The Returnee Wants to Live Comfortably

Oppa Is Hurt. Little Sister.

"Dad! I'm here!"

The Sura guild headquarters in Shanghai.

A woman, her face shining with joy, ran into the arms of a man.

It was a behavior that looked far too frivolous for a guildmaster's office in a massive guild.

Still, the sight wasn't unpleasant, considering they were father and daughter.

"It's been a while since I've seen your face. Ai."

Jay Hoon smiled brightly at his daughter, Ai Hoon.

Being able to see his daughter's face wasn't a common opportunity, so he couldn't help but be happy.

"Sorry, dad. It's just that I've been busy with music shows and drama appearances lately."

"It's alright. Thanks to your hard work, our guild has been able to prosper like this, after all."

"Hehe. Really?"

As his daughter looked sulky, Jay Hoon stroked her hair.

Under her father's touch, Ai Hoon soon regained her smile.

"But Dad. You know I'm going to Korea soon, right?"

"That's right."

"If I do well there... can we get rid of that girl?"

Jay Hoon immediately knew who "that girl" meant.

The Sura whom the Sura guild worshipped. Kang Ah-rin. Ai Hoon never liked Kang Ah-rin.

She was the daughter of the Sura guildmaster, and yet, it felt like that girl was treated better.

All the guild members seemed to revere that Sura girl more than her.

Every time she saw it, Ai Hoon was infuriated.

"I've heard about that plan. If it goes well, we can strip her of her Sura status, right?"

"Of course. Frankly, I've felt uneasy ever since that girl became Sura."

The very fact that Kang Ah-rin had been chosen as Sura was like poison to Jay Hoon.

After all, she despised them to the core—there was no way she'd obediently do as she was told.

Even seduction didn't work on her.

On top of that, she was the key to the Sura guild's final plan.

If her life ended, the final plan was finished, forever.

"Dad. Can I be honest?"

"..."

As Ai Hoon showed a twisted smile, Jay Hoon kept his mouth shut, already expecting what his daughter would say.

"The truth is... I've wanted to kill that Kang Ah-rin girl."

But because she was the very core of the plan, Ai Hoon couldn't touch her.

Each time the guild members called her Sura-nim, Ai Hoon's insides twisted, her lips bitten in frustration.

That should have been her recognition.

But if she could just strip Kang Ah-rin of her Sura status, she could drag her down completely.

"I was supposed to be chosen originally. Why did they choose that girl instead? Don't you think so too, dad?"

"..."

To be honest, Jay Hoon also found it odd.

He never imagined that a girl like Kang Ah-rin would be such a perfect fit as the demon god's vessel.

She had potential, sure, but there wasn't anything he could do.

The only option was to eliminate the risk factor.

"Are you excited?"

"Of course! You know why I'm going to Korea—even though I never wanted to go so badly."

Everything was for that purpose; Ai Hoon was willing to do anything to realize the plan.

"But I heard we'll be using the Underworld Formation. Is it already complete?"

"It's about 98% done. It's a shame to use it now, but we'll deploy it at Hand anyway, so it's alright."

"Isn't it dangerous? It'll cause a disaster almost like a gate opening."

Since such a risk existed, it was only natural for Ai Hoon to worry.

But her concern wasn't about the people who'd get caught up in the chaos, but about herself.

"No need to be too afraid. Just do as you always do during those situations."

"As usual? Ah..."

Ai Hoon recalled the B-rank gate that had opened in Shanghai in the past.

The gate had been stabilized, but too many civilians had lost their lives during the incident.

But more than half had died due to Ai Hoon's own carelessness.

"You know exactly who to target first, right?"

"Yes. Wasn't his name Ma Seongjin?"

From what she'd found out, he was just a regular student.

But since he was related to Kang Ah-rin, he was good prey.

That didn't mean she should gobble him up at once.

She'd savor every bite, tormenting Kang Ah-rin with despair.

"Oh, and there's someone who will go with you."

Just then, a hunter in a suit appeared next to Jay Hoon.

"This friend will always be by your side."

"I am Jin Rain. A pleasure to meet you, miss."

Ai Hoon knew very well who he was.

Jin Rain—the high-ranking guild executive who used to always be Sura's bodyguard.

The fact that Jin Rain would now be protecting her brought a bright smile to Ai Hoon's face.

"Hoohoohut. I'll be in your care."

****

No sooner had I returned to Hand than I went straight to see Vern.

Normally I'd take the elevator in Hand's central tower, but that would draw too much attention.

A mere middle school student frequently going to the chairman's office would be suspicious, after all.

That's why Vern gave us warp spirit stones.

They were attached to the Hand bracelets we wore as student IDs, and as long as we were inside Hand, we could teleport directly to the secret room in the chairman's office.

"You're saying there's a hunter who kills civilians?"

"Yes. Demon King, you'll also learn about this when you enter the third year of the middle school division, but I'll tell you in advance."

Vern immediately broached a serious topic.

For hunters, hunting monsters was a source of both wealth and fame.

But he explained that there were many hunters who cared only about that, ignoring everything else.

"Still, killing someone with their own hands would be difficult. The evidence would show up when the mutilated corpses are examined."

"Of course. Forensic science here is more advanced than in Mewzealand."

"But what if, instead of their own hands, they borrow the hands of monsters?"

"..."

I was left speechless.

If monsters did the killing, there would be no evidence a "human" did it.

I knew this method well—it was one our Demon King's army had sometimes used too.

"Casualties are inevitable during gate incidents. But hunters obsessed with fame don't even think about rescuing people."

They might pretend to save people for a moment, but as soon as things got dicey, they'd run away.

People left behind felt wronged, but the hunters didn't care.

After all, the victims died at the monsters' hands, not those of the hunters.

"Until the state-affiliated awakened unit arrives, the affected area is a playground for hunters. On site, they can always pretend the damage wasn't their doing."

They'd just blame it all on the monsters.

Then, once the unit arrived, they'd put on a show of heroic rescue.

That way, they could be hailed as exemplary hunters, become famous, and gain fans.

"They really know how to exploit the gates."

"But The World exists precisely to counter that."

Vern tapped a few times on his tablet and showed me the screen.

It showed a video call interface.

When the call connected, someone's face appeared on the screen.

—What is it, Vern? I'm busy right now—

The woman on screen widened her eyes as soon as she saw me.

Long, black hair, milky-white skin, and clothes that looked like thick white cloth wrapped around her body—a very familiar look to me.

—No way...

"..."

Guessing who I was, the woman swallowed hard. To confirm her suspicion, I let my horns and wings show.

"You know who I am, right?"

—De... De... kuhuk!

So surprised, the woman nearly choked before catching her breath.

Then, suddenly, she set the tablet upright and bowed her head so that I could see.

—World Tree Amelda. I greet the Demon King!

Mewzealand was a land overflowing with magic power, where spirits existed.

The World Tree was essentially a sanctuary for them.

The World Tree in human form was Amelda.

She was also a loyal commander, having served as the legion commander of the Demon King's 3rd legion.

—You've changed so much, I nearly didn't recognize you.

"Luckily, you haven't changed at all."

—It's truly an honor to see you again. I heard the explanation from Vern but...

"I know. You all are busy, so we can't meet easily."

Seeing an old comrade's face made me genuinely happy.

I wanted to have a drink, but it seemed she was too busy.

—If you just give the word, I'll put everything aside and—

"No, it's fine! Seriously, I'd feel bad if you did that."

—Yes...

"But why did he connect us?"

As pleased as I was, I was curious about Vern's intent in making the call.

Was it related to what we had just discussed? Then Vern spoke, looking at her face.

"Amelda. Could you explain to the Demon King what you're working on now?"

—Of course, no problem.

.

.

"That's all."

Amelda reported to her sovereign through the tablet.

Having heard about what she was doing after settling on Earth, Ma Seongjin agreed immediately.

—So in other words... you're in charge of the department that catches those rotten hunters Vern mentioned, right?

"That's correct, Demon King."

—That's seriously awesome.

"I am deeply honored!"

At a single word of praise, Amelda bowed her head once more.

Around her, people in white suits who appeared to be subordinates looked at her as if wondering if she'd eaten something bad.

—Anyway, I'll hang up here so I don't interrupt your work.

"I would never call this an interruption!"

—Alright, see you soon.

"Yes!"

When the call ended, Amelda got up, cradling her tablet.

Her face was full of joy as she released her tremendous magic power.

"Today is a wonderful day."

The released dark magic power materialized as various beasts.

Though it was now dark and corrupted, it was still the same power that once controlled spirits as the radiant World Tree.

As the spirits took visible form before her, her subordinates backed away.

"When was the last time I felt this motivated?"

A site filled with the ruins of destroyed buildings.

The spirits made manifest by Amelda's will began to search through the debris.

"There are still survivors here. Find them, spirits!"

At her command, the spirits spread out across the site.

The B-rank gate had opened in a desolate district in Shanghai, China.

The spirits scoured the devastated area, searching through the wreckage.

****

I left the chairman's office after parting ways with Vern.

We still didn't know exactly what the Sura guild was plotting against Hand.

To make matters worse, there was a good chance the Holy Church was involved too.

Ai Hoon—being such a suitable vessel for divinity—was coming to Hand, so there's no way those guys would just sit idly by.

'Didn't Ah-rin say she was a split personality?'

Given that, it was clear she wasn't a good person.

In that case, there shouldn't be any problem with abducting her.

"Seongjin!"

As I arrived at the second campus dormitory, I heard a familiar voice.

There were two who'd left later than I had for Hand.

One of them, Sang-ah, waved as she approached me.

"You made it."

"Yeah."

"What about Ah-rin?"

"She went into the dorm to unpack."

"Why aren't you going in? What are you doing here?"

Wondering why I wasn't going to the dorm, Sang-ah held out a bag she was carrying.

"I wanted to give you this."

Inside the bag she handed me were some very familiar boxer briefs.

Come to think of it, I'd forgotten to pack underwear.

"Oh, I forgot about these? Thanks, really."

"Uh... yeah! Yeah!"

At my thanks, Sang-ah's face suddenly turned red.

Feeling proud of her, I patted her on the head.

"Was it Yunhee who asked you to give these to me?"

"Yeah..."

As my hand touched her head, Sang-ah's expression changed to one of shyness.

She seemed different than usual somehow.

"I'll get going, Seongjin..."

"Yeah, you should unpack too."

After I parted with Sang-ah, I looked through the bag of underwear.

Three pairs of briefs.

Four pairs of boxers, the style I'd worn since fourth grade.

"Huh?"

One pair of boxers was missing.

I always made sure there were five.

Where did the last pair go?

"Did Yunhee mess with me again?"

My little sister who always played tricks to bother her oppa.

She must have deliberately left one out, just to play around with my stuff again.

"I'm hurt as an oppa, Yunhee."

No one but Yunhee would pull something like this.

Maybe I should give her a scolding later?

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Yunhee catching strays when the culprit is someone else...

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】