Broken Ranker Devours Myths - Chapter 34

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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 34

Mountain God (4)

 

 

 

Mo Jeong-gyeon held the long bamboo pipe in her mouth with a crooked posture.

Her collarbone, slightly visible through her disheveled clothing, added a decadent feeling.

“The way you came running looks just like a puppy that needs to go.”

“Grandmother, what on earth…!”

“What on earth what?”

Im Won-young saw Mo Jeong-gyeon’s twisted smile and calmly caught his breath.

“What on earth… are you trying to discuss by calling Section Chief Jang?”

Im Won-young had come to visit Lee Hyeon, but rushed over urgently upon hearing that he was meeting with Mo Jeong-gyeon.

“This old woman could come to check on a subordinate who caused trouble, don’t you think that’s something I wouldn’t do in such an accusatory manner?”

Im Won-young sighed while looking at the grandmother who, despite pretending to scold, couldn’t wipe the bright smile from her lips.

As expected, grandmother seemed to live for the fun of teasing him.

“…That’s not what I meant.”

“That’s how it sounds to this old woman though. Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter either way.”

Whooo-

Mo Jeong-gyeon said while exhaling smoke in a long stream.

“I wanted to see if he’s someone worth you commanding or not.”

Im Won-young furrowed his brow.

“Did you find my judgment that unreliable?”

“It’s not that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust the world.”

“…”

“This world is nothing but a savage place filled with people who only think about how to stab you in the back for their own benefit.”

An even more twisted smile.

The world Mo Jeong-gyeon looked at was always cold.

“…So what conclusion did you reach?”

Mo Jeong-gyeon, wrapped in cigarette smoke, was mysterious yet very fierce, like a tiger wielding mist.

“He’s absolutely not a child you can tame.”

“I…”

“It’s not because you’re inadequate or lack capability. That child is inherently impossible to tame from birth. He’s the same type as this old woman.”

Im Won-young’s eyes showed slight surprise.

It was rare for grandmother to praise someone so highly.

‘Section Chief Jang passed grandmother’s test.’

Im Won-young ran his hand through his hair.

With his worries about Lee Hyeon gone, his mind actually settled calmly.

“But can you really take him with you? What if you get devoured instead?”

“Then that would be even better for me.”

“What?”

“I’m not thinking of taming Section Chief Jang, but embracing him.”

One of Mo Jeong-gyeon’s eyebrows rose.

“I won’t be a tiger, but a mountain. Grandmother.”

“…!”

“Tigers don’t allow anything but themselves. They’re territorial animals that can’t stand having even a mate in the same territory. But,”

“A mountain embraces even such tigers?”

“That’s right.”

Im Won-young said in a calm tone.

“A mountain with a fierce tiger becomes a sacred mountain. Because it’s mysterious. Wouldn’t that be even better?”

Instead of answering, Mo Jeong-gyeon put the long bamboo pipe back in her mouth.

A laugh that could be either praise or mockery.

But Im Won-young had resolute eyes as if he didn’t care what she thought.

‘This child has grown too.’

Mo Jeong-gyeon was proud of her grandson.

‘Meeting that child… has broadened his perspective.’

That meant the time spent with Lee Hyeon, though short, had been incredibly profound.

‘They could be good catalysts for each other…?’

Mo Jeong-gyeon still had doubts about whether such a positive combination was possible,

‘But it wouldn’t be bad.’

Mo Jeong-gyeon cherished Im Won-young greatly.

Not because he was her grandson.

It was because Im Won-young had the talent and capability for it.

Perhaps he might even reach her level someday.

She wanted to nurture that.

“Fine. Since you’re so fond of that child, let’s do this.”

Im Won-young straightened his posture.

“You want that child to sit at the top of Z Team right away, don’t you?”

“To be blunt, yes. That’s right. He’s proven both his achievements and abilities sufficiently.”

Mo Jeong-gyeon was pleased with her grandson who was gradually expanding his influence in the Dungeon Strategy Department.

However,

“We can’t just put a child who caused such trouble in front of so many people in that position unconditionally.”

“…”

“That Executive Director Jeong fellow will also raise objections. So…”

Im Won-young quietly listened to the compromise Mo Jeong-gyeon was proposing.

 

* * *

 

Lee Hyeon was released immediately after his meeting with Mo Jeong-gyeon.

“You’ve been given five days of house arrest and three months salary reduction. Personnel-related matters will be given separately when you return to the company after five days.”

The agent who had brought Lee Hyeon to Mo Jeong-gyeon briefly mentioned the disciplinary details.

“Do you have any other questions?”

Lee Hyeon briefly wanted to ask about Mo Jeong-gyeon, but held back.

“No. I don’t.”

“Then I’ll see you in five days.”

Coming outside, the sunlight was blazing bright.

It was spring.

“Would you like some tofu?”

Outside, Kim Min-jeong was waiting with a bag containing tofu.

“Didn’t you go home?”

“How could I easily leave after something like that happened? I felt uneasy just going back, so I was waiting.”

Lee Hyeon let out a hollow laugh.

“How did you know when I’d come out?”

“It was a situation with extenuating circumstances. Besides, I was killing time at a nearby cafe, so it was fine. But aren’t you going to have any?”

“Is there no soy sauce?”

“Should I buy a bottle from the nearby supermarket and pour it all over for you?”

“I’m joking.”

Lee Hyeon looked at Kim Min-jeong’s sullen expression and took a bite of tofu.

That’s when it gradually started to sink in.

What kind of ordeal he had experienced in there.

The strong impression Mo Jeong-gyeon had left still remained vividly in his mind.

It would probably be hard to erase for the rest of his life.

‘She was nothing short of a monster.’

How much his heart had trembled while speaking in front of that massive and ferocious tiger.

It would have been better to perform acrobatics on a blade’s edge.

However,

‘She seemed somewhat unstable…’

Lee Hyeon was certain that Mo Jeong-gyeon was merely wearing human skin, but was truly a god.

But gods are noble and perfect beings.

Mo Jeong-gyeon was noble, but not perfect.

「Well, that’s because she forcibly crammed a soul so massive it could overwhelm the world into the narrow prison of a physical body.」

Son Wukong stated the reason definitively.

‘Does that mean she’s intentionally not leaving the Human Realm?’

「It seems that way… but who knows? The reason, I mean.」

Son Wukong tilted his head sideways.

「But as long as she keeps wearing clothes that don’t fit, she must be suffering tremendously. It’s probably as painful as having her soul burned in hellfire.」

‘…!’

「Yet she’s forcing herself to stay here, which means she must have some strong desire. Or perhaps some lingering attachment.」

Son Wukong’s Golden Eyes of Truth glowed eerily.

「That one is already a demigod. One who could ascend higher at any time.」

「Kekeke. A demigod who could even fight our eldest brother. What a truly terrifying existence.」

「Who said anything about fighting! Back in my day, I took on the Chief Deities, and something like that would be a piece of cake!」

「For a piece of cake, you seemed to react quite sensitively. Kekekeke.」

「That’s because I didn’t know what harm she might do to the kid…!」

「Your tongue is getting longer, eldest brother. Kekekekeke.」

「You little…!?」

Lee Hyeon shook his head as he watched the Baby Monkey and Baby Turtle still bickering.

For now, he was tired and felt like he should go home and rest.

‘But why hasn’t Jin-woo contacted me yet?’

Is the deal not going well?

「Watching the kid eat tofu makes me crave some too… This won’t do. Let’s go get some soy milk pudding! I spotted a decent dessert shop around here.」

‘…When exactly did you see that?’

「I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven Son Wukong who can see a thousand li while sitting still. That much is as easy as eating cold porridge while lying down, no, eating fish-shaped pastry!」

Son Wukong’s determination to find snacks on his own without Lee Hyeon’s recommendations was simply remarkable.

Lee Hyeon finished eating the tofu and dusted off his hands.

“Shall we get going? Since we’ve met, let’s also plan for the future.”

“Sounds good. I parked in the nearby parking lot, so let’s head that way.”

“You bought a car too?”

“For commuting. I don’t drive recklessly like someone I know.”

“…?”

“It’s a thing. That kind of thing.”

Just as the two were starting to walk,

“Section Chief Jang Lee Hyeon.”

Two people in suits blocked Lee Hyeon and Kim Min-jeong’s path.

Hunters who clearly possessed considerable skills.

Lee Hyeon’s eyes darkened.

“What’s this about?”

Kim Min-jeong also sharpened her gaze, but the two hunters kept their attention fixed only on Lee Hyeon.

“There’s someone who wants to see Section Chief Jang. Please come with us for a moment.”

The two hunters glanced subtly behind them.

A large black sedan sat by the roadside with its hazard lights blinking.

The coercive atmosphere made it clear they hadn’t come with good intentions.

Lee Hyeon’s response was equally cold.

“If someone has business with me, they should show their face and come find me themselves. Let’s go.”

The two hunters blocked Lee Hyeon’s path again as he tried to walk around them.

“This person dislikes unnecessarily showing their face in public. You’ll have to come with us.”

“Not interested.”

“You’ll have to become interested.”

They forcibly grabbed Lee Hyeon’s shoulder as he tried to ignore them and pass by.

Blatant disregard flashed in their hard eyes.

“You’d better let go of that hand.”

“If you won’t come willingly, we’ll have to take you by force…!”

The hunter’s businesslike tone couldn’t continue for long.

Lee Hyeon instantly grabbed his arm and twisted it in the opposite direction.

Crack!

“Aaaaagh!”

The hunter caught by Lee Hyeon struggled desperately to free his wrist, but it wouldn’t budge at all.

His arm was already broken at an unnatural angle.

It was inevitable.

Lee Hyeon had already surpassed 100 in his strength stat following his magic power, thanks to the rewards from the previous dungeon.

 

[Your strength coefficient has exceeded 100, reaching triple digits.]

[An additional function is added to the strength category. It has been linked with ‘Trait: Indomitable’.]

[‘Additional Function: Snow Soul Arm Strength’ has been unlocked.]

 

[Snow Soul Arm Strength (S)]

Despite enduring the terrible curse cast by the for the past four years, you maintained an indomitable spirit, broke through it, and ultimately regained your strength.

Your persistence remains in your physical strength, imbuing you with willpower as cold and unyielding as snow in any situation.

-Effect: Increased instantaneous destructive power. Attack power increases proportional to accumulated damage. Overcomes fatigue.

-Type: Strength additional function.

-Origin: Fairy tale ‘Snow Queen’

 

All of Lee Hyeon’s additional functions now contained the narrative of the .

Naturally, this additional function also reached S-rank, granting him physical strength comparable to a Ranker, or perhaps even greater.

An ordinary hunter couldn’t possibly match it.

Even if their abilities reached team leader level.

“You bastard!”

The other hunter tried to draw his weapon to save his colleague, but

Whoooosh!

Before he could even move, an axe flew past his head by a hair’s breadth.

Trickle-

Blood flowed down from a shallow cut on his cheek.

“…!!”

“Take one more step and next time it’ll be your head.”

“…Even after you do this,”

“I’ll beat you down even if you say useless things.”

“…”

“Try it if you’re curious.”

The Hunter shut his mouth tight.

Looking at Lee Hyeon’s murderous gaze made his heart feel like it was sinking.

Moreover,

Gooooo!

 

[Revealing Aura!]

[The ‘s grudge mixed in your Magic Power is carried in your aura.]

 

The Killing Intent that Lee Hyeon emitted was as sharp and cutting as a North Pole blizzard.

No, it was painful.

Especially the Snow Queen’s lingering grudge contained within it was absolutely not something the two Hunters could withstand.

“…!”

“…!!”

Both men’s faces turned pale white in an instant,

“Get lost while I’m being nice?”

The two men, already broken in spirit, flinched in surprise and stepped back.

Even while doing so, they kept glancing back at the sedan behind them, clearly showing their fear of their employer.

Just as Lee Hyeon pulled out another axe and was about to unleash Lightning Energy to make the decision easier,

Crackle!!

“How about stopping there? Those two were merely faithful to my orders.”

Click!

Suddenly the sedan’s door opened wide.

Inside, a middle-aged man who resembled the deceased Team Leader Jeong Sun-il but had much deeper eyes was sitting and looking this way.

“…That’s Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han.”

Kim Min-jeong’s careful whisper.

Lee Hyeon quietly nodded his head.

Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han spoke.

“I came here because I wanted to have a conversation with you alone. I’m asking not as a company superior, but as the father of a dead son.”

Lee Hyeon quietly stared into Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han’s eyes.

An unreadable gaze.

He was so calm it was hard to think of him as someone who had lost a beloved son.

Though he didn’t know what might happen if he got inside,

“I suppose I should go with him. Sorry, but let’s talk next time.”

Lee Hyeon gestured to the worried Kim Min-jeong that it was okay, then got into the sedan.

He too had many things he was curious about regarding Executive Director Jeong.

“Let’s go.”

“Right.”

Thud!

The sedan door closed and the car began to drive.

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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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