The Returner Chapter 359

Wuu-ooonng…

A black Gate opened up abruptly, and Choi Jeong-Hoon could only look at it with a slightly sour face.

It seemed that ‘he' was now waltzing around with the Gates as if it was his own private doorway to everything.

"Aigo." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk exiting from the Gate massaged his back.

"Well, d*mn. I must be getting on in years, seeing how my body aches like this after using a bit of Mana." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"….It's true that you're advanced in age, so you should look after yourself a little better. Do you want me to get you some prescribed herbal tonics?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Nah, it's okay. Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon, you don't even have much money, anyway." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"…….."

Choi Jeong-Hoon, the current age's ‘talented' man who received almost perfect score from a marriage consultancy/information firm, was being denigrated as a poor salaryman right at this moment.

‘But, I'm wealthier than you think??' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Not as much as you, sure, but still.

Of course, he couldn't dare to bring up the topic of money if he thought about the number of zeroes currently piling up on Yi Ji-Hyuk's bank account. But there was little doubt that Choi Jeong-Hoon belonged to those who succeeded in life in their own way.

Sure, he might come across as an unfortunate neighbour when compared to those folks born with gold spoons in their mouths, but whatever.

In any case!

"What brings you here?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Am I not allowed in the offices now?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"….No, it's not that we don't want you here, it's just that you popped up without warning, so…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

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

Yi Ji-Hyuk stared with accusatory eyes, and Choi Jeong-Hoon could only scratch his head in awkwardness.

"Well, the truth is, the atmosphere here is very tense, and…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon approached Yi Ji-Hyuk, wrapped his arm around the latter's shoulder, and gently dragged him outside the office.

"Actually, the overall mood is very volatile right now." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"It's not even all that serious, so what gives?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"It's war, after all." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Like I said, what's so serious about that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"…….."

Choi Jeong-Hoon stared straight at Yi Ji-Hyuk and was about to say, ‘Have you ever been involved in war before, then?' but decided to forget about it.

‘Yeah, he probably has.' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

He thought about it and realised that, since the other side was a medieval world, warfare was probably a daily occurrence in that place.

And Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't just live for one, two years in such a world, but over a thousand. Even if he wasn't involved in war, he was the type to fight monsters if he got too bored anyway, so Choi Jeong-Hoon thought that it wouldn't be strange to see him not having any sort of repulsion towards the wars themselves.

"Besides all that. You being here is a big no-no at the moment." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"How come?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Whether it's consciously or not, the people affiliated with the NDF rely heavily on you, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk. If they keep seeing you loiter around here, they might end up thinking that, although you weren't supposed to go with them, you might as well." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Why would I?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That's exactly why." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon grinned refreshingly.

"That's why it's better for everyone if you're not seen by them. And that's also why I haven't said anything about you not coming to work. For the time being, it's okay not to come at all." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Well, sure thing…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk scratched his head.

He was told plenty of times to go to work, but this would be the very first time anyone told him not to, so he kinda felt weirded out by that.

"Anyways. I didn't come today for that, actually." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Okay?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"There's something I wanted to find out, you see…. I know you're busy and all, but this problem is getting on my nerves a bit, so…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hmm?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon's expression sank as he stared at Yi Ji-Hyuk.

Every single thing the latter had said to be "getting on his nerves a bit" all ended up as huge incidents. Obviously, this wasn't a matter to take lightly.

"Please speak." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"I need information on the monsters that have appeared from the Gates recently." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Monsters?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon's eyes became round dots from puzzlement, but Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't try to dispel it for him. There was no need to make the dude worried about what hadn't been confirmed yet, now was there?

Indeed, what Yi Ji-Hyuk was feeling at the moment was just a hunch. Also, it was an unknown quantity just how much of a ripple effect the world would experience from the ‘event' he suspected to have been happening until now.

"Yes, monsters." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Information, is it… What kind are you looking for? There are different types of information, after all." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"I'd like to have them as video footage. If not, photographs will be fine, too. I think I need to visually analyse them first and then decide. I mean, written info isn't going to help me in the slightest, I think." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Makes sense." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Even if the monsters were the same, the names Yi Ji-Hyuk knew and what the people of Earth called them were different. That's why he'd not be able to confirm what types of monsters were showing up through written documents only.

"Most likely the KSF are in possession of such databases. Is it alright to get only the data from Korea?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Please send out the requests for help to other nations, as well." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Mm, that might take a while." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"That's okay. It's not that urgent, anyhow." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I see. Then I shall send the word upstairs and get the necessary info from the other governments." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Thanks." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk waved his hand.

"In that case, I'll be on my way now." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"…….."

"What's the matter?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"No, well, it kind of felt like looking at a student trying to run away from his night classes, that's why." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Eii, I never did a night class when I was still in school, you know." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hul? Why not? Didn't night classes exist back then?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Nah. I was told to just go home." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"By whom?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"The teachers?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"……"

Choi Jeong-Hoon stared at Yi Ji-Hyuk with eyes of pity and lamentation.

Just what kind of school life did he have to go through?

No, actually, he shouldn't be feeling sorry for Yi Ji-Hyuk here. Indeed, he should be pitying the school Yi Ji-Hyuk attended as well as the fellow students in his classes, instead.

Not to forget, the teachers trying their best to guide such a wayward soul, too.

‘Still, he probably wasn't such a hard-headed jack*ss back then as he is now. Because, well, he was a regular civilian back then, after all.' (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Huh. I've really grown up a lot, haven't I?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Excuse me?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Looking back, I can't even fathom what I was thinking of back then, living like that. Hahaha." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Was I wrong??

He can't possibly be saying that he was worse in the past?

Anyone with morals shouldn't be behaving that way, right? Right?? (Choi Jeong-Hoon's inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon couldn't ask.

He was too scared of the potential answer, so he just couldn't.

He instead decided to get through this situation with an awkward smile.

It was right then.

"Ah, when did you decide to show up?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk turned towards the voice coming from behind him, and saw Jeong Hae-Min trotting towards him with a bright smile.

"Where have you been?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Me? I was in the TV studio." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….TV studio?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Hey, you stupid little girl! A war is about to break out soon, yet you're busy doing TV shows?? Do you have rocks for brains in your head??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"War is one thing, and broadcasts are something else, you know!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Hul, will you listen to this little girl talk?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon watched the two bicker and couldn't help but feel this disharmony from the current situation.

Now normally, it shouldn't be Yi Ji-Hyuk but someone else pointing out the inconsistency in another's logic, but that's exactly what's happening here, wasn't it?

"Don't you know you're supposed to make hay while the sun shines? And there's plenty of sun shining right now." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Why don't you get a grade A suntan too, while you're at it?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That's what I'm doing." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min then placed her hands on her hips and continued on.

"And you, you should be careful with what you say. I'm really popular these days, you know? You say one wrong thing about me, and a million haters are gonna follow you around forever." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Who cares. Tell them to come." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"…….Well, no one will if you say that." (Jeong Hae-Min)

This guy, he was fully capable of beating all those million haters into a pulp.

"By the way, the sun is shining or something? What's that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"The networks are throwing their weight behind the ability users recently. I told you the last time." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Hoh-oh?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk looked at her as if he was surprised by it, before tilting his head.

"But, what's that got to do with you?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"What do you mean by that? I'm also an ability user slash idol, you know?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….More like an ability user ahjumma." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Shudder.

For a moment there, Jeong Hae-Min exhibited a very faint tremor.

Choi Jeong-Hoon was well aware of how dangerous that tremor was.

"Excuse me, don't you start with her, please!!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Well, it's not like I said anything weird, right? Let's be honest here, just how old is she that she's still calling herself an idol? More like a jummadol at this point." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"N-no… The ‘I' in ‘idol' isn't that, you know!!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon) (TL note at the end)

"It's not? Well, doesn't matter one way or the other, does it? I'm telling the truth, anyway." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon saw Jeong Hae-Min's face getting redder and redder and decided to come up with a special countermeasure.

"Please, t-take a look at this!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon quickly accessed a portal site on his phone and showed the resulting articles to Yi Ji-Hyuk.

"Look, look! Isn't she really a hot topic right now??" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"….Hoh-oh?" (Yi Ji-Huk)

For sure, the search results showed that plenty of articles about her were currently trending online. He glanced at the headlines declaring stuff like "Jeong Hae-Min's second wind" and such, and muttered out his honest impression.

"Media manipulation?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hiccup!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min suddenly broke out in a fit of hiccups.

"Oh, feeling guilty about something, are we?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"N-no freaking way! There's no manipulation whatsoever!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

She was carrying a triumphant look for a little bit after the articles were brought up, but she now had to wave around her hands in denial.

Choi Jeong-Hoon decided to provide support fire, too.

"Even if this was media manipulation, you can only do that when the public reacts to the subject matter at hand first. Now look at the number of comments. You can see for yourself just how many people are interested in her." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Oh?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at the article ranked highest in terms of number of comments, then with a surprised face, took the phone away and began tapping on a couple of things.

"….Aren't these all toxic comments?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hiccup!!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Listen to this. ‘I wish she stopped being cute and stuff'. Or, ‘She's working so hard even when she's so old'. Also, ‘Let's be honest, she's not even that pretty'….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Euh… Waaaaaaah-!!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Yi Ji-Hyuk reached out and blocked Jeong Hae-Min's mouth.

"Calm down. I'm just reading some of the comments." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Euh-euhp." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min, her mouth still covered, trembled in anger as she glared daggers at him.

"Actually, those toxic comments are proof that you're in your prime. I-it's like an idol's fate." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Is that so?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't look convinced at all, but well, since she's apparently busy with her career, he had no need to dig any deeper than this.

"So, you're doing pretty well for yourself lately, is that it?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That's right. I'm doing really well." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….Right. It's almost the end of the road, so you gotta work even harder." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Who's on the end of the road?!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Yi Ji-Hyuk smacked his lips in lamentation.

He wanted to tease her for a bit longer, but as she was doing well for real, he now no longer had anything clever to say.

"By the way, if you're popular right now, what about your peers, then? Aren't they irritated by you? For having an auntie stealing their limelight or some such?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I told you, I'm not an auntie!! How can I be one when I'm still so young?!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"At your age, you are an ahjumma." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You you you!!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min glared at him murderously as if she could no longer fight back her anger, but just who was he? He'd never cower from such glares.

"Well, it's fine either way, but…. Mm…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head.

"But, aren't you going to participate in the operation? Why are you playing around, anyway? It looked like everyone else was completely occupied with briefing on the operation planning and stuff?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I'm not involved." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"How come?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Well, everyone participating can't be transferred at once, you see. And timing-wise, they'll have to move together with the army, too. And ability users from other countries are moving in sync with them. So, they say they don't have a need for a teleporter." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Really? Even then…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"And besides, I need a marker to go somewhere, right? They say there's no point since I don't have a marker in North Korea." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Ah!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk nodded his head.

Unlike how it was with him, where he could basically go anywhere as long as he had the coordinates, Jeong Hae-Min's ability could only be utilised after she left a marker at a place she'd been before.

"I guess it's like the difference between a taxi and a subway?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"It's nothing. Okay, so, you're not going to participate in this operation?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I guess I'll see them off or something, but honestly, what can I do by going there, anyway? Not like they need a cheerleader there, right?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….Only kids are supposed to be cheerleaders!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hey, you!! You wanna keep harping on about my age?! You go anywhere and ask, and they'll all tell you I'm still young! It's you who's the strange one." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Yes, yes. I hear you, auntie." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Euh, euh, euh!!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched her tremble mightily and smirked to himself before tilting his head.

"Hmm? Well, this means you have a lot of free time, right?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"No, it doesn't mean I have a lot of free time. I'm busy going to events, you know." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Really? I guess it can't be helped, then." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

When Yi Ji-Hyuk pulled back so cleanly like that, Jeong Hae-Min became anxious, instead.

"W-what's going on?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

< 359. If it doesn't want to improve, fixing it will solve everything! -4 > Fin.

(TL: The joke here is that "I" in idol has the same pronunciation as "child" in Korean. So, Yi Ji-Hyuk is jokingly saying "idol = child-dol".)

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Chapter end