Chapter 10

Leveling Up Alone: Ragnarok - Chapter 9 (10/176)

Leveling Up Alone: Ragnarok Chapter 9

While responding to the Guardian's command, Berg asked in confusion again.

"What are you talking about? I'm going to mine."

Berg jumped up, foaming at the mouth.

Berg couldn't believe it.

What in the world was going on!

The power of the Great and Almighty Shadow Lord was so incredible, and to think he would use such power just for mining!

"I understand that, but my power is only enough to handle three weak goblins right now. We need to face reality. Maybe your dad was like this when he was weak too?"

"And you said last night, didn't you?"

Shugo recalled the conversation he had with Berg the previous night.

* * *

On the way home after being discharged from the hospital.

Berg said with a serious expression.

The content spoken by the fist-sized creature was too grandiose.

"You mean to go into the dungeon and capture the monsters?"

"Exactly. Do you have any way to find Mother's location?"

In the end, this also meant going into the dungeon.

Berg pointed at himself with wide eyes.

By this point, Shugo was also curious.

Berg's current small form was merely a way to conserve his power to the maximum, but his original form and strength were a living nightmare.

With such a formidable force out of the picture, it was hard to imagine how the war was progressing.

"How do I recover my power?"

At Shugo's question, Berg's mouth twisted into a long, wicked, and sinister smile.

Long ago.

In a fragment of a world now long forgotten.

The queen of the ants recalled.

- Create the strongest soldier.

The queen needed the strongest soldier to rebuild her kingdom, which was collapsing due to humans, and to lead the kingdom's inhabitants.

After half a year.

The queen finally conceived a single life by gathering all her magic and nutrients.

The queen's determination to create a strong soldier and the primordial command to annihilate all humans combined to give birth to a monstrous creature that defied common sense.

The creature's innate skill was 'Feast.'

The creature could absorb a portion of the target's magic and knowledge by consuming them.

...Recalling that old memory, Berg said.

Whether it's humans or monsters...

Shugo felt anew.

Indeed, Berg lacked humanity.

'He's not human to begin with.'

Berg, drooling as he spoke of eating humans, was the perfect monster.

Shugo said firmly.

"Still, don't eat just anyone."

"If you must eat, only eat bad people."

At this, Berg's eyes narrowed.

"Even Father? What's your standard for a bad person?"

Berg smiled faintly.

* * *

Back to the present.

"You said this."

Shugo said, and Berg protested.

"No, how can an E-rank Hunter go into a dungeon alone? E-rank Hunters can't join raid parties."

Shugo was extremely practical.

As Assistant Im explained, the only role an E-rank Hunter could play in a dungeon was a production role.

Shugo planned to go for a 're-evaluation' once his level and magic power reached D-rank.

'The system of dividing Hunter ranks is a recent development, so there are still many errors in the measurement devices.'

"So, let's start with what we can do now."

Shugo said with a grin.

Berg suddenly felt a chill at that smile.

"Our third mission."

Shugo repeated Berg's words with a meaningful expression.

"Recharge your magic power as soon as possible. By eating, right?"

"What about magic stones?"

Berg's expression stiffened at this.

"If your skill is Feast, wouldn't eating magic stones recharge your magic power?"

"That's the problem? Just eat more."

Shugo said with a bright smile.

"They're free here, after all."

* * *

Shugo passed through the gate with the miners.

The dungeon they entered looked completely different from the Shadow Dungeon.

The Shadow Dungeon was a vast ruined city of unimaginable size, but this place was a winding cave.

Moreover, with each person holding a pickaxe, it felt like they had entered a mine.

Shugo and the miners slowly moved into the dungeon.

Thanks to the glowing mushrooms and moths scattered throughout, the dungeon was not completely dark.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The sound of pickaxes began everywhere.

Everyone seemed experienced, as the sounds were very uniform and rhythmic.

Suddenly, all the sounds stopped at once.

"Huh?"

"What's that?"

The miners' gazes were drawn to one spot.

There, Shugo was controlling three Shadow Goblins.

The three Shadow Goblins were digging with a wicked and despicable laugh.

The sight of Shugo controlling these bizarre creatures.

"Wow."

"His summoning skill is like that...?"

It was no wonder people were surprised.

The well-known summoning skills involved using creatures like 'Explosive Bugs' or 'Sleeping Moths' to assist in battles.

And the summoner would follow behind, directing them like a Pokémon trainer.

"But it can be like that too?"

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The Shadow Goblins Shugo controlled were slightly smaller and weaker than regular Goblins.

However, they had enough strength to wield pickaxes and, most importantly, never got tired no matter how much they dug.

Whenever their stamina was slightly depleted, magic power would flow from Shugo to recharge them.

"Wow... this is amazing."

"This new guy is really something! Haha!"

The miners chattered excitedly and praised Shugo.

"Those who said summoning skills were useless were wrong! Such a great skill!"

"If we're not careful, this new guy will mine everything alone!"

"We can't let that happen! Let's show our seniority!"

The miners laughed and resumed their work, feeling cheerful with the small Goblins working alongside them.

Meanwhile, Berg was munching on magic stones like cookies behind them.

* * *

At that time.

A raid party composed of D-rank and higher Hunters was attacking a deeper part of the dungeon than the mining site.

"This dungeon is really barren."

"Exactly. It's been nothing but wolf monsters popping up."

"Wolf skins don't sell for much."

The recovery team, following behind the raid party and dismantling monster corpses, sighed in disappointment.

Of course, they said this, but wolf skins weren't entirely worthless.

Moreover, some corpses contained magic stones, so they had to work hard.

"Sigh. We need to save every penny."

The wolf skins were neatly stacked on the carts they brought.

Just then.

"Hey? What's this?"

One of the Hunters leading the way called out to his companions.

In front of them stood a massive ruin.

The Hunters tensed and cautiously guarded the area.

'Could there be a boss-level monster here?'

Typically, the chance of encountering a powerful boss in a D-rank dungeon was low.

However, the existence of such a structure suggested that something special might happen.

And for the Hunters, this special situation would not be pleasant.

"What's this?"

"Why is there such a ruin here?"

"Shouldn't we request more support and head back?"

The Hunters murmured among themselves.

However, the leader of the raid party, who was guiding them, mediated and carefully surveyed the surroundings.

"Shh. Be quiet. There are no signs of monsters in my detection skill."

"Really? Why is there such a structure if there are no monsters?"

"We need to find out now."

A faint smile appeared on the leader's lips.

"By any chance, could there be treasure hidden instead of a boss?"

"Treasure...!"

The Hunters' eyes changed at this.

What could be obtained in a dungeon wasn't just monster corpses and magic stones.

Items with a low probability of discovery.

These items were the only way for Hunters, whose power doesn't grow once their rank is determined, to increase their strength.

"Leader! There's something here!"

While surveying the area, they discovered a sword embedded in the center of the ruin.

The sword emitted an extraordinary aura.

"Unbelievable."

The Hunters' eyes were simultaneously filled with greed.

"Really hit the jackpot!"

"Wow, a weapon!"

They would need to take it out and have it appraised to know for sure, but the weapon looked incredibly impressive.

"Leader! I'll pull it out!"

The strongest man among the Hunters stepped forward, spitting on his hands.

"Wait, Kim Yong-joon! Be careful...!"

The leader tried to stop him, but his hand was already gripping the sword's hilt.

And then.

A rumbling voice echoed in Kim Yong-joon's mind.

-Who dares to covet the fang lord's sword.