"This is who you should seek out."
When Hwaran finished speaking, an unfamiliar face floated up before me.
Gray hair. A prim, sharp little face. Blue eyes. An overall youthful appearance.
And round, rounded ears and a slender tail.
"…A mouse?"
"That's right. A little rat."
I wasn't sure if mouse-type beastfolk existed in the world, but if they did, wouldn't they look something like this?
That was the impression the image gave off.
"She and that little blood-drop over there are rather ignorant in such matters, you see. But this rat — she can give you the guidance you need."
"Um… who is she?"
"Your former teacher. One who holds far more experience than I do, and a far more seasoned rat at that. …Ever so slightly stronger than me, too."
"Wh— Hwaran, she's stronger than you?"
"That was true once. Whether it still holds now, I cannot say."
Anyway, Hwaran told me that this monster who looked like a mouse beastfolk could make me stronger — that she'd teach me everything I needed to protect myself.
Apparently she was the sharpest mind among all the Hidden Bosses, including Fenrion, Hwaran, and Arkiel.
"Arkiel, you know of her as well. We could have sought this rat out from the very beginning."
"Y-yes, but… she is…"
"What. Are you still so frightened of her?"
"…No. I will go and pay my respects."
Arkiel, who clearly knew something, gave Hwaran a small, deferential bow.
But I still didn't know anything.
Why do they keep having conversations only they understand? Someone explain it to me too.
"She was… a strict person. Even the you of the past was often scolded harshly by her."
"By that little mouse?"
"P-please don't call her that — she'll really get angry."
So this monster who was supposedly my teacher in a past life was apparently someone even Arkiel feared.
I couldn't quite relate, though.
Arkiel was a dragon. Why would she be scared of a cute little mouse-looking monster?
If Arkiel just stomped on her, that thing would probably go squeak and be done with it.
"She is far, far stronger than even me."
"If they fought, Arkiel would lose?"
"…Most likely…"
Arkiel, who had always brushed off Kim A-rin — an S-rank — without a second thought, now wore an uncertain expression at the mention of this mouse monster.
Come to think of it, Hwaran had said she was just a tiny bit stronger than herself.
I wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but it was good news for me.
Stronger than Hwaran meant her Avatar Manifestation skill would be that much more powerful too.
There was a chance it might be an unlearnable Avatar Manifestation like Arkiel's… but it was still worth meeting her.
Hwaran had said this mouse monster would definitely be of help to me.
"Where can I find her?"
When I asked for the mouse monster's location, Hwaran gave a small smirk and waved her hand through the air.
Bubbles began to form.
— Blub blub.
— Blub blub.
Tiny bubbles gathered one by one, and before long they merged into a large bubble that drifted upward.
Then, with a soft pop — it burst, dropping something like a small talisman into my hand.
"Speak that rat's name into it, and it will guide you to wherever she is."
"Oh — thank you."
I'd obtained a talisman navigation device. Voice-activated, as a bonus.
Talismans really have gone high-tech these days.
The only problem was I still hadn't heard the name.
"Erdi."
— Flinch.
"That is this rat's true name."
The moment Hwaran spoke the mouse monster's name to me, Arkiel flinched again, just slightly.
Maybe Arkiel's ranking was a little lower than I'd assumed.
Among all the Hidden Bosses I'd met so far, Arkiel had seemed the strongest — but apparently she was nearly dead last in the pecking order.
"This rat will make it clear to you what kind of path you must walk."
"Is that so?"
"And so, Arkiel — set aside the old stories you know for now. It is too soon."
Hmm, she wasn't talking to me. A bit awkward.
"Is she not a child who has yet to find her own way?"
"But…"
"If she does not yet know which direction to go, what would change from looking back? Too soon. Not yet."
Hwaran's voice wasn't raised, but the atmosphere was unmistakably one of a quiet, measured scolding directed at Arkiel.
They really do look like a sergeant and a private.
From what I could gather, it sounded like she was telling Arkiel not to go around carelessly talking about my past life — but I didn't particularly mind either way.
I was curious, sure, but not burning with it.
Honestly, even when I did hear about it, I couldn't follow it very well.
Right now, I was more curious about Erdi. The mouse monster who had supposedly taught the past me.
"Hey, are you two done talking?"
"W-were you waiting? I'm so sorry."
"Hmm… Arkiel, I feel like you apologize way too much. Try cutting back a little."
"Ah, I'm sor— …Hup."
Arkiel started to apologize again, then caught herself a beat too late, eyes going wide as she clapped a hand over her mouth.
…I think I'm starting to understand why she ranks so low.
Anyway — I'd brought Hwaran the Lord of the Rings like I'd promised, and given her the other books too.
And I'd heard about a new monster who might be useful to me.
"Hwaran. Hwaran."
"What is it?"
"Read the books I gave you. They'll be fun."
Now it was time for photos.
Hwaran was already beautiful, and a picture of her lounging around reading a fantasy novel was sure to be a top post — and even setting that aside, the only things that last are photos.
"A-rin. A-rin."
"Hm?"
"I'm going to read Harry Potter. Take a picture of me."
"Oh, um… okay."
Since I couldn't come to this Gate in the middle of the mountains every single day like it was next door, I took as many photos as I could.
I couldn't even video call Hwaran.
If I wanted to see her, my only option was to climb a grueling mountain and barely make it to the Gate, just like today.
I'd grown genuinely fond of Hwaran, in my own way.
It'd be nice if Hwaran could come out of the Dungeon and be with me like Arkiel could.
"That is impossible, child."
"Why?"
"I am far too dangerous to humans. This barrier is the only way. Otherwise the outside world would grow noisy again."
"That's a shame."
"Well, even so…"
"Even so?"
"When you truly need my help — I will come to you."
"Oh. Thank you."
At Hwaran's promise to come to my aid when I was in real danger, I gave her a small, sincere bow.
There was no reason to refuse an offer of help from a Hidden Boss as powerful as Hwaran.
It was a little disappointing that she'd stay in the Dungeon, but she had her own circumstances, so what could I do.
[ Individual: Hwaran's Oath has been obtained. ]
[ All acquisition conditions for '(A)Data Summoning' have been met. ]
…What was this now.
A brand-new skill had suddenly appeared.
"Um… Data Summoning?"
— Ding.
【(A)Data Summoning : F】
【Individual: Can summon entities stored in Lee Ji-woo's data.
The entity's rank is adjusted according to proficiency.
Current number of stored entities: 3
***
Current Grade: F.
Upon fulfilling special conditions, this skill can evolve into ❮(A)Convergence : S❯.】
"Oh my god."
I'd been dragging Arkiel around like a summon, and now an actual summoning skill had appeared.
And just like Assimilation, it was a growth-type skill that could eventually evolve into an S-rank.
No — even before that.
All the Hidden Bosses I'd been building rapport with this whole time — I could now summon them whenever I wanted.
There was something written about rank being adjusted based on proficiency, but…
I'd try it once anyway.
Conveniently, there was exactly one Hidden Boss who wasn't here right now.
"Fenrion summon. Oh, wait. Summon — or call?"
— Ding.
【Individual: Fenrion has accepted Individual: Lee Ji-woo's request.】
【Summoning Individual: Fenrion………】
【Current Grade: null → B】
— Thud.
"…Ji-woo?"
"Fenrion!"
It worked. Fenrion had actually appeared.
…But compared to the last time I'd seen her, she looked noticeably younger. Why?
Oh — was that what the rank adjustment looked like?
"Fenrion?"
"Hmph, a mangy mutt has come crawling in."
"……!!"
Hwaran and Arkiel both looked mildly startled by Fenrion's sudden appearance.
But then Fenrion's eyes slowly went wide, and —
— Flash!
【Individual: Fenrion has returned.】
She vanished again.
What. I hadn't cancelled the summon yet.
Was it because the skill was F-rank?
"U-um, sis. What was that just now?"
"Fenrion. I got a summoning skill."
"Fenrion — the wolf Hidden Boss?"
"Yeah."
Kim A-rin was startled right along with everyone else by Fenrion's sudden appearance and disappearance.
Still, at least I'd confirmed the summoning skill actually worked.
Maybe later I'd be able to summon Hwaran and Arkiel with this skill too.
There was the side effect of them getting younger, but even so, having it was better than not.
When I explained that to Kim A-rin, she made a furious face and grabbed both my cheeks and started yanking.
— Squiiish───!
"Mmmfff——"
"Who just, casually, fearlessly, summons, a Hidden Boss, like that, sis……!!"
"Fenwiohn ish fine. She wikes me."
"That's what you think! …Sis, please…"
She had the exact look of Shin-chan's mom watching Shin-chan.
No, I felt wronged.
Even Kim A-rin, if she suddenly got a new skill, would at least try it out once.
On top of that, it was another growth-type skill — the rare, precious kind that could evolve into S-rank.
How was I supposed to just sit on that.
"You insolent creature!! Release her this instant——!"
"Leave them be. Is it not amusing?"
Arkiel was fuming, but Hwaran beside her just giggled and watched like it was the most entertaining thing she'd seen all day.
In the end, I only managed to leave the Haeinsa Gate after getting thoroughly lectured by Kim A-rin for quite a while.
Summoning Hidden Bosses was apparently a lot more dangerous than I'd thought.
"…The fact that you didn't know that is the more surprising part…"
"N-newbie issues. Newbie issues."
"Where in the world is there a rookie Hunter who just casually summons Hidden Bosses…"
"Right here!"
"…Haah…"
***
[Title: Already awakened as S-rank and now awakened AGAIN as a Summoner]
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Author: WannaBeDriedRadish
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: (mint-haired emoji wearing a crown)
me ⟨⟨⟨ way too strong
is this even allowed???
what happened to Earth Online's balance;;
ㄴ ImSeriouslyRankA: what can you summon?
ㄴ WannaBeDriedRadish: a dragon and a nine-tailed fox
ㄴ ImSeriouslyRankA: (are you for real rn?)
ㄴ WannaBeDriedRadish: (what do you know mint-hair emoji)
ㄴ MamaMiaYo: (list of psychiatric hospital contact numbers)
ㄴ WannaBeDriedRadish: hey
ㄴ BaldIsAesthetic: I'm a summoner too, nice to meet you
ㄴ WannaBeDriedRadish: what kind of summoner? golems? I can summon super crazy powerful monsters lol
ㄴ BaldIsAesthetic: ever heard of a grandma?
ㄴ WannaBeDriedRadish: (mint-hair emoji trembling violently)
