Chapter 32
Mountain God (2)
[Opening Random Box (SR).]
[Preparing an item based on the karma and records accumulated by the user.]
Apparently, a random box didn’t simply reveal its contents the moment you opened the lid.
It seemed to be because of the note in the description: “It is certain that the item you immediately need will appear.”
‘Wait… if that’s the case?’
At that thought, Lee Hyun pulled out the Mask of the Golden Arhat.
「Why are you suddenly pulling that out for no reason?」
Sun Wukong openly showed his displeasure, while Sha Wujing looked warmly at Lee Hyun, who had carefully kept the sacred relic he had given him.
Perhaps thanks to the extra reward, [Favor of the Skull Lord], Sha Wujing’s gaze toward Lee Hyun was now dripping with sweetness.
「Have you thought of a use for it?」
“What I realized before is that curses aren’t only for harming enemies. Could that be right?”
「Kak-kak-kak. Depending on the combination, they can be used in many different ways.」
Lee Hyun nodded. As expected, what he had learned from curse users wasn’t wrong.
[Activating Sacred Relic: Mask of the Golden Arhat to display various curse scripts.]
‘Right now, I can activate up to three curses at once. Considering that…’
[Activating Sacred Relic: Fire-Eye Golden Gaze to closely examine the Mask of the Golden Arhat.]
[Selecting curse scripts appropriate to the user’s intent.]
Having inherited much of Sun Wukong’s karma, the Fire-Eye Golden Gaze had grown far stronger.
It could now perform calculations as fast as a computer.
From the tens of thousands of curse scripts, he picked out the ones that stood out.
‘This is it.’
[Applied curses “Misfortune Amplification,” “Designated Reversal,” and “Flow Expansion” to Random Box (SR).]
[Three curses applied to Random Box (SR).]
[The outcome changes.]
“Misfortune Amplification,” which artificially increases unlucky factors.
“Designated Reversal,” which flips things upside down.
“Flow Expansion,” which magnifies the current.
Like a double negative becoming a positive.
「Kak-kak-kak! Senior Brother, our disciple is not just smart—he’s too smart! To make such good use of relics!」
「He’s not ‘our’ disciple, he’s my disciple, you idiot!」
As a result—
[Result obtained!]
[Congratulations. You have acquired “Dice Dropped by Fortuna.”]
Two small dice fell into Lee Hyun’s palm.
[Dice Dropped by Fortuna]
Two dice dropped into the world by the Goddess of Fortune, who covered her eyes with her hair.
Wherever the dice roll, the silhouette of the future appears on the ground. The fate foretold changes according to the total number.
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Type: Sacred Relic, Divination Tool
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Origin: Myth, “Wheel of Fortune”
Sun Wukong and Sha Wujing scuttled closer.
「This is…?」
「Kak-kak-kak! Senior Brother, it seems our disciple has pulled an incredible item! A sacred relic!」
Sha Wujing laughed the loudest.
Lee Hyun was equally surprised.
「Kak-kak. Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you place curses with this outcome in mind?」
“That’s true… but I didn’t expect to hit the jackpot like this.”
The dice were both cubes. The total would range from 2 to 12.
“A sacred relic for divination? I thought only prophets could have something like this.”
Among countless hunters, the most privileged professions were those who inherited prophecy or fate.
Considering dungeon environments where accidents could happen at any time, it made sense.
In <Olympus>, the “Fate Weavers” who inherited the Moirai were globally renowned.
And now Lee Hyun had something of the sort.
「Kak-kak. Fate is permitted only to those who turn the wheel. Everyone may hold the wheel, but unable to turn it, they cannot see nor create their destiny.」
Sha Wujing smiled.
「That’s why our disciple here, who tries to turn the wheel no matter what, got such a result. Kak-kak-kak!」
Lee Hyun was grateful for his kind words.
He decided to roll the dice.
Though he wouldn’t blindly trust the result, it would help as reference.
Clatter.
The numbers came up 3 and 6.
「Huh?」
「Wait, doesn’t the description say the total determines fate? If we don’t know the meaning of each number, isn’t this useless?」
They realized the flaw too late.
“No. I think I can figure it out.”
He activated the Fire-Eye Golden Gaze again.
「How so?」
“By asking small questions and gradually inferring their meaning. For example: ‘Sun Wukong has a very gentle personality.’”
Clatter.
The dice rolled 1 and 2.
「What the—using my personality like that…!」
“Total 3 seems to have a negative meaning.”
「Kak-kak. Indeed it does.」
「You little brats!?」
Lee Hyun continued experimenting with the dice, analyzing with the Fire-Eye Golden Gaze.
Findings so far:
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The combination of numbers doesn’t matter; only the total does.
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Lower totals (2–7) are negative; higher totals (8–12) are positive.
-
The divination is not an absolute result.
…
Though he hadn’t yet pinned down exact meanings, one thing was clear.
‘For now, the fate awaiting me is 9.’
No matter how many times he rolled, the total was always 9.
‘9… a dual outcome. Both choices can be right—or wrong.’
All or nothing. No middle ground.
‘That’s the result I like best.’
If it had been a fixed result, it wouldn’t be as fun.
‘Now, time to check the other two rewards.’
[Flute that Enchants People]
Reward from the dungeon <Pied Piper>.
The higher the proficiency, the more people it can affect with mental interference magic or curses.
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Type: Magic Tool, Two-handed Weapon
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Origin: Fairy Tale, “Pied Piper”
Currently broken. Needs repair.
[Skillbook: Water Demon Arts]
Skillbook containing the old abilities of a water spirit ■■■ who lived in swamps and deserts before meeting his master.
Can cast various water-related spells and curses.
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Type: Skillbook
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Origin: Myth, “Journey to the West”
‘The flute goes to Grandpa Dochul, and the skillbook…’
[Would you like to learn “Water Demon Arts” skillbook?]
「Kak-kak! No need to consider me. It doesn’t suit your attribute anyway.」
Sha Wujing assumed he would reject it.
But Lee Hyun smiled strangely.
‘Why throw away a chance to become a water goblin too? Especially when it’s genuine.’
This was different from the Sammae Divine Wind skillbook.
[Skillbook learned.]
[Would you like to add “Water Demon Arts (A)” to skill slot?]
‘No.’
[“Water Demon Arts (A)” not created.]
[Decomposing and binding components to “Frozen Heart” sub-function of Mana stat.]
[“Frozen Heart” strengthened. Mana circuit properties enhanced, stored mana quality increased.]
[+5 Mana.]
…
[Bond with Sacred Relic: Mask of the Golden Arhat strengthened. Functions expanded.]
…
[Water attribute added. Narrative of <Snow Queen> in mana becomes clearer.]
「Kak-kak-kak! So that’s possible! Strengthening mana properties, and curse scripts too!」
「Damn it! Why do you need this thief-like ability anyway…!」
Sha Wujing nodded in satisfaction, while Sun Wukong kept grumbling.
‘Looks like 9 means good luck after all.’
Lee Hyun glanced at Sun Wukong with a faint smile. He had something to ask.
“Great Sage, could you perhaps…”
Just then—
Creak.
Through the small hole in the iron door of his cell, a pair of eyes appeared.
“Manager Jang Lee Hyun.”
“Has my disciplinary review concluded?”
Lee Hyun held back his question.
The voice’s owner shook his head.
“No. Still under review. But there’s someone who wishes to see you before a verdict.”
Someone who wanted to see him?
Lee Hyun’s eyes flickered.
“Please follow me. If you attempt escape, the security team is authorized to kill you immediately. Be advised.”
With mana-control cuffs on, Lee Hyun followed the hunter.
The corridor stretched further than expected.
「Hmm?」
Sun Wukong, now perched on his head, tilted his head.
‘What is it?’
「This… no. Let’s see first. Then it’ll be clear.」
‘…?’
Lee Hyun noticed how tense Wukong suddenly was, as though on guard against something.
‘Is there really something even Great Sage would be wary of?’
The Sun Wukong he knew was arrogant enough to scorn even Heavenly Emperor Jade or Zeus.
Even now, as a fallen immortal.
For him to bristle like this?
He had thought this was just a routine interview before judgment, or maybe a visit from Captain Jung’s father.
But maybe not.
Sha Wujing’s lips pressed tightly, his eyes sharp—a look Lee Hyun had never seen on the usually smiling man.
‘So this isn’t just some guard or warden.’
The escort wore a sharp suit and sunglasses, more like a security agent. His aura wasn’t weak either.
‘At least A+ rank. Maybe even a ranker… Who could have someone like this as an errand boy?’
Lee Hyun’s curiosity grew.
「By the way, what were you about to ask earlier?」
‘Ah, I was wondering if you knew Indra’s techniques.’
「Indra?」
‘Yes. Since I’ve gained the attribute, I thought it would be good to learn how to use it well.’
「Tch, greedy as always… You haven’t even mastered Zeus’s Diovius, yet you want to reach for that?」
‘I wasn’t saying I’d master it immediately. Just wanted to reference how to use it. No need to waste what I’ve gained, right?’
「Hmph…」
‘Don’t tell me you don’t know?’
「Who said I don’t! I just think it’s pointless trash to bother learning!」
He had prodded him deliberately—and it worked.
By now, Lee Hyun wasn’t surprised that Wukong even looked down on Indra, one of <Deva>’s strongest warrior gods.
「If you’re going to learn, then learn something worthwhile! Learn Shiva’s arts. At least those are worth referencing.」
Lee Hyun’s eyes gleamed.
Shiva, one of the three great <Deva> gods, lord of destruction. A god famous for destroying the world repeatedly.
Naturally, far above Indra.
「Kak-kak-kak! Senior Brother, you pretend to grumble, but you’re giving everything you can. Worried this disciple will be stolen away by a relic?」
「That’s not it, so shut up! Anyway, it’s called ‘Mahakala.’ Want to learn it?」
‘Would it go well with Indra’s lightning?’
Wukong smirked.
「Why wouldn’t it? All their skills ultimately come from Shiva.」
‘…!’
Lee Hyun clenched his fist.
If true, then all <Deva> warrior gods were just Shiva’s disciples.
And he could learn from the source.
‘If you’ll teach me, I’ll learn.’
「Really, I don’t know if it’s wise. Teaching flight before you can even walk…」
But fortunately, Wukong wasn’t taking back his words.
He must have judged it wouldn’t clash with Lee Hyun’s current abilities.
A faint smile touched Hyun’s lips—
“We’re here. Please go inside.”
The agent stopped at a door at the very end of the corridor.
His hand trembled slightly as he opened it.
When Hyun looked at him curiously, the man shook his head.
He wasn’t permitted to enter.
Hyun’s curiosity only deepened as he stepped inside.
“Well, well. So you’re Jang Lee Hyun, the one who caused quite the stir this time?”
Inside sat someone Hyun knew well.
No—someone every Korean would know.
A celebrity whose face appeared on TV all the time.
Though over eighty years old, she looked only middle-aged.
Her hair pinned with a phoenix ornament, hanbok flowing elegantly like a fairy’s robe.
Mo Jung-gyeon, the Mountain God.
Mistress of White Burn, holder of nine thousand seats. She sat with a long pipe in her mouth.
Just as Hyun bowed—
「What is this!? Is that even human?」
Sun Wukong snarled, his voice brimming with hostility.
Sha Wujing too stood frozen, his expression hardened.
From them, Hyun sensed wariness.
…Enough to make gods of Journey to the West tense?
Hyun could only stare at Mo Jung-gyeon in shock.
“What’s wrong? Do I have something on my face?”
She asked with a sly smile.
