Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge (What If)

(Thursday, May 16, 2026 – 12:43 PM)

Adam glanced at Marie. "Since it's an E-Rank, it should be easy, right?"

Marie nodded, already pulling out her phone as she began walking toward the gate. "Yeah, but we still need to handle it properly." She raised her voice slightly, addressing the bystanders. "Everyone, step back! Stay behind the marked zones!"

As Marie spoke, Adam followed her toward the portal, observing as she called someone.

"This is Marie from the HA Enforcement Division. We've got a gate appearance on Via Don Bosco. Probably E-Rank, but we need confirmation. Sending coordinates now."

As they waited, the portal remained stable, pulsing faintly, but the surrounding pedestrians were already backing away. The presence of an active gate was enough to unnerve civilians.

(12:56 PM)

Within minutes, Hunter Association vehicles arrived, sleek black cars bearing the HA insignia. Several officers in uniform stepped out, moving quickly but professionally to lock down the area.

Marie greeted them with a nod before explaining, "We'll run the proper scan first, confirm the rank, then put it up on the Hunter Network. If it's really E-Rank, no guild is going to waste time on it. We'll list it under the unaffiliated hunters' queue."

Adam glanced at the swirling blue portal, then at Marie. "So how does that work? What's the minimum number of people needed to take the gate?"

Marie crossed her arms. "At least ten hunters. And they absolutely must have a healer. Entering without one is basically a death wish."

Adam nodded. "And if no one takes it?"

"Then the Hunter Association deals with it." Marie shrugged. "We always make sure gates get cleared, one way or another."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "So, the Association is the last to profit from gates?"

Marie smirked, shaking her head. "That only applies to low-rank gates like this one. If it were a higher-ranked dungeon? You can bet the Association would fight for it."

Adam looked back at the portal, thoughts already forming in his mind.

[Host, the gate is subtly enriching the surrounding mana. The probability of awakenings in this area is increasing, slowly but steadily.]

Adam watched the portal flicker, the air around it carrying a faint static-like presence. He wasn't surprised. 'With more gates appearing, this should be normal.'

Glancing at his phone screen, he checked the time. 12:58 PM.

Turning to Marie. "I'm heading out."

Marie, still observing the HA officers work, gave him a short nod. "Alright. You good to get home alone?"

Adam nodded slightly. "You're busy. I'll manage."

Marie hummed before tilting her head slightly. "Give me your number, just in case."

Adam tapped his phone, sending his contact directly to hers. Marie glanced at the screen before pocketing it.

"See you around, Mr. Entrepreneur." She grinned.

Adam shook his head, he took the bag in the car before turning away as he walked toward the nearest bus stop.

(1:03 PM – Bus Stop)

Taking a seat, he pulled out his phone, navigating to a math resource website.

'Awà, extract and refine everything useful.'

[Acknowledged. Processing mathematical concepts, theories, and applications.]

As he scrolled, knowledge was extracted, corrected, and optimized in real-time. Numbers, formulas, and logic structures seamlessly integrated into his understanding.

The bus arrived, but Adam barely noticed. His mind was already sinking deep into mathematics.

(1:45 PM)

Adam stepped off the bus, walking the short distance to his apartment complex. The building was the same as before, old but functional. Nothing had changed outside.

Inside, however, he intended to change everything.

Unlocking the door, he stepped into his quiet apartment, closing the door behind him. He set his bag down and unzipped it, methodically rearranging everything inside. Once satisfied, he stood up and took a long look around.

The place wasn't dirty, but it was cluttered. It lacked the efficiency he needed.

Without hesitation, Adam rolled up his sleeves and started cleaning.

Every inch of the apartment was dusted, organized, and optimized. The floors were wiped down, unnecessary items were discarded, and anything that didn't serve a purpose was moved out of the way.

By the time he reached his room, he already knew what had to be done.

He cleared a dedicated space, a spot where his new workstation would go. He visualized the setup, making sure there was enough space for the table, the PC, and additional components.

(3:12 PM – Delivery Arrives)

The Ding at the door pulled Adam from his thoughts. He checked the time. 3:12 PM. Right on schedule.

Descending the stairs, he met the delivery workers at the entrance of the complex. Several large boxes were stacked neatly, labeled with the various components he had ordered.

Instead of waiting for them to haul everything up slowly, Adam stepped forward and began helping.

"Let's get this done fast."

The workers raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Together, they carried the boxes into his apartment, finishing in half the usual time.

"That everything?" Adam asked as he placed the last box inside.

One of the workers checked the list. "Yeah, you're set. Enjoy your build."

Adam nodded and closed the door. He stood before the neatly stacked boxes, each containing the parts of his future system.

One by one, he opened them, checking each component carefully.

CPU: A high-core count processor, built for multitasking and efficiency.

Motherboard: A high-end model, future-proofed with strong power delivery and multiple expansion slots.

RAM: Fast DDR5 memory, optimized for low latency.

Storage: Several NVMe SSDs, ensuring maximum read/write speeds.

Cooling System: A high-end liquid cooling unit, built for sustained performance under heavy loads.

Power Supply: A modular 1000W PSU, providing stability and room for future upgrades.

Case: Spacious, well-ventilated, and designed for easy expansion.

Tools & Accessories: Screwdrivers, thermal paste, anti-static wristbands, and system-level programming utilities.

Once everything was accounted for, he moved on to the first step, assembling the workstation itself.

He unpacked the table components, laying out each piece with care before starting the assembly process. The foundation came first, then the framework, then the securing bolts.

Piece by piece, the setup was coming together.

Adam wiped his hands on a clean cloth before reaching for the PC case. It was spacious, sleek, and well-ventilated, designed to house high-performance components without restricting airflow.

Without hesitation, he set it down on the newly assembled table, removing the side panels to expose the interior. The metal frame was cold to the touch, and inside, neatly arranged cable slots and drive bays waited for their respective parts.

He grabbed the motherboard next, an expansive high-end model with reinforced circuits and multiple PCIe slots. Handling it with precise care, he aligned it with the mounting points inside the case. With a practiced motion, he secured it in place with precision screws, ensuring a firm but not over-tightened fit.

Reaching into the box containing the CPU, Adam examined the high-core count processor. The small, delicate chip was the heart of the system, and one wrong move could ruin it. Holding it by the edges, he gently lowered it onto the motherboard socket, aligning the golden contact points perfectly.

A light click signaled its proper placement. He locked it down with the retention bracket, securing it before moving on to the next step.

The cooling system came next, a liquid cooling unit designed for efficient heat dissipation. He applied a thin, even layer of thermal paste onto the CPU, ensuring maximum contact between the surfaces. Then, he mounted the cooling block directly on top, fastening it with a cross-pattern to evenly distribute pressure. The radiator and fans were installed next, positioned to provide optimal airflow and heat exhaust.

He moved on to the RAM sticks, slotting the high-speed DDR5 memory into the designated channels. A satisfying click echoed as he applied just enough force, confirming a secure connection.

Next were the NVMe SSDs, their compact, high-speed design meant to maximize performance. He inserted them into the M.2 slots, securing them with small screws before moving to the power supply unit (PSU).

The modular 1000W PSU slid into place at the bottom of the case, its cables neatly routed through the pre-designed channels. Adam ensured each power connector was correctly seated, CPU, GPU, motherboard, storage, all properly linked and managed.

The graphics card, a high-end model built for AI processing and multitasking, was the final major component. He aligned it with the PCIe slot, pressing down firmly until it clicked into place. Securing it with the metal bracket, he checked all connections before closing the case panels.

Now, only one step remained.

Adam sat down at the desk, powering on the system. The internal components whirred to life, LED indicators flickering as everything initialized. The BIOS screen appeared, signaling that the hardware was functioning correctly.

Now, it was time to program the operating system.

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