The Returner

The man with a thuggish face chuckled wryly at the insult coming from somewhere behind him.

“Hah, f*ck me.”

The world had gone utterly insane lately so the people living in it seemed to have gone insane as well. As to prove that, that insult, wasn’t it directed at the thuggish face man?

“Man, I’ve been trying to keep calm and live a peaceful life, yet why do you people keep driving me mad, ah? Which as*hole was it?!”

The man turned around to find out, only for his rage to cool down in an instant.

“It was me.” (?)

“Hul...”

After turning around, the thuggish man was greeted by another man who was at least a head taller than he was.

‘B-but, I’m over 180 centimetres tall...’

So how come he couldn’t see the rest of the other guy’s face except for the chin?

Was he looking at a basketball player or something?

But being a simple basketball player wasn’t enough to explain away those mountain range-like broad shoulders and incredibly sturdy arms and legs. As a matter of fact, those biceps were as thick as a woman’s waist.

‘Is he even human?!’

With this sort of physique, this guy definitely couldn’t have been a regular person.

And on top of that...

“I’m so sorry.”

Before any other conversation could take place, the thuggish man apologised first. That could not be helped, however. Anyone who took a gander at this tall guy’s face would feel very much compelled to apologise right away. Even if you didn’t know what you’ve done wrong, you probably did something bad anyway.

P-please, accept my apology. Please

The tall ‘man’ who was apologised to out of the blue, the high schooler that even Yi Ji-Hyuk had acknowledged, Choi Chang-Sik distorted his expression next.

“Hey, ahjussi.” (Chang-Sik)

“Y-yes?”

“Ahjussi, do you have spare bones lying around?” (Chang-Sik)

“...Not quite sure I follow?”

“I’m saying, do you keep spare bones around in case someone breaks the ones inside you for some reason?” (Chang-Sik)

“...Regular people, uh, don’t do that.”

“So why all this f*cking overreaction, man?” (Chang-Sik)

The thuggish man instantly became a docile lamb and smiled gently.

Aha, so I was overreacting. I swear, I’ll never do it again.

He wasn’t quite sure why, but if this tall guy said he was overreacting, then there was no doubt that that assertion was correct. If he argued that wasn’t it, the atmosphere dictated that he might really need those spare bones right away.

“Hey, ahjussi.” (Chang-Sik)

“Yes.”

“Even if our situation is urgent and we’re all getting irritated by it, we should still act like human beings, right?” (Chang-Sik)

“Y-yes, you’re correct.”

“So, get to the back before I beat your a*s up.” (Chang-Sik)

“...To the back?”

“What’s wrong? You want me to send you ‘up’, instead?” (Chang-Sik)

There was nothing above their heads. No, technically, there was the sky. But a living person couldn’t physically get up there, so what the tall guy offered to do was pretty obvious to the thuggish man’s mind.

“N-no. I’ll just head to the back.”

“Tsk.” (Chang-Sik)

Chang-Sik successfully chased away the hooligan-like man and cautiously patted the crying Choi Ji-Hye’s back.

“It’s alright now. This oppa took care of it, okay?” (Chang-Sik)

Unfortunately, the girl took one good look at his face and began crying even louder than before. The ability to make not just little children but even a middle school student like this burst into tears with nothing but his face was Choi Chang-Sik’s... wonderful talent.

“...Bloomin’ hell.” (Chang-Sik)

His mood soured instantly for some reason, but even gangsters had some kind of a bottom line they wouldn’t cross. He certainly hadn’t fallen all the way to the bottom that he’d get angry at a middle schooler. And not just any middle schooler, but a young girl like this.

‘I mean, if Ji-Hyuk hyung learns of it later, he might beat me up half to death...’ (Chang-Sik)

It was the strangest thing, but Yi Ji-Hyuk was very strict in things like that. Even though he never even thought about how he tormented other people.

“Y-you see, this oppa isn’t a bad guy.” (Chang-Sik)

“But you aren’t an oppa? Aren’t you an ahjussi?”

“...............”

Choi Chang-Sik fell into a serious dilemma here.

‘Should I just risk getting beaten up later?’ (Chang-Sik)

If things go well, then either he died before running into Yi Ji-Hyuk, or Yi Ji-Hyuk would die first, so wouldn’t it be better for his heart to simply get angry right now?

While he seriously pondered his options, Choi Ji-Hye’s mother repeatedly bowed her head at him over and over again.

“Thank you so much. Thank you.”

“N-no, well...” (Chang-Sik)

Choi Chang-Sik smiled like an idiot and scratched the back of his head.

He couldn’t remember the last time someone thanked him earnestly like this. Sure, he’d sometimes hear that while distributing cigarettes to his juniors in school or ‘borrowing’ some money from the kids he spotted walking around, but none of them sounded genuine to him.

‘Well, this doesn’t feel so bad, is it?’ (Chang-Sik)

He used to wonder why Yi Ji-Hyuk, famed for his rotten personality, got so obsessed about going around solving Gate crises to help people out, but now that he himself heard the genuine words of gratitude, he thought he could understand it a little bit.

Of course, what Chang-Sik did had very little in common with Yi Ji-Hyuk’s feats, but still.

“Please be more careful next time. Hurry and go back in the queue.” (Chang-Sik)

“Will we be alright?”

“Sorry?” (Chang-Sik)

“All of us... Will everyone be alright? Monsters are rushing here, aren’t they?”

Choi Chang-Sik scratched his head again.

Why was she asking him this question?

She probably wasn’t asking him because she thought Chang-Sik knew the right answer. No, she most likely couldn’t endure without asking someone.

They were in a whole different scenario from a regular war, after all.

Unlike a war between nations where you could avoid the fighting using your status as a civilian, this battle would only come to an end when either the humans or the demonic beasts were to go extinct. There would be no exception to that.

It was a dreadful fight where the final winner would also be the only one left standing.

“Honestly, I can’t be 100% sure, but...” (Chang-Sik)

Choi Chang-Sik took time to deliberate on his reply, before shrugging his shoulders.

“...But I suggest you keep running away.” (Chang-Sik)

“Pardon?”

“You just have to keep evacuating on time and escaping from harm until the very end. When that happens, we will win. Then things will get peaceful for sure.” (Chang-Sik)

“We are going to win?”

“Yes. Humanity will win.” (Chang-Sik)

“But how? We’re simply running away all the time, aren’t we?”

Choi Chang-Sik smirked brightly.

“Yes, it’s like that right now, but things will be different later on. I know of this one guy who will never lose, you see.” (Chang-Sik)

“Sorry?”

The mother seemed rather confused by that, so Choi Ji-Hye asked in her stead.

“What do you mean?” (Ji-Hye)

“Mm, well, what I’m saying is...” (Chang-Sik)

Chang-Sik pondered again before opening his mouth.

“There are plenty of wackos in this world, right?” (Chang-Sik)

“...Yes.” (Ji-Hye)

“But even among them, I know of this one decent wacko. Okay, so. I was playing this game in the arcade, right? Then this wacko sat on the opposite cabinet and challenged me. Of course, in the game.” (Chang-Sik)

“Okay?” (Ji-Hye)

“I think I won about a hundred times? But he was like, panting like a bull, and kept challenging me till the end. He then finally won a match.” (Chang-Sik)

“...Okay?” (Ji-Hye)

“You know what that wacko did next?” (Chang-Sik)

“...No?” (Ji-Hye)

“He just straight up switched the power off, lifted up the cabinet and threw it down.” (Chang-Sik)

The girl stared at Chang-Sik in stupefaction.

“He did that because he thought he’d lose if we play again. He finished the whole thing off where he emerged as the final winner, know what I mean? The arcade owner was really p*ssed off and chased after the wacko, but guess what, the guy simply ran off while laughing in happiness.” (Chang-Sik)

“Sounds like he’s crazy.” (Ji-Hye)

“Ng, he is crazy. And that crazy guy is currently fighting against the demonic beasts, you see?” (Chang-Sik)

“...”

“That guy, he’ll win no matter what. And he’ll definitely end everything with him as the final winner. That wacko is someone like that, after all.” (Chang-Sik)

Choi Ji-Hye quietly nodded her head. Chang-Sik smiled brightly at her. Although that smiling face still remained scary, it did kinda feel a little less scary than before.

“Okay, there comes the bus. You two should get on that.” (Chang-Sik)

“Y-yes.” (Ji-Hye)

Chang-Sik proceeded to shove aside the people in his way and guided the mother and daughter to the front of the queue. He stayed and watched the two of them get on the vehicle, then without saying anything else, returned to his original spot in the queue. 𝙛r𝚎𝐞𝑤𝚎𝗯𝗻𝗼𝐯e𝚕.𝒄𝐨𝓂

He waved his hand back when the girl peeked her head outside the bus’s window to wave at him. The bus soon left his sight, and Chang-Sik looked up at the distant skies.

“And that’s why you gotta do something, Ji-Hyuk hyung.” (Chang-Sik)

For some reason, his voice sounded hollow.

***

“...F*ck.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

A swear word leaked out of Yi Ji-Hyuk’s mouth.

The final challenger failed to stand back up in the end. Out of two thousand and sixty eight people, only one thousand eight hundred managed to survive.

“It can’t be helped, though.” (Alpha)

Alpha and his calm face tried to console him, but Yi Ji-Hyuk was in no mood to humour him.

“Get out of my sight.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Please calm down.” (Alpha)

“Dam*it.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He started this whole thing knowing that this was the best he could do, but it still ended up as him killing over two hundred people with his own hands in only a couple of days. No excuses would be able to deny that simple fact.

“Honestly, I don’t understand you.” (Alpha)

Yi Ji-Hyuk furious eyes slammed straight at Alpha.

“I heard that you have slaughtered hundreds of thousands in the other world as if it was nothing. Compared to that, the number of people who died this time is just a little fraction, so why are you getting so upset as if you feel guilt over it?” (Alpha)

“...”

“You should acknowledge it yourself. You are probably the worst villain and a mass murderer in humanity’s history. So to see you behave like this, it’s honestly making me flustered a little.” (Alpha)

“Sure, thanks for that.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a groan.

Alpha wasn’t wrong, though.

The number of people he killed during his raid on Terra Latrel alone should be well over half a million. So he shouldn’t act as if he felt guilt about killing two hundred at this point in time.

That would be nothing more than being a hypocrite, after all.

Yi Ji-Hyuk tried to accept that fact, but it seemed that Choi Jeong-Hoon didn’t share that sentiment at all.

“How can killing a million of your enemies and killing a hundred of your allies be the same thing to you?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“...Even though they are the same humans?” (Alpha)

“It’s not humans that died, but... your allies that died. You’re the psychopath who can’t figure that out, you insane b*stard!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon’s tone of voice was colder than a sheet of ice. So much so that even Alpha had to raise his hands and back off slightly.

“Whoa, whoa. Please calm down. I wasn’t trying to rile you up, you know.” (Alpha)

Alpha sensed an urgent need to change the topic.

“Anyways, what should we do now?” (Alpha)

“...”

“Everyone currently on their feet has become familiar with Mana now. Which means it’s time to learn magic, so should we start memorising books on theories or something?” (Alpha)

Yi Ji-Hyuk glanced at all those standing in rank and file.

They were all glaring back at him with hatred in their expressions. Their faces implied that although they understood the reasoning, they simply couldn’t forget that soul-searing pain. It seemed that only the NDF agents were making more-or-less calm faces right now.

But something else was pervading the NDF’s faces – anxiety.

Even Alpha’s tone had some hints of that, as well.

He realised that it took longer than planned for everyone to sense Mana.

However, Yi Ji-Hyuk remained relaxed.

“Don’t rush me.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Compared to how he was earlier, he certainly looked to have regained his relaxed demeanour.

“Things won’t get as hectic from now on, anyway.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“People are dying in their droves even as we speak, so for you to say that it’s not going to be hectic anymore, now you sound like Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk that I know.” (Alpha)

“Wow, to think that you are actually worried about people dying. I guess the sun will rise from the west tomorrow morning.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk retorted and waved his hand around. Then, a massive Gate suddenly generated in front of Alpha.

“...A Gate?” (Alpha)

“We have plenty of time. Yup, we have too much of that.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk clenched his fists.

“I shall train you all inside the real hell. So, you don’t have to worry. We have a sh*t-load of time for you guys to go through the cycle of endless pain, after all.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...Are you talking about the difference in time flow?” (Alpha)

“You know so well.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“In that case, why didn’t you go with that from the beginning?” (Alpha)

Yi Ji-Hyuk dismissively waved his hand.

“Here’s the funny thing. Our world is probably the richest in Mana out of all the worlds out there right now. After getting connected to this little place called the demon world where Mana concentration is ridiculously high, our planet ended up as the best repository of Mana that surpasses even Berafe, which is basically the greatest land of magic that I know of,” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Alpha slowly nodded his head.

He understood it now.

“If you fail to sense Mana here, then you won’t manage it anywhere else. No matter how long it takes.” (Alpha) 𝗳𝘳𝒆𝘦𝑤𝐞𝚋𝗻𝚘𝘷𝘦𝙡.𝑐𝐨𝘮

“Bingo.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a groan.

“Sure, it’s taken longer than planned, but this much is still within the safe zone. But it’s now time to get to the main course.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk pointed to the Gate.

“Translate for me.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Okay.” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk sucked in a deep breath, then began shouting out.

“Go inside this thing! There’s another world beyond it! But only about half of you will manage to return alive from there! However, if you do manage to pull that off...!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk took a moment to build up the anticipation.

“...You should have acquired enough power to kill me by then.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

There was no need for more persuasion.

The ones standing at the front unhesitantly stepped inside the Gate one by one. After witnessing that scene, Alpha leaned over and whispered in Yi Ji-Hyuk’s ear.

“Honestly, they are not entering the Gate because they want to kill you, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk. Please do understand.” (Alpha)

“...Why, thank you so bloody much.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s eyes as he watched them head towards a new dimension were cold and withdrawn.

< 454. Well then, should we get started -4 > Fin.

(TL: Choi Ji-Hye and Choi Chang-Sik are not related, in case you’re wondering.)