The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Pheromone

The headquarters of the Sura guild in China.

Regretful news was delivered in the guildmaster's office at the top of that grand building.

"Hunter Kang Juhee is reported dead."

Jin Rain, an S-rank hunter in a suit, reported to Jay Hoon.

News that a guild member has died is usually not a big deal.

Even these days, since there are constant disputes with hostile forces, it is not rare for casualties to occur.

But the fact that she had died startled Jay Hoon.

"Kang Juhee...?"

"Yes, guildmaster. I'm sure you remember who she is."

"..."

Back then, Jay Hoon had gathered countless girls to select the Sura.

Only women are suitable as vessels for the Demon God.

Most of the girls collected for the selection of that "dancing saint" died.

Those who could not endure the experiments, or were forced into deadly combat with each other.

Current Sura and chosen one, Kang Ah-rin, of course, went through that process as well.

However, after Kang Ah-rin was chosen as the Sura, that selection project was terminated.

"Kang Juhee was one of the girls who survived that project."

Just another one among the many girls who didn't become Sura.

He couldn't remember the names of the other girls, but Kang Juhee remained vivid in his mind.

Because of her distinctive appearance, Jay Hoon had once called her out separately.

"I remember calling her and granting her a power."

"Are you talking about a skill?"

"It wasn't that. I gave her a portion of my power, as it is."

In this world, where gates open, skillbooks exist.

As long as you have one, any hunter can easily acquire abilities.

Of course, the number of skills one can obtain depends on the hunter.

Supposedly, the most anyone has is about 30.

But the power Jay Hoon gave out was different from those skills.

"If you're referring to that power...!"

"Yes, the 'authority' I hold. Normally, humans show rejection, but Kang Juhee was different."

Power entirely different from skills and traits.

That's why normal awakeners could not accept such a power.

The fact that Kang Juhee did made her, in her own way, a unique existence.

"With that authority, it's easier to increase the number of guild members."

The power that authority wielded was 'Temptation'.

He could read a person's physiognomy and emit pheromones tailored to it.

Especially for Kang Juhee, a Mutamit succubus-type, it was a perfect match.

She could hide her original scent with fragrance and then tempt to win trust.

Repeating that, she could easily gather a large force around herself.

"Considering that's originally your power, guildmaster..."

"That's right."

A woman was lying in Jay Hoon's lap.

Another woman appeared behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

Another crawled up from under the chair and grabbed his thigh.

More women kept emerging, soon surrounding Jay Hoon on all sides.

"I can use it too."

The owner of the authority of Temptation is Jay Hoon.

His temptation is inevitably more potent than Kang Juhee's.

For someone like Jay Hoon, subduing women was a piece of cake.

"How did Kang Juhee end up dying, anyway?"

In response, Jin Rain continued his report.

Kang Juhee originally hid in Qiongqi, a Korean military unit.

Thus, she could play a suitable role in driving Kang Ah-rin into despair.

Therefore, there was already a suspected culprit.

"Could it be the Sura...?"

"No, that's unlikely. Kang Juhee's body was burned, not cut by a blade."

Sura did not possess any ability to burn someone.

If it had been her, she would have killed with a blade.

"Then someone else must have done it."

"Could it be the Holy Church? There are many awakeners in the Holy Church who manipulate strange flames."

"..."

Jin Rain's suggestion could not be dismissed outright.

The Sura guild had clashed with them several times.

If you described the Holy Church, most guild members would recall fire or flame abilities.

There was, in fact, an affiliate group called the Black Flame Cult that overtly manipulated black flames.

"Setting aside Kang Juhee's death, we have many problems to deal with."

"Yes."

– First, replenishing lost forces.

Since the all-out war with the Hwasan guild, the number of guild members had dropped drastically.

If it dropped any further, it would be difficult to keep the increasingly aggressive Holy Church at bay.

– Second, replacing Sura.

Although, this matter was somewhat ambiguous.

Once the Demon God resided in Kang Ah-rin's body, her psyche would completely disappear regardless.

Still, an inexplicable anxiety crept in.

It was impossible to predict what Kang Ah-rin might do in the future.

Thus, it was safer to drive her to despair and strip her of her Sura qualification.

'And one more...'

– Third, the spy spell placed in Hand's chairman's office.

It was monitoring Raven Holbat, the ruler of Hand.

However, reports kept piling up that only strange singing could be heard, and important intel was never picked up.

Guild members were clamoring to be reassigned, saying they couldn't bear listening anymore.

'Damn it, not a single issue has been resolved.'

Of course, these weren't problems that could be solved easily.

If shouting for it all to disappear would have worked, everything would have been resolved long ago.

"What's most absurd is Sura... Kang Ah-rin's very existence."

"Has something gone wrong with her...?"

She had always been a girl who never listened anyway, so there was really no need to be surprised anew.

As Jin Rain wondered, Jay Hoon narrowed his eyes and said,

"My temptation doesn't work on her."

"Is that true?"

"Normally, she would end up like these women."

Jay Hoon gestured to the women surrounding him.

What if Sura had also fallen for his temptation like the others?

Despair and suffering would have been unnecessary by now.

To think that even these women had once been Sura candidates made it feel all the more ironic.

"Maybe it's because she was chosen as Sura?"

"Who knows. I'm not sure myself."

Only one person ever resisted his temptation.

The moment Jay Hoon recalled that person, a chill ran down his spine.

He didn't want to recall the one who instilled such fear in him.

Could that strange magic power the devil wielded... possibly be accessible to Sura, too?

'No... It's too soon to jump to conclusions.'

Though that ominous suspicion arose, there was no solid evidence.

And now was not the time to get hung up on it anyway.

"And Guildmaster, not all the news is bad at present."

"What is it?"

"The Underworld Formation is now 85% complete."

"Is that true?"

Jay Hoon's eyes widened at this rare good news.

It felt like he'd finally found an oasis after wandering a barren desert.

"How long until completion?"

"We'll have to wait another two months."

"Two months... That's tolerable. Once that's complete...!"

The Holy Church, the World, all their numerous subgroups...

It would be far easier to deal with those who had tormented them till now.

"There are also reports that some guild members are gathering in Korea."

"In Korea?"

"Isn't the timing perfect? The personnel to deploy the Underworld Formation is already assembling over there."

That was nothing but good news.

The worry on Jay Hoon's face began to fade.

This was his chance to recover from all his previous failures.

****

"Ah-rin. There's a few things I want to ask you."

"What?"

I spoke to Ah-rin, who was splashing around beside me.

As with last year's summer vacation, we had come to spend time at a water park.

This time, not only my family and Sang-ah were here, but Ah-rin was with us too.

"Do you remember that woman named Kang Juhee?"

"Yeah, I remember."

That time, that aunt. She tried to tempt me by emitting some weird pheromones.

When I got a whiff of those pheromones, I felt a strangely familiar energy.

There was someone back in the Mewzealand days who'd tried to tempt me with something similar.

It was closer to brainwashing than to simple seduction.

More than one legion had fallen for it.

Even a legion commander had almost succumbed to its power—it was nothing to scoff at.

"She was the woman who released pheromones, right?"

"That's right! That's what was written on the roster."

"To be honest, I was exposed to that back in the day."

"Really?"

A power that could charm anyone.

It didn't matter who it was; if the target was the opposite sex, the effect was doubled.

If you were qualified, you could even share that ability with others.

The temptation Kang Juhee used clearly must have been received from someone else.

"Speaking of your guildmaster, does he have any unusual traits?"

"Unusual traits?"

"For example, always being surrounded by women."

"Women... Oh, right! He always has loads of women around! He doesn't even do anything, but women just flock to him."

Women gather around him on their own.

I could only hold back a hollow laugh upon hearing that.

"Is he handsome?"

"No, he's totally awful. I can't imagine what anyone would find attractive about that face!"

I didn't have definitive proof yet, but I was more than 80% sure.

The Sura guild's leader. Neither their name nor face was publicly known.

But that person might just be the guy I know.

The bastard who hung around women just to show off.

That's why he was target number one for extermination, but I narrowly missed my chance with him.

"By the way, did your guildmaster ever try to seduce you or anything?"

"Seduce? No way could that guy get to me. There's only one person in the world who could ever tempt me."

With a triumphant look, Ah-rin hugged me from behind.

Honestly, if I had fallen for that bastard's temptation, I would have noticed immediately.

But why was Ah-rin fine?

If that guy really tried, there's no way he wouldn't have tested his temptation on Ah-rin to control her as Sura.

'Was it because she was chosen as a vessel by God?'

Back in Mewzealand, I was the only one immune to that guy's temptation, thanks to my Demon King's Power.

Nothing else could have defended against it.

After all, that temptation was one of the 'divine authorities'.

"But Seongjin, want to go ride that?"

"That?"

"Now's our chance! Guys!!"

While I'd turned my head for a moment, a shadow fell over me from above.

Sang-ah and Yunhee were about to jump on me.

Clearly, they meant to dunk me, but no chance.

"Huh?"

"Ahhh!"

I dodged to the side, and Sang-ah and Yunhee, who tried to pounce, grabbed only empty air.

Flailing, they plunged straight into the water.

Bubble bubble—Yunhee surfaced, fuming.

"Why'd you dodge? That's no fun!"

"Who wouldn't dodge when they clearly see someone coming?"

"Jeez, come on! Then how am I supposed to catch you, oppa? I want to become an awakened too!"

Of course, there are physical differences between an ordinary person and an awakened.

Pitchers' throws, which are barely a threat to ordinary folks, seem slow to an awakened's eyes.

"You think just wishing for it will make it so?"

"I wanna awaken too~!!"

Splashing around, she whined noisily.

Like a typical elementary schooler's tantrum, it was just cute.

Still, she was a little embarrassing to introduce as my little sister to people nearby.

"So unfair. It's totally unfair...!"

"Alright, Yunhee. Calm down."

"Yeah, want to go try the slide with us, unni?"

Thanks to Ah-rin and Sang-ah being there, Yunhee was calmer than usual.

If those two hadn't been around, I can't imagine how wild she'd be.

She was already the kind to mess with my stuff all the time.

She'd need some proper education from a young age.

"Huh? Oppa, your swimsuit's torn!"

"What?"

I checked my swimsuit just in case.

"No, not there—the back!"

"Here?"

I checked my rear and here and there, but found nothing torn.

As I realized the truth too late, Yunhee was grinning mischievously.

"Kyaa-hahaha! Fooled you, silly oppa!"

"Hey, you brat!"

"Let's go, unnis!"

Yunhee immediately grabbed her two unnis and dashed off toward the slide.

I fell for it and wound up fiddling with my swimsuit for nothing.

For some reason, I felt like my hands were dirty.

'I touched my own stuff, so why do I feel dirty?'

Everything felt confusing and muddled.

In the end, I just returned to the mat where my mom and dad were sitting.

"Seongjin. You got a call."

Perfect timing.

Dad handed me my humming phone.

Seeing the unknown number, I answered the call with curiosity.

The moment I said hello, the caller introduced himself.

–Nice to meet you, student Seongjin. I'm the grandpa of Eunseol....

At the same time, he mentioned wanting to arrange a meeting.