Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 39
Things were chaotic for a while.
Dr. Min Byung-gu, who had suddenly fainted, woke up only to find himself awakened as a Hunter.
Thanks to this, he had to measure his own mana in front of everyone’s watchful eyes.
And the long-awaited result was…
[C-Rank]
“Oh! C-Rank!”
“That’s amazing!”
“Congratulations on your awakening, Dr. Min!”
The Association staff showered Min Byung-gu with congratulations.
“And a healer, too!”
Being a healer was one of the most lucrative and safest jobs, as they didn’t need to fight on the frontlines.
But Min Byung-gu couldn’t have cared less.
He was already over sixty years old, well past the age for thrilling adventures. At this stage in life, he valued stability over excitement. He had no intention of diving into dungeons and wrestling with monsters.
He would leave dungeons to the younger Hunters and focus on his main career.
‘This is good. Now that I can manipulate mana, I can push my stardust research even further.’
Min Byung-gu smiled contentedly, moving his mana through his hands as he tested his newfound power.
* * *
“…So that’s what happened.”
Meanwhile, outside the hospital, Su-ho listened to Beru’s explanation and nodded in understanding.
Then a question came to his mind.
“But how did you awaken that doctor? Did you give back the power you devoured?”
[No, it’s impossible to return the power. I’ve fully digested it by now.]
“Then what?”
[In a sense, I bestowed him with a ‘blessing.’]
A **blessing**.
The way Beru had awakened Min Byung-gu was by mimicking the same method the Fang Monarch had used to grant Su-ho a blessing.
[Normally, something like this would require very specific conditions to be met. Just like with the Fang Monarch, one must have the ‘qualifications’ to receive such power.]
But Min Byung-gu had more than enough qualifications.
The blessing Beru had given him was always his to begin with.
After hearing the explanation, Su-ho clicked his tongue in mild disappointment.
“Hmm, that’s unfortunate.”
[What do you find unfortunate?]
“I was wondering if I could get a healer skill from you, but I guess I don’t qualify.”
[Kieeek?!]
At Su-ho’s words, Beru jumped up in horror and immediately prostrated himself on the ground, as if the very idea was blasphemous.
[How could someone like me dare bestow a blessing upon the Young Lord?! The mere thought is blasphemy. Oh, my apologies!]
Blessings were typically gifts granted from a higher being to a lesser one.
But in the case of Su-ho and Beru, their hierarchy was the complete opposite, making it impossible to even think about qualifications.
Having satisfied his curiosity, Su-ho stretched.
“Shall we head back?”
He glanced toward the re-evaluation room where Min Byung-gu was.
Due to the doctor’s sudden awakening, things had gotten a bit hectic, and Su-ho had stepped outside for a while.
In fact, the most important task—registering his skill information with the Association database—had been interrupted.
‘I haven’t even mentioned my Storm Slash or Toughness skills yet…’
At this rate, only his summoning skill would be registered in the Association’s database.
If that happened, he’d be officially labeled a summoner, and while being C-Rank was nice, summoners were still an unpopular class in dungeons. It would be better to have more of his skills recognized.
Of course, there were Hunters who hid their skills from the Association’s database, but those were usually criminals with something to hide.
Just then, while Su-ho was still outside, an unwelcome visitor had arrived to see Min Byung-gu.
“I’m going to have to refuse.”
‘Hmm?’
Perhaps due to his high Perception stat, Su-ho overheard the conversation inside the re-evaluation room, and he stopped in his tracks.
“I want to make it clear: I will not reconsider Secretary Kim’s proposal.”
Min Byung-gu, normally a very kind man, was speaking in a firm tone as he refused the visitor’s offer.
“Ah, Dr. Min. Is there really a need to be so definitive? Please, just give it one more thought…”
“My stardust research is entirely for the public good. I have no reason to collaborate with a large guild seeking private gain.”
[Young Lord, something feels off about the situation…]
“Shh.”
Su-ho quickly covered Beru’s mouth.
“You can’t just barge in on conversations between adults like that.”
[Ah, I apologize…]
“We should be eavesdropping quietly.”
[Ah.]
Beru’s eyes widened, and he promptly covered his own mouth with his hands, with only his antennae twitching in anticipation.
Listening further, Su-ho realized that the man Min Byung-gu was referring to as ‘Secretary Kim’ appeared to be a Hunter from the **Reapers Guild**.
“Dr. Min, I’m well aware that stardust has been declared illegal. But if you continue your research with us, we could eventually develop a legal version of stardust.”
“I don’t understand why you’re so fixated on stardust development.”
“Isn’t it obvious? The stronger Hunters become, the safer the world will be, and citizens will be able to sleep peacefully.”
‘The Reapers Guild wants stardust?’
Su-ho’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Beru.”
[According to Broki’s memories, the Reapers Guild was one of the main clients of the Hyena Guild.]
Beru immediately caught on to Su-ho’s train of thought and answered, this time speaking directly into Su-ho’s mind so that their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.
[And Secretary Kim was the one responsible for maintaining contact with the Hyena Guild.]
“You’re a very convenient walking encyclopedia.”
[Of course, I am a bug.]
Su-ho nodded and focused his Perception to gauge the strength of Secretary Kim.
‘B-Rank, huh.’
Compared to Su-ho, a C-Rank Hunter, this man’s mana was at least twice as much.
But raw mana wasn’t everything. Su-ho’s stats were skewed heavily toward strength, giving him an advantage in physical combat.
Sensing Su-ho’s growing intent to confront, Beru quickly intervened.
[Young Lord, this is not a good idea. Picking a fight with a large guild like the Reapers would be troublesome. You don’t have the resources to go up against them yet.]
Beru was right.
Su-ho had gone through the trouble of raising his rank, but if he started clashing with a guild as powerful as the Reapers, it would make his future activities as a Hunter much more difficult.
At that moment, Min Byung-gu’s voice sounded from inside, addressing Secretary Kim.
“There’s nothing more to discuss. I’m on duty right now, so please leave.”
Not wanting to leave empty-handed, Secretary Kim played his final card.
“Beast King Crow.”
‘Hmm?’
[What?]
Both Su-ho and Beru looked at each other in surprise.
They hadn’t expected those words to come out of Secretary Kim’s mouth.
“I’m sure you’ve seen the news about Beast King Crow, Dr. Min?”
Frowning in confusion, Min Byung-gu replied,
“Yes, I’ve seen the news, but…”
“Crow is a demon.”
“What?”
‘Excuse me?’
[What?]
At Secretary Kim’s sudden declaration, both Su-ho and Beru were equally dumbfounded.
Secretary Kim continued, his expression serious as he passionately explained to Dr. Min,
“According to the information we’ve obtained in the Reapers Guild, the raven mask worn by Crow is a symbol of the demons. The demons from the factory all wore those masks.”
What he said was true.
Except for the part about Crow being a demon.
“What does that mean, then? It means that in the Magok Field, the power of the ‘Beast King’ fell into the hands of the demons. With that power, the demons have grown even stronger. We need to bolster our own forces by any means necessary.”
‘Wait… How did the story get twisted like this?’
Su-ho wore an awkward expression.
It was a statement that sounded somewhat convincing but was fundamentally wrong.
“So Dr. Min, please reconsider. You are a crucial asset to the Reapers Guild. Money isn’t an issue, we’ll give you whatever you need…”
“I refuse.”
Min Byung-gu’s research into stardust had always been for the public good, not for personal profit.
He and his wife lived comfortably, even if not in luxury, and that was enough for him. No amount of money could sway him.
Seeing that Dr. Min’s refusal was unwavering, Secretary Kim let out a sigh.
Then, the tone of his voice shifted, a cold edge creeping in.
“Your wife works as a middle school teacher, doesn’t she?”
“…!”
Min Byung-gu’s eyes widened in shock.
Secretary Kim’s expression turned into a sly smile.
The moment he saw that smirk, Min Byung-gu’s face went pale.
“What… What are you talking about?”
“I heard your wife didn’t go to work today. Did you know that?”
“…!”
Horror washed over Min Byung-gu’s face.
“You… You didn’t…”
“Shall I repeat myself?”
Secretary Kim’s smile only grew more sinister as he held up his phone.
Displayed on the screen was a photo of a middle-aged woman, bound and gagged.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to achieve our goals.”
The woman in the photo was none other than Min Byung-gu’s wife.
‘This… This can’t be happening…’
It felt as though the nightmare had begun again.
His head buzzed, and he lost all sense of reality.
What on earth was this man talking about?
Kidnapping?
Surely, even the Reapers Guild wouldn’t go this far.
“Are you starting to understand how serious we are now? You should’ve cooperated when we asked nicely—”
And then—
*Shiver!*
Suddenly, Secretary Kim’s body tensed as he felt a chilling sensation behind him.
He whipped around, but it was too late.
*Crash!*
“…?!”
A massive fist, cloaked in dark energy, shot through the re-evaluation room’s door like a cannonball.
**Skill: Heavy Strike.**
Su-ho’s fist, enveloped in black mana, slammed into Secretary Kim with the force of a truck.
*Thud thud thud!*
“Gah!”
Secretary Kim rolled across the floor like a ragdoll, struggling to get back up. He yelled in anger,
“Who… Who the hell are you?!”
Wobbling, his legs buckled under the force of the blow.
“You withstood that? Guess B-Ranks are tough.”
From behind the shattered door, Su-ho’s voice echoed.
*Crack! Rip!*
With a powerful yank, Su-ho tore the door completely off its hinges and stepped into the re-evaluation room.
And his appearance…
“W-what?!”
Secretary Kim’s eyes bulged in shock.
“A demon?! Here?!”
The man standing there was wearing a **raven mask**.