Solo Leveling: Ragnarok

Chapter 83

“Anyway, Uncle. I’m really grateful for everything you’re doing, but I don’t think I can join that guild,” Suho said.

“What? Why?” Jinho couldn’t understand his nephew’s reasoning. “Is nepotism the issue? Didn’t you see the Black Tortoise Guild earlier? You’re the most in-demand hunter there is right now. We’re not going to make you the guild master. Nobody will see you as getting a free pass.”

“It’s not about that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m planning to start my own guild.”

“What? Start your own guild? By yourself?”

“Yes.”

Tapping his fingers on the armrest, Jinho began to ponder. He knew that Suho didn’t speak idly about such big decisions. There had to be a compelling reason for him to stubbornly refuse the offer.

Having organized his thoughts, Jinho looked at Suho and said calmly, “Of course, setting up a guild is possible for a C-rank hunter if you meet the requirements. But it will bring many inconveniences and disadvantages.”

“I understand.”

“You might be bullied by the larger guilds.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I’m really curious about your reasoning. It would be much easier and safer to join a reputable guild. Why choose the harder path?”

“Because there will be too many distractions.”

His nephew’s words made Jinho feel like he was descending into a labyrinth, but there was also a feeling of nostalgia. He reminded him of his father. Jinwoo’s face kept coming back to him whenever he looked at Suho.

He chuckled and asked, “How exactly does joining an existing guild interfere with what you want to do?”

“Leveling up.”

Suho’s answer stumped Jinho.

“It interferes with leveling up.”

“What? What does that mean?”

At that moment, the little shadow creature from before rose again. “Young Monarch, have you finally made your decision?”

“That’s right. My uncle is the most trustworthy person I know.”

Beru smiled slyly and said, “Of course... I’ve always known that.”

Jinho looked utterly bewildered by the situation.

Beru had come to Earth to release Suho’s seal, as his father had ordered. More specifically, the command was to restore Suho’s power and memory sealed within him, which would enable him to protect Earth on his own. But on top of that, Jinwoo had added a few more instructions for Beru before his departure to Earth.

“I’ll leave the rest to your discretion.”

Not knowing the exact situation on Earth, Sung Jinwoo had given Beru full authority to make decisions as he saw fit.

“He will undoubtedly be a great help to Suho.”

Beru immediately knew who Sung Jinwoo was referring to—the man who had loyally followed Jinwoo even before he started leveling up. Even when his life was in danger, he trusted and followed Jinwoo, no matter what.

“Young Monarch, use the key.”

Snap.

Suddenly, a key appeared in Suho’s hand.

“Suho, where did that key come from?”

Instead of answering his puzzled uncle, Suho simply placed the key in his palm. And then...

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a burst of cold, white light from the key engulfed Jinho’s vision.

[Item: “Key to the Shadow Dungeon” has been activated.]

A voice struck Jinho’s mind like lightning.

“Hey, have you always been this quiet?”

Huh? Realizing that the voice was his own, Jinho looked around in shock.

But there was nothing around him. His office, Suho, this plush sofa—everything had vanished without a trace. All that remained was a dazzlingly white void. Amid this void, Jinho stood alone. Then another voice echoed in his mind.

“You said you’re E-rank, right? I’ll protect you. Just stay close to me.”

“Thanks. Even you saying that helps.”

What?! His head felt like it was about to explode. Jinho clenched his teeth and grasped his head, overwhelmed by a tremendous headache. Within the depths of his mind, memories flickered like a fast-moving panorama. The scenes were strikingly unfamiliar—a younger version of himself was engaging in friendly conversation with someone.

“Jinwoo, just twenty times! No, come with just nineteen times, please!”

“Then there’s one condition.”

“Anything, Jinwoo, just say it!”

“It’ll be just you and me.”

“What?”

Jinho was taken aback. Th-that’s Jinwoo! It’s Jinwoo when he was younger! The realization sent chills down his spine. But I don’t recall that conversation ever taking place... And what’s this about being E-rank? He disappeared before the Great Cataclysm... What is this? The memories he never knew he had continued.

“Jinho, what do you think of me?”

“To me, you’re more of a brother to me than my actual brother.”

Tears streamed down his cheeks.

“If you think of me as a brother, then I’ll do the same.”

“Jinwoo! Let me give you a hug!”

“Hey! You’ve had too much to drink!”

“No! I’m more sober than ever!”

“Man...You’re a piece of work...”

What is this? What are these memories? Jinho was feeling an unexplainable sense of longing, and he cried out in desperation. To him, these were memories that had never existed. None of this makes any sense!

In these memories, he followed Sung Jinwoo into a dungeon, and he watched him hunt magic beasts—over and over.

“Jinwoo! Let’s go!”

He was always by Jinwoo’s side and was closer than anyone. In his memories, his greatest pride was knowing that someone as great as Jinwoo considered him a brother. And so he vowed, time and time again, that he would always follow Jinwoo, no matter what.

At that moment, the Jinwoo in his memories curved his lips into a faint smile. He said something that he used to say before a serious battle, “Arise.”

Then somehow, Jinho, floundering in the world of his memories, suddenly heard Suho’s voice.

“Arise.”

The words snapped him back to reality. His eyes flew open. “What was that?”

Suho was still sitting in front of him, but now, he was surrounded by numerous shadow soldiers in formation, emitting black steam. The scene was similar to something his father had in his memories.

This is a familiar sight... “My God...” Everything had come flooding back to him.

***

“I can’t believe it...” After his memories returned, Jinho spent a while sobbing uncontrollably.

Two lives. Two sets of memories. At the center of both, he had followed Sung Jinwoo by his side.

Jinwoo... He came to find me first, even after I had forgotten everything. Our first meeting in college wasn’t a coincidence... Jinho thought.

“Enough with the crying. You’re a grown man! Now, stop crying!” Beru said.

Despite Beru scolding him, Jinho continued to weep profusely. His crying only intensified as Beru told him everything that happened since then. It took a while for Jinho to finally calm down. When he finally stopped crying, he was embarrassed that he had bawled his eyes out in front of his nephew. Suho had been leisurely sipping coffee in front of him this whole time.

“So anyway, Suho, I understand the situation now,” Jinho said sheepishly. “These beings called Outer Gods would cause trouble for Jinwoo if they found out that the Monarch of Shadows’ son is living on Earth, right?”

“Yes.”

“I see. I completely understand.” Jinho hid his shame like the seasoned businessman he was, but the intensity in his eyes reflected the deep understanding of the information he had grasped.

Suho put down his coffee cup on the table and said, “That’s why I want to stay under the radar until I am strong enough not to be a weakness for my father.”

“So, at least until you reach S-rank, you need to keep your identity hidden. Jinwoo also started being active only after reaching S-rank.” Jinho nodded, recalling those times. “Actually, even being an S-rank might not be enough.”

He remembered that even S-rank hunters were no match for the beings known as Monarchs, and according to the shadow ant, these new enemies called Itarim were even more formidable than the Monarchs. The prospect of coming up against them filled him with fear.

“We nearly faced the end last time, but what we’re facing now seems more monumental somehow.”

“Still, the Itarim are unlikely to come to Earth directly. We have our Monarch to thank for keeping them at bay,” Beru said.

“That’s a relief, but their followers might have infiltrated Earth already. That’s why Suho needs to level up while keeping his identity hidden.”

“To be precise, we need to hide my identity as the son of the Monarch of Shadows.”

“Understood. So, that means you can still be known to others as your normal self. A mere mortal. We’ll need a strategy to misdirect our enemies...” Mulling over Suho’s words, Jinho nodded several times. “Okay! Set up your own guild! I’ll take care of all the legal issues and the nitty-gritty details for you.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“But. There’s one problem I can’t help you with. This is something you’ll have to overcome on your own.”

Suho’s gaze sharpened. “What is it?”

Jinho looked outside his office window. What he was about to say was something similar to what he had said in the past. Holding back his tears as he remembered that day, he continued calmly, “To start a guild, you need at least three hunters. A guild master, a vice guild master, and an employee.”

“Oh...” That’s going to be a problem.