The Returner Chapter 147

"Why the hell is that thing so big?" (Kim Dah-Hyun)
Kim Dah-Hyun’s jaw dropped to the floor.
He was forcibly dragged to this place without consent, never mind being informed of what was happening here, so he had no idea what kind of monster he’d be facing off against.
If he knew before coming, then would he have been less shocked?
Nope, even if he did know, nothing much would’ve changed.
Humans had this thing called ‘common sense’, and when they encountered something totally out of their common sense, it was not their brains but their bodies would react first.
In other words, if a cockroach the size of a person appeared right before your eyes, it no longer mattered whether it was a roach or not. The only thing happening next would be your body freezing up on the spot from the terror.
Nope, rather than terror, maybe you might get disgusted by a lot. A lot.
Such as now.
Like now, what would onlookers feel as they looked on at that hulking, 20-metre-tall humanoid figure walking towards them from a distance? (TL note at the end)
"Ah….." (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon dazedly stared at the approaching giant. This whole thing felt so surreal, and he was completely overwhelmed by his shock.
Thud!
Thud!!
The giant was still somewhere near the horizon, yet each one of its footsteps caused the land to tremble, and shook Choi Jung-Hoon’s entire body.
"….What are we supposed to do about that?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
For the first time ever, Choi Jung-Hoon felt utterly lost, not knowing what to do. Even when he saw the Zombie Dragon, he didn’t feel this way.
Sure, that undead monster was huge. But that thing walked on all fours.
The overwhelming pressure given off by a bipedal lifeform was truly incredible, as he finally got to learn today.
"A Giant?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Hearing that puzzled voice coming from Yi Ji-Hyuk, Choi Jung-Hoon turned his head towards the youth.
"You know what that is?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"Uhm, well, it does resemble it, but…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk tilted his head this way and that.
"But, it’s a bit smaller than I remember." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Eh?"
Choi Jung-Hoon dazedly stared at Yi Ji-Hyuk.
Small? That thing is small?!
What the hell, did you come from the land of giants or something? The one from the Gulliver’s Travels???? (Choi Jung-Hoon’s inner monologue)
Yi Ji-Hyuk continued on with a less-than-impressed expression on his face.
"The Giants I know are much bigger than that one. It’s kinda small, so like, should I call it a Mini-Giant, then?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"………………."
Choi Jung-Hoon shook his head and asked him.
"Okay, fine. Is it strong?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"I can’t be sure, because it only resembles one, but, mm…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk shrugged his shoulders.
"It’s a pathetic weakling." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"EHH?"
That thing is weak??
A person would be flattened like a pancake if he got grazed by that thing’s finger, yet you're saying that thing’s a weakling???
Hey, you. Isn’t your definition of "weakling" and "strong" a bit out of whack? (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"Of course it is weak. It’s got a big body, and it’s shaped like a person." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Pardon me?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
What is he on about now?
It’s shaped like a person, but is as big as a mountain, so it’s obviously too d*mn strong! (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"You see, there are lots of weak points in the human anatomy." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
I don’t get it.
But then again, when did I ever understand what this guy is saying? No, I just let it slide. (Choi Jung-Hoon’s inner monologue)
"Besides that…." (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon’s head slowly shifted over to the side.
And he could see Seo Ah-Young there, still enveloped in bellowing flames.
"Before you do anything else, could you please do something about her first?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"But, why? I kinda like this heat, you know? It’s like I’m standing next to a kiln." (Yi Ji-Hyuk) (TL note at the end)
"I’ll take you to a dry sauna sometime later, so please." (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"It’s a promise, okay?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk giggled hoarsely and walked over to Seo Ah-Young.
"Hey, you!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Seo Ah-Young’s crazy eyes shifted over to Yi Ji-Hyuk.
*SFX for flames erupting even hotter*
At the same time, the flames coiling around her body became hotter and more frenzied.
"You starting up again, huh." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk tutted, unimpressed, and pointed at the Giant walking towards their location.
"Not here, but over theeeere. Do your thing over ther…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Rumble!
Seo Ah-Young’s flames began pouring out in Yi Ji-Hyuk’s direction like a flame thrower.
"Ah! Hot!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk hurriedly evaded the flames and cried out.
"What the hell?! Can’t you tell apart your friends from your enemies?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
I think she can tell no problem, though?
No matter how you look at it, she’s deliberately aiming at you, you know? (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon could understand where Seo Ah-Young was coming from.
"But, of course…." (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Even Choi Jung-Hoon thought of killing Yi Ji-Hyuk several times while he was stuck in that place, too.
The only reason why no one tried to was simply because of the constant worry that they’d never be able to escape from that strange place if Yi Ji-Hyuk were to die for real.
If it weren’t for that worry, there would’ve been a riot already.
But now that she was freed from that hell, it was rather obvious that her built-up anger and resentment would explode forth.
The surrounding cordon of Chinese ability users all backed away, leaving behind only Yi Ji-Hyuk there, although he was easily evading every single one of Seo Ah-Young’s enraged barrage of flames.
Didn’t he look a bit too familiar with this? Didn’t it??
"You’re acting up again." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk clicked his tongue.
And they said that a leaking pot would continue to leak regardless of where it was.
She kept going crazy in that place, yet now, she was going off in this place, too.
"Hey, you. Did you finally lose your mind?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Diiiiiie!" (Seo Ah-Young)
Mm, sure thing….
Yup, she’s the usual Seo Ah-Young, alright.
Thankfully, she hasn’t lost her mind.
In that case…. Mm, what should I do here, then? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
"Heup….."
Yi Ji-Hyuk took a short but deep breath, and lightly flicked away the ball of flames Seo Ah-Young fired at him, and instantly dug into her defense.
"Che!"
If this was before, she would’ve been left wide open from this move, but Seo Ah-Young had managed to evolve since then; she wrapped herself with roaring flames and stopped Yi Ji-Hyuk from getting any closer.
"Euh….."
Yi Ji-Hyuk couldn’t really jump into that wall of flames. If it was any other thing, he’d just cast ‘Shield’ on himself and jump in, but for him personally, ‘fire’ was a bit too much.
‘D*mn.’
Way back when he just arrived in Berafe, and when people called him a demon, there was this one time where he got burned at the stake in a village’s square.
Of course, his body continued to regenerate, so he didn’t die from the flames. But, that was the problem in itself.
The pain from being burnt alive was probably the most horrifying thing a human could experience. But there he was, unable to die even when subjected to that horrifying pain endlessly.
In the end, he was burned continuously for a whole week; only after the flames consumed all the available firewood in the surrounding area of that village was he liberated from that pain.
The pain from that time was so extreme that Yi Ji-Hyuk’s always-refreshed brain developed a certain discomfort towards bellowing flames like this one ever since.
No, well - it wasn’t his brain per se, but his heart that was unwilling.
"Groan…."
Thankfully, his reluctance didn’t impact his daily life, and he could simply dodge or deflect the incoming flames so no problems there. It wasn’t to the point where he suffered from a phobia or anything.
However, it was an altogether different story if he had to voluntarily jump into a wall of flames like this.
Rumble!!
All the flames coiling around Seo Ah-Young’s body pounced onYi Ji-Hyuk. They no longer looked like flames but a flood of magma as they poured down on his position.
"Argh, I really don’t like this." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk retreated and began shuddering as if he had just spotted a disgusting insect.
But, really now….
She had seriously powered up, hadn’t she?
For her to emit the level of flames that even Yi Ji-Hyuk found uncomfortable, now that was an extraordinary achievement already.
Indeed, even a highly-trained flame mage would not trouble Yi Ji-Hyuk at all. And those guys were supposed to be the cream of the crop among all the elemental mages, that handled hard-to-manage ‘fire’.
Wasn’t she already at the level of an arch-mage now?
Yi Ji-Hyuk nodded his head. It may have been an irritating, bothersome and annoying thing, but it sure felt good to see his hard labour paying off in the end!
"Truly admirable." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smiled in contentment.
But, well….
She was still not quite there yet.
It was at this point in time that Yi Ji-Hyuk suddenly vanished from the spot.
"Ng?!"
Having lost Yi Ji-Hyuk’s presence, Seo Ah-Young opened her eyes wide and hurriedly scanned her surroundings.
"Where are you looking at?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
As if it was the most obvious thing in the world, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s voice came from behind her.
"You…..!" (Seo Ah-Young)
Grab!
Yi Ji-Hyuk covered Seo Ah-Young’s mouth with one hand, and with his other wrapped around her midriff, he picked her up off the ground from behind her. (TL: That’s pretty suggestive….)
"Ahjumma, please stop being hysterical, please!! Just get married already, will ya?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk) (TL: Ok, maybe not.)
"Euph, euph!!"
Seo Ah-Young resisted, but Yi Ji-Hyuk’s hands were like iron vice grip and did not let her go.
"Now, take a good look at your enemy, okay?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk picked Seo Ah-Young up high, and simply threw her towards the approaching Giant.
"Orya!!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Seo Ah-Young flew away like a bird.
"Youuuuu b*starrrrrrd……." (Seo Ah-Young)
Yi Ji-Hyuk looked at the screaming Seo Ah-Young and grinned brightly.
"Kim Dah-Hyun!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Heeeere!" (Kim Dah-Hyun)
The Path Drifter raised both of his hands up high as if he already knew what Yi Ji-Hyuk wanted from him, then he began running his mouth off.
"Well, if I get burned by her flames when I go over there, don’t forget the occupational hazard pay." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"If you get beaten up while standing around here yapping, you won’t even get to claim that, though?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….On my way." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
Kim Dah-Hyun vanished from the spot, reappeared in mid-air, and easily snatched the flying Seo Ah-Young.
"Came to fetch you, ma’am." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"Shut the hell up!" (Seo Ah-Young)
"Yes, ma’am." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
Kim Dah-Hyun pouted unhappily.
What’s up with her bad mouthing me when I’m trying to catch her before she flies straight into the Giant’s mouth??
….Even then, I should just put her down quietly on the ground, right? (Kim Dah-Hyun’s inner monologue)
Kim Dah-Hyun kicked the air several times and descended to the ground.
"I hope you enjoyed the flight, ma’am." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"I want my money back." (Seo Ah-Young)
"Ah? But why?!" (Kim Dah-Hyun)
How could Kim Dah-Hyun still kiss Yi Ji-Hyuk’s a*s after being tormented by him that much??
Seo Ah-Young’s innards were boiling, but what with a monster right before her nose, she couldn’t afford to start arguing with Kim Dah-Hyun here.
"By the way….." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
Kim Dah-Hyun’s head leaned back, then it leaned back some more, and then, even more.
"….This guy is seriously too big." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"Isn’t it the biggest monster we’ve ever seen so far?" (Seo Ah-Young)
"Well, not really." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"Well, in that case, it’s nothing much, right?" (Seo Ah-Young)
Kim Dah-Hyun nodded his head.
Sure, the monster in front of them did look pretty tough, but…
‘A monster like this guy is just about average back inside that place.’ (Kim Dah-Hyun)
They couldn’t call it a weakling, but its strength should only be about average. So, there was no reason for them to be scared by it.
Even then….
"Honestly, I kinda feel a bit scared here." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
"Yeah, me too." (Seo Ah-Young)
Kim Dah-Hyun and Seo Ah-Young lowered their heads and stared at the ground for some reason, before sneaking a look behind them.
"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (Seo Ah-Young)
At that moment, Yi Ji-Hyuk was sitting comfortably on a chair he had acquired from somewhere, in the middle of a lively chat with Jeong Hae-Min and not paying attention at all.
"Mister, Yi Ji-Hyuk!" (Seo Ah-Young)
"Eh?"
Yi Ji-Hyuk shifted his glance over to Seo Ah-Young in the distance.
"What now?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….This, do something about this, please." (Seo Ah-Young)
Yi Ji-Hyuk snorted derisively.
Look at her, busy asking me for help now that she’s in trouble! Just when was it that she flung all those flame balls at me?
Her discipline is all out of whack, I tell you. All wrong! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
"You should be doing your own job, don’t you think so?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Why is this my job now? I’m the superior, so you should do what I tell you!" (Seo Ah-Young)
"If you don’t like it, why don’t you fire me?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Euh!!"
Seo Ah-Young began trembling from rage, which prompted Yi Ji-Hyuk chuckle heartily.
"Well, besides. You can take care of it, anyway." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"………."
"If you can’t, then well, I’m sure you’ll grow to really regret those six months you spent in that place, you know?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"I’ll still regret it even if I take care of the monster." (Seo Ah-Young)
"Oh, well. Sure, do what you want." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"You….." (Seo Ah-Young)
Seo Ah-Young gnashed her teeth and glared at the Giant next.
"I might as well just….." (Seo Ah-Young)
*SFX for flames erupting out*
Her entire body began burning up again.
"….Go all out and vent !!" (Seo Ah-Young)
The flames wrapped and coiled around her before they ballooned greatly in size and rapidly flew at the Giant.
Keureureuk??
The Giant noticed the huge balls of flames flying at it and twisted its body out of the way in sheer panic. Unfortunately for the creature, the flames changed their trajectory as if they had a mind of their own and enveloped the Giant.
Kaaaaaaahhh!!!
The Giant roared out in anguish, causing Seo Ah-Young to fall to the ground while covering her ears.
"My ear drums….!!" (Seo Ah-Young)
The dang Giant should qualify as a sonic weapon with such a loud voice, that’s for sure!
Seeing that spectacle, Yi Ji-Hyuk shouted at Jeong Hae-Min.
"Hey, shout back!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Ng?"
Jeong Hae-Min asked, her head tilting to the side in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" (Jeong Hae-Min)
"Fighting a sonic attack with another sonic attack, obviously! Start crying!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"….Wanna die?" (Jeong Hae-Min)
Yi Ji-Hyuk licked his lips. The most potent sonic weapon that humanity possessed was right here, yet to be unable to use it….
While Seo Ah-Young gingerly stood back up, Kim Dah-Hyun was slowly walking towards the Giant.
"Now, let’s see here." (Kim Dah-Hyun)
With this much real estate, there was plenty of space for him to have fun, no?
One step.
Yet another step.
His measured steps became light jogging, and then, into a full-blown sprint. Soon, Kim Dah-Hyun had transformed into a streak of lightning, crossed the space between him and the monster, and was soon traversing up on the Giant’s body.
"Hahaha!!"
Kim Dah-Hyun roared out in raucous laughter. He climbed up the Giant’s body and powerfully kicked the monster’s eyeball, which just so happened to be bigger than himself.
Kaaaah?!
"Wow, why is its eye as tough as steel??" (Kim Dah-Hyun)
The Path Drifter Kim Dah-Hyun evaded the Giant’s swinging hand by kicking the air, and then, dashed closer to the monster with the speed exceeding that of the sound.
"A mosquito will not fear anything if it’s faster than everything, you know!" (Kim Dah-Hyun)
Yi Ji-Hyuk clicked his tongue after hearing that.
"Don’t feel proud of that!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
What was he thinking when spewing out that nonsense to the rest of the world? Was the kid’s mind not functioning properly?
At the same time, similar things were happening all around the world.
Fin.
(TL: Personally, I don’t think 20 metres isn’t that tall at all, but that’s what the raw said, so…. As a reference, the Unicorn Gundam is nearly 24 metres high.)
(TL: There was a pun at play in that sentence, which couldn’t be TLed into English. The slang word for a "kiln" in Korean also can be used for "dry saunas" as well.)