Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Spoons Declined (3)
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At that moment, in the U.S. Congress.
U.S. President Aizen A. Luigi, who had shown up at Congress as usual today, couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the congressmen staring not at him, but at the massive screen on the wall.
"As you can see, our friend has successfully conquered an S-Rank Tower. I knew he could do it."
"P-President?"
Aide Patrick was flustered by the president clapping and laughing.
With everyone else either stunned or gaping in shock, how could he offer any advice when the president was the only one applauding?
It wasn't even one of those movie scenes where one person starts clapping and everyone else follows suit.
Only President Luigi was genuinely beaming with joy, celebrating the S-Rank Tower conquest.
"...Mr. President."
A white-haired elderly statesman called out to the president.
At the summons of the oldest politician in the U.S. Congress—far senior to the president himself—President Luigi stopped clapping.
"Yes, Senator Centariol."
"Is this old man's sense of time off, or is this really what's happening? Did that S-Rank Hunter truly conquer Korea's S-Rank Tower?"
"As you can see."
The massive monitor in the U.S. Congress was playing breaking news feeds straight from American reporters on the scene.
"My friend said he would conquer this tower, and he sent his agent to do just that. From the moment he first appeared until he emerged from the tower again, it took less than ten minutes."
Ten minutes.
Strictly speaking, it was even shorter than that.
"Experts will analyze the conquest itself, but we can say that the Korean Hunters who cleared the path all the way to the boss room deserve much of the credit for how quickly the tower fell."
A few congressmen nodded at the president's words.
The path to the boss room wasn't a one-way street like in other towers.
In that sense, if they had to divvy up credit for the conquest, it would be a real headache.
Were those who cleared up to the boss room the bigger contributors?
Or was it the one who never showed up until the boss floor, then suddenly appeared and took down the boss single-handedly?
No matter how many monsters you killed on the lower floors, the tower wouldn't vanish—so obviously, the latter had the overwhelming share.
"Mr. President."
That said...
"Regarding the conquest of the Storm Dragon Shahabut, did that Hunter receive help from Korean S-Rank Hunters?"
There was one crucial thing that mattered immensely to the congressmen here in the 'U.S. Congress'.
"Are you saying it's true that he didn't team up with Korean Hunters to take down the boss, but that we 'Americans' conquered an S-Rank Tower solo?"
"That's right."
"!!"
Several congressmen shot to their feet.
Some even thumped their chests as if a nagging toothache had finally been pulled.
"God hasn't abandoned us!"
"At last, we have such a powerful Hunter!"
Joy at gaining such mighty power.
The symbolism of that being an American.
And the belief that this genius who had conquered two S-Rank Towers would one day come to America and clear their towers too.
"Mr. President. When is that person coming to America?"
"Senator, as I mentioned last time, no later than three months from now..."
"Pull whatever strings you can to make it sooner."
A man who usually clashed politically with the president was now showing eagerness to push through any proposal immediately.
"This won't do. Let's start by forming a party line and have the entire party take the lead on the legislation..."
He even seemed a bit frantic.
"Calm down, Senator. We need to coordinate the schedule with the person themselves before..."
"This old man, with few days left to live, just wants to see at least one of those monstrosities on our soil gone before I retire."
"......."
Some might whisper 'What's with him?' about the haste, but his next words silenced them.
"May God bless all the citizens living on this land."
The senator clasped his hands in prayer.
Crackle.
On the footage, the massive tower vanished without a trace amid a deafening roar.
"Ah, by the way."
In the now-solemn atmosphere, the senator spoke to the president again.
"There's really no connection to the Korean Hunters, right?"
"Senator. What are you trying to say?"
"Oh, don't misunderstand. It wasn't some political rhetoric."
Politicians' speech often floated like clouds, so context was key.
"I just mean, if he conquered an S-Rank Tower without any Korean Hunters... I think the Korean government might react a bit sharply to that."
"......."
President Luigi adjusted his glasses with one hand at the senator's words.
The light glinted off them, hiding his eyes, as Aizen A. Luigi nodded emphatically with a matter-of-fact expression.
"You're right. They'll definitely move more aggressively than before. Even if it's just to find that someone."
"Even if?"
"One thing that doesn't change is that she's an American citizen holding U.S. nationality."
Even if she held dual citizenship with Korea too.
The words nearly slipped out, but they clamped their mouths shut.
"More importantly, how did it just vanish like that? Do you know?"
"......."
In the U.S. Congress.
Questions bordering on suspicion toward the president never ceased, but the mood was... harmonious(?).
Even as they harbored harsh queries, no one voiced them recklessly.
"It vanished because that's their ability."
Truly.
For whatever reason.
"As thanks for one trial vanishing from Earth, we should start by sending them some gifts."
"Ah, yes. As a commemoration...!"
"The gifts have already been sent."
President Luigi spread his arms wide with a grin.
"Very special gifts for them."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Party disbanded.
Party reformed.
To borrow terms from elsewhere, it was like 'unsummoning' followed by the 'summoning' procedure.
No grand magical miracle—just tapping a few buttons on the summon management app with my finger.
Then, with a pop of light, two people appeared before me.
"We're back, Master."
Elaine.
"Hmm...! So this is how it works. Definitely not the most pleasant sensation."
Kiharu.
"Welcome back. You both did great."
I first expressed my sincere gratitude for their safe return.
I trusted their skills, but if things hadn't gone as planned and some variable cropped up, it could've been a mess.
On the outside, I acted all confident like 'I never doubted for a second,' but deep down, I was genuinely worried about every worst-case scenario.
What if the conquest failed?
What if they got seriously hurt?
"You both seem eager to talk about this conquest, so how about we celebrate with some tasty food first?"
Thankfully, nothing like that happened, and the conquest was a success.
A success so overwhelming it might make some people uncomfortable.
-Conquered Korea's S-Rank Tower without any help from Korean S-Ranks.
-What were those S-Ranks doing while pocketing their massive salaries and taxes?
-One guy solos an S-Rank Tower, but man, some folks sure have heavy asses. Right?
...Foreigners might shrug it off, but from a Korean perspective, it could feel a bit different.
"This'll stir up all sorts of talk aimed at the existing S-Rank Hunters. And they'll start comparing you two to them. They were probably skeptical until the Mungyeong Saejae Tower conquest, but now it's crystal clear after this one."
I gave the two of them a thumbs-up.
"Elaine, Kiharu. You two have become the strongest Hunter party in this country."
S-Rank Tower conquest record: #1.
The government couldn't just cry 'Invalid! Not registered or reported to the Korean government!' when the achievement was so stellar and monumental.
"No. It's a three-person party including Master. We were the frontline fighters, but we won so easily thanks to our brilliant commander, Master."
"All I did was sit and press buttons at the right timing."
"Master watched over me, so I could hunt cleanly. Same for Kiharu—if we'd faced that Storm Dragon alone, just dealing with its flight would've been a huge hurdle."
"That's true, Partner. I felt it clearly this time. That miraculous power of yours, overlaying the world's laws with the 'world of 0s and 1s'."
"No need to make it sound so grandiose."
The moment the field was about to shatter, I turned the world into a game realm to prevent the floor from breaking.
"Anyway, clearing it fast was great."
"If the timing had been off even slightly, we'd still be conquering it—and then Korean S-Rank Hunters would've entered the lower floors, reached the boss, and tried to butt in."
Elaine scribbled numbers in the air with her finger.
"If one of those S-Rank Hunters sneaks in a single attack from behind during the boss fight, dropping our dungeon conquest contribution from 100% pure 'Master's party' to 99.9%... that's a serious problem, isn't it?"
"It is."
Does achievement feed you? No.
Does it unlock hidden stats? No.
Just prestige.
The symbolism of soloing this trial.
And completely blocking S-Rank Hunters from plopping their spoons on the table when they tried to claim a share— that's hugely encouraging.
"They'd definitely claim 'We helped conquer it too!' and propose an afterparty. Elaine, Kiharu—be careful. Especially with high-rank Hunters. This world's full of that."
Afterparties.
Young female Hunters. Beauties.
Under the guise of national celebration, bigwigs showing up to grab a drink— it happened all the time, or so I'd heard.
"Some Hunters even fled overseas after one afterparty where they poured drinks here and there."
"Really?"
"Just rumors. You think that actually happens?"
The underbelly was utterly sordid.
"Not something to discuss openly. It's... pretty chaotic. With everyone."
Even I, a civilian, had heard enough to know it was common knowledge.
"So we'll keep things to ourselves as much as possible. Conquest celebration parties, future tower raids— all of it."
They'd dig.
Into Elaine's true nature.
Kiharu's still-unknown existence.
And the Summoner who called them to this world: me.
"We should watch how the S-Rank Hunters move first, then decide what to do next."
Like clearing the main story on launch day of a mobile game, then waiting six weeks for the next update.
"With that in mind..."
Clink.
"Let's celebrate just us. S-Rank Tower conquest. And..."
I showed Elaine the breaking news that had just popped up.
"Your patch."
"......?"
"The game devs are introducing a new system. A skill enhancement event. And the first target...
is you."
Elaine in the game.
Buff incoming.