The Boss's Sweet Return Life - 16화 까불고 있네

p>“U-Of course! Yesterday it was already late, so I handled the delivery right after I got to work today!”>

p>Han Jihyun forced a smile as she spoke.>

p>All the while she kept one hand pressed to her phone, waiting for the vibration.>

p>Hoping that any second now the message confirming the dungeon raid’s success would arrive.>

p>“I’m sure the reply will come in time! Besides, isn’t there something you’re curious about? I’ll tell you what I know, up to my own limits, just like yesterday.”>

p>She was desperately buying them time to finish the raid.>

p>Watching her, Ari tilted her head slightly from side to side.>

p>‘I don’t have anything specific in mind right now.’>

p>It felt like Han Jihyun was just stalling… or maybe it was only Ari’s own imagination.>

p>She could just straight-up ask her to clear the gate, but…>

p>Why bother?>

p>Ari leaned comfortably against the back of the chair and let her eyes wander slowly up and down over Han Jihyun’s appearance.>

p>Since she’d just come back from shopping yesterday, the scene felt natural.>

p>Her Ari-bori-colored one-piece dress fell perfectly, and the neat look suited her elegantly refined face.>

p>Down to the hem of her hair… and her shoes…>

p>‘Eh?’>

p>Now she had something that finally piqued her interest—a tiny little curiosity.>

p>“Jihyun-ssi, why are you wearing that on your legs?”>

p>“Eh? On my legs?”>

p>Han Jihyun tilted her head the same way.>

p>Then she glanced down beneath her skirt hem, let out an “Ah!” and continued.>

p>“You mean stockings, right? These are fashion items too.”>

p>“Ah, really?”>

p>“Yup. It’s just a matter of taste, though.”>

p>Ari’s interest sharpened, and Han Jihyun explained in more detail.>

p>In short, it was like makeup for the legs.>

p>When the details started to get really long, Ari’s expression lit up with amusement.>

p>“Want me to buy you a new pair later?”>

p>“No, it’s fine. I was just bored and curious.”>

p>That was the truth.>

p>As if to prove it, a yawn suddenly escaped her.>

p>“Haaah… Since I’m in the mood, I was thinking of raiding a gate or ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two… Has the reply from above still not come? Ah, and besides that, there’s also the process of getting my status as an Otherworldly Migrant approved, right?”>

p>“U-Um… Well… I’ll check by phone and let you know!”>

p>Instead of answering, Han Jihyun bolted down the hallway at full speed.>

p>Watching her retreating back, Ari quietly closed her eyes and focused on the sound in her ears.>

p>“Y-Yes, yes. Neeeee?! That’s a bit… troublesome…”>

p>Something was definitely going on.>

p>Ari gave a tiny nod, then tugged at the hem of her shirt and let it fall back into place. Perfect.>

p>The new underwear still felt strange against her skin.>

p>But not just the underwear— the whole world had changed a lot, and even the things she used to be familiar with now felt alien.>

p>She would have to adapt gradually… for the sweet life she was about to live from now on…>

p>‘…Boring. Want to go for a walk?’>

p>Or maybe sneak over to the gate inside the research center. Mmmhng.>

p>***

p>A lone shrine stood tall in the middle of an empty field.>

p>At the entrance, a monster the size of a large dog was curled up and sleeping.>

p>The monster was lost in a dream, even now its memory of the distant past was fuzzy.>

p>“From now on, you will guard this place.”>

p>The order handed down by its master.>

p>The monster, shaped like a dog or a wolf, obediently nodded.>

p>The one who gave the command spoke again.>

p>“Even though you’re a one-headed freak, you listen well.”>

p>The master laughed mockingly and left.>

p>No encouraging words, no gentle pats on the head.>

p>But that was normal for the monster.>

p>Unlike the others with multiple heads, this was the only one-headed mutant. This high-intelligence monster had always lived with a nagging suspicion: was it truly the hellhound it was meant to be?>

p>That was why, the moment it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠received a mission, it felt an indescribable thrill.>

p>…Even though the master never came back after that day either.>

p>Sniff. Sniff.>

p>The monster woke up and sniffed the air, then opened its eyes.>

p>It frowned and narrowed its pupils sharply.>

p>A strange scent. An intruder.>

p>Krrrrr——>

p>“Heh, as expected. The boss’s size keeps growing.”>

p>“Although it only has one head, records show it resembles the guardians of this hell-themed dungeon. Everyone be careful!”>

p>“E-E-E… It keeps getting bigger?!”>

p>No one in the shrine could enter.>

p>To show its displeasure, the monster opened its mouth and spat flames.>

p>Then.>

p>“Breath! Everyone behind me!”>

p>A human holding a huge iron plate stepped forward to block.>

p>Then he began radiating killing intent.>

p>It had been a while, but groups like this had come in the past too.>

p>The monster recalled the memory and immediately prepared to charge.>

p>It had to target the rear.>

p>Ignore the humans trying to distract it.>

p>Accepting some damage in exchange for the most effective way to repel the intruder.>

p>Kwaaaang!!!>

p>The monster, now the size of a washtub, ran across the field straight at the humans.>

p>***

p>“No way, this is crazy?!”>

p>“Why is this thing so smart?!”>

p>The management bureau hunters let out groans.>

p>Normally, when facing a monster with low intelligence, the fight began the classic way.>

p>Eyes locked on the tank, the one causing the most hassle up front.>

p>Then, the moment a gap appeared, the dealers struck.>

p>Or the mage cast a strong spell to buy time.>

p>But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the monster in front of them.>

p>“Kyaaaah! Stop following meee—!”>

p>Completely ignored the tank.>

p>Moreover, it hunted the mages relentlessly, even while accepting damage.>

p>Because of that, the rest of the team had to frantically protect their allies.>

p>A hastily organized temporary team—hands and feet didn’t even match.>

p>Plus, only one of the two B-grade hunters was the tank and temporary leader.>

p>The rest were all C-grade, even though there were many of them.>

p>The formation collapsed, no proper damage was accumulated, and the fight that should have been short took forever.>

p>“Kuhk!”>

p>The hunter hit by the whip-like tail screamed and crashed into a tree trunk.>

p>Almost at the same time, the front paw swung forward.>

p>Kwaang. Shatter!>

p>It broke straight through the mage’s defensive barrier.>

p>The moment the long muzzle opened with dripping saliva.>

p>Thud!>

p>The temporary leader who had quickly closed in slammed the jaw up with his shield.>

p>The beast’s eyes blazing with rage looked down at the tank.>

p>“Come on!”>

p>The tank braced himself, shield raised.>

p>Krrroong—>

p>The monster spat hot breath while immediately leaping toward another hunter.>

p>The leader, without realizing it, clicked his tongue in irritation.>

p>‘This is bad.’>

p>The desperation to finish before external intervention showed clearly on the teammates’ faces.>

p>Even he himself wasn’t managing his stamina properly.>

p>The situation was too tense.>

p>Swallowing every curse he wanted to throw at the higher-ups, the leader nervously raked his messy hair and slammed the ground.>

p>He stepped in front of a teammate about to be attacked, extended his magical power around the shield, and perfectly timed his block to stop the breath.>

p>Right then, the only B-grade mage in the team shouted.>

p>“It’s done!”>

p>The signal that the powerful magic was ready!>

p>A huge magic circle appeared beneath the monster’s body.>

p>The guy who had just stopped the breath reacted late and tried to jump back, but the spell was faster.>

p>Kuuuung——!!>

p>A massive pillar of fire erupted from the ground and swallowed the house-sized monster whole.>

p>Relief flashed across the hunters’ faces.>

p>Even if it didn’t end it in one shot, meaningful damage had been dealt!>

p>“Dealers! Prepare the next attack!”>

p>“Melee guys, move fast!”>

p>“Oh, you’re all fighting well.”>

p>“Yeah, keep it up! Push them now!”>

p>In the middle of shouting orders at the top of his voice.>

p>“…Eh?”>

p>“???”>

p>A few people noticed the strange atmosphere late.>

p>In the midst of frantic fighting, a casual voice suddenly cut in.>

p>For a second they thought they’d misheard, and they turned around.>

p>“……”>

p>“……”>

p>They froze.>

p>Han Jihyun, repeatedly bowing her head as if apologizing, and Ari—the boss waving cheerfully with a lively smile.>

p>Two beauties were watching the battle from a slightly distance away.>

p>A bead of sweat rolled down the temporary leader’s temple.>

p>Even though he needed to focus on the monster, he couldn’t tear his eyes away.>

p>What should they do? Keep fighting? Or surrender to the boss Ari?>

p>‘What’s the right answer…?’>

p>He didn’t know. Did they even have the right to choose?>

p>At that moment, the fire pillar vanished and the scorching heat died down.>

p>The leader stared straight ahead again and swallowed another curse.>

p>The monster’s size had grown even larger.>

p>It had clearly taken damage, but it didn’t look like enough.>

p>The hunters began calling the next phase by game terms.>

p>In other words, the real fight was just starting.>

p>‘This bastard…’>

p>No more hesitation.>

p>The temporary leader immediately kicked off the ground and charged at it.>

p>At the same time the monster leaped too.>

p>Another round of tag began.>

p>The problem was that even though the size had grown, its speed was faster than before.>

p>The leader, barely blocking in front of his teammate, was flung backward with the shield.>

p>Slam— thump.>

p>Groaning as he pushed himself up, a sweet voice called out.>

p>“Need help?”>

p>‘Oh no…’>

p>He’d been thrown near the boss Ari.>

p>The leader thought for a second.>

p>Soon he nodded.>

p>‘I already came this far.’>

p>Just letting the girl do whatever she wanted would probably be better.>

p>Noticing the man’s reaction, Ari ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠smiled sweetly and casually walked forward.>

p>The growing presence made the monster instinctively stop and turn its head.>

p>“You look like a Cerberus but only have one head. A mutant?”>

p>Krrrrr——>

p>“Flirting, are you? What are you going to do after growling at me?”>

p>Ari’s figure began to twist and distort unnaturally.>

p>And along with it, her presence exploded.>

p>“Gueek—”>

p>“Kulk, kulk!”>

p>The nearby C-grade hunters couldn’t endure the power and knelt, retching.>

p>Even the B-grade hunters’ bodies trembled and they covered their mouths. They looked like they might collapse at any moment.>

p>Step back. Step back.>

p>Even the monster that had been rampaging fiercely until now took a step backward.>

p>Its instinct warned it: that thing was a different kind of existence. It smelled like a god, just like the master who left long ago!>

p>At that moment, Ari parted her lips.>

p>“Sit.”>

p>Kugugugung——!!!>

p>With that single word, gravity reversed.>

p>The huge monster was slammed to the ground.>

p>Flattened.>

p>Trying to resist and rise up, it did nothing.>

p>In the end, it shrank in size with a groan.>

p>Ari, who had been holding back her strength for the sake of the surrounding people, narrowed her eyes and watched the monster’s state.>

p>Finally, when it shrank to the size of a large dog.>

p>Only then did she stop using her power and let go of her hand.>

p>Watching while holding back her magic sickness, the leader let out an incredulous laugh.>

p>‘Hah. This is like dropping a tactical nuke in the middle of a medieval mercenary fight…?’>

p>It wasn’t even directly pressured, and just the aftershock of releasing magic was enough to make standing a struggle.>

p>Honestly, he wanted to just sit on the ground.>

p>But since it was a temporary team, he was simply holding it in because he was the leader.>

p>While thinking about venting his frustration, Ari, who had returned to her original shape, turned her back.>

p>She looked at Han Jihyun, who was also covering her mouth like the leader.>

p>“Jihyun-ssi, are you okay? Can you talk?”>

p>Nod nod!>

p>“I told you I’d receive the reward after raiding the gate here yesterday.”>

p>She paused briefly and covered one palm to her cheek.>

p>Then she spoke in a serious tone.>

p>“Besides the money, I need to add one more thing.”>

p>Add to the reward?>

p>What exactly was she asking for, to make such a big deal?>

p>Not only Han Jihyun but all the sane hunters were waiting for Ari’s words.>

p>Finally.>

p>“That puppy. I want to take it outside and raise it. Ddaeng-ddaeng-ah, you’d like that too, right?”>

p>“Kkiing…”>

p>“I heard the puppy likes it?”>

p>“……”>

p>“……”>

p>‘I’m really going crazy.’>

p>‘Is it really right to call that monster Ddaeng-ddaeng?’>

p>A magical scene unfolded that perfectly matched the thoughts of countless people.