Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Broken Ranker

Devours Myths

 

Chapter 15

White Burn (1)

 

 

 

Tap.

Tap.

“Are you still looking at your phone?”

Tap…

“I mean, it’s not even an ex-boyfriend, so why are you waiting for contact like that? Even though he’s your benefactor, this isn’t like you, Director.”

Manager Kim Min-jeong couldn’t understand her superior at all.

Im Won-young had felt like a different person ever since the Monkey Den subjugation.

She was still full of jokes, a heavy smoker… no, a smoking enthusiast, and an active career woman,

but sometimes she would stare out the window for long periods or glare at her phone as if she wanted to devour it.

Just like now.

‘A guide, right? And supposedly very skilled too… Honestly, I’m not sure how much to believe.’

Usually, guides were a profession taken up by those with poor skills in the industry or those who couldn’t bear to see cruel things.

They handled various tasks like path searching, area reconnaissance, and trap disposal, but since other professions now shared much of this work, it had become an unremarkable job.

How shocked she had been to hear that such a guide had saved the Elite A Team in crisis.

She hadn’t been at the scene since she was on an overseas business trip at the time. She had received the news late and hurriedly returned this morning…

‘Well, that person was safely found and taken to the hospital, so he should contact us right after discharge to receive compensation. Why is she so anxious?’

Kim Min-jeong muttered quietly out of curiosity.

“Or is the guide incredibly handsome or something?”

“He’s handsome. Extremely.”

Kim Min-jeong jumped in surprise at the voice that suddenly came from behind.

“M-Manager So!”

It was Manager So Seong-hae, who could be called the second-in-command of Attack Team A.

His sunken eyes from constant overtime were always impressive.

“Even as a man, I’d be jealous of that face. If I had that face, I wouldn’t have lived through all that hardship…”

Other team members nearby nodded their heads.

“He was handsome… really handsome.”

“Even with one leg being uncomfortable, he didn’t show it and silently cleared the path – it was really picturesque.”

“He was tall too…”

“And his personality is good, right?”

“Damn, the more I think about it, the more envious I get. Manager Min, what was that guy like during his cadet days?”

“He was ridiculously popular. There were many female cadets who came to see his face regardless of whether they were seniors or juniors. I heard he was even street-cast several times.”

“Damn it.”

“The world is really unfair…”

Outcries erupted from various places.

“But no one could make a move on him.”

“Why?”

“He had a girlfriend he’d been dating since childhood.”

“He put up an iron wall too?”

“It was perfect. The female cadets had no way to get through. Well, it didn’t end well though…”

“The end?”

“There’s that kind of thing.”

Kim Min-jeong couldn’t keep up with the rapid pace of conversation among the team members.

But one thing was certain.

Everyone was just grumbling, but they weren’t hiding their goodwill toward Lee Hyeon.

‘A Military Academy graduate who’s a guide? Who exactly is he?’

And he’s handsome too?

Kim Min-jeong was also a graduate of Awakening Military Academy. Wondering who they were talking about, she thoroughly searched through the alumni directory in her head.

But no one came to mind immediately.

Most had been commissioned or, even if discharged, were in Large Guilds.

“Um, could I ask that person’s name…”

Just as Kim Min-jeong was about to ask the team members,

Ring!

Suddenly, the phone that Im Won-young had been glaring at rang.

An unregistered number.

The team members’ gazes turned toward it.

Im Won-young cleared her throat lightly and slowly picked up the phone.

Click.

“Hello?”

And Kim Min-jeong’s eyes widened slightly at the voice that came through the receiver.

It was a somehow familiar voice.

 

* * *

 

A cafe somewhere in Seongsu-dong, Seoul.

Lee Hyeon was drinking coffee alone, dressed in ordinary clothes – jeans, a black hoodie, and a blue cap.

Of course, that was only how he appeared to other people.

Lee Hyeon was different.

「What? You just give it and that’s it?」

Across the table sat a pure white Baby Monkey.

Boldly holding a fork in one hand.

‘Yes.’

「What’s that supposed to mean? Ring if it’s a ring, sword if it’s a sword – you didn’t even ask him to make anything specific? You didn’t request any functions either?」

‘He’ll make something good on his own. It’s always been like this.’

Lee Hyeon was on his way back from Docheol Workshop.

He had handed over the finger and staff he had seized from Yellow Wind Monster.

This time too, Old Man Taotie had silently received the items and focused on his hammering.

Son Wukong was truly curious about the relationship between Lee Hyeon and Old Man Taotie.

A relationship where they understood each other without needing to speak.

Was such a thing really possible?

Son Wukong momentarily recalled the face of a certain monk who used to chant sutras, but soon shook his head clear.

‘More importantly, Great Sage.’

「What?」

‘Aren’t you full?’

「Why would I be full?」

‘You’ve eaten this much though.’

Lee Hyeon looked around Son Wukong with a dismayed expression.

On the round table were eight cake slice plates.

All of them were Son Wukong’s handiwork.

「Hmph. How trivial. This much doesn’t even register.」

‘…You’ve certainly eaten quite a lot on the way here too.’

Lee Hyeon had to offer up all the snacks he’d promised in the dungeon, like fish-shaped pastries and ddungkalong.

But apparently that had opened his appetite properly, because as soon as they arrived at the cafe, he ordered Lee Hyeon to buy cakes from the display case, one of each flavor.

Thanks to that, Lee Hyeon’s pockets were completely emptied.

For reference, Lee Hyeon didn’t even get to taste any of those many snacks…

「That hunger is that hunger, and this hunger is this hunger! Don’t try to lay groundwork to avoid buying more, will you? Your reverence for the god you serve is truly impudent!」

‘…What kind of offering is this.’

「Naturally, making offerings to Buddha is an ancient custom… Oh! New cake coming in. Go buy that one!」

Lee Hyeon eventually had to go back to the counter to order a few more slices of cake before returning.

He decided to pretend he didn’t notice the clerk staring at him with curious eyes.

Nom nom nom.

Lee Hyeon watched Son Wukong, who was once again focused on inhaling(!) cake, with an incredulous look, then pulled out a thick book from his bag.

An old tome written in characters that looked like Chinese but whose meaning was incomprehensible.

「You’re going to learn the skill here?」

‘There’s no need to put it off unnecessarily.’

It was the Samadhi Divine Wind skill book he’d obtained as an additional reward for clearing .

 

[Samadhi Divine Wind (D)]

A wind attribute skill used by the Yellow Wind Monster in the myth of ■■■■. Creates fierce sandstorms that steal the breath of living creatures within range.

-Type: Skill Book.

-Origin: Myth ‘Journey to the West’

*This skill book is a copy that flowed out from a . Its power and effects may be significantly inferior to the original.

 

Though there was a description saying it was a copy, Lee Hyeon didn’t mind and placed his hand on the cover.

After all, he had no intention of using this simply as a skill.

Flash!

The skill book disappeared in a burst of light as a message appeared.

Ding!

Ding!

 

[You have acquired a skill book.]

[Would you like to add ‘Samadhi Divine Wind (D)’ to your skill list?]

 

Son Wukong watched Lee Hyeon’s actions intently.

He was curious about how Lee Hyeon would utilize his old enemy’s skill.

But then,

‘No.’

「…!?」

A completely unexpected decision.

Son Wukong’s eyes widened.

However,

Lee Hyeon was smiling.

 

[‘Samadhi Divine Wind (D)’ was not created.]

[Samadhi Divine Wind (D) has been dismantled and its components are being attributed to ‘Breath of Dueoksini (B)’.]

 

「…!」

Only then did Son Wukong realize Lee Hyeon’s scheme and let out a hollow laugh.

 

[‘Sacred Relic: Golden Eyes of Truth’ activates to analyze the dismantled components of ‘Samadhi Divine Wind’ in greater detail.]

…

[Congratulations! Elements of Samadhi Divine Wind have been added to Breath of Dueoksini (B), transforming it into ‘Dueoksini’s Sigh (B+)’.]

 

[Dueoksini’s Sigh (B+)]

The emotions exploded by the resentful Dueoksini sometimes come as lightning, sometimes as gusts, causing various disasters.

-Type: Skill, Mana Control

-Proficiency: 0%

-Origin: Folk tale ‘Curse of the Seven Star Rock’

 

For the first time, his main skill that he’d used since his Ranker days had changed.

As a gleam passed through Lee Hyeon’s eyes, Son Wukong let out a hollow laugh.

「Using Golden Eyes of Truth to completely dismantle skills, then taking only what you need to maximize efficiency?」

‘There will be many myths to explore in the future, and I can’t possibly take all those skills with me.’

「Pretty clever thinking, huh?」

Son Wukong exclaimed in admiration.

「Right. I had such natural talent that I could learn hundreds of techniques without any problems, but for you, it’s better to focus on practical gains that play to your strengths.」

Though it was an evaluation that contained more bragging about himself than praise for Lee Hyeon,

since it was all true, Lee Hyeon nodded.

From the start, Samadhi Divine Wind wasn’t a skill he could properly handle.

It was tempting since it was an excellent skill capable of shaping dungeon environments and devastating entire raid parties,

but it was a combination that didn’t match at all with the resistances, attributes, and skill tree he’d currently built up.

So Lee Hyeon boldly gave up the skill.

Instead, he made a plan to take only the parts he could and strengthen his main skill.

Of course, it was only easy to explain – it was by no means an easy plan.

The process of dismantling skills was difficult, and the subsequent process of selecting what to keep and discard required many calculations.

But Lee Hyeon set just one criterion.

Condensed Lightning.

Just as he had embraced Condensed Lightning with Breath of Dueoksini, he only checked whether Samadhi Divine Wind could also be embraced by Breath of Dueoksini.

‘Samadhi Divine Wind seemed like it would work well as a support. I could use Swift Wind to add acceleration to movement speed, or use Windless to enhance stealth skills.’

「Or you could create gusts at lightning strike points. It’s the right choice.」

‘Thank you. Actually, without Golden Eyes of Truth, I wouldn’t have even attempted something like this.’

「Well, this elder is pretty amazing.」

Lee Hyeon watched Son Wukong acting all proud and wiggled his fingers.

He was already dying to enter a dungeon and try out his newly acquired skill.

Fortunately, that opportunity didn’t seem like it would take long.

Just then, the cafe door swung wide open.

Everyone inside turned their attention in that direction.

Both men and women alike.

“What’s that, a celebrity?”

“Are they filming some show here?”

“Idiot! That person is Im Won-young! Mountain Tiger!”

She walked toward them wearing a stylish suit and even sunglasses. It was like watching a runway show.

The woman following behind Im Won-young was also a beauty no less stunning than her. Her bronze skin and intelligent eyes were impressive.

But something about her looked familiar.

“Kim Min-jeong?”

“Senior? It really was you, senior?”

Kim Min-jeong looked at Lee Hyeon with a surprised expression.

“That’s right. Manager Kim is one class below Hunter Jang, so she would know Hunter Jang well.”

“Ah, yes… A little.”

While Kim Min-jeong trailed off, Im Won-young took a seat in the chair across from Lee Hyeon.

“Sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long? It’s Friday, so traffic was absolutely terrible on the way here.”

“It’s fine. I just arrived a little while ago myself.”

Lee Hyeon also withdrew his gaze from Kim Min-jeong and looked at Im Won-young.

“For someone who says they just arrived, you’ve eaten quite a lot of cake.”

Lee Hyeon was about to answer ‘It’s because I have a glutton with me,’ but when Im Won-young suddenly lowered her sunglasses and looked him up and down, he burst into laughter.

“But Hunter Jang, why is there magic power coming from you…?”

“I happened to regain it.”

“…!”

Lee Hyeon respectfully returned the [Tiger God’s Protection Charm] he had received from Im Won-young.

He would repay the help he had received from her and White Burn even more generously. That thought remained unchanged.

Kindness with kindness, grudges with greater grudges.

This was the first principle of life that Lee Hyeon had never forgotten even once from childhood until now.

“So despite my shamelessness, I have a favor I’d like to ask of you, Team Leader.”

For a moment, a strange light flickered in Im Won-young’s eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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