The Returner

Chapter 321

Synopsis:Dale Mitchell was at rock bottom . With no job and no girlfriend, Dale spaces out and ends up running over a pseudo-omnipotent being . Through some sick twist of fate, he has been forced to replace that being . Finding himself in a situation that seemed too strange to believe, Dale was forced to fight for his life in a world shaped by his decisions . As the newly-appointed 'Keeper' of the world, it was now his turn to make the rules .

However, Dale was not alone in this position . There existed thousands of other Keepers just like him, pit against each other by strange forces . Now, science and sorcery clash on the battlefield, with the fate of his world at stake .

Tags:Warfare, Sword and Magic, Hiding True Identity

“Uwaaah… . ” (Park Yong-Hui)

The Chief of Staff Park Yong-Hui stared at the sky with half-dazed face .

A jet-black Gate suddenly appeared and opened its mouth, then began vomiting out turbid floodwater-like monsters to the ground .

“W-wh-what the freak is this sh*t?!” (Park Yong-Hui)

Park Yong-Hui was this close to blacking out right now .

The current number of monsters on the ground alone was enough to bring the People’s Democratic Republic down to its knees, yet even more monsters were being added on top .

“Just what is going on in this place?!?!” (Park Yong-Hui)

His yell sounded oh-so pitiful at that moment .

They couldn’t deal with the monsters already present, so if more were added on top, then…

But that, his eyes grew extra-large next second .

“What the hell?” (Park Yong-Hui)

Something completely out of his expectation happened just then .

Growl… . .

Kaaaaah-!

Monsters that fell on the ground cautiously stepped back in wariness from other monsters surrounding them . But that lasted only for a second .

The first batch of monsters roared out viciously and pounced on the others without hesitation .

Keu-rururuk!!

Monsters divided into two camps and began ripping into each other .

“Kekekeke . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched this scene and smiled insidiously .

“Go and devour . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

To other people, this scene might look as if monsters were busy killing each other, but his eyes were seeing a completely different picture .

Those monsters that came from the same place as the ones he had summoned were backing away slowly, while those he didn’t recognise were fighting tooth and nail right now .

“It’s going well . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Even Yi Ji-Hyuk couldn’t easily plant slave seals in a type of monsters he had never seen before . He needed at least a minimum degree of understanding here .

So, he’d simply eliminate those that he deemed unnecessary .

“Darling~?” (Erukana)

“Ng?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Wouldn’t you be able to make them yours if you wanted to?” (Erukana)

“Way too much work, so no . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“H-ng… . . ” (Erukana)

Erukana licked her lips .

She felt that this was a bit of a waste as far as war potential was concerned, but didn’t try to stop him .

She too was a demonic being . The sight of blood and gore dancing about, a spectacle of its participants busy devouring each other – wasn’t this a pretty entertaining scene for her, too?

“Besides, my boys are just too starved . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“… . But, darling . Doesn’t it look like it’s your boys are getting devoured more here?” (Erukana)

“They’ll all soon become my boys, anyway . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“As expected of you, darling . You’re just too smart . ” (Erukana)

Choi Jeong-Hoon heard their conversation and couldn’t help but chuckle .

“You two are in such a perfect sync . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

According to Choi Jeong-Hoon’s thoughts, though, the world’s most unfortunate person in this very moment had to be none other than him .

“Aigo… . I told you not to open a Gate . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

What with monsters currently being understood as the realistic threat to humanity, showing Yi Ji-Hyuk’s ability to open Gates to another country’s government had no merit whatsoever .

The creatures called humans would be swayed by one’s notions .

This spectacle alone carried the danger of changing the perception of Yi Ji-Hyuk from a guardian protecting humanity from the Gates to a living weapon capable of opening Gates, instead .

So far, the only other nation that knew the truth was America, and that helped with keeping the lid on the potential backlash . But now, who could guess what might happen next when the north-east countries that weren’tthatfriendly with South Korea learn of this fact?

‘Although nothing will happen right away… . ’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

For now, every country required Yi Ji-Hyuk’s aid .

So, there shouldn’t be that many governments prepared to bare their fangs at him . However, as the Gate situation slowly normalises and become less of an issue, it was more and more likely that the existence called Yi Ji-Hyuk would be seen as a threat .

“Urgh, why don’t you just shoot me now… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Ha-ah, you and your nagging . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You think I’m nagging?! This?? Really now?!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Yes~, yes~ . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk waved his hand in Choi Jeong-Hoon’s general direction as if to chase away a fly and turned his head away .

“Winners will be our friends, that’s what . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

*

Rooooar!!

Monsters started tearing and biting into each other .

Kuwaaaaah!

Howlings of monsters in frenzy resounded out loudly enough to shatter one’s eardrums . Crimson blood formed lakes on the ground, and torn tentacles, limbs and bits of flesh rained down everywhere .

“H-hu-ahh… . ” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol dazedly watched this spectacle unfold before falling on his butt . It was impossible for a mere human’s mind to handle the sights of building-sized monsters busy ripping into each other .

His vision seemed to blacken out for a moment there, too .

If there really was hell, shouldn’t it resemble this?

“Insane… . . ” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

The one who created such a spectacle couldn’t be normal at all . Rhee Jin-Cheol found it harder and harder to fathom just what kind of a person Yi Ji-Hyuk was the longer he got tangled up with him .

“Comrade captain! You need to evacuate!”

“Evacuate?” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

To where?

Where could he possibly evacuate to? The whole world seemed to be filled up with monsters, after all .

“You might end up dead at this rate!”

“… . Godd*mmit . ” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol turned around and began running . However, the direction he ran off to wasn’t towards his allies . Nope, he was running with everything he had towards Yi Ji-Hyuk, instead .

“Uh?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon panicked slightly when he saw Rhee Jin-Cheol busy running towards this side .

“What’s gotten into that guy now?!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

He had already far too many things to worry about, so this… .

He grew worried that yet another problem might be added on top . However, someone was actually getting excited by this development, instead .

“Niiiice!” (Park Seong-Chan)

Park Seong-Chan yelled out in delight and stepped forward .

“Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon?” (Park Seong-Chan)

“Yes?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“One of theirs rushing towards us without prior consent qualifies as a breach, right?” (Park Seong-Chan)

“Yes, that’s correct . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“In that case, even if we call that a provocation to our side or threatening behaviour, the other side can’t do sh*t about it, right?” (Park Seong-Chan)

“…Well, uh, no need to go that far… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Yes or no?” (Park Seong-Chan)

“Technically, yes . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“That’s that, then . ” (Park Seong-Chan)

A bright smile floated up on Park Seong-Chan’s fave as he clenched his fists tightly .

“You son of a b*tch . You were getting on my nerves for a while now, so this is perfect . ” (Park Seong-Chan)

Uhm, excuse me, Mister Seong-Chan?

I don’t know about other people, but well, when you start behaving like that, then even we will get terrified, you know?

Ehhei!! Stop flexing your muscles! Don’t power yourself up! And what kind of muscles look… . (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

“Ohh, what a great physique . ” (Song Jeong-Su)

The party leader Song Jeong-Su took a look at Park Seong-Chan’s physique and praised it earnestly . At the same time, his own muscles seemed to quiver as well .

“… . Is this a warzone, or a Mister Korea competition preliminary rounds?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

The sense of identity was shaking unsteadily here .

“Rhee Ji-Hyuk!!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol arrived right before the group and called out to Yi Ji-Hyuk while not even sparing a glance at Park Seong-Chan .

“Yeah?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head and replied .

“What the hell are you doing?!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“I’m stopping them?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“How can you call that stopping them!!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Oh? What then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s replies began to get shorter . He then asked back, clear signs of irritation filling up on his face .

“Well? What should I do for you, then?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“…………”

Rhee Jin-Cheol gnashed his teeth .

He knew that without Yi Ji-Hyuk, they would have been swept away a long time ago . Pyongyang would’ve been wrecked and horrifically pillaged by the monsters by now .

However, here was the thing – he was sensing Yi Ji-Hyuk’s ill intentions and mischievousness right now .

“You can solve this in a blink if you really wanted to, can’t you?!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“See? I told you he’s quick on the uptake . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shifted his gaze over to Choi Jeong-Hoon and cackled on .

The latter couldn’t go along to that laughter and simply stared at the sky above .

“You like toying with people? Is that it??” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Rhee Jin-Cheol gritted his teeth even harder .

“Even if you South Joseon as*holes live a better life than us, we still have our pride . Toying with people to this extent is… . !” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Argh, so noisy . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk dug in his ear and blew away the resulting stuff from his fingertip before making his reply .

“So, what do you want, then? Ah? Stop beating around the bush, will ya? I’m a busy man, you see . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

If only it wasn’t for that ‘busy’ man, he’d not feel so much pang of guilty conscience – Choi Jeong-Hoon could only kick the poor ground in embarrassment .

“What I am saying is… . ” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“What a thick-skinned guy you’re . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“……… . ”

Yi Ji-Hyuk was now forming a mocking sneer .

“You don’t even have enough power to protect your own homeland and had to extend a begging bowl to someone else, yet you’re p*ssed off because that someone isn’t wholeheartedly helping you out? Is that how North Korea educates its people? Hey, little boy? Life is about ‘give and take’ . You haven’t given me sh*t, so why should I do my best to help you?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Rhee Jin-Cheol gnashed his teeth so loud that everyone could hear him now . Actually, he didn’t want to beg Yi Ji-Hyuk at all, but… .

“Besides, no one got injured so far, so why are you so worked up like this? Wait, should I give you a reason to really, really get worked up?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

In that moment, Rhee Jin-Cheol’s back was drenched in cold sweat .

‘This b*stard, he’ll do it for real . ’ (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

Just conversing like this told him all he needed to know .

This man, he was on a completely different level compared to all the other people he met so far . He too had seen plenty of those who couldn’t be labelled as humans but rather ‘monsters’ inside the Democratic People’s Republic .

However, this Yi Ji-Hyuk existed on a different plane than them .

Rather than him not being confined to the notions and ideals of humanity, it was more like he was simply a foreign creature wearing human skin, instead .

Rhee Jin-Cheol lived his life within this stiff society where he had to keep his wits about him at all times . So, he could recognise the beast hiding within Yi Ji-Hyuk faster and clearer than anyone else .

“… . You madman… . ” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

“Kekekeke… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk cackled and replied .

“Not yet . Too early to say that . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

What was he trying to say here?

“To be called a madman, I should do at least this much . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

At the same time, pitch-black Mana gathered in both of his hands .

“Erukana . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Got it, darling . ” (Erukana)

Erukana leapt off the ground and flew up into the air .

“What is she going to do now??” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon dazedly stared at this unfolding scene . She floated in the air and for a moment there, seemed to contort her body in an erotic manner before scattering pitch-black rays of light in almost all directions .

Those rays soon landed on the monsters .

Kurururu… .

Kaaaah… .

The cries of the monsters grew softer and quieter .

These creatures that had been rampaging madly about slowed down and grew dull as if sedative had been administered . Everyone started looking at Erukana in the air .

“Nice . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk then began emitting the Mana gathered in his hands .

“Extend!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Chwaaaaaaah!

Hundreds of tentacles suddenly exploded out from his hands .

“Hiiieek?!” (Rhee Jin-Cheol)

It was indeed disgusting to look at, but more so than that, shock caused Rhee Jin-Cheol’s entire body to shudder .

This man, he… .

The tentacles flew straight at the monsters and began stamping the seal of obedience on their necks . Since they were already in a fatigued state, not to mention charmed out of their minds too, they easily sunk under the slave seal’s influence .

Ku-rwaaaah!!

Kkiiiieeeek!

The painful cries of the monsters filled up the land of the North next .

Rhee Jin-Cheol almost lost his grip on reality after seeing all those monsters spitting out bloodied foams while rolling on the ground in pain .

This… couldn’t even be called a game .

This swarm of monsters were powerful enough to drive the Democratic People’s Republic to the brink of destruction, yet Yi Ji-Hyuk was treating them like a couple of little ants right now .

Just like a kid crushing ants to death with his fingertip when one crawled out from the hole .

“There, there . Give it up, will ya . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk muttered something incomprehensible and cackled on .

That caused the howling monsters to roll on the ground and kick up thick, choking dust clouds .

“Hmm… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk watched that sight and nodded his head .

“I guess it’s almost done?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“They aren’t resisting too much, are they? Thank me for my efforts, darling . ” (Erukana)

“Of course . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Erukana had landed back on the ground before anyone had noticed it and clung onto Yi Ji-Hyuk’s shoulders . Quite uncharacteristically, he began patting her head .

“Yup, this is really convenient, alright . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon hurriedly asked him .

“W-what did you do exactly?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“You asking me cuz you don’t know?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes, that’s why I’m asking you!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“In that case, seeing will alleviate your problem . Take a good look . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon heard the reply and focused his gaze on the monsters revealing themselves from beyond the dust cloud .

< 321 . To be called a madman, I should at least do this much -1 > Fin .