Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 39

There was a commotion for a while.

Doctor Min Byung-gu suddenly fainted and then woke up, undergoing an awakening.

Thanks to that, Min Byung-gu had to measure his own magic power in front of everyone.

And the long-awaited examination result was…

[Grade C]

“Oh! Grade C!”

“Wow, amazing!”

“Congratulations on your awakening, Mr. Min!”

Congratulations poured in from the association staff to Min Byung-gu.

“Moreover, he’s a healer!”

Healers were a very good profession that could earn a lot of money safely without directly participating in battles.

However, Min Byung-gu, the person in question, didn’t seem to care about that.

He was already over 60 years old.

At his age, he was more interested in stability than thrilling challenges.

He had no intention of going into dungeons to fight monsters and demons just because he had awakened.

He would leave the dungeons to younger people and focus more on his main job.

“Good. Now that I can control magic power, I can put more effort into stardust research.”

Min Byung-gu smiled with satisfaction as he moved his magic power around with his hand.

***

“…That’s what happened.”

On the other hand, Suho came out and listened to Ver’s report with a nod.

Then he became curious.

“But how did you awaken that doctor? Did you return the power he swallowed?”

[No, it’s not possible to return the power. It’s already completely digested in my body.]

“Then?”

“In other words, I granted him ‘blessing’.”

Blessing.

In the end, the way Ver awakened Min Byung-gu was an exact imitation of how the Sovereign of Fangs had granted him blessing.

“Originally, it is very difficult for such a thing to be possible. It requires a ‘qualification’ to accept the power, just like when I received power from the Sovereign of Fangs.”

But Min Byung-gu had more than enough qualification, even overflowing with it.

The blessing Ver granted him this time was originally his, to begin with.

Having heard the explanation, Suho was disappointed.

“Well, that’s a shame.”

“What’s disappointing?”

“I was hoping I could get healing skills from you too, but if that’s the case, I’m not qualified.”

“What?!”

Upon hearing those words, Ver trembled and fell silent in shock.

“How dare someone like you presume to bestow favors upon our lord? It’s disgraceful just to imagine it. Sigh, sigh.”

Favors were typically bestowed by higher beings upon those below them, but the hierarchy between Suho and Ver was the opposite, so it was never a situation where qualifications were needed in the first place.

Anyway, curiosity must be satisfied…

“Should we start heading back?”

Suho looked back at the assessment room where Min Byung-gu was.

Due to Min Byung-gu’s sudden awakening, a commotion had broken out, and Suho had momentarily stepped outside while registering the most important skill information with the Association’s database.

“I haven’t even mentioned skills like Storm Slash or Bite Strength yet…”

If things continued this way, the information about Suho in the Association’s database would only include one summoning skill.

That would make him nothing more than a summoner, unable to do anything else.

Even though summoners were still an unpopular profession in dungeons, even among hunters, Suho needed to register more skill information.

Of course, there were hunters who hid their skill information from the Association, but most of them were criminals who engaged in shady activities.

However, while Suho was momentarily outside, a stranger had approached Min Byung-gu.

“I refuse.”

“Hmm?”

Thanks to his heightened sensory stats, Suho eavesdropped on the conversation inside the assessment room with superhuman hearing and paused.

“I will not reconsider Kim Secretary’s proposal, as I have stated before.”

Min Byung-gu, who used to be friendly, was now firmly rejecting the stranger’s proposal with a resolute voice.

“Oh, Mr. Min. Do you really have to be so stubborn? If you would reconsider positively just one more time…”

“My research on stardust is solely for the public good. There is absolutely no reason to collaborate with large guilds pursuing personal interests.”

“My lord, the atmosphere seems a bit off…”

“Shh.”

Suho covered Ver’s mouth to stop him from speaking.

“We can’t interfere in the conversation of these adults so casually.”

“I apologize. I was mistaken…”

“Let’s listen quietly then.”

[Oops.]

Verga’s eyes widened at the words, and he covered his mouth with both hands, his tusks poking out slightly.

As the conversation continued, it seemed that the person Min Byung-gu referred to as ‘Secretary Kim’ was a hunter who had come from the Assassin Guild.

“Mr. Min, I know very well that Stardust is illegal. Why do you not understand? However, if we continue to research together, can’t we develop legal Stardust someday?”

“Why are you so intent on developing Stardust to that extent, I can’t understand.”

“Of course, it’s to maintain world peace. As hunters become stronger, citizens will be able to live more comfortably.”

‘The Assassin Guild wants Stardust?’

Instantly, Suho’s gaze narrowed.

“Verga.”

[According to Broki’s memory, the Assassin Guild was a major customer of the Hyena Guild.]

Verga immediately understood what Suho was going to ask and replied coolly.

However, to prevent Secretary Kim from overhearing the conversation on their side, Suho implanted his voice directly into Verga’s mind.

[And I suppose this Secretary Kim was mainly in charge of communication with the Hyena Guild.]

“A very convenient explainer, indeed.”

[I am indeed a bug.]

Suho nodded his head, extending his senses to assess Secretary Kim’s level.

‘Looks like a B-class.’

Compared to himself, who was C-class, it meant that the amount of mana was at least twice as much.

Of course, the measure of strength could not be simply judged by the amount of mana alone. Especially since Suho’s highest stat was actually strength, not mana.

As Suho was gauging his opponent in this way, Verga realized and stopped him.

[My lord, you must not. The opponent is a large guild. If you challenge a large guild with your current power, it will be very difficult for you.]

Verga’s words were correct.

He had gone through the trouble of raising his rank just to level up more, but if he unnecessarily antagonized a large guild like the Assassin Guild, it could make his future hunter activities quite troublesome.

At that moment, Min Byung-gu gave an order to Secretary Kim.

“Secretary Kim, I have nothing more to discuss with you. It’s still working hours, so would you mind leaving?”

In response, Secretary Kim hesitated to leave empty-handed and eventually summoned a formidable creature.

“Beast King Crow.”

‘Hmm?’

[Oh?]

Suho and Verga looked at each other as unexpected words came out of Secretary Kim’s mouth…

“What is this again?” Min Byung-gu frowned.

“Well, of course I saw the news….”

“Crow is a devil.”

“Excuse me?”

‘What?’

[Oh?]

At the words of Secretary Kim, a question mark arose simultaneously in the eyes of two people and a single ant.

Secretary Kim looked at Min Byung-gu with a serious expression.

“According to the information we obtained from our informant, Crow’s trademark Raven Mask is an item of the devils. All the demons in the factory wear that mask.”

It was all true, except that Crow wasn’t a devil.

“So, what does that mean? It means that the power of the ‘Beast King’ has fallen into the hands of the demons in this Magok Field. The demons have become stronger with that power, and in order to stand against them, we humans need to strengthen ourselves by any means necessary.”

“Um… why did the story turn out like this?”

Suho made an awkward expression.

It seemed like the words were strangely fitting, yet didn’t fit at all.

“That’s why, Teacher Min! Let’s work together with us! Teacher Min is an essential presence in our guild. We can offer you as much money as you want….”

“I refuse.”

The reason Min Byung-gu had been researching stardust until now was not solely to make money, but for the public good.

Even with his current income, it was enough to live comfortably with his wife, and that was sufficient for him.

No matter how much they offered, he wouldn’t waver.

As Min Byung-gu’s firm refusal was repeated, Secretary Kim sighed.

Then, from Kim’s mouth, a cold voice that was hard to believe came out.

“I heard you were a middle school teacher, ma’am.”

“….!”

Min Byung-gu doubted his ears.

Looking at Kim’s face again, he was smiling a wicked smile.

In that moment, Min Byung-gu’s expression froze.

“Did you know that you were absent from work today, ma’am?”

“….!”

At those words, Min Byung-gu’s complexion turned pale.

“Did I need to remind you again?”

The wicked smile on Kim’s face grew even deeper.

Secretary Kim grinned and raised his phone.

In the photo was…. a middle-aged woman tied up.

“We don’t hesitate to use any means necessary for our goals.”

It was none other than Min Byung-gu’s wife.

“What, what is this….”

Min Byung-gu felt like the nightmare was starting again.

His head was throbbing, and he was losing touch with reality.

What is that man in the crow mask saying?

Kidnapping?

Were the members of the Death Guild really so bold and reckless?

“Do you feel our sincerity yet? It’s better to speak nicely and obediently….”

That’s when it happened.

Chills!

Suddenly, Kim, the secretary, felt a sensation from behind and quickly turned around.

But it was too late.

Crash!

“….?!”

A large fist, like a cannonball, burst through the door of the measuring room behind Kim, the secretary.

Skill strike.

The dark energy-packed fist of the guardian slammed into Kim’s body like a truck.

Thud thud!

“Ku-huk?!”

Kim, the secretary, who crumpled to the ground as if hit by a truck, urgently tried to get up with a groan.

“Who, who are you!”

Wobbling.

But the shock was too great, and his legs buckled again, causing him to stagger.

“You can endure this? B-class is indeed different.”

At that moment, a hoarse voice came from behind the door pierced by the black fist.

Crunch! Creak!

The door was torn off the wall as it was, and the guardian walked slowly into the measuring room.

But the appearance of that person….

“What, what is this!”

Kim, the secretary, who was momentarily taken aback, opened his eyes wide.

“How can a demon be here?!”

Crow mask.

There stood a man with his face covered by a crow mask.