The Korea-Japan Friendly Match (2)
For starters — Hong Ari had seen Takahashi Shusuke before. She wasn't the only one, either. Oh Seon-young had seen him too. The two of them had competed in the World League.
K...
His nickname was K. A tag the Korean national team players used as a joke — the K of Superstar K.
"Might I ask you something?" Shusuke was the picture of courtesy. "Are you players affiliated with Yubaek, across the way there?"
"..."
Honestly, those words stung worse than any insult. They had crossed paths any number of times in the World League, and he was claiming he hadn't recognized them. So that's exactly where our country stood. Dead last in the league. An existence beneath the great powers' notice. In soccer terms, it was like a Premier League superstar failing to recognize a North Korean international.
Tch. Hong Ari's mouth twisted. "Affiliated? Sure, we are. But before you ask that, shouldn't you explain why you're asking?"
Now that she thought about it, the whole thing was suspicious. When a heavyweight like Shusuke so much as sneezed, it was a national emergency. His entry procedures alone should have kicked up a storm by now — yet somehow, everything was quiet. Don't tell me...
Perhaps catching the sharp edge of her gaze, Shusuke broke into a wry smile. "I came in secret. I had no wish for a commotion. I simply want to meet Yubaek's executives."
In truth, Shusuke had crossed into Korea on the orders of Yoshida Hikaru, one of the Five Emperors. He and four members had crossed the East Sea in the flesh, and not a soul had caught them. By any normal standard, it was the kind of stunt that spelled disaster — they had violated territorial waters and airspace without permission. Had the roles been reversed, all hell would have broken loose. But?
That's Japan's weight to throw around. Against a summoning superpower, there was precious little a minor nation could do.
"Ordinarily I would have filled my empty belly and slipped straight into Yubaek territory. But on the way, I sensed something — a rather strong Fenrir in the next room over. With an aura at that level, you'd have to be one of South Korea's top rankers, no?"
"...!"
Oh Seon-young went rigid. He had named her summon without so much as a glance? And that wasn't all. He had gauged its level of strength, too — precisely. The world called rankers inside the global top 100 heavyweights, and a heavyweight's situational judgment and summon-related acumen were said to brook no rivals.
"A ranker of that caliber, here of all places? Naturally, I assumed you were a Yubaek executive — or at the very least, connected to them."
"A heavyweight's read, all right. Fine. What is it you want?"
"Before that." Shusuke's eyes curved gently. "I've given you my name and my reason for coming. I believe introductions come first on your side as well. Only then can we hold a proper conversation, wouldn't you agree?"
Hm. He wasn't wrong. And this was a man who stood far above them — yet there was nothing high-handed about him. Only courtesy.
"Hong Ari," she offered first.
"I'm Oh Seon-young."
"Ki Jaehyeok."
"Kang Jiho here."
The remaining rankers followed suit, and one by one, the Japanese rankers introduced themselves in turn.
First things first. Hong Ari's mind was made up. I have to report this in. No matter what. This was not a problem she and hers could hash out on their own.
"For now, we'll hear whatever it is you want. Please, start with a meal."
"If you'll hear us out..."
"...Yes. We'll connect you with the Yubaek executive you're looking for."
At that very moment.
"Hmm."
Sugoi — one of the Five Emperors, Yoshida Hikaru when he was being a civilian — was clipping his nails, humming a little lulu lulu under his breath.
"I wonder if they've arrived all right?"
Rachel had entered the Tower of Ordeal. She'd declared she would smash straight through from floor 30 to 50, so that would take her quite a while. As for him, he was still on floor 29. And floor 30? He'd take his time with it once Rachel came back down. With a leader out front clearing the way, there's no need to go volunteering for danger first. Besides, the Five Emperors had all sworn to share information anyway.
Still. Rachel is far too conservative, though. The other old guard he couldn't speak for, but Hikaru was all but certain of one thing: Baek Jinwoo was Jinugod. That was why he had ordered a subordinate to slip in, meet the man, and come back. To be precise: meet him under the banner of an unofficial friendly match, and bring back intelligence on Baek Jinwoo's power.
If that's the goal, why not simply contact Yubaek directly?
His subordinate had asked; Hikaru had shaken his head. Rachel told us to keep our distance. Rachel was the leader of the Five Emperors. When she stated something officially and you defied it, things turned uncomfortable fast. Making direct contact in that climate? The entire world would be in an uproar.
I can't wait. Truly. Baek Jinwoo. Are you really Jinugod? Our god and our hero — the summoner legend who alone dared challenge the Tower of Ordeal's hundredth floor, and in the end cleared it! Barely two years remained until the Raid update, the Dragon of Chaos.
If Baek Jinwoo truly is Jinugod... then that connection had to be cultivated desperately, whatever it took. On this point, all five of the Five Emperors would agree. Which was exactly why he had drilled it into Shusuke as well. Even if you go in secret, even if you meet him — absolutely, under no circumstances, do not make a mistake.
Baek Jinwoo, who had been overseeing Lund's crafting alongside Hungyo, received the news.
Hm? The Japanese were here? And they're looking for me?
Yoo Jia must have caught wind of it too, because she came dashing to the training grounds. "Jinwoo!"
"Yes, I heard."
"This is more serious than I expected. Shusuke — an actual heavyweight, of all people!"
Shusuke? Baek Jinwoo tilted his head. Who was that? "Is he strong?"
"..."
Yoo Jia stared at him for a long beat, utterly dumbfounded. Really, there were limits. Not knowing Shusuke, Japan's number two... Moments like these reminded her, all over again, of just how recently Baek Jinwoo had woken from his coma.
"Yes. Very. He's monstrously strong. World rank 30, if you can believe it..."
"Ooh." He did know a fair amount about the world ranking system, at least — that it refreshed after each year's World League, and only displayed the top hundred.
"If he's here for a fight, though, that's a bit awkward..."
"Why?"
"Hungyo doesn't have his runes right now."
The Versatile Rune he'd been wearing? Currently being hammered flat as crafting material.
"Well. It'll be fine regardless."
Baek Jinwoo flashed a grin. A Five Emperor, perhaps. But world rank 30... well. Some might ask what exactly he was basing this composure on, but Baek Jinwoo's eyes saw everything clearly. The caliber of rankers three years into their careers? However splendid their summons and runes, they did not frighten him. Comparatively speaking, they were children toting sharp weapons — the sort of thing an adult with a wooden stick could dispatch with ease. And the adult in question is me.
"If they want a meeting, we'll give them one. If they want to see me, tell them to come on over."
The training grounds. Before Baek Jinwoo and Yoo Jia, seated in easy conversation —
"Oh, there they are."
"So they came."
Four neatly dressed Japanese men were striding in, bold as brass. Trailing behind them came four disciples as well.
That one is Shusuke? Baek Jinwoo picked him out of the group at a glance — Yoo Jia had spent the wait schooling him with photographs. Thanks to her cram session, he even knew the man belonged to the same guild as Sugoi.
Sugoi. One of the old partners-in-crime with whom he'd shared five years of friendship. Baek Jinwoo didn't actually know much about him. That he'd placed third in the rankings of Battle of Summoners. And his age. Thirty-four by now, I'd guess. An older hyung, but dear me, his antics had been adorable.
Every time the Tower stonewalled him, he'd act all cute and come begging for tips. The memory wrung a snort out of Baek Jinwoo. Funny? The man was hilarious.
It was a joke, of course — but the man had been desperate enough to hawk his own country for a walkthrough. Shusuke was Sugoi's cherished disciple and right hand.
I see. The atmosphere itself wasn't bad. Judging by his build, the man kept himself in decent shape, and his presence had real energy. The way he loomed over his own disciples — a crane among a flock of chickens, one might say.
"So you are Baek Jinwoo." Shusuke, closing the distance, identified him at once.
The truth was, Shusuke couldn't fathom it. What about Baek Jinwoo warranted all that caution? Jinugod? He, too, had seen Hikaru's interview from years past.
He had disliked it immensely. Just how extraordinary was this man, that he got to hold forth on humanity's future! Granted, Jinugod was handsome. His physique looked solid, too. But that was the extent of it. The man wasn't even a world ranker; even if he soared over South Korea, Shusuke had always figured him for a frog strutting about the bottom of its well.
That said. He wasn't careless. Long or short, you couldn't know a rope until you measured it against another — which was precisely why he had sneaked into this country.
"We are four members of Japan's national team. Baek Jinwoo — you are the captain of South Korea's national team, I believe?"
"I am."
"Then we would like to request an unofficial friendly match, in the interest of both our nations' development."
A friendly match! At those words, Yoo Jia's eyes flew wide. A scoop!
Friendly matches thrived abroad, in fact. Train only at home and your instincts dulled, so the idea was for players of different nations to clash and sharpen their feel against one another. There was a catch, though. As a rule, the weaker nation paid the stronger one a staggering fee just to arrange one. It couldn't be helped — the weaker a country's summoners, the more desperately it needed to absorb the great powers' know-how. And then there was this: Britain, the United States, Japan, Russia, Taiwan. Those five stood as the world's reigning summoning superpowers. Because of them, South Korea couldn't so much as manage proper diplomacy with Japan, let alone a friendly match. And now Japan was offering one directly? Unofficially, at that?
"And the fee?"
When Yoo Jia asked, Hikaru answered. "Naturally, we'll ask only a little."
The corner of Shusuke's mouth curled up slightly. In truth, Hikaru had ordered him to proceed entirely free of charge. But? However he turned it over, free simply wasn't right. Squaring off against a developing nation — how could anyone be expected to work as a charity! It felt like a swindle.
"A little, meaning how much, exactly..."
"One billion won per match. Wouldn't you call that reasonable?"
Reasonable, he says! Yoo Jia, who understood the shape of international affairs, nodded on the spot. She had worked at headquarters — there were records of the place budgeting as much as ten billion won per match just to book a single date with a great power. Naturally, even that had never come to fruition. But.
Baek Jinwoo clearly saw things differently. His brow knotted at once. "'Reasonable,' my ass."
"...?"
What? What was that supposed to mean? My ass? Shusuke's head whipped around — and there was Baek Jinwoo, scowling.
"A friendly match with me... and you intend to collect money for it? Where does that confidence come from, exactly?"
To Baek Jinwoo, it was beyond preposterous. They should be paying him, and even that would fall short. What? They wanted money? With skill like that? What a load of crap, you people!