The Returner

Mom s.h.i.+fted her gaze towards the front entrance.

Just who could be visiting them at this time of the day?

Could it be dad?

But, it wasn't the time for him to get off work yet.

"Who could it be?" (mom)

As soon as he confirmed that mom had left the room, Yi Ji-Hyuk sneakily returned to his computer screen. He had no idea who could be at the door, but whatever, it seemed rather prudent to finish up with the things he was busy with, before he got rudely interrupted.

Meanwhile, mom pressed the talk b.u.t.ton on the intercom.

"Who is it?" (mom)

On the screen of the intercom, she could see a beautiful woman with a friendly smile.

- "h.e.l.lo, ma'am. Good day to you. I'm from the KSF and I'd like to discuss a certain matter with you; may I be permitted to enter your home?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"You're from the KSF?" (mom)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's head swiveled towards the front entrance as soon as he overheard mom's voice.

"The KSF?"(Yi Ji-Hyuk)

But, why would she bother?

Why was she intruding into his home now?

He was already getting slightly irritated by the fact that they were following him around, but now they've even decided to invade his home?

Of course Yi Ji-Hyuk began frowning.

He left them alone since they hadn't done anything notable yet, but if they were planning to intrude into his life continuously, then there was a need for him to rethink his approach.

Well, it wasn't as if he was going to blow them all away, anyway.

If he did that, he would end up fighting the whole country, and then, if he was unlucky enough, he'd have to fight the entire world. There was no gawd-dang way he'd feel motivated enough to do something so bothersome.

h.e.l.l, even after he emerged victorious, there would be nothing to gain anyways.

So, the best was to not get involved in the first place!

"Mom!! Don't open the door!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"What?" (mom)

"We don't open the door, and that's the end of that. Nothing good will come from getting entangled with those guys." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"But, still. She's a government official." (mom)

"h.e.l.l, they don't even have a warrant, you know. A warrant! Just tell her to scram!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"But, still…" (mom)

"Besides, mom. Is there a proof that she's from the KSF? What if she is a suspicious person?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Oh, now that I think about it, you could be right." (mom)

Mom looked into the intercom's screen with suspicious eyes.

Seo Ah-Young smiled meaningfully and lifted the thing in her hand near the intercom's camera lens.

- "Oh, I almost forgot. I thought it might be inconsiderate to come empty-handed, so I picked up a small present on the way. Mother, I hope you like this brand…" (Seo Ah-Young) (TL: "Mother" used here isn't in the literal meaning of the word. It's just a polite form of addressing a female figure who is old enough to be your own mother.)

Seo Ah-Young was holding a small gift bag with letters "XHANEL" written on the side. And seeing this, mom quickly ended the intercom chat and ran towards the front door.

"Mom?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You're being noisy!" (mom)

Decisively ignoring her only son's protests, mom hurriedly opened the front door and greeted Seo Ah-Young with warm and extremely friendly tone of voice, something Yi Ji-Hyuk hadn't heard of before.

"Oh, goodness me! h.e.l.lo there. It's an honour to welcome such an important person from a government inst.i.tution into my family's humble abode." (mom)

"Oh, no, mother, it is I who should feel honoured to receive such a warm welcome." (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young smirked and took a glance at Yi Ji-Hyuk's direction.

'That stupid hag!' (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Seeing that victorious smile on her face, Yi Ji-Hyuk began trembling in anger.

However, she was already in the house. What could he do now, since the milk had already been spilt?

"Here, I know it's a little uncomfortable, but please take a seat." (mom)

"Thank you, mother." (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young was the perfect model of demure politeness as she carefully folded her legs and settled down besides the coffee table.

To Yi Ji-Hyuk, it was like looking at the fox with 999 tails doing its schtick, and yes, he found it very displeasing to the eyes.

Meanwhile, Park Seon-Duk brought out refreshments from the fridge. Seo Ah-Young mouthed her thanks adequately and received the drink.

"Even though you work in such a rough environment, you've managed to maintain such a wonderful skin condition." (mom)

"Hohoho. Thank you very much for your compliments. But, mother is the prettiest person here today. If I didn't hear beforehand that you're Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk's mother, I'd have mistook you for his older sister." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Oh, my. Thank you very much. Ohohoho." (mom)

Annnd, Yi Ji-Hyuk thought his face would rot away if he heard any more of this exchange.

Transcending all ages and all cultures in the world, no, even that of dimensions, the women folks' way of over-enthusiastic greetings remained the same everywhere. And he could never get used to it.

"But, what brings you to our home?" (mom)

When mom decided to direct the conversation towards the main topic, Seo Ah-Young righted her posture and got serious.

"We are here, actually, to…" (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young turned her head towards Yi Ji-Hyuk and spoke.

"…To scout Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Seo Ah-Young)

"GROAN…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk's head rolled backwards and he closed his eyes shut.

He had been expecting something like this to happen, but h.e.l.l, this was just too early. Too dang early!

He really imagined that they would take a lot longer time to a.s.sess and a.n.a.lyse him. He honestly thought like that.

"Scouting my Ji-Hyuk?" (mom)

"Yes, mother. Do you remember the time when Mister Ji-Hyuk was under investigation by us in the KSF?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Yes, I remember." (mom)

Of course she'd remember; her only son got locked away for three days, after all, so how could she not?

"At the end of our investigation, we came to the conclusion that Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk is a wonderful prospect for the country's future." (Seo Ah-Young)

"My son is a wonderful prospect?" (mom)

A strange scene of mom not believing the word of another person that praised her child, occurred right in front of the subject in question.

It seemed that the powerful pa.s.sive skill all mothers were equipped with, the one about parental love being blind and all (which would start along the lines of "My child has a good head on his/her shoulders, but is too lazy to study") was not present and not correct in Madam Park Seon-Duk's

"Yes, mother. He possesses a great power, one that's worth pursuing. That is why we at the KSF wish to scout and hire him officially." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Scouting my boy…" (mom)

With a renewed interest in her eyes, mom s.h.i.+fted her gaze to Yi Ji-Hyuk.

To think, people were trying to scout that lazy-a*s fool…

Perhaps, could these KSF people who looked tough and strict on the outside, actually be a bunch of sloppy idiots on the inside?

Well, if they had eyes and ears and some brain matter in between, they wouldn't try to scout her son, that's for sure.

It had been some time since she had thrown away that tiny speck of hope in her heart, the one that formed back when she learned her son was an ability user. Even if she gave birth to him, he was beyond saving, after all.

"Ji-Hyuk-ah." (mom)

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

"Come over here and take a seat for a while." (mom)

"Can't I come after I finish up this round?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Do you wish to witness the end of your life today?" (mom)

"Mom, I'm on my way right now." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk trudged into the living room and settled down next to mom.

His bloodshot eyes landed on Seo Ah-Young.

He could see how relaxed and leisurely she was.

She had already figured out that no matter how rude and inconsiderate Yi Ji-Hyuk was, in front of his mom, he'd behave himself.

Well, truth be told, she already knew that, through countless surveillance video footages as well as eyewitness accounts, Yi Ji-Hyuk was no different from a mouse s.h.i.+vering in front of a cat, no, a dried-up squid in the hands of an experienced kitchen maid, when his mother was present.

"Were you expecting to see something nice when you came here?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Oh my? Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, we are already acquainted with each other, so aren't you being a little too cold?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Acquaintance? More like, antagonist, instead!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"That's not true at all. I really came here today with good intentions." (Seo Ah-Young)

Yi Ji-Hyuk snorted derisively.

"Is that why you're still hiding someone behind you?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Ah! My apologies. It's a bad habit of mine. Gah-Yun-ah, please give them your greetings as well." (Seo Ah-Young)

Doh Gah-Yun appeared right behind Seo Ah-Young. She sat next to her and wordlessly lowered her head.

Of course, Park Seon-Duk was surprised by the fact that a person materialised out of nowhere and her eyes continuously blinked nonstop.

"That, that is quite something…" (mom)

However, no matter how surprised she was, she never lost her composure.

Already, many ability users and their powers were known to the public through media exposure, so she didn't find accepting an event like this all that difficult.

"So, to continue where we left off…" (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young smiled brightly and continued with her explanations.

"We'd like to offer Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk the best deals to secure his services. Our plan is to offer the best conditions available for civilian contracts for him. Not only his wages, all the needs for Mister Ji-Hyuk as well as the support and financial benefits for his immediate family members will be guaranteed. I promise. The detailed breakdown is contained within these doc.u.ments." (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young produced a thick contract doc.u.ment from her bag and cautiously placed it in front of Yi Ji-Hyuk's mom.

"And this is?" (mom)

"These detail every favourable condition we are offering to your son. And also, I know that this is only a small thing, but here…" (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young finally placed the gift bag on the coffee table.

"Please think of it as us showing our sincerity, mother. Although it is only a small thing, please accept it." (Seo Ah-Young)

"I'm not certain whether I should…" (mom)

"Really, it's nothing much, mother. It'll get a little bit awkward for me if you refuse it…" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Well, in that case…" (mom)

Ah, so that's what it looks like, the tone of the voice indicating how troubled a person is, and the facial expression of that person, not exactly matching up. In fact, it's the exact opposite!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

Yi Ji-Hyuk couldn't help but show his appreciation at this strange sight, which he hadn't had the good fortune to come across in his thousand-plus years of life. Until today.

"However…" (mom)

Strangely, though… unlike her expressions, mom didn't reach out towards the offered gift.

"Didn't you forcibly enlist ability users until now?" (mom)

"Ah, so you weren't aware. Your son is not recognised as an ability user yet. He is a civilian, at least for now." (Seo Ah-Young)

"In that case, why him?" (mom)

"However, he possesses powers that easily exceed regular ability users. And at the KSF, we definitely need the help that power will provide. In short, your son is a prospect that not only the KSF, but the whole country will need in the future." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Eiiii~." (mom)

While chuckling, mom waved her hand around dismissively and looked at her son.

Being subjected to such a doubtful stare, Yi Ji-Hyuk felt the waves of resentment wash over him.

"Mom, what the?! I'm still your child, you know!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"Precisely because you're my child, I find it so unlikely!" (mom)

"You don't trust your son that much?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"It's because you're my son that I don't trust you!!" (mom)

"Yes, mom…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk was shot down ruthlessly and as a result, he sank to the bottom.

"Well, then…" (mom)

Ignoring the crumpled Yi Ji-Hyuk, mom directed her question to Seo Ah-Young.

"When he's hired by the KSF, what sort of work will he be performing?" (mom)

"Basically…" (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young hesitated slightly before replying.

"He will be asked to partic.i.p.ate in the anti-Gate operations. His main role will be to suppress the waves of monsters." (Seo Ah-Young)

Park Seon-Duk was genuinely startled to hear that.

"But, you said he's not an ability user!" (mom)

"Yes, I did. But he possesses powers beyond common ability users. In all honesty, with his abilities, fighting monsters would be no different than getting a little bit of exercise in after a hearty meal. Isn't that right, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Who are you even referring to now?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"You're so humble." (Seo Ah-Young)

"What the? Listen here, I'm not being humble here at all…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

"If you're too humble, it's actually harmful to your image, you know?" (Seo Ah-Young)

What the h.e.l.l? Did this woman originally possess such a silky tongue before? Wait, when she was giving commands at the scene, she did spit out orders rather eloquently, didn't she? (Yi Ji-Hyuk's inner monologue)

"Mm. So, he will be asked to partic.i.p.ate in non-dangerous monster suppressions, but he will still be paid well, and the benefits will be even better, plus you'll even provide aid to his family. Is that the gist of your offer?" (mom)

"Yes, mother. That is correct." (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young's and Park Seon-Duk's gazes met each other, and the two women smiled at the same time.

'Mom, no! You mustn't!' (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

As Yi Ji-Hyuk perceived threats to his livelihood and decided to act on it, mom reached out and grasped the gift bag.

"And this is?" (mom)

"It's a wallet, mother. I thought of getting a handbag, but since I didn't know of your tastes, I prepared a wallet instead. I felt that wallets would weather the changing of fas.h.i.+on trends a little better than a bag." (Seo Ah-Young)

"Ah, so that's what it is." (mom)

Park Seon-Duk smiled brightly and then, placed the bag on top of the doc.u.ments and pushed both forward, away from her.

Seo Ah-Young stared at that action with stunned eyes, before opening her mouth.

"Mother?" (Seo Ah-Young)

"Please, take them away." (mom)

"E, excuse me? But, mother…" (Seo Ah-Young)

Park Seon-Duk continued to smile while she explained her position.

"Perhaps, you don't understand it because you haven't had a child of your own yet…" (mom)

"Pardon?" (Seo Ah-Young)

Suddenly, Park Seon-Duk's expressions hardened.

"You will not find a mother willing to force her own child into a potential death zone so that she could live happily off the money." (mom)

"Yes, he might be a somewhat dumb child, and he might show not one iota of desire to do anything. Yes, he might be a wastrel that plays only video games the whole day, with an avarice for food to match his sloppiness. Yes, his personality might be the worst, and yes, as a man he lacks a backbone and gets bad-mouthed constantly by his own little sister. And he gets abused online because he's so terrible in games, and yes, even though he only graduated from the middle school and is a high school dropout!!" (mom)

"M, mom…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Mom, that's way too harsh…

Aren't I still your child?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk's pitiful inner grumblings)

Yi Ji-Hyuk swallowed back his rising tears.

It seemed that, before he had realised it, getting disparaged had become the norm for him.

"However, he's still my son. He's precio… No, that's not important. He's my child. Even if I don't find him adorable, he'll always be my boy. Just because I don't find it pleasing to see him play games at home, you're telling me to send him out to fight monsters? Do you really think those are the words you should say in front of a mother?" (mom)

Mom didn't even give the panicking and lost Seo Ah-Young time to recover and landed the next blow.

"I would prefer it if you don't come and visit us in the future regarding this matter. If you try again, then next time, I can not guarantee that I will remain as civil." (mom)

Mom… she was powerful, as usual.

Fin.