The Returner
chapter-20

“What are you talking about?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“It’s the department store! The department store’s basement! It’s underground!” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Seo Ah-Young’s brain momentarily failed to process Choi Jung-Hoon’s report and it stalled .

A department store?

Okay, fine, it’s a department store .

But, underground?

Why would a Gate appear underground?

“But, no Gates have ever appeared underground until now?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“That’s correct, but one has . Right now . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“But, there hasn’t been a case like this before, so…” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Captain!!” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Choi Jung-Hoon ruthlessly cut in between Seo Ah-Young’s words .

“Let’s worry about that at a later date . What’s important right now is that a Level 2 Gate is about to open up . And to make matters worse, its location is the basement of a department store . You must have realised what will happen if we don’t respond quickly, yes?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Choi Jung-Hoon’s advice/warning was effective in sobering up Seo Ah-Young .

There was a lot of people inside a department store .

Also, there should be an active business district surrounding the said department store, so the population density there should be very high, too .

But, a Gate was opening up there?

“How advanced is it?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“I have tasked a branch office near the store to take the measuring instrument, but they haven’t arrived on site yet . But, people checking it with naked eyes, they say it’s at least 90% . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“90 percent… . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young muttered out .

90% .

It was impossible to learn anything from this single number .

There was a Gate that took three whole days to get from 90 to 100 . And there was also another Gate that took less than a hour to reach 100 as well .

“First of all, dispatch the nearest defense squadron . Also, have you located ability users in the vicinity who can be summoned to the site?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“We are looking at the moment . We located ten right now . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Choi Jung-Hoon’s phone was constantly going off . Even now, reports regarding the orders he had given out were streaming in continuously .

“Call everyone in . Dispatch our men to the site, too . Meanwhile, I’ll call the Defcom, so prepare the vehicles we will… . No, prepare a helicopter, instead . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Yes, ma’am . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“Please hurry! A real disaster will go down if we are late!” (Seo Ah-Young)

As Choi Jung-Hoon ran out of the office without answering her, Seo Ah-Young picked up the phone to dial the number for the Defcom’s hotline .

‘Please…’

*

“I, I need sugar . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk looked down at his quaking hands and felt a strong urge to absorb sugar .

Too bad, there was not one sign of his smoothie, or whatever coffee it might be, arriving any time soon, as if it was being harvested in Jamaica at this very moment .

“I need SUGAR!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Argh, you’re embarrassing me! Will you shut up for a minute?!” (Ye-Won)

“That’s right, son . Other people are looking at us . ” (mom)

Mom, your son is dying right now .

Why do you find other people and their eyes more important that that, mother?(Yi Ji-Hyuk)

*SFX for something vibrating*

But then, the vibration pager went off and at the same time, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s face regained its vibrancy .

He was about to grab the pager and run towards the counter, only for his mom to grab his hand instead, to stop him . Then, she eyeballed Ye-Won .

“Ye-Won, you should go . ” (mom)

“Me?” (Ye-Won)

“Of course . Are you saying your Oppa should go instead? Isn’t that against the common sense?” (mom)

Seeing his sister remain grumbling in her seat, Yi Ji-Hyuk hurriedly got up from his .

It was only a cup of coffee . Who gives a flying rat’s a*s on who fetches it!!!

“I will… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Unfortunately, mom snatched the pager faster than Yi Ji-Hyuk could and pushed it at Ye-Won’s direction .

“Go and fetch them . ” (mom)

“Eii, what a pain . ” (Ye-Won)

Even though she was complaining, Ye-Won still got up and headed to the counter .

“And you, my son . You should stop accepting her childish behaviour, too . She’s only going to push your boundaries even more . ” (mom)

“But, it’s just fetching coffee, you know?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Uh-muh, listen to what you’re saying . Even small things like this helps you establish hierarchy . What will you do when your sister starts disrespecting you?” (mom)

Mother .

I sincerely apologise .

Already, your precious daughter does not view her older brother as a human being .

But, it is all this foolish one’s fault . (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

It was then, when they heard Ye-Won’s sharp voice .

“How is this a yogurt smoothie?” (Ye-Won)

“Dear customer, I’d like to apologise… . Our employee has made an error . We will quickly fill out the correct order . ”

“Just what do you think you’re doing? Seriously now!” (Ye-Won)

Yi Ji-Hyuk narrowed his brows .

“What’s going on over there?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I wonder…?” (mom)

While breathing quite roughly, Ye-Won came back to their table with a huff and put the tray down .

And on it, a Choco-latte withinjeolmitoast, as well as the honey-butter bread and a cup of Caramel Macchiato .

“… . Where’s mine?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“No, these idiots made a banana yogurt smoothie, when we ordered the yogurt smoothie . ” (Ye-Won)

What the, is the dang yogurt going to explode because a banana was added to it?!

I mean, they even added a fruit that I didn’t order in the first place as a bonus . It’s good for my health too, so it’s all good . (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s internal monologue)

“So, what now?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I told them to change it . Now normally, I would’ve asked for the money back, but well, I’m feeling generous today, so I didn’t . ” (Ye-Won)

“Oh… . so that’s what happened . I would have been fine with a banana whatever, though . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“What do you mean, you’d be fine? We are talking about basic customer service here!” (Ye-Won)

“That’s right, son . They shouldn’t do that . ” (mom)

“R, right . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk wondered about the potential chemical reaction when a banana and a tub of yogurt meet, while reaching out towards a slice of that honey-butter bread .

*SFX for a hand being slapped away*

“If you want to eat, then order your own . This will be barely enough to cover us two . ” (mom)

“I really hate those people who keep quiet when ordering stuff, but ask for a bite when the food comes out . ” (Ye-Won)

“………… . ”

Ah, ah! Oh, the Bringer of Apocalypse!

Oh, the Nightmare of Berafe .

It seemed that the home you have returned to after braving the aeons of time, long enough to overturn mother nature hundreds of times, won’t even allow you to enjoy a piece of a stupid little honey-butter bread!!(Yi Ji-Hyuk’s internal monologue)

“Why can’t I eat even a small piece?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

… . Mom and Ye-Won didn’t even pretend to hear what he had said .

‘Ahhhh, my sugar, my sugar is… . ’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

With a pair of desperately pleading eyes, Yi Ji-Hyuk looked at the counter .

There definitely were three machines there .

Wasn’t this the age of miracles where the machines did all the work?

That’s right . His thing shouldn’t take that long to make . If he waited just a wee bit more, then his sugary release should eventually enter his hands… .

*SFX for a loud cry of emergency sirens*

Suddenly, sirens went off pretty much everywhere .

Patrons in the cafe began standing up abruptly .

– This is an emergency broadcast . All citizens must evacuate to the nearest emergency shelter in an orderly fashion . This is not a drill . Repeat, All citizens must evacuate to the nearest emergency shelter in an orderly fashion . This is not a drill… .

“Let’s go, son . ” (mom)

“T, to where?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You heard that, right? It’s not a drill . We need to get to a shelter now . ” (mom)

“Huh?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

With a dazed expression on his face, Yi Ji-Hyuk took a look around .

And he could see panicking people urgently rushing outside the stores .

The Korean citizens, famous for taking their sweet time during the civil exercise drills in the past while thinking of stopping to see the fireworks, were filing out of the department store in the most orderly manner imaginable .

“Hurry!” (mom)

“But, but, my smoothie…” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You think your smoothie is a problem right now? Come quickly!” (mom)

Mom grabbed Yi Ji-Hyuk’s arm and dragged him outside the cafe .

“But, my smoothie… . ” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I’ll buy you another one later . ” (mom)

“In, in that case, take the ones we’ve already ordered!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Stop wasting time and hurry, will you?” (mom)

Yi Ji-Hyuk could only hold back his tears while looking at the drinks and the confectionary left unattended on the table .

“Screw the dang emergency . I’m the emergency right now…” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Did you say something unimportant just now?” (Ye-Won)

Yi Ji-Hyuk felt even more saddened after hearing Ye-Won’s blunt reaction .

*

Even before the helicopter could land, Seo Ah-Young jumped off and landed on the ground .

Choi Jung-Hoon’s face hardened, but this wasn’t the time to chicken out, so he too slid out of the helicopter and hurriedly followed after his boss .

“What about the evacuation?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“We ordered the citizens to head to the nearest shelters . The local police are in the middle of confirming the situation and directing the traffic flow . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“Do we have the instrumented reading yet?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Not yet . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“What about the ability users?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Three have arrived, and the rest are on the way . But, other than two, they won’t arrive on time . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“Defcom people said they will be here soon, so for now, create a barricade, surround the area, and continue with evacuation from the rear . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Yes, ma’am . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Since time was short, they didn’t even bother to catch an elevator, instead choosing to run down the stairs . While running, Seo Ah-Young shouted out in irritation .

“But, how can a Gate go undiscovered for so long?” (Seo Ah-Young)

“Apparently, it’s been hiding in a disused storage area . ” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

“How does that make any sense? Are we in a pier, or a shipping container yard?! Why here, of all places… . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

Choi Jung-Hoon licked his lips .

She might be saying some things that didn’t fit her station, but it wasn’t as if he couldn’t understand her sentiments .

Well, even he felt at a loss to explain just why a Gate would open up in a place like this .

“Of all places, why… . ” (Seo Ah-Young)

Normally, a Level 2 Gate wasn’t something that would prove to be problematic to contend with .

But, the real issues were that it was located in a basement, and on top of that said basement was a ten-story department store . Those were the real problems .

If heavy weaponry were used and a couple of pillars got destroyed in the battle, then well, the people of Seoul might get to witness the grand sight of a building collapsing spectacularly in the middle of their city .

And, even if the combatants were mindful with their guns, there was no guarantee that monsters would .

‘This is the worst case scenario . ’ (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Choi Jung-Hoon shook his head .

Still, no matter what the situation was, he had to do everything he could .

While running down the stairs, he shouted into the walkie talkie .

“Tell them to do a thorough scan for any stray civilians . Meaning, search twice, three times if necessary . Not only the department store building itself, but to check all the surrounding buildings that might get affected in case this store comes down in a heap, got it?” (Choi Jung-Hoon)

Although he had issued this order, invariably, a stray civilian or two would be found somewhere . Every dang time .

But today, something like that must not happen .

As he lowered the walkie talkie while thinking like this, a sharp beeping noise exploded out from it, followed soon after by the most horrifying sound he could imagine .

PPPiiiiieeeeeck!!

– It’s the Gate! It’s opening up!! The monsters are coming out!!

Even Choi Jung-Hoon ended up halting his run down the stairs unconsciously to stare at the walkie talkie dumbfoundedly .

“Oh, sh*t . ”

The worst case imaginable had happened for real .