Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge

(Sunday, June 16, 2026 – 3:36 PM)

The sound of running water filled the kitchen as Adam and Marie worked together to clean up. The scent of their meal still lingered in the air, mixing with the faint citrus of dish soap. Marie rinsed off a plate before passing it to Adam, who set it neatly on the drying rack.

"You do realize.." she started, glancing at him, "that an S-Rank Hunter's fame is insane, right?"

Adam hummed in acknowledgment, scrubbing at a stubborn spot on a pan. "Of course. The moment I get classified, there'll be no peace."

Marie let out a small scoff. "You say that like you're not already a target. You think people will just sit back after what you did last night? News agencies, guild recruiters, even the HA itself, they're going to be all over you."

Adam placed the pan down, exhaling through his nose. "It's expected." He turned his head slightly while his expression is as calm as ever. "I've already prepared for it."

Marie eyed him for a moment before shaking her head. "Of course you have."

With the last dish cleaned, she wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. Before she could say anything else, Adam leaned against the counter and looked at her directly.

"You ready to go to the mall?"

Marie blinked before raising an eyebrow. "You actually meant it when you said you were going to relax?"

Adam smirked. "I did say I'd take a day or two, didn't I?"

Marie chuckled, grabbing her jacket. "Alright then, let's go."

(3:50 PM)

Adam and Marie walked leisurely down the stairs with the warm afternoon sun casting long shadows as they stepped outside. The city buzzed with life, cars passing by, people going about their day, completely unaware that one of the strongest awakeners in Italy had just walked past them.

As they reached the street, Adam's gaze landed on Marie's SUV, now painted a bright pink. He stopped in his tracks, blinking slowly as his mind replayed a memory from two weeks ago.

'She actually did it.'

Back then, Marie had randomly mentioned wanting to repaint her car pink, and he, thinking she was just messing around, had ignored it. But now here it was, in all its obnoxiously pink glory.

He turned his head slightly, giving Marie a side-eye.

She noticed immediately, frowning before crossing her arms over her chest. With a dramatic huff, she blew a strand of hair from her face. "Pink is cool."

Adam exhaled sharply, trying to hold back his laugh, but the amusement in his expression was obvious. Instead of commenting, he simply raised a hand as his light blue mana came into existence.

Within seconds, two bicycles materialized from pure energy, one glowing pink and the other a cool, light blue. The intricate details flickered like solid constructs, firm yet ethereal.

Marie stared at the pink mana bicycle, then back at Adam.

He smirked. "Race to the mall?"

Marie's lips curled into a competitive grin as she swung a leg over her bike, gripping the handles.

"Say less."

(3:55 PM)

The streets of Alessandria were alive with the usual weekend crowd. Pedestrians strolled leisurely, some enjoying the warm afternoon sun, others engaged in conversation or browsing shop windows. The traffic moved steadily, the hum of engines blending with the murmur of daily life.

Then, without warning, two glowing blurs rushed through the streets, weaving between cars with high speed. A light blue streak and a pink one zipped past stunned onlookers with their trails shimmering like flickering neon lights.

Laughter echoed between the buildings as Adam and Marie raced through the city, their mana bikes gliding effortlessly over the pavement.

"This is kinda funny!" Marie shouted, her grin wide as the wind rushed past her face.

Adam, riding just ahead, grinned before raising a hand slightly. A subtle pulse of mana spread through the area, activating the random item boxes he had scattered throughout the city. Small glowing cubes appeared on sidewalks, near streetlights, and even floating just above the roads, each containing a surprise item, just like a real game.

Marie's eyes sparkled with excitement as she sped toward one, her bike cutting through the air smoothly. The moment she passed through the box, a small screen of mana appeared in front of her, displaying her reward.

"Mushroom boost? Oh hell yeah!"

Her bike suddenly accelerated, a sharp burst of speed sending her flying past Adam. She let out a triumphant laugh, glancing over her shoulder. "Later, loser!"

Adam exhaled through his nose amused. He leaned slightly to the side, cutting through an alley as another glowing box materialized in his path. His bike shot through it, and the screen blinked with his new item.

A banana.

A big smile spread across his face.

Without hesitation, he flicked his wrist, sending the mana-formed banana flying straight toward Marie's path.

She reacted just in time, swerving to the side with a sharp maneuver. The banana continued its trajectory, slapping directly onto the face of an unlucky pedestrian.

The man stumbled back with his hands flying up in shock as banana pulp smeared across his cheek.

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" he roared.

Adam barely had time to enjoy the chaos before another box appeared ahead, and Marie hit it first.

Her new item flashed on the mana screen. A bomb.

She didn't hesitate.

With a mischievous grin, she grabbed the small pink sphere of condensed energy and hurled it behind her, right at Adam.

The explosion of mana sent him skidding with his bike wobbling slightly before he regained control. He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.

"Oh, so that's how we're playing?"

Marie let out another laugh, already racing ahead. Adam narrowed his eyes, tapping into his mana as another box materialized in his path.

If she wanted a real race, he'd give her one.

(4:07 PM)

The mana bikes came to a smooth stop in front of the mall entrance, fading into streams of light as Adam and Marie stepped onto the pavement. The race had been intense, but the results were painfully clear.

Marie, untouched, flipped her braids over her shoulder with a smug grin. Meanwhile, Adam stood beside her, his face and hair covered in black dust from the countless bombs she had landed on him.

She folded her arms with her laughter bubbling out as she took in his state. "Oh wow, you look great, Adam. Really embracing that 'charcoal aesthetic.' huh?"

Adam clicked his tongue, brushing off the dust with an annoyed huff. "Tch… damn bombs."

Marie only laughed harder, clearly enjoying her victory. As they approached the mall doors, Adam gave one final shake of his head as his appearance shifted back to normal. His mana surged subtly with dust particles lifting off his clothes as if they had never been there. His locks retied themselves into a loose bun with two strands falling naturally in front of his face.

Marie eyed him, mildly impressed. "Convenient."

Adam smiled. "Always."

She ran her fingers through her braids, ensuring they were still perfectly in place, not that they ever weren't. With that, the two stepped inside with the cool air of the mall washing over them.

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