Hell Mode: The Hardcore Gamer Dominates in Another World with Garbage Balancing Episode 5: A Summoner's Potential

Aren, seven years old, stands at the edge of the village, eager to join his father on the hunt. Lodan, his father, though, has other plans, consigning him to observer status. He assures Mash that Aren will not interfere. Aren, though disappointed, understands the practical need for new hunters.

The hunting party moves out, a tight-knit unit formed by years of shared danger. Mash and Peltomos bravely lure a giant boar, drawing it into the waiting spears of the villagers. Lodan's strategy is effective, allowing the group to fell the beast with coordinated force. Aren observes, noting the crude but effective teamwork.

Aren analyzes the hunt, realizing that the system, much like a game, requires active participation for experience points. He watches Mash and Peltomos gain levels, while his own status book remains blank. His frustration is palpable; merely observing, even strategically, grants no growth. He understands that simply standing by isn't enough to be considered a combatant.

After his initial disappointment, Aren recalls how he gained experience when his summoned creature took damage. He summons a small grasshopper, strategically placing it to absorb hits during the next encounter. This clever workaround allows him to gain experience without direct combat. He calls this his 'gamer's pride'.

Recognizing the need for gold to free his family from serfdom, Aren concocts a plan. He uses his summoning ability to acquire multiple 'Alba Herons' and then enlists villagers to dismantle them for a fee. He calculates that this method is more efficient than paying the butcher, saving time and money. He wonders, though, why the village lord is so fixated on boar numbers.

The enhanced hunting strategy, involving more villagers, proves successful, leading to more boars killed. Aren's bug-card strategy allows him to gain his own experience, resulting in his first level-up. He meticulously checks his stats, satisfied that his indirect participation is bearing fruit. The village gains, and so does he.

Three months later, the family celebrates New Year's, a rare moment of peace and joy. Lodan praises Aren's recruit training plan, unknowingly crediting his son for the village's success. Aren, with a glint in his eye, reveals a bottle of sake he 'acquired' as a souvenir from the village chief. This unexpected gift becomes the stakes for a challenge with his father: an arm-wrestling match.

The arm-wrestling match between Aren and Lodan is a clash of generations and strength. Aren, having strategically invested all his points into strength, puts up a valiant fight. He observes his father's calloused hands, recognizing the immense labor they represent. Despite his efforts, Lodan's raw power prevails, pinning Aren's arm down. The family cheers for Lodan's victory.

Undeterred by defeat, Aren immediately begins to analyze his father's strength, estimating it as 'C-rank'. He also observes Gerda's unexpected dominance over Lodan, playfully noting her 'D-rank' power. Lodan, in turn, declares that Aren cannot join the boar hunt until he beats him in arm wrestling. Aren accepts, seeing it as a new goal, a challenge set by the 'developer' of his world.

Months later, Aren's summoning level increases, unlocking the 'Storage' skill, a momentous development. He excitedly discovers he can store an unlimited quantity of items within his status book. He experiments by making objects vanish and reappear, marveling at its 'god-tier' potential. He questions why such a powerful skill emerged at this specific time.

Aren, now seven years old, experiences a profound realization about the true nature of a Summoner. He envisions himself surrounded by a diverse array of E-rank monsters, each fulfilling a specific role: debuffs, offense, scouting, healing, and defense. He understands that a Summoner can manage all combat roles through strategic creature combination. This, he concludes, is the 'creator's intent' for his 'Hell Mode' existence, and the 'Storage' skill supports this grand vision by allowing him to gather vast quantities of magisteel.