Chapter 3

Level Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 2

“Screeech!”

The situation was dire.

Cries of terror echoed from all directions.

Emergency evacuation alarms blared incessantly.

In an instant, the Mist Bunions had multiplied and continued to create new victims.

“If we don’t do something, we’ll all end up like them!”

Assistant Professor Lim screamed.

The Mist Bunions were not monsters that could be handled at her level.

Moreover, the Mist Bunions were precisely the existence that triggered her deepest trauma.

Thud!

“Huh? Professor! Where are you going!”

Suhoo was taken aback.

The only Hunter here, Assistant Professor Lim, was running away!

Assistant Professor Lim narrowly avoided the attacks of the Mist Bunions and escaped the exhibition hall alone.

Should he follow her?

After a moment of hesitation, Suhoo moved.

But his direction was opposite to that of Assistant Professor Lim.

Thud!

Suhoo ran to a corner of the exhibition hall and grabbed a fire extinguisher.

‘I don’t know if this will work, but...’

He couldn’t just leave the others behind.

Suhoo ran towards where the Mist Bunions were gathered, holding the fire extinguisher.

Whoosh!

White powder sprayed out, covering the Mist Bunions.

[Grroooar!]

Of course, an attack without magic power wouldn’t deal significant damage.

But it was enough to temporarily suppress their firepower.

‘For now, it’s enough.’

Fortunately, Suhoo confirmed that the fire extinguisher was effective and continued to spray it at other Mist Bunions.

Whoosh!

[Grroooar!]

[Roaaar!]

He took a moment to look around.

Suhoo found a fallen friend and helped him up.

“Are you okay?”

“Ugh.”

His friend’s face was a mess of tears and snot.

“Hey, try to pull yourself together!”

Suhoo shook his friend’s body, but his eyes remained unfocused.

Slap! Slap!

He slapped his friend to force him to regain his senses.

“S-Suhoo?”

His friend’s eyes finally focused.

Suhoo’s gaze flicked downward.

‘Did he sprain his ankle?’

“Let’s get out of here first.”

Suhoo lifted his friend and carried him.

Thanks to the fire extinguisher, the Mist Bunions’ movements had weakened.

This was the only chance to escape.

“Huh. What about Professor Lim?”

Suhoo’s friend, who was being carried, asked with a sniffle.

Everyone in the art department knew that Assistant Professor Lim was a Hunter.

But she was nowhere to be seen in this emergency.

“She was calling for backup from the Hunter Association just now.”

There was no need to mention that she had fled.

‘He’s already scared enough.’

Suhoo’s words brought a sigh of relief from his friend.

* * *

They made it out of the exhibition hall.

But getting out didn’t mean the end.

Outside was even more chaotic.

Whoosh!

[Roaaar!]

‘They’re not just in the exhibition hall.’

Suhoo bit his lip.

It seemed the Mist Bunions had spread throughout the entire art museum.

‘They’re a breeding type. They’re really vicious.’

He thought they could just escape the exhibition hall.

“Screeech!”

“S-Save us...!”

“When are the Hunters coming!”

People were huddled together, trembling.

The art museum building had clear pathways.

Stairs and elevators.

But Mist Bunions were swarming all the entrances.

‘If we stay like this, people will be in danger.’

Suhoo quickly assessed the situation.

All the escape routes were blocked, and the monsters were increasing.

In this state, it was impossible to predict what the terrified people might do.

Jumping out the window was a problem, and if they ran out recklessly and turned into a monster, the situation would only get worse.

‘If I can give them some means to protect themselves, it might help.’

Suhoo lifted the fire extinguisher he had brought and shouted.

“Everyone! Pay attention!”

A few of the terrified people looked at Suhoo.

“There’s a way to deal with the monsters!”

“...!”

More people turned their heads at this. They noticed the fire extinguisher in Suhoo’s hand.

“T-That’s right!”

“Right! A fire extinguisher...!”

“We can kill the monsters!”

The people’s eyes, which had been filled with panic, regained some light.

Suhoo felt a bit awkward.

‘Ah, we can’t actually kill them. But does it matter?’

The important thing was that he had given the people hope.

People scattered to find fire extinguishers.

“I-I found one!”

“I found one too!”

Those who found fire extinguishers cheered.

At the same time, those who couldn’t find any turned pale.

There weren’t that many fire extinguishers on one floor.

But it was enough.

Suhoo shouted to them.

“You don’t all need to hold a fire extinguisher! Those with fire extinguishers, follow me!”

“H-Huh.”

The faces of those holding fire extinguishers showed hesitation.

They realized they would have to lead the fight.

Suhoo, leading the way, aimed the fire extinguisher at the Mist Bunions.

Whoosh!

Now it was time for action.

[Grroooar!]

The Mist Bunions’ firepower noticeably weakened.

The people’s faces brightened at the sight.

“It’s working!”

“Great! Me too!”

Whoosh!

Their confidence grew, and they started spraying the fire extinguishers.

“Great! Let’s push forward!”

Suhoo continued to lead the charge, pushing back the Mist Bunions.

In the meantime, people followed Suhoo, carefully descending the stairs.

Then it happened.

[Roaaar!]

The problem was that Mist Bunions were also attacking from behind.

“Screeech!”

“They’re behind us too!”

People who had just started to calm down fell into panic again.

Thud!

Terrified people rushed down the stairs.

Suhoo gritted his teeth.

‘We’re almost there.’

If they continued like this, they would all collapse on the stairs.

Suhoo put down his friend and said,

“Now, can you go on your own?”

“Huh? What about you?”

His friend looked at Suhoo with a panicked expression.

Suhoo, with a determined look, shouted to those holding fire extinguishers.

“I’ll cover the rear. Those in the front, clear the way!”

“O-Okay!”

Suhoo turned around and climbed back up the stairs.

‘I don’t know what I’m doing.’

A non-awakened person was suddenly pretending to be a Hunter.

But he had no choice.

His body moved on its own.

Whoosh!

[Grroooar!]

Suhoo’s fire extinguisher attacked the Mist Bunions coming from behind.

Then, it stopped.

“...Huh?”

[Grroo?]

The powder that had been spraying out suddenly stopped.

At the same time, the Mist Bunions, which had been pushed back, and Suhoo’s eyes met awkwardly in the air.

“Huh.”

Suhoo laughed in frustration.

“We’re done.”

[...Roaaar!]

The Mist Bunions lunged at Suhoo.

Whoosh!

Blue smoke enveloped Suhoo.

And he became a new Mist Bunion...

Then it happened.

Whoosh!

[...?!]

At that moment,

The Mist Bunion faced something.

The deep, dark abyss hidden within Suhoo.

* * *

The Mist Bunion, born from the remnants of magic power, was a weak existence that moved only by instinct.

At the same time, it was a troublesome monster that could become stronger with sufficient fuel and endlessly multiply.

Then, what was the best fuel?

Living beings.

Among them, humans, rich in life force, were like dry kindling, burning well.

In that sense, Suhoo was the perfect prey for the Mist Bunion.

But.

Whoosh!

The moment the Mist Bunion enveloped Suhoo,

It was swallowed into the pitch-black abyss within Suhoo.

[...Roaa?]

The confused Mist Bunion looked around.

No matter where it looked, it saw an endless abyss.

But from the deepest part of the abyss, someone was watching it.

The Mist Bunion, raising its blue smoke, growled fiercely.

[Roaa! Roaa! Roaa...?]

But no matter how it growled, it only heard an empty echo.

Then the Mist Bunion suddenly realized.

It wasn’t just being watched by someone in the abyss; the entire vast abyss was watching it.

And it was drooling, as if looking at a delicious meal.

[Screech?!]

The abyss opened its mouth wide at the Mist Bunion, which was trying to flee in terror.

Gulp.

* * *

Whoosh.

“...Huh?”

Suhoo’s expression turned puzzled.

The Mist Bunion that had been attacking him suddenly dispersed into the air.

Crackle.

The human body that had been the core of the Mist Bunion turned to ashes and collapsed.

Then,

[Mist Bunion defeated.]

[‘Secret Quest: The Courage of the Powerless’ completion conditions met.]

“...What?”

Suhoo’s eyes widened at the message that suddenly appeared before him.

[Level up!]

Flash!

A blinding light enveloped Suhoo’s entire body.

* * *

Suhoo’s friend, Kim Daehyun, managed to escape the art museum.

Thud.

His limping legs gave out as soon as he stepped outside.

Daehyun, who had collapsed in front of the museum, instinctively searched for Suhoo.

“S-Suhoo? Have you seen Suhoo?”

“Who? Oh, that friend?”

People remembered the student who had led the fight with a fire extinguisher.

But there was no sign of Suhoo anywhere.

Someone hesitated before speaking.

“He said he would cover the rear and went back up?”

“Y-You don’t think...”

“He hasn’t come out yet?”

People murmured.

Someone spoke hopefully.

“But he’s a Hunter, right? He should be okay.”

“Suhoo is not a Hunter!”

Daehyun shouted in a hurried tone.

This was even more shocking.

“What? Not a Hunter?”

“How could he...!”

Their gazes turned to the museum.

Suhoo... was still trapped inside.

Just then, Hunters arrived after receiving the report.

“Here!”

It was Assistant Professor Lim who had led the Hunters.

She sighed in relief upon seeing the people who had escaped the museum.

‘Thank goodness. They all managed to get out somehow.’

She tried to convince herself that she had taken the best course of action as an E-rank Hunter, but seeing the people made her feel guilty for her cowardice.

“But how did you all get out?”

The Hunters who had come with Assistant Professor Lim looked at the people in confusion.

How could so many people have survived in such an isolated space with Mist Bunions?

It was fortunate, but the circumstances were curious.

“There’s still someone who hasn’t gotten out!”

Daehyun shouted in a hurry.

“Suhoo is still...!”

“Suhoo? Suhoo is still inside?”

At this, Assistant Professor Lim turned her head towards the museum in shock.

“If it weren’t for Suhoo, we would all be dead!”

Daehyun’s words, tinged with sobs, made everyone’s faces turn somber.

The Hunters, seeing this, asked curiously.

“Is this Suhoo a Hunter? What rank?”

“...A civilian.”

“Huh? How could a civilian...?”

Just as the Hunters were about to ask for more details,

Rumble!

A ominous sound came from the museum building.

“...!”

Everyone’s heads turned in that direction.

A sinister magic power was surging over the building.

“Oh no. The corruption has started.”