The Returner

Yi Ji-Hyuk sent Kim Dah-Som on her way and headed home himself.

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"Why does it feel like I’ve been away for too long?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

It hadn’t even been a couple of days since he left, but for some reason, it felt like he went away for a really long time. He thought about it, and figured that all sorts of events that happened so far were to blame here.

Yi Ji-Hyuk opened the front gate of his house and entered its foyer.

"Uh? Why are you here?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Oh-Sik’s wifey trotted over to Yi Ji-Hyuk and cutely wagged its tail.

"You’ve been well? Have you eaten yet?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Whimper, whimper….

Oh-Soon flipped around to expose its belly, so Yi Ji-Hyuk lightly patted the creature.

"You shouldn’t expose your tummy to another man so easily, you know. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Now that he thought about it, this kid, she acted far more like a dog when compared to Oh-Sik. The latter might look like a dog, sure, but he didn’t really act like one, yet this little pup not only resembled one, but acted almost exactly like one, too.

"Hey, your hubby is back at the office. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Maybe she understood what he was saying, because her ears perked up. It looked rather cute just then.

‘Wait, were all the Ogres this cute?’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Although there might be some ‘differences’ since he forcibly created this look by sucking out all their Mana, he began thinking that maybe, their current small-bodied-but-big-headed look must be quite similar to how an Ogre cub looked like originally.

He had never seen a baby Ogre before, so he couldn’t say much about it either way, anyway.

"Okay, why don’t you get going?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Whimper!

Oh-Soon raised its body up, and Yi Ji-Hyuk beseeched it.

"You mustn’t toy with people on your way, though. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Woof!

"You don’t have a leash on, so if you end up in a situation of getting dragged to a dog pound, escape without hurting anyone, okay?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Woof!

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched Oh-Soon trot outside the house and tilted his head.

"By the way, that kid… does she even know what a dog pound is?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

What a mystery that was.

"Mom, I’m home!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk opened the door and entered the house.

Since the family moved into this house not too long ago, he didn’t get that effect of his mind relaxing immediately upon entering it. However, wasn’t ‘home’ supposed to be a place where a man could rest the best in this whole world?

Yi Ji-Hyuk had been napping inside the bus or in a North Korean hotel, so the moment he stepped foot inside his house, it felt as if all the acc.u.mulated fatigue was suddenly being unleashed at once.

‘That’s weird. ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

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It had been a really long time since he felt this much fatigue built up in his body.

Back when he was stuck in Berafe, his body regenerated and refreshed constantly, so there was no time to feel any fatigue. And right after his return to Earth, he was filled up with more than enough happiness that he could’ve almost worked in a construction site for seven days straight without any sleep.

‘I’ve got no energy. ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He had swallowed up an incredible amount of Mana recently, yet the mere fact that he felt this tired could only mean the load his body was under was quite heavy.

The Dark Mana was supposed to continue destroying a person’s body, but the thing was, his Ether reserve was skyrocketing ever since his return to Earth; his body was reinforced with Ether, which was on top of his exacting control over Mana that had reached the absolute peak in mastery, so it was safe to a.s.sume that his body shouldn’t automatically get degraded.

Even then, he was feeling tired?

It was the evidence of a problem occurring somewhere.

Meaning, his body had begun crumbling down. His body, the one Erukana and Affeldrichae stepped up to do whatever necessary to maintain….

"Mm…. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s expression became serious for the first time in a while.

"This isn’t good…. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Son, you’re home?" (Mom)

Even before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, his mom welcomed him back.

"Ng, mom. I"m back. Where’s Ye-Won?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"She’s still at school, with time being what it is. " (Mom)

"I see. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Son, you must be starving. " (Mom)

"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk scratched his cheek.

It hadn’t been that long since he madly gorged on the grub the North Koreans prepared for him. Even then, he still felt hungry, so that was a bit problematic.

"N-ng, mom. Yeah, I’m starving. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Okay. Wash up first, I’ll get something to eat ready soon. " (Mom)

"Ng. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk headed to the bathroom as his mother pushed him from behind. As he walked towards it, he scratched the back of his head without realising it.

‘What a weird feeling this is. ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

For some reason, it felt like he had got off work and came home like a regular person.

If he didn’t get sucked into the Gate that fateful day, and if the world didn’t change, it was quite likely that Yi Ji-Hyuk would’ve been repeating such a daily life.

Sure, he might be suffering from pitifully-low wages and shouting "h.e.l.l Joseon" to high heavens every chance he gets, but still, he wouldn’t be pondering dilemmas like the current one.

He finished showering and stepped outside while dusting his wet hair to find food filling up the dining table.

"Why did you prepare so much food??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"My son went on a business trip, so as a mother, I should be more mindful, no?" (Mom)

"That trip wasn’t even a proper trip, you know. And I’ve been away for only a day, after all. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

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"That’s the definition of a business trip, son. " (Mom)

"Oh, I see. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Even though he grumbled softly, Yi Ji-Hyuk still settled down on his seat. He mouthed a spoonful of soup and a smile automatically bloomed on his lips.

"Is it good?" (Mom)

"Mom, if you can’t find anything to do, just open up a diner. I was eating the best dishes in North Korea, but I’m telling you, not one of those can match up to you, mom. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That’s only because of your taste buds, son. " (Mom)

"No, it’s the truth. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Mom smiled brightly and

"Where are you going?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"To wash your clothes. You just came home from a business trip, so you should’ve left your clothes in the washer. You shouldn’t hang them up to wear them again later. " (Mom)

"They aren’t that dirty, though?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"It’s dirty to me. " (Mom)

"Heheh. " (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

As he shoved the warm rice in his mouth, his slightly-dazed eyes were taking in the sight of the dining table.

‘This was it. ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The reason why he wanted to return.

Even though it was tough and rather torturous, the fact that he had a place where he could let go of everything and relax – that was the sole difference between here and Berafe. In a certain way, Yi Ji-Hyuk was having a much harder time, physically speaking, than in the past. He was enduring the unceasing pain, something he wouldn’t have experienced back in Berafe, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Even then, the reason why he thought here was much better than Berafe was because there were people who genuinely thought about his wellbeing in this place.

‘Erukana might feel a bit unhappy if she hears about this, I guess?’

Yi Ji-Hyuk wordlessly polished off every bit of food mom prepared for him.

"Whew-woo…. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon leaned against the back of his chair while sipping on the unusually-thick Americano.

"What is that?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"It’s Americano. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Really? Looks more like Espresso to me. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"I made it a big stronger than usual. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Vice director, you should also take a break. You’ve been working a little too hard for a while now. I can easily see how tired you are. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Is that so? I thought I was managing it pretty well so far?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"You’ve lost a lot of weight, actually. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"There’s not much I could do about that, unfortunately. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon could only smile bitterly. Now that he looked back, he’d been working nonstop with nary a moment to take a breather.

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‘Yeah, I didn’t even have enough time to think straight. ’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Post-Black Monday, he lived almost as if he had devoted himself to work, but after running into Yi Ji-Hyuk, he now had to concede that life before was cakewalk filled with lots of leeway.

After Yi Ji-Hyuk’s appearance, he truly lived as if the office was his real home. He even got saddled with the role of managing the incident locations too, something he didn’t have to do before, and gotten tangled up in all sorts of things up over and over again.

"You should consider marriage and a family, you know?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Will such a thing even be possible for my lifestyle?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"What about your lifestyle?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"I think it’s unrealistic. Besides, is marriage something that happens because I want it to? I’ll need a partner for that first, too. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"A partner, you say?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

Kim Dah-Hyun’s eyes s.h.i.+fted to the side.

He could see Seo Ah-Young sitting by the seat of honour, busy glaring daggers at her computer monitor.

"…. Is she even working right now?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Judging from that expression, looks like she’s doing some internet shopping. There must be a discount sale going on or some such. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"But, her wage isn’t low enough to obsess over discounts??" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"You’ll only become wealthy by saving as much as you can. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Kim Dah-Hyun ended up smirking just then. This guy, he said that there was no partner for him when he could tell what she was doing just by looking at her face.

‘Do I need to get the ball rolling first?’ (Kim Dah-Hyun)

These two’s ages were getting up there, but since they had no intentions of making their moves at all, it seemed that they would be stuck forever not going anywhere fast.

"That’s not my problem alone, though. Mister Dah-Hyun, you also don’t have a girlfriend, no?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Me? I can always find me a girl if I want to. It’s just that, haven’t met a girl that meets my criteria. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Is that so?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Eii~, to your eyes, I may come across as a dunce who can’t even do his job properly, but actually, the name NDF still has a lot of clout outside of these walls. Really, everyone here gets pretty high annual wages, and when looking at us as ability users, we occupy the top 0. 1% in South Korea. That’s a fact. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Now that I think about it, I guess you’re right. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

That was the NDF in a nutsh.e.l.l, the gathering of elites.

Yi Ji-Hyuk was at fault for making them look like a bunch of agents tasked with dealing with his aftermaths, but that was nothing more than an impression they held of themselves. From other people’s perspective, they probably came across as the ability users proudly representing South Korea.

‘Actually, he’s right. ’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

The reason for establis.h.i.+ng the NDF initially was that very purpose. To gather the best ability users currently active in regional branches scattered around the country in one place, and defend against Gates that opened up all over the map – that was what Choi Jeong-Hoon envisioned the NDF would be like during its formation.

By relying on the teleporter Jeong Hae-Min, provide quick support to any location within the nation, and respond quickly to threats to decrease the overall number of victims, now that was the starting goal of the NDF project.

However, after Yi Ji-Hyuk made his appearance, Gates that the NDF couldn’t deal with began showing up, and then, the overall level of the KSF had gone up as well, allowing them to deal with Gates on their own somehow, leaving the NDF’s position in a somewhat of a limbo.

‘Wait, is it a bit strange to say we’re in a limbo?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Sure, the NDF should’ve been seen as South Korea’s top organisation, but that’s where this story should’ve ended. But they were now seen as an international response organisation instead, so one could argue their position was far more important than ever before. The sad thing about all that was, the NDF should’ve been treated as such but the whole organisation was more or less treated like surplus that tagged along with Yi Ji-Hyuk.

"Indeed, when you get technical about it, you guys were referred as the elites on your own, too. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

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"The past tense in that sentence is rather unpleasant, actually. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Yes, you’re still all elites even now. Very true. I’m also the same, too. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Their overall pride must’ve taken a nosedive what with a truly ‘exceptional’ human being accompanying them all the time. Especially so, when realising something this b.l.o.o.d.y obvious.

"Still, it’s a bit better now, maybe because things have calmed down a lot. In the beginning of the NDF, we were really so busy that none of us couldn’t think straight at all. It’s already a big ask trying to adapt to Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk’s ways, yet we had demon kings invading us, and a dragon showed up, etc, etc. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"That did happen. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon shook his head to indicate that it was horrible for him, too.

"Maybe, things will only get better for us moving on?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

Even though he was saying that, Kim Dah-Hyun didn’t seem to be holding much of a hope. He already knew very well that the Gate defence would only get harder with time.

They all knew that the moment the balance they had been maintaining until now collapsed, humanity would be finished as well.

"We have a cheat code so I think we can hold on somehow, but…" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

Kim Dah-Hyun s.h.i.+fted his head to look at the computer monitor.

"We’re all sitting here dying of anxiety, yet the world seemed to be so peaceful, doesn’t it?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"We’re doing this so that the world enjoys its peace, aren’t we?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Eii~, I’m not the type to be overflowing with all that sense of duty, you know? I’ll be happy if I can make enough money and live a trouble-free life. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"I’m the same as you, actually. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

The two men looked at each other and chuckled.

"By the way, how is Dah-Som lately?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Dah-Som? Why?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"Ah, you see, I thought I saw her in the office the last time, so…. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Dah-Som is apparently going on a shopping trip with Mister Ji-Hyuk tomorrow, so I think she’s getting ready for that. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"S-shopping?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Yes. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"What are they planning to buy?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"Clothes, I think. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

Choi Jeong-Hoon’s eyes trembled.

"Wait, they can’t be going out to buy Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk new clothes, can they?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"I think that’s exactly it?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"…. He wears the same clothes everyday, so why a grandiose shopping trip all of a sudden?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

"It’s impossible to know what that dude is thinking. " (Kim Dah-Hyun)

"I-I guess you’re right. " (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon took another sip of his coffee and looked outside the window while praying that this rare small break would last just a bit longer.

Fin.

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