Korea-Japan Friendly Match (2)
For starters.
Hong Ari had seen Takahashi Shusuke before. Not just Hong Ari, but Oh Sunyoung had too.
Because they had participated together in the World League.
'K...'
His nickname was K.
It was a joking nickname the Korean national players used for him, the K from Superstar K.
"May I ask something?"
Shusuke was polite.
"Are you perhaps players connected to Yoobaek over there?"
"...."
To be honest.
That was what hurt their pride even more.
It meant that despite running into them several times in the World League, he still didn't recognize who they were.
'Our country really was only worth that much.'
Bottom of the league.
A presence so weak that the powerful nations had no reason to care.
In soccer terms, it was like a superstar playing in the English Premier League not recognizing a North Korean national team player.
Hong Ari pursed her lips.
"If we're related, then we are. But before asking that, shouldn't you first explain why you're asking?"
Now that she thought about it, it was suspicious.
If someone as big a name as Shusuke moved, it should have been a national emergency.
From the immigration process onward, there should already have been a loud uproar, but for some reason, everything was quiet.
'Could it be...?'
Perhaps noticing the suspicion in Hong Ari's eyes, Shusuke gave a bitter smile.
"I came secretly. I did not want to cause a commotion. I only wish to meet Yoobaek's executives."
In truth, Shusuke had come to Korea under the orders of one of the Five Emperors, Yoshida Hikaru.
He had crossed the East Sea himself with four members, and they had not been caught.
Ordinarily, that would have been a huge incident.
They had violated territorial waters and airspace without permission.
If it had happened the other way around, it would have caused just as much chaos.
But?
'That's Japan's power.'
There was not much a weak country could do against a powerful summoning nation.
"If we had been unlucky, we might have ended up captured after being treated as infiltrators. While I was considering that possibility, I sensed that there was quite a strong Fenrir in the next room. Surely someone with a summon of that level—"
"...!"
Oh Sunyoung was startled.
Without even seeing it, he had guessed the summon's name?
Not only that.
He even knew the level of its strength.
And accurately at that.
People around the world referred to rankers who placed within the top 100 of the world rankings as big shots.
And it was said that a big shot's judgment in a situation and intelligence regarding summons were second to none.
"A ranker of that level just so happens to be here? Naturally, I thought you must be one of Yoobaek's executives, or at least someone connected to them."
"That certainly is the kind of judgment you'd expect from a big shot. Fine then, what do you want?"
"Rather than that."
Shusuke's eyes curved gently.
"I have stated my name, and I have stated why I came... so I believe it is only proper that you also introduce yourselves first. Only after that can we have a proper conversation, wouldn't you agree?"
Ahem.
He wasn't wrong.
Besides, he was someone in a far higher position than they were. And yet he was neither overbearing nor rude.
He was courteous.
"I'm Hong Ari."
When she introduced herself first,
"I'm Oh Sunyoung."
"Gi Jaehyuk."
"I'm Kang Jihoe."
The other rankers followed and introduced themselves as well.
Then the Japanese rankers also began introducing themselves one by one.
First...
Hong Ari thought,
'We absolutely have to contact them.'
This was not something they could solve among themselves, no matter what.
"For now, since we'll grant your request, why don't you have a meal first?"
"If you say you'll grant it..."
"...Yes, we will connect you to the Yoobaek executive you wish to meet."
* * *
At that same time.
"Hm."
One of the Five Emperors, Sugoi.
His real name, Yoshida Hikaru, was trimming his nails.
Rulu.
"I wonder if they arrived safely."
Rachel had entered the Tower of Trials.
She had said she would clear straight through from the 30th floor to the 50th, so it would take quite some time.
He himself was currently on the 29th floor.
The 30th floor?
After Rachel returned, he would aim for it slowly.
'When there's already a leader going ahead, there's no need for me to take the risk first.'
The Five Emperors had promised to share information with one another anyway.
Still.
'Rachel is too conservative.'
Maybe not the other old-timers, but Hikaru was fairly certain.
That Baek Jinwoo was God Ji-nu.
So he had ordered a subordinate to secretly go and meet him.
More precisely, he had told him to meet him under the pretext of an unofficial friendly match and learn about Baek Jinwoo's strength.
If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to just contact Yoobaek directly?
A subordinate had asked, but Hikaru shook his head.
'Rachel told us not to approach him.'
Rachel was the leader of the One Heaven, Five Emperors.
If she had said it officially and they disobeyed?
Things could become quite uncomfortable.
And in that situation, contacting him directly?
The whole world would erupt in noise.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
Seriously.
Baek Jinwoo.
Are you really God Ji-nu?
Our god and hero.
The only Summoner legend who challenged the 100th floor of the Tower of Trials and ultimately cleared it!
Now, there were less than two years left until the raid and the Chaos Demon Dragon update.
'If Baek Jinwoo really is God Ji-nu.'
Then they had to maintain a relationship with him at all costs.
On this point, all of the One Heaven, Five Emperors would agree.
That was why he had told Shusuke as well.
Even if he went secretly to meet him.
Absolutely.
Absolutely do not make a mistake.
* * *
Baek Jinwoo, who had been watching Rund's crafting progress together with HunGyo, heard the news.
Huh?
Japanese people came?
"They're looking for me?"
As if Yoo Jia had also heard the news, she came running toward the training ground.
"Mr. Jinwoo!"
"Yes, I heard."
"It's more serious than I expected. One of the big shots, Shusuke, of all people!"
Shusuke?
Baek Jinwoo tilted his head.
Who was that?
"He's strong?"
"....."
Yoo Jia stared at Baek Jinwoo with a briefly dumbfounded expression.
No matter how unaware he was, not knowing Shusuke, Japan's number two...
Moments like this made it hit her again.
The fact that Baek Jinwoo had not been awake from his coma for very long.
"Yes, he's strong. Incredibly strong. He's ranked 30th in the world, after all..."
"Oh."
Still, he knew a fair amount about the world ranking system.
At least that it was updated every year after the World League ended, and that only up to rank 100 was displayed.
"If he's here to fight, then that's a bit annoying..."
"Why?"
"I don't have HunGyo with any rune."
The Omnipotent Rune he had been using?
Right now, it was being hammered away diligently with the materials.
"Well, even so, it's fine."
Smile.
Baek Jinwoo grinned.
Unless it was someone on the level of the Five Emperors, someone around world rank 30 was... well.
Some might ask what he was trusting to be so careless, but in Baek Jinwoo's eyes, it was obvious.
The level of rankers who had only been active for three years?
No matter how good their summons and runes were, they did not frighten him.
If he had to compare it, they were like children holding sharp weapons.
And an adult with a club could handle that much easily enough.
'And that adult is me.'
"If he wants to meet me, then I'll meet him. If he wants to see me, tell him to come here."
* * *
Training ground.
In front of Baek Jinwoo and Yoo Jia, who were sitting and chatting,
"Uh, over there."
"Looks like they're here."
Four Japanese men in neat attire were walking in confidently. And behind them were the four disciples as well.
'That's Shusuke?'
Baek Jinwoo recognized him immediately.
Because while they were waiting, Yoo Jia had shown him photos and made him memorize them.
Thanks to that, he also knew that the man belonged to the same guild as Sugoi.
'Sugoi.'
One of the old-timers he had shared camaraderie with for five years.
Baek Jinwoo did not know that much about him. Only that he had been ranked 3rd in Battle of Summoners.
And his age.
'He'd be thirty-four now.'
He was older in age, but the things he did had been pretty cute.
Whenever he hit a wall in the Tower of Trials, he used to act all adorable and ask for tips.
Remembering that, Baek Jinwoo let out a short laugh.
It really was funny.
[God Ji-nu: Dokdo is?]
[Sugoi: Korean territory!]
[God Ji-nu: Then Tsushima is?]
[Sugoi: If you tell me, that's Korean territory too!!]
It was probably a joke, but he had been desperate enough to sell out his country for tips.
Shusuke was Sugoi's favorite disciple and right-hand man.
'Indeed.'
The atmosphere itself was not bad.
Judging by his build, he seemed to take care of himself to some extent.
His bearing was good too. It felt like he stood out from the disciples like a crane among chickens.
"So you're Baek Jinwoo."
The approaching Shusuke recognized him right away.
In truth, Shusuke could not understand it.
Why had they told him to be so careful about Baek Jinwoo?
'God Ji-nu?'
He too had once seen an interview Hikaru gave in the past.
-The Republic of Korea must find God Ji-nu as quickly as possible. It is essential, both for Korea and for humanity, which must climb the Tower of Trials. If they cannot find him? Humanity has no future.
He did not like that.
Just how amazing could this man be, for people to be discussing the future of humanity because of him?
For one thing, yes, he was handsome. And yes, his body looked good. But that was all.
He was not a world-ranked player, and even if he was flying high in Korea, Shusuke thought he was nothing more than a frog making noise in a well.
'Of course.'
That did not mean he was careless.
He was the type who believed you only knew the length of something once you measured it, and that was exactly why he had come here in secret.
"We are four members of Japan's national team. Baek Jinwoo, you are the captain of Korea's national team, correct?"
"So what if I am?"
"For the development of both our nations, we would like to request an unofficial friendly match."
A friendly match!
At that mention, Yoo Jia's eyes widened.
This was a scoop!
In truth, friendly matches were common in other countries.
If you trained only domestically, you could lose your edge, so the point was for players from different countries to face each other and sharpen their senses.
However.
Usually, when arranging a friendly match, the lower-level country paid an enormous fee to the higher-level country.
That could not be helped.
The weaker a summoning nation was, the more it had to absorb the know-how of the stronger countries.
And.
The current five greatest summoning powers were England, the United States, Japan, Russia, and Taiwan.
Because of that, Korea had not even been able to manage proper diplomacy with Japan, let alone a friendly match.
And in that situation, they were offering a friendly match themselves?
And unofficially, at that?
"What about the fee?"
When Yoo Jia asked, Hikaru answered.
"Of course, we'll only ask for a small amount."
The corner of Shusuke's mouth curled up slightly.
In truth, Hikaru had told him to conduct it absolutely free of charge.
But?
No matter how he thought about it, free was out of the question.
How could he be expected to do nothing but charity work fighting a backward country!
That felt unfair.
"If you say a small amount, about how much..."
"One billion won per match. Wouldn't that be reasonable?"
Reasonable? More than reasonable!
Yoo Jia, who understood international affairs, nodded immediately.
She had worked at headquarters before.
Back then, there had been records showing headquarters prepared up to ten billion won per match just to arrange a schedule with one of the stronger countries.
Of course, even then it had never gone through.
But.
Baek Jinwoo did not seem to think so at all.
He immediately frowned deeply and said,
"Reasonable, my ass."
"...?"
What?
What was that supposed to mean?
My ass?
When Shusuke whipped his head around to stare, Baek Jinwoo looked thoroughly displeased.
"You want to have a friendly match with me... and get paid for it? What kind of confidence is that supposed to be?"
To Baek Jinwoo, it was absurd. They should have been the ones paying him, if anything.
What?
They wanted money?
With skills like that?
Bullshit, you bastards!
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