The Returner Chapter 369

"What do you mean, the real story? They are probably just friends."

"Why would a friend come with him to a reunion?"

"She's a celebrity. He must've figured that we'd be happy to meet her."

"That's from Ji-Hyuk's perspective. From Jeong Hae-Min's perspective, there is no reason to hold a free event just because a friend asked her to come, now is there? You have any idea how much she could make by participating in an actual event instead of coming here?" (Seon-Mi)

"….Okay, so? What are you trying to say about their relationship, then?"

Choi Seon-Mi clamped her mouth shut just then. If she blurted out what's in her mind, the situation would snowball into something even bigger.

No matter what, they were talking about Jeong Hae-Min, one of the most trending celebs currently active!

"M-maybe, she's having a fling. Or something." (Seon-Mi)

"That's ridiculous!"

"Can we hold you responsible for saying that?"

Choi Seon-Mi remained unfazed.

"Think about it logically, will you? Ask any girl you know if she wants to accompany you to a reunion. You think they'll agree?" (Seon-Mi)

"….No."

"Even if we're talking about a girlfriend, they would still be reluctant to show up on a school reunion where you hardly know anyone. So, logically, it'd be only normal to think that the relationship must be something special if she's willing to show up here." (Seon-Mi)

Everyone here knew what Seon-Mi said was logical. However, not one person here wanted to admit to that fact.

"Maybe it's because she's a kind person."

"Hah?!?!" (Seon-Mi)

Seon-Mi snorted grandly in derision.

"All of you lot, you always say that the world of celebs is dirty and immoral and filled with scandalous affairs, but when it comes to discussing your fav celebs, you all go like, there's no way our ‘oppa' would do that or our ‘Hae-Min' can't possibly be like that. Hey, you all better wake up. That woman? She's been battling out in that very entertainment industry for ten years. Kind?? If she qualifies as kind, then hell, everyone on this planet will also qualify, too." (Seon-Mi)

Choi Chang-Hyuk dazedly stared at the doorway Jeong Hae-Min and Yi Ji-Hyuk had disappeared to. Seon-Mi checked that spectacle out and snickered mockingly.

"What's wrong? Does it sting that much?" (Seon-Mi)

"….So, she did go." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"Ng? Go where?" (Seon-Mi)

Choi Chang-Hyuk replied with a half-soulless face.

"Jeong Hae-Min also needs to use the bathroom." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"What the hell is wrong with you, you dumb sh*t!" (Seon-Mi)

"….I thought she only needed to drink the morning dew…." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"Even if you only drink that, you still gotta go when you gotta go!! She ain't a d*mn alien, so what the….?!" (Seon-Mi)

Others slowly nodded their heads.

Although, it was unknown which opinion they agreed with more.

"H-here they come."

They could hear the bickering coming from the outside.

"Ng?"

Yi Ji-Hyuk didn't enter the venue right away and instead stood outside near the windows to smoke, while Jeong Hae-Min was standing next to him, busy nagging away.

As he smoked, she continued to nag and nag, but when he curtly shot back at her, Jeong Hae-Min got clearly triggered and pounced on him.

Yi Ji-Hyuk simply grabbed her by her head and pushed the irate woman back.

Seeing all that bickering going on, well….

"….They are really close, aren't they?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Choi Chang-Hyuk muttered in a bitter, hollow voice.

No matter how much he wanted to deny it, it just couldn't be done. That scene couldn't be described as a relationship of regular friends.

"Looks that way." (Jo Ji-Woong)

Even Jo Ji-Woong had to acknowledge it. It seemed that now he had plenty of things to talk about when he's back at work in the morning. If he tells his fellow ability users that he met both Yi Ji-Hyuk and Jeong Hae-Min, and even got to converse with them, then hell, he'd be the object of sheer envy from the others in no time at all.

"Someone ends up as an ability user and not only that, is in a nice little cosy relationship with Jeong Hae-Min, yet someone else is…." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Choi Chang-Hyuk's depressed face was staring up at the heavens.

Suddenly, he thought he could hear the voices of his juniors busy saying that they needed to definitely win the upcoming tournament.

‘That stupid game.' (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Moisture was rapidly welling up around his eyeballs.

How could life be so unfair like this?

Someone was so successful in life like that, yet someone else had to live off on minimum wage from a local convenience store.

"This cannot happen." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

If it was any other classmate, then fine, he could congratulate that person. The man named Choi Chang-Hyuk? He wasn't such a small minded guy.

"But, why did it have to be Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

The one man everyone in the class wouldn't have minded seeing going straight to hell was the most successful person out of them all. He felt so foolish for thinking, "That's unfortunate" back then after hearing the news of Yi Ji-Hyuk going missing during the Black Monday incident.

"Why did only Yi Ji-Hyuk succeed, though?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

It was then, Jo Ji-Woong smirked and provided the answer.

"Isn't it because he's Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (Jo Ji-Woong)

"Ng?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"Well, his type either makes it big time or loses everything, right? We are too scared to make the necessary plunge, but Ji-Hyuk? Nicely put, he's a daredevil without a shred of fear, and when not so nicely put, he's just an insensitive prick, isn't he?" (Jo Ji-Woong)

"….Well, yeah." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Choi Chang-Hyuk suddenly recalled the sight of Yi Ji-Hyuk pouncing on a group of ten ‘uncles' spotting dragon tattoos all those years ago. His reason? Those uncles allegedly stepped on his shoe. Back then, he got beaten up pretty bad, but also, he defeated them all, too.

A regular person wouldn't choose to fight even if he or she possessed enough strength to face off against ten people.

"No, hang on, isn't that more like how rotten his personality is, instead?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"….Not sure what you're thinking of while saying that, but in any case. It's a big problem that I'm sympathising with you." (Jo Ji-Woong)

Jo Ji-Woong slowly nodded his head.

"Looks like they are coming back inside." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"Ng, seems that way." (Jo Ji-Woong)

Yi Ji-Hyuk finished smoking and was walking back inside. Jeong Hae-Min stuck pretty close behind him. The door opened and he entered, prompting this awkward atmosphere to pervade inside the venue once more.

The absolute majority of them just couldn't accept the situation unfolding before their eyes.

"…What's wrong with this mood?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head.

Choi Chang-Hyuk sent signals with his eyes to Seon-Mi. She chewed her lower lip, before finally opening her mouth.

"Okay, so. What exactly is the story between you two?" (Seon-Mi)

"Eh?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You and Miss Jeong Hae-Min." (Seon-Mi)

Choi Chang-Hyuk went, "Ohh, ohhh!" and looked at her.

He only gave her some light signals, yet to think she'd go for the jugular.

‘So proud of you, Choi Seon-Mi.' (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

They all expected Yi Ji-Hyuk to stammer and hesitate, or least try to change the subject, but too bad - Yi Ji-Hyuk replied nonchalantly.

"She's a workplace colleague." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Hul." (Jeong Hae-Min)

It was Jeong Hae-Min's jaw that dropped low from his reply.

And this very scene hit Choi Chang-hyuk with a fresh round of punches to the gut.

‘N-no, it can't be.' (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

It must never be.

At the very least, this relationship had to be the one where Yi Ji-Hyuk was clinging onto Jeong Hae-Min. Why would someone like her cling onto a man with such a mean personality? Because she lacked something?

"Are you really just work colleagues?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"Mm? Did you say something?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"N-no." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Jeong Hae-Min was wordlessly chugging down the ownerless mug of beer resting in front of her. Everyone watching her let out a helpless groan.

‘This, this shouldn't be happening…' (everyone)

In a variety of ways, this was so wrong.

"H-hahaha, Miss Hae-Min. L-let me pour you another round." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Choi Chang-Hyuk tried his best to alter the rapidly-declining mood, but Jeong Hae-Min replied while smiling refreshingly.

"Oh, my. Thank you, but I don't drink." (Jeong Hae-Min)

"………….."

In that case, were you drinking water just now, ma'am?

The foams inside that mug haven't even fully disappeared yet, so what are you even saying?! (Choi Chang-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"I-I see. Then, how about cola?" (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

"It's fine. I can pour it myself." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Choi Chang-Hyuk's shoulders dropped in dejection and he slunk off to his own chair.

‘She's like an iron wall.' (Seon-Mi)

Seon-Mi shook her head.

"By the way, Ji-Hyuk?" (Jo Ji-Woong)

Jo Ji-Woong called out, and Yi Ji-Hyuk shifted his gaze over to him.

"Yeah?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I've heard the story that you guys are preparing for a big mission or something. Is it okay for you to be hanging out here? I mean, I also heard that the whole NDF is in a state of emergency…" (Jo Ji-Woong)

"Ah, that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk replied in a dismissive tone.

"I'll be alright." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Why?" (Jo Ji-Woong)

"I'm not involved in the mission this time, you see. There are two surplus folks in the NDF, and one of them is me. As for the other one…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk sneaked a glance only for Jeong Hae-Min to glare murderously at him.

"I'm not surplus, you know!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"….Well, so she says." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Maybe that's the story with you, but with me, it's just that my ability doesn't suit this mission, that's all! Who can possibly be more important than me in the NDF?!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

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

"….Okay, except him." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Sure, Jeong Hae-Min was a teleporter, but she still wouldn't trump Choi Jeong-Hoon for his importance to the organisation. Even she herself had to acknowledge this fact. She could tell that without him, the NDF wouldn't function properly.

"Okay, okay. Let's just make a toast." (Choi Chang-Hyuk)

Choi Chang-Hyuk's suggestion prompted everyone to raise their glasses.

"Cheers!"

"Cheers!"

Yi Ji-Hyuk drank soju, and he frowned slightly.

"Hey, you aren't so good with alcohol. Who knew?"

"Nah, it's just that I dunno why the booze on this side doesn't taste so good. Sometimes when I get irritated, I feel like going over to the other side and bringing their booze here." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The Berafe's booze should go for a quite handsome amount of moolah if he decided to bring some over here, that's for sure. But then again, he already had enough money anyway, so there was no reason to do so.

"Hey, Ji-Hyuk-ah?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

Min Ye-Jeong had sneaked closer to his side and began pouring him a new shot.

"Mm?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Isn't your work, like, super hard?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"You asking me whether it's difficult or not?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head.

It was a bit strange to say it was tough, but then again, it'd be also strange to say that wasn't so.

"Well, leeching off money from someone else isn't a child's play, that's for sure." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Is that something you should say when you suck on your thumbs for six days a week?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"…Sometimes, it can get pretty tough with work, even if it's only a single day." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Lazybones." (Jeong Hae-Min)

Min Ye-Jeong's brows quivered.

She was the one who brought the subject up, yet Jeong Hae-Min was able to smoothly steal the initiative away. The latter's masterful manoeuvring technique really got on the former's nerves.

"What do you do exactly in the NDF, anyway?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"What, me?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng, you. Isn't the work the NDF people do different from the KSF?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

Everyone shifted their gaze over to Min Ye-Jeong and Yi Ji-Hyuk. Actually, they were rather curious about this, as well. They often heard lots of stories about the NDF doing some stuff overseas, but the media had been tightly gagged from reporting on what the organisation was doing exactly.

The thing was, though, the matters of battles against the demon kings, or how this world might have been destroyed if not for Yi Ji-Hyuk's feats, were not really something that could be reported through mass media.

As a matter of fact, even those media outfits that knew the truth self-censored themselves. The current world was too precariously balanced to discuss the merits of one's rights to know.

"Well, I just kill monsters." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That doesn't sound too different from what the KSF does?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Monsters are a bit tougher, but yeah. Not much difference there." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked.

"Ohhh."

Others took his words as him being humble and stuff, but Yi Ji-Hyuk was simply being earnest here.

Sure, the locations and the opponents might be slightly different, but fundamentally speaking, what he did and what other ability users did wasn't different at all. It was possible to explain his job as killing monsters when they invaded, after all.

"Ah, I see." (Min Ye-Jeong)

Min Ye-Jeong grinned slightly.

"In that case, when you go kill monsters next time, can you take me with you?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I'm kinda curious, you see. I wanna see what happens." (Min Ye-Jeong)

Yi Ji-Hyuk looked back at Jeong Hae-Min.

"I don't think that's allowed? Civilians are prohibited from entry, after all." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I heard that you got some clout in that place, so is it still not okay even if you say something?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

Now those were words designed to tug at someone's pride. Yi Ji-Hyuk replied with a slightly flushed expression.

"Of course it's not okay." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ehh?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Who do you think I am, anyway?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk dug through his ear canal and blew away the resulting matter.

"When someone says don't do it, then just don't. If you still want to do it and throw a tantrum, it's only gonna come back to bite you in the end. And when someone asks you why you did it when you were told not to, you ain't gonna have anything clever to reply with." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"….Y-yeah." (Min Ye-Jeong)

That, well, didn't work.

Min Ye-Jeong changed tact.

"In that case, can you get me a permit to enter?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Enter? Where?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Inside the ability user residential area." (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Eh?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head. That place wasn't even a tourist attraction but just another regular neighbourhood filled with normal buildings, so why did she even want to enter there?

"You're weird. What do you want to see in there?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Just curious, you know?" (Min Ye-Jeong)

"Curious about that place?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng. Maybe you can't feel it since you live there everyday, but none of us can enter it, so we get this urge to go inside and take a look." (Min Ye-Jeong)

Yi Ji-Hyuk could only snort just then.

"Hey, when you…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

SLAM-!

It was then, the entrance was flung open quite violently.

Yi Ji-Hyuk got startled and he quickly looked over, only to discover a really familiar face standing there.

"D-Dah-Som??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

< 369. Is that a problem? -4 > Fin.

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Chapter end