Chapter 54
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Translator: MJK
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Landscape of the Great Master
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Muryong, freshly awake, had already climbed onto Bunny's body and was tapping its black button eyes with a tiny paw.
-Hrmyu?
Pure curiosity, as if asking who it was.
But the moment that small paw touched the button eye...
"...!"
An eternity of time.
A consciousness as deep as the abyss, which had watched countless souls in sorrow and joy without ever wavering.
Yet before the aura emanating from this tiny being, it was helplessly shaken.
It was a difference in rank.
A pure chaos it had never experienced, even after eons of life.
The beginning and end of all things.
Something transcendent that could not be defied.
For the first time, Bunny felt an instinctive submission different from the awe it held for its master.
-...
The black eyes staring at it.
Bunny couldn't even twitch a finger in the chilling sensation.
A gaze that seemed to pierce straight through its essence.
The being before it was casually peering into the deepest secret of the abyss it had hidden away.
-Hrmyut!
Muryong, apparently fond of Bunny's fluffy belly, bounced around playfully on top of it.
Was this on purpose?
The impact wasn't great.
Compared to its power, the body was adorably cute in a strangely disproportionate way.
Still, its mind grew complicated.
A being who could crush it in an instant and turn it to cosmic dust if it wished was showing such intimacy toward it.
"..."
Then, Muryong lifted a paw slightly.
And...
Smoothly...
It began gently stroking Bunny's head with its tiny paw.
-Hrmyu.
As if praising it.
From that small touch flowed a warm, comforting energy that softly soothed Bunny's startled heart.
A warm, cozy sensation.
It felt awkward.
But at the same time, strangely natural.
This being... it was okay.
No, it had to be.
Bunny gave up all resistance and meekly curled up.
It offered its body as a fluffy bed for Muryong to play on more comfortably.
Thus, Muryong secured a new bed far more comfortable than the petals of the Disaster Flower.
Bunny's deep chaotic power paradoxically became the perfect resting place for the primordial being.
Bunny thought.
The power slumbering in that small body.
If this being truly unleashed its might, what on earth would happen to this world?
But even more wondrous was the one holding the key to all that power.
Its master.
Even this primordial existence was merely a cute pet before the master.
At the pinnacle of all laws stood the master.
"?"
As Bunny pondered this, it suddenly turned its head at the intense gaze from behind the barn.
In the darkness, two gleaming eyes were fixed on it.
It was Gorani.
"..."
What was with that beast?
It had been watching since earlier.
It didn't look like just a spirit beast.
Inside that body writhed pure earthly energy and chaotic mana in a bizarre balance.
An untamed wild power that could crush an upper-tier monster with a single hoof.
The master's countryside home was truly bizarre.
Primordial beings, walking spirit medicines, spirit beasts evolving into demonic beasts.
All these extraordinary existences served a single human as their master and coexisted peacefully.
As expected of the master's home.
Bunny once again felt deep gratitude toward the great master who had pulled it from the dust of the dimensional shop.
Becoming part of this strange yet warm world was the luck of a lifetime.
Hunter specialist Lecka YouTube channel, [Issue Bomber] live broadcast.
"Alright, everyone! So, today's conclusion! Is Muryong and Gorani-man the same entity or not?!"
On screen, a YouTuber was raising his voice alongside a provocative thumbnail.
"Let me cut to the chase! Absolutely not! My conclusion is that they are completely different beings!"
"Think about it! What about Muryong? It perfectly understands the Tower's system and extracts maximum efficiency with minimal movement! Like a cold, ruthless player that tolerates no waste?"
"On the other hand, what about Gorani-man? Whether it's a top-tier S-rank demonic beast or a disaster-grade rift, it just bulldozes through with overwhelming power. We can't say their strengths are equal, but their styles are totally different!"
Japan's official letter of gratitude and U.S. Department of Defense unofficial briefing.
"Look at this, everyone! The Japanese Prime Minister called Gorani-man Japan's benefactor and lifted all trade restrictions!"
Is this for real? That stingy Japan, obsessed with its own interests, lifting restrictions? The Japan I know?
ㄷㄷㄷ One Gorani-man is better than 100 foreign ministers
King Gorani-man... who are you really...
"What about America? 'The unidentified entity appearing in Korean airspace is more threatening than any existing strategic weapon.' That's straight from the Department of Defense! China hasn't said a word—they're too scared to speak!"
Kya! My chest swells with pride... This is Korea!
Gorani-man owning country! Korea feels so secure!
Putting a Taegeukgi on and heading into the Tower starting today. lololol
"A being that cleans up disasters that make S-rank hunters tremble—with its bare hands! That's Gorani-man! This is elevating national prestige, folks!"
Kya! National pride surging!
Gorani-man owning country ㄷㄷ
Honestly, isn't it above Yu Jin-hyuk?
Of course, there were skeptics too.
It's just something that happened in some backwater without a single CCTV. Aren't you hyping it too much? Got proof?
For real?
Does the Japanese PM look like he's lying to you?
Jealous? Go solo a disaster rift meteor in one shot then lololol
The broadcast was turning into a fervent festival of Gorani-man worshippers.
Gaepyeong, MK Sphere exclusive resort company outing.
Sizzle... The smell of grilling meat and the staff's cheerful laughter filled the entire resort.
MK Sphere's annual barbecue outing.
But this year's atmosphere was markedly different.
"Hunter Yu Jin-hyuk! The meat's all done here!"
"Hunter, just one drink with me too...!"
The S-rank hunter Yu Jin-hyuk, who hadn't shown up to these events for years, was mingling with the staff, grilling meat.
It wasn't because he was ill.
Given his personality, he found such noisy social gatherings a hassle.
MK's sole S-rank hunter, the star among stars.
He had always focused solely on silently climbing the Tower.
Yet here he was now.
His heroic exploits in the Okinawa great rift had already become legend within the guild.
"No, I'll do it!"
"How can an S-rank hunter hold tongs like that?!"
The staff clamored, but Yu Jin-hyuk politely declined.
With the serious, flawless form of tackling a Tower boss, he flipped the meat.
"Even grilling meat so earnestly...!"
Under his overwhelming aura, no one dared speak, merely holding their breath and watching him grill.
From afar, Shin Seung-ah watched with a smile.
She wasn't in her usual sharp suit but casual clothes.
Though her intellectual titanium glasses remained.
"Everyone's in high spirits."
The whole guild felt like a festival.
Yu Jin-hyuk's injury—the guild's long-standing Achilles' heel—was essentially cured.
Such a large outing hadn't happened in three years.
"Wow, our hunter. Even his grilling skills are S-rank."
Shin Seung-ah approached with a beer can, teasing him.
"This is nice once in a while."
"Right? Anyway..."
She whispered so only he could hear.
"That person is still keeping quiet these days."
"A benefactor. And an incredible one. He's probably busy. He's on a whole different level from us—truly great. Hard to put into words with my current self."
Yu Jin-hyuk paused his grilling and said.
"This disaster was a national crisis for us, but to him, maybe just like pulling a weed from his yard. That's the kind of person he is."
"...Was it impossible to recruit him to our guild after all? What a shame."
"No. I'm glad instead. Someone like that can't be confined to a small fence like a guild."
Yu Jin-hyuk took a sip of beer and smiled at the boisterous staff.
Ordinary daily life.
The precious time he had lost for three years.
All thanks to that benefactor.
Yu Jin-hyuk couldn't forget that moment in Okinawa.
Just as he was about to give up before the Disaster Flower, the masked man appeared.
The massive Gorani and the old sickle.
It could only be Gorani-man.
He was his benefactor.
Not just healing his injury, but curing the mental illness that had gnawed at him for three years.
Without him, Yu Jin-hyuk would never have escaped his prison of despair.
This new life he had received.
How to repay it?
'I'll protect his peace.'
That was the greatest respect from S-rank hunter Yu Jin-hyuk to his mysterious savior.
And MK Sphere would repay the favor in its own way.
"Executive Director."
"Yes, Hunter."
"I heard the Chairman made a big promise to heal my injury."
"He did."
"What did he say he'd give the one who cured me?"
Shin Seung-ah whispered just for him.
"...Half of the Chairman's personal fortune."
Yu Jin-hyuk nodded.
Then, flipping the meat, he said indifferently.
"Then, that promise will be handled properly, right?"
She understood the implication.
What Yu Jin-hyuk would do if it wasn't honored was obvious.
Of course, that wouldn't happen.
Shin Seung-ah adjusted her glasses and smiled lightly.
"Naturally. We owe him too, after all... if anything, a debt beyond money."
"As expected of you, Executive Director. Just testing the waters."
"Pfft, I always thought Jin-hyuk you suck at playing bad guy."
At her words, Yu Jin-hyuk grinned sheepishly.
'Well, this kind of life isn't bad either.'
Yu Jin-hyuk thought.
He had lived solely for Tower clears without a moment to breathe.
He had seen events like this as a waste of time.
Time better spent conquering the Tower.
But.
'...This daily life isn't bad.'
He looked at the company folks laughing and eating meat, and smiled softly.
Unfamiliar, but not bad.
These cozy, warm everyday moments.
That's why he was even more grateful.
To Gorani-man, who gifted him this peaceful daily life.