solo leveling the light Monarch

As the two brothers moved away from the dungeon, Jinwoo glanced at his older brother, Dracon, who walked beside him with a confident, unhurried stride. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the busy streets. Despite the hustle and bustle of the city, there was an unspoken calm between the two.

"Hey, Dracon," Jinwoo began, breaking the silence. His tone was casual, but the question lingered on his mind. "Do you know when the raid with Dong-Suk is scheduled?"

Dracon smirked, his lips curling into a faint grin. "Do I know? Of course, I know. What kind of brother do you take me for? I've already signed us up for their next raid. We're locked and loaded, ready to go."

"Well, that's one less thing to worry about," Jinwoo said, exhaling in relief. His hands slipped into his pockets, and he cast a glance up at the fading sky. "I was starting to think we'd be stuck waiting for weeks just to find a decent team to join."

Dracon gave a low chuckle. "You don't give me enough credit, little brother. I've got connections. People know me, respect me. Signing us up was easy."

Jinwoo rolled his eyes but couldn't help smirking. "Respect you? Is that what they call it now? Last I checked, they just tolerate you because you hit hard."

"Hey, hitting hard is a form of respect in this line of work," Dracon shot back, nudging Jinwoo with his elbow.

As they continued walking, the atmosphere lightened. The brothers weaved through the evening crowd, the distant sound of street vendors calling out their wares blending with the murmur of conversation around them.

Dracon's voice grew more serious. "By the way, don't forget you still need to head to the hospital and check yourself out officially. You know how these places are—they'll chain you to a bed if you skip the paperwork."

Jinwoo groaned, throwing his head back dramatically. "Ugh, don't remind me. Hospitals are such a pain. It's like they want to keep me there forever. I'm perfectly fine."

"Perfectly fine, huh? Says the guy who was half-dead a few days ago," Dracon quipped, raising an eyebrow. "Look, just humor them, alright? Get it done. Better that than getting blacklisted from medical support when you actually need it."

Jinwoo sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll go. But don't blame me if they try to bill me for breathing their air or something."

Dracon laughed, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "Just don't take too long, alright? We've got stuff to prep before the raid. And you know how I get when the kitchen runs out of snacks."

"Yeah, yeah," Jinwoo said with a wave of his hand. "I'll see you at home later."

"Take care, Jinwoo," Dracon called after him as they parted ways, his gaze lingering for a moment before turning back toward his own path.

When Dracon arrived home, he pushed open the door and was greeted by the comforting scent of Jin Ah's cooking. The faint aroma of freshly steamed rice mixed with something savory lingered in the air. He kicked off his shoes and stepped inside, the soft hum of the TV drawing his attention.

Jin Ah was curled up on the couch, a blanket draped over her legs and her phone glowing softly in her hands. Hearing the door, she glanced up, her expression shifting from mild annoyance to relief.

"There you are," Jin Ah said, setting her phone aside. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you got eaten by something."

Dracon raised an eyebrow, hanging his jacket by the door. "Eaten? Please. I've faced dungeon bosses more intimidating than anything out there. You should have more faith in your big brother."

Jin Ah snorted, folding her arms. "Oh, I have faith. Faith that you'll do something reckless and leave me to clean up the mess."

Dracon laughed as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water. "Come on, give me some credit. I'm not that reckless."

Jin Ah gave him a pointed look, her eyebrow arched. "You're literally the definition of reckless. You and Jinwoo both. Speaking of, how's he doing? Did you two go on some dangerous adventure again?"

"He's fine," Dracon said, leaning against the counter. "The doctors are keeping him a bit longer just to be sure, but he should be back either tonight or tomorrow morning."

Jin Ah's face softened, though a flicker of worry remained. "You're sure? You're not just saying that to keep me from freaking out, right?"

Dracon sighed, setting his glass down and walking over to sit beside her. "I'm sure, Jin Ah. I wouldn't lie about that. He's tougher than he looks, you know?"

"Yeah, well, so are you. And that doesn't stop me from worrying about you both," Jin Ah muttered, hugging her knees to her chest. "I just... I don't want to lose either of you."

Dracon reached out, gently ruffling her hair. "Hey, you're not going to lose us. I promise. We've got each other's backs, and I'm not planning to go anywhere."

"You promise?" Jin Ah asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I promise," Dracon said, his tone firm. "Now, stop worrying so much. It's bad for your health."

"Yeah, yeah," Jin Ah said, swatting his hand away but smiling faintly.

Dracon stood and stretched, letting out a groan. "Alright, I'm calling it a night. Got to be up early tomorrow. Goodnight, Jin Ah."

"Goodnight, big brother," she replied, pulling the blanket tighter around her.

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains of Dracon's room, and the faint hum of activity outside roused him from his sleep. He stretched lazily, the stiffness from yesterday's adventures lingering in his muscles. The clock on the bedside table blinked 8:00 a.m. in bold red numbers. With a groan, he pushed himself out of bed and made his way to the living room, where the familiar scent of breakfast greeted him.

At the dining table, Jinwoo was already seated, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up as Dracon entered, a faint smirk playing on his lips.

"Morning, bro," Jinwoo greeted with a yawn, his voice still heavy with sleep.

"Morning," Dracon replied, his gaze drifting to the spread on the table. Plates of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and toast sat alongside bowls of rice and miso soup. "Looks like Jin Ah cooked again," he noted, taking a seat opposite his brother.

"Yup," Jinwoo said with a chuckle. "She said it's her way of making sure we don't collapse in the middle of a raid. Apparently, she doesn't trust us to take care of ourselves."

Dracon let out a small laugh as he reached for a piece of toast. "She's not wrong. You're not exactly the poster child for healthy living."

Jinwoo raised an eyebrow. "Says the guy who ate instant noodles for dinner three days in a row last week."

"Touché," Dracon admitted, grinning as he bit into the toast.

"Speaking of raids, what time are we heading out today?" asked Jin Woo.

Dracon took another sip of his coffee before answering. "We've got about an hour. Plenty of time to finish breakfast and get ready."

Dracon glanced at him, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Just don't forget your gear this time. I'm not lending you my backup sword again."

Jinwoo groaned, slumping back in his chair. "One time! I forgot it one time, and you never let me live it down."

"Because it was hilarious," Dracon said, barely holding back laughter. "You were running around with a rusty training sword while everyone else had proper weapons. You're lucky we weren't wiped out."

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Jinwoo muttered, though a small smile tugged at his lips.

The two brothers continued to chat and joke as they finished their meal, the camaraderie between them making the room feel warm despite the impending dangers of their day.

At the raid gate, the air was thick with tension. Groups of hunters milled about, checking their weapons and gear, while others exchanged nervous glances. The gate itself pulsed faintly, its swirling blue energy casting an eerie glow.

As Dracon and Jinwoo approached, they were greeted by a tall man with a commanding presence. His sharp eyes scanned them briefly before he stepped forward.

"You must be the brothers who signed up to fill our group," he said, his deep voice carrying a tone of authority. "I'm Dong-Suk. And you are?"

Jinwoo stepped forward, offering a firm handshake. "I'm Jinwoo, and this is my brother, Dracon."

Dong-Suk nodded approvingly, turning his gaze to Dracon. "Jinwoo, E-rank, and Dracon, C-rank. Correct?"

"That's right," Dracon confirmed, meeting his gaze without hesitation.

Before Dong-Suk could say more, a voice from the crowd interrupted.

"Wait a second," one of the fighters said, smirking as he stepped closer. "I've heard of you. Aren't you the 'weakest hunter in the world'?"

Jinwoo stiffened, his jaw clenching slightly. Before he could respond, Dong-Suk raised a hand, silencing the man.

"Enough," Dong-Suk said firmly. "He's here to fill the group size requirement. Let's stay focused on the task at hand." His tone brooked no argument, and the fighter reluctantly backed off.

As the group prepared to enter the gate, another voice called out, this one tinged with amusement.

"So, are you two just here for decoration?"

Dracon and Jinwoo turned to see a young man in golden armor striding toward them. The armor gleamed brightly, almost obnoxiously so, and the man's confident smirk only added to his flamboyant presence.

"I'm Jin Ho," he said, stopping in front of them. "I'm 22, D-rank, and just here to pad the numbers, like you."

Jinwoo exchanged a glance with Dracon, and both brothers couldn't help but chuckle. Jin Ho's dramatic entrance and overly flashy demeanor were almost comical.

"Alright," Jinwoo said, shaking his head in amusement. "Let's get to it. What's my job?"

Dong-Suk pointed to a pile of gear nearby. "You're in charge of carrying the supplies. Food, spare clothes, first aid kits—the essentials."

Jinwoo raised an eyebrow. "So, I'm the mule. Got it."

"Don't take it personally," Dong-Suk said with a shrug. "Everyone has a role to play."

As they stepped into the dungeon, the air grew cooler, the light from the gate fading behind them. Jin Ho sidled up to Jinwoo, his golden armor clinking softly with each step.

"Don't worry," Jin Ho said, his voice dripping with confidence. "I'll protect you. E-rank hunters like you are pretty fragile, right?"

Jinwoo raised an eyebrow, glancing at the younger man. "You? Protect me?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.

Jin Ho puffed out his chest. "Of course. Stick close to me, and you'll be fine."

Dracon, walking a few paces ahead, overheard the exchange and smirked to himself. Jinwoo didn't say anything more, but his thoughts were clear:

You, protect me? That's a joke.

As the group moved deeper into the dungeon, the tension began to build. Shadows loomed, and faint growls echoed through the tunnels. But despite the danger, the brothers couldn't help but share a quiet, knowing smile. This was where they thrived