Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

The man's eyes snapped open, a spark of respect blazing in them. He locked his gaze on me and sat up with a sharp inhale, his expression a mixture of awe and excitement.

"As expected from you, Sir!" he declared with conviction. "Only someone of your caliber could detect if I was conscious or not by just looking!"

I blinked, keeping my face neutral, but my thoughts raced. 'Wait... what? I was just playing it cool. I had no idea he was awake.'

Before I could respond, the guy stood, his movements fluid yet powerful, and knelt in front of me, lowering his head. His voice rang out with sincerity that caught me off guard.

"First, you healed me when I was on the brink of death. And now… now you've reawakened me just by spreading that light blue energy over my body!" His fist clenched against the ground, his whole posture radiating reverence. "You have given me strength, a chance to rise beyond my limits. I owe you my life!"

"I will follow you until death!"

I opened my mouth to say something, but he wasn't done.

"No! Even if I die, I will follow you as a soul!"

Silence fell in the chamber. The remaining unconscious hunters stirred faintly but stayed down. I stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

'Awà.' I thought, trying to keep my composure, 'has this guy lost a few brain cells, or is this just an A-Rank thing?'

[Scanning...] Her response was quick. [No damage detected. His reaction stems from genuine loyalty. The culmination of his experiences, your healing, his reawakening, and his belief that you are a powerhouse playing a weak character, has solidified his unwavering devotion to you.]

I crossed my arms, pretending to be thoughtful as I processed this. 'So, you're saying I just got a free A-Rank to use however I want?'

[Affirmative.]

I fought the urge to smirk and instead reached out to pat his shoulder. He flinched slightly at the contact, as though it were a divine gesture.

"What's your name?" I asked, keeping my tone composed.

He raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. "Leonardo. But you can call me whatever you wish, sir!"

"Alright, Leonardo." I said, nodding. "I'll call you Leo. It suits you."

A wide grin spread across his face, and he stood, his posture straight and proud. "Leo it is, sir! I'll follow your every command from this day forward!"

I smiled internally. 'Well, this just got a lot more easy.'

"Leo, give me your number." I said, crossing my arms as I stared at him.

Leo scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish. "Uh... I didn't memorize it."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. 'An A-Rank hunter with loyalty like a dog, and he can't remember his own phone number. Fantastic.'

"Alright, fine." I said, shaking my head. "Meet me at the subway station tomorrow morning. We'll figure things out from there."

Leo's expression brightened, his eagerness returning in full force. "Understood, sir! I'll be there without fail!"

I gestured toward the passed-out hunters behind him. "Good. Now, deal with the aftermath here. Bring them out of the dungeon and make sure they're safe. And remember..." My tone sharpened slightly, my gaze locking with his. "Not a word about me to anyone. Got it?"

Leo straightened, saluting me like a soldier. "I swear on my life! No one will hear about you from me."

Satisfied, I nodded and turned, walking away not forgetting the bag with all the stored resources. The faint sound of Leo's footsteps as he moved to assist the others faded into the distance as I made my way out of the dungeon.

The cool night air hit me as I emerged, but the sight that greeted me made my stomach drop. A small crowd of reporters and Hunter Association employees had gathered outside, their cameras and microphones at the ready. Their eyes snapped to me the moment I stepped into view, their expressions shifting from confusion to suspicion.

"Who's that?" one of them whispered.

"I don't recognize him." another said.

"Could he be a false ranker?"

That last question sent a wave of murmurs through the crowd, and I felt my pulse quicken. Before they could close in, I turned and bolted, sprinting down the street as shouts erupted behind me.

"Hey! Stop!"

"Who are you?!"

I ignored them, weaving through the crowd of onlookers as the city lights blurred past me. My enhanced reflexes kicked in, allowing me to slip between people effortlessly, but the commotion behind me was growing louder.

'Awà, any ideas?' I thought, my focus split between running and avoiding collisions.

[Blend into the crowd and alter your facial structure to your original appearance. Change your clothing to avoid recognition.]

'Got it.'

I ducked into a narrow alley, pausing briefly as Awà activated, and I felt the subtle shifts in my facial muscles as my features returned to my original form. My skin prickled faintly as the nano machines worked, and within seconds, I was myself again.

Spotting a nearby clothesline hanging between two buildings, I grabbed a plain shirt and jacket, swapping them with my own torn and bloodied clothes. The movements were quick and efficient, and soon I looked like just another random civilian.

The sound of footsteps echoed nearby, and I melted back into the throng of people on the street. The reporters and association employees rushed past, their eyes scanning the area, but they didn't give me a second glance.

I smiled to myself. 'Too easy.'

Blending into the crowd, I made my way through the city, keeping my pace casual to avoid drawing attention. Back in the safety of my apartment, I locked the door behind me and dropped the bag onto the floor with a heavy thud.

Its contents spilled out slightly, the faint glow of E-Rank essence stones casting dim, colorful light onto the walls. The D-Rank stone stood out among them, larger and brighter, its energy pulsing gently like a heartbeat.

Next to them lay the mana crystals I stole from the miners, their jagged surfaces glimmering faintly. It wasn't a fortune, but it was a solid haul for a single dungeon run, and I hadn't even awakened yet.

'This should be enough to cover some costs for the experiments later.' I thought, my gaze lingering on the D-Rank stone for a moment.

Without another word, I headed to the kitchen, pulling open the fridge. Awà had already healed me, but like she'd pointed out earlier, it was smarter to keep my reserves topped up. I didn't feel hungry or tired, but that didn't mean I could skip meals.

I threw together a quick sandwich, adding as much protein and carbs as I could fit between the slices of bread. Sitting at the counter, I ate methodically, letting my mind wander as I chewed.

'Leo's loyalty could be a major asset.' I mused, recalling the fire in his eyes as he swore his undying allegiance. 'If he's really an A-Rank now, I can use him to make money as well as a bodyguard until I'm strong enough. Maybe even have him test some of the inventions I'm planning.'

I smiled to myself, shaking my head. 'Never thought I'd end up with a fanatic bodyguard. This world keeps getting weirder.'

Once the sandwich was gone, I cleaned up the crumbs and headed to my room. The bed looked inviting, even though I wasn't physically tired. Still, rest was crucial, especially with what I had planned for tomorrow.

Lying down, I let out a slow breath, staring at the ceiling. Tomorrow, the delivery would come, and with it, everything I needed to begin building my first real invention.

The thought brought a small smile to my face as my eyes grew heavier.

'Step by step.' I thought, letting sleep claim me.

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