Chapter 65
Japan-Korea Friendly Match (1)
Kraaang!
Lund swung the hammer with precision.
Plop!
Sweat ran down his forehead.
“Masterpiece crafting.”
In the past, Lund had been isolated because of his immense potential!
The rare and unique runes that a Level 1 crafter could create were strictly limited.
[List of Masterpieces Available for Crafting]
[Rampage (Rare), Omni (Rare), Howling (Rare), Emperor (Rare), Trinity (Unique)]
Five per level.
When you reach Level 2, another five unlock.
The runes on this list required materials far beyond those of normal crafting, but the success rate was 100%.
“Jackpot.”
This is why JinuGod had risen to the overwhelming rank 1 in the past—thanks to “Masterpiece Crafting.”
“Hahaha.”
Baek Jin-woo couldn’t suppress his growing laughter.
Just imagine the summons decked out with the best runes obtainable from this list.
“Crazy…”
And only he could create them.
Simply pulling and giving them to the right person would grant immense power.
“Better to make them all slowly, but for now…”
“Hun-gyo.”
- Yes, master?
“Come here.”
Baek Jin-woo removed the Omni Rune from Hun-gyo.
Then:
“Lund, what materials are needed to craft the highest-grade Trinity Rune?”
- Hehe, just a moment.
[Materials for Highest-Grade Trinity (Unique) Rune]
[Enhanced Highest-Grade Omni Rune x1, Highest-Grade Omni Rune x2]
“As expected.”
Nothing had changed.
Three Omni Runes could create a Trinity Rune!
- Are you… seriously giving me the chance to craft a masterpiece already?
Lund’s eyes gleamed.
For a blacksmith, swinging a hammer was the greatest joy, and rare, difficult tasks brought even greater pleasure.
“Don’t even mention it. Here.”
Baek Jin-woo placed 18 prepared Omni Runes before him.
- Huh, huff…! 18 Rare Runes? And all Omni?!
Lund cried out in happiness.
Starting with Unique Rune crafting meant tremendous skill gain.
“Can you start right away?”
- Of course! If I spend a day per rune, just wait six days!
“Okay, proceed immediately.”
This was it.
The point where he would surpass even the world’s top-ranked players, moving toward true unmatched power.
Recently, Arirang and Carpe Diem’s internal policies had changed completely.
“Exercise without fail!”
Everyone, from executives to guild members, had to build basic stamina and strength.
“Why suddenly?”
“Isn’t it enough to just train our summons?”
“The guild master said so. If he says do it, we do it.”
If someone failed the conditions within the set period, they would receive a warning.
Three accumulated warnings?
Of course, expulsion.
Players had no choice but to comply.
Getting kicked out for skipping exercise, especially in a top guild, would be humiliating.
Even entrance tests now heavily emphasized stamina scores.
“This should have been done earlier.”
O Sun-young muttered as she wiped sweat and exhaled.
She, along with Baek Jin-woo’s four disciples, returned satisfied after today’s training.
Now, training wasn’t just for players.
Summons trained alongside them.
Hun-gyo oversaw the sessions, and all summons were set to prioritize his commands.
“Unnie.”
Hong Ari called to O Sun-young.
“Yes?”
“Honestly, isn’t it unfair?”
“Unfair about what?”
“If we redo the team battles, we’ll definitely make the national team.”
“……Maybe.”
If she could return to the past, she’d have avoided Baek Jin-woo and safely joined the national team.
“But more than unfair, I’m satisfied.”
She meant it.
She was a wolf enthusiast.
All her summons were wolves.
Naturally, sticking to one species came with limitations and weaknesses.
She had recently felt those limits and considered breaking her habit.
But since Baek Jin-woo became her mentor, all concerns vanished.
“Amazing.”
Even using only wolf-type summons, he covered all weaknesses and even taught how to counter enemies using them.
Moreover:
The wolves Baek Jin-woo controlled were on a different level.
Following his methods alone was enough to feel satisfied.
She was certain.
Soon, Arirang would catch up to Baek Ho.
Under Baek Jin-woo, Arirang and Carpe Diem would thrive.
“Thank you.”
O Sun-young looked at Ki Jae-hyuk.
“Yes?”
“It’s thanks to you. You suggested coming here with me, so Ari and I could grow.”
“Oh, don’t mention it.”
“Seriously.”
Without Baek Jin-woo, they would have fallen behind over time.
Even maintaining rank as a top domestic player would have been difficult.
But now, she felt confident.
Honestly, facing Kang Geon-ho, the top national player, would be manageable.
“Of course.”
After always competing with Baek Jin-woo, suddenly 1:1 with Kang Geon-ho? She already felt at ease.
“No pressure at all.”
“If you’re serious, buy us all a meal.”
“Meal?”
“Yes! Did you know? A large chicken restaurant recently opened across from Yu-baek City.”
“……?”
“Rumor has it, it’s run by Jin-woo hyung’s father.”
What? Baek Jin-woo’s father?
O Sun-young’s eyes widened.
Ki Jae-hyuk already knew such precious information?
She felt deep gratitude for Baek Jin-woo.
If he asked for help, she would do anything.
But Baek Jin-woo was perfect.
Honestly, he didn’t need anyone’s help.
“Let’s go. I’ll treat.”
And his family owned a chicken restaurant? She couldn’t resist.
“Let’s feed even the wolves.”
Top-ranked players earn a lot.
Especially vice-guildmasters of major guilds.
A chicken feast? No problem at all.
Might as well spend 100 million won today.
Baek’s Chicken
“Welcome!”
Park Jong-hoon, wearing an apron, greeted them loudly.
He was Baek Jin-chul’s friend.
While unloading parcels at a logistics center, Jin-chul had convinced him to become co-owner of the chicken restaurant.
Of course, Jin-chul held 90% of the shares, and he 10%.
“Uh? Hong Ari and O Sun-young players…?”
Park Jong-hoon’s eyes widened.
The four who entered were so famous.
“And Ki Jae-hyuk and Kang Ji-ho too…!”
All four were so famous in South Korea that anyone not knowing them might be a spy.
“Indeed.”
He swallowed.
He already knew that Baek Jin-woo, the famous player, was Jin-chul’s son.
He had been stunned back then, unable to close his mouth.
Since then, he vowed loyalty to Jin-chul.
A practical choice for an ordinary person.
“Please, this way! I’ll show you to the best seats.”
“Yes, is the owner here…?”
O Sun-young asked carefully.
“Haha, you mean Jin-chul!”
Baek Jin-chul.
Now famous as Baek Jin-woo’s father.
Hearing Park Jong-hoon address him like a friend, O Sun-young bowed respectfully.
“Yes, that’s right. We’ll order a lot today!”
“Absolutely!”
Park Jong-hoon bowed deeply, thrilled.
“Cook it deliciously!”
Baek’s Chicken was sizable.
A prime three-story building across Yu-baek City entirely dedicated to chicken, with many staff.
The third floor had private rooms for famous players or top-ranked individuals to avoid public eyes.
O Sun-young and her party went upstairs.
“Eat as much as you like. You can even feed your summons.”
“Unnie, really? Our kids eat a lot…”
“It’s fine.”
The more they ate, the better. It boosted revenue.
“Order a lot. Hun-gyo says after tough exercise, you need to eat plenty.”
“Yes, unnie!”
“Then let’s really order everything.”
Ki Jae-hyuk and Kang Ji-ho were excited.
While placing the order, the door slid open.
A group of four entered.
Judging from their conversation, they seemed Japanese.
“Japanese?”
Hong Ari tilted her head.
“Why are Japanese people here?”
It was strange. Not Seoul or a tourist spot, but Hanam.
In a sparsely populated development area near Geomdansan, what were the odds?
Guided by a staff member on the third floor, they went to another room—coincidentally, the adjacent one.
At that moment:
- Grrr.
O Sun-young’s Fenrir (A-Rank) growled low.
“Oh.”
Hong Ari blinked.
“Players, huh? And strong ones at that.”
Fenrir could sense potential threats.
That meant these Japanese players were highly skilled.
“Shh, shh! Calm down.”
O Sun-young tried to pacify her wolves.
No matter who it was, summoning them in public causing discomfort would be rude.
- Grrrrr…
“It’s useless.”
She forcibly recalled Fenrir.
No chicken for you.
“What could it be?”
Hong Ari wondered.
Didn’t it seem odd?
Japan was one of the top five summoning nations—strong, stable players.
Yet they were loitering near Yu-baek? Strange.
Knock knock.
One of the Japanese men knocked on the door.
Oddly, they were understood through interpretation.
“Seems we’re fellow players. May I ask a few questions if it’s not rude?”
“…….”
The four ranked players locked eyes.
A tense silence followed.
“I may have caused a misunderstanding. I am Takahashi Shusuke from Japan.”
Takahashi Shusuke!
Hong Ari and O Sun-young’s eyes widened.
He was famous.
Ranked 3rd in Japan and 30th worldwide!
Why was he here?
The top 100 global players were closely monitored even by governments.
If he planned terror, it would be serious.
Of course, with someone like Shusuke, any serious trouble would be catastrophic for Korea.
Ki Jae-hyuk opened the door.
A middle-aged man stood there with a translator bird on his shoulder.
As expected, the bird enabled proper translation.
The middle-aged Takahashi exuded authority.
Handsome, solid build.
“Japanese, a global-ranked player… what brings you here?”
Hong Ari asked cautiously, her expression full of suspicion.
