Chapter 39 |
There was a commotion for a while.
Dr. Min Byung-gyu, who’d suddenly fainted, woke up and awakened. Thanks to that, Min Byung-gyu had to measure his own mana in front of everyone.
And the long-awaited test result was…
[C-rank]
“Wow! C-rank!”
“Amazing!”
“Congratulations on your awakening, Dr. Min!”
Congratulations from the association staff poured in for Min Byung-gyu.
“Moreover, you’re a Healer!”
But Min Byung-gyu, the actual person in question, didn’t really care about that. He was already over 60 years old. At his age, he pursued stability rather than thrilling challenges. Even after his awakening, he had no intention of entering a dungeon to fight magic beasts and catch looters. He would leave the dungeon to the younger generation and focus more on his main job.
‘Good. Now that I can handle mana, I can put more effort into researching Stardust.’
Min Byung-gyu smiled satisfactorily as he moved his mana around with his hands.
***
“…That’s what happened.”
Meanwhile, Sooho nodded as he heard the details from Beru outside. Then he became curious.
“But how exactly did you awaken that doctor? Did you return his swallowed power to him?”
[No, returning power is impossible. His power was already fully digested in my body.]
“Then what?”
[To put it simply, I gave him ‘blessings’.]
Blessings.
In the end, Beru’s method of awakening Min Byung-gyu perfectly imitates how the Beast Monarch blessed Sooho.
[Originally, the conditions for such an event to be possible were very strict. It requires the ‘qualification’ to accept the power, just like in the case of the Beast Monarch.]
However, for Min Byung-gyu, the qualifications overflowed to the point of being more than enough. After all, the blessings that Beru gave him this time were originally his own.
Having heard the explanation, Sooho was disappointed. “Well, that’s a shame.”
[What’s disappointing you?]
“I was hoping I could receive healing skills from you too, but if it’s done in that way, I don’t have the qualifications.”
[Kieek!?]
Upon hearing this, Beru jumped up and prostrated.
[How dare someone like me bestows blessings on your noble identity? Even imagining it is disrespectful. Oh my, oh my.]
A blessing was usually a grace bestowed by a high-ranking being upon someone lower than themselves. However, Sooho and Beru’s ranks were the opposite, so it was not a situation where qualifications could be discussed in the first place.
Anyway, his curiosity was satisfied…
“Should we start heading back now?”
Sooho looked back at the re-evaluation room where Min Byung-gyu was.
Due to the commotion caused by Min Byung-gyu’s sudden awakening, Sooho had briefly stepped outside while undergoing the re-evaluation, especially because he had failed to register essential skill information in the Association’s data.
‘Skills like Storm Slash or Smash haven’t even been mentioned yet…’
If things continued like this, the only summoning skill related to Sooho that would be included in the Association’s data was the one already registered. That would mean he would become nothing more than a Summoner who couldn’t do anything else.
Even if it was a C-rank, Summoners were still an unpopular profession in dungeons, so he needed to register more skill information. Of course, some Hunters hid their skill information from the Association, but most were not upright criminals.
But while Sooho was briefly outside, an unwelcome guest came to find Min Byung-gyu.
“I will decline.”
‘Hmm?’
Thanks to his heightened Sense stat, Sooho paused as he eavesdropped on the conversation taking place inside the re-evaluation room with his superhuman hearing.
“To be clear, I will not reconsider Secretary Kim’s proposal.” Min Byung-gyu, who was usually warm, firmly refused the unwelcome guest’s proposal.
“Oh, come on, Dr. Min. Do you really have to be so traditional? If you could just consider it positively once more…”
“My Stardust research is solely for the public good. There is absolutely no reason to collaborate with large guilds that pursue profit.”
[My little king, the atmosphere seems a bit odd…]
“Shh.” Sooho covered Beru’s mouth. “Don’t interrupt when adults are talking.”
[Oh, I’m sorry…]
“You have to listen quietly.”
[Ah.]
Beru widened his eyes at Sooho’s words and covered his mouth with both hands while pouting.
As Sooho listened to their conversation, it seemed that the person Min Byung-gyu referred to as ‘Secretary Kim’ was a Hunter from the Fiend Guild.
“Dr. Min, I know very well that Stardust has become illegal. How could I not? However, if we continue to research together, won’t we be able to develop legal Stardust someday?”
“Why do you insist on developing Stardust so much, I wonder?”
“Of course, it’s to maintain world peace. As Hunters become stronger, citizens can also live better lives.”
‘The Fiend Guild wants Stardust?’
Instantly, Sooho’s gaze narrowed. “Beru.”
[According to Broki’s memories, the Fiend Guild was a major client of the Hyena Guild.]
Beru caught on immediately to what Sooho was asking and responded confidently. But he inserted his voice directly into Sooho’s mind to avoid being overheard by the person called Secretary Kim.
[And that Secretary Kim was primarily in charge of communication with the Hyena Guild.]
“What a very convenient explanation.”
[Of course it’s only possible because I’m a bug.]
Sooho nodded and used his senses to gauge Secretary Kim’s level.
‘At this level, is he a B-rank?’
Compared to himself, who was C-rank, the amount of mana alone was at least twice as much.
Of course, the measure of strength couldn’t be judged solely by the amount of mana, especially since Sooho’s higher stat was actually his physical strength, not magical power.
As Sooho was sizing up his opponent, Beru noticed and stopped him.
[Little King, it’s not a good idea. The opponent is a large guild. It will be complicated if you try to compete with a large guild with your current strength.]
Beru was right.
He had raised his grade because he wanted to level up a lot, but if he were to confront a large guild like the Fiend Guild for no reason, his future Hunter activities could become quite troublesome.
At that moment, Min Byung-gyu issued an eviction order to Secretary Kim, “Secretary Kim, we have nothing more to discuss. It’s still working hours, so would you please leave now?”
Secretary Kim, who didn’t want to return empty-handed, finally resorted to an unexpected move.
“Beast King Crow.”
‘Hmm?’
[What?]
At that moment, Sooho and Beru looked at each other.
Suddenly, an unexpected word popped out of Secretary Kim’s mouth. “Dr. Min must have seen the news about the Beast King Crow, right?”
What is he talking about? Min Byung-gyu frowned. “Of course, I’ve seen the news, but…”
“Crow is a demon.”
“What?”
‘What?’
[Huh?]
The simultaneous question marks rose in the eyes of the man and the ant at Secretary Kim’s words, which he uttered abruptly.
With a serious gaze, Secretary Kim explained to Min Byung-gyu, “According to the information obtained from our Fiend Guild, Crow’s crow mask is a possession of the demons. All the demons in the factory wear that mask.”
It was all true except for Crow being a demon.
“What does that ultimately mean? It means that the ‘King of Beasts’s’ power has been passed to the demons in this Magok Field. With that power, the demons have become even stronger, and we humans need to increase our strength by any means necessary to oppose them.”
‘Um… Why did the conversation end up like this?’
Sooho had an awkward expression.
It was oddly fitting and yet completely unfitting.
“So, Dr. Min! Let’s work together! You are an essential presence for our Fiend Guild. If it’s money, we can pay you any amount…”
“I refuse.”
Min Byung-gyu had been continuing his Stardust research for the sake of public good, not just to make money. Even with his current income, he was not wealthy enough to live with his wife, but it was enough to get by.
No matter how much they offered, he would not waver.
Secretary Kim sighed as his requests were repeatedly rejected. And then a chilling voice, which was hard to believe came from the same person who had been flattering all this time, flowed from his mouth. “I heard your wife is a middle school teacher.”
“…!”
Min Byung-gyu doubted his own ears. Looking at Secretary Kim’s face again, he was grinning wickedly.
At that moment, Min Byung-gyu’s expression froze. “What are you talking about…”
“By the way, did you know that she was absent today?”
“…!”
At those words, Min Byung-gyu’s face turned pale.
“You, are you implying…?”
“Shall I tell you once again?” Secretary Kim’s wicked smile deepened, and he held up his phone. In that picture…a middle-aged woman was tied up.
“We don’t hesitate to use any means necessary for our purpose.”
That woman was none other than Min Byung-gyu’s wife.
‘What is this..’
Min Byung-gyu felt like he was back in a nightmare. His head was buzzing, and he was losing touch with reality.
What the hell is that guy talking about?
Is this kidnapping?
No matter how high the authority of the Fiend Guild is, could they go this far?
“Can you feel our sincerity? If you speak nicely, we’ll listen…”
At that moment… Fwoosh!
Secretary Kim hurriedly turned around at the sensation behind him, but it was too late.
Clang!
“…!?”
A large fist, like a cannonball, burst through the re-evaluation room door behind Secretary Kim.
A skill attack.
The dark energy gathered in Sooho’s fist hit Secretary Kim’s body like a truck.
Clang-tang!
“U-ugh!?” Like being hit by a truck, Secretary Kim fell to the ground, groaning in pain as he desperately tried to get up. “Wh-who’s there!?”
Shrug. But the shock was too much, and his legs gave out again.
“You can take this much? B-ranks are different after all.”
At that moment, a raspy voice could be heard from behind the door where the black fist had pierced through.
Crack! Squeak! The door was torn off its hinges, and Sooho walked slowly into the evaluation room.
But his appearance was…
“Wh-what!?” Secretary Kim opened his eyes wide, momentarily stunned. “How could a demon be here!?”
A crow mask.
Standing there was a man with a crow mask covering his face.
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