The Returner

“...I’m not quite sure how to describe this situation, really.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk fell into a bit of a dilemma while staring at the people currently lining up within the training hall.

Out of the original three thousand ability users, almost one-third had disappeared. That should be seen as a very disappointing turn of events, but the fact that the other two-thirds bravely chose to remain while risking their lives was indeed an encouraging thing to behold.

“I guess this is still a lot of people remaining.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

When Yi Ji-Hyuk muttered to himself, Choi Jeong-Hoon nodded in agreement.

“When someone says you need to put your life on the line, it’d normally mean that you’d need to have a mindset as grim as that statement, but when it’s you saying the same thing, it’ll probably turn out to be true. Everyone here is quick witted enough to figure that out for themselves.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“...Is that so?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Considering that fact, it was rather amazing that these many people decided to stick around. And there was something else that deserved to be praised as even more amazing.

“Looks like all of Alpha’s underlings are here, though?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Alpha cackled like a hyena while making his reply.

“You’re making us sad by comparing us to some nobodies, you know. Our side came here with a proper determination and all.” (Alpha)

Yi Ji-Hyuk retorted with a pout.

“Not because they are scared of dying by your hands if they run away?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“That’s the determination I was talking about.” (Alpha)

Alpha didn’t even bother to deny anything.

“In any case, shouldn’t you get the ball rolling by now?” (Alpha)

“You don’t have to rush me. I was about to do just that, anyway.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, looks like the folks with some courage are the only ones remaining, so shouldn’t I say something to praise them?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“No.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon decisively cut Yi Ji-Hyuk off.

“It’ll be for the best if you don’t say anything.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“But, in the interest of rousing up their fighting spirit...” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“If you say something, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, rather than their fighting spirit rousing up, it’ll drop off a cliff instead so please, don’t...” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“...”

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s face reddened instantly.

“What the heck?! I ain’t going to throw a tantrum here, but promising to say something nice to them, so why would their bloody spirits go down from that as if I hurt their fragile feelings or something?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk) 𝒇r𝙚𝙚𝓌𝙚𝑏𝗻𝑜𝘷𝗲𝘭.c૦𝑚

“In that case, please tell me what’s in your mind first. Then I’ll determine whether I should translate it for you or not.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“It’s nothing much. Okay, so. It goes like this. I’m grateful that they chose to remain while risking their lives so I promise to do my absolute best to drive them all to the brink of death.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Rejected!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“How come?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Are you really asking me that because you can’t tell?! Everyone can tell, so why only can’t you see it?! Forget it, just don’t say anything! If you can help it, don’t even open your mouth!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Hul? Why the sudden abuse?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Abuse?! Who’s the one abusing who here?!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s head faltered as a wounded expression washed over his face. But that only prompted Choi Jeong-Hoon to roar out with enough force to spit flames out of his mouth.

“He wasn’t behaving like this recently, so why the heck is he starting again?!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon) 𝒇𝑟e𝙚𝑤𝙚𝐛𝗻𝐨ν𝚎𝘭.c𝐨m

“Forget it. Let’s just get to work.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk dismissively waved his hand about, and like a hunting dog sniffing out a hidden prey, immediately singled out Michael hiding among the remaining crowd.

“You! Come here! Over here!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Hul...” (Michael)

Michael started trembling away as he stared at the brightly-grinning Yi Ji-Hyuk calling out to him.

‘That narrow-minded b*stard!’ (Michael)

Without a doubt, that guy must be harassing Michael because he still had some animosity towards the German. That simply had to be the case, because without that, there was no way Yi Ji-Hyuk would constantly pick Michael out among all these people at every little thing!

“What are you doing?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...”

But since he was singled out, he had no choice but to step forward. If he were to stay still and resist, he should’ve left last night along with the other deserters, instead.

“Urghhhh...” (Michael)

Michael let out a pained groan and trudged forward. Others around him opened up a path while sending him gazes of pity and sympathy.

It was unknown what’s in store for everyone here, but just the mere fact of Yi Ji-Hyuk calling him out was enough to earn their sympathy.

‘Why oh why did I have to make a scene back then?’ (Michael)

Michael could only groan deeply while being subjected to their pitying gazes.

‘But how could I have guessed that he’s such a spiteful b*stard?’ (Michael)

Yi Ji-Hyuk had been acting like someone with a big-enough heart, so Michael figured that it’d be okay to get sassy with him up to a certain degree. But the German would’ve never drawn any attention to himself if only he knew how obsessive Yi Ji-Hyuk could get with his past grudges.

Michael, resembling a cattle being led to a slaughterhouse, stepped up to the slightly-elevated platform and stared at Yi Ji-Hyuk with pitiful eyes.

“Why does it feel like we’re running into each other often lately?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Michael started gritting his teeth right after hearing Choi Jeong-Hoon’s real-time translation efforts.

Was that something he should say after calling another person out?

“...I feel the same. I’m sooo glad to see you again.” (Michael)

“Mm, well, it’s nothing to be that glad about.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shrugged his shoulders and continued on.

“Actually, rather than being glad, you should lament this occasion, instead. Even I also don’t know what’s going to happen next, you see.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He cackled ominously.

“This is my first time doing this so I can’t predict what’s gonna happen here. However, I still warned you so don’t hate me if you end up dying, okay?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...Hang on.” (Michael)

“Ng?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Let me prepare myself first.” (Michael)

Michael clutched his chest and breathed heavily, and Yi Ji-Hyuk shook his head at that sight.

“I thought you wanted to quickly become stronger no matter how?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Well, yes. That is true, but...” (Michael)

Michael’s face gradually contorted into an expression of a hero from a Shakespearean tragedy.

“If it’s possible, I’d like to become stronger as a living person. But judging from the current atmosphere, I get the feeling that I might really die today.” (Michael)

“Bingo.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk clapped his hands as if his guest had correctly guessed it, then gestured to Michael to come closer.

But the figure of him beckoning with his hand resembled a grinning devil so much that Michael ended up shivering uncontrollably.

“...Will I even make it out at the end?” (Michael)

“Eii, you think I’ll go to such an extreme length?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes.” (Michael)

“Huh. You sure do have quick wits.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk cackled as if he was having fun, but Michael looking at that sight could only glance behind him with a sorrowful expression. The other ability users were staring back with deeply tense faces.

‘Just how much worse is it going to get here?’ (Michael)

The so-called training he received until now could definitely not be classified as ‘cakewalk’. No, forget about walking on some creamy cake, it’d be more correct to say that he threatened to hop across the doorway between life and death several times in a day.

Wasn’t it a normal reaction to call an ambulance if someone collapsed with bubbles coming out of their mouth? It was some sort of an unexplainable miracle to see a thousand-plus people keel over with bubbles gushing out of their mouths and roll around in pain on the ground yet no one ended up really dying.

But if the things were about to be taken up a notch here, then would anyone be able to survive that?

A whole bunch of worries filled up Michael’s head, but he no longer had any room to escape.

‘It’s not like I’ll die here, right? Right?’ (Michael)

...No, wait. Now that he thought about it, he could really die after all. Michael’s mindset quickly changed from ‘I won’t die here today’ to ‘You only die once, not twice’, then he sucked in several deep breaths and took a step closer to Yi Ji-Hyuk.

“I’m ready.” (Michael)

“Oh!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk nodded his head as if he liked what he saw.

He figured that Michael was all talk but no trousers. However, it seemed that his quite-noticeable rebellious streak was healthily seasoned with his desire to improve himself.

Indeed, Michael’s eyes were gleaming with this heroic determination as if to prove that ‘my country’, two little words that he kept mouthing off all the time, wasn’t just empty talk after all.

“Very good.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked.

“Except, don’t blame me if you kick the bucket since I’ve definitely told you that one of the two things will happen – either you die or you become stronger.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...I won’t.” (Michael)

Michael couldn’t guarantee that, though.

Yi Ji-Hyuk reached out and grabbed the German’s head.

“Oh, and let me say this before we go on...” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes?” (Michael)

“Even if you start sensing Mana in the middle of the process, you shouldn’t expect me to stop. Honestly speaking, what I’m about to do is pretty hard to restart if we stop in the middle for no good reason, you see? So I gotta get to the end whether we succeed or not. Got that?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...Hang on a second here. What do you mean by that?” (Michael)

“Mm, well, you’ll see when we get there. Explaining it is too much of a hassle.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...”

A loudmouth like Yi Ji-Hyuk refusing to explain because it was a hassle? Who’d believe that excuse? It could only mean that something about the process was rather “difficult” to explain.

Michael felt this ominous foreboding and began wondering if he should attempt to escape from here, but trying to run now would be akin to a character assassination of himself.

“Euh....” (Michael)

Michael just gave up and quietly accepted Yi Ji-Hyuk’s hand. But his eyes remained full of distrust and anxiety as he stared at the hand resting on top of his head.

“Well, then. Should we get started?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk wiggled his hand on Michael’s head a little, before saying something.

“You probably won’t die.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“What a relief to hear you say that.” (Michael)

“But we should seriously contemplate if that’s really the best thing for you. I mean, even if you aren’t dead, maybe you’d start wishing for death anyway.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...Excuse me?” (Michael)

“Even if your body’s intact, you wouldn’t be alive if your mind is dead, right? Well, it’s still a plus since you wouldn’t physically be dead, so that’s something. Wouldn’t you say?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Michael freaked out and was about to scream, but then, Mana flooded out from Yi Ji-Hyuk’s hand and entered through his head to dig and disperse throughout his body.

The German freaked out even more and quickly clenched his fists tightly, his eyes nervously darting about.

‘...Huh? What’s this?’ (Michael)

However, something felt off.

Unlike the last few days, he couldn’t feel any pain at all despite clearly sensing Mana entering his body.

‘Was he... bluffing?’ (Michael)

Maybe not, but Michael couldn’t help but think that Yi Ji-Hyuk just wanted to scare him a little.

As for the amount of Mana entering his body, even Michael could tell that it was on another level compared to the past. Never mind Mana simply digging into his flesh, he even clearly sensed this mysterious energy flowing along with his own blood vessels.

It was similar to what you’d feel after stupidly swallowing something piping hot and it slid down your oesophagus. This was a strange experience that allowed him to clearly sense something he’d not consciously be aware of during normal times, such as the locations of his blood vessels.

‘It’s... different.’ (Michael)

For sure, he could tell it’s different this time.

What Yi Ji-Hyuk had done until yesterday was nothing more than shoving Mana inside the bodies of his victims and induced as much horrifying pain as possible. But this new process was letting Michael clearly feel the pathways Mana took to travel around his body, as well as this sensation of unfamiliarity given off by Mana itself.

‘Just a little bit more...’ (Michael)

A little more, and Michael thought he could get the hang of it.

He was fully cognisant of how stupid this was. This was no different to placing his hand inside burning flames so that he could understand what fire was.

He might be able to increase his level of understanding on what fire was, yes, but he’d also walk away with so much damage from this method as well.

But he thought that this was still the best method to sense Mana. However, the moment he began thinking that...

Wu-du-duk!

A really strange noise that didn’t belong here suddenly resounded out.

And the only reason why Michael realised that noise came from his legs was... not because the noise came from down below, but because his torso suddenly began falling to the ground.

‘What was that?!’ (Michael)

Michael looked down and ended up seeing ‘it’.

He saw his legs that had been twisted and bent in physically impossible angles. The skin on his bent legs burst open and blood began gushing out like many little fountains.

At the same time...

“Ku-aaaaaaaaaah!!!” (Michael)

The pain he had never dreamed of sensing in his entire life assaulted him. In a perfect proportion to Mana’s flow that he could vividly sense, his physical body actually began breaking down.

“You won’t die. Don’t you worry.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk cackled ominously and began casting several ‘Heal’ spells within Michael’s body.

The German’s destroyed body recovered in an instant. But at the same time, another body part ruptured in a fountain of blood.

In a matter of a few minutes, the process of his body breaking down and recovering in full repeated itself dozens of times.

“Keo-huh-hurhk!!!” (Michael)

Blood welled up in his throat and Michael couldn’t even say a word out loud, never mind screaming out in pain.

The only thing he could feel now was pain and Mana.

Only then did Michael understand what Yi Ji-Hyuk was saying earlier.

...The one about the physical body not dying but the mind crumbling away.

His remaining consciousness began screaming loudly.

< 451. Well then, should we get started -1 > Fin.