HELL MODE: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing (ヘルモード ～やり込み好きのゲーマーは廃設定の異世界で無双する～ はじまりの召喚士)

A SUMMONER'S POTENTIAL

Oh, they're here!

Took you long enough to heal up, Rodin!

Sorry to worry you, fellas.

As you can see, I'm fit as a fiddle!

So, the little guy's really tagging along?

Yeah. As I'm sure you've heard, we're adopting Allen's hunting strategy this time.

But he's only tagging along to watch.

I won't get in the way. Thanks for having me.

Sigh. I wanted to be part of the hunt.

But Dad's such a hardhead. He wouldn't budge.

Oh, well.

The important thing is that we train the newbies to help the group hunt more boars.

I don't want to see anybody get hurt like that again.

Mr. Rodin.

I'm sorry about what happened last year.

Please don't cover for me if anything goes wrong today.

It's no biggie. Focus on your role in the hunt!

Uh, yessir.

Okay! Let's move out!

Right!

My seventh year living as a serf and I finally get to leave the village.

One small step forward!

Those must be the White Dragon Mountains.

Every fall, the boars leave the foot of the mountains to come here in search of food.

And legends say that a mythical White Dragon lives somewhere near the summit.

The fantasy vibes are through the roof!

Hey, Allen! You getting cold feet or what?

No way!

Just stick to what we practiced.

Everybody to your posts!

Right!

Okay!

Incoming!

Okay, yeah, that's terrifying!

Dig in those heels, men!

Hold fast!

Rodin!

The bait team lures the boar in.

Then the tank team holds it in place. And finally, the strike team attacks its vitals.

This is the method my dad and the others have used to hunt successfully

for over 10 years without any talents!

It's almost time! Please get ready!

S-sure thing!

It was a mistake to count on weenies like them to tank anything in the first place.

Mr. Gerda!

Better not spear me in the ass by mistake!

Y-yessir!

They should only need to attack it once to gain experience from the battle!

Good! Strike now!

I can feel power flowing through me!

Does that mean we overcame a Trial of the Gods?

Oh, thank the Lord!

Sweet! Just as planned!

Sounds like they leveled up.

Since boars are C-rank monsters, they must have gained a lot of EXP!

How did I make out?

Damn! I got squat!

Ugh. Figures that it doesn't consider me part of the battle for just standing nearby.

Allen!

Your advice made all the difference!

Thank you!

Great. You're welcome.

This sucks. A victory laced with the bitter taste of defeat.

Yo, Allen! You coming along on today's hunt?

Yep! I'll be there to watch as usual.

But do me a favor. Tell my dad he should let me try wielding a spear, too!

No can do. Rodin would kick our butts for even suggesting it.

I'm jealous. Wish I could join the hunt, too.

Then put down your butcher's knife for once and tag along.

Not when my wife's got a kid in her belly!

I've gotta play it safe for her sake.

Fair.

But I'm always happy to have more monster meat to carve up!

Oh?

Hey, pops.

I ain't that old yet, kid. What's up?

Can I ask you for a favor?

So, what did you need?

Whoa! These are albaherons!

I was hoping you'd butcher them for me.

There are just too many for me to handle.

I'll give you two packs of meat for each one you take care of.

Really now? You sure?

Yes!

These aren't part of our food reserves.

I need him to break down the carcasses so I can sell the meat.

I have to use something to earn those 50 gold coins to get my family out of serfdom, after all.

It would cost extra to have a butcher in town do it, anyways.

So it's better to just outsource the job here, which also means fewer trips overall.

Gotta make the most of my time!

Are you guys sure about this?

Absolutely. We already pulled it off once. Don't freak out.

By gradually adding new people to the team, we'll eventually have enough to make two groups.

That should double the amount of boars we can hunt.

But I wish I knew why the baron was so hung up on having more boars.

I don't get the impression his territory is suffering from food shortages.

Boar incoming!

Brace yourselves!

Attack now!

Get over here, newbies!

I can feel it! Another Trial of the Gods complete!

Same here!

Wow! You're right!

I feel so much stronger!

Oh?

YOUR EXP HAS REACHED THE MAX OF 2000/2000.

YOU HAVE GONE UP TO LEVEL 3.

HP HAS GONE UP BY 25

MP HAS GONE UP BY 40

ATTACK HAS GONE UP BY 14

ENDURANCE HAS GONE UP BY 14

AGILITY HAS GONE UP BY 26

INTELLIGENCE HAS GONE UP BY 40

LUCK HAS GONE UP BY 26

Hell yeah! My plan worked!

YOU HAVE GONE UP TO LEVEL 3.

And I even leveled up!

Just before the fight...

Go, Denka!

My creatures can be summoned to any location that I can mark by sight within a 50 meter radius.

And as long as the boar attacks one of my creatures,

it's enough to count me as a participant in the battle!

YOU HAVE GONE UP TO LEVEL 3.

All is grist when it comes to the mill! That's the hardcore gamer mindset!

Sorry, Denka.

R.I.P.

3 MONTHS LATER

This world apparently shares the custom of celebrating the start of the new year,

which led to me being invited to the chieftain's residence for the first time.

Those candies were yummy, huh, Allen?

Totally! And we even got some gifts to take home.

I assume this is supposed to be the reward for successfully meeting the 15 boar quota.

We're home!

Ah, welcome back.

Did you have a good time at the chieftain's place?

Yep! You two should have come with us.

Sitting through all that pomp and circumstance is a boring way to start the new year.

Now, let's get this party started!

Mm-hmm!

Yum!

Does it taste good, Mash?

Yeah! It's nummy, big brudder!

Ain't that nice?

So, did the chieftain have anything to say about us?

Yeah, he was really appreciative.

Given how things are going, we shouldn't have a problem meeting the quota of 20 boars this year.

It's all thanks to Allen and his plan to train the newbies.

By the way, Allerino...

Yes?

Do my eyes deceive me, or is that a special bottle of something behind you?

Oh, this? It's liquor.

The chieftain gave it to me as a gift.

Hook, line, sinker.

Now to reel 'em in.

Oh, hey, Mash! Want to do more spear training soon?

Yeah!

I wanna train, too!

Forget it. You're already strong enough, Krena.

We gotta nurture Mash cuz he has the makings of a spear user.

Oh yeah?

What's the deal?

Dunno.

That's it. Like moths to the flame...

Is something the matter?

Well, ya know, since the chieftain sent you home with that liquor...

Yep! It was a gift he gave to me!

Oh, come on!

Let's not be silly now, kid.

What's so silly? He gave it to me, so it's mine-

But everybody knows you're not old enough to drink it!

Yeah, what he said!

Well, shucks.

I guess I'll let you have it, but only if you beat me in a contest.

A contest?!

Huh? What do you mean?

You against the two of us?

That's right.

Fine by me. You're on!

Wait, Gerda!

Okay, but...

What do I get from you if I win?

Boo! Are you two really that stingy?

Well, why don't you tell us what you want?

If I win the contest...

you have to let me wield a spear during all the boar hunts this year.

We walked right into his trap. He's a smart little cookie.

I'll be damned.

All right.

If we win, we get the liquor. And if you win, you can fight in the boar hunts.

No take-backs!

Oh jeez...

I don't see a problem with it. We could use a little entertainment!

So, what kind of contest did you have in mind?

Arm wrestling, of course!

Arm wrestling?!

Bring it on.

Sorry, kid. But I ain't going easy on you. Not with liquor on the line.

I stocked my inventory full of Fido cards just for this.

All buffs into attack power!