Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 38
‘I really hate ants.’
For decades, that phrase had been a habit for *him*.
Why did he hate ants so much?
He had been having recurring nightmares for as long as he could remember.
Once a year, sometimes every two years, just when he thought they were gone, the vivid nightmares would return.
In the dream, he was always running through the darkness.
Chased by countless ants.
‘Don’t come near me! Stay away!’
‘Kiiiiek! Kiiieek!’
‘Aaargh!’
He would run desperately, again and again.
But no matter how hard he tried, he would always find himself cornered.
The ants surrounded him.
And among them, a giant ant, the size of a human, would walk toward him.
Then…
‘Kiiieeeeeek!’
Its mouth would open wide, and it would bite his head clean off…
*Crunch!*
“Argh—!”
A middle-aged man woke up screaming, drenched in sweat, sitting upright in bed.
His wife, who had been sleeping beside him, rubbed her eyes and looked at him with concern.
“Honey, another nightmare?”
“Huff… huff…”
Sweat dripped down his forehead. He grabbed the glass of cold water on the bedside table and gulped it down.
*Gulp*
He coughed as the water went down too fast, but the shock helped pull him back to reality.
Feeling guilty for waking his wife, he gave her an apologetic look.
“Sorry, did I wake you?”
“Mmm… It’s been a while since the last one.”
“Yeah, it has. Don’t worry about me, go back to sleep.”
He gently patted her back, and her eyes soon drifted closed again.
*Sigh.*
The man sat on the edge of the bed, wiping his face with his hands.
‘I thought these nightmares were gone for a while…’
He took a deep breath and repeated a silent mantra to himself.
It’s just a dream.
It’s only a dream.
After all, he was still alive.
Fortunately, the mantra worked, and the pounding of his heart began to slow.
‘That damn ant dream, though…’
Somehow, he had a bad feeling about the day ahead.
Sleep was out of the question now, so he decided to start his day early, even though it was still a bit early for work.
He got up quietly, trying not to wake his wife.
She was a schoolteacher, teaching Korean history.
He had taught Korean history as a private academy instructor in his younger days, so he knew how exhausting the job could be.
‘She’s going to need her rest. I don’t want her to mix up any dates during her classes because of me.’
With those thoughts in mind, he swiftly and quietly prepared for work, dressing himself.
‘Oh, almost forgot.’
He put on his name tag, issued by the Association.
[Korean Hunter Association]
**Min Byung-gu**
(Consulting Doctor)
The morning sun reflected off the name tag, making it glimmer.
* * *
“I’m here for a re-evaluation of my mana.”
As soon as morning broke, Su-ho arrived at the hospital designated by the Association.
“Please take a seat and wait for your turn.”
After receiving instructions from the nurse, Su-ho sat and waited.
Unlike Su-ho, who had been approached directly by the Association for his initial mana measurement, most people had to visit a hospital like this to get tested for their awakening.
For this, the Hunter Association had set up hospitals all across the country where mana measurements could be taken.
Initially, such hospitals existed only in Seoul, but as more people awakened across the country, these facilities expanded to more regions.
However, only one hospital in the entire country was equipped for **mana re-evaluation**, as it required the use of a highly precise device, the only one of its kind in Korea.
“Mr. Sung Su-ho, please come in.”
After a short wait, the nurse called his name.
When Su-ho entered the re-evaluation room, he was greeted by a kind-looking, middle-aged doctor.
“Mr. Sung Su-ho?”
“Yes, hello.”
As Su-ho greeted him, his eyes lingered on the doctor’s name tag.
[Korean Hunter Association]
**Min Byung-gu**
(Consulting Doctor)
‘Consulting Doctor?’
It seemed the Association had placed a highly qualified doctor here, given the importance of the re-evaluation.
“As the nurse probably explained, stardust has recently been officially classified as illegal. Before the re-evaluation, you’ll need to undergo a few tests.”
It was essentially a doping test.
After a brief explanation, the test began, and Su-ho casually asked,
“By the way, wasn’t it originally impossible to detect stardust doping?”
“It was, but recently we discovered some of the ingredients in stardust, allowing us to develop a test. A certain brilliant doctor came up with it in no time. That doctor, by the way, is me.”
With a proud grin, Min Byung-gu pointed at himself with his thumb.
He was quite a cheerful fellow.
‘Ah.’
Hearing this, Su-ho realized something.
‘That’s because of me.’
The reason the doping test had been developed recently was because of Su-ho himself. After discovering the factory and reporting how the demons had been producing stardust, the Association had been able to act.
‘The butterfly effect came full circle, and now I’m sitting here taking the doping test I helped make possible.’
It made him chuckle a bit.
Seeing Su-ho’s reaction, Min Byung-gu raised an eyebrow curiously.
“Hm? You seem different from most people who come in for re-evaluation.”
“Huh? How so?”
“You’re very calm.”
Min Byung-gu found Su-ho fascinating.
Most people who came in for a re-evaluation fit into one of two categories.
Overly eager dreamers hoping for a rank increase.
Or those with delusions of grandeur, convinced they were destined for greatness.
‘Though, in the end, they’re pretty much the same.’
It was only natural for people to react that way.
After all, a successful re-evaluation could change someone’s life overnight, boosting their income dramatically.
But Su-ho was different.
There was no sense of excitement or nervousness about the results.
‘Maybe he’s just naturally not very ambitious?’
Soon, the results of Su-ho’s doping test came back.
“You’re clear of stardust doping. Good job. Now, we’ll proceed with the mana re-evaluation. Please place your hand here.”
As expected, Su-ho’s mana results were identical to what his status window had already shown.
[Mana: 586]
Upon seeing the result, Min Byung-gu let out an impressed exclamation.
“Oh, congratulations! It seems your initial test was indeed incorrect. With this much mana, you qualify as a C-rank Hunter.”
As he explained this, he glanced at Su-ho’s face again.
Yet again, Su-ho remained calm, as if he had expected it all along.
‘Interesting. Are all young people like this nowadays?’
Perplexed, Min Byung-gu shook his head slightly and entered the results into the computer.
“Oh, and we’ll need to upload your skill data to the Hunter database. Could you show me some of your skills?”
Skill data was crucial information.
For Hunters to work together effectively during dungeon raids, they needed to be familiar with each other’s abilities.
Min Byung-gu led Su-ho to a larger space and asked,
“What skills do you have?”
“Hmm. I use swords, and I can summon creatures.”
“A summoner? Then could you start by showing me a summoning skill? Call out one of your summons.”
“Sure.”
Su-ho nodded without hesitation.
To use his Shadow Extraction skill, he needed a corpse. Since going back to the Shadow Dungeon to retrieve a goblin corpse would be troublesome, he chose the easiest summon.
“Beru, come out for a moment.”
As soon as Su-ho finished speaking—
*Shwoop!*
[Kieeeek! Did you call, Young Lord?]
A small shadow leapt up from the ground at Su-ho’s feet.
But then, something unexpected happened.
“Aaaaargh—!”
[Kiek?]
The moment Min Byung-gu laid eyes on Beru, he screamed and fell backward in shock.
Beru tilted his head in confusion, staring at the doctor.
Then, his eyes widened.
[Oh? Could it be…?]
“G-ga-ga-ga-ga…!”
Pointing a trembling finger at Beru, Min Byung-gu’s eyes rolled back, and he passed out on the spot.
“…Huh?”
Now Su-ho was the one standing there, dumbfounded, as he looked back at Beru.
“What did you do to the doctor?”
[I didn’t do anything… hmm.]
At Su-ho’s words, Beru took a closer look at Min Byung-gu’s face.
Yes, it was him.
Min Byung-gu.
[This man… I ate him once, long ago.]
“What? Who ate who?”
[I ate this human.]
Beru scratched his head awkwardly.
* * *
Before Earth had been reset—
Back when the Shadow Monarch, Sung Jinwoo, was an active Hunter—
In those days, Korea was home to one of the few S-rank healers in the world.
S-rank Hunter Min Byung-gu.
Once, he had participated in a massive monster subjugation effort with other S-rank Hunters.
Jeju Island.
The island that had become hell after being overrun by countless ant monsters.
During that unprecedented battle, Min Byung-gu fought bravely against the monsters.
And sacrificed himself for his comrades.
By being devoured by the King of Ants, Beru.
When the world was reset, all of Min Byung-gu’s memories of that event disappeared.
But…
[I still remember you.]
As Beru’s bitter voice echoed in the unconscious doctor’s mind.
**Skill: Devour.**
The ability to absorb the power and memories of those he consumed.
Not long after he had hatched from his egg, Beru had devoured Min Byung-gu and absorbed his abilities as an S-rank healer.
[Perhaps that’s why you were unable to awaken this time.]
But Beru had absorbed more than just power from Min Byung-gu.
His memories. His knowledge.
His aversion to war and love of peace.
And that—
That had been the first time Beru had ever learned the concept of ‘humanity.’
[If I had been human, I would have called you ‘Father.’]
Min Byung-gu had been the human who had influenced Beru’s current personality the most.
[It’s because of you that I, too, developed a love for historical dramas.] (TL Note: This is a nice callback.)
Beru chuckled softly.
Even in his unconscious state, Min Byung-gu’s body trembled as if he could hear Beru’s laughter.
[…I see.]
Beru whispered quietly.
[I have become your nightmare.]
The truth was, it wasn’t just Min Byung-gu.
Beru had likely haunted the nightmares of every human he had ever devoured.
But Min Byung-gu was special.
Perhaps because he was the first human Beru had ever consumed.
Or perhaps because the humanity he had learned from Min Byung-gu had played such a significant role in shaping his current self.
Finally, Beru understood why.
Look at him.
Even though the world had been reset…
Even though he no longer possessed the powers of an S-rank healer…
[Your life is still noble.]
Min Byung-gu had always wanted to quit being a Hunter and become a history teacher. Now, in this life, he had chosen the path of medicine rather than healing magic.
[You are still saving lives in your own way.]
Beru smiled brightly.
The reason this realization made him so happy was that he understood now that the roots of his being still shone brightly.
Born into a world of slaughter and conflict, Beru found that light all the more dazzling.
[I won’t apologize for what happened. We were at war. But…]
Suddenly, Beru’s warm voice reached Min Byung-gu’s subconscious.
[In this life, I will support you.]
*Fwoosh!*
A tiny seed of energy flowed from Beru into Min Byung-gu’s body.
[I will take away your nightmares.]
My… father.
* * *
Meanwhile, Su-ho was surrounded by hospital staff.
“I swear, he passed out on his own!”
“We’ve already called the police. You can explain yourself at the station.”
“You’ll need to stay here as a witness until we clarify what happened…”
“Seriously, this is just a huge misunderstanding.”
Su-ho felt wronged, but the staff’s reaction was understandable.
After all, Min Byung-gu was not just any doctor—he was a key figure in the study of stardust in Korea.
Even though stardust had been made from human remains and was fundamentally wrong, its effects still held enough value to warrant further research.
If the harmful elements could be removed, and only the positive effects harnessed, stardust could revolutionize the world.
In that sense, Min Byung-gu was an invaluable national asset.
And now, a Hunter undergoing re-evaluation had seemingly caused him to scream and faint.
Normally, such incidents would happen when a Hunter wasn’t satisfied with their re-evaluation results and retaliated…
“Ugh…”
Suddenly, Min Byung-gu stirred and sat up.
“Doctor Min!”
“He’s awake!”
The nurses rushed over to him, surprised and relieved.
But then, something strange happened.
“What…?”
*Fwoosh.*
As Min Byung-gu slowly regained consciousness, he noticed a soft, white glow in his hands.
It was mana.
“D-did I awaken?!”
Everyone who witnessed this widened their eyes in shock.
Instinctively, all eyes turned to Su-ho, who was standing nearby.
“Wait, this really isn’t what it looks like.”
Seriously, I didn’t do anything.