The exam goes quickly (2)
[Caution! Caution! Caution!]
[A boss monster appears!]
Thump, thump!
A slime the size of three well-built adult men combined jumped menacingly.
"So this is my first time seeing one in person. A giant slime."
It was something he had hunted to the point of boredom while running top-tier Tuesday Dungeons.
Maybe because this was a low-tier dungeon, it was such a cute size that it almost made him snort.
"Furgo."
—Uwooooooo!
Over the past five minutes, Fur Gorilla's attack speed stacks had built up quite a bit.
It might not be a buff from Lamba in her prime, but there shouldn't be any major problem dealing with a monster at that level.
"Charge."
At Baek Jinwoo's command, Furgo pounded his chest and shot forward.
The slime, having noticed him, jumped up, intending to slam down with all its might, but—
Kwa-gagagagak!
It was already difficult for it to withstand the fists of the greatly accelerated Furgo.
Under Furgo's assault, striking in rapid succession like flashes of light, the slime burst apart mercilessly.
Puh-buh-buh-buk!
Quivering chunks of flesh splattered everywhere, and unable to contain his excitement, Furgo ravaged the slime's insides.
The boss was over in the time it took to blink.
And that, at the hands of a mere F-rank Fur Gorilla.
'This is Lamba's absurd ability.'
If even Furgo was like this, then what if he used another high-performance melee summon later on?
He'd practically fly.
[The boss monster has been defeated!]
[Dungeon Clear!]
[Clear Time — 00:05:32]
'5 minutes and 32 seconds.'
It was slow.
Considering that God Ji-nu's previous clear time had been 5 seconds, it was definitely slow.
'Of course, back then I used Ruination Dragon Breath for the record.'
Even aside from that, he had usually cut it in under a minute.
The other rankers probably took around that long too…
[Congratulations!]
[You have broken the Republic of Korea's best record!]
[You have achieved a special accomplishment!]
'What?'
Baek Jinwoo's eyes widened.
Korea's best record?
No way!
'That can't be right.'
How low was our country's level if 5 minutes was the best record?
He had never expected that.
I really have nothing to say about this.
[First accomplishment reward has arrived.]
[3 Advanced Summon Scrolls.]
[Reward has arrived.]
[2 Low-Grade Polishing Agents.]
Wooooong!
The rewards entered his status window.
[The dungeon disappears.]
Paat!
Soon, his vision flipped.
* * *
In weekday dungeons and raid dungeons, there is a system called Time Attack.
Players are ranked, and rewards are given according to those rankings!
Records are ranked twice: once by country, and once again in the unified global ranking.
And of course—
Those records had all been updated already by each country's rankers.
To receive the first accomplishment reward.
In South Korea's case?
Low-tier, mid-tier, high-tier, top-tier…
Every number one record belonged to Kang Geonho.
"Oh?"
In front of the weekday dungeon building, a staff member managing the record board shot to his feet.
"What is it?"
"Wh-why?"
"Th-the record changed."
"What? Which one?!"
"It's the low-tier Tuesday Dungeon! 5 minutes 32 seconds!"
"Low-tier? None of the rankers entered the low-tier one today. Let me see."
The veteran staff member checked the board.
"...Baek Jinwoo?"
That name was written there clearly.
"Not Kang Geonho?"
"Exactly. But who is Baek Jinwoo?"
"No idea. I've never heard of this player before. He's not a ranker, is he?"
"No, I don't think so… But how does a non-ranker break the record? And the number one record at that?"
Of course, the average record on the global record board was in the 3-minute range.
And—
[Tuesday Dungeon, Low-Tier]
[World Record Rank 1 — Rachel]
[Clear Time — 00:02:25]
Only Rachel of the United Kingdom held a record in the 2-minute range.
It was not only the staff who were shocked.
"Th-this is insane!"
Even the judges who were recording scores stared wide-eyed. Especially Park Changseok, who had been checking the scene in real time.
Tremble, tremble.
His hands were shaking.
"H-hahaha…"
Seriously.
An unregistered player breaks the domestic number one record on his very first entry into a weekday dungeon?
'This is huge.'
There was no room for doubt.
Baek Jinwoo had already proven himself three times.
Once in the fight against the gang.
Once in the written exam.
And once now in the time attack.
'He's a true gamer. The kind the whole world treats like a national treasure…!'
This…
We have to secure him no matter what.
He doesn't even have to join headquarters. We just need to help him stay active in South Korea.
'At the very least, we can't let him naturalize elsewhere.'
If he ever did naturalize?
That would be truly horrifying.
It would mean Korea would never climb out of the abyss of being perpetual last place.
"Okay."
Senior Judge Park Changseok nodded.
"Let's allow Baek Jinwoo to register immediately."
"Without even doing player combat?"
"He broke Kang Geonho's record. Does player combat even mean anything at that point? I believe people with talent deserve special treatment."
South Korea still was not in a position to cling to laws and regulations.
A backward summoning nation.
It couldn't even properly deal with the crimes overflowing in the streets, and national-treasure-level talent was urgently needed.
"I agree."
"I agree as well."
Park Changseok's position inside headquarters was solid.
Once he argued strongly for it, none of the other judges objected.
Bang!
The pass stamp came down…!
Baek Jinwoo.
Player registration.
Complete!
* * *
Meanwhile—
"Ah…"
Baek Jinwoo frowned and let out a hollow sound.
This had been a mistake.
A clear mistake.
'I should've checked the record before going in.'
He had never dreamed that a time in the 5-minute range would be South Korea's best record.
'Of course this is going to make me stand out.'
"Mr. Baek Jinwoo."
Sure enough.
From far away, Park Changseok was hurrying over in a rush.
"That was truly incredible. How did you break South Korea's record the moment you entered…! And the Tuesday Dungeon's maze is especially famous for being complicated…"
"Haha, right."
Baek Jinwoo scratched his head.
In other words, this was how it felt.
Like an engineering student being praised for being good at addition and subtraction?
That was how simple and easy it had been for Baek Jinwoo.
"You must really have been an incredible gamer! First of all, here, please take this."
"What is it?"
"It's your player license. As of this moment, Mr. Baek Jinwoo, you are now officially allowed to operate as a registered player."
"Ah."
Just like that?
Well, that's good.
"Thank you."
"And separately from that, may I ask how you broke the record?"
Park Changseok asked cautiously.
He knew very well that former gamers had knowledge for Battle of Summoners.
But that was top-secret information.
The gamers of each country never leaked those strategies to the outside world.
They shared them only among themselves.
As would be explained later, this was because of a system called national "leagues".
Benefits differed according to rank!
A competitive system between nations.
'Hmm.'
Baek Jinwoo moved his lips as he thought.
'What should I do?'
Even back when he was One Heaven, he had never casually revealed his information.
Especially when it came to important information like score-breaking methods.
'To be honest.'
If he revealed all the know-how he had, he could drastically raise the average ranking of South Korea's rankers.
Maybe they could even aim for the world rankings.
If he showed just that much—then there were only two possibilities.
Either the state would drag him in by force and squeeze out all his information, or he would gain honor and wealth all at once through state support.
Should he trust the country?
Or trust himself?
"That question just now."
After thinking for a long while, Baek Jinwoo finally spoke.
"Yes."
"You do know that was an extremely rude question, right?"
"I apologize. But please understand. South Korea is that desperate."
"Yes, yes. I know."
He could understand Park Changseok's position too. If anything, his actions were close to patriotism.
'And his personality isn't bad either.'
Like how he neatly paid the reward money. Like how, once he was sure, he immediately registered him.
In many ways, he was a quick-witted man.
'Then…?'
Instead of worrying about being taken advantage of by the state, wouldn't it be better to make use of the state?
If the state itself was willing to cooperate, wouldn't it let him grow faster than going it alone?
Baek Jinwoo's mind spun rapidly.
And then—
"Judge."
"Yes."
"I want to have a deeper conversation. Shall we move somewhere else?"
"Y-yes, let's!"
Park Changseok answered, his eyes shining.
* * *
They moved to a quiet café nearby.
"I'll speak frankly."
Perhaps Park Changseok had finished organizing his thoughts on the way over, because he got right to the point.
"Headquarters needs your knowledge, Mr. Baek Jinwoo. Please help us."
Still seated, he bowed his head.
Park Changseok knew it.
'Perhaps.'
The knowledge in Baek Jinwoo's head might be on a far higher level than that of all South Korea's rankers combined.
It was instinct.
The man before him felt fundamentally different from ordinary players.
"You said you had been lying in a hospital room for three years, right?"
"...Did you investigate me too?"
For an instant, displeasure passed over Baek Jinwoo's face.
"I'm sorry. As I said before, highly skilled unregistered players have a high chance of being involved with gangs."
Right.
That was possible.
"Now that I'm registered, there won't be any more background investigation, right?"
"Th-that's right."
"Please be careful."
"Yes."
Park Changseok broke out in a cold sweat.
At the same time, his evaluation of Baek Jinwoo was revised once more.
'He's not easy.'
If it had been an ordinary person, they would have tried to be as cooperative as possible in front of the massive power called the state.
But?
Baek Jinwoo stood firm.
That was a posture only someone who knew his own value better than anyone else could take.
"Good. I also did some thinking on the way here."
This time Baek Jinwoo opened his mouth.
"What do I gain by helping the country?"
'Perfect!'
Park Changseok's eyes filled with delight.
The easiest kind of person in the world to deal with was someone who was clear about gains and losses.
For that type, if you offered proper benefits, they could definitely be won over.
"My cooperation."
"Your cooperation, Judge?"
"It may not seem trustworthy, but I hold quite a high position in headquarters. Top ten, in fact."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes, why do you think headquarters council members are called council members? Because they are elected by the people. If I produce meaningful results, I might receive more votes and rise even higher."
"I see."
So, something like a politician?
Baek Jinwoo smacked his lips.
"Within the limits of my authority, I can provide you with any support possible, Mr. Baek Jinwoo."
Hmm.
What should he do?
Baek Jinwoo fell into thought.
First of all—
The reward wasn't concrete enough.
Since he worked for the state, he probably couldn't just use money however he wanted.
It seemed better to first figure out how he could make use of this Park Changseok before making a deal.
"Then let's do this."
"Yes, please speak freely."
Park Changseok's expression brightened.
"One month."
"Yes?"
"I only just got registered, didn't I? For exactly one month, I'll grow while making requests for support."
"And then?"
"If I like what I see, we move forward together. If I don't, then I'll either return whatever support I received, or provide knowledge equivalent to it."
"...?!"
Park Changseok's brightened expression turned ambiguous.
So what that meant was—
He was going to use him as a secretary for one month?
'It's cheeky, but…'
In truth, Park Changseok had no choice. Because Baek Jinwoo was clearly in the dominant position.
Besides, hadn't he already intended to support him in every possible way?
To stop him from naturalizing elsewhere.
And to be honest, simply watching his actions from the side would probably yield a lot too.
"Ha, fine."
Park Changseok gave a good-natured smile.
When a hairy middle-aged man smiled brightly like that, it was somehow creepy yet cute.
"Let's do that."