Chapter 19

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 19

Chapter Title: Return

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Status windows cascaded before my eyes.

I swiped my hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to dismiss them all, then flopped back onto the bed with a thud.

"This isn't a dream."

I stared blankly at the ceiling, my mind drifting back to everything that had happened in that other world. The demon realm and Demon King's Castle, the wild romps with those demon women, my audience with the Demon King.

I've worked as a hunter for years, taking down countless monsters through all sorts of gates, but nothing like this isekai transfer had ever happened to me before.

Gates are just one-time passages between worlds. They're tunnels, not the worlds themselves.

I fished out my phone, opened the app, and scrolled through the list of parallel worlds.

There was the demon realm with the Demon King's Castle, plus fantasy continents full of kingdoms and empires, underwater realms, flooded landscapes.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Modernized city worlds that looked just like the real one, or sci-fi space settings, dystopian near-futures.

If these really are the probabilistic worlds Yuria described—places that don't actually exist yet, separate from reality—then no problem.

But what if they're connected to the world I live in? What if the gates popping up in reality are actually doorways to these places?

'This is getting complicated...'

Maybe this isn't just some jerk-off app. Maybe it's something massive that links worlds together.

Everything I'd gone through in the Demon King's Castle felt so real, it planted all these thoughts in my head. I sorted through them, then called out.

"Status window."

The physical sensitivity gains from clearing that parallel world. Not exactly thrilling, but whatever—right now, the Dick Compass Points were what mattered.

This haul was on another level from the tutorial clear, so ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠time to put it to use.

But first...

'I'm starving...'

Unlike my otherworld body, my real one hadn't eaten properly in days. Delivery it is.

I ordered a few lunchboxes, then fired up the app to check the shop.

The item list was packed with all sorts of blush-inducing goodies, but I scrolled past them to the very bottom: Polymorph.

Last time, 100 points got me back for a short stint—under two minutes.

Plug in 200,000 points...

'Just shy of 56 hours.'

3,600 per hour. Continuous use: a little over two days.

Not bad. No full normal life, but enough for quick errands outside.

Glad I tackled the hardest parallel world right out of the gate—big payoff, low risk now.

Speaking of, where'd Yuria go? She's jingling around one second, gone the next when I need her.

"Yuria?"

[Yawn...]

"Hey."

I followed the sound and spotted her curled up by the bed. She jolted awake.

[Ah! You're back?]

"Of course. Who do you think I am?"

Top of Korea's hunter rankings: Lee Yeon. Shota body or not, no quest I can't clear.

...Though really, I just got railed the whole time.

[Sorry, sorry. The parallel world you picked was too hard for me to tag along. Highest difficulty, remember?]

"Yeah. Fair enough."

Actually, on second thought, her absence wasn't so bad. Having someone watch me get plowed? Creepy.

Maybe it worked out. Yeah. Tell her not to come anymore. No good having witnesses to my shame in the real world.

If I cleared the highest-difficulty Demon King's Castle solo, I don't need her support.

"No need to follow next time. I can handle it."

[Cool with me—less work for me~ But if I think you need backup, I'll show up anyway.]

"...Fine, you do you."

Just in case. Safety net or whatever.

Ding-dong—

Delivery arrived right on cue. I filled my growling stomach, savoring memories of the Demon King's Castle feasts.

*

The next day.

I activated Polymorph to switch back to my original body temporarily. App notifications tracked remaining points and time—no risk of it cutting out midway.

First stop: Hunter Association. I'd tipped off Yoon Joo-young already, but now for the formal leave request and activity suspension.

Rank might slip a bit, but better to wrap this mess up first.

Even with points for temporary normalcy, risks remained.

Vroom—

The limo glided to a smooth stop.

The driver opened the rear door, and I stepped out, heading into the Hunter Association building.

Click-click—

Hordes of reporters swarmed the entrance. I braved the flashing cameras and made my way inside.

"Welcome, Yeon."

Word had spread—Association staff came out to greet me.

"Yeah."

"The President mentioned it. Health issues making raids tough?"

"Right. Here to declare formal suspension."

"!"

Even for a solo hunter like me, the rank-one guy going dark was a huge loss for the Association—and Korea. Could even dent national competitiveness long-term.

But what can you do? My body's a mess. And considering the otherworld stuff, my head's not right either.

Acting like that just because my body got younger? Sure, mind follows flesh, but those embarrassing memories? No way I could show my face.

Bottom line: I needed rest.

"Hoo."

I let out a small sigh and headed for the desk. The receptionist looked flustered, picking up the phone to call someone.

That was when—

Clack—

"Lee Yeon? You're here."

A familiar, exasperating face. Sword Ghost Yoon Joo-young. With all the eyes around, she spoke politely this time, unlike before.

I kept my tone even, reining in any snark.

"Yes."

"Don't stand there—come to my office and talk."

She nodded toward the elevators, inviting me in.

"..."

One-on-one with Yoon Joo-young? Intimidating. But without her sign-off, no approved leave.

Better than ghosting—maybe talking it out works.

"Fine. Lead the way."

*

Heart of Seoul, Korea's capital. The Hunter Association building, fresh beside the Sauron Tower. The panoramic view of the city below never got old.

Pat-pat—

Yoon Joo-young hustled to her desk, brewed coffee from the machine, and handed me a cup.

I sniffed it first—no poison—then sipped. My current body had toxin resistance anyway.

Flop—

She crashed onto the sofa opposite me. Dark circles under her eyes—still buried in work, huh.

"Ugh. Gonna die, fuck."

She slumped against the cushions, craning her neck back to stare at the ceiling.

Her throat arched, thrusting her chest forward. For a swordswoman, those were some seriously big tits, jiggling under her white blouse.

"Ahem."

I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked away. But my eyes betrayed me, sneaking back for a peek.

Her chest, those long, sleek legs—they drew me in. Black stockings hugged her sexy crossed legs.

She probably didn't even think she looked hot doing it.

Good thing the tight skirt hid the goods. Still, those firm, juicy thighs and sheer black panties? Enough to send most guys running.

Ogling her killer figure got me stirring down below. Then—

She snapped her head up from the sofa.

"!"

I flinched, averting my gaze.

'Why am I like this?'

She's stunning, sure, but normally fear overrode any lust.

But now? Definite reaction downstairs. Something was off.

As I faked nonchalance to dodge her stare, she narrowed her eyes and snapped irritably.

"What? Why's your face so red?"