Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 39

The commotion continued for a while. Byunggu had miraculously awakened, in more ways than one, after having fainted suddenly. The doctor never could have imagined that he would have to measure his own mana in front of everyone. The much-anticipated test result was...

[C-rank]

“Wow! He’s a C-rank!”

“That’s amazing!”

“Congratulations on your awakening, Dr. Min!”

Byunggu was showered with cheers from the hospital staff.

“He’s also a healer!”

Being a healer was an excellent profession as one could make a fortune while avoiding direct combat. However, the good doctor was indifferent to such things. He was already over sixty years old. He was in a time of his life where stability was preferred over adrenaline-charged adventures. He also had no intention of entering dungeons and engaging with monsters just because he had awakened. He thought it would be best to leave dungeons to the younger generation and remain dedicated to his primary profession.

This is great. Now that I can control mana, I can focus even more on Stardust research. Min Byunggu smiled contentedly as he manipulated his mana with his hands.

***

“So, that’s what happened...” Suho nodded as he listened to Beru’s explanation outside the building. “But what did you do to awaken the doctor? Did you return the power you had devoured?”

“No. Returning the power is impossible. It’s already fully assimilated within me.”

“Then what did you do?”

“I bestowed upon him a ‘blessing,’ so to speak.”

Beru had awakened Byunggu by mimicking the method used by the Monarch of Fangs to bestow his blessing upon Suho.

“The requirements are normally strict for something like this. One needs to be deemed worthy to accept the power, just as it was with the Monarch of Fangs.”

Byunggu’s claim was more than enough since the blessing Beru bestowed upon him was originally his in the first place.

As the explanation became clearer, Suho clicked his tongue. “Well, that’s a shame.”

“What do you mean?” Beru asked.

“I wanted to receive your healing skills but it seems like I’m not qualified.”

“What?!” Beru leaped to his feet, looking deeply troubled by his words. “How could a lowly being such as I ever dare to bestow a blessing upon the Young Monarch? It’s blasphemous to even think about it. My goodness!”

A blessing was typically an act of grace given by a superior being to an inferior one. However, the hierarchy between Suho and Beru was the reverse, and in such situations, the question of worthiness was unnecessary in the first place.

But at least now I know. “Shall we head back now?” Suho asked as he looked back at the room Min Byunggu was in.

Due to the commotion caused by the doctor’s sudden awakening, Suho had stepped outside despite being in the middle of his reassessment. In a way, he counted himself lucky as the process was halted when he was required to show his skills for the doctor to register in the Hunters Association’s database, the most important information of interest for the organization.

We stopped before I could tell him about skills like Storm Slash or Pain Tolerance...

If things remained as they were, Suho’s information in the database would only include his summoning skills. In that case, he would be left with no choice but to become a summoner. Even though he was a C-ranked hunter, summoners were still unpopular for dungeon raids, so he had to register more skill information. Of course, some hunters hid their skill information from the association but those that did were involved in criminal activities.

While Suho was outside for a brief moment, an unwelcome guest had arrived to visit Byunggu.

“I will decline.”

Hm? Can I hear him thanks to my improved stats? Using his heightened senses, Suho eavesdropped on the conversation inside the doctor’s office.

“Let me make this clear, I will not reconsider your proposal, Mr. Kim.” The friendliness Byunggu had exuded was gone as he firmly declined the uninvited guest’s offer.

“Dr. Min, there’s no need to be absolute. Please, try to think about the positives...”

“My research on Stardust is entirely for the common good. I have no reason to collaborate with a large guild pursuing their own interests.”

“Young Monarch, something doesn’t feel right...”

“Shh.” Suho shushed Beru with his hand. “We have to be silent, especially during a conversation like this one.”

“I see. I apologize if I acted—”

“You need to eavesdrop quietly.”

“I see.” Beru used his hands to cover his mouth and pricked his ears.

As the conversations continued, it appeared that the man the doctor called “Secretary Kim” seemed to be a hunter from the Fiend Guild.

“Doctor, I know that Stardust has become illegal. We’re fully aware of that. But if you continue your research with us, we might be able to develop legitimate Stardust.”

“I can’t understand why you’re so determined to develop Stardust.”

“Our goal is to protect world peace. Stronger hunters mean more citizens can live safely.”

The Fiend Guild wants Stardust? In an instant, Suho’s gaze narrowed. “Beru.”

“According to Broki’s memory, the Fiend Guild was a major client of the Hyena Guild,” Beru promptly answered via telepathy to ensure that the unwanted guest wouldn’t overhear their conversation. “And it seems that this individual, Secretary Kim, was primarily responsible for liaising with the Hyena Guild.”

“You’re like a fly on the wall that devours things.”

“Since I’m an insect, I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Suho nodded and extended his senses to gauge Secretary Kim’s abilities. He seems to be a B-rank hunter.

Secretary Kim’s mana was at least two times greater than his on paper. But the true value of power couldn’t be determined by the quantity of mana alone. Especially since Suho’s highest stat was strength and not mana.

Noticing Suho assessing the unknown hunter, Beru sensed his intentions and intervened. “Young Monarch, I would advise against this. He belongs to a major guild. If you confront a major guild without an equivalent force, it could lead to significant trouble.”

Beru’s words were accurate. Suho had gone through all sorts of trouble to raise his rank to his current level, and needlessly antagonizing a major guild like the Fiend Guild would his life as a hunter extremely troublesome.

Running of patience, Min Byunggu demanded, “It seems there’s nothing more to discuss, Secretary Kim. Since you’ve interrupted me during my office hours, I’m going to kindly ask you to leave.”

However, Secretary Kim, seemingly unwilling to leave empty-handed, decided to double down.

“The Crow, the so-called new beast king.”

Mr. Kim’s unexpected statement made Suho and Beru look at each other in suspense.

“I’m sure you’ve read about the Crow in the paper. Am I right, Doctor?”

Min Byunggu rolled his eyes and frowned. “Of course, I’ve seen the news, but...”

“The Crow is a demon.”

“Pardon?”

His words left everyone stunned.

With a deadly gaze, Kim’s secretary continued with a fire in his belly, “According to our guild’s intel, the crow mask worn by the mysterious figure, which is considered to be his trademark, is of demonic origin. All the demons in the factory wore the same type of mask.”

That’s all true except that I’m not a demon, Suho thought.

“I don’t think I need to spell it out here. The power of some beast king has been passed down to a demon in the Magok Field. With that power, the demons have become even stronger, and we humans must do whatever it takes to strengthen ourselves against the threat.”

The story has taken more than a few unchecked twists... Suho couldn’t believe the nonsense he was hearing. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a story sound so plausible yet completely wrong.

“Dr. Min! Let us work together! The Fiend Guild needs a man of your caliber to lead the charge! We can offer you as much money as you want...”

“I decline.”

Byunggu’s research on Stardust was motivated by a sense of public service and not money. His current income was likely much less than Secretary Kim’s offer but it was more than enough for him and his wife, and that was all that mattered. No amount of money could shake his resolve.

Secretary Kim let out a sigh, frustrated by the doctor’s defiance. He dropped his usual servile tone and replaced it with an icy, threatening one. “Your wife is a middle school teacher, isn’t that right?”

Startled, Min Byunggu questioned his ears. When he glanced at Secretary Kim’s face again, the man had an unsettling smirk, which made his face stiffen. “What are you saying...?”

“Were you aware that your wife took a sick day today?”

Min Byunggu’s complexion grew pale, shocked by the revelation. “Y-you can’t possibly have...”

“Do I need to repeat myself?” Secretary Kim’s sinister grin only deepened. He chuckled as he showed him his phone—a picture of the doctor’s wife tied up. “We’ll use any means necessary for our goals.”

What in the world... Byunggu felt like he was in a new nightmare. His head was spinning and his sense of reality was fading away. What the hell he is saying? Kidnapping? I knew the Fiend Guild was powerful but were they always this reckless?

“I hope you are beginning to understand our sincerity. It’s best to go along while we’re still somewhat civil...”

At that moment, Secretary Kim sensed an unknown threat behind him and urgently twisted his body around. But it was too late. A massive fist burst through the door directly behind him like a cannonball.

Suho had used Smash. The dark energy had concentrated around his fist and slammed into the secretary like a truck.

“What the hell!” Secretary Kim writhed on the ground as if he had been hit by a truck. Groaning, he frantically tried to get up. “Wh-who are you?” He staggered back to his feet, but the shock had been significant, and his legs buckled once again.

“I’m impressed that survived that. B-rankers sure are different.” A faint voice called out from behind the door that had been pierced by the black fist.

Suho calmly walked into the doctor’s office and ripped off the unhinged door from the wall.

“Wh-what!” Secretary Kim was immediately startled, his eyes shook with horror. “How did a demon get here?!”

The unknown assailant’s face was covered by a crow mask.