chapter 58
The monkey soldiers quickly escorted Lee Hyun to the exit located on the opposite side of the cave.
At that moment:
“…….”
“Kak-kak! This place never ceases to amaze me every time I see it!”
‘The view from outside was already impressive… but here…’
“The level is on a whole different plane, isn’t it?”
‘Yes. It seems so.’
“Kak-kak-kak. When O-Neung and I first visited here, we were dumbfounded. Why is such a magnificent place kept all to yourself? O-Neung even flopped onto the ground in protest!”
Saojeong puffed out his chest, acting as if he owned the territory.
Indeed, the world on the other side of the cave was a paradise.
A pleasant spring breeze blew, carrying the fragrance of flowers with every step.
And the scenery was sheer delight:
Vivid, colorful blooms, lush mountainsides, and snow-capped peaks in the background.
It was a true utopia.
[Fatigue rapidly decreases. Condition restored.]
[Fatigue: 30]
[Current status: Ecstasy.]
There were almost no buildings on the ground.
Instead, large trees had various structures suspended among their branches.
Monkeys of different appearances scurried busily around them.
Yet:
‘They all look happy.’
Their faces showed no trace of being pressed for time, unlike humans.
Saojeong nodded.
“There’s nothing lacking. Anything you need, you can get here.”
Indeed, more monkeys were lounging about, yawning, than rushing around.
No worries, no anxieties.
If heaven exists, it would be exactly like this.
“…….”
However, Sun Wukong remained silent, still quiet even now.
“Are you trying to spy, human? Even if you do, you won’t learn a thing!”
Despite being only half the size of Lee Hyun, the monkey soldier holding a spear showed no fear.
Solid armor, a disciplined stride, a crossbow on his back, and multiple swords at his waist.
More a warrior than a soldier.
This was the same one who had fired poison darts when Lee Hyun first landed at the cave entrance.
Although he seemed to hold rank, the other monkey soldiers’ outfits weren’t much different.
Each of them was clearly capable of taking on hundreds of enemies.
‘No wonder they claim to be the army of Daesung.’
But why did they display such hostility toward Sun Wukong?
“I was just surprised,” Lee Hyun said.
“Surprised? By what? That we live like humans?”
“What’s so special about living in a society like humans? I was just surprised because everyone looks happy.”
“Why would that surprise you? Isn’t life meant to be happy?”
“Yes. That’s true, but human societies often aren’t like that.”
The monkey soldier tilted his head in confusion at Lee Hyun’s wry smile.
“Now that you mention it, the human villages we pass when coming down from the mountains are mostly a mess.”
“…….”
“Many humans can’t even get enough food. Some parents even eat their own children.”
A sneer formed on the monkey soldier’s lips.
“At first, I thought it was just a great disaster, but apparently not. Was it the rulers’ fault?”
Lee Hyun remained silent.
“Then don’t compare that to us. Our Great King is on a completely different level than those rulers.”
The monkey soldier squared his shoulders.
“How so?”
“Can’t you see, human? None of His subjects are unhappy!”
His voice rose.
“Everyone works fairly, everyone shares fairly. Everything is abundant, so there’s no need for greed. All thanks to the Great King.”
Thud!
The monkey soldier struck the ground with his spear.
“Human, have you ever seen an unhappy animal or an unpeaceful place while climbing the mountain?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Not think so, but definitely not. Because that too is the territory under the Great King’s hand.”
“…….”
“There was a time when we were poor. Everyone exploited, barely surviving on tree bark and roots.”
The monkey soldier twisted his mouth.
“But after the Great King came to this mountain, all those worries vanished. Understand, human?”
Even though Lee Hyun had only casually prodded, the soldier explained matters related to them with great fervor.
‘A king who brings happiness and peace.’
It felt like seeing a savior from a fairy tale.
Yet one thing was certain:
‘The Great King they speak of is not Sun Wukong.’
Lee Hyun was curious about who he really was.
“May I ask the name of the Great King you serve?”
“It’s not a name to be mentioned to humans like you, especially one reeking of the disappeared Mihuwang,”
The monkey soldier scoffed lightly.
“But since the Great King wants to see you, I’ll tell you. Just don’t make a mistake before Him.”
“I’ll remember.”
“His name is ‘Sahun’.”
The soldier’s voice held full strength.
“He was once also called the Chaos Demon King.”
The so-called palace was merely hanging on a massive maple tree, appearing little different from regular buildings.
Yet the soldiers were meticulous in showing respect.
“Great King, we have brought the prisoner as ordered.”
“Bring him inside.”
The monkey soldier cut the rope binding Lee Hyun with a dagger.
“You must show respect before the Great King, so I’ll cut this. But if you cause trouble now that you’re free…”
“That won’t happen.”
“Good words. Enter.”
Even if Lee Hyun tried a surprise attack, he could easily be subdued.
The soldiers hidden around the palace were undoubtedly skilled.
Above all, the aura emanating from beyond the door was formidable.
‘The Great King alone is strong, even stronger than all the other monkeys combined.’
A top-ranking being among humans, so to speak.
Lee Hyun couldn’t easily guarantee victory.
Rumble!
The door opened.
Lee Hyun stepped inside.
[Entered boss room.]
[You have met the master of Mt. Huaguo. Defeat him to bring happiness to the mountain’s inhabitants.]
A moderately sized room.
A man sat inside who looked more human than monkey.
His deep black eyes were unreadable.
‘This person… is Honsae.’
When Lee Hyun first heard “Chaos Demon King,” he had doubted his ears.
‘I’ve never heard the Chaos Demon King having another name.’
In Journey to the West, the Chaos Demon King appeared briefly at the start and was killed.
He was a minor demon who plundered Huaguo Mountain while Sun Wukong was away learning from Subhuti.
But he was easily defeated by the returning Sun Wukong.
Readers barely remembered him.
But here…
‘This one is different. Is it really the same person?’
Unlike the original story, here the Chaos Demon King was a wise and just ruler.
So impressive that one might resent Sun Wukong for leaving.
Even though the message prompted Lee Hyun to fight, he hesitated.
Defeating this being might not bring happiness to the monkeys.
What should he do in this situation?
Lee Hyun glanced at Sun Wukong, but:
“…….”
Sun Wukong remained silent.
“Looks like he’s not in the mood to speak. Shall we decide among ourselves? What’s your plan?”
‘I…’
Saojeong asked with a bitter smile.
Just as Lee Hyun was about to answer:
“Is it wise to discuss your plan when the subject is right in front of you?”
“……!?”
“Wh-what? Could it be that we’re visible…!?”
“Yes, perfectly visible. You’re not blind. Right there in front of us.”
“……!”
Honsae smiled faintly.
Lee Hyun snapped to attention and bowed respectfully.
“I am Jang Lee Hyun.”
“Sahun. Let’s skip titles like Demon King or Great King. By the way,”
Honsae waved his hand lightly, smiling wider.
“I thought a human carrying the Mihuwang scent might have been a trivial connection, but it seems the real Mihuwang and even his disciple have come.”
Mihuwang: the title Sun Wukong gained as king of the monkey demons.
“I never expected the true Mihuwang and his disciple to arrive here.”
“……ha!”
“…….”
“I knew a day like this would come, but seeing it in person is still amazing.”
Saojeong laughed helplessly, Sun Wukong stayed silent.
No one except Lee Hyun, who possessed Huaganjin, had ever seen these two divine beings.
Lee Hyun was puzzled.
But first, he needed to clarify:
“You said ‘true’…”
“Do you mean to ask if this world is ‘fake’? Or if you realize that the Mihuwang in front of you is just a fragment he left behind?”
“……You already know? How could you know?”
Lee Hyun had never seen characters so aware of their world being artificial.
Honsae chuckled lightly.
“The <characters> in dungeons usually don’t realize their world. But sometimes, those who attain great enlightenment or whose consciousness grows to rival their world become aware and occasionally escape.”
Character escape.
Lee Hyun swallowed dryly.
“Rarely, though, there are beings who are not that conscious but still realize their existence, like me.”
“……!”
“They often appear in fragments left by beings comparable to the universe.”
Honsae’s gaze shifted to Sun Wukong.
“I’m the same. I awakened from the fragment <Sun and Moon’s Song> left by the supreme deity Jecheon Daeseong and became aware of this world.”
“……!”
“I’ve talked too much. Meeting someone from the ‘outside’ after so long does that to me, I suppose.”
Lee Hyun’s eyes widened.
“You mean someone else from the outside has been here?”
The monkey village beyond Huaguo Mountain was a hidden stage, unseen in countless attempts.
Without a key like Huaganjin, no one could reach it… yet someone else had?
“Well…”
Honsae tilted his chin and smiled enigmatically, clearly enjoying Lee Hyun’s reaction.
Lee Hyun took a deep breath and gathered his thoughts.
“So the name ‘Sahun’…”
“‘Sa’ as in abandon, ‘Hun’ as in trace. I abandoned old traces and awakened anew.”
Honsae twisted one corner of his mouth.
“Ultimately, the original version of me was killed long ago by the fragment’s owner. I am merely the fleeting memory left behind.”
“…….”
“Perhaps I’m not the only one to experience this.”
Lee Hyun recalled the previous fragment owners he had met.
-
You! The one who imprisoned me…! (Hwangpoong Ghost)
-
Sun Wukong… descendant… because of you… (Baekgolryeong)
-
I blame you… (the serpent from Chiljeolsan)
All had similar reactions at the end.
He had thought it was resistance from dying boss mobs, but maybe it was their realization and resentment toward Sun Wukong and Lee Hyun.
Imagining how someone reacts when realizing they are only a phenomenon was hard.
“But even if I resent it, nothing changes. I considered plundering after the original, but it seemed unnecessary. They’ve already failed.”
“So this is why you arranged Huaguo Mountain so perfectly?”
“Since I decided to start anew, I thought, why not challenge fate like a rebel? I was curious how it might differ from the original.”
“…….”
Sun Wukong pressed his lips into a straight line.
If this was Honsae’s revenge, it had succeeded spectacularly.
Honsae reclined partially in his chair, speaking with a tone of ennui.
“Though, I guess it wasn’t necessary. Who would have thought the owner who came here… is as hollow as me.”
His twisted lips curved further.
“No, that cannot be called the owner. Only the ego continues from Mihuwang. Ultimately, even he is a mere fragment, so my strength feels drained.”
Honsae turned his attention from Sun Wukong back to Lee Hyun.
He reached for the large sword draped over the chair.
“Now, my amusement ends here. What will you do? If you intend to fight me as a boss mob, I’ll gladly fight.”
He spoke calmly, as if accepting his fate.
But precisely because of that,
Lee Hyun felt the presence of Honsae even more.
Silently, he drew both axes and gripped them in his hands.
“So that’s your answer. Very well.”
Honsae swung aside the armrest.
Lee Hyun leapt forward.
Rumble…!!
