The Korea-Japan Friendship Match (1)
Kkaaang!
Rund brought the hammer down in a disciplined motion.
Drip!
His forehead was covered in flowing sweat.
'Luxury Crafting.'
The greatest latent ability that had forced Rund into isolation in the past!
The Rare and Unique runes that LV. 1 can make are strictly fixed.
[List of luxury items that can be crafted.]
[Berserk (Rare), Omnipotent (Rare), Howling (Rare), Emperor (Rare), Trinity (Unique)]
Five per level.
When it reaches Lv.2, another five are unlocked like that.
The runes here require such incredible materials that they are on a completely different level from what can be made through normal crafting, but the success rate is 100%.
'Jackpot.'
The reason God Ji-nu had been able to sit firmly in the overwhelming No. 1 rank in the past was precisely because of this 'Luxury Crafting'.
'Heuheuheu.'
Baek Jinwoo found it harder and harder to suppress the smile that kept rising to his lips.
Just think about it.
Summons decked out only in the best runes that could be pulled from there.
'Kuh, that's insane.'
On top of that, he was the only one in the world who could make those.
If he pulled those out and gave them only to the people he wanted, that alone meant he could hold tremendous power!
'I'll make them all slowly one by one, but for now...'
"HunGyo."
—Yes, my lord.
"Come here."
Baek Jinwoo immediately removed the Omnipotent Rune HunGyo had equipped.
After that,
"Rund, what materials do I need to make a Top-grade Trinity Rune?"
—Heh heh, just wait a moment.
[Materials for the Top-grade Trinity (Unique) rune.]
[Enhanced Top-grade Omnipotent rune x1, Top-grade Omnipotent rune x2]
'As expected.'
Nothing had changed.
Three Omnipotent Runes could make a Trinity Rune!
—Don't tell me... are you really giving me a chance to use Luxury Crafting already?
Rund's eyes sparkled.
For a blacksmith like him, nothing was more enjoyable than swinging a hammer, and the rarer and more difficult the task, the greater the thrill became.
"Why even ask? Here."
Baek Jinwoo dumped out all 18 prepared Omnipotent Runes.
—H-Huuhk! Eighteen Rare runes? And they're all Omnipotent ones?!
Rund let out a scream of joy.
If he started off by crafting Unique runes, he would surely build up tremendous proficiency.
"Can you make them right away?"
—Of course! If we count one day per rune, just wait exactly six days!
"Okay, get started immediately."
It was right then.
The point where he would go beyond the world rankers and head toward a truly untouchable wall.
* * *
The internal atmosphere of Arirang and Carpe Diem had completely changed lately.
-Everyone must exercise!
Whether executives or guild members.
They were all required to build basic stamina and muscle strength.
"Why are they suddenly doing this?"
"If you just raise your summons well, that's enough, so why are they telling us to work out...?"
"The guild leader says to do it, so what can we do? If they tell us to do it, we do it."
After giving them a certain period of time, anyone who failed to meet the conditions would receive a warning.
And if they accumulated three warnings?
Of course, expulsion!
The players had no choice but to follow along while swallowing their tears.
After all, if you joined a major guild and got kicked out because you didn't exercise, there was hardly anything more humiliating.
They even changed the entrance test so that the fitness score was weighted more heavily.
"We should've done this long ago."
Hoo.
Oh Sunyoung muttered as she wiped off her sweat right as she exhaled.
She and Baek Jinwoo's four disciples were returning after another satisfying training session today.
Now it was not only the players who trained. The summons trained together with them too.
Naturally, the training was overseen by HunGyo, and they had set it so that his commands would be followed as the highest priority.
"Unni."
Hong Ari called out to Oh Sunyoung.
"Hm?"
"Honestly, doesn't it make you feel wronged?"
"About what?"
"If there were another team battle, you'd definitely make the national team this time."
"...Probably."
If she returned to the past, she would have avoided Baek Jinwoo no matter what.
Then she'd have made the national team without trouble.
"But rather than feeling wronged, I'm satisfied."
She meant it.
She was a wolf fanatic.
Because of that, all her summons were wolves.
Naturally, if you insisted on a single race, there were bound to be shortcomings and weaknesses.
Recently, she had felt her limits strongly enough that she had even considered breaking that stubbornness.
But?
Ever since Baek Jinwoo became her master, all those worries had vanished.
'An incredible person.'
Even though he only used wolf-type summons, he not only covered all of their fatal weaknesses, but even taught her how to counterattack by using those weaknesses.
And also?
The wolves Baek Jinwoo controlled were on a completely different level.
Honestly, she felt like she would be satisfied if she could just follow him like that, with nothing else needed.
She was certain.
If things continued like this just a little longer, Arirang would catch up to Baekho.
Under Baek Jinwoo would be Arirang, and then Carpe Diem.
"Thank you."
Oh Sunyoung looked at Gi Jaehyuk.
"Excuse me?"
Gi Jaehyuk blinked.
"It's thanks to you guys. Because you suggested we come here together back then, Ari and I were able to improve."
"Ah, come on, why are you suddenly saying that?"
"I mean it."
If she had never met Baek Jinwoo, then as time passed, she would have fallen behind.
Forget the national team.
It might even have become hard to maintain her ranker status.
But now?
To be honest, it felt like even if she fought Kang Geonho, the domestic No. 1, she would have a real shot.
'Of course.'
After dealing with Baek Jinwoo every single day, and then suddenly facing Kang Geonho one-on-one?
She already felt at ease inside.
It felt like the pressure had disappeared entirely.
"If you're serious, then buy us all a meal."
"A meal?"
"Yes. Did you know? A huge chicken place opened recently over there across from Yoobaek City."
"...?"
"I heard rumors that it's run by big brother Jinwoo's father."
What?
Player Baek Jinwoo's father?
Oh Sunyoung's eyes widened.
Gi Jaehyuk already knew such precious information?
She genuinely felt grateful to Baek Jinwoo.
To the point that if he asked for help, she could help him unconditionally.
But Baek Jinwoo was perfect.
To be honest, he was doing so well that he didn't even need help from someone like her.
"Let's go. I'll treat."
In a situation like that, his family had opened a chicken restaurant?
She couldn't let that pass.
Especially since wasn't Baek Jinwoo famous for cherishing his family? She would just shower them with generosity instead!
'Let's feed the wolves too.'
Rankers earned a lot of money.
Especially someone at the level of vice guild master in a major guild.
Chicken?
No matter how much they ordered, it wouldn't be a burden.
Today, she might as well spend about 100 million won.
* * *
「Mr. Baek's Chicken」
"Welcome!"
Park Junghoon, wearing an apron, greeted them loudly.
He was Baek Jincheol's friend.
He had worked loading and unloading parcels at a logistics center, then became co-CEO of the chicken restaurant at Baek Jincheol's suggestion.
Of course, the ownership split was 90% for Baek Jincheol and 10% for him.
"Huh? Hong Ari and player Oh Sunyoung...?"
Park Junghoon's eyes went wide as he greeted them.
That was because the four people who had entered were all far too famous.
"And even Gi Jaehyuk and Kang Jihoe...!"
All four were rankers so famous that if someone in South Korea didn't know them, they'd practically have to be a spy.
'As expected.'
Gulp.
Park Junghoon swallowed.
In fact, he had already heard.
He already knew that Baek Jincheol's son was the famous player Baek Jinwoo.
At the time, he had been so shocked that for quite a while he went around unable to close his gaping mouth.
After that, Park Junghoon pledged his loyalty to Baek Jincheol.
Loyalty, my ass.
He had simply resolved never to leave his side.
It was calculating, sure, but for an ordinary person, it was an unavoidable choice.
'What an incredible connection network.'
If he just stuck close to him and got even the tiniest scraps from the table, three generations of his family could live in comfort and luxury.
Only a fool would let that chance slip away.
"This way, please! I'll show you to a good seat."
"Yes, by any chance, is the person running this place...?"
Oh Sunyoung asked carefully.
"Hahaha, you mean Jincheol!"
Baek Jincheol.
Now he was famous as Baek Jinwoo's father.
Hearing Park Junghoon speak of Baek Jincheol as if they were close friends made Oh Sunyoung's expression turn even more respectful.
"Yes, that's right. We'll be ordering a lot today!"
"H-Hup, yes, ma'am!"
Deeply moved, Park Junghoon bowed his head low.
'They said her personality was icy, but she's completely polite.'
As expected. You really had to take what the media said with a grain of salt.
"I'll fry it up deliciously for you!"
「Mr. Baek's Chicken」 was fairly large.
In the best possible location across from Yoobaek City, the entire three-story building was a chicken restaurant, and it had plenty of employees.
It couldn't be helped.
Yoo Jia had taken care of everything behind the scenes.
The third floor in particular was a VIP section, with spaces prepared for rankers or celebrities who found it inconvenient to run into ordinary people.
Oh Sunyoung's group headed there.
"Eat as much as you want. You can even summon your summons and feed them too."
"What's gotten into you, unni? My kids eat a lot..."
"It's fine."
If they ate a lot, that was even better.
That just meant they'd boost the sales nicely.
"You guys order a lot too. HunGyo said so. After intense exercise, you have to eat a lot."
"Yes, noona!"
"Then can we really go all out ordering?"
Gi Jaehyuk and Kang Jihoe were thrilled.
It was while they were in the middle of ordering food.
Slide!
The door opened, and a group of people came in.
There were four of them, and judging by the conversation, they seemed to be Japanese.
"Japanese?"
Hong Ari tilted her head.
"What are Japanese people doing here?"
It really was a little strange.
This wasn't Seoul or some famous tourist destination, but Hanam.
And not just that, but the sparsely populated Geomdansan development area.
What were the odds of Japanese people showing up here?
Guided by an employee stationed on the third floor, they seemed to be heading to another room, and it just so happened to be the room next door.
That was the moment.
Grrrr.
Oh Sunyoung's Fenrir (A-rank) let out a low growl.
"Oh."
Hong Ari blinked.
"They must be players. And pretty strong ones too."
Fenrir had a knack for sensing targets it needed to be wary of.
Which meant?
Those Japanese people were highly skilled.
"Shh, shh! Come here."
Oh Sunyoung tried to calm the wolf down.
No matter who the other party was.
If a summon made people uncomfortable in a public place, that was a nuisance.
Grrrrrr...
"Tsk, it won't listen."
When even that didn't work, she just reverse-summoned it.
No chicken for you.
"What could it be?"
Hong Ari was curious.
Couldn't she smell it in the air?
Japan was strong enough to be considered one of the world's five great summoning powers...
And players from a country like that just happened to be wandering around near Yoobaek?
It was strange in the extreme.
Knock knock.
That was when it happened.
"Excuse me?"
One of the Japanese men stood up and knocked on their door.
Oddly enough, his words came through translated.
"You seem to be fellow players. If it wouldn't be rude, may I ask you something?"
"..."
The four rankers exchanged glances.
A strange silence flowed.
"I imagine there may be some misunderstanding. I am Takahashi Shusuke of Japan."
Takahashi Shusuke!
Hong Ari and Oh Sunyoung's eyes widened.
He was famous.
Japan's No. 3 ranker and a giant figure ranked No. 30 in the world!
Why was he here?
Anyone up to world rank 100 was treated as a person of interest and thoroughly monitored by the state.
If they committed terrorism, it would be a disaster.
'Of course.'
If a giant like Shusuke seriously set out to commit terrorism, South Korea wouldn't really have an answer either.
This was Korea, after all, a country that couldn't even properly deal with gangster groups made up of domestic rankers.
To begin with, domestic No. 1 Kang Geonho was outside the world's top 100.
Slide!
In the end, Gi Jaehyuk stood up and opened the door.
A middle-aged man was standing there, and on his shoulder sat an Interpreter Bird.
As expected.
'So that bird was why the translation had come through properly!'
The middle-aged Takahashi Shusuke's presence was overwhelming.
He was quite handsome, and solidly built too.
"A Japanese man, and a world-class ranker at that. What brings you here?"
Hong Ari stood and asked, her expression full of wariness.
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