In a café.

A gloomy-looking man with a thick beard sits down.

Slurp!

He drank his coffee while watching the waiting list for player registration.

Despite his ragged appearance, he was a well-known summoner in South Korea.

His name was Park Chang-seok.

As a member of the headquarters, he had three C-rank summons that he had been raising for over two years.

"Tsk tsk."

He clicked his tongue.

"Hmm... Pick 50 of them? Only 50?"

Even though he'd been working at headquarters for quite some time, he wasn't happy with the way his superiors were handling things.

"How do they expect to become a summoner powerhouse by selecting only 50 people a month?

South Korea was currently at the bottom of the league.

This was mainly due to a lack of suitable talent...

You need to recruit more players to have any chance of discovering talent.

Sip!

He frowned after downing an iced Americano in one gulp, just 10 seconds after ordering it.

Powerful summoner nations have a system of free competition.

They don't bother to control the number of players.

They allow anyone to challenge, and only the strong survive in the system.

Park Chang-seok felt that South Korea should adopt a similar system.

Seriously, those old-timers in the back rooms just need to die. They don't know anything about the field.

Just as he was shaking his head in frustration as a current HQ examiner...

Bang!

The door to the café was smashed open.

"What, what's going on?!"

"Kyaaaa!"

The people inside screamed in shock.

Weeee-oooooooo!

The building's internal alarm began to sound loudly.

"What is this?

Park Chang-seok quickly turned around. A huge summoned creature was standing at the destroyed door.

It scanned the surroundings with a fierce, menacing gaze, causing the citizens inside to freeze in fear, unable to even flee.

'This is...'

It was a summon he was very familiar with.

A C-Rank, Blood Orc.

"Ha, those crazy bastards."

Park Chang-seok sighed and stood up.

One of the reasons South Korea was considered a backward summoner nation was because of these guys.

Summoner gangs.

Organised criminals who, no longer afraid of guns or knives, started causing trouble in this way.

"Hey, Park Chang-seok. Were you here?"

Step, step.

A man approached with a grin.

This thug was the owner of the Orc.

"You bastard. You think you can live peacefully as an assemblyman at the headquarters after killing my boys, huh?"

Four lesser summoners followed behind the Orc, supporting him.

That was his team.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

There was a murderous glint in Park Chang-seok's eyes as he stood up.

At the same time

Crack!

Tree roots sprouted from the ground.

A C-rank, lumberjack.

Fwoosh!

A C-rank Flame Turtle.

And finally, a C-Rank Fire Butterfly appeared, fluttering in the air.

These were the representative summons of Examiner Park Chang-seok.

Two more D-rank summons appeared behind them.

This was Park Chang-seok's team!

The two players stared at each other with burning eyes.

"Heurk!"

"Gang members and headquarters."

"They've been at each other's throats lately, haven't they?"

"Damn, why here of all places?"

The atmosphere in the café turned icy.

A gang.

The reason why a mere thug could act so boldly was simple.

It was because of the shield.

As long as they had their summonses out?

Even if a nuclear bomb fell here, they would survive.

These criminals, who couldn't be controlled by brute force, were wreaking havoc while ignoring existing laws and order!

South Korea was truly in the midst of a war on crime.

What is going on?

Baek Jin-woo was equally shocked.

'In Battle of Summoners, this was something unimaginable, but it was happening in reality.

No way, damn it.

This wasn't some tavern in a martial arts novel.

Were they seriously starting fights like petty thugs in the middle of Seoul?

Has the world really gone mad?

But still.

The Blood Orc, the Woodman, the Flame Tortoise, the Fire Butterfly...

They were all summons that everyone knew.

Summons that people had researched in various ways to make useful, only to find no answers, so they were used as materials whenever they appeared.

But it seems they were quite effective here?

"Er, so what's going to happen to us? Sniffle."

Someone sobbed softly from a corner.

It seemed to be a young woman who worked part-time in the café.

Another person kindly answered her question.

"What do you think will happen? We have to hope that the player from Headquarters wins."

"Pardon?"

"Don't you know that these gang bastards treat civilian lives like flies? But looking at that man, I think he's Park Chang-seok. Let's hope so. His nickname is Yaksha.

Yaksha.

A spirit from Indian mythology, known as a deity who protects the law.

He got the nickname because of the countless massacres of gang members.

For the record, in South Korea anyone can execute a registered gang member on the spot.

Even if you kill them, you won't be prosecuted.

"This is an emergency! Everyone, follow the manual and call your summons! Put up a shield!"

Park Chang-seok shouted at the civilians as he looked around.

Jin-woo immediately summoned Lamba.

[The 'Wind Fairy' (EX rank) is being summoned!]

- ......!

Lamba appeared cheerfully, ready to make a fuss, but when she noticed the crowd, she put her hands over her mouth.

In any case.

Thanks to Lamba, a shield formed.

Watching the civilians hastily summon their creatures, the thug sneered.

"Kekeke, the hero of justice has arrived?"

"......"

"What, do you think I'm really going to kill everyone here?"

"That won't happen. Because I'm going to kill you first."

"Oh really? Then let's see you try!"

Kuwaaang!

The two players collided.

Clang! Crash!

Five against five.

As the five monsters fought, the lights shattered and marble fragments flew everywhere.

"Kyaaaa!"

"S-Save me!"

"Wh-what do we do?"

The terrified civilians crouched down trembling, but thanks to the shield, no one was hurt.

Baek Jin-woo also watched the situation from a corner.

One thing was clear.

It was good that I had kept my identity as JinuGod a secret.

If there were so many violent terrorists in reality, it was even more reason to live quietly.

But first...

Should I assess the situation?

Judging by the summons, Headquarters has the advantage.

That's for sure.

The thug has only one C-rank, while Park Chang-seok has three.

Kuwaaang!

But judging by the way the fight was going, Park Chang-seok was clearly overpowered.

Why doesn't he use his skills at the right time?

Jin-woo couldn't understand.

The battle strategy formed automatically in his head, but...

This guy, Park Chang-seok, didn't seem to be like that.

It couldn't be helped.

Compared to Jin-woo, who had gained a lot of experience and knowledge through countless repetitions in the game...

Park Chang-seok, who had only spent three years in reality, inevitably lacked both insight and sense.

That guy... Yaksha?

He seemed to have some authority at headquarters, but no matter how you looked at it, his level was just too low.

'Something.'

It was a moment when Jin-woo began to understand why South Korea couldn't get out of last place.

- ......

Even Lamba, next to him, covered her eyes in disbelief, as if she was watching an unbearable fight.

A gesture that said she'd seen enough.

"Kuhahahaha! Where's the Yaksha from Headquarters now? Is that all you've got?"

The thug, full of excitement, pressed his attack.

The people began to murmur.

"What are we going to do?"

"Park Chang-seok is losing!"

"That can't be. Is Park Chang-seok really losing?"

"Did you send an SOS? Have you?"

"Headquarters is sending reinforcements, but there's no time! If Park Chang-seok falls... we'll all die!"

Amidst the growing mistrust among the gang members...

Damn it.

What should I do?

Jin-woo hesitated.

Should I help Park Chang-seok?

Under what pretext?

No, more importantly.

Won't helping him cause unnecessary trouble later?

Hadn't I decided earlier?

That I'd live as quietly as a mouse until I was stronger.

Kuwaaang!

The blood orc's axe sliced through the woodman's branches.

- Kiiieeek!

The wooden monster writhed in pain, its roots twisting as it let out a scream.

At this rate, this thug would probably win soon.

What should I do?

Before I can live in peace...

I have to stay alive first, don't I?

"Excuse me, sir."

Jin-woo finally made up his mind and stood up, walking towards Park Chang-seok.

His whole body was tensed with nerves, but if he didn't intervene now, everyone could die.

Park Chang-seok raised his right hand to stop him.

"It's dangerous. Please stay in the corner!"

"No, it's just that,"

"You're disturbing the fight! Please wait patiently! Reinforcements will arrive soon!"

Ugh.

That stubborn guy.

Despite his stern look that could make you cower, Jin-woo didn't give up.

"No, I mean... the timing of the Flame Turtle's ability is a bit off, isn't it?"

"......?"

"You're casting 'Fire Resistance' on the blood orc from behind. Why are you using your skill when that happens?"

In other words, you're losing with three C-ranks against only one C-rank.

Jin-woo swallowed the rest of the comment.

It wouldn't help to point that out, especially when the guy's face looked so intimidating.

* * *

'What...?'

Park Chang-seok felt as if he had been hit in the back of the head.

'Fire resistance?

Had this skill been prepared?

He was aware that the composition of this thug's summons had changed, but he didn't know exactly what skills they possessed.

It was understandable.

There were tens of thousands of different types of summons in the world.

Could someone really be expected to memorise the skills of every single one of them?

It didn't make sense.

'But...'

It seemed plausible.

This Blood Orc...

Although it was usually bright red and hard to see clearly, it seemed to get darker every time the followers behind it used a skill.

Was that fire resistance?

What's more, after the young man's advice, the thug's expression had stiffened considerably.

The relaxed attitude was gone, replaced by an eagerness to finish the fight quickly.

Maybe I should trust him?

After all, there weren't many other options.

Park Chang-seok decided to wait for the red energy surrounding the blood orc to dissipate.

When enough time had passed and the buff faded...

"Flame tortoise!"

Fwooooosh!

The two-legged tortoise opened its mouth wide and spat out a stream of fire.

- Krrrrrr!

The blood orc that had been charging without flinching suddenly recoiled in the face of the searing flames.

It worked!

Park Chang-seok licked his dry lips with the tip of his tongue.

It really works?

He looked back.

The young man nodded and stepped back.

'Who is this guy?

He didn't know who this young man was, but now that he understood the strategy, it was only a matter of time before they won.

"You bastard, you were just playing tricks on me."

Park Chang-seok growled.

"You son of a bitch! You filthy insect!"

The angry thug glared at Jin-woo, but there was nothing he could do.

Fwoooosh!

The Fire Butterfly and the Flame Tortoise combined their skills, forcing the orc to retreat further.

What if the supporters cast Fire Resistance again?

They wouldn't bother with the orc anymore.

Instead -

Crack! Snap!

The woodman shifted his attention and lunged at the followers behind the orc.

- Krek?

With his followers in trouble, the blood orc was helpless.

The only reason it could fight three C-ranks was because of those four buffers.

Once those buffers were neutralised, the blood orc had no future. It could only remain defensive and try to protect them.

And when the duration of Fire Resistance ran out again...

Fwooooosh!

They'd time their skill to target the blood orc again.

- Kweeeeeeeek!

In the end, the Blood Orc let out a bloodcurdling scream as it burned to ashes.

With the C-rank Orc summoned back, it was only a matter of time before the remaining buffers were cleared.

"W-wait a minute."

The thug, his shield gone along with his reverse summon, stumbled back in panic.

"I surrender! Hand me over to the police!"

What did surrender mean at this point?

Park Chang-seok's alias was Yaksha.

It wasn't given to him for nothing.

"Shut up! You'll be executed on the spot."

Crack!

Woodman's roots began to grow, wrapping around the thug's body and binding him tightly.

"W-wait! Kyaaaaaaaaah! Wait, please!"

And then -

Pwak!

For the sake of protecting civilians, he didn't make it a gruesome scene.

As for the thug's body?

It would serve as food for Woodman.

"Waaaaaah!"

"Nice! Park Chang-seok! That was satisfying!"

"We won. Hahahahah! We won! Sniffle!"

Instead of feeling disgusted, the people cheered and rejoiced.

"Tsk.

Jin-woo clicked his tongue as he watched the scene.

Even though his stomach was churning, he felt something very clearly.

This world.

It is completely different from the one I knew.

Even if it was a criminal, people who worship killing like this...

Maybe.

It occurred to him that he might not survive in this world with his old way of thinking.

And to survive in this place?

Maybe I have to change too.

As Jin-woo wore a bitter expression on his face, Park Chang-seok began to approach him.