Solo Leveling: Ragnarok Chapter 22

“Sooho, you don’t have personal protective gear yet, right? Wear this.”

 

In front of Seoul Station, Assistant Professor Im handed Sooho a thick set of clothes. It turned out to be a one-piece work suit with a top and bottom connected.

 

“Here, wear this set of gloves and work shoes too.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

“What’s there to thank me for? It’s only natural that you weren’t prepared since I called you suddenly. Learn from this. Protective gear is essential for collectors.”

 

Following the explanation of the miners from last season, it’s now season 2. Assistant Professor Im’s lecture on collectors continued, “Collectors have a much more dangerous job than miners.”

 

Mining was a relatively safe occupation unless it was a special case like the Korea University Field from last time because all the hunting was done, and you could safely dig at the very back of the dungeon.

 

“But collectors are different.”

 

The collector’s position was right in the middle of the raid and mining team. They had to follow closely behind the raid to collect the corpses of the monsters that the attack squad had hunted. As a result, accidents frequently occurred when they were attacked by the monsters that the raid team had failed to defeat.

 

“Of course, there are only one or two at best, so if you’re careful when they suddenly appear, the attack squad will come running to save you.”

 

“So protective gear is for that one or two moments.”

 

“That’s right. But protective gear is more useful when collecting the corpses of monsters. If the monsters have sharp thorns or scales, ordinary clothes will be scratched and ruined while working.”

 

“Assistant Professor…”

 

“Ah, but there’s nothing to be too impressed with compared to what you’ve done.”

 

“No, this smells like a widower’s clothes.”

 

“… I live alone.”

 

***

 

After a while, the attack Hunters arrived on the scene.

 

Sooho calmly observed them.

 

There were a total of 10 members.

 

‘Four D-rank magic Hunters, five D-rank combat Hunters, and one C-rank Healer.’

 

It seemed that the C-class male Healer was the captain of the raid team. But when the raid captain walked toward Sooho, he glared at Assistant Professor Im. “What’s this? Why is the retrieval team so small?”

 

Assistant Professor Im awkwardly lowered his head in response. “I’m sorry. The collectors all went on strike for some reason. But we have this guy instead today…”

 

“What? Are you kidding me? You made a contract, and you’re being so irresponsible? Do you know how much damage we’ll suffer if the schedule is delayed?”

 

“No, no, it won’t be delayed. This guy is actually a Summoner, so there won’t be any problem with the work…”

 

“What? Are you joking right now? A Summoner?” The longer Assistant Im spoke, the more hostile the raid captain’s expression became. Then he looked at Sooho up and down.

 

Sooho stood there, still.

 

Assistant Im quickly stepped forward and pushed Sooho. “Oh, sir! You don’t have to worry. This guy will supplement the lack of personnel with his summoned magic beasts. We specially invited him because he’s good at his job.”

 

At that, the raid captain let out a deep sigh. “Is that your answer? You believed in this one person and didn’t replenish the staff in the end so you can take their wages!?”

 

As his voice grew louder, other attack Hunters gathered around him.

 

“What’s going on, Captain?”

 

“What’s this? Why is the number of the retrieval team so low?”

 

“Can they really do the job properly like this?”

 

The retrieval team, surrounded by their cold glares, couldn’t help but shrink back.

 

In fact, the anger of the attack team was justified.

 

If the number of collectors was low, the work speed slowed down. Then the attacking team that hunted in front of them also had to slow down accordingly. The purpose of hunting itself was to make money from the corpses of magic beasts, and hunting alone without a retrieval team would have been meaningless. Moreover, Seoul Station Field had no mana stones, so they had to earn money purely from the corpses of magic beasts.

 

“Captain, it’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t these day laborers always act irresponsibly? We can’t change today’s schedule now, so we just have to go in and do our best.”

 

“Yes, Captain. Let’s just go in quickly.”

 

Under his subordinates’ persuasion, the raid captain finally snapped at Assistant Professor Im, “Don’t fall behind. Otherwise, I will file a formal complaint to the Association. I’ll hold you accountable and make sure you never work as a collector again.”

 

“Yes, yes. We’ll work hard. Please trust us.”

 

As the ten members of the attack team took turns speaking, Assistant Professor Im, standing in the center, lowered his head with a mentally drained expression. He had sinned, so there was no excuse he could make.

 

But he was also unhappy.

 

‘I’m not even the retrieval team’s captain, so why am I…’

 

In fact, the real team captain of the retrieval team was one of the collectors who had disappeared. So Assistant Professor Im, the nominal vice-team captain, became the criminal in his place, suffering silently.

 

But perhaps due to his skills of flattering his professors, the raid team captain’s anger seemed to have subsided a bit.

 

“Tsk. This is why they are low-level Hunters.”

 

When the raid captain turned his body with a snort.

 

“Arise.”

 

 

Khihihii-

 

 

“Wh-what!?”

 

The Hunters looked around in shock at the sound of evil laughter that suddenly hovered in the air.

 

[Krrhok, krrhok!]

 

Black magic beasts suddenly rose from the ground!

 

The evil goblins with black steam all over their bodies giggled and glared at them. And their size…was much bigger than an ordinary goblin.

 

“G-Goblin Chief? E-Even the Commander!”

 

“Why are the magic beasts outside the field…!?”

 

The attack team members quickly drew their weapons.

 

‘They approached so stealthily!’

 

“They don’t seem ordinary!”

 

“Everyone, get in battle formation!”

 

“Captain, fall back!”

 

The basic principle of the attack team was to protect the Healer!

 

They quickly took their battle stance and fought against the goblins…!

 

[Krrhok?]

 

Or at least they were about to…

 

[Krrhok?]

 

“… Huh?”

 

However, the goblins didn’t seem to have any intention of fighting.

 

[Krrhok, krrhok?]

 

“… Huh?”

 

The black goblins stood with their heads cocked, wondering why the attackers were so angry.

 

The attack team members stood with their weapons in hand, swaying back and forth, as the goblins didn’t come charging.

 

“Ahem.”

 

In between them, Assistant Professor Im cleared his throat and intervened. “So, sir, these are the summoned magic beasts I mentioned earlier.”

 

“… Ah.”

 

Only then did the members of the attack team understood the situation. The collectors stood on the other side, staring blankly at them as if this had already been discussed. In the end, only the attack team made a fuss in surprise.

 

“Well, uh, yes. I see.”

 

“There are…a lot of them.”

 

“One, two… There are seven of them.”

 

“Yes. Twice as many as the missing collectors.”

 

“Cough, cough.”

 

At Assistant Im’s words, the attack team members ended up with embarrassed expressions and avoided eye contact.

 

In response to their reaction, Assistant Im gave a secret thumbs-up to Sooho.

 

Sooho smiled back.

 

These seven Shadow Goblins had been extracted in advance during the daily quest, so there was no need to pick up their cumbersome bodies again.

 

“Well, let’s go in.”

 

As Sooho moved, the Shadow Goblins followed him, hurrying behind him.

 

Sooho murmured as he passed the raid party, which was still hesitantly standing, “Don’t fall behind.”

 

“…”

 

***

 

So they officially entered Seoul Station Field.

 

The inside of Seoul Station, which had already been eroded, was filled with darkness as electricity had been cut off, and the walls and floors were covered with unknown vines and moss.

 

“It’s slippery, so watch your step.” The raid captain, who was walking ahead, gestured to his colleagues. “Secure the line of sight.”

 

Whoosh,

 

Flames rose up from the hands of the magic Hunters and circled around them. Thanks to that, the surroundings became brighter and a slightly misty blue view came into sight.

 

At the same time, the identity of the monsters lurking in the darkness was revealed.

 

“Shaaak!”

 

They were Thorn Lizards crawling on walls and ceilings in all directions!

 

“Everyone, battle positions!”

 

At the command of the captain, the Hunters rushed out and began using their skills.

 

Then the captain, protected at the back as a Healer, looked at the collectors. The embarrassment from earlier still lingered on his face. “Then the retrieval team… Please proceed with the work carefully while following me. Collecting the corpses of Thorn Lizards will make some money.”

 

‘They’re not demons.’

 

Sooho thought regretfully, licking his lips. It seemed like there was no other meaning to the Cursed Random Box besides providing him with a sword that was useful for someone who needed a pair of swords.

 

Still, it was worth following Assistant Professor Im and coming here.

 

‘It’s my first time watching other Hunters’ battles.’

 

Sooho moved the lizard corpses onto the cart and kept an eye on the battle of the raid with occasional glances. Watching the Hunters fight using different abilities and skills in combination was definitely entertaining.

 

‘So this is how the raid battles work. It’ll be helpful.’

 

To effectively command the seven or so shadow soldiers, he needed to learn group combat whenever there was an opportunity like this.

 

Until now, he had only used the same type of monsters due to the situation, but he wanted to fight strategically by simultaneously commanding various types of monsters in the future. To do that, he needed to collect the corpses of various kinds of monsters and store them in the Shadow Dungeon.

 

‘That’s why I agree to be on the retrieval team.’

 

That was why Sooho had readily accepted Assistant Professor Im’s proposal. Collectors were the perfect job to save the corpses of magic beasts. Moreover, from Sooho’s perspective, being a collector was not at all difficult.

 

“Pick them up.”

 

[Krrhok!]

 

“Load them on the cart.”

 

[Krrhok!]

 

The Shadow Goblins move in perfect order at Sooho’s words and collect the dead lizards. He only needed to walk leisurely behind them.

 

In the meantime, Beru was sneaking one or two dead lizards into the Shadow Dungeon. Since there were too many lizards, stealing a few wouldn’t raise any suspicion.

 

Swoosh, swoosh.

 

Of course, some lizards also disappeared occasionally as Beru’s snacks.

 

However, there was one problem. Sooho did too well.

 

The collectors’ job was just to pick up the corpses of monsters and put them in the cart. However, if the monster was large, it had to be chopped up with a saw or knife first, which was the job’s hardest and most time-consuming part. It was not an easy task to cut through a monster’s tough skin and bones, even with the strength of E-rank Hunters. 

 

But it was nothing for the shadow soldiers consisting of Goblin Chiefs and Commanders.

 

[Krrhok, krrhok!]

 

Thanks to their efforts, the retrieval team eventually surpassed the hunting speed of the attack team. As a result, the collectors had nothing to do and could only watch the end of the hunt.

 

“Huahm.”

 

“Ugh.”

 

The sight of Assistant Professor Im yawning from behind made the attack team members’ faces redden. They wouldn’t have been in such an embarrassing situation if they hadn’t told him not to fall behind at first.

 

At that moment.

 

“Wait. Stop the battle.”

 

Suddenly, the captain stopped the hunt and walked toward the retrieval team with a stern expression. At the end of it all was Sooho.

 

‘Wh-what is it?’

 

‘What kind of trouble is he trying to start again?’

 

The expression of the collectors became serious at the sudden momentum.

 

Thump.

 

The captain finally arrived in front of Sooho.

 

“Hey, you.” He stared at Sooho’s face intently and opened his tightly closed mouth. “Do you have any intention of signing a contract with our attack squad?”

 

[Khuhu.]

 

Upon hearing those words, Beru nodded his head with a proud expression from behind.

 

[As expected, my little king’s extraordinary talent shines anytime, anywhere. As a guy with good eyesight…]

 

“Be our exclusive collector!”

 

[What did that bastard say?]

 

“You have an innate talent for collecting… Your salary will be at the highest level in the collectors industry…”

 

Beru’s eyes flared up with anger, and Assistant Im barely stopped him from saying he would kill that bastard.