Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 116

Suho swallowed the thick, sticky liquid down his throat.

The taste was foul and fishy, but bearable.

‘It’s not like this is my first time drinking poison anyway.’

As Suho drained the last drop of Kasaka’s venom, leaving none behind, two blessings were actively working within his body: Querehsha’s ‘Plague Blessing’ and Kandiaru’s ‘Blessing of Longevity and Health’.

‘Ding.’

[Harmful substances detected.]
[The buff: Detoxification is activating.]
[3, 2, 1… Detoxification complete.]
[The side effect: Damaged Muscles has been removed.]

The lethal side effects of Kasaka’s venom were thoroughly purified.

‘Ding.’

[Effect: Kasaka’s Iron Scales – Physical damage reduced by 20%.]

What remained was the positive buff effect, which enhanced Suho’s defense.

Considering that Suho’s endurance skill already increased his defense by +100%, he now had a combined total of +120% defense.

At this level, Suho was now a tank that could hold his ground anywhere.

But what Suho appreciated most was the ability to use Kasaka’s venom as a weapon.

[Debuff: Kasaka’s Venom]
A poison that weakens the target’s strength by -35 by damaging their muscles.

Damaged muscles meant the target’s overall strength and speed would significantly decrease.

This was a much more potent debuff compared to the paralysis venom that merely slowed movement.

‘This will definitely come in handy.’

Suho immediately summoned Quay.

“Quay.”

[Yes, Master.]

“From now on, coat all your attacks with Kasaka’s venom.”

[Understood.]

‘Ssshhh…’

At Suho’s command, the tip of Quay’s spear was infused with the debuff: Kasaka’s Venom.

‘If I fire Quay as an arrow first to weaken the enemy with Kasaka’s venom, then start the battle, it’ll be highly effective.’

Of course, most enemies would probably be dealt with entirely by Quay, as had happened today.

‘This turned out to be a far better ability than I expected.’

Suho nodded in satisfaction.

‘ ‘ ‘

While Suho was reviewing his rewards, the aftermath of the Euljiro incident was being cleaned up smoothly.

With the beasts eradicated, the swamp zone’s area gradually shrank and eventually disappeared.

As soon as the area was secured, reporters swarmed in to cover the urgent situation.

Of course, managing this chaos fell to the Hunter Association’s staff, as always.

“This is Reporter Oh Seokhoon from ‘Hunter Daily’! Which Hunter used the black arrows that suddenly appeared from the sky?”

“Those two arrows effectively dealt with the boss monster and ended the situation…”

“Wait, one at a time, please!”

Team Leader Han Jaehyuk was surrounded by microphones, his face crumpling in frustration.

‘I don’t have time for this.’

He needed to track down Thomas Andre, who had vanished without a trace, but he was trapped by the reporters.

Still, he couldn’t just abandon his current responsibility either.

As the Association Hunters closest to Euljiro, it was their job to manage the aftermath.

Fortunately, with the situation resolved quickly and few casualties, their immediate priority was to distribute the beast corpses fairly.

“I’m the one who killed this beast!”

“What nonsense! Look at the wounds; they clearly match my skill!”

‘…This is always the most troublesome part.’

Han Jaehyuk sighed as he watched Hunters squabble over the ownership of the beast corpses.

Strangely, though, none of them dared touch the beasts killed by the two black arrows.

‘The first arrow struck the boss monster like a thunderbolt, and the second arrow overturned the swamp like a siege weapon. While the second shot was incredible, the real issue is that first arrow.’

Having worked with countless archer Hunters, Han Jaehyuk understood the significance of that first arrow better than anyone.

It wasn’t just the Hunters’ skill but the precision. The arrow had curved mid-flight to perfectly target the boss monster, as if it had eyes.

If it had been a guided missile, it would have been understandable—it would track its target visually before striking.

But for an arrow fired from such a distance to bend mid-air like thunder and lightning, precisely hunting the strongest beast?

‘What kind of archer Hunter has this skill? I’ve never seen anything like it before.’

However, all these questions were answered sooner than expected when Korea’s best archer, Im Taegyu, stepped into view.

“Whoa! It’s Im Taegyu!”

“The Guild Master of the Reaper Guild!”

“Ah, no wonder! Who else could shoot arrows like that?”

Crowds swarmed toward him.

“Wait, what’s going on? Why are you all rushing toward me?!”

Flustered, Im Taegyu found himself surrounded by reporters.

“As expected of Guild Master Im Taegyu!”

“Were you the one who shot those arrows earlier?”

“Im Taegyu! Can you comment on compensations for the victims of the recent Lee Minseong incident?”

“Wait, wait! One question at a time!”

Even for an S-rank Hunter, the situation was overwhelming.

Turning his head, Im Taegyu searched for Suho amidst the chaos and spotted him in a quiet corner, leisurely observing the scene.

Their eyes met, and Suho smiled warmly, nodding toward him.

The sly expression on Suho’s face said it all: ‘You handle the excuses.’

‘Ah, this brat!’

Im Taegyu could only grit his teeth at Suho’s annoying smirk, silently cursing his “mysterious” attitude.

However, as frustrating as it was, part of him understood.

Receiving media attention for this incident wouldn’t raise Suho’s value. It would only bring unnecessary hassle.

Ultimately, a Hunter’s worth was determined by their own strength, not recognition.

Unless one aimed to join a major guild or establish their own, hunting beasts was a straightforward way to earn money.

Or… to restore a damaged reputation.

‘Wait a second.’

Im Taegyu froze as he realized something.

‘Is this… for me?’

If he claimed credit for this event, it could help restore the Reaper Guild’s tarnished image.

Even if the guild was criticized, it would highlight Im Taegyu’s strength as its leader.

At that moment, a chillingly familiar voice whispered in his ear.

[With this, the debt is repaid.]

“…!”

Im Taegyu froze, trembling as though struck by lightning.

He frantically turned his head, searching for the source, but no one was there.

Still, he was certain.

‘No way!’

How could he not recognize the voice of his late friend, Lee Minseong, who had brought the Reaper Guild to ruin?

“Where are you?!”

Im Taegyu’s sudden outburst startled the reporters.

“Where are you?! Answer me!”

[…]

But what Im Taegyu didn’t know was that Lee Minseong was no longer of this world.

Only the shadow soldier Quay remained.

Hidden among the shadows, Quay looked up at his old friend and spoke again—not with an apology, but with an obligation.

[The Reaper Guild has a secret ledger. It’s Lee Minseong’s hidden funds.]

“…!”

[Only the guild master or deputy guild master can access it. Here are the account details and password.]

Quay repeated the information until Im Taegyu memorized it.

—

[Thank you, Master.]

“Is it done?”

[Yes. I have no regrets now.]

Beru growled beside Suho.

[How ungrateful. That money could have gone to my liege, yet you gave it to your friend instead!]

[I tried, but the account can only be accessed by the guild master or deputy guild master.]

Quay glanced at Suho sheepishly.

Without his intervention, the funds would have vanished into oblivion upon Lee Minseong’s death.

Now, the money could help the Reaper Guild recover, at least partially.

[This is enough. I’ve done what I could.]

“Good work.”

Suho nodded as Quay’s expression grew lighter.

Then, Quay and Beru silently returned to Suho’s shadow.

At that moment, Thomas Andre approached, having finally escaped the reporters.

“All set?”

Suho nodded.

“Yes.”

Satisfied with the answer, Thomas smirked.

“We leave tomorrow morning.”

Thomas turned and walked back to Laura, his massive figure retreating into the distance.

Suho’s eyes gleamed with determination.

‘Tomorrow.’

At last, the day had come to search for his missing mother.

‘To the Glacier Dungeon.’

“Suho.”

Im Taegyu approached, brushing past the reporters.

“One question.”

“Yes?”

“Will you be going into the Glacier Dungeon alone, or with your allies?”

“My allies?”

“Yes, those who want to form a guild with you.”

Suho hesitated. Esil was a given, but Im Do-Gyun’s case was tricky.

He was currently undergoing training with Ammit, spending most of his time in Suho’s shadow.

“Technically, we’ll all be going in together.”

“I see. Well, with Thomas Andre there, it should be fine.”

“…?”

Muttering to himself, Im Taegyu scratched his head and nodded.

“Take care. Protect your allies if they’re in danger.”

“Of course…”

Suho froze, sensing a strange familiarity in Im Taegyu’s expression.

‘Wait. Could it be?’

“Mr. Taegyu, by any chance—”

Before Suho could finish, Im Taegyu cut him off.

“By the way, I just got some unexpected money.”

“…?”

“There’s a bow I was going to sell. Take it with you to the Glacier Dungeon and return it afterward.”

“A bow?”