I Alone Am an EX-Class Summoner - Chapter 39

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

I Am Alone EX-Grade Summoner Episode 039

National Team Selection (1)

Baek Jin-woo’s daily routine was the same.

Grinding through Intermediate Weekly Dungeons while training!

However, if there was one thing that had changed, it was that he was focusing on Doldoli?

– Kreurk, kreureurk…!

Actually, when you break down Doldoli’s skills, there’s nothing special about them.

[Possessed Skills]

– Assassination: Becomes invisible for a short time. Deals 100% critical damage on the first attack.

– Whirlwind: Spins the reaper’s scythe in a circle to deal area damage.

All it does is approach while invisible and swish! spin the scythe once in a circle.

‘But.’

What if you push that to the extreme?

By spinning around several times at tremendous speed, all the opponent’s summoned creatures are completely finished.

You can taste the refreshing feeling of everything within range being annihilated as if swept away by a vacuum cleaner.

This is because the Whirlwind skill deals splash damage, but this can’t be explained in words.

You have to see it directly to understand.

‘Now there’s about a week left until the selection or whatever it’s called.’

This is where Baek Jin-woo’s worries begin.

Ramba, Hunkyo, Pokryong.

Is it right to bring these guys out for player battles?

Regular players might not know, but players who had been around for a while in Battle of Summoners would know about those three.

Wind Fairy (E-grade), Training Instructor (E-grade), Explosive Dragon Mage (D-grade).

They were summoned creatures that were quite useful at one time.

‘Especially.’

The Five Emperors, who are current world rankers, would definitely know.

‘But so what.’

What are they going to do if they find out?

Maybe in the old days, but now his form is gradually improving.

Especially from the moment he got Doldoli, he didn’t feel like he had to forcibly hide his identity.

If he gets caught, he gets caught; if not, then not.

‘Let’s just bring them out.’

If he really wanted to hide himself?

He shouldn’t have entered the National Team Selection in the first place.

‘But I can’t give that up.’

There was a reason he always did player battles in Battle of Summoners too.

‘Because the rewards are tremendous.’

In the game, rankings were determined monthly and massive rewards were given to individual players.

And Jinugod had never lost first place even once for about 7 years.

That’s exactly why he became known as the veteran of veterans, Ilcheon.

There were rewards in reality too.

However, the difference from the game was that the ranking calculation period was one year!

And the reward targets included not only individual players but also entire countries!

The system ranks countries after the World League ends and distributes massive natural resources and items differentially.

Natural resources include oil, minerals, technology, etc… Especially in the case of technology, there are mysterious technologies that surpass the current level of science.

What this means is!

The league results have a tremendous impact on national power too.

In fact, the UK, where Rachel belongs, achieved tremendous development and grew to a level that even the US couldn’t ignore.

Taiwan, where Baekcheon belongs, had also completely shaken off China’s harassment.

That’s the real reason why all people around the world are passionate about the league.

‘We can’t lose either.’

Even if Baek Jin-woo is calculating, he’s not someone who would sell out his country.

He also has something called patriotism, and he used to cheer enthusiastically during every World Cup.

South Korea hadn’t even made it to the round of 16 for the past 3 years.

Always eliminated in the preliminaries!

They drink the bitter cup of defeat every year, but now things will be different.

‘Because I’m here.’

Baek Jin-woo clenched his fist tightly.

Be patriotic and receive rewards too.

Let’s try doing it all.

Yu Ji-a handled all the selection application and various administrative tasks.

Baek Jin-woo’s only job was training.

After equipping Doldoli with appropriate runes, Baek Jin-woo focused solely on raising the creature’s level.

And finally, the day before the National Team Selection.

While heading to the Player Headquarters Auditorium for player registration.

“Hehe, Mr. Baek Jin-woo! Over here.”

He met the bearded Park Chang-seok.

“It’s been a while.”

“Have you been well?”

“Me? Well, I’ve been doing well thanks to you.”

Baek Jin-woo felt grateful to Park Chang-seok.

If it weren’t for him, he wouldn’t have known Yu Ji-a and couldn’t have grown on such a smooth path as now.

“Hoho, thank you. For coming out to the National Team as someone under my management.”

“I heard about it.”

Yu Ji-a, who comes out to the vacant lot every morning to exercise, tells Baek Jin-woo various stories.

Among them was the incident about Park Chang-seok’s bet.

“I heard you made quite a big bet on my ranking.”

“Ah, that… I’m really sorry. Getting old and acting foolishly.”

“No, you did well.”

“Pardon?”

“Doesn’t that mean you trust me that much?”

Right.

Trust should be repaid with trust.

Honestly, Baek Jin-woo didn’t have any particular thoughts.

No matter who the opponent was.

He felt no tension and didn’t think he would lose.

‘If I can’t get first place in South Korea… I should just take off the Ilcheon label.’

Losing with current EX-grade creatures?

That doesn’t make sense.

“Instead, please give me a brief explanation.”

“An explanation about what…”

“About the selection. Who the selection candidates are, how it’s conducted, etc. I’m completely new to this so I don’t know anything.”

“Ah, of course! Shall we go? I’ll explain as we walk!”

Park Chang-seok politely extended his hand and began guiding him.

Inside the spacious auditorium.

The place was bustling with numerous people.

“Oh, there seem to be quite a few applicants?”

“Rather than having many applicants… they all came together.”

Applicants, affiliated guild officials, and headquarters personnel.

Everyone had gathered to complete final registration for the selection.

Cheering and support are a bonus!

“Actually, there can’t be that many applicants. There’s something called seed rights.”

“Seed rights?”

“Yes, thirty slots for those ranked up to 30th place, ten slots for major domestic guilds with one each, and ten slots for headquarters council members with one each. That’s a total of 50 slots… Usually around 30 people apply.”

“And you select ten from among them?”

“That’s right.”

Well.

If just anyone could apply, it would be meaningless waste of manpower and time.

A policy of mainly selecting from rankers, but also distributing seed rights to council members and guilds in case talented individuals emerge from outside the rankings.

‘Not bad.’

Baek Jin-woo isn’t a ranker yet.

That’s why he’s participating through Council Member Park Chang-seok’s seed right.

“Hmm.”

Baek Jin-woo quietly hummed while looking around.

Everyone’s eyes looked fierce.

They must be recognizing each other as competitors.

It was when he was standing in line with Park Chang-seok to finish registration.

“Well, well, Council Member Park Chang-seok.”

Someone approached with a fishy smile.

‘Im Hee-su.’

Park Chang-seok frowned.

‘That snake-looking bastard.’

Why is he coming here to talk again?

Wasn’t all that provocation finished back then?

Im Hee-su approached without caring about Park Chang-seok’s expression.

“Ah, Player Baek Jin-woo who’s been gaining popularity lately is here too. Nice to meet you. I’m Council Member Im Hee-su from headquarters.”

Behind the grinning Im Hee-su were two players.

Oh Ji-myeong, currently ranked 9th.

Park Ho-seop, currently ranked 10th.

‘What? Who are those guys?’

Baek Jin-woo tilted his head.

The two were blatantly staring at him and licking their lips.

Like the expression of lizards eyeing delicious prey.

‘They look like they need a good beating.’

Of course, they just looked that way and hadn’t directly picked a fight, so Baek Jin-woo also bowed his head slightly.

“Yes, I’m Baek Jin-woo.”

“Haha, I’ve heard many rumors about you. You’re indeed as handsome as you appear on screen. It seems like you’re participating in this selection for experience, and I hope it will be very helpful and I’m rooting for you.”

Hmm.

He says that, but his eyes are definitely smiling.

It’s clear mockery.

He’s probably thinking what business does someone who isn’t even a ranker have participating in the selection.

The rankers behind him are just staring without any other greetings.

Of course, Baek Jin-woo didn’t care either.

He wasn’t curious about their personal details anyway.

“Yes, I hope it will be very helpful indeed.”

Baek Jin-woo didn’t bother falling for their provocation.

He bowed his head slightly once more and walked forward.

A dismissal telling them to leave now that they’d seen what they came to see.

“Are those the guys?”

Not long after, he asked Park Chang-seok.

“The ones you made the bet with?”

“…That’s right. Were you uncomfortable?”

“No, not really.”

Park Chang-seok was anxious.

He was worried that Baek Jin-woo might suffer hardships because of him.

Besides, the opponents weren’t ordinary either.

Oh Ji-myeong, Park Ho-seop.

Both were former national team members from last year and players who were quite popular with the public.

“Their faces are a bit unpleasant though.”

Unlike the complicated Park Chang-seok, Baek Jin-woo thought simply.

‘Those guys.’

If there’s a chance to eliminate them, let’s eliminate them.

If not, whatever.

“Did you see?”

Im Hee-su, who had moved to a corner, spoke to the two rankers.

“In this selection, you just need to eliminate that guy. You two naturally have to be selected. Are you confident?”

Player battles have two formats.

Multi-player battles, and individual battles.

Since the World League overseen by the system appropriately mixes those two, the National Team Selection also starts with multi-player battles for the first match.

And.

All the riffraff get swept away in the multi-player battles.

“Well, eliminating that rookie who isn’t even a ranker is no big deal… but selection might be a bit difficult?”

“Hehe, right. Selection isn’t easy. We barely made it last year too.”

Oh Ji-myeong and Park Ho-seop answered with giggles.

“Hey.”

Im Hee-su touched his thumb and index finger together to form a circle.

“Just make it in. Anyone who makes it will get a big payout this year too.”

Becoming a national team member brings generous support from the national treasury.

As a council member, Im Hee-su had the ability to launder that well and convert it to personal money.

“If you put it that way, we’ll have to work hard again.”

“Baek Jin-woo. That parasite-like bastard can just be eliminated in the multi-player battle, right?”

Ah.

What reassuring words.

No matter how much Baek Jin-woo flies around in Weekly Dungeons, player battles are different.

Rankers aren’t determined by time attacks, but by player battles!

“Right.”

Im Hee-su grinned wickedly.

“I need to see Park Chang-seok’s expression then. What a sight it’ll be.”

“It’ll be fun to watch.”

“Understood.”

The two rankers were relaxed.

They had the dignity of high rankers.

How could they think they’d lose to a non-ranker!

“Tomorrow I’ll just process him swiftly right from the start.”

Official registration was finished.

The selection would begin tomorrow.

Slurp!

Baek Jin-woo sipped his iced americano while looking up various information.

He had heard the general details from Park Chang-seok, but it was better to research it himself.

‘So this is how it proceeds?’

After watching some match footage from last year and the year before, he roughly understood the situation.

First was the multi-player battle.

All players would be dropped into a large arena to engage in survival combat.

Next was the individual matches.

Literally 1-on-1.

A league-style format with a total of 10 games played according to points, and only the ten with the highest scores would be selected for the National Team!

‘The championship favorites are already picked out.’

From rankings 1st through 10th, to the Major Guild masters.

The community was already buzzing about who would be selected and who would take first place.

‘What about me?’

Baek Jin-woo decided to do some ego searching just in case.

└ Baek Jin-woo? He’s on the list too? Why did he even apply?

└ Haha exactly. Even though he’s famous these days, it’s not to that extent, right?

└ I guess they think they’re actually that good just because the public sucks up to them lol

└ Predicting a 1-minute elimination in the multi-player battle.

└ Even though they dominate the daily dungeons, they’re just a player who only runs up to intermediate level ㅋㅋ They got popular through face value and riding on Yoo Ji-ah’s coattails.

Baek Jin-woo’s eyebrows furrowed in reverse.

The vast majority of comments were negative.

Ha.

These bastards.

He almost wanted to hunt them down one by one and beat them all up.

‘Well.’

He just had to show them.

What crime did they commit anyway.

If anything, their only crime was ignorance.

Based on last year’s level, it seemed like he wouldn’t even need to bring out Doldoli.

Honestly, it looked like he could probably finish everything with just Hunkyo.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————