Solo Leveling: Ragnarok - Chapter 22

Chapter 22

“Suho, don’t you have a personal protective suit yet? Wear this.”
Professor Lim handed over a thick coat to Suho.
It was an all-in-one work clothes with top and bottom connected.
“These gloves and work boots are a set, wear them.”
“Thank you.“
“Thank you for what? It’s only natural that you didn’t prepare anything because I suddenly called. Learn this time that a protective suit is a must for collectors.”
Following the explanation of the roles of miners last time, here comes season 2.
Assistant Professor Lim’s lecture on collectors continued.
“Being a collector is a much more dangerous job than a miner.”
A miner’s job was not dangerous unless it was a special case like the previous Korea University incident.
It was because all miners had to do was pick up a pickaxe safely at the back end of the dungeon after all the hunting was over.
“It’s different for collectors.”
The position of the collector is right in the middle of the raiders and the miners.
In order to collect the corpse of the beast that the raiders had hunted, they had to follow closely behind.
There were frequent accidents where the raiders were attacked by monsters and they couldn’t hold out.
“There are only one or two at most cases, so if you’re careful when they suddenly pop up at first, the raiders will come running to rescue.“
“So, it’s a protective suit for just that moment.“
“That’s right. But actually, it’s more useful when collecting the corpse of the monsters. If they have sharp thorns or scales, ordinary clothes will be scratched and ruined while working.”
“Teacher…”
“Ah, it’s alright. No need to feel touched about it. This is nothing compared to what you did.”
“No, this reeks of a widower.”
“… It’s because I live alone.”

* * *
Translator: Anom

After a while.
Raiders arrived at the scene.
Suho calmly observed them.
A total of 10 members.
‘4 D-Class mage hunters, 5 D-Class combat hunters, and 1 C-Class healer?’
It seemed that that C-Class male healer was the leader of the raid.
However, the raid leader strode towards Suho and glared at Assistant Lim.
“Why are there so few collectors?”
Assistant Lim lowered his head with an apologetic look on his face.
“I am sorry. For some reason, the collectors went offgrid all at the same time. Instead, today this friend…”
“What? That’s all you can say? After making a contract, what kind of irresponsible thing is that? Do you know how much it will cost if the schedule goes wrong?”
“No, no. There will be no disruption to the schedule. This friend actually has a summoning skill, so there won’t be any problems with work…”
“What? Are you kidding me now? Summoning skill?”
The longer Lim’s words continued, the more stern the expression of the raid leader became.
He glanced at Suho, then looked up and down.
Suho was standing at a distance.
Professor Lim quickly stepped in front of him.
“Oh, boss! You really don’t have to worry. This friend can summon ones who will make up for the shortfall. I specially invited someone who is good at work.”
The raid leader let out a deep sigh.
“Is that all you have to say? So you didn’t add more people because you trusted him? Just take the daily wage and leave!”
As his voice grew louder, other raiders flocked to the area.
“Captain, what is it?”
“What’s this? Where are the other collectors?”
“Is this going to work out with this number?”
Surrounded by their cold eyes, the collectors couldn’t help but feel intimidated.
The raiders’ anger was actually reasonable.
If the number of collectors is small, the work will be slowed down.
The raiders in front would have to slow down as well.
The purpose of hunting itself was to make money from the corpses of monsters, but it would be meaningless to abandon the collectors and hunt by themselves.
Even here at Seoul Station Field, there are no mana stones, so they had to earn money purely from monster corpses.
“Captain, that’s enough. This doesn’t happen every day anyway. We can’t change our schedule now, so let’s just go in as planned.”
“Yes, Chief. We have no other choice.”
At the persecution of the members, the raid leader finally let go of Assistant Professor Lim.
“Anyway, just try to fall behind today. I will file a formal complaint to the association. You’ll take responsibility and I’ll make sure you don’t collect again.”
“Yes, yes. We will do our best. Trust me.”
As the 10 members of the raiders took turns speaking one by one, Professor Lim, who was standing in the center, lowered his head with a mentally drained expression.
Since he had committed a sin, whatever he said was bound to be an excuse.
He was also unhappy.
‘I’m not even the collector leader, so why am I…’
In fact, the real collector leader was also one of the collectors that disappeared without notice.
That’s why Assistant Professor Lim, who was nominally the deputy team leader, took the blame and bowed his head instead.
It seemed that the raid leader’s anger had eased a little.
“Tsk. This is why they are low-level hunters.”
The raid leader turned around.
“Arise.”

Kehehehe-

“W-What?!”
The hunters looked around in shock at the sound of evil laughter that suddenly hovered in the air.
[Krrrk! Krrrk!]
Black monsters suddenly rose from the floor!
The evil goblins with black steam all over their bodies giggled and glared at them.
But their sizes… were much bigger than a normal goblin.
“G-Goblin Commander? No, the Main Commander!”
“Why are they out of the field…?!”
The raiders hurriedly took out their weapons.
’God! They are slowly approaching!’
“I don’t think they are normal ones!”
“Everyone ready for battle!”
“Captain! Fall back!”
The goal of the raid is to protect the healer!
They quickly mobilized to fight off the goblins…!
[Krrrk?]
Fight…
[Kerreuk?]
“… Huh?“
However, the goblins had no will to fight.
[Keruk, Keruk?]
“… What?“
The black goblins tilted their heads, confused as to why the raiders were so angry.
When they didn’t move forward, the raiders stood hesitantly holding their weapons.
“Hmm.”
Professor Lim cleared his throat and intervened.
“What’s the problem, Chief? These are the summoned beasts I talked about earlier.”
“… Ah“
It was only then that the raiders understood the situation.
Looking around, the collectors were standing there staring blankly at them, as if this had already been discussed.
In the end, only the raiders were surprised and made a fuss.
“That is… uhh, yes. Okay.“
“The numbers… That’s a lot.”
“One, two… seven.”
“Yes. That’s twice as many as the missing collectors.”
“Kuhm-hmm.”
At Lim’s words, the raiders felt embarrassed and averted their gazes.
In response to their reaction, Assistant Professor Lim secretly raised his thumb toward Suho.
Suho smiled at him.
These seven shadow goblins were released in advance during the daily quest, so there was no need to pick up the cumbersome bodies again.
“Okay then, let’s go in.”
As Suho moved, the shadow goblins followed.
Suho murmured as he passed by the raiders, who were still standing hesitantly.
“Don’t fall behind for nothing.”
“…”

* * *
That’s how they entered the Seoul Station Field urgently.
The interior of Seoul Station, which had already been eroded, was full of darkness as the electricity was cut off, and the walls and floor were filled with unknown vines and moss.
“It’s slippery, so watch your step.“
The raid leader walking ahead commanded his comrades.
“Secure the line of sight.”
Fire.
Fireballs rose from the hands of the mage hunters all at once and circled around.
Thanks to this, the surroundings became brighter, and the blue mist lightly covering the field was slightly cleared.
At the same time, the identities of the monsters hiding in the darkness were revealed.
“Shaaak!”
Spiny lizards crawling all over the walls and ceilings!
“Everyone ready for battle!”
At the command of the raid leader, the hunters ran out and started using their skills.
And as a healer, the leader of the raid, who was protected from behind, looked back at the collectors.
The embarrassment from earlier still lingered on his face.
“Collectors… follow along carefully and start working. Collecting the corpses of spiny lizards makes some money.”
’He’s not the demon.’
Suho licked his lips, feeling disappointed.
It seemed that the cursed random box had no other purpose than to bring a useful sword needed to have a twin sword.
Still, it was rewarding to come here with Assistant Professor Lim.
’It’s the first time I’ve seen other hunters battle.’
Suho moved the lizard corpse to the cart and watched the battle of the raiders with his eyes.
It was definitely fun to watch the way several hunters fought by linking different abilities and skills.
‘So, this is how raids are done.’
In order to efficiently command the seven shadow soldiers, it was necessary to learn group combat when an opportunity like this arose.
Up until now, he had only released and used the same type of monsters, but later he wanted to fight strategically while wielding various monsters at the same time.
To do so, it was necessary to obtain various types of monster corpses in advance and store them in the Shadow Dungeon.
’Being a collector would help.’
It was the reason why Suho readily accepted Assistant Professor Lim’s proposal in the first place.
Collectors were the perfect job to save the corpses of monsters.
Besides, from Suho’s point of view, there was nothing difficult about being a collector.
“Pick it up.”
[Keruk!]
“Put it on the cart.”
[Kerruk!]
The shadow goblins move in perfect order at Suho’s words and collect the dead lizards.
It was enough for Suho to leisurely walk along as if he were taking a day walk.
Meanwhile, Beru was sneaking one or two dead lizards into the Shadow Dungeon.
There were too many lizards anyway, so even if he stole a few, it wouldn’t even matter.
Well, of course, there were lizards that disappeared as Beru’s snacks.
Then a problem arose.
Suho had been doing well.
The collector’s job was basically to pick up the corpse of the monster and put it in the cart.
However, if it was a huge one, it had to be cut into pieces with a saw or knife. It was actually the most difficult and it took a long time.
It was never easy to cut through the tough skin and bones of monsters with the power of an E-Class hunter.
That was nothing to the shadow soldiers that were goblin commanders and main commanders.
[Krrrk, Krrrk!]
Thanks to them, the collectors’ work speed eventually overtook the raiders’ hunting speed.
The collectors eventually had nothing to do, so they only waited and watched for the hunting to end.
“Haaaa.”
“Ughhh.”
The sight of Professor Lim’s yawning from behind made the raiders’ faces reddened.
If they hadn’t told him not to fall behind at the beginning, they wouldn’t have been in such an embarrassing situation.
It was then.
“For a moment. Stop what you’re doing.”
Suddenly, the raid leader stopped the hunting and strode toward the collectors with a determined expression.
Suho stood exactly at the end.
’What now?’
’What kind of fight is he going to make again?’
The expression of the collectors became serious at the situation.
Thud.
The raid leader then arrived in front of Suho.
“Hey.”
He stared at Suho’s face intently and opened his tightly closed mouth.
“Do you have plans on signing a contract with our team?”
[Whoops.]
Beru nodded with a very proud expression behind.
[As expected, Young Master’s extraordinary talent shines anytime, anywhere. This guy has an eye for great…]
“Be our exclusive collector!”
[Wait, what?]
“You have the gift of a natural collector… Your salary would be the highest in the collector industry…”
Assistant Professor Lim barely stopped Beru from saying that he would kill those bugs with a fiery gaze in his eyes.