Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Solo Party Play (2)
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[Late at night, in a quiet room at the Blue House's Yeongbin Hall in Seoul.]
Here sat four men and women dressed in vastly different styles.
One man, three women.
The man with blue-dyed hair was the one known to the public as Blue Lightning.
He lounged in a chair in somewhat sloppy attire that clashed with the dignified Yeongbin Hall, feet propped up on the desk.
"Feet down."
The woman in a black suit sitting across from him snapped at his behavior with a sharp voice.
Even seated, the tall woman exuded a soldier-like intensity, and her shoulder bore a specially crafted badge in the shape of a mugunghwa flower.
"Yes, yes. If our Kim Min-jeong says so, I have to listen."
"Hey."
"N-No fighting, please..."
The brown-haired woman sitting next to the tall Kim Min-jeong reached out to stop their bickering.
She looked like a top celebrity—specifically a female idol—just out of her early twenties, fresh-faced and vibrant.
"Fighting? This? Does this look like fighting to you?"
"Eek...!"
"Don't threaten the junior, Ramju."
"Argh, I'm not Ramju!"
"Yes, Park Da-ram."
"Ugh!"
"...Pfft."
The petite girl sitting next to Blue Lightning—Park Da-ram—let out a soft chuckle.
Unlike the others, she looked like a character pulled straight from a game world: white hair streaked with purple and blue highlights, resembling a virtual YouTuber come to life.
"Hey. Did you just laugh?"
"Karuya didn't make a sound."
"Karuya my ass. Your name is Hwang Ji-ah—"
"Wanna die?"
The girl who called herself Karuya flashed her eyes and clenched her fist.
"No red pills."
"Ha, seriously. How'd it end up all women?"
Park Da-ram ignored the three women's glares and covered his face with both hands.
"This never happened when Brother Cho Cheol was around."
"........."
Cho Cheol.
The now-deceased S-Rank Hunter.
He had been the leader sitting at the head of this very table, guiding the 'team.' But that seat was empty now.
Instead...
"The President is entering."
With the secretary's announcement, the President entered, paused briefly, then slowly took the seat once occupied by the S-Rank team leader.
"It's been a while, everyone. I think this is the first time all four of us have gathered since the state funeral."
"Get to the point."
"........."
At Park Da-ram's blunt words toward the President, the man glanced at Kim Min-jeong, who stood immediately and leaned toward Park Da-ram.
"Mind your manners. He's the head of state."
"I didn't vote for this old guy last election."
"You...!"
"Anyway, isn't it because this old guy pushed that dogshit Hunter Management Act that even the awakened Hunters are fleeing? That's why the newbie Hunter numbers dropped, making Brother Cho Cheol suffer so much. And then..."
Park Da-ram bared his teeth openly at the President, venting his resentment.
"Who forced the Mungyeong Saejae Tower raid just to scrape up votes from TK folks? That's how it ended up like that. Right?"
"Watch your words."
"What's there to watch? The media attacks us S-Ranks for screwing up, mocks Brother Cho Cheol for dying because he didn't manage his condition and overdid the raids."
"Ahem. How could the President pressure the media?"
The President looked uncomfortable but avoided Park Da-ram's gaze.
"Let's forget the trivialities and talk big picture. If we sit idle, this country's reputation is at stake."
At his gesture, aides placed booklet-like documents in front of each S-Rank.
"What era is this? Handing out printouts...?"
"If we give electronics, will 'someone' say they sparked lightning and fried them?"
"What? This auntie...!"
"Auntie?"
"Enough fighting."
The President opened the booklet in front of him.
"We're not here to fight. We need to decide which S-Rank Tower to raid—and fast. Why else would I summon you all personally? Not sending some committee minister, but the President himself."
"........."
At his words, the four S-Rank Hunters began eyeing each other warily.
"So, who'll step up?"
"Mr. President, that's..."
"Someone has to fight up front. Or push A-Ranks forward? Let me borrow my young aides' lingo."
The President pointed at each one.
"DPS, DPS, DPS, DPS."
"........."
"Healer never existed anyway. Our 'tank' is dead. Someone has to tank."
"That's..."
"Tank. Who's doing it? Someone switch roles and fight upfront. Say something!"
"........."
"Hand the next S-Rank Tower to black-haired Americans too?!"
The President's voice filled the ceiling alone, as the S-Rank Hunters said nothing.
Some had nothing to say.
Some feared blame falling on them.
Some dreaded being asked.
"Mr. President."
"Oh, yes! Miss Hwang Ji-ah!"
"It's Karuya."
And some...
"I'm 15. You wouldn't tell a 15-year-old middle schooler to tank, right? I'm the strongest DPS anyway."
...were saying something plausible but utterly useless for the situation.
"Damn it, fine. What'll it take? Monthly 20 billion? Tax breaks for successful S-Rank Tower raiders? Huh?!"
The President pounded his chest in frustration, blurting out anything.
"That US President promised tax exemptions for 10 years or whatever."
"That's because he's a crazy populist!"
"Wh-When we raid an S-Rank Tower... you won't even give that much...?"
The timid brown-haired woman waved her hand, but the President just straightened his tie with a flinch.
"Ahem. Administration requires bipartisan agreement..."
The Blue House's Yeongbin Hall.
Only empty words echoed.
No sign of solving the root problem.
Korea's current S-Rank Hunters could form one party.
But only DPS, no tank.
No healer either.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Master. Then I'll be off."
Elaine bowed politely to me from the living room.
Dressed in a suit instead of her maid outfit, she held a briefcase with a cat (photorealistic) peeking its head out.
"You'll recover from any injury, so no worries."
"Best not to get hurt at all."
Elaine hadn't taken damage raiding the A-Rank Tower or fighting the Ouroboros boss in the S-Rank Tower.
Even left to her own devices, she'd dodged attacks thoroughly while dealing damage.
"Then why pick a healer-nya?"
"Insurance."
"Using this body as mere insurance?"
"Yeah. Sorry, but the best scenario is one where healers don't need to heal at all."
"Hm... Then wouldn't it be better if I stayed here? In case enemies show up..."
"Protecting me matters less than protecting Elaine. Who's gonna raid this place?"
My identity hadn't leaked publicly yet.
Suspicions about Elaine's master existed, but no one knew if he was East Asian, Korean, or the ex-employee A splurging with a black card from the US President.
Investigations continued subtly, though.
Communities buzzed with 'Master suspect lists,' like 'People who quit or vanished right after the million awakenings might be cosplaying or the Master?'
"I'd love to go near Ganghwa Island myself, but that'd cause issues now."
"Stay home quietly, Master. The Tower is our job. It'll help us more."
Elaine bowed once more.
"With you safe, we can fight without worry."
"That's right-nya. Partner stays safe in this house, inside the 'barrier'-nya."
Elaine tapped the glass window lightly.
Invisible from outside, a mana barrier stood right before it.
A bullet would shatter the glass but stop at the barrier, never entering.
Several such safeguards protected the house.
"Then I'll be off, Master."
"Yeah. I'll support if needed. Call you home if it's dangerous?"
"Yes. And we'll return... having cleared Ganghwa Island's S-Rank Tower."
With that, Elaine opened the wide living room glass door and leaped out.
Ta-at.
She couldn't fly, but landing safely from the 20th floor and dashing between buildings was child's play for her.
"...Whew."
One worry lingered about our next move.
What if I wasn't nearby for an S-Rank Tower raid?
Did holding the summoner smartphone nearby provide buffs for S-Rank clears?
'Might need emergency reverse summon.'
Yes.
Summons' lives could turn on seconds—faster than a second.
"Alice. Tell me again about summon 'death'."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ If a summon dies, it can be resummoned. System-wise, 'resummoning' was possible.
"Then for Elaine and Kiharu... future summons... do they feel real pain and death? Same sensations?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Yes. Resummoning or revival didn't erase pain.
'Even controlling from home, I can't make my fighters suffer or die in my place.'
If this were a soulslike game, I'd retry 100+ times.
But it wasn't a game—death hurt summons for real.
No need to choose death lightly.
"Penalty for summon death?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 72-hour Earth-time cooldown from time of death before resummon. "Got it."
Dying was even less an option.
I couldn't imagine life without Elaine now.
"Gotta be extra careful not to die."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Recommendation: Increase max summons to find a 'tank' position summon. "Summon a tank, huh."
Does the current party need a tank?
......
"Tanks are great, but knowing they suffer, agonize, and can die means finding another way. Not making one bleed tanking alone..."
Before Summoner, I was called by various titles across worlds.
'Player'.
Not keyboard and mouse connected to a PC—I picked up something else.
"Can't DPS clear without a single hit?"
Up, down, left, right.
A, B, X, Y.
"Let's go, Elaine."
Me.
Pretty confident in my controller skills.