The Returner Chapter 224

“Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk!" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon cried out Yi Ji-Hyuk’s name with a voice filled with happiness and relief. Indeed, the person emerging from the scattering dust devil was none other than Yi Ji-Hyuk himself.
Even though he was shuddering from joy, Choi Jung-Hoon still scanned the vicinity in a hurry.
‘And the demon king?’ (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Just where was Delkaran?
Not too long after, his searching eyes caught the figure of Delkaran. A roughly humanoid figure collapsed on its knees could be seen before Yi Ji-Hyuk.
‘He brought it down?’ (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon narrowed his eyes and look better. Meanwhile, Yi Ji-Hyuk cracked his neck this way and that.
"Well, a demon king is still a demon king, I guess." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Delkaran stared at him with dumbfounded eyes after hearing that declaration. Was that something a man who reduced a demon king to a dying mess with one hit should be saying?
"I always thought that you weren’t really all that much to write home about even as a demon king, but well, I almost died here. I should praise you for that." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Delkaran formed a despondent expression.
This human drove it to the steps of death, yet for some reason, it couldn’t bring itself to hate him. Sure, it was a bit strange for a demon to hate humans, but the truth was, Delkaran wasn’t the type to harbour hatred towards its opponent just because it lost in a fight.
Instead of that, it began focusing on Yi Ji-Hyuk’s attitude.
…On his endless arrogance and viciousness that continued to make fun of the defeated. It came about so naturally to him.
‘He was like this in the past, too.’ (Delkaran)
If the Bringer of Apocalypse didn’t possess such a personality, he wouldn’t have gone around smashing apart the demon world as he pleased. The peace that had returned there after his powers went away now displayed clear signs of fracture.
"Did you hide your true powers while fighting Beltreche?" (Delkaran)
Yi Ji-Hyuk heard Delkaran’s hushed question and scratched his head with a bit of sheepish expression.
"No, well…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
How should he go about explaining this?
"Well, it’s like this. Like, I’m fighting crazy-hard with a handgun, but then, I look back and there it is, an M60." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Where would you even run into a situation like that?! (the Author)
"….Handgun? M60?" (Delkaran)
"M-mm. I guess that went over your head. Okay, so. It’s like, I’m flinging fireballs around, but then, I thrust my hand inside my pocket only to find a scroll for a Meteor spell in there." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"That’s still a completely inadequate type of explanation." (Delkaran)
"It’s hard to make you understand, so just take it as it is. I’m being gracious here since you’re already on your way anyhow." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
So annoying, too. (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
Yi Ji-Hyuk muttered unhappily, while Delkaran was chuckling in a hushed voice.
"In any case, fine. The 99th demon king…. No, human Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Delkaran)
Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at the dying Delkaran with still eyes. Even when considering the tenacious vitality of demon kinds, it was nigh-on impossible to regenerate from the giant hole stretching from one’s shoulder right down to its groin.
And since Delkaran’s actual body crossed over, not its avatar, the only thing waiting for it was a definite and final death.
"As long as that great one wishes for your death, the demon world will never let you be. I’m merely the beginning. I’m sure you know this already?" (Delkaran)
"Seriously, I can feel it just by standing here…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked softly.
"You lot called demon kings do seem to have a ton of affection. You are about to die, yet you’re also worried about someone else, too. I’m grateful, tho." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He said he was grateful, but Delkaran could easily catch onto the thick sarcasm permeating his words.
"I shall be waiting for you on the other side." (Delkaran)
Lifeforce gradually ebbed away from Delkaran’s body.
Seeing the demon king slowly crumble starting from its toes, Yi Ji-Hyuk let out a long sigh.
"Why did you even bother to show up here only to get killed off? You could’ve just stayed back home and lived." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"That’s just how we demons are like." (Delkaran)
"What an idiot." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk felt this inexplicable sorrow.
If he didn’t possess the power of immortality, then he’d have died like that back in Berafe. He’d have died, with no one watching him go.
His family would have thought that Yi Ji-Hyuk not returning was a sign of him being dead somewhere and simply moved on.
"Tch." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk extended his hand out.
Wuuong….
Black-coloured magic energy poured out from his hand and began permeating into Delkaran’s body.
"This is meaningless." (Delkaran)
Delkaran shook its head.
"My flesh have already exceeded its natural limit. Even magic will not be able to stop my death. Stop this, Yi Ji-Hyuk. Do not pity me. I fought with everything in my power and lost. Dying is a honourable fate." (Delkaran)
"Yeah, yeah. I know so well." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk pouted slightly.
"I know you’re going to die regardless of what. However, you ain’t thinking of leaving behind that dirty body of yours in this place, right? I’ll give you enough magic energy, so scram back to your home world, got that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"…….."
Delkaran’s eyes quivered greatly.
Scram back?
He was wasting his Mana under the pretext of Delkaran ‘scramming’ back to the demon world? Especially when no one knew just how many more demon kings and demons would invade this world in the future?
"I simply can’t understand you." (Delkaran)
It felt as if brand new questions regarding the human ‘Yi Ji-Hyuk’, someone Delkaran thought it had understood in full, were rising up again.
Was this because who Yi Ji-Hyuk was, or because he was a human?
It was at this point Delkaran finally realised something; it knew much about who the 99th demon king was, but didn’t know anything about ‘human’ Yi Ji-Hyuk.
In that case, was the being in front of its eyes the 99th demon king, or human Yi Ji-Hyuk?
‘But, does it matter which side is which?’ (Delkaran)
There might be two, but he was one existence. Nothing would change whether it was this side or the other.
Besides, what it needed to do now wasn’t to worry about the true nature of Yi Ji-Hyuk. Indeed, its task now was to have a fitting send-off for demon king for itself, not for him or anyone else.
"Oh, Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Delkaran)
"What now?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk replied disinterestedly.
"You are about to engage the entire demon world in war as a simple human being. Are you confident of winning against them?" (Delkaran)
"Stop overthinking it." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He snorted derisively.
"Where do you think this place is? The idiots of the demon world won’t rush here en masse. Even if they do, I’ll just run away, then. But, since that isn’t going to happen, I’m fighting back. You see, it’s still doable for me." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Kekeke." (Delkaran)
Delkaran chuckled out, evidently happy to hear that reply. Indeed, that sure sounded like the 99th demon king.
"How enjoyable. Watching from afar whether you’ll win or the demon world will, might be quite entertaining." (Delkaran)
"A demon king believing in the afterlife? The idea of occultism doesn’t discriminate worlds, I guess." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Gods and devils exist, so there’s no reason for the afterlife not to exist, too. In any case, fine. If there is indeed a life after death, then I can always go back to my home world whenever I wish. Which means…." (Delkaran)
Delkaran suddenly formed a sly grin.
"I shall be choosing the ‘more entertaining’ option." (Delkaran)
"Hmm?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
In that moment, pure black Mana began flowing into Yi Ji-Hyuk’s body in a scary amount.
"What are you doing?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"I’m returning it back to you. With interest." (Delkaran)
Mana quickly filled up Yi Ji-Hyuk’s body.
All the hair on his head stood up; goosebumps broke out on his skin. The ecstasy from the pure Mana filling him up tried to take over his consciousness.
"Keuh-heuh…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Seeing Yi Ji-Hyuk gasp out in heavy moans, Delkaran’s eyes withdrew inwardly. From here onwards, this man would be involved in a long, continuous unending chain of battles.
However, it’d prove to be a rather disadvantageous warfare since he’d not be able to top himself up with Mana. That was why Delkaran was required to help with the balancing of the scale somewhat.
"What do you think you’re doing?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Who knows." (Delkaran)
Delkaran maintained that sly grin.
Even it didn’t know exactly what it was trying to accomplish here. Was it truly for the sake of entertainment, or for something else?
Now that its consciousness had faded greatly from the lifeforce leaving its body, trying to analyse its own actions had become far too difficult, anyway. It could very well be that Delkaran was doing something impulsive and beyond its own understanding precisely because its consciousness had become so faint.
However, so what?
"I shall give you everything of mine. With this, you shall become even stronger." (Delkaran)
"You think I will be stronger with this pathetic amount?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Fufu. Still, it’d be enough to stop your body from disintegrating." (Delkaran)
"………"
Yi Ji-Hyuk gritted his teeth.
"I’m sure you know full well how dangerous it is to mix two different energy types and utilise them. The side effect will result in your mind and body being destroyed. It might be a glorious end to die alongside the 99th demon king, but regrettably, that wouldn’t be as entertaining." (Delkaran)
"How dare a dang demon….!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Kekeke!" (Delkaran)
Delkaran sensed its own vision blurring now and it began trembling. It seemed to have reached the end of the road.
"If there is hell, then I shall watch your struggles from there. To see how long you will last. It was fun, Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Delkaran)
Those were its final words.
Even Delkaran’s chest area crumbled, and eventually, the demon king reverted to a handful of ash only to scatter away in the wind.
Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at that spectacle wordlessly before shaking his head with a lonesome expression on his face.
"D*mn stupid demon king b*stards." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Gods of another world and their so-called holy men all madly tried to kill him. The only ones to provide him with aid, even if it was nothing much, were demons and demon kings, as well as various monsters.
Somehow, he could very well be the true Bringer of Apocalypse, then.
"All these demon kings, it’s a dang problem that they all try to look cool." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
You think going out like this makes you look cool or something?? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
"The only time when such a sight looks cool is when a good-looking person is involved, you know? With your looks, you disgusting b*stard, no one will think you’re a cool kid. What an idiot." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk spat on the ground and turned around to leave. However, his shoulders were trembling ever so softly.
"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk!!" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon ran up to him from afar.
It was unknown when he got hurt, but blood was trickling down from his forehead and he was covered in thick dust from head to toe.
Even then…
‘Why does he look so cool?’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
You see? You see that, Delkaran?
A good-looking guy like that will look cool no matter what he does. You and me, we both aren’t even remotely close. (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
"Reborn as a handsome b*stard in your next life." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Chiiek…
Yi Ji-Hyuk pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up. He took a long puff before lightly tossing it to the spot where Delkaran breathed its last.
"Demon world didn’t have cigarettes." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
So, have one on me, okay?
Because, I’m a trash that recommends other people to smoke. (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
This was the best and perhaps the only sign of courtesy Yi Ji-Hyuk could make now.
"Have you defeated the creature?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"….Argh, how annoying." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk stared at Choi Jung-Hoon and furrowed his brows. The latter had no idea what was going on and tilted its head.
"But, why?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
"Well, there is this thing. I’m just getting really annoyed for some reason." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
What a strange thing this was.
Choi Jung-Hoon and him were the same human beings, while Delkaran was a disgusting demon, yet why was he identifying more with the perspective of a demon?
This handsome b*stard came across as a bigger enemy than a demon, indeed.
"Ouch, that stings." (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Blood trickled into Choi Jung-Hoon’s eyes and he began rubbing his face. That only managed to spread the blood all over his mug, and it got caked with dust to create one heck of a dirty train wreck.
Now normally, one should feel disgusted from looking at such a face.
That should be normal, but…
"Why are you so handsome, man?!" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Eh?" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Yi Ji-Hyuk blew his top, while Choi Jung-Hoon entered a full-on panic mode. He killed a demon king, but who knew he’d get all annoyed and stuff over a minor thing like this?
"Why do you feel so bitter like that?" (Affeldrichae)
Affeldrichae had approached them unbeknownst to all and asked him.
"What was that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"It seems to me that you’re really angry about something. And that’s why you’re throwing tantrums with a strange reason, isn’t it? Are you unhappy that the demon king had died?" (Affeldrichae)
"Why would I feel unhappy at some ball of snakes dying? Gimme a freaking break." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk wildly shook his head. Even then, Affeldrichae stared at him with unreadable eyes.
"In any case, what a relief. I thought we were in a really dangerous situation, but things worked out easier than I feared." (Affeldrichae)
"Easier, you say?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk smirked derisively.
Your head only knows about magic, so you can run your mouth like that, you dang lizard woman.
This looked ‘easy’ to you? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)
"Easy? Gimme a break…." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk’s body slowly began tilting to one side.
"Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk!!" (Choi Jung-Hoon)
Choi Jung-Hoon hurriedly rushed in to hold on to Yi Ji-Hyuk.
"Imma go to sleep now, so…. Take care of the mess, okay?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
With that, he lost his consciousness.
Fin.