that your name is Erukana?" (mom)

"Yes, mahder." (Erukana)

"If you're indeed married to Ji-Hyuk-ee, then yes, it's correct for you to share one room." (mom)

"Yes." (Erukana)

"However, it seems that there are many people here unwilling to acknowledge that." (mom)

Jeong Hae-Min vigorously nodded her head.

Doh Gah-Yun had also appeared from somewhere before anyone even noticed it, nodding her head slightly to show her agreement.

"Uh?" (Erukana)

And behind those two girls, Affeldrichae was maintaining a somewhat-uncertain distance from them. Erukana confirmed that and stared at the Dragon Lord in a dumbfounded expression.

But Affeldrichae was simply staring at a distant mountain somewhere.

"Hoh-oh?" (Erukana)

A tone of voice completely different from when she was talking to Park Seon-Deok came out. A sheen of cold perspiration ever so slightly moistened Affeldrichae's forehead, but even then, she didn't back off.

"You've grown up a little, haven't you?" (Erukana)

A voice seemingly echoing straight from the depths of Hell flowed into Affeldrichae's ears directly. Other people couldn't hear a word of it, as she was the only designated recipient.

She shuddered ever so slightly.

"What's the matter?" (mom)

Park Seon-Deok grew puzzled over the sudden silence, and Erukana formed a bright smile and replied as if the hardened expression of a second ago didn't even happen.

"It's nothing important, mahder." (Erukana)

"Hmm, is that so? In any case, you don't have anywhere else to go, so why don't you stay with us for a while? However, as we're not fully prepared in our hearts, stay in separate rooms for the time being." (mom)

"Yes, mahder." (Erukana)

Erukana replied modestly.

In front of them, Yi Ji-Hyuk muttered in a despairing voice.

"I'm screwed…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

And so, Erukana ended up settling into his house without much issue as his parasitic dependent.

"….This can't be happening." (Jeong Hae-Min)

In a cafe near Yi Ji-Hyuk's home.

Three certain females were there for the purpose of a group meeting.

Slurrrp.

Affeldrichae sucked a yoghurt smoothie through a straw and tilted her head.

"Such a strange taste. It's as if, the liquid is spoiled, yet it isn't? It's that sort of sour taste. Humans do enjoy consuming strange cuisine, that's for sure." (Affeldrichae)

"Is that important right now?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"No, it isn't." (Affeldrichae)

Affeldrichae remained rather composed compared to the other two.

The other ladies had no choice but to accept the shocking revelation of Yi Ji-Hyuk being married already, and also feel the brunt of the double torture of meeting the wife at the same time, but for the Dragon Lord, she already knew of Erukana's existence beforehand, so there was not much to get shocked about here.

No, she was somewhat flustered by the fact that Erukana actually decided to come to Earth, that was all.

"Explain." (Doh Gah-Yun)

Rather surprisingly, Doh Gah-Yun was the first to ask a question. However, Jeong Hae-Min stopped her for the time being.

"Hold up, Gah-Yun-ah." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….?"

"Wait for a little bit. Not everyone's here yet." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Doh Gah-Yun tilted her head slightly. Right around then, the cafe's entrance opened up and Kim Dah-Som with a seriously-stiff face quickly entered the establishment.

The former quietly stared at the latter before nodding her head. For sure, this girl also deserved to know what was going on, too.

"What did you mean earlier?" (Kim Dah-Som)

There was no such thing as a greeting or stuff like that.

She rushed as soon as possible after confirming the ‘talk' on her phone. Her mind was so messy that she wasn't sure how she even got here. (TL: "talk" as in Kakaotalk. Very popular in Korea. Kinda like Whatsapp.)

"Sit down first, will you." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"I need to know what happened." (Kim Dah-Som)

"You'll hear it soon enough, so… settle down first." (Jeong Hae-Min)

With a face full of dissatisfaction, Kim Dah-Som stared at Jeong Hae-Min for a moment, and eventually settled down on an empty chair.

"You want a drink?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"After hearing the story first." (Kim Dah-Som)

"Get something to drink. Because you'll need it." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….A cup of Americano, then." (Kim Dah-Som)

"It'll be better to get something cold, though." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"In that case, Iced Americano." (Kim Dah-Som)

Jeong Hae-Min nodded her head and ordered a cup of Iced Americano. Only after the ordered drink arrived did she took a deep breath and spoke to Kim Dah-Som.

"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk's wife showed up." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….Excuse me?" (Kim Dah-Som)

"It's as it sounds. While he was living in the other world, he apparently got married. And that woman came over here to find him." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Kim Dah-Som became utterly dazed.

What on earth was she talking about?

Another world??

"And also…." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"There's more?!" (Kim Dah-Som)

"That wife is also a demon king." (Jeong Hae-Min)

The Americano spewed out from Kim Dah-Som's mouth.

Jeong Hae-Min didn't bother to wait for Dah-Som's response and shifted her head towards Affeldrichae next.

"Can you explain to us in detail just what is up with this situation? Miss Affeldrichae, you knew about this beforehand, didn't you?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Yes." (Affeldrichae)

"Miss Affeldrichae, you also have feelings for Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, right?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min's straight punch prompted the others to look at Affeldrichae simultaneously. They all tacitly understood it, but this would be their very first opportunity to sit down and talk properly among themselves.

"Yes." (Affeldrichae)

Affeldrichae acknowledged the truth without hesitation, so much so that it was almost a letdown, actually.

"Even though you knew he had a wife?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Finding these human girls' reactions strange, Affeldrichae tilted her head this way and that.

"Is that supposed to be a problem?" (Affeldrichae)

"Of course it's a problem." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Why?" (Affeldrichae)

What did she mean, why?

Being asked about something so obvious caused these girls to forget how to answer for a second there. Indeed, where should they even start explaining the wrongness of it?

"Ah…." (Affeldrichae)

Affeldrichae finally seemed to understand it and nodded her head.

"I seemed to have forgotten momentarily that this world pursues the concept of monogamy. In the world I'm from, it's normal for a man to accept several wives, so I never thought of such a practice as strange, to begin with." (Affeldrichae)

"Hmm…." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min nodded her head.

If it was the question of cultural differences, then she had no choice but to accept it.

"Okay, so. What is the exact relationship between those two?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"They are married." (Affeldrichae)

"….But, how can a demon king marry a human….?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"During his stay that side, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk was not someone you could label as a ‘human being'." (Affeldrichae)

"He wasn't human??" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Affeldrichae stared at Jeong Hae-Min with somewhat icy eyes.

"You three don't seem to put any effort into understanding what sort of a life Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk had led on that side." (Affeldrichae)

"…………"

"He carries many scars. He longed for human contact badly. So, I wished for him to gradually heal his wounds by mingling with fellow human beings, but with people as indifferent as you around, I don't think he will be healed at all. I'm beginning to think that maybe staying in Berafe was a better choice after all." (Affeldrichae)

Kim Dah-Som reciprocated the icy glare back to Affeldrichae.

"How can we know when he doesn't want to tell us?" (Kim Dah-Som)

"Did you even try to find out in the first place?" (Affeldrichae)

Doh Gah-Yun spoke up.

"Didn't meet to fight." (Doh Gah-Yun)

"……."

"Make a plan. Organise position. Discuss future response. Came to hear that." (Doh Gah-Yun)

Doh Gah-Yun succinctly summarised the situation. Others couldn't help but agree, although the dissatisfied expressions remained on their faces.

She was right, this was no time to fight amongst themselves.

"By the way, didn't Mister Ji-Hyuk seem to be very unhappy with Erukana? Like, he really didn't want to see her again and stuff?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Affeldrichae nodded her head.

"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk had been on the run for several centuries already, saying that he couldn't stay with her no more." (Affeldrichae)

"But, why?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"I can't be certain. I did ask him for the reason why, but…." (Affeldrichae)

"Yes?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….His reply was rather strange." (Affeldrichae)

"What did he say?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"He said that all marriages are like that." (Affeldrichae)

"……….?"

What on earth did he mean by that?

"He said that no matter how pretty and lovely a woman was, when you live together for ten years, she'll look like a tiger. Twenty years later, she'll become a monster, and after one hundred years, a slime. And three hundred years later, she becomes a life-and-death sworn enemy…. That's what he said, but I just couldn't understand him." (Affeldrichae)

"H-m-mm…." (Jeong Hae-Min)

It sounded almost understandable, but at the same time, not really.

"They lived for t-three hundred years together??" (Kim Dah-Som)

In the meantime, Kim Dah-Som cried out as if she was struck by some sort of culture shock.

"Yes." (Affeldrichae)

"H-how old is Ji-Hyuk oppa?" (Kim Dah-Som)

Affeldrichae tilted her head again.

"That is a bit hard to say…." (Affeldrichae)

"Excuse me?" (Kim Dah-Som)

"When viewed from the standards of this world, he's in his twenties. But in Berafe's standard, he's about one thousand three hundred?" (Affeldrichae)

"….Eh?" (Kim Dah-Som)

"And, if you add the time he lived in the demon world, it must surely be over two thousand…." (Affeldrichae)

Oh, so it's two thousand…

…In that case, he's about as old as Christ-nim, then.

Huhhuhhuh. (Kim Dah-Som's inner monologue)

Kim Dah-Som ended up smirking softly.

"I don't think you'll have a future as a stand-up comedian." (Kim Dah-Som)

"……"

Kim Dah-Som looked around as if she was waiting for support fire, but… both Jeong Hae-Min and Doh Gah-Yun were simply staring back at her without saying anything.

"She's being serious??" (Kim Dah-Som)

Nod.

Doh Gah-Yun nodded her head, causing Kim Dah-Som to shudder grandly as if she was struck by yet another culture shock.

Two thousand years old, she said.

What on earth did that even mean??

Any girl would feel deeply cheated after learning that the man was actually an ahjussi in his forties, but this… two freaking thousand years old??

"You said that according to this world's standard, he's in his twenties, right?" (Kim Dah-Som)

"I did." (Affeldrichae)

"Then, it's fine." (Kim Dah-Som)

Oh?

Wasn't she shocked numb just now? (Jeong Hae-Min's inner monologue)

"Are you okay with that?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Yes, well. When you think about it, he's still got a youthful body, his mind is also youthful, so what does his age matter, anyway? Besides, I might have been really shocked if you told me he was twenty years older, but the idea of two thousand years doesn't even feel real to me at all." (Kim Dah-Som)

It seemed that this girl's thought process was still out of whack as well.

"So…." (Doh Gah-Yun)

Doh Gah-Yun looked at Affeldrichae and asked another question.

"Her. Okay to continue staying in this world?" (Doh Gah-Yun)

And now, everyone was looking at Affeldrichae.

< 273. Mom, it's your daughter-in-law -3 > Fin.

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Chapter end