The Returner Chapter 388

Jeong Min-Seong’s eyes remained locked on Yi Ji-Hyuk.
"Well, I’m sure that’s how it is. Even then, the world managed to advance this far precisely because, despite knowing the truth, there had been some people who were still advocating for a revolution." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Uhm… I think that’s only because science has advanced, though? A world without science doesn’t seem capable of developing a forward thinking mindset even after ten thousand years." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Ah, is that so? That’s too bad…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong spat out a sigh and continued on.
"Talking to you like this makes me wonder just what I have been doing until now." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"What do you mean, what? It’s all a waste of time, that’s what." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Mm, please don’t point it out too sharply, because it kind of hurts." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong cracked another joke.
"For sure, what you said might be right, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk. What we’re trying to achieve might not be all that effective, and in terms of history, it might be a meaningless revolt, as well. Yes, I get all that. However…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
A smirk floated up on his lips.
"Even then, I won’t have any regrets only after going as far as I can." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"It’d be nice if you get that chance. You don’t need to regret anything, though. I’ve seen plenty of people like you trying to achieve something only to fail and die but if it’s meant to happen, then it’d happen sooner or later by someone else’s hands. So, if you think your ideals and dreams are so wonderful and noble, then you can relax and just die now. Because, someone will make them come true later on." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"But, I don’t want to die?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"No one wants to die, really. Well, I’ve heard enough of your last words. I should give Alpha the message, then?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"…And what would the message say?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"It’ll say that you were talking out of your a*s." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Hah… What a terrible person you are." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong sighed over and over again, before looking back at Yi Ji-Hyuk.
"It seems that you’re still mistaken about something, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"About what?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Do you think I’m pushed deep into a corner right now?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Probably?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Hmm…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong shrugged his shoulders.
"I told you this earlier, didn’t I? You shouldn’t take me too lightly. All those people outside, they look like they’ve simply lost their minds, doesn’t it?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"They weren’t?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Ding dong! Of course not. They haven’t lost their minds, but they are being controlled right now. You should’ve thought about the basis of the power that allowed me to easily take over the North’s ruling elite." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Huh, mind control, is it…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
That’s a pretty unique power, wasn’t it?
Yi Ji-Hyuk tutted lightly.
There were some magic spells with similar effects, but it was still difficult to influence this many people in one go. Those spells worked wonders when brainwashing a handful, though.
"Hmm, so what? You want to brainwash me or something?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Eii, that would be impossible even for me. I already know that your mind is far tougher than me, after all." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Okay, so what’s the problem?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Mm, well. First of all, I can do this." (Jeong Min-Seong)
Snap!
Jeong Min-Seong snapped his fingers.
Yi Ji-Hyuk quietly scanned his surroundings, before piping up.
"Nothing’s happening?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"At least try to wait for a bit longer, will you! A man should not be so impatient, you know. Besides all that, they should be here by now?" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Jeong Min-Seong craned his neck a bit. Obviously, he shouldn’t be able to see anything from the bottom of the crater, but he just didn’t want to let go of his mischievous streak even in this situation.
"B-behind us!"
Yi Ji-Hyuk shifted his gaze behind after hearing that urgent voice.
"Wow." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
All those people that filled up Pyongyang’s streets were slowly shuffling towards his group.
"I’ve seen enough of zombies, though." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Technically speaking, these people were still alive, but their actions didn’t seem all that different from the regular zombies.
Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a groan and looked back at Jeong Min-Seong.
"Okay, so… You want to stop me with them?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Eiii, obviously not. They will tie you down while I…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
Flinch.
Suddenly, Jeong Min-Seong’s body began distorting and twisting.
"Godd*mmit…" (Jeong Min-Seong)
"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
The North Korean was clawing at his own throat and began hurdling in sheer pain.
"Urgh, f*ck! Why do you only step up in moments like this? You wish to devour every tasty…." (Jeong Min-Seong)
"What is he talking about?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon craned his neck and paid closer attention to Jeong Min-Seong.
"Uh-uht?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
He initially thought that the latter was playing around again, but it didn’t seem that way.
Jeong Min-Seong’s body began to visibly twist around. His arms were flinging around and bending all by themselves, and several parts of his body bulged up as if small balls were bouncing around under his skin.
His hair then instantly turned white, before he crashed to the ground with a loud ‘Thud!’
"…Well, that’s something, alright." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He finally stopped convulsing and slowly got up.
Choi Jeong-Hoon blinked his eyes nonstop.
Although Jeong Min-Seong collapsed only for a moment or two before standing back up, his face seemed to have changed somewhat. No, it was definitely different now.
The white hair and the handsome, memorable facial features.
Even more shockingly, that new face was strikingly similar to the one Choi Jeong-Hoon had seen before.
"Alpha?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
As Choi Jeong-Hoon’s voice resounded out, ‘Jeong Min-Seong’ swept his hair back.
"Well, now. It’s been a while, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon. And also, I trust that our dear friend Mister McLaren is with us through the body cams?" (Alpha)
"Yo, hold up. Let me cast the translation magic first. Stop yapping on in English out of the blue, dude." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"No, no. You don’t have to. I should speak in Korean, instead. Mister McLaren should have an interpreter next to him right this moment, anyway." (Alpha)
Alpha grinned brightly.
"It’s nice to see you again." (Alpha)
"You sound pretty relaxed, though? I was thinking that, even if you didn’t die back then, you’d been halfway there." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"You’re correct. I was wounded quite heavily. However, both you and I know of what happened, so there’s no need to bring it back up again, wouldn’t you agree?" (Alpha)
Alpha shrugged his shoulders, and Choi Jeong-Hoon could only look on in a confused state.
"So, you were in disguise this whole time?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"No." (Alpha)
Alpha scratched his chin and explained himself.
"This is so bizarre. McLaren knows all about my ability, but it seems that he has not given any information to your side. This is why the people from the intelligence agencies are an inefficient bunch despite them pretending to be otherwise. Information is only useful when passed on, so I can’t understand why he didn’t share any with you. It’s not as if we’re talking about some top national secret, either." (Alpha)
"Why don’t you explain it in simpler terms? Stop beating around the bush." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"To put it simply, that man before was similar to my clone. Although he possesses a different personality and the physical body, he’s still under my control." (Alpha)
"I still don’t get it." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk stared with a facial expression that said, ‘What bullsh*t are you talking about?’, prompting Alpha to break out in a bitter chuckle.
"Your character’s still the same, I see." (Alpha)
"That other dude was similar to me, though?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Mm, it seems that you influenced me by a lot, then. Although I may seem relaxed, encountering someone like you for the first time back then proved to be quite shocking to me." (Alpha)
"Oh, so you deigned to bring yourself here to tell me that?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Mm, of course not." (Alpha)
Alpha grinned, raised his hand and made a pistol sign, before pointing it to his head and pretending to fire.
"I certainly didn’t come here to kill myself. No, I merely wished to tell you something, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk." (Alpha)
"…Man, you sure love to talk, don’t you. I’ve heard enough from the other guy already, but now it’s your turn, too? I’d like to wrap this one up and go home now, so I can take a shower and hit the sack." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"It won’t take long. All I wish to do is to expand upon what was being said earlier. This body was trying to explain the ability it possessed, and to simply put, it’s mind control." (Alpha)
Yi Ji-Hyuk spat out a groan.
"That’s enough." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He then raised his hand towards the air.
Wuuooong!
Black Mana strands gushed out from his hand and began creating a sizzling, hissing ball of flames up there.
"I’m deeply honoured by the fact that the dear cult leader-nim deigned to pay us a visit like this, but the thing is, I’m getting really bored right now. Okay, so. Let’s end it here today." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"It’ll be wiser for you to listen to what I have to say. Because, mind control can be used in this way too, you see." (Alpha)
Right then, Alpha’s eyes seemed to sparkle, before rays of bright light shot out from there and swept across the surroundings.
"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk was hit squarely in the face by the light but didn’t feel anything different about him, so he tilted his head in confusion.
"Nothing’s happening, again?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Of course it won’t affect you, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk. However, what will it be like with other people?" (Alpha)
Blamblamblamblam!
Suddenly, a barrage of bullets were fired in Yi Ji-Hyuk’s direction.
"Oopsie." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Wuuoong…
An opaque barrier appeared before him and began deflecting all the bullets flying in.
"D-did they lose their minds?!"
"He said it’s mind control, didn’t he?!"
The American special forces members observing the unfolding situation suddenly began firing their weapons in Yi Ji-Hyuk’s direction.
At the same time…
"W-what’s wrong with this idiot all of a sudden?!"
Commotion began rising up in every direction. A portion of the ability users began attacking their surroundings, that’s why.
"…Now that’s kinda amazing." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Yi Ji-Hyuk was really impressed by it, but Choi Jeong-Hoon was too busy shouting at the moment to care.
"Protect Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk! Right now!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Even before his words ended, Seo Ah-Young, Yun Hyuk-Gyu, Kim Dah-Hyun and Park Seong-Chan stood around Yi Ji-Hyuk in a circle.
"Wreck anyone who approaches your vicinity!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
"Including you, Mister Choi Jeong-Hoon?" (Park Seong-Chan)
"You think now is the right time to crack jokes??" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Park Seong-Chan pounded on his chest as if to say ‘Don’t you worry’ after hearing Choi Jeong-Hoon.
"Leave things like this to me!" (Park Seong-Chan)
Yi Ji-Hyuk quietly stared at the events unfolding all around him as if none of it concerned him, before shifting his gaze back to Alpha.
"Thanks for the show. But what about them? No matter how I look at this, you’ll die way before they manage to reach me. Sure, this would be an amazing power in the middle of a warzone, but doesn’t look all that effective in this place, no?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"You’re wrong. Allow me to correct something in that statement. Even if they manage to reach you, they won’t inflict much damage to you. So, everything that happened so far is just a sideshow." (Alpha)
"Sideshow??" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Hmm, it seems that I can explain more to you, since things have progressed to a degree now. Firstly, your weakness. I have analysed it in depth, and as it’s a rather simple one." (Alpha)
Yi Ji-Hyuk’s eyes narrowed to slits.
"You’re a caster. No one in this world can win when fighting you over a distance. And that’s also including all those terrifying demon kings." (Alpha)
"Thanks for the compliment." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"On the other hand, you’re shockingly weak when it comes to close quarter combat. Yes, you are stronger than a regular ability user when you two start fighting with bare fists, but compared to the abilities you possess, your physical ability is basically non-existent." (Alpha)
"Well, let’s just say that’s the limitation from my birth. However, I did get a bit tougher lately." (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"Well, yes. I’m sure that’s true. And also, it seems that you’ve overlooked yet another thing." (Alpha)
"Ng?" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
Alpha smiled brightly and continued on.
"Didn’t this body tell you already? There are more people agreeing with us than you might think." (Alpha)
Yi Ji-Hyuk’s brows quivered slightly just then.
"You…" (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
"It’s too late, what with him being so close already." (Alpha)
Yi Ji-Hyuk spun around in that instance, but just as Alpha had said, it was too late by then.
Stab!
This sound was similar to a knife stabbing into one’s flesh. However, it was not made by a knife.
No, it was a sound made by a hand piercing through another’s body.
Yi Ji-Hyuk looked down at the hand that penetrated through his chest in disbelief.
‘Whose?’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)
He couldn’t turn his head, but he knew.
He knew whose hand this was, a hand that was at least bigger than a regular person’s by 50%.
Alpha watched that scene and slowly clapped his hands, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s eyes witnessing everything.
"I told you. You are shockingly weak in close-quarter combat. And we have more collaborators than you might think. Finally, Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, you regrettably have this streak of trusting other people too easily." (Alpha)
Blood gushed out from Yi Ji-Hyuk’s mouth.
He was familiar with this pain.
Indeed, he had experienced such pain tens of thousands of times before.
However…
He was unfamiliar with his consciousness trying to fade away.
As his consciousness faded away slowly, he thought he could hear a dim voice.
"Park Seong-Chaaaaan!!"
Fin.
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