Grinding by Tearing
Player Headquarters.
Assemblyman Park Changseok's Office.
"Assemblyman! Assemblyman!"
The secretary rushed in.
"This is incredible! Please take a look at the news articles!"
"I've already seen them."
On the phone screen of Park Changseok, who sat calmly in his office, the following headlines were displayed:
[South Korea Breaks Tuesday Dungeon Records Consecutively! Who Was Behind It? It Was Yaksha of the Headquarters, Assemblyman Park Changseok.]
[Assemblyman Park Changseok: 'Valuable Information Acquired Cheaply from Overseas.']
[The Proud Headquarters Rankers Led by Park Changseok! Will They Challenge World Records? Citizens Thrilled by Their Potential.]
At first glance, it seemed insignificant. But the public was in an uproar. They had been thirsty for good news.
Good heavens.
South Korea challenging a world record!
-Perennial bottom of the league!
-Widening national wealth gaps due to inferior benefits!
-A backward nation in summoning!
After hearing nothing but demoralizing words for so long, this was a rare piece of uplifting news.
The name of the record-holder, Baek Jinwoo, who had briefly trended in online communities, had already been forgotten.
All public attention turned to Park Changseok.
It was revealed that he had played a key role in breaking the record.
"Th-this… It all came from Baek Jinwoo's ideas, didn't it? That first-year gamer…?"
The secretary asked cautiously.
Anyone with common sense would know the truth.
Why?
Recently, Park Changseok had created the
Secretary Kim Byungjin, staff member Yoo Jia, and staff member Hwang Taeseop.
All three were among the headquarters' finest elites.
In reality, the
A team that would drop everything to assist him the moment he made contact.
Currently, they were dedicating all their efforts to lawfully extracting low-grade summoning scrolls from the national stockpile.
"That's right. This incident has convinced me. At least during my term, I intend to devote all my strength to Baek Jinwoo."
Park Changseok was certain.
Having spent years in the industry, he could tell just by looking at Baek Jinwoo's expressions and gestures.
The composure of a man who possessed something in abundance.
From now on, Park Changseok's role was simple.
Assist him—and gradually obtain that information.
A perfect win-win strategy.
"Byungjin."
"Yes, sir?"
"What is Baek Jinwoo doing now?"
"It seems he's still opening summoning scrolls."
"…Still?"
"Yes. He received more today."
"Heh."
Does he really use them all in a single day?
Is that even humanly possible?
'Why on earth?'
D-rank summons were practically worthless and didn't sell well. Only C-rank summons and above fetched decent prices.
"He's not selling them, is he?"
"No, sir. He appears to be fusing them all. We've confirmed he visits the fusion facility every night."
"I see…"
The fusion facility allowed summons to be sacrificed for experience points.
But it was inefficient.
Running a dungeon once would yield far more experience.
"Oh, and he did mention something."
"What was it?"
Park Changseok's eyes lit up.
"He asked whether he could purchase more low-grade summoning scrolls with 150 million won."
"…What?"
Park Changseok was stunned.
Not satisfied with opening 10,000 per day—he wanted more?
"However, he requested a discount. I told him we would review the matter."
"Heh…"
What could it be?
Was there a specific summon among the F–D ranks that he absolutely needed?
If so, he should have obtained it already.
'Still…'
The fact that he was reinvesting the 150 million won he had earned showed just how desperate he was.
"What should we do? The Management Office might become suspicious if we keep withdrawing them."
"Low-grade summoning scrolls pile up as surplus anyway. We need to clear them out eventually."
"Then… shall we sell them at a discount?"
"Sell them at half price."
"Pardon?!"
The secretary's eyes widened.
He knew how outrageous that sounded.
A public official had to be cautious.
If he were caught granting unreasonable privileges using state funds, he could become a target of political attacks.
"Don't worry, Byungjin."
Smiling knowingly, Park Changseok continued.
"This itself is a political move."
Baek Jinwoo might become a national hero in the future.
And if it became known that he had supported him at great personal and political risk?
He would be praised for his foresight and gain even more public support.
Creating such a narrative was child's play for Park Changseok.
"For now, do as instructed. Keep it strictly confidential. Only you, Jia, and Taeseop are to know."
"…Yes, sir."
* * *
Two weeks later.
Rip! Rip!
The sound of tearing paper now echoed in Baek Jinwoo's ears like a hallucination.
10,000 sheets per day.
70,000 per week.
For nearly two weeks, he tore them without rest.
He didn't even return home.
Instead, he rented a studio near the Player Zone. A modest two-room apartment—neither luxurious nor shabby.
'It's time to live independently.'
He was earning over 100 million won a week.
Living at his parents' house while barely sleeping felt inappropriate.
—Jinwoo… I'm dying…
Rip! Rip!
Ignoring Lamba's whining about cream bread, Baek Jinwoo headed to the fusion facility.
Three years ago, just as Jamsil Tower had transformed into the Tower of Trials, a nearby building had become a fusion facility.
Inside were over 500 rooms—each a fusion chamber managed by the headquarters.
"Waiting number 125."
After a five-minute wait, he entered a room on the third floor.
A summoning circle was drawn on the floor.
[Welcome to the Fusion Facility!]
[Try fusing your summons!]
"Lamba, move aside."
—Jinwoo! Don't make a mistake!
"Of course not."
If he accidentally used Lamba as a sacrifice, it would be a catastrophe.
Setting the fusion subject as the Wind Fairy (EX-grade), he placed the summons one by one onto the circle.
[Do you wish to proceed with fusion?]
[Y/N]
"Yes."
Flash!
Light burst from the summoning circle.
[Fusion Complete!]
['Fire Lizard' (F-grade) has been sacrificed.]
['Blue Bat' (F-grade) has been sacrificed.]
['Poison Goblin' (E-grade) has been sacrificed.]
Messages streamed past.
['Wind Fairy' (EX-grade) has reached Level 21.]
['Wind Fairy' (EX-grade) Intelligence has increased by 2.]
Lamba had reached Level 21.
'Only 21?'
After sacrificing nearly 140,000 summons in two weeks, it was a pitiful gain.
The maximum level was 100.
And the experience requirement increased with each level.
To reach Level 22, he would likely need just as many summons as before.
Still—
It didn't matter. This was nothing more than emptying the warehouse.
* * *
Rip! Rip!
—Jinwoo, how long do we have to keep doing this?
"Until we summon the Training Instructor and the Explosive Dragon Sorcerer."
—Aaaah! I'm going to get traumatized by the sound of tearing!
It was unavoidable.
They had come too far to quit now.
He had already opened 100,000 scrolls—and was working through another 10,000.
Night had fallen.
His stomach growled, but he refused to stop.
Rip! Rip!
[Player 'Baek Jinwoo' has obtained 'White Serpent' (F-grade)!]
[Player 'Baek Jinwoo' has obtained 'Giant Stag Beetle' (F-grade)!]
Please…
Just appear.
He didn't even dare hope for other EX-grade summons.
Training Instructor. Explosive Dragon Sorcerer.
Just those two.
With them alone, he could easily reach World Rank No. 1—given enough time.
Rip! Rip!
He was a machine.
A machine that tore summoning scrolls.
Then—
KABOOM!
Golden lightning flashed across the torn paper.
Far brighter than before.
Lamba gasped.
—W-What is that?!
Jinwoo's eyes widened.
'That effect…!'
It was identical to when the Wind Fairy had appeared.
At last!
[You have used a 'Low-Grade Summoning Scroll'!]
[Player 'Baek Jinwoo' has obtained 'Explosive Dragon Sorcerer' (EX-grade)!]
"WOOOOOOOAH!"
Jinwoo shouted involuntarily.
—KYAAAAAA!
Lamba flipped through the air in excitement.
It was real.
If he kept pulling, an EX-grade would eventually appear.
"Our Explosive Dragon!"
The anxiety that had haunted him vanished in an instant.
But he didn't stop.
Rip! Rip!
"Jinwoo?"
"I can't stop now."
He had to keep going.
"It's a hot streak."
A superstition of his: when luck struck, continuous pulls yielded even better results.
"Let's go! Keep tearing!"
—Rip them! Rip them all!
Rip! Rip!
With a fierce shout, he tore through the remaining scrolls.
After about 300 more—
BOOOOOM!
[You have used a 'Low-Grade Summoning Scroll'!]
[Player 'Baek Jinwoo' has obtained 'Training Instructor' (EX-grade)!]
It had truly appeared.
—Is… is that real?!
Lamba's jaw dropped.
"WAAAAH!"
Upon confirming the Training Instructor, Baek Jinwoo collapsed backward.
At last.
Finally.
'I got them…'
Dopamine surged through his brain.
This—
This was bliss.
This was why he summoned.
"Ah… I could die happy."
Yes.
This was the thrill of Battle of Summoners.
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