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chapter 61
As they passed through Subhūti’s Cave, Son Oh-gong spoke.
—I think this Huaguo Mountain in the dungeon isn’t really a place, but more like the concept of Huaguo Mountain: my home and the ground of my memories.
He felt that this version of Huaguo Mountain held within it all the ages of his life.
In truth, during the time he was king of Huaguo Mountain, he had barely been present in his own domain.
After becoming king, he went to study arts under Subhūti, then visited the underworld, obtained the Ruyi Jingu Bang from the Dragon Palace, and even fought with the Heavens—he was far too busy wandering.
Later, after being sealed by the Buddha for five hundred years, he was punished by being forced to accompany the monk Tripitaka on the long journey to India.
No matter how extraordinary his talents, he could not have been much of a king to his people.
That lingering regret, piled up and hardened, had formed this Huaguo Mountain.
The Chaos Demon King (Hōnsemawang) had soothed the hearts of those people.
That was why they gave him such loyalty.
But at the same time, another thought came to him.
“Did they really resent me?”
After Son Oh-gong had suffered divine execution by the gods, his people wandered the mortal realm, making countless arrangements so that he could someday return.
If they had truly resented him, would they have gone to such lengths?
—And so…
There was something Son Oh-gong had wanted to say to Lee Hyun, but never did.
What had that been?
Fwaaa—
A fresh wind blew, carrying the scent of flowers.
The Chaos Demon King collapsed weakly to the ground.
Blood poured down his torso from the long wound across his chest.
Thud!
“My lord!”
“No, my king!”
The soldiers rushed toward him in alarm.
“Stop… there.”
His strained voice halted them.
“This is… a warrior’s… pride on the line…”
Haa, haa—hot, metallic breath spilled from his mouth.
“Would you… trample… my pride?”
The soldiers bit their lips in silence.
The Chaos Demon King barely raised his eyes.
Lee Hyun stood before him.
“Just now… that technique…”
“It’s called Tujeonryu.”
“Tujeon… ryu. Hah. Even the name sounds cursed… Subhūti’s Cave, right?”
“Correct.”
Lee Hyun nodded heavily.
In truth, his own body was in bad condition.
[Skill activation failed!]
[You forced a skill far above your rank.]
[Warning! Severe health and mana depletion. ‘Status Effect: Exhaustion’ applied.]
[Warning! Circuits and core overloaded to critical levels. Durability badly damaged. Cease mana usage immediately.]
…
‘So it really was too much.’
Though he had followed Son Oh-gong’s traces with his Golden Eyes, what he had gained was only fragments.
Tujeonryu—the martial art Son Oh-gong created in his later years, powerful enough to overwhelm even the high gods—was not something someone like him, who had only just carved his name into the heavenly slate, could ever hope to master.
The backlash was severe.
So severe it drove him into collapse within an instant.
Even SS-grade sub-functions or relics could do nothing here.
Yet Lee Hyun swallowed back the blood surging to his throat.
The monkey soldiers surrounding him didn’t matter—at least, he wanted to show respect to the Chaos Demon King in his last moments.
“…I once wanted to create my own version after seeing that art… but it was too crude, so I gave up…”
So he too had once glimpsed Tujeonryu.
He had not obtained it, but it had clearly inspired him greatly.
Throughout their fight, Lee Hyun had seen reflections of himself in him.
“I have a question.”
“…It must be about the Aroma Buff, right…?”
“Where is Būngmawang?”
The Chaos Demon King’s eyes widened, then he laughed.
“To think you figured it out… truly… ha ha.”
Būngmawang.
The third of the Seven Demon Kings, she left behind trails of fragrant body-scent whenever her fiery wings swept past, becoming an idol among countless fiends.
The Aroma Buff of Huaguo Mountain was her lingering fragrance.
A race that makes you feel good and peaceful simply by standing beside them… There is only one like that in the world.
The Gandharva.
[1. Fragrance that relieves fatigue.]
Legends say Gandharvas bore horse tails and legs, or golden wings and bird legs, in beautiful semi-human forms.
They fed always on fragrance, and so their very bodies exuded scents that made people happy.
[2. Seekers of peace and joy.]
They carried Soma, the elixir of immortality, or entertained the gods with song and dance.
Thus, wherever they passed, laughter and happiness spread.
[3. Born of the waters.]
…
Būngmawang had been born a Gandharva.
But she hated the peaceful ways of her kind, left the world, and after harsh struggles became a Demon King.
“She gave me fire and a sword… and then left.”
“When was that?”
“Soon after… I first became aware of the world.”
Cough! Blood spattered from his mouth.
Blocking his soldiers once more, he pulled something from his robe.
“Take it… She left this… to be given to the one destined…”
“…!”
A bamboo scroll, bound with string, bearing the seal of a phoenix.
At once, Son Oh-gong leapt down and snatched it, tearing the seal and scanning its contents in haste.
“I should have given it right away… since I received and learned from her… but there was no obligation…”
His voice grew weaker.
“But she was like a teacher to me… at least now… I’ve passed it on.”
Straining his last strength, he asked:
“Now let me ask… was I worth anything?”
“You were,” Lee Hyun began, then firmed his tone—
“You were a true Sahun.”
The Chaos Demon King’s eyes widened, then he smiled.
“Ha ha… Then it’s fine… that’s enough…”
His head slowly fell.
[Quest Completed!]
‘…Already?’
Lee Hyun lifted his head.
The quest’s condition was to bring happiness to the residents of Huaguo Mountain.
He thought more would be required afterward—but what was this?
[You have successfully read and understood the <Short Story>. You gained great karmic merit.]
[Your rank has risen.]
[Reward: ‘Nourishing Spirit Fruit’ acquired.]
[All hidden conditions cleared. Bonus reward: ‘Demonic Tome of Blazing Flame’ granted.]
Ding. Ding.
Message after message rang out.
[The dungeon is closing. All participants retreat to the safe zone.]
[10]
“My lord!”
“Do not leave us, King!!”
The monkeys rushed in tears.
[9]
“…If there is one regret… it’s that I could not show them a better image…”
“No.”
His eyes, closing amidst his soldiers, opened again.
Before him, clutching the scroll, no longer stood a baby monkey.
Whoosh!
A breeze of flowers passed—standing there now was a handsome man with long white hair.
The Great Sage Equal to Heaven.
The Monkey King.
He shook his head calmly.
“You did well. To them, you were such a great king they barely even remembered the likes of me.”
“…!”
The Chaos Demon King’s eyes trembled.
Through his fading vision, Son Oh-gong smiled and held out his hand.
“Thank you, for cherishing our people.”
[5]
[4]
At that moment, Lee Hyun realized.
This dungeon’s quest had already been fulfilled long before they arrived.
Happiness.
The Chaos Demon King had already given it to them all.
[3]
Son Oh-gong’s silence all this time had not been because of memories of his old lover, Būngmawang.
It was guilt toward his people, and gratitude to the Chaos Demon King, intertwined.
Drip.
“…Ha ha. So my life was not wasted. To be acknowledged by the Great Sage himself…”
Darkness fell—the dungeon was closing.
[2]
Then Lee Hyun suddenly thought:
He didn’t want to let this one go—
Not the Chaos Demon King. Not Sahun.
“Hey, Sahun.”
If this one, who had searched for his own identity, could walk farther—
where would his path end?
[1]
The more he saw, the more he resembled himself.
Struggling desperately to defy fate.
Such a man dying here was bitter to see.
‘But if I kept him at my side…’
Perhaps he would become a new source of inspiration.
‘And he could guard my back.’
Fwaaah!
As the curtain of darkness fell completely, Lee Hyun thought he saw Sahun’s gaze on him.
“If you were given a chance to live anew, what would you want to do?”
No answer came.
[0]
[Countdown Ended.]
[Dungeon Closed!]
Just before it shut entirely—
[You used the ‘Heart of Bennu’.]
Fwoooosh!
Flames burst forth.
The fire of the Phoenix, rising from the ashes.
Meanwhile—
“Uh…?”
“What, it’s already over!?”
“We just got a message saying the dungeon ended suddenly…”
Z Team stood dumbfounded.
Their faces were smudged with soot, evidence they had been forced to labor by the monkeys.
While Lee Hyun fought the Chaos Demon King and drew all the attention, they had slipped past the loosened watch to reach their assigned destinations.
And each had obtained unexpected fortunes.
They didn’t know it, but every place Lee Hyun sent them had been sacred sites tied to Son Oh-gong’s legend.
Each place full of things tailored to them.
So they were still riding the high of their gains.
“Senior, about this dungeon—!”
Kim Min-jung started to ask, but stopped.
Lee Hyun stood quietly, holding a strange cube.
Yet—
‘Why does it feel so hard to approach him?’
His atmosphere had shifted in just a day, making him seem like a different person.
“…Team leader?”
“Wh-what, something feels off…”
Chief Seo Ae-ri and Chief Eom Gi-seon also flinched, feeling the pressure radiating from him.
Their instincts screamed: Don’t get closer—you’ll be in danger.
And then Kim Min-jung realized where she’d felt this before.
Back in their Cheong-ra Thunder Corps days.
When the greenhorn Lee Hyun had awakened while saving comrades from mortal peril.
He had this exact same aura.
“Senior… don’t tell me… you advanced to Ranker?”
“…!?”
“R-Ranker!?”
Both chiefs were shocked.
A Ranker—the dream of all Hunters, a height they longed to reach.
And Lee Hyun, only just made team leader, had already arrived there?
‘I did think he wasn’t far off, judging by his dungeon clears…’
‘But this!? Just two weeks ago, I fought him as an equal!’
Lee Hyun tossed the cube into his inventory and smiled.
“You all worked hard. Thanks for sticking it out with me to the end.”
A warm smile.
Kim Min-jung butted in.
“No, what I meant was—”
“Everyone’s joints must be creaking after that forced march. How about we oil them up with some barbecue?”
“You should answer the question!”
“My treat. Anyone in for beef, follow me.”
“I’m in!”
“Me too! Protein is essential! Team leader, I swear eternal loyalty! Loyalty, loyalty!”
As he led the way, the chiefs followed eagerly.
“The answer!!”
Kim Min-jung finally shrieked in frustration.
Later, while the others were busy grilling meat, Lee Hyun slipped outside under the pretext of getting some air.
“Phew… finally, I can breathe.”
With food in his belly and fresh air in his lungs, his fatigue melted away.
—What are you sulking for? Quit pretending to be cool. If you’re done, go buy some ice cream already!
—Hah! Foolishness. True meat, especially the marbled flank of Korean beef, is the foundation of life. What joy could frozen treats give?
—Meat is meat. What’s this ‘foundation’ talk?
—Tsk, you sound like some clueless old man who doesn’t even get memes.
—What was that!?
Lee Hyun chuckled at the sight of Son Oh-gong bickering again.
Finally, this felt like the monkey he knew.
—Honestly, my so-called disciple… tch. What are you grinning at?
“Nothing at all.”
—Bah, damn brat.
Kicking a pebble, Son Oh-gong muttered sullenly:
—Anyway, forget it. Kid, I have a favor to ask.
The word “favor” sounded strange from his mouth.
He coughed awkwardly, then fixed Lee Hyun with a deep gaze.
And Lee Hyun somehow already knew what he would say.
—Save Būngmawang.
