Chapter 60

Level Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 59

Just then, Berg suddenly poked his face out from the Guardian's shadow and spoke, causing the hunters to simultaneously click their tongues and turn their heads away from the Guardian.

"Ah, what is it? A summoner?"

"It's a summoner."

"He's a summoner."

"……?"

Guardian felt as if he had suddenly become a rejected person without even confessing.

Unaware of Guardian's feelings, Berg flew over and patted Guardian's shoulder.

[It's fine. I am here for you, Young Master.]

"It's because of you, you know."

Now, Guardian had many other combat skills besides summoning.

However, due to Berg's appearance, the first impression of being a summoner had stuck, and the other hunters' favorability towards him had plummeted.

Even if he had become a C-rank hunter, summoners were still considered a minority.

Guardian sighed softly and looked around at the other hunters.

The hunters completely ignored Guardian's gaze.

‘He must be a new recruit, judging by the unfamiliar face, and a summoner?’

‘His summon also looks incredibly weak.’

‘If a summoner joins the party, they won’t contribute much but will still take a share of the money, right?’

They tried their best to avoid making eye contact with Guardian, fearing he might ask to join their party.

There were others who, like Guardian, were being ignored by the other hunters.

Most were new recruits whose experience had yet to be proven, or those known in the hunting industry for having poor skills and not pulling their weight.

Seeing these isolated hunters standing awkwardly, the White Tiger Guild members glanced at Baek Miho and asked.

"Vice President, what should we do with them?"

It was indeed a difficult situation.

Forcing these isolated hunters into various parties would naturally lead to resistance.

Dungeon raids are matters of life and death, so it was impossible to force hunters to accept those they didn't like as comrades.

"Hmm."

Baek Miho thought for a moment before speaking.

"Let the remaining people form their own party."

"Really? That's too dangerous..."

"However, I will include three B-rank hunters in that party."

"Oh! That should work. After all, we only need to maintain it until the villain is caught..."

The White Tiger Guild members nodded at Baek Miho's decision.

The White Tiger Guild had gathered these C-rank freelancers not just for protection.

The current situation, where an A-rank villain could appear anywhere at any time, was dangerous not only for hunters but also for citizens.

Especially since this place was in the heart of the complex city of Seoul.

‘If the villain is hunting hunters, the most efficient way is to wait right next to the prey.’

In fact, the C-rank hunters gathered here had accepted that they would serve as bait.

However, given the uncertain threat, being protected bait was relatively safer.

Moreover...

"Actually, it would be nice if the villain appeared on our side."

"What? Are you crazy?"

"Why? With this level of strength, even if the villain shows up, we can just run away. And if we inform the association of the villain's location, we can get the reward."

"You... Have you ever met an A-rank hunter? Do you think it's possible for us C-rank hunters to escape safely from an A-rank?"

"Well, with two B-rank hunters..."

"Absolutely, not meeting is the best option."

The hunters, who had formed parties with people they knew, chattered and murmured.

Meanwhile, Guardian, following the White Tiger Guild members' guidance, joined the other isolated hunters who couldn't form a team.

[Oh, how humiliating! For our Young Master to be treated like this. I am so angry!]

"No, it's because of you."

Upon closer inspection, Berg was very loyal in his tone but was also provoking.

However, regardless of that, Guardian decided to accept the White Tiger Guild's protection.

‘I was curious about the other hunters, so this is good.’

Reflecting on it, Guardian had only awakened a little over a month ago.

During that short time, many things had happened, and he had even encountered traces of two dead monarchs.

The king of beasts, the Fang Monarch Rakan.

The king of nobles, the Steel Monarch Tarnak.

The path he was walking was clearly different from that of ordinary hunters.

So, he was even more curious.

Just how different was he from the other hunters now?

Guardian's eyes narrowed as he observed the other hunters.

* * *

The White Tiger Guild kindly opened up dungeons they had pre-secured for the C-rank hunters.

Since the White Tiger Guild members would also participate in the raids, they would share the profits, but it would still be a significant loss.

‘No wonder the White Tiger Guild has a good reputation. This is true noblesse oblige.’

Guardian marveled at the White Tiger Guild's consideration and moved to the dungeon with his newly formed party.

The problem was that the party members were truly a minority.

[It's really a bunch of amateurs.]

Berg's evaluation was harsh.

The party consisted of 10 members in total.

Three B-rank hunters from the White Tiger Guild and seven C-rank hunters, including Guardian.

Among them, five were new recruits who had just awakened, and the other two experienced hunters were summoners.

The more summoners in a party, the worse the evaluation it would receive.

This was because the number of people actually participating in combat would be that much fewer.

"Is this raid team really okay?"

The White Tiger Guild members, who were supposed to protect them, muttered with concern.

There was another issue.

When hunters form a party, there is another condition they tend to avoid.

It's personality.

How can you know someone's personality just by looking at their face?

It's simple.

Most of the new recruits who had just awakened had bad personalities.

They had suddenly awakened with superhuman powers, and the cost of these powers was like winning the lottery.

They would indeed make a lot of money using these powers in the future, so it was like winning the lottery.

At that moment, the hunters developed the mentality of nouveau riche.

In other words, they became pretentious and arrogant.

"Damn it. Why do I have to be treated like this!"

While moving to the dungeon prepared by the White Tiger Guild, a new recruit named Go Dong-jae suddenly complained with a sullen expression.

He was the largest hunter among the 10, even larger than the B-rank White Tiger Guild members.

Clearly, he was a powerful tank.

Go Dong-jae had just awakened a week ago and was brimming with confidence in his newfound superhuman powers.

And his abilities were indeed impressive, potentially earning high praise with some experience.

With a few dungeon experiences, he could even be scouted by a good guild.

‘But the problem is that this period is the most explosive.’

A young man who was drunk on his own power and didn't know the world's dangers.

The White Tiger Guild members immediately defined Go Dong-jae as such.

"Hey. Since I seem to be the strongest, I'll be the raid leader. Is that okay?"

"What? Who decided that?"

When Go Dong-jae suddenly put up a front, the hunters were naturally taken aback.

"Go Dong-jae, you've only been awakened for a week, right? What do you know to be the raid leader?"

"You're the same, right? We're all newbies who have been here for less than a month. Wouldn't it be safer for the strongest person to lead?"

"Still, it would be better if the White Tiger Guild members..."

"Didn't you hear that the White Tiger members said they wouldn't manage the party from the beginning?"

"You're being subtle, huh? How old are you?"

"So what?"

Go Dong-jae took a step forward, and the hunter who was arguing with him had to back down.

The pressure he felt from Go Dong-jae was intense.

His muscles were not just from the gym; perhaps his bulky build itself was a skill.

Meanwhile, Berg, who had been watching their argument from Guardian's shoulder, tilted his head.

[Young Master, shouldn't the strongest person be the leader?]

Berg pointed to the White Tiger Guild members.

Guardian shrugged.

"It wouldn't look good."

[What do you mean by 'look good'?]

In terms of experience and rank, it was natural for the White Tiger Guild members to lead the raid.

But if they had gathered freelancers in an emergency and then took the leadership role, it would be seen as tyranny by a large guild.

"Moreover, it would look like they were forcibly gathering freelancers. Plus..."

Guardian glanced at the White Tiger Guild members.

Their attention had been focused on detecting any external threats.

In a situation where an A-rank villain could appear at any moment, it was a waste of mental energy to argue over who would lead the C-rank hunters.

At that moment, Go Dong-jae, perhaps annoyed by Guardian and Berg's conversation, looked at Guardian with a displeased expression.

"What? Do you want to be the leader too?"

"No, no. We are summoners, so it's not suitable for us to be leaders..."

The other summoners, not Guardian, quickly stepped back.

Ironically, the two summoners, excluding Guardian, were experienced hunters with over a year of experience.

But that's why they knew their position well.

There are two types of raid leaders.

One is the front-line leader who leads the raid.

The other is the balance leader who manages the party's overall health from the back.

The latter is a position only healers can take.

And summoners can't do either.

As the summoners quietly stepped back, Go Dong-jae looked satisfied.

'Good. The momentum is completely on my side.'

The raid leader has priority in profit distribution.

The distribution ratio is slightly higher, and most importantly, if a good item is obtained in the dungeon, the raid leader has priority.

Moreover, once you have experience as a raid leader, the probability of becoming one in the future increases.

'But what about that guy?'

Go Dong-jae glared at the summoner who remained standing there.

It was Guardian.

He was ignoring Go Dong-jae and chatting with Berg.

Step.

Go Dong-jae's shadow loomed over Guardian.

"What? Are you interested in the leader position?"

"No, I'm not interested. If you want to do it, go ahead."

"Haha. That's right."

Guardian's answer made Go Dong-jae's expression relax.

He patted Guardian's back with his large hand and laughed.

"Since you've also been awakened for a short time like me, it must be disappointing to be a summoner. Don't worry. Just follow me..."

Suddenly, Go Dong-jae's expression changed subtly.

He looked at his tingling hand.

Something was off.

When he patted someone's back, the usual reaction was to be pushed forward with a "Oof!"

But Guardian was different.

No matter how lightly he patted, Guardian's slender (?) body didn't budge an inch, easily withstanding his strength.

It felt as if he had hit a solid tree...

"Strong."

At that moment, Guardian added.

"I will fight separately."

"What?"