Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Housebound Pro Gamer (1)
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About ten days had passed since Million Awakeners' Day.
Even though a million people had awakened, there was no doubt that the one existence shaking up the entire world was a single 'Cosplay Maid'.
Some called her a 'cosplayer', others used her in-game name 'Elaine', and still others referred to her by her in-game title 'The Perfect Maid'.
[We hereby announce to the world that the S-Rank Hunter in question is a Korean-American.]
All eyes around the globe focused on the mouth of the U.S. President, Aizen A. Luigi.
It was inevitable.
The Cosplay Maid had vanished after conquering the Mungyeong Saejae S-Rank Tower, and her last official appearance was in a photo meeting the U.S. President at a hotel.
Many people raised suspicions.
[Is she really an S-Rank Hunter?]
[Did she truly conquer an S-Rank Tower solo?]
[Is she really American?]
[Did the President fly to Korea, ignoring protocols, just to meet an S-Rank Hunter there?]
Amidst the countless suspicions, even those who had miraculously awakened amid the Million Awakeners' Wave threw out their own doubts.
[Why the hell did I start at F-Rank while she's S-Rank?]
Most of those who awakened were F-Rank.
They had just awakened their mana and unique abilities, but none could unleash S-Rank power like the Cosplay Maid in one go.
Even the most exceptionally talented barely reached C-Rank.
As a result, all eyes worldwide inevitably turned to the one official channel to interact with the Cosplay Maid: the U.S. President.
[President Luigi, rumors are circulating that you're fabricating this by having someone else cosplay and doctoring photos to deceive the world. What are your thoughts?]
The President personally appeared before the Senate for a hearing, facing all-encompassing pressure from both parties.
Some out of pure curiosity.
Some questioning why an American would be in Korea.
Some doubting the inexplicable connection to an S-Rank Hunter itself.
[To begin with.]
And some...
[Who is the 'Master' that the Maid calls the President? Does this person even exist?]
They questioned the existence of the man sitting alone across from the President in the negotiation photo.
[I fully understand why so many are raising suspicions. If the President or Prime Minister of another country had contact with the Maid, I would be the first as U.S. President to issue an official statement.]
The President was forthright.
[Oh. Looks like my friend is watching this hearing. I just got a message.]
The President pulled out his smartphone right there in front of everyone.
[My friend, the Master, says he'll conquer another tower five days from now.]
Even though he was exchanging SNS messages live during the hearing, no one could rein in that audacity.
[Which tower... He says it's a secret.]
[So, is he coming to America?]
[Who knows. I'd love for him to fly straight home, but since the Master wishes to stay in Korea right now, how could I presume to tell him to come or go? He hates fuss and noise.]
It was an unspoken signal that he could come quietly to America without fanfare, but who would pick up on that properly?
[To America, sooner than expected?!]
[Earlier than the promised time?]
[We're keeping all possibilities open, but one thing I can say for sure: We don't have precise info yet, but he is an 'American' with special affection for our ally Korea.]
Aizen A. Luigi smiled before the watching world.
[Whether it's because of kimchi, bulgogi, or his parents being Korean. I don't know any of that, but at least this much is clear.]
[What is it?]
[The company that made the game the Maid cosplayed from is Korean.]
Right in front of everyone.
[We wish your company, 'NPia', the best of luck.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [One hour later, Guro, Seoul, Republic of Korea. NPia Co., Ltd. President's Office.]
"Ha, fuck. Never thought I'd live to hear the U.S. President give us a shoutout."
The man in a baseball jacket, looking to be in his early forties—the president of NPia, Park Gi-woo—stuck out his tongue while replaying the recorded video on loop.
"Does this mean we're breaking into America?"
"Do that, and we'll get audited by tax authorities right away, President. Don't even think about it."
Namgoong Hyeong, the vice president in a suit seated at the office table, firmly dissuaded him.
"How do you know? You got someone planted at the IRS?"
"They're already going nuts calling us the 'patriotic company that made an S-Rank Hunter cosplay'. Go on a business trip to America now, and they'll beat us down asking if we're defecting."
"Come on, can't we at least set up a branch?"
"They'll say we're setting up a branch to flee to America."
"Why are you so negative? Did some bigwig chew you out?"
"Yes. The President has been summoned."
Park Gi-woo's face froze at the vice president's words.
"For real?"
"National Assembly appearance tomorrow."
"Are they insane? What did I do wrong?!"
"Witness summons here."
"Why am I a witness?!"
President Park Gi-woo yelled in frustration.
"Fuck, they're desperate because they can't find her, so why take it out on me?! Did I do the cosplay?! Huh?! She did!"
"Not her. Her Master ordered it."
"The Master... Ha."
President Park Gi-woo slumped into his chair.
"It's 'Team Leader', right?"
"Based on the clues so far, we have no choice but to assume so. A woman doing cosplay that precise with no PR SNS, front or back? Only one possibility."
Vice President Namgoong Hyeong raised a finger with a serious face.
"Someone who made his S-Rank Hunter girlfriend cosplay Elaine and conquer the dungeon...!"
"Would an S-Rank Hunter girlfriend go that far for a fanboy playing our game?"
"You crazy bastard. Don't call our paying customers fanboys!"
"They are fanboys! You're one, I'm one—this company's built to make fanboy games from the start!"
"So the chairman funding us is one too?!"
"Yeah."
"Hey..."
"If this world were a novel, the author would be an untouchable fanboy."
Vice President Namgoong Hyeong covered his face with his hand.
"Haaah..."
"Alright, alright. Vice President. Let's phrase it properly for our positions. Tomorrow at the Assembly, we'll say something all citizens can understand. So..."
"Our company has conducted a full investigation of all players within legal bounds. Say it like that, President."
"Good. And next?"
"The investigation turned up nothing suspicious. User numbers have surged lately, making it tough, but please understand the S-Rank Hunter has no ties to our company."
"...Yeah. Lucky us."
President Park Gi-woo raised both hands.
"Among all subculture mobile games, we sincerely thank the 'Maid' who cosplayed our Elaine, or the 'Master' who made his girlfriend do it. At least that's heartfelt."
"Investment inquiries pouring in from overseas, starting with America?"
"Nah. My parents live in Mungyeong."
"......."
"Thanks to the Maid and Master, maybe I won't have to bring mine this time. Yours are in Jeju, right?"
"...Don't say that at the Assembly tomorrow."
"I'll be careful. Whew, wonder what our 'Master', who thrust us into the spotlight of the century, is up to now."
President Park Gi-woo pulled out his work tablet with a tired face.
"Probably hard at work planning the next S-Rank Tower conquest?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Team Leader! Be careful! In the Tower of Mortal Seals, aaagh!!]
"Been a while. Story cutscene."
I gripped the controller connected to my PC, preparing for battle.
On the monitor, the boss of Chapter 3's stage, the 'Sealed Tower of Mortal Seals', was a massive wind dragon.
[No, Drakan!!]
A girl screamed at the dragon, which resembled a spirit beast somewhat, while a black iron rod was embedded in the blue dragon's head, injecting black demonic energy into its body.
[Kiaaaak!!]
The boss fight began with the dragon's roar.
At the center of that stage stood Elaine, wielding her 'exclusive weapon'.
"Master."
"Yeah."
"Why go to the trouble of making a new account, rerolling for me anew, and tackling the story from the start?"
"To control you better."
I ignored Elaine's nitpicking and continued progressing with the account I'd made three days ago.
"The devs emergency reprinted her banner for once. Can't miss this chance."
Emergency patch.
A new banner for Elaine appeared, and tons of players started pulling for her.
Even people uninterested in games downloaded it and dumped around 200,000 won into 'business cards'—maxing her out with dupes and her exclusive weapon.
Not just in Korea, but worldwide.
Amid that massive wave, I'd made a smurf account, pulled Elaine, and was progressing the story.
Using only Elaine.
"Not brute-forcing with full dupes and max investments, but playing pure skill to hone my control."
"You already control me near-perfectly, Master."
"Near-perfect isn't perfect."
I'd felt it in the last battle.
"I've grinded multiple games at once, not hyper-focused on one like this."
Until two weeks ago, I was maintaining eight worlds.
Adding ones I ragequit, dropped, or only logged into for story updates pushed it over two digits.
"Except your first pickup."
"I see..."
"Ah, dead."
Death.
Elaine collapsed.
She was data Elaine, but the effect of crumbling into flames still felt off for 'death'.
"Sorry. My talking distracted you."
"Nah. Party issue."
My control slip? No.
"Sorry. If only I had a self-heal skill."
"No. No healer in the party. This mechanic forces DoT cleanse."
"......Reality differs from the game. It won't work."
"Yeah, it does. But we lack proper ways to heal injuries too. Can't full-recover the instant we hit a 'return stone'."
I opened the party screen.
No main account, so no characters, but I'd pulled a healer progressing to Chapter 3.
Right now, only Elaine was in the party.
"Elaine. What now... Pull a healer? Skip?"
Doubts about my ability.
"The next update's character is the best healer in game history."
Is summoning only for full-dupe, 2-million-won investments?
"Guess we need a healer, right?"
"......."
Elaine placed her hand over my mouse, clicked to open a browser, and accessed a site.
"Master."
"Yeah."
"The new pickup healer... is a 'female character'."
"......."
Next version's character PV.
There, a pink-haired beauty in idol-like nun garb prayed for everyone.
Busty.
"Master. If it's what you wish... I, well..."
Ding-dong.