Chapter 34
Mo Jeong-gyeon sat slouched, a long pipe in her mouth.
The glimpse of her collarbone through her disheveled robe only added to the decadent air about her.
“You came running like some puppy desperate to relieve itself.”
“Grandmother, what on earth…!”
“What on earth, what?”
Looking at Mo Jeong-gyeon’s crooked smile, Im Won-young steadied her breath.
“I mean… why did you summon Chief Jang? What did you want to discuss with him?”
Won-young had come to visit Lee Hyun, only to hear that he was meeting with Mo Jeong-gyeon. She had rushed over in alarm.
“An old woman can’t come meet her subordinate who caused trouble? You think I’d make a fuss without reason?”
Her words sounded like scolding, yet the smile lingering on her lips was light and mischievous. Won-young sighed.
As expected, her grandmother lived to tease her.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Well, that’s how it sounded to me. But never mind.”
Whoosh—
Exhaling a long stream of smoke, Mo Jeong-gyeon spoke.
“I wanted to see whether he’s someone you can control or not.”
Won-young frowned.
“You doubt my judgment that much?”
“It’s not your judgment I doubt. It’s the world I don’t trust.”
“…”
“This world is nothing but savages—always scheming how to stab others in the back and grab what they want.”
Her smile twisted even further.
The world she saw was always cold.
“…And your conclusion?”
Wreathed in smoke, Mo Jeong-gyeon looked at once mystical and dangerous, like a tiger in the fog.
“He’s not someone you can ever tame.”
“I—”
“It’s not because you’re incompetent or lacking. That child was born untamable. Just like me.”
Won-young’s eyes widened.
Her grandmother rarely praised anyone like this.
So Chief Jang passed her test.
Won-young brushed back her hair.
Her worries about Lee Hyun eased, leaving her calm.
“But can you really bring him to your side? What if he devours you instead?”
“If that’s the case, then all the better for me.”
“What?”
“I don’t intend to tame him, Grandmother. I intend to embrace him.”
Mo Jeong-gyeon’s eyebrow arched.
“I won’t be a tiger. I’ll be the mountain.”
“…!”
“Tigers don’t tolerate anything else in their territory—not even a mate. But…”
“The mountain embraces even the fiercest tiger?”
“Exactly.”
Won-young’s voice was calm.
“A mountain with a tiger becomes a sacred mountain. Mystical. Isn’t that better?”
Mo Jeong-gyeon bit her pipe again, smiling faintly—whether in praise or mockery was unclear.
But Won-young’s eyes were resolute, as though nothing her grandmother thought could shake her.
She’s grown… this child.
Mo Jeong-gyeon felt proud.
Meeting him has widened her perspective…
It meant her time with Lee Hyun, though short, had been deeply impactful.
Perhaps they could be good catalysts for each other…?
She still doubted such an ideal combination could exist, but—
It’s not a bad thing.
She cherished Won-young.
Not just because she was her granddaughter, but because she had the talent and ability.
Perhaps she might even surpass her one day.
Mo Jeong-gyeon wanted to nurture that.
“Very well. Since you favor him so much, here’s what we’ll do.”
Won-young straightened her posture.
“You’d want him to rise straight to the top of Team Z, wouldn’t you?”
“Bluntly speaking, yes. He’s already proven himself—both in achievement and skill.”
Mo Jeong-gyeon welcomed her granddaughter’s ambition to expand her influence in the Dungeon Raid Bureau.
But—
“We can’t just throw a boy who caused such a public scene straight into that seat.”
“…”
“Director Jung will object too. So…”
Won-young listened carefully as her grandmother laid out her compromise.
Lee Hyun was released immediately after his audience with Mo Jeong-gyeon.
“You’ve been given five days of suspension and a three-month pay cut. Further HR matters will be handled once you return after five days.”
The agent who had escorted him explained the brief disciplinary order.
“Any other questions?”
Hyun almost asked about Mo Jeong-gyeon but swallowed it back.
“No. None.”
“Then I’ll see you in five days.”
Outside, the spring sun blazed down.
“Tofu?”
Waiting for him was Kim Min-jung, holding a bag with tofu inside.
“Didn’t you go home?”
“After what happened, how could I just leave? I felt uneasy, so I waited.”
Hyun chuckled dryly.
“And how’d you know when I’d be out?”
“It was a situation with mitigating factors. I figured you wouldn’t be held long. I just killed time at a café nearby. So… are you eating this or not?”
“No soy sauce?”
“Want me to run to the mart and buy a bottle so I can drown it for you?”
“Kidding.”
Watching her pout, Hyun bit into the tofu.
And the reality of what had happened inside began to sink in.
The impression Mo Jeong-gyeon had left… he doubted he’d ever erase it.
A monster, nothing less.
Speaking before that colossal, savage tiger—his heart had trembled the whole time.
He would have rather danced on a razor’s edge.
And yet…
She seemed unstable somehow…
Hyun was certain: Mo Jeong-gyeon was a god wearing human skin.
But gods were supposed to be noble, complete beings.
She was noble, but not complete.
「Of course not. You stuff a soul heavy enough to crush the world into a tiny prison of flesh—it’ll warp.」
Sun Wukong’s words were blunt.
So she’s deliberately staying in the human world?
「Seems so. But who knows why.」
The Monkey King tilted his head.
「Wearing clothes that don’t fit—must be agony. Like your soul rolling in hellfire.」
…!
「And yet she remains. There must be some powerful desire binding her. Or lingering regret.」
Wukong’s fiery eyes glimmered.
「She’s already half-divine. She could ascend any time.」
「Keh keh. A half-god strong enough to go toe-to-toe with my senior… terrifying indeed.」
「Toe-to-toe!? In my prime, I’d swat the high gods around, and you think that would be trouble!?」
「You sound defensive, senior. Keh keh keh.」
「It’s because I don’t know what she might do to the boy…!」
「Your tongue grows long, senior. Keh keh keh keh.」
「Why you little—!?」
Hyun shook his head at the squabbling monkey and turtle spirit.
First things first—he needed rest.
But why hasn’t Jin-woo hyung called yet? Did the deal fall through?
「Seeing you eat tofu makes me crave it too. No, better—we should get soy milk pudding! I saw a great dessert place nearby.」
When did you even—
「I’m the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven! Scanning a thousand li is child’s play. Or fish-shaped bun, hah!」
Hyun was simply impressed by Wukong’s persistence in sniffing out snacks.
He finished the tofu and brushed off his hands.
“Let’s go. We should plan our next steps while we’re at it.”
“Alright. I parked nearby, let’s head there.”
“You bought a car?”
“For commuting. Don’t worry, I don’t drive like someone I know.”
“…?”
“There are people like that.”
Just then—
“Chief Jang Lee Hyun.”
Two men in suits stepped into their path.
They were clearly skilled Hunters.
Hyun’s eyes hardened.
“What’s this about?”
Min-jung’s eyes narrowed, but the men focused only on Hyun.
“There’s someone who wishes to meet you. Please come with us.”
They glanced behind them.
A black sedan idled by the curb, hazards blinking.
The atmosphere was coercive—clearly not friendly.
Hyun’s reply was cold.
“If someone wants to see me, they can show their face themselves. Let’s go.”
He tried to walk past, but the men blocked him.
“That person dislikes appearing in public. You’ll need to come.”
“No interest.”
“You’ll make some.”
One grabbed Hyun’s shoulder.
His eyes flashed with disdain.
“I suggest you let go.”
“If you refuse, we’ll take you by for—”
The Hunter’s words ended with a crack.
Hyun had seized his arm and twisted.
CRACK!
“Arghhh!”
The man’s wrist bent at an impossible angle.
No surprise—Hyun’s Strength stat had surpassed 100 after his last dungeon reward.
[Strength has exceeded 100, reaching triple digits.]
[Additional function unlocked. Connected to Trait: Indomitable.]
[Additional Function: Seolhon Grip unlocked.]
Seolhon Grip (S)
Enduring the dreadful curse of the Snow Queen for four years, you broke it with unyielding resolve and reclaimed your strength.
That tenacity now resides in your muscles, infusing them with the cold, immovable will of snow itself.
-
Effect: Burst destruction power. Damage-scaling attack increase. Fatigue resistance.
-
Type: Strength sub-function.
-
Origin: Fairy tale The Snow Queen.
All his additional functions now tied back to the Snow Queen.
And this one, an S-rank ability, gave him strength on par with top Rankers—or beyond.
Ordinary Hunters couldn’t hope to withstand it.
Even team leaders might falter.
“You bastard—!”
The other Hunter reached for his weapon—
WHOOSH!
An axe whizzed past, grazing his cheek. Blood trickled down.
“Move another step, and next time it’s your head.”
“You dare—”
“Keep talking and I’ll smash your teeth in.”
“…!”
“Try me.”
The Hunter froze, heart hammering under Hyun’s killing glare.
And then—
RUMBLE—
[You unleash your aura.]
[The Snow Queen’s grudge infuses your presence.]
His murderous aura cut like a blizzard’s ice.
It hurt.
The Snow Queen’s malice, riding his mana, was unbearable for them.
Faces drained pale.
“Best leave while I’m being polite.”
They staggered back, but kept glancing nervously at the sedan—afraid of their employer.
Hyun summoned another axe, lightning crackling—
CRACKLE!
“That’s far enough. They only followed my orders.”
Click.
The sedan’s door opened.
Inside sat a middle-aged man, eyes deep and heavy, resembling the late Team Leader Jung Soon-il.
“…That’s Executive Director Jung Kyu-han,” Min-jung whispered.
Hyun nodded.
Jung Kyu-han spoke.
“I came to see you alone. Not as your superior—but as a father who lost his son. Please, grant me this.”
Hyun met his gaze.
Eyes impossible to read.
Too calm for a man who had lost his beloved son.
Going with him was risky, but…
“I’ll come. Sorry—we’ll talk later.”
He gestured reassurance to the worried Min-jung and stepped into the car.
He had plenty of questions for Jung Kyu-han himself.
“Let’s go.”
“Indeed.”
Clunk.
The sedan door shut, and the car pulled away.
