The Returner Chapter 384

"…Bang!" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong’s hand descended, and the people around Choi Jeong-Hoon flinched before stumbling backwards.
"Kekeke." (Jeong Min-Seong)
He stared at that as an amused laughter leaked out of his mouth.
"This is why the creatures called humans are so entertaining to watch. You are all so frightened silly like that, yet you still persist with putting up a tough exterior. So very entertaining, don’t you agree?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Choi Jeong-Hoon no longer felt like chatting to this nutcase before his eyes anymore.
The way he saw it, Jeong Min-Seong didn’t belong here but in an ability user-specific mental ward located in the deepest, darkest corner hidden from the view. If no such places existed, then one should be built immediately so that this nutcase could be locked away in there. That’s how insane this guy sounded.
"Oh, my goodness." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong shook his head and spoke up.
"You don’t have to worry about that. I’m perfectly sane-minded, you see. But if I look crazy to your eyes, then let it be known that I’m not the insane one, but the way this world operates is." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"….Is that everything you want to say?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"I still have some more, so are you willing to listen for a little longer?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Hah…." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
A thought abruptly popped up in Choi Jeong-Hoon’s head. If Yi Ji-Hyuk became his enemy, then most likely, he’d be feeling this exact emotion, too.
With that thought in his mind, he couldn’t help but feel happy and grateful about being able to stand on the same side as Yi Ji-Hyuk.
‘If that dude starts to get snarky with me, I might really keel over from an aneurysm of my brain or some such.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Even before Choi Jeong-Hoon could retort, though, someone from the American side stepped up first and threw out a question at Jeong Min-Seong.
"What is your relationship with Alpha?"
‘…Alpha?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Right in that moment, Choi Jeong-Hoon’s eyes gleamed in understanding.
‘Alpha? Is he talking about that guy from back then?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Jeong Min-Seong formed an unreadable smile after hearing the name ‘Alpha’.
"Ehh… Well… You could say that we’re related, but at the same time, not really…. I’m not quite sure how to frame my answer for you." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Thought as much."
That reply was plenty enough already.
The American began reporting something back through the walkie talkie, which caused deep frowns to etch on Jeong Min-Seong’s forehead.
"Excuse me, I said we might not be related at all, so why are you acting this way? Holy cow, this is so unbelievable." (Jeong Min-Seong)
He shrugged his shoulders and continued on.
"Well, we’ve bought as much time as possible anyway, so I’ll just go back inside now. I’m planning to continue with the work to completely flip this world on its head, so what you people need to do now is to also continue with your quest to stop me. I get this feeling that, depending on who wins, the future of the world will go through a dynamic change." (Jeong Min-Seong)
He mockingly sneered and turned around to leave.
"Oh, and by the way…." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong looked like he was about to leave, but turned back again towards Choi Jeong-Hoon.
"If Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk shows up, do you mind alerting me as well? I really find that dude scary as f*ck, you see. I’m planning to run away as quickly as possible when he's here." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"…..Are you seriously going to mock us right till the end?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"No, I’m genuinely scared of him." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong cackled on.
"Sounds like you guys just don't have any idea how frightening Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk can really be. You should be very careful, because you might get massacred not by my hands, but by his. Then again, you wouldn’t get it even if I told you." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Stop right there!!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon tried to say something, prompting Jeong Min-Seong to turn his head back. The latter’s glare caused him to flinch and stumble back.
The mischievousness displayed so far was now nowhere to be found, and Jeong Min-Seong was glaring with chilling, hostile eyes now.
"You don’t seem to be a good listener. Didn’t I say this already? The conversation is over." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Almost at the same time as he opened his mouth, the monsters slowly began advancing towards the humans before them.
"History is written in blood. Whether that blood will be mine or yours, that all depends on what you people do next. Well, then - my dear warriors, welcome to the demon king raid. This dungeon is three underground floors deep, and of course, the first floor is all about dealing with your regular mob of monsters. I’m not a fan of cheaters, so if you wish to continue this conversation, come find me on the third floor. Au revoir!" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong performed an exaggerated salutation, spun on his heels, and re-entered the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun. At the same time, the monsters that had not moved suddenly began rushing towards humans again.
"Dam*it!!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Nothing had been sorted out properly yet, so how could that guy retreat in there so soon?!
"Are TOT ready yet?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"They are firing now!"
Ka-boom! Boom!! BANG!!
Choi Jeong-Hoon watched the artillery shells rain down on the monsters still flooding out from the structure and could only clench his teeth.
"Fine! We’ll talk once we get there!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
*
"…I thought an earthquake broke out just now." (Jeong Min-Seong)
The whole building began rocking precariously, and Jeong Min-Seong helplessly shook his head and made a simple joke.
"This building will collapse at this rate. You’d do well not to put much faith in North Korea’s construction techniques. It’s already under enough of a strain dealing with the weight of all these monsters, you hear me? Hey, you demonic being?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Argolas did indeed hear Jeong Min-Seong. And the demon’s lips distorted unsightly as a result.
"I have indeed observed humanity for a very long time, but this would be my only second time finding a human as flippant as you." (Argolas)
"Oh, that means there was a first…. As expected, it should be him, right?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Of course. Although, there is the question of whether to classify him as a human being or not." (Argolas)
Argolas shifted its gaze away from Jeong Min-Seong and extended its hand towards the black Gate. Bone-chilling demonic energy continued to ooze out from this portal nonstop.
Wu-du-du-du-duk…
Soon, the space behind Jeong Min-Seong let out a creaking, crushing noise and began distorting. Countless monsters erupted out from this ripped space and madly dashed outside next.
"Is that the sixth? At this rate, the world will be destroyed even without opening the portal, won’t it?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Argolas shook its head.
"How amusing. I’m the invader and I rate this world’s capacity quite highly, yet you see this world as a pathetic weakling." (Argolas)
"You rate humanity through their firepower. But I rate humans as human beings. Humans are greedy, merciless and terrible lifeforms that not even you demons can compare, but at times, they can also be surprisingly weak, too." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"….That’s a rather contradictory statement." (Argolas)
"I’m sure that’s how it sounds to you. Humans are a bunch of contradictions, after all." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Argolas stared at the gradually-strengthening Gate and cackled on.
"We only need to wait for a little while longer." (Argolas)
"Eh, well. I get that, but… As I said before, that little while longer will be very hard to endure for us." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"But are we not hitting them with sheer numbers?" (Argolas)
"Hah?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong stared at Argolas with a dismayed expression.
"I told you already, didn’t I? Humans can be incredibly cruel and vicious." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"What are you talking about?" (Argolas)
Jeong Min-Seong grinned brightly.
"If the higher-ups think the situation cannot be resolved, then nukes will be dropped on top of us under the pretext of protecting the world. And I’m not talking about just one or two, either. When nukes literally rain down, every single monster filling up the ground above will evaporate in an instant. And we will also turn into ashes without even realising that we died, too." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"I’m already well aware of the firepower the ones called 'nuclear bombs' possess. But, other surrounding areas will also suffer the consequences if a nuclear arsenal is to be used here, am I wrong?" (Argolas)
"Humans will readily sacrifice a hundred for the sake of the remaining thousand. That’s why you demonic beings can’t even come close to humanity’s capability for cruelty and viciousness." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"I can’t figure out if that’s supposed to be a praise or insult." (Argolas)
Argolas tutted unhappily.
This demon had already experienced humanity’s vicious streak through the actions of the 99th demon king, after all.
"You can rest your fears, as not much time remains." (Argolas)
"I’m not particularly worried. If this thing falls through, I’ll just die and that’ll be the end. It’s just that, I’ll be irritated like crazy if I survive and people start nagging me for messing up their perfect little lives." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Argolas frowned even deeper than before.
For sure, this human, he… was rather weird.
"Which ‘numbered personality’ did you say you were?" (Argolas)
"What a dumb thing to say. Why would I number individual personalities?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"To think that you’d split your personalities over several bodies. Even though you’re merely a human, you readily do things that not even demonic beings would think of doing. Just where is your main body, then?" (Argolas)
"Where is it, I wonder? That side can check everything happening this side, but as you may already know, I’m just a copy. A hand can’t possibly know what the head is thinking of, right? Or, maybe you didn’t even know that? Ng?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"….I’m sure killing a hand or two won’t be an issue…" (Argolas)
"Kekekeke." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong guffawed at Argolas’s grumbling.
"Sure, there won’t be a problem if you kill me. However, you won’t be unscathed either if you do that. I mean, there won’t be anyone left who’d ‘control’ them for you, right? Right?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"If it wasn’t for that job, you’d be rotting in hell by now." (Argolas)
"You’re a demonic being but you believe in hell? Well, now that is black comedy." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Argolas was so tempted to rip that mouth blabbering away nonstop to pieces, but the demon somehow managed to endure with a superhuman level of patience.
The mission would reach its conclusion not too long from now.
A doorway that perfectly connected this world and the demon world would open up. And demon kings should be able to freely descend to this planet as they pleased.
Even if the 99th demon king lived here, without his immortal body, he’d be too powerless to stop all those demon kings now.
"And the 13th demon king will surely have to pay for her sins, too." (Argolas)
Demons had lusted after Berafe for tens of thousands of years yet they consistently failed in their ambitions. But here was Argolas, about to achieve that incredible accomplishment all by itself.
"By the way, didn’t you say that this operation was going to be truly arduous? But, why did it happen so quickly and easily? I mean, it hasn’t been that long since we chose North Korea and infiltrated it, has it?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"It’s because they don’t exist here." (Argolas)
"Who?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Those accursed gods and dragons. This world does not have existences capable of purifying all the negative aura, yet there are more humans in this world compared to Berafe and they are also a lot more insidious to boot. Obviously, minus energy would completely fill such a world up. Even if I didn’t use this energy, this world would’ve destroyed itself eventually." (Argolas)
"You know, I really don’t get what you’re harping on about this negative aura or that minus energy or whatever. You demonic beings just love to talk about incomprehensible nonsense. In any case, the portal will soon open up, right?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"That’s right." (Argolas)
"Mm, well. In that case, I’ll just go over there and enjoy my snacks…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
RUUUMBLE!!
Jeong Min-Seong, about to leisurely recline, was stunned by that and hurriedly sat back up.
"W-what was that? Nukes?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"No." (Argolas)
Argolas shook its head.
"I’m confident that an existence far more terrifying than your nukes or whatever has arrived. Human, it’s your turn to step up. Do whatever it takes to delay the 99th demon king and ensure he doesn’t interrupt me." (Argolas)
"….Delay him? You should’ve said I must deal with him. That’s how all the cool villains speak, you know." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"The measly little you want to do what?" (Argolas)
Argolas cackled on.
"Oh, dear conceited human, listen well. Your pathetically weak body and magical powers can’t even hope to meet the eyes of the 99th demon king. Although he has fallen so low that he’s no longer qualified to even mention his glorious past, you still are not strong enough to deal with just a tiny bit of his old power that remains with him. Look to the two demon kings as your proof." (Argolas)
"Yes, yes. I understand." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Delay him. Do whatever it takes to buy more time. As long as you do that, you shall be able to witness the birth of a new era, the new world, with your own two eyes." (Argolas)
Jeong Min-Seong didn’t say anything and headed back outside, his tongue slowly wetting his lips.
‘We’ll have to wait and see about that.’ (Jeong Min-Seong)
Just who this ‘brand new world’ would be for, that was.
Fin.
(TL: "TOT" is a military acronym for "Time on Target", related to artillery fire. Refer to the ever-reliable Wikipedia for more info.)
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