The Returner Chapter 391

"W-what is the meaning of this?!" (Xui Feng)
Xui Feng, the leader of the Chinese ability users, got flustered by the scene of the rapidly-changing world and anxiously looked around him.
"Something weird has happened…" (Xui Feng)
Indeed, the world had changed.
It didn’t simply just get ‘darker’. No, the scenery had completely transformed from a minute or so ago.
It was as if some kind of a CGI background had been draped over the original landscape. The land was now reddish black, and as if something had blanketed the remaining buildings, their colours began to fade away.
This sensation of the entire world becoming achromatic sent shivers down Xui Feng’s backside.
‘Just what is going on here?’ (Xui Feng)
Even the air felt sticky and heavy.
This unpleasant aura mixed in among the air got sucked in deeply into his lungs before being exhaled. For a little while now, strange sensations kept assaulting him – stuff like his head getting numb and his emotions getting agitated for no reason.
‘Is this the demon world?’ (Xui Feng)
He had already heard about the reason for this operation, that the North Korean fools were trying to open a doorway to the demon world.
Although this whole thing sounded rather absurd, the commands from above were absolute so he decided to do as ordered. But right now, Xui Feng came to realise that the reason given had not been wrong in the slightest.
This place, it couldn’t be called a part of Earth anymore.
Xui Feng did his best to suppress the tremor threatening to break out of his entire body and shifted his gaze towards the new absolute being appearing before him.
…The creature with the label of the ‘demon king’.
"Humans sure do use interesting weapons." (demon king)
The moment this demon king made its entrance, Argolas knelt down on the spot and planted its head to the ground.
"I’m honoured by your noble presence." (Argolas)
"Good work. Your accomplishments will not be forgotten." (demon king)
"I’m eternally grateful for those words." (Argolas)
Alpha looked at Argolas and sneered.
"It’s like watching a dog wag its tail." (Alpha)
The demon king shifted its gaze to Alpha.
"Are you the collaborator, then?" (demon king)
"Yes, yes. I certainly am he. Honoured sir demon king, I welcome you to the land of humans." (Alpha)
"He is as insolent as I’ve heard." (demon king)
Choi Jeong-Hoon stared at the form of this newly-emerged demon king and shuddered greatly.
The lower torso was covered in pitch-black fur, while the upper torso was rippling with reddish muscles. Its head resembled that of a normal human being, but three horns - one in front, two on either sides - crowned the top of its head.
‘…It’s a demon.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Quite literally, it looked like a bona fide demon.
As a matter of fact, it looked so much like your average idea of a demon that he even felt this compulsion to complain about unfair stereotyping.
"I know that this is an emotional moment, you arriving in a new world and all that, but still, shouldn’t you be doing what you need to do? Everyone in this place getting killed off so soon wouldn’t be as fun to experience, wouldn’t you agree?" (Alpha)
The demon king made a strange expression as it studied Alpha.
"You wish to save your own life?" (demon king)
"I accept that I’m pathetically weak in the eyes of a demon king. However, I’m seen as something of a bigshot in this world. I won’t die by things of that level." (Alpha)
"I can now tell why that noble personage told me not to kill you. If it wasn’t for that order, however - you’d have been ripped to pieces by now." (demon king)
"Keuh-euh, the demon world’s fulfilment of their contracts is indeed quite professional. I’m impressed." (Alpha)
Alpha continued to sneer in delight, causing the demon king to frown.
Now normally, it’d never allow such an insolent low lifeform to act so impudently like this, but…
‘But, the contract is sacred.’ (demon king)
As the guarantee of Alpha’s safety had been written into the contract, the human couldn’t be killed off right now.
"It’ll be wise for you to mind your manners, oh dear contractor. We may hold the contents of every contract sacrosanct, but we also do not forget our grudges. If you don’t wish to experience hell the moment the contract’s effects run out, you should keep your mouth shut." (demon king)
"It’s fine, since I think I’ll die before that happens, anyway. You don’t have to worry about me." (Alpha)
Choi Jeong-Hoon was desperately kicking the gears in his head.
‘What should we do now?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Teleportation was not available. And ICBMs were currently falling on top of them. And it was rather obvious that those missiles were outfitted with nuclear warheads.
In that case, what could he do in order to ensure everyone’s safe return back home?
"First of all, I shall get rid of the bothersome bugs." (demon king)
While Choi Jeong-Hoon was agonising over his options, the demon king was slowly raising its arm towards the sky.
Wuuuoong
As the arm rose up, the ground began buckling as well.
Not because the land was literally moving, however. No, the ground was simply reacting to the magical energy amassing within that raised arm and automatically began rumbling. That’s how incredible the gathered energy was.
‘T-this, this is the real demon king?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon stared at the demon king with a distorted expression on his face. This was not his first time seeing one, yet something was different this time.
‘I see. That’s why.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Soon enough, he figured out the source of this disharmony.
Up until now, the demon kings had to limit their strengths before crossing over to Earth. However, there was a complete ‘doorway’ currently open. Which meant that demon kings now could cross over with all of their powers intact.
A demon king suffering from limitation was still powerful enough to destroy this planet all by itself. So, how much stronger would a full-powered demon king crossing over to Earth be?
Wu-dudududuk.
Its arm muscles seemed to writhe in a bizarre manner, then the demon king pointed to the sky with a finger.
"Now, let’s see." (demon king)
Kwa-aaaaahng!!
Crimson rays of light shooting out from the tip of the demon king’s stretched finger blanketed the sky.
Kwa-aaaahng!
Kwa-aaaahng!!
Along with three explosion noises, the rays flew up high into the heavens above.
And then…
"W-what’s going on?!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
…Nothing happened.
Choi Jeong-Hoon was calculating inwardly how great the radius of the explosions would be when the magical energy fired by the demon king collided with the ICBMs in the sky, so he ended up in a sheer stupor by this turn of events.
"What just happened?" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon’s puzzlement was solved by the demon king opening its mouth.
"So, those are the ‘bombs’ I’ve been hearing about? Causing explosions through an intermediary, I see. But, if the entire object ceases to exist before it causes an explosion, then this item called ‘bomb’ loses its worth, does it not?" (demon king)
Alpha replied with a lengthy sigh.
"Normal humans don’t have the ability to make something ‘cease to exist’ and that’s why we fear nuclear weapons, you know. Having seen your actions so far, I can’t get rid of this lingering question regarding whether humanity’s powers will even work on you demons or not." (Alpha)
"Measly little humans dare to…" (demon king)
Only after he heard Alpha’s words did Choi Jeong-Hoon figure out what the situation was.
‘Cease to exist?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Talking about it was easy enough, but how could such a thing even be physically possible?
It was impossible to simply erase a missile out of existence with modern technology, and that was why governments deployed things like missile defense systems and tried to blow up the projectiles in mid-air before they had the chance to reach their targets.
"I’m beginning to wonder if it was wise to bring you guys over here or not. But well, it’s spilled milk by now, and if the situation becomes really untenable, then we’ll just have to believe that Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk will pull through again. The job of defeating demon kings is for the brave warriors, after all. As for a stooge like me, I’ll just sit back and enjoy my popcorn while spectating on the proceedings." (Alpha)
"…Yi Ji-Hyuk?" (demon king)
The brows of the demon king quivered.
"Ah, now that I think about it, you two must be acquaintances. He’s right over there. Mister Yi Ji-Hyuk, that is." (Alpha)
The demon king’s glare slowly shifted over in Choi Jeong-Hoon’s direction. The latter shielded Yi Ji-Hyuk’s figure with his own body and gritted his teeth.
‘That son of a b*tch.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Every single demon king was hell-bent on utterly crushing Yi Ji-Hyuk. There was the lone exception of Erukana, sure - but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that every single one that got summoned to Earth probably was crossing over for the express purpose of killing him.
That was why…
"Yi Ji-Hyuk? The 99th demon king??" (demon king)
…Such a reaction wouldn’t be strange to witness. Not at all.
The demon king confirmed Yi Ji-Hyuk’s current status and chuckled hollowly.
"It is indeed none other than the 99th demon king himself." (demon king)
Griiiit…
Then, the sounds of teeth gnashing resounded out clearly.
"However, what is the matter with that pathetic sight? Where is the former glory of the 99th demon king, the true immortal and the terror of the land? How dare he end up in such a wretched state after dealing with these measly humans?! How pathetic and shameful! Where did your imposing figure that ransacked and mocked the entirety of the demon world disappear to?!" (demon king)
The demon king roared out with an enraged expression.
"If you’re planning to live on in such a wretched state, then just die. I, the 24th demon king, Borencha, will take upon the honourable act of ending your lengthy life today." (demon king Borencha)
‘This is nuts.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon couldn’t understand any of the words being said, but he still clearly understood the meaning behind them.
‘Why are all these demon kings so bloody obsessed with killing Yi Ji-Hyuk??’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
If this was simply ‘hatred’, then it’d been easier to understand. But their emotions didn’t seem to be as simple as hatred or something similar in nature.
Borencha slowly withdrew its raised hand.
"…Oh, so you were already here." (Borencha)
"My darling’s in danger, so of course I can’t fool around anymore." (Erukana)
Along with that familiar voice, a blackish quagmire suddenly spread on the ground, and Erukana slowly rose up from the surface.
"Miss Erukana!" (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
Choi Jeong-Hoon cried out her name, feeling like he had found his saviour in this hellish adventure.
"Calling me with such intensity is a bit troublesome for me, you know? Sorry, but I already have a man." (Erukana)
Erukana smiled seductively.
Choi Jeong-Hoon got flustered by that smile, but Borencha showed not a single flicker in its expression as it spoke.
"Are you planning to raise the flag of rebellion against the demon world?" (Borencha)
"That’s a strange little thing to say. Since when did the demon world develop a collective consciousness? Do whatever you want to do - isn’t that demon world’s unbreakable mantra as well as the popular consensus? I only wish to live for my darling, you know." (Erukana)
"Fufufu, I see. Which means you and I are now enemies." (Borencha)
"You can certainly say that. As long as you don’t give up on your plan to harm my darling." (Erukana)
Borencha’s red face distorted as it shouted out.
"It’s the 99th demon king interfering with our plans to take over this world!" (Borencha)
"So what?" *(Erukana)
"That’s as good as any reason why we can’t coexist side by side, wouldn’t you say?" (Borencha)
"Mm, well, fine. Sure. However… Looks like we’ll have to call it a day here. It seems that my darling’s condition isn’t so hot right now." (Erukana)
"…You wish to leave?" (Borencha)
"Ng." (Erukana)
"And who said you’ll be allowed to?" (Borencha)
"Ohohohoho." (Erukana)
Erukana broke out into a peal of laughter.
"Urgh." (Choi Jeong-Hoon)
This laughter caused Choi Jeong-Hoon to cover his ears and topple over to the ground. A deafening roar was ringing inside his head, while it felt like all of his intestines were tumbling every which way.
He had forgotten.
He forgot that she too was a demon king.
And if the demon world and the modern Earth was connected, then she’d regain all of her lost strength, as well.
"A little punk is busy running his little mouth, isn’t he? You want to stop me? Me? Someone like you?" (Erukana)
Reddish-black aura suddenly enveloped Erukana’s sensuous curves and began whipping about like a hellstorm.
This was the majestic aura of a true demon king.
The 13th demon king revealed her true self and the whole world was now quaking simply because she decided to unleash some of her strength.
"Urgh." (Borencha)
Even Borencha shuddered at that massive power.
"H-hng?" (Erukana)
Pow!
It was right then, the aura flooding out from her figure completely vanished as if it was cleanly wiped away.
"Well, I do understand where you’re coming from. However, it’ll be better for you to let him go." (Erukana)
"…Why?" (Borencha)
"Why don’t you use your brain for a change? You think you can deal with the current situation?" (Erukana)
Borencha seemed to be contemplating something, then nodded its head in understanding.
"Indeed, you’re correct. I hadn’t thought of that. Very well, I shall retreat for today. However, do not forget this, oh the 13th demon king. The priority of the demon world will now shift towards the 99th demon king. His fate will be as good as sealed if he can’t find a way to escape from this world." (Borencha)
"Thanks for the advice, but do you really think that I can’t figure out what your dumb little head can come up with?" (Erukana)
Borencha quietly gritted its teeth, before turning around to leave.
"I shall wait with bated breath for our reunion." (Borencha)
Fin.
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