AECS 59

Chapter 59

Rune Dwarf

[Required Materials: King’s Emblem (Bound) x1, Top-Grade Summoning Scroll x3, High-Grade Summoning Scroll x10, World Tree Leaf x10]

These were the materials needed to craft a “Guaranteed Summoning Scroll” (B-Rank).

Arriving at the workshop, Baek Jin-woo immediately began the crafting process.

[Drumroll!]
[Crafting in progress!]

The success rate: 80%.
Unless he was truly unlucky, it would succeed!

Please! Please! Please!

Clutching his hands in anticipation, he rubbed them together nervously.

Flash!

[Success!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have obtained a “Guaranteed Summoning Scroll” (B-Rank)!]

“Yessss!”

Baek Jin-woo roared in triumph.

Now, there was no need to be anxious over this kind of blueprint.
After all, there were only two EX-class summoning creatures that were B-rank, and now he could summon both of them.

What a relief.

Two 80% chance attempts.
He had worried, but it went smoothly without a hitch.

Before heading to the 30th floor of the Tower of Trials, he could finally summon the Rune Dwarf.

Exiting the workshop, Baek Jin-woo tore open the scroll without hesitation.

Riiip!

[Using “Guaranteed Summoning Scroll” (B-Rank)!]
[Player ‘Baek Jin-woo’ is selecting a summoning creature!]

The cards shuffled rapidly. Among the many, only one summoning creature came to mind.

[‘Rune Dwarf’ (EX-Class)]

“Finally, you’re here, buddy!”

Baek Jin-woo eagerly grabbed the card.
Swirl! The card spun, radiating a brilliant light.

[Player ‘Baek Jin-woo’ has obtained the summoning creature ‘Rune Dwarf’ (EX-Class)!]

• Huh… hmm? What’s this?

Thud, thud.

A short, white-bearded dwarf crawled out, looking around curiously.

• Where… am I? Who are you? How did you summon me?

“Rund.”

• …Rund? Hm, that familiar name… Could it be JinWooGod?

“Yes, it’s me. But here, just call me Jin-woo.”

Sigh.
That name, JinWooGod, always sounded cringy.

• Ha, hahaha!

The Rune Dwarf began laughing slowly, then erupted into a hearty guffaw.

• Hahaha! Is it really you?! Really?!

He ran over and grasped Baek Jin-woo’s hand tightly.

• I really… really missed you! Ever since being quarantined, I haven’t swung my hammer even once. I missed the feel so much! I always believed you’d summon me again someday…!

Wow.

Rund was known to be a slightly chatty character, but hearing him speak in a real language added a whole new flavor.

For reference, Rund had overlapped briefly with HunGyo.
He had never met Lamba or the Flame Dragon.

Time to check his info.

[Summoning Creature: Rune Dwarf]
[Race: Dwarf]
[Rank: EX-Class (Quarantine)]

• Isolated due to discovered balance-breaking traits in certain situations.
  [Level: 1]

[Stats]
Strength: 1, Intelligence: 1, Vitality: 1, Agility: 1
HP: 1,000, MP: 0
Critical Chance: 20%
Critical Damage: 20%

[Skills]

• Crafting (Lv.1): Uses materials to craft desired runes with a certain success rate.

Among summoning creatures, he was unique in having skill proficiency.
If he diligently raised his skill and trained under HunGyo’s blacksmith guidance, he could unlock the potential skill “Masterpiece Crafting” (Lv.1)—an extremely overpowered ability.
It allowed crafting rare and unique runes.

For reference, in Battle of Summoners, his Masterpiece Crafting Lv.3 was eventually patched due to balance issues.
Ugh! Thinking about that still makes Baek Jin-woo furious.

“Welcome back to the camp, Rund.”

• I’m so happy to see another side of you! My vow remains the same! I’ll spend my life crafting runes for you in exchange for freely swinging my hammer! I mean it.

“Thanks.”

All summoning creatures have a kind of desire.
For Rund, it’s hammering.
From a player’s perspective, that desire is pure profit.

“Let’s go meet the others. I’ll introduce you.”

“Say hi.”

Back at the penthouse, Baek Jin-woo released Rund.

“This is a new member. An elite one. You’ve heard a lot about him, right?”

Baek Jin-woo grouped his EX-class summoning creatures under the term ‘elite.’

Lamba, HunGyo, Flame Dragon, Doldol, and Rund.

These five would receive all his time, care, and resources.

The others… he would just raise them casually.

• So this is the Rund I’ve heard about? Hi-ruuung! Nice to meet you!

Lamba fluttered over, singing a little song.

• I’m the summoning creature Lamba! Jin-woo’s staff! I love cream buns! Say hello when you see me~
• Lamba, be quiet.

HunGyo, polishing his sword, approached, and Lamba pouted.

• Tch.
• Rund, long time no see.
• Oh! HunGyo! Great to see you again. Hahaha!

Rund had always gotten along well with HunGyo.
Their desires—training and improving hammer skills—aligned perfectly.

• I am the Flame Dragon. Nice to meet you.
• …Krrk!

Even seeing the Flame Dragon and Doldol, Rund laughed heartily.

• Hahaha! Well, since it’s our first meeting, let’s get along! I’ll have to craft runes for you too! But first, I need to rebuild my skill level… Hahaha! Well, that’s a good thing! The more lost skill, the more hammer swings I get!

Positive thinking.
Or as Rund calls it, “Rund thinking.”

However, Baek Jin-woo felt slightly frustrated.
How had he built skill before?
Now he had to rebuild it.

For reference, Crafting max level is 10.
Reaching level 10 takes an absurdly long time to be efficient.

‘But well…’

Compared to before, his situation was better.
Back then it was in-game; now it was reality.

Being in reality made obtaining materials much easier.

“Jin-woo, what’s up?”

Baek Jin-woo, leaving the house with Doldol as his escort, immediately called Yu Ji-ah.
He needed to discuss Rund’s skill training.

‘Ah, of course.’

But first, he had something to give.

“Here, take this. A gift.”

Baek Jin-woo initiated a trade.
The reward: Mind-Reading Hawk (A-Rank).

“Uh? What is this? An eagle?”

“It’s called a Mind-Reading Hawk. I got it as a Tower of Trials reward. Read the description.”

“…Ah, okay.”

Yu Ji-ah nodded and read it.
Her pupils widened.

No way.

A lie detector bird! And it’s rare.
B-rank rare is still obtainable, but A-rank rare is extremely scarce.
Worth its price.
The chance of obtaining it is nearly zero.

“You’re giving me something this precious?”

“I thought it would be more useful for you than me.”

Her eyes glimmered with gratitude.
Ah, it’s just a small gift, not a big deal.
He could bring even better things later.

“Don’t get too excited. I’m giving it to make you work harder.”

“Oh, haha! Really? Looks like I won’t get to leave work early!”

“Not that extreme.”

Baek Jin-woo changed the topic.

“Apart from the gift, I have a request.”

“A request?”

“Yes, regarding rune crafting. Could you help me promote it a bit?”

Baek Jin-woo and Yu Ji-ah discussed for a while.
Their decision? Make the Rune Dwarf immediately commercial.

Rund’s ability?
Incredible.
If a major guild owned him, they would keep him secret.

But Baek Jin-woo had no guild.
He was a solo player under management 「YuBaek」.

“Skill level… I could do it alone, but it would take too long.”

In Battle of Summoners, maxing his crafting skill took roughly two years.
Even with relentless grinding, it was that time-consuming.

“Better to get help from other players.”

“I see, that’s more efficient.”

Yu Ji-ah nodded.

“But it must look like we’re not doing it just for ourselves. We must charge a proper fee.”

“A fee…?”

“Since success rates are low now, we can do it for free on failure, and charge one summoning scroll per success. Of course, the client covers all materials.”

Crafting (Lv.1) success rate is abysmally low.
Less than 0.1%.

But the value is undeniable.
You can create the exact rune with the desired options.

“One summoning scroll per success?”

“Yes, one High-Grade Summoning Scroll each.”

High-Grade Summoning Scrolls are worth 3 million KRW each, so success yields a fair profit.

‘Nice.’

Proper commercialization benefits both sides: he gains skill and money, while clients get desired runes.

Moreover, it’s time to gather High-Grade Summoning Scrolls.
Five EX-class summoning creatures remain:

[Little Giant (C-Rank)]
[Dampir (C-Rank)]
[Aso (A-Rank)]
[Magic Cat (A-Rank)]
[Destruction Dragon (S-Rank)]

Currently, the highest marketable scroll is High-Grade.
Top-Grade or Ultimate Scrolls are expensive and rarely available.

High-Grade Summoning Scroll summoning probabilities:

[D-Rank: 94%]
[C-Rank: 5%]
[B-Rank: 1%]

Baek Jin-woo planned to tear High-Grade Scrolls to obtain Little Giant and Dampir.
With just these two, he could build the ultimate tank lineup.
Essential for conquering the Tower of Trials later.

‘Sure, it requires insane luck, but… eventually, right?’

Unlike before, now there was a glimmer of hope.
And with Rund, he could earn summoning scrolls while raising skill.
That hope just grew bigger.

“Good plan.”

“First, let’s not publicize Rund overseas yet. Let’s approach domestic major guilds first, under secrecy.”

Oh, Yu Ji-ah! Smart.
Too much info too early could be dangerous.

To be confident publicly?
At least all EX-class summoning creatures should have fully upgraded runes and unlocked potential abilities.
Then, meeting Rachel wouldn’t be awkward.
Even if the whole world is hostile, they could still stand tall.

“Let’s do that.”

“Yes! I’ll contact Baekho, Ari, and Ilwol.”

“Also, add Carpe Diem.”

Kijae-hyuk, Kang Ji-ho.
Baek Jin-woo personally liked these two.
They seemed loyal and reliable.

Yes. Good things should be shared with them.
Since they agreed to become disciples, that works.

“Yes, sir!”

Yu Ji-ah saluted cheerfully, mimicking HunGyo.
Baek Jin-woo smiled quietly.

Good.
Everything felt like it was falling neatly into place.