Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Taming Mukho
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Jeong Hoon was so dumbfounded he couldn't even speak.
Take it off right now! This isn't some pathetic trinket a worm like you can wear!
'A ferocious one, so it was sealed.'
So that's what that meant.
But this wasn't ferociousit was just rude as hell.
"Cut the crap."
Sorry, but I can be rude too.
Depending on who I'm dealing with, of course.
Hah, how did I end up hearing low-class bullshit from a moron like you? It's all that bastard Siegfried's fault. Where's Siegfried? Huh? Where is he! Tell me right now!
Mukho started throwing a fit.
Since the voice echoed directly in his head, Jeong Hoon felt a throbbing headache.
"You're no good."
He could understand the pent-up resentment from being sealed by Siegfried for so long, but first, he wanted to deal with this headache.
Jeong Hoon took off the Mukho he was wearing.
The voice vanished clean away.
Sealed Mukho
-Type: Armor
-Rank: Epic
-(Sealed)
-(Requires conditions to unseal.)
The stats were still sealed.
Only once Mukho accepted him as its owner would Siegfried's seal naturally lift.
"Just rip it to shreds."
Jeong Hoon growled low at the Mukho.
Sometimes, with someone who wouldn't communicate, you had to crush them with force.
This was exactly that time.
'At least Anima-level damage to hurt it.'
If it was too hard to tame, he'd just destroy it.
Jeong Hoon pulled out Anima, gripped it, and put the Mukho back on.
"I'm going to tear you apart right now."
"Who?"
Anima was naturally summoned onto Jeong Hoon's shoulder.
"This shirt I'm wearing right now."
"Ah. Where'd you get that rag? Take it off. It's nasty."
Nasty? Lizard, your beady eyes are the nasty ones.
Mukho's target shifted to Anima.
Anima's eyes darted around.
"Hoo, so the shirt talks?"
Shirt? Puhaha! No way eyes like candy could recognize my nobility.
Anima grinned at Jeong Hoon as if it wasn't worth responding.
"Hoon, just stick like 100 arrows into it."
"That's exactly what I was planning."
Oh? You don't seriously think arrows can do anything to me, do you?
Mukho snorted.
"Why not."
Jeong Hoon grinned and roughly tossed the Mukho to the floor.
Then he crudely drew Anima's bowstring and shot at it.
A mana arrow pierced Mukho dead center.
"One shot's not enough."
Anima said with a straight face.
"I know."
Jeong Hoon drew the string again and unloaded on Mukho.
One shot, two, three, four.
Past ten shots, Mukho's sleeve fluttered slightly.
A sign to stop?
He slowly lowered the drawn string for now, approached, and pulled out the embedded arrow.
The mana arrow vanished without a trace.
'Let's see.'
Jeong Hoon draped the Mukho back on.
Kuuaaaak! Stop! Stop it!
Mukho's scream echoed in his head.
"Ah, noisy again."
Anima, who had been quietly listening on Jeong Hoon's shoulder, furrowed its brow.
"Training's not done yet."
"Agreed."
"Twenty more shots, then we talk."
As Jeong Hoon moved to take off the Mukho, a desperate voice rang in his head.
Talk! Let's talk!
At the plea, Jeong Hoon paused his motion to remove it.
"Talk. Sure."
"Tch, should've done more."
Anima climbed onto Jeong Hoon's head, radiating regret.
Grrrr, candy eyes. Don't get cocky.
"Cocky? Know your place."
Looking like yellow piss.
"What?! Piss? You ink-blotted bastard."
Puhaha, at least I don't stink like fish. You reek from a mile away. Up close, you'd smell like goblin armpit sweat.
"Hoon! Beat this punk! Beat it!"
As it escalated to a shouting match, Jeong Hoon quickly intervened.
"Enough. Want 100 arrows?"
Shit... Weird. Why does it hurt? What the hell did you do to me?
It must've hurt bad, because Mukho quickly turned meek.
Guess the stick works on crazy ones.
Ancestors were wise.
"Who knows? Anyway, I'm trying to tame you."
Hah, you? The great me?
"If not, I'll toss you in the fire."
Siegfried said Mukho had a will, so even if torn or burned, it recovered fast.
Probably auto-repair durability.
But right now, all abilities were sealed.
Proof: it was ragged like an arrow quiver.
Fire...?
Mukho's voice trembled slightly, anxious.
"Yeah. You're sealed, all abilities gone. Burn up, and you'll vanish."
Vanish me?!
"Better to destroy what I can't tame."
He meant it.
He could replace it with other armor easily.
Feeling his sincerity, Mukho added desperately.
You'll regret vanishing me! I'm Mukho! Mukho!
"A little regret, maybe. But fine."
...Don't lie. A greedy human like you can't not covet me!
"Too much self-love is a problem."
Jeong Hoon smiled wryly.
"Hoon, really gonna burn it? I'm all for it."
Anima beamed.
"If it won't accept me as owner, yeah."
If I do?
"Then seal lifts, no vanishing."
...Fine. I'll take you as owner.
Mukho said resignedly.
The ragged Mukho began glowing gold, golden stripes etching across the black uniform.
Mukho's seal is released.
You are now Mukho's owner.
Mukho
-Type: Armor
-Rank: Legendary
-Defense: ?(Adjusts to wearer's level)
-Evasion: ?(Adjusts to wearer's level)
-Physical Damage Reduction: 15
-Magic Damage Reduction: 15
-Remaining Durability: 100(Durability auto-recovers.)
-Special Ability (1): X(Lost due to seal's aftermath)
-Special Ability (2): X(Lost due to seal's aftermath)
-Special Ability (3): X(Lost due to seal's aftermath)
But Mukho's stats were disappointingly poor for Legendary rank.
Sealed too long, most abilities lost.
Kiyaaaak! What are these shitty options?!
Mukho shrieked.
Must've been a huge shock.
Jeong Hoon, meanwhile, was unfazed.
'Can restore later.'
Lost meant restorable.
Unaware, Mukho was in a panic.
How did Siegfried handle this guy?
If not Legendary, he'd have tossed it to another Martial Artist.
"Damn, loud. Shut up!"
Anima yelled.
Shut it! You get my pain? Trapped as a shirt, even my remaining stats gone!
"How could I not. I was originally a dragon."
...You're trapped too?
"Kinda like that."
...
Mukho shut up tight.
Felt kinship?
"Anyway, time to head back..."
As Jeong Hoon turned, his eye caught a red-wrapped scroll nearby.
Siegfried's name on it.
But inside, just one paper.
-If you've unsealed Mukho, you'll see the first line. Take this paper. It'll tell you how to restore Mukho's abilities.
Special ink.
Jeong Hoon pocketed it in his inventory.
WhisperMinzi - Hoon: Jeong Hoon-ssi! Got time? Guild Master really wants to meet...
Exiting the magic tower, a whisper from Yeo Min-ji.
'Figured. Mom got a hidden class too.'
Briefly with Hoyoung, Jeong Hoon accepted readily.
Meeting at a cafe near home.
Too many eyes in-game.
'Rented the whole cafe. Meet there.'
Yeo Sun-woo had booked the entire cafe.
Tables empty.
As Jeong Hoon and his mom entered, Yeo Min-ji, already there, greeted warmly.
"Sorry for calling you suddenly."
"No problem. Guild Master's your dad, right?"
Mom waved smilingly.
Yeo Min-ji blushed and nodded.
"Yes. I'll be here, so no weird rumors. Don't worry."
"Got it."
They sat. Soon, Yeo Sun-woo entered.
'They look alike.'
Yeo Sun-woo looked early-mid 40s, small sharp-featured face, actor-level presence.
Yeo Min-ji took after him perfectly.
Undeniably father and daughter.
"You're here first. Hope I'm not late."
Still 10 minutes early.
"No, we've just arrived."
Mom waved it off.
"Thank you for your understanding."
With Yeo Sun-woo seated, the owner brought menus.
"What drinks would you like?"
Normally order at counter or kiosk, but with full rental, owner served personally.
Mom and Jeong Hoon picked Americano; all matched.
"Um... I called you suddenly to offer better terms."
But with hidden class promotion, Yeo Sun-woo had to step in personally.
Whatever prior contract, this was much better.
"Better terms here?"
Mom looked mildly surprised.
Not teamed with son yet, but fully supported by Hoyoung for casual playsatisfied.
"Yes. Expanding support."
Dungeons by level, gearitem aid.
Plus monthly 500 gold, plus bonuses by guild contribution.
'500 gold's 5 million won a month.'
Mom knew value, eyes wide.
"My god..."
More than her salary.
"Basic pay, of course. Bonuses for guild activities."
Mom couldn't leave beginner zone yet, no bonuses.
But basic beat salarytempting.
"Grateful if offered."
"Ah, didn't explain right. Quit your job, and we'll add your current salary to basic."
Mom worked while playing.
Tight schedule; focus on New World, get compensated accordingly.
"Um..."
Tough choice.
Started to play with son, but now hooked on New World.
"This lets you focus on New World, right?"
No need to work.
Choice hers.
Jeong Hoon knew future, but wouldn't force mom.
Would respect if she kept job.
"...Alright. Let's try it."
Mom decided quicker than expected.
"Promise no regrets."
Yeo Sun-woo said confidently, eyes to Jeong Hoon.
"Hmm, dungeons and itemsI get what I want?"
Jeong Hoon's focus.
"Of course. Hoyoung offers you the best. Even after leaving."
One of Yeo Min-ji's conditions.
Free to leave anytime.
"Good. Then one request now."