The Returner

Yi Ji-Hyuk suddenly went poof! from the spot, and then reappeared behind Jeong Hae-Min.

"Ng?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Grab!

Yi Ji-Hyuk then grasped her neck gently from behind.

"Whhhaaa?! Hey, what are you doi….?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"n.o.body move!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's eyes began gleaming in a dangerous light.

"You do, and she dies!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"What the heck?! Are you stupid?!" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min shouted, completely flabbergasted.

Yi Ji-Hyuk hurriedly leaned in closer and whispered to her ear.

"Teleport us back to Korea! Right now!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ng? But, what about the others?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

"Not my problem! Hurry the h.e.l.l up, will ya?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

'Why is he acting like this?' (Jeong Hae-Min)

Since he did lots of stupid, insane things day in and day out, there was nothing strange about the he was acting right now. Really, not one person here would be surprised if Yi Ji-Hyuk decided to freeze the Han River in the middle of June and skate on it.

No, what Jeong Hae-Min found strange in this instance was the emotions of anxiety and impatience writ large on Yi Ji-Hyuk's face.

No, hang a minute. Was it dread, instead? Could it even be fear?

Whatever the case may have been, she'd never ever seen such a facial expression from the youth before.

Didn't he remain totally disinterested even when monsters poured out like an army of killer ants from the Gate not too long ago?

Such a guy was shaking in his boots and busy telling Jeong Hae-Min to abandon their comrades and escape back to Korea.

So, why?

Jeong Hae-Min took another glance behind her, at Yi Ji-Hyuk's face.

His eyes were fixed in one direction, and one direction only.

When she followed that line of sight, she spotted a Western woman who wasn't there a minute ago.

Her hair was so radiantly golden, Jeong Hae-Min had to wonder if such a radiance was even physically possible. And her golden eyes seemed to emit rays of warm but mysterious divinity.

'Ah…….'

Jeong Hae-Min's body trembled subconsciously.

This woman was… beautiful.

That was all she could think of at that moment.

Jeong Hae-Min met more than her fair share of beautiful people as an idol herself, but this woman standing in front of her possessed an otherworldly beauty that simply transcended everyone else.

Would an angel descending from heaven look as pretty as that woman?

"You….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's low, guttural growling snapped Jeong Hae-Min back to her senses.

"There's nothing for you here, so why the h.e.l.l did you chase me all the way to this place?! You d*mn stalker!! Aren't you sick and tired of this c.r.a.p already?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The blonde woman smiled radiantly.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" (?)

"Glad? GLAD?!?! Wowsers, do I really wanna kick your head in or what!! Seriously now!! Don't you have any conscience or something?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Hearing this exchange, Choi Jung-Hoon tilted his head in confusion.

What the h.e.l.l?

What language is that? (Choi Jung-Hoon' inner monologue)

He couldn't figure out heads or tails on what language those two were conversing in.

Of course, Choi Jung-Hoon didn't know every single language existing on this planet. However, wouldn't it be odd for Yi Ji-Hyuk to speak a language that Choi Jung-Hoon hadn't heard of before?

Besides all that…. That language sounded just a little bit 'different' to his ears, too. It was as if he was listening to a language that used a completely different speech system, so to speak.

"I'm really glad to see you again, but I see that you feel differently. Really now, not even offering a single warm-hearted word to a friend who sought you out with so much difficulty like this. I'm a little bit disappointed, you know?" (?)

"Kind?! Did you just say what I think you said?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

I should just rip that stupid lizard into pieces!!

Oh. I'll get ripped into pieces, instead.

Hah…..

Why is she here, of all places? Just why!!

We've seen each other for over a thousand years already!! Isn't that enough?! D*mn it!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"Warm-hearted, my a*s! Did you forget all you did to me already?! Where's your conscience, ah? Is it because you're a lizard that you don't have one? Ah? Ahhhh?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You're still so immature." (?)

"Hah…….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

That's!! Why!! I hate!! That lizard woman!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

With a pair of intensely burning eyes, Yi Ji-Hyuk continued to glare at her, only to suddenly realise something rather important.

No, wait a dang second here.

If I keep provoking her like this, I'll be killed in less than a blink, no?

I mean, I'm no longer Berafe's Bringer of Apocalypse and all. (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

He had lost the power to rip that woman in half with just a single hand quite a while ago. So, if he were to remain logical and compare his and her current combat prowess, then….

What would be the results?

Can I last at least three seconds against her?

No, wait, I don't think I can last even that long.

This is insane!

One dragon crossing over would nearly destroy this entire world, yet…. Where is her dang morals, man!! She's the lord of all b.l.o.o.d.y dragons, so why!!

Just why on freaking h.e.l.l did the dang lord of the dragons cross over to this side?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"….Affeldrichae." (Yi Ji-Hyuk) (TL: I made a mistake and TLed her name as Affeldrich back in the chapter 3.)

"Please call me as you did in the past - Richae, Mister Ji-Hyuk~." (Affeldrichae)

"Hah………….." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

This world is finished.

Just as despair settled in Yi Ji-Hyuk's eyes, he began tearing out his hair.

"What are they talking about?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Who knows." (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Seo Ah-Young and Choi Jung-Hoon were staring at the two people sitting at the other table, as every square inch surrounding them were cordoned off by black-suited men.

What with the American agents from the CPO maintaining a tight barrier, there was no way to b.u.t.t in there, either.

"Aren't we getting a really cold shoulder here?" (Seo Ah-Young)

Rather than 'we', it's just you, ma'am.

An ability user like you, the Flame Witch, would receive a national welcome fitting for an important guest of the state, but too bad, your timing is way off. You showed up with Yi Ji-Hyuk, after all. (Choi Jung-Hoon's inner monologue)

"Who is that woman, I wonder?" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min puffed up her cheeks.

She could accept that woman being so incredibly pretty. Sure.

No, hang on a minute - that woman's beauty was already well beyond whether Jeong Hae-Min accepted it or whatnot. That level of beauty was on a ridiculous level, after all.

But what got on her nerves the most was the fact that the blonde woman seemed to know Yi Ji-Hyuk quite intimately.

Jeong Hae-Min couldn't understand a word of what they were saying to each

She could see Yi Ji-Hyuk, with his legs crossed and his body tilted at an awkward angle while emitting a dense aura of pure discomfort, and sitting across from him, the blonde woman staring at him while resting her chin on her hand and a warm smile etched across her lips.

What a strange scenery this was, yet….

It sure looked rather picturesque as well.

It was kinda like, unfamiliar yet familiar at the same time?

'I don't like this at all….' (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min couldn't tell why, though.

*SFX for a cold wind blowing across*

"Euhk…" (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min shuddered slightly from the sudden bout of cold wind coming from her side.

'What was that, all of a sudden?' (Jeong Hae-Min)

Sure enough, when she turned her head to the side to see what was going on, she spotted Kim Dah-Som and her hardened face that was frozen stiff like the statue of Venus de Milo.

Ah, this wonderful feeling!

Yes, so sweet and refres.h.i.+ng like a cold cider!

Yep, you got your just desserts after wagging your tail so much while only relying on your looks. (Jeong Hae-Min)

Indeed, no matter how pretty Kim Dah-Som was, there was no way she'd measure up to that mysterious woman at all.

'Still, what are they talking about?' (Jeong Hae-Min)

*SFX for sucking the Cola through the straw*

Affeldrichae took a sip of the Cola out of the cup in front of her before frowning ever so slightly.

"So, this is that Cola thing you've been singing praises of." (Affeldrichae)

"Yeah." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"But, it's odd. It's just sweet. And all these bubbles, what do you call them? Anyway, you missed such a taste?" (Affeldrichae)

"It's a whole lot better than that stupid bland-as-h.e.l.l juice you like to drink so much." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Your tastes remain as eclectic as usual, I see." (Affeldrichae)

"It's not me who's weird here, it's you lot, you dang lizard!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You're still hung up on external appearances even now, I see. Just how many more times do I need to tell you before you finally understand that we the dragons are divine beings and therefore have no relations to lizard species? I think I've already said this 3,123 times prior to this day already?" (Affeldrichae)

"Listen here…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Yes, Mister Ji-Hyuk~?" (Affeldrichae)

"I really, really don't like you." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"I think you've told me that about 3,000 times already, as well." (Affeldrichae)

Yi Ji-Hyuk fished out a cigarette and stuck it between his lips before lighting it up.

Hah….

Please, save my soul, someone….

Why am I having this dumb conversation with her even on this planet? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

It felt like all his brain cells were going on strike after having this conversation with her in what sure felt like an eternity.

I gotta go through that scary, horrible experience again?

Where are the G.o.ds, Buddhas, etc, of this world….?

No, never mind the G.o.ds and whatnots of this world, what the h.e.l.l is Latrel thinking of, by sending this woman over here? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"By the way, why are you here?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Didn't I tell you already? You and your old habit of not listening to anyone else. I told you, I'm here to see you." (Affeldrichae)

"Didn't our relations.h.i.+p end already?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You thought it was over?" (Affeldrichae)

"But, it is over, isn't it?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Well, I have to disagree with you there." (Affeldrichae)

"Holy f*cking cow." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Let's just end that c.r.a.p already!!

Really, let's just call it a day, you stinking stupid lizard woman!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"We saw each other's faces for one thousand years already! Isn't that enough for you?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Actually, it's 1,632 years." (Affeldrichae)

"Hul, seriously?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Yep."

….It was that long?! Wait, in that case, just how old am I?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"Besides, if you count the years you had spent in 'that place', then the total should be double that number. Shall I calculate it for you?" (Affeldrichae)

"Nope, no need." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

I don't wanna hear about that no more. (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"Okay, fine. 1,600… No, let's just say it's over one thousand years. In any case, isn't that enough for you?! Did you chase me all the way out here thinking there's something you can still get from me?! Why can't you people leave me alone, ah? I've already proved that I'm not the one to bring forth the Apocalypse of Berafe, haven't I?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Maybe I should've just blown them up to smithereens back then!!

Don't you know how 'final' the Apocalypse actually is? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

Indeed, even if every living human being in Berafe was killed off, that still didn't mean the Apocalypse for Berafe. Even if all life perished from a world, if new lives were born to replace the old, then that would not count as an Apocalypse, anyhow.

That's why!!

I've never wanted to destroy your world to begin with, nor did I possess the enough power to do that in the first place!!

So, just leave me alone, already!!!

Did you only eat leeches when growing up or something? Why don't you wanna let go of a poor guy like me? Ah? Why?!

You've all been tormenting me for over a thousand years alre….. (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

It was at this point when Yi Ji-Hyuk's expression began hardening gradually.

He felt like his innards were boiling over.

'Maybe, I should've killed them all back then?' (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He couldn't do it in his current state, but back then, it'd not have been an impossible task, albeit a difficult one.

"You think you've proven that?" (Affeldrichae)

"I didn't?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Nothing has been proven, Mister Ji-Hyuk." (Affeldrichae)

A breeze seemingly blew in from nowhere and her hair danced ever so lazily in the air.

Those abundant locks of blonde hair waving in the air…

He found it so familiar. He also found that he did miss that sight just a little….

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a long sigh.

"It's not over yet. Not even close." (Affeldrichae)

"And just what is not over yet now?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"They are already crossing over to this world as we speak. I found their traces, and came here to find you." (Affeldrichae)

"Who are 'they'?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"They are the very same ones you know so well." (Affeldrichae)

The very same ones that I know so well, huh….

"You know, I've met a lot of people over the years, so I need more than that to guess who they might be." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"…Well, they are from the place you've been a part of." (Affeldrichae)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's eyes opened just a bit wider.

"The Gates from the demon world are opening." (Affeldrichae)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shut his mouth.

Meanwhile, somewhere in America….

"How absurd." (Alpha)

Alpha chuckled wryly as he stared at a small Gate in front of him.

"So, you could make something like this." (Alpha)

"The Gate spell is universally available and it is a very convenient magic. Its only job is to take you from one s.p.a.ce to another. In other words, it's simpler than it looks." (?)

"Is that how it is?" (Alpha)

The small devil, 'Argolas' still stuck in the form of a little child, nodded his head.

"Of course, there's a slight issue, and that is to do with where you want to connect the Gate to. If you want to open a Gate not too far from you, you'll only need to use a small amount of Mana. But, if you want to open one up on the other side of the world, that's gonna take some doing. And just like now, if I want to open a Gate to another world that transcends dimensions, then I'd have expend an unimaginable amount of Mana in one go." (Argolas)

"Hhmm. In that case, isn't this a little useless? Didn't you say you had to expend almost all of your Mana previously? You also said this isn't your real body, either." (Alpha)

"Correct. For the current me, opening a small Gate such as this one is my limit." (Argolas)

A subtle smile crept up on Argolas's face.

"Then, why did you waste time performing a worthless task like this?" (Alpha)

A wider grin revealing a pair of sharp incisors formed on Argolas's face.

"It would've been a meaningless action, for sure - but the situation is a little bit different now. All I have to do is to open a small Gate such as this one, and the other side will supply enough Mana to enlarge the portal themselves." (Argolas)

"Mm?"

"There's a noticeable difference between a Gate that's been opened from one side, and the one that's being maintained from both sides. I alone can only create low-level Gates such as the ones you saw last time. But, the story will change if both sides are on the same page." (Argolas)

The low-level Gates I saw the last time?

Does he mean those Gates that appeared in Seoul when I was conversing with Yi Ji-Hyuk?

Calling those Gates, rated at 4, 'low-level'? (Alpha's inner monologue)

"Of course, I wasn't opening Gates connected directly to the demon world so I only had to expend a small amount of Mana that time." (Argolas)

"You're not making much sense." (Alpha)

"Well, if those Gates connected one dimension to another, then by opening a Gate that connects directly to the demon world, it'd be akin to me connecting this world to a fantastic reality that exists between different dimensions." (Argolas)

"How complicated." (Alpha)

"Just take it as being extremely difficult, okay? Even though I'm a demon, it's very difficult to make it happen." (Argolas)

Of course, there was a 'human' living in this world who used to do that without batting an eyelid, though. However, Argolas thought that there was no need to inform Alpha of that tidbit at the moment.

"So, is this Gate connected to the demon world?" (Alpha)

"Yes. However, it's not sufficient. There is not enough Mana. Also, it'd be nice if we can get some energy from the negative dimension, too." (Argolas)

"I can't understand what you're talking about, but I don't want to understand it, either. So, at the end of the day, what do you need from me?" (Alpha)

"Oh, that's rather simple, actually." (Argolas)

Argolas revealed his fangs in a grin once more.

"Kill." (Argolas)

"Quite explicit, aren't you." (Alpha)

Alpha turned around to leave. But before he disappeared…

"By the way, demon." (Alpha)

"Mm?"

"I don't care that you're using me. However, you should know to do that in moderation. Know what I mean?" (Alpha)

"I'll keep that in mind." (Argolas)

After Alpha had left the area, Argolas stared intensely at the black Gate without moving from the spot.

"I'm not using you, you dumb little human." (Argolas)

Argolas was desperate enough to borrow the strength of a cat if that helped.

Why?

Because, Yi Ji-Hyuk was in this world, that was why.

Fin.