Solo Leveling : Ragnarok - Chapter 81

“Suho, you heartless boy! How long has it been since I last saw you?”

“But, Uncle, we met just last month.”

“Did we? Hahaha!”

Yoo Jinho laughed heartily, pulling Suho into a tight hug with a delighted expression.

The hunters nearby, who had unintentionally become spectators, could hardly contain their shock.

‘Uncle?!’

They were surprised to hear Suho call him “Uncle,” but even more shocking was seeing Yoo Jinho act so differently from his usual demeanor.

‘Did Yoo Jinho really have a side like this?’

Yoo Jinho was known as the legendary businessman who left a wealthy family to build Ajin Soft, Korea’s top gaming company, from the ground up. He was always a strict, business-minded figure, trusted and respected by his employees for his cold and calculating demeanor.

Yet, here he was, completely transformed into a warm, affectionate uncle, chatting with Suho in a friendly, animated manner.

“Why couldn’t you have just been content with art school and stayed safe, painting pictures? Let me have a look—are you really okay? Should I call a healer?”

As he inspected Suho from head to toe, Yoo Jinho’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, poking at Suho’s muscles.

“Wow, look at this kid’s muscles! They’re hard as a tire! Did you awaken as a tank?”

“It might be more because I’ve been doing a lot of fitness training lately.”

Suho’s expression turned slightly gloomy as he replied.

After all, the relentless gym instructor known as Amut lurked in his shadow every day.

“By the way, Uncle, what kind of game are you making that’s got all these hunters coming to your office?”

“You know FIFA?”

“The soccer game? Yeah, I know it.”

In modern soccer games, players could control the game in virtual reality by physically moving their bodies.

“We’ve been working on a similar VR game with hunters for the past two years. The system is almost ready; now, it’s time to build the characters.”

“Ah, I see.”

Hearing this, Suho finally understood why guilds were flocking to a game company, eager to make a strong impression.

“Once this game launches, players will be able to experience what it’s like to be a real hunter. They’ll go on dungeon raids and hunt magical beasts—all in VR.”

Naturally, hunters who became models for these characters would gain worldwide recognition.

“That sounds amazing. I bet every non-awakened person would love to try it.”

“It’s going to be a massive hit if it comes out. But we still have a long way to go before it’s completed.”

Suho genuinely admired the concept.

It had only been two years since the Cataclysm began, yet Ajin Soft’s rise to the top was no coincidence.

“So, what’s the name of the game?”

Sensing Suho’s pure curiosity, Yoo Jinho grinned.

“Solo Leveling.” (TL Note: Lol, that was unexpected.)

“…Solo Leveling?”

Suho’s expression turned a bit awkward upon hearing the name.

“Yeah. It’s a single-player game. And since players will get to experience hunters of various ranks and types, leveling up is a must.”

Yoo Jinho looked quite pleased with himself, convinced he had chosen a perfect title.

“Of course, some might think leveling up in a game isn’t that exciting—there are tons of similar games out there. But here’s what makes it special: how thrilling can a game character make us feel?”

Yoo Jinho clenched his fist, animatedly sharing his vision for the game.

The driver who had escorted Suho to the office sighed quietly.

‘Here he goes again.’

This was the real Yoo Jinho.

To outsiders, he was a shrewd businessman, but the moment he started talking about games, he turned into an enthusiastic teenager.

“But Solo Leveling is different. We’re planning to feature active hunters as characters.”

A leveling-up game anyone could create, but one with the thrill of real hunters—this was the unique element Ajin Soft was investing heavily in, paying top prices to collaborate with hunters.

The sheer scale of the project required immense funding, making it a project no other game company could even dare to undertake.

Suho glanced at the armed hunters from Hyunmu Guild standing awkwardly behind him.

So that was why they were fully geared up—to leave an impression on Yoo Jinho.

‘…This feels strange.’

What a coincidence. The title of this game was oddly fitting with his current situation.

[Hmm… Hmmmm…]

Meanwhile, there was a gaze intently focused on Yoo Jinho from within Suho’s shadow.

[Perhaps it isn’t a coincidence at all.]

Beru whispered in a voice only Suho could hear.

‘It might not be a coincidence?’

[Yes. In a forgotten time, this human, Yoo Jinho, followed our king closer than anyone. If those memories linger unconsciously….]

A monarch’s memories transcend time.

The Shadow Monarch, Sung Jinwoo, was a being whose very presence impacted the world profoundly.

And Yoo Jinho, just as Beru mentioned, had witnessed more of Jinwoo’s battles than anyone else.

Every moment he saw back then must have been the most thrilling and intense memories in the entire universe.

And…

[He used to wear that exact same expression back then.]

Now, as he passionately described his game, Yoo Jinho had the same look on his face—a look of awe and excitement.

It was as if all the scenes of the game were already vividly etched in his mind.

[How intriguing. It doesn’t seem like his memories have returned, yet he expresses them in the form of a game.]

“Ah! I got too carried away with my talk, didn’t I? Haha. Anyway, that’s the game, Suho.”

Realizing he had gone off on a tangent, Yoo Jinho chuckled sheepishly.

“Come on, let’s go inside and chat.”

“Mr. CEO! We’re not finished yet…!”

As Yoo Jinho placed a hand on Suho’s shoulder and guided him toward his office, one of the hunters called out urgently.

“Oh.”

Yoo Jinho stopped and turned around, as if he had just remembered the hunters were still there.

The friendly smile he’d had for Suho vanished, replaced by a cold stare as he addressed the hunters.

“I have a busy schedule, so why don’t you head back? I’ll thoroughly review your proposal and be in touch.”

“Uh….”

Left with no room for negotiation, the hunters fell silent.

However, one person didn’t back down—Manager Lee Youngho from Hyunmu Guild.

He had been eyeing Suho with gleaming eyes ever since realizing he was the one who called Yoo Jinho “Uncle.”

‘Sung Suho! To think I’d find him here!’

Manager Lee had sent a scout to Suho’s address early that morning, figuring he didn’t need to personally recruit a mere C-rank hunter.

After all, securing a collaboration with Ajin Soft was a much bigger deal than signing on a C-rank hunter.

Yet, his meeting with Yoo Jinho had been postponed abruptly, and moments later, he’d heard from his scout that they had lost track of Suho.

‘Today must be a lucky day. A chance to handle both issues at once!’

Realizing that Yoo Jinho’s “important matter” was actually about Suho, Manager Lee decided to shift his focus to Suho.

“Haha! Hunter Sung Suho! What a coincidence meeting you here! It seems we’re destined to cross paths.”

“Hm?”

As Manager Lee suddenly approached Suho with a friendly tone, Yoo Jinho stopped in his tracks and looked back at him.

“Suho, do you know this man?”

Just as Suho was about to respond, Manager Lee quickly cut in, handing Suho his business card.

“Haha, of course, Mr. CEO! From now on, we’ll be in a close relationship. Hunter Sung Suho, I’m Lee Youngho, the manager of Hyunmu Guild. How about signing with us? We’ll provide you with the best treatment in the industry.”

“The best treatment? For our Suho?”

Twitch.

Before Suho could react, it was Yoo Jinho who responded.

Manager Lee noticed the subtle twitch at the corner of Yoo Jinho’s mouth and celebrated internally.

‘Got it! This is the way to win! Haha! Who else but me?’

It was sheer luck.

Who would have thought the CEO, Yoo Jinho, was related to Sung Suho?

And to be able to negotiate with both of them together—what a perfect scenario!

‘Today’s a lucky day. Even if we offer the industry’s top package, a C-rank hunter’s fee won’t be that high. Building connections with CEO Yoo Jinho is far more valuable.’

Smiling brightly, Manager Lee moved closer to Suho, speaking in a coaxing tone.

“Hunter Sung Suho? I heard you only awakened recently, and, well, our guild usually doesn’t recruit hunters with no experience. But given your outstanding skills….”

Even as he spoke to Suho, Manager Lee’s attention was fully on Yoo Jinho, watching every shift in his expression.

To him, this collaboration was crucial.

‘Promotion is war.’

For a guild to grow, it needed strong hunters to join or at least want to be part of it.

Strangely, though, Manager Lee didn’t notice Suho’s indifferent expression as he looked at Hyunmu Guild’s business card.

“Hyunmu Guild….”

“Yes, that’s our guild! With the best conditions in the industry, there’s no need for hesitation, right? Just give us a moment, and I’ll have our staff bring the contract right over. Normally, we don’t offer signing bonuses to C-rank hunters, but just for you….”

Manager Lee continued talking without giving Suho a chance to think.

Then—

“Oh.”

Suho’s voice interrupted him.

“So it was Hyunmu Guild that sent the drone to spy on my house this morning.”

“Aha. Haha. Did one of our scouts go that far? Maybe they got a little overzealous. I’ll give them a proper reprimand….”

“And what’s this about spying with a drone?”

Freeze.

The icy voice that came from beside him made Manager Lee go rigid on the spot.

“Manager Lee of Hyunmu Guild. I believe you owe us an explanation.”