The Returner

Chapter 272: Mom, it’s your daughter-in-law (2)

“Ji-Hyuk-ah.” (mom)

“Ng, mom.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Your mom is asking you who that person is.” (mom)

“N-ng.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk roughly scratched the back of his head.

It was already pretty tough telling other people about it, so understandably, it felt as if his mouth was drying up like a desert when trying to tell his own mother the truth.

Seriously now, how should he go about explaining this situation?

Mother.

Your son has actually lived a biiiit longer than you think in the other world, and in the process, fell in love once upon a time and took someone in as a wife....? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

It’d be a huge relief if she didn’t outright slap his face silly to next Sunday after hearing that.

“Groan....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk scratched his head some more.

“What’s the matter, my boy?” (mom)

His mom’s voice, utterly oblivious and asking him nonchalantly, sounded more like a devil’s whisper right now.

Awww, there’s a dang demon king right behind me, so how can my mom in front feel even worse to talk to?? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

A jokey situation had morphed into something no longer funny now.

“Mom. Actually, the truth is!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk summoned up all of his courage, held his head up high, and declared.

“Mom, she’s your daughter-in-law.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Park Seon-Deok grinned refreshingly and nodded her head.

“Mm, I see.” (mom)

“....No, I’m serious.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Mm, yes, indeed. That was funny. Okay, now please explain who she really is, son.” (mom)

Veins were bulging on mom’s forehead.

Yi Ji-Hyuk backed away almost out of instinct.

‘Mom.... Doesn’t she look really p*ssed off?’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

If this was any other ‘normal’ time, she’d already be smashing his back apart with her palm, but now, one could easily tell that she was holding back due to the presence of guests.

If they had been inside the house, Yi Ji-Hyuk’s back would be on fire by now.

Mom’s back smash technique was shoring up more and more destructive power with every passing second, causing Yi Ji-Hyuk to seriously deliberate whether he should spend some Mana to cast a defensive spell or not.

He was even worried about his mom unlocking her ability at this rate, so there was definitely a reason to be serious here.

‘If I leave this alone, it’s not going to end with two, three shots to my back.’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The one thing Yi Ji-Hyuk paid the most attention to wasn’t Gates nor was it the matter of the demon kings. Instead, it was his mother’s moods.

If her mood on a given day was bad for some reason, he refrained from even touching his favourite game. That was how terrifying the existence of his mom was to him.

“Mom, please don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Ng, go ahead, my son.” (mom)

“I know it sounds like I’m joking with you here, but....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Ng.” (mom)

“This is definitely not a joke.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Ng.” (mom)

“Okay, so, like, mom.... I know it sounds really weird and awkward and make you all speechless and stuff, but well....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“That’s right.” (mom)

Yi Ji-Hyuk smiled awkwardly and pointed at Erukana.

“She really is your daughter-in-law.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.........”

A benevolent smile formed on mom’s lips.

Aaaigooo~, my excellent son.

I’ve been saying he’s really great over and over again, and he really went and caught such a beautiful big fish from somewhere! (Mom’s inner monologue)

Without saying a word, mom walked over to her son and patted him on the back.

“M-mom?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk’s voice was trembling.

Why did it have to be his back, though?

What was he supposed to do about this hair-raising feeling washing all over his entire body as she patted him there? He sneakily strengthened his back muscles in anticipation of the blow about to land there.

Too bad for him, though – Park Seon-Deok was an experienced hand. She accurately sensed his back muscles twitching almost imperceptibly, and instead went for his ear which was left unguarded.

“Ouchouchouchouch!! Mom! Mooom!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“What did you just say?! What?? Whaaaat?? A daughter-in-laaaaaw?!” (mom)

“Mom!! Ouch!! Mom, my ear! It’s gonna fall off! My ear!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You’ve got a wife?? A wife???? Right, fine! It was my deepest held wish to see a daughter-in-law! You even decided to listen to your mother’s wish like this.... What a wonderful son you’re!!” (mom)

“Forget being wonderful, my ear’s gonna fall ooooff!! Mom!! My eaaaar!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Die! Just! Die already!!” (Mom)

Others witnessing this spectacle didn’t dare squeak out a word.

Because....

The strongest person in the world was here.

*

“Okay, so....” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok felt as if half of her mind had already abandoned her while looking at Erukana modestly sitting on the couch.

No matter how many times she heard the story, she just couldn’t wrap her head around it. The term was entering her ears, sure, but it was like her brain just didn’t want to process the information and let it leak out again.

“S-so, then. She’s your wife?” (mom)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shook his head, his expression somewhat strange.

“Well, uh, it’s a bit hard to explain, but.... She is my wife, but at the same time, isn’t.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Park Seon-Deok formed a gentle smile.

“Ji-Hyuk-ah?” (mom)

“Ng?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I also find it hard to explain this, but well, I feel like killing you right now, but at the same time, I don’t.” (mom)

“....Please spare me, mom.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The tension from knowing that she might really kill him washed over him just now.

“I don’t fully understand how this situation has come about, but I simply cannot accept this outcome. Just where did you go and how did you even marry her? How can you go ahead and marry without the combined consent from both families? I can’t acknowledge this union.” (mom)

“Mother!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

A bright expression formed on Jeong Hae-Min’s face as she began crying out “Hooray!” inwardly.

I knew it.

Do you have any idea how much effort I put in this family already? There’s no way she’ll acknowledge the baseless marriage to a demon while ignoring me!

Did you see that, dear demon king lady?

This is the power of a Korean mother-in-law!

When you get tripped up by the ‘Si’ world, it doesn’t matter if you’re a demon king or not, your back will get broken for sure! (Jeong Hae-Min’s inner monologue)

“And that side as well,” Park Seon-Deok glared at Erukana and spoke. “I don’t know which country you’ve come from, but....”

She stopped there and stared at her son again.

Others didn’t fully get that, but Yi Ji-Hyuk, being her son, immediately understood what her gaze meant.

“She’ll understand you, mom. You can just say it.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Keu-hmm.” (mom)

‘Ohh, Korean language.’

Others now realised what that was about and nodded their heads.

“Marriage in this place is not something that you can just go ahead with just because you felt like it. It’s an act of one family joining with another. I don’t know what has happened between you two, but if you really wish to marry my son, then please, try asking for permission again while following the established etiquette and protocol.” (mom)

That was perfect.

Choi Jeong-Hoon nodded his head. It was indeed a thorough refusal with the mother not losing an ounce of her dignity in the process.

Erukana didn’t know Korea’s marriage tradition so she wouldn’t be able to understand Park Seon-Deok’s current response.

But then, the former suddenly stood up from her seating spot.

“Ng??”

Taken aback by this sudden movement, everyone stared at her.

Wuuuong!

Erukana then swirled her hand around to open up a portal to the subspace.

“Keuk!” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon jumped up in fright, while Seo Ah-Young quickly stepped in front of Park Seon-Doek.

It was hard to predict what a demon king would do at any given time. But they thought that she’d not go on a rampage inside Yi Ji-Hyuk’s resi.....

“NG??” (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young’s eyes nearly bulged out from their sockets.

Tab!

The object Erukana pulled out from the subspace caused the eyes of everyone to tremble powerfully.

Most people sitting here thought that they wouldn’t get shocked by whatever came out from there. However, the thing that did come out? It was truly beyond everyone’s expectations.

“...W-what is this?” (mom)

“Mahder.” (Erukana) (TL: She’s saying “mother” in Korean weirdly.)

“Eh?” (mom)

“Just say, mother. Or mom.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Ahh, her pronunciation is a bit lacking, I see.” (mom)

“....Mahder, a gift. Birkin Diamond Himalaya. Milano Edition.” (Erukana)

“W-what was that??” (mom)

“Gift.” (Erukana)

Park Seon-Deok’s eyes shook around like crazy.

A gift.

A dang gift, she said!!

Right in front of her shocked eyes was a handbag featuring an incredible beauty that at just a mere glance, anyone would be able to tell that it was an uber-luxurious item. No, even such an expression was inadequate to describe its beauty.

That dang son of hers who seemed to be disinterested in everything, might make a c**p ton of money, but he didn’t even bother to buy her a nice handbag until now!

The bags ordered last time were eventually returned after they only ended up causing her heart to beat restlessly with anxiety. Even if the family made a lot of cash now, Park Seon-Deok had spent almost all of her life as a middle-class citizen, so such an expensive bag was simply far too much for her to... digest, as it were.

Sure, she did buy it on impulse, but she couldn’t fall asleep because of that, and eventually, had to return them while fighting back her bitter tears.

But now....

“T-this....” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok couldn’t help but ask that one question that shouldn’t even be brought up.

“T-this, just how much was it?” (mom)

“Moooom?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Mother!” (Jeong Hae-Min)

Yi Ji-Hyuk and Jeong Hae-Min cried out at the same time.

“N-no, wait. She says it’s a gift, so at least I should know how much....” (Mom)

Anyone could tell even if they lacked the discerning eye. The handbag before their eyes was of another class altogether.

“It didn’t cost much at all. I just decided on the spot, you see. I learned that it was rude to visit the in-laws with empty hands.” (Erukana)

“Oh, my goodness. You’ve been educated properly by your family, it seems.” (mom)

“She doesn’t even have parents, so where would she even get such an education?!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

The triggered Yi Ji-Hyuk roared on, but Park Seon-Deok simply put her hand up in front of him.

“A child with no parents is still so well-behaved and disciplined, yet even though you’re in the presence of your own mother, you don’t seem to know when to butt in and when not to. If that piehole of yours puffs up like that of a duck’s bill, will the manners you’ve forgotten return to you?” (mom)

“I’m sorry.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk was crushed back inside the couch’s cushions.

Park Seon-Deok turned her head back in Erukana’s direction. Her eyes looking at the Succubus Queen now felt much warmer than before.

‘No, mother!’ (Jeong Hae-Min)

Jeong Hae-Min felt really anxious.

That fox-like demon, where did she even produce a bag like that?? Even she could tell that the bag in question was no ordinary item.

“....Here I was wondering what you’ve been doing during all that time after you said you arrived on Earth a while ago....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shook his head.

He couldn’t have imagined that Erukana would show up with such a thing. Did she actually stop by first in Milan before going over to America or something?

“How did you even come up with this idea? You’ve done well.” (mom)

“I learned it, you see.” (Erukana)

“From who?” (mom)

“A book.” (Erukana)

“A book?” (mom)

Erukana opened the subspace again and extracted several books.

“........”

Choi Jeong-Hoon saw the titles of the books and his eyes trembled powerfully next.

‘So, this was it!!’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

<I’m from Vietnam.>

<Understanding and making it possible to live in a multicultural family.>

<Easy-to-understand Korean in-laws rules.>

“M-multicultural?!” (Seo Ah-Young)

Seo Ah-Young freaked out and shouted loudly.

W-well, it is multi-cultured when you think about it. You can certainly call demon world’s customs and Korea’s as multiple different cultures, alright.

But then, isn’t this a bit different, direction-wise??

I’m pretty sure that these books aren’t talking about that type of multiple cultures? (Seo Ah-Young’s inner monologue)

It was then, Erukana opened her lips again.

“Erukana’s home, very far. Very different from here. But still want to be loved. Erukana will work hard.” (Erukana)

“Aigo.” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok’s eyes were getting wetter by the second.

‘H-hey, isn’t this situation unfurling in a weird direction??’ (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk urgently cried out.

“M-mom, it’s not what you think!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“You, be quiet.” (mom)

“Mom!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“I told you to be quiet, didn’t I?” (mom)

Yi Ji-Hyuk was crushed once more.

Mom effortlessly subjugated her son’s resistance and stared at Erukana with warm eyes.

“Indeed, you must’ve suffered a lot, trying to come to a country so far away.” (mom)

Nooo! Mom, I’m telling you that’s not it!

A country so far away?! That’s not even right!

....Uh?

Hang on, it is kind of a distant country, isn’t it?

When you get down to it, where she came from is further away than any other country on this planet, so, uh, I guess that wasn’t wrong....?

What the heck. Isn’t this rebuttal a bit strange? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“Alright, so you married our Ji-Hyuk-ee?” (mom)

“Yes, mahder.” (Erukana)

“Oh, you poor thing, chasing after my worthless son all this way.” (mom)

H-hang on, mom.

She’s a demon king, you know?

You’re allowed to call every single person in this world ‘poor’, but that word should never be associated with that woman, you know?!?!

Just what the hell is up with this situation?!

You think she came from Vietnam or something??

You think this is a TV documentary detailing the situation in a multicultural family? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“Mom! She’s a demon king!” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Demon king?” (mom)

“Ah, mom, you don’t know anything about a demon king, do you. You see, a demon king is, like, similar to a real king, but in the demon world....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“.....So, what you’re saying here is that a girl who is basically a princess, wanted to see you badly so she abandoned all of that to come here?” (mom)

Eh? Is that how it sounds?

N-no, hang on.... B-but, that sounds a wee bit off, though?

But, it also kinda sound right, too? Somehow? (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“Did I really raise you this way? If that was her story, then you should’ve brought her home immediately and take good care of her!” (mom)

“T-that is why I did bring her.....” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

But, mom! You told her to scram earlier, calling her a woman with no manners, didn’t you?! (Yi Ji-Hyuk’s inner monologue)

“You’re being noisy!” (mom)

“But I haven’t said anything.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Stop grumbling inside your head!” (mom)

“N-ng.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“Okay. I don’t fully understand what happened here, but for the time being, think of this place as your own home and rest well.” (mom)

“Thank you, mahder.” (Erukana)

“Indeed. Aigoo, you poor thing.” (mom)

Park Seon-Deok embraced Erukana without hesitation.

From the outside, this scene looked so heart-warming and all that.

By the way, mom....

Why are your hands still patting the handbag??

WHY?!

< 272. Mom, it’s your daughter-in-law -2 > Fin.