The Returner

“What is she doing??” (Jeong Hae-Min)

Yi Ji-Hyuk and his soulless face replied in a daze .

“Dunno… . . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Is she actually learning how to cook?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Ng . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

What a scary woman that was .

Jeong Hae-Min began feeling scared by her .

The diminutive former idol was also of the opinion that conquering Park Seon-Deok’s heart was the key to winning the secret war being waged over Yi Ji-Hyuk .

So, when others were stupidly wasting time being nice to him, she deliberately got friendly with his mother .

‘I’ve been complacent . ’ (Jeong Hae-Min)

Look at that hands-on approach .

From the very first meeting, that woman used the power of the expensive, limited-edition handbag and caught the mother’s attention . Then, by relying on the multicultural daughter-in-law gimmick to earn the other party’s sympathy, and now she was kissing up by learning how to cook, too .

“Mahder, this sho tasty . ” (Erukana)

“It is? I’m glad that you like it . ” (mom)

L-l-look!

That hateful little… . ! (Jeong Hae-Min)

Fire blazed in Jeong Hae-Min’s eyes .

Judging from that picturesque reaction, there was little doubt that Erukana had calculated all of her responses beforehand .

It was said that she had arrived here some time ago and quite likely, she used that time period to roll up her sleeve, stuff her bags and read various books to come up with a systematic way to conquer the mother-in-law .

What a fearsome demon king she was .

She was doing something that a regular person wouldn’t have imagined doing in such a straightforward and relaxed fashion .

“Erukana, you learn so quickly . ” (mom)

“Because mahder teaches so good . Erukana learn quickly . Mister Ji-Hyuk says that mahder’s food is the best, that’s why . ” (Erukana)

“…Eii~ . That’s not right . He’s only saying that because I’m his mother . ” (mom)

Uhm, mother?

What’s the meaning of that content smile on your lips?

I’ve never seen you smile like that even when you’re talking to your son? (Jeong Hae-Min’s inner monologue)

“Mother?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Ng?” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok shifted her head and looked at Jeong Hae-Min .

“Ah, ng . Hae-Min-ah, you’re here?” (mom)

Boom!

The latter’s heart fell to the pit of her stomach .

The gaze of the former looking at her had changed .

Up until now, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s mother always looked at her with eyes reserved for a cute, kind-hearted wife candidate ready to rescue her son from the life of an eternal bachelor . But now, her eyes became those reserved for looking at some girl child hanging around her son .

Danger!!

The sense of imminent and urgent danger crashed into Jeong Hae-Min .

Who’d have thought that the crafty little demon king was capable of perfectly entrancing a mother’s heart to this extent?

“M-mother?!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Ng, please have a seat . Our baby cooked something, so you came at a great time . Why don’t you stay and have a taste?” (mom)

“W-who’s your baby?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Oh, my goodness, where’s my mind at? I should’ve said our Erukana, instead . Ohohoho~ . ” (mom)

Stagger .

Jeong Hae-Min’s body faltered greatly .

How could this be?

Even the trusted Park Seon-Deok had fallen for it!

What could be done in this case, then?

“J-Ji-Hyuk-ah, do, do something . ” (Jeong HMin)

Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked .

“You think I haven’t tried? It’s too late now . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Hey, you!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

Did this mean that she had no choice but to accept this arrangement and live on for the rest of her life??

No freaking way!

Before dirt entered her eyes, there was no way she’d accept this dang situation at all!

“Demon king . ” (Doh Gah-Yun)

Doh Gah-Yun whispered softly .

“Ng?” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Must subjugate!” (Doh Gah-Yun)

Clench .

She clenched her fist tightly, causing Jeong Hae-Min to reflexively throw herself at the younger girl to hold her back .

“No, hang on, Gah-Yun-ah! If you cause a scene here, you won’t be able to take it back!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

“Demon king . Deceiving people! Peace after it’s dead . ” (Doh Gah-Yun)

“Although I agree 100% with your a.s.sessment… . ” (Jeong Hae-Min)

Realistically speaking, it’s difficult to subjugate that demon king with just us, and even if we do manage that somehow, it’s going to backfire on us, you know? (Jeong Hae-Min’s inner monologue)

“I told you, I’ll rip you apart if you cause a scene!!” (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young shot a terrifying glare but Doh Gah-Yun simply went Hmph! and turned her head away . However, as the latter always followed the former’s orders obediently, she stopped trying to do anything inadvisable .

Having calmed the girl down, Seo Ah-Young then suppressed the still-trembling Jeong Hae-Min with nothing but a fierce glare .

Good thing that she decided to tag along just in case .

If she let only Jeong Hae-Min and Co . come here, then the Destruction of Seoul scenario would’ve accelerated to an unstoppable degree . There was no way she’d let that happen .

“Oh, so many of you came today?” (mom)

Madam Park Seon-Deok looked at all the NDF agents filling up the living room and tilted her head . Did something happen and cause them to visit her home en ma.s.se like this?

“Did something happen?” (mom)

… . That “something” is actually standing right next to you, mother .

Mother, you shouldn’t look at this way, but to your side . The scariest, most terrifying calamity to ever befall South Korea in its history is standing next to you .

Compared to that calamity, wars are just cute little tantrums, indeed .  (Seo Ah-Young’s inner monologue)

“I-it’s nothing, ma’am . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

However, what could anyone say with the party in question right in front of their faces?

Was it right to mention that a bomb capable of blowing up Seoul if she felt like it, was standing right inside this living room?

Seeing Park Seon-Doek pat Erukana’s head with a warm, affectionate face, indeed that was one action no one in their right mind could do .

“Groan… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon let out a helpless groan .

“Mahder . ” (Erukana)

“Ng?” (mom)

“Meat, it’s burning . ” (Erukana)

“Oh, my! Where’s my mind at! Take a look, Erukana . Rather than the soy sauce, you… . ” (mom)

“Yes, mahder . ” (Erukana)

Erukana stuck close to Park Seon-Deok’s side and listened to the lecture on Korean cuisine .

Choi Jeong-Hoon watched on, before sitting next to Yi Ji-Hyuk .

“Are you alright?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“… . Do I look alright to you?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“So, when is the housewarming?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“… . I’ll kill you . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon smiled bitterly .

He never imagined that he’d actually get to see Yi Ji-Hyuk stuck in such a ‘pinch’ in this lifetime . Not from a threat of violence, but just merely his position had finally done him in .

“Couldn’t you have explained to your mother that it’s not what she thinks?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“… . She says I can’t . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Mm?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Divorce is unacceptable, she said… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Oh… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Well, that was an expected response from a Korean parent, that’s for sure… .

“She said that trying to divorce such a pretty, cute and smart girl is a sign of my brain being filled with farts, caused by living large for too long . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“What did you say in response?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“I told her that a brain filled with farts would kill a person . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“………………”

That’s why you can’t make any headway in this case .

Why did you crack a dumb*ss joke in that situation, you moron?! (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

“So what happened next?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk didn’t say anything else and lifted his T-shirt up .

Looking at the colours of Autumn scenery dyeing his back skin like that, Choi Jeong-Hoon immediately thought of the melancholic sight of falling leaves in the pa.s.sing season .

But, it was only Spring right now… .

“Be strong . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Ha… . . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shook his head wordlessly .

“By the way, isn’t your body incredibly st.u.r.dy? I remember seeing you crashing into buildings but shake it off all fine and all?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Sure, that happened . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“So, how come your back… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yi Ji-Hyuk quietly whispered to him .

“So yeah, about that . I was thinking… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Yes?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Can’t you measure my mom, just in case?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“…… . ”

“No matter what, I think my mom has awakened too, but because she’s never been measured, no one’s aware of it yet . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon suddenly imagined Park Seon-Deok commuting to KSF every morning . The moment one was cla.s.sified as an ability user, one would have no choice but to partic.i.p.ate in anti-Gate operations .

However, what kind of a new situation would develop once Yi Ji-Hyuk’s mom was forced into such a dangerous job?

‘As if you’d sit by and watch something like that happen . ’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Yup, he could imagine Yi Ji-Hyuk spitting flames while going on a rampage, threatening to kill the President or whoever dared to get in his way .

Before Erukana made her appearance, the only person who could control Yi Ji-Hyuk was Park Seon-Deok, so there was no point to even thinking of putting her anywhere remotely dangerous .

He even walked in to the NDF willingly in order to secure the safety of his mom and his family, didn’t he?

“I’ll pretend that I never heard you say that . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Ah?? But, why?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Are you asking me that because you really don’t know?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“You think I’ll ask when I know already??” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Eh-whew… . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon shook his head in resignation .

He now had to inform the relevant parties so that Park Seon-Deok would never get her Ether level measured . Not sending an ability user to a combat situation was against the law, but as long as one was not cla.s.sified as ‘it’, then well, one could remain as a civilian no problem .

For the sake of world peace, and the continued stability of the Republic of Korea, this decision was for the best .

He didn’t even want to imagine what would happen if Park Seon-Deok was pushed into a combat situation as an ability user and ended up getting a scratch .

This G.o.dd*mn mama’s boy… .

“What can I do? Let’s not do anything pointless . ” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“In that case… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk squeezed Choi Jeong-Hoon’s hands tightly .

“Please, please explain to my mother how strong she really is . I mean, she still thinks that she’s a regular person and does full-powered swings, you know?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Wait, wasn’t that a bit concerning?

Choi Jeong-Hoon shuddered slightly .

“Does she hit other people as well?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“My mom has never ever raised her hands at anyone, beside me obviously . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Oh, well . In that case, it’s all good, isn’t it?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“……… . . ”

He then proceeded to cleanly ignore Yi Ji-Hyuk looking at him with despair-filled eyes .

Honestly, you won’t die just because you got smacked around by her .

You can also call those healers in America if you need them, too .  (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

“Groan… . ”

Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a long, long sigh .

After Erukana settled in his house, even his mother who remained his ally in silence, turned her back on him . It was as if he was left all alone in this world .

‘This wasn’t what I wanted… . ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

He didn’t come back to Earth to be like this .

How could he be falling ever deeper into the pit of sorrow with every pa.s.sing day?

“You want to shop for groceries?” (mom)

“Erukana, go to market . Even without mahder around, must cook for for Mister Ji-Hyuk . Heard that making husband hungry is a bad wife . ” (Erukana)

“Oh my goodness, you are such a kind girl . ” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok embraced Erukana and patted the latter on the head .

“You’re so pretty, and your heart is so wonderful as well . Where did an angel like you come from, anyway?” (mom)

Moooom, that’s a demon king you’re talking to!!

A b.l.o.o.d.y demonnnnn!

A dang demonic being!

If angels were around here, they would’ve vomited blood out of sheer frustration by now!

Ah! So this is the method demons use to fool people!

How crafty!! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“By the way, Erukana?” (mom)

“Yes, mahder . ” (Erukana)

“It’s good that you wish to take care of your husband, but it’s also important to look after the guests as well . Since we have guests at home, I believe that only one person should go out to the markets today . ” (mom)

“Mm, in that case, Erukana will go . Mahder take a break . Erukana’s legs, very st.u.r.dy . ” (Erukana)

“Oh, no no . Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a jiffy, so please entertain the guests for a little while . Okay?” (mom)

“Erukana, want to go . But, Erukana listen to mahder . Guests will be entertained . ” (Erukana)

“That’s great . I’ll be back soon . ” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok lightly patted Erukana’s head and turned around towards the front door .

“And, Ji-Hyuk-ah?” (mom)

“Ng?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You better not bully her . ” (mom)

Hot tears suddenly flooded out from Yi Ji-Hyuk’s eyes .

Bully?

Who’ll bully who now?!

You mean, I will?

What have you been seeing for the last three days?! Ah?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“Mom, I’m not bullying… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Enough! Don’t forget what I said!” (mom)

“… . Yes, ma’am . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Park Seon-Deok emitted chilly air and turned around .

Slam!

As the front door slammed shut loudly, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s despairing eyes shifted over to Erukana next .

“Ohohohohot~ . ” (Erukana)

She broke out in a fit of seductive chuckle, lightly trotted to where he was, and dived into his embrace .

“Darling, did I do good?” (Erukana)

“Whewwwwww… . . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Choi Jeong-Hoon next to them hurriedly rubbed his eyes .

H-hang on, didn’t I see something whitish leak out of Yi Ji-Hyuk’s lips when he was sighing just now?

It, it can’t be his soul, right? (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

“Looks like your mother’s really taken a liking to me?” (Erukana)

“… . Oh, now it’s ‘mother’, is it . Not mahder, but mother . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Eiii, it’s just a ‘concept’, you know . If I’m too perfect in everything, surely she’d find me a bit too overwhelming . Do you have any idea how much I mulled over this?” (Erukana)

“Aren’t you a determined one… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk covered his face .

So, this was why they were called ‘demons’ . He almost felt impressed by how well she managed to fool people .

“What kind of a concept is this?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“The Vietnamese daughter-in-law . ” (Erukana)

“… . Did you learn that from a book, too?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“It came out a lot on TV, you see?” (Erukana)

“You even watched Korean TV shows?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I researched everything that I could find . Wouldn’t that ensure I’d be loved as the daughter-in-law?” (Erukana)

“… . Aren’t you a smart cookie . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Waaay too smart!!

Too much!!

< 277="" .="" what="" kind="" of="" concept="" is="" this="" -2=""> Fin .