Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Hacker Who Even Uses His Familiars (3)
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[Meanwhile, near the BEXCO A-Rank Tower.]
Rumble rumble.
The tower crumbled.
Compared to an S-Rank Tower collapsing, it felt relatively minor, but the sight of an A-Rank Tower falling still drew cheers from the crowd.
"The Cosplay Maid did it again!!"
Who were these people gathered near BEXCO?
One: Those who rushed over upon hearing the Cosplay Maid had appeared.
Two: Cosplayers who had gathered for a subculture event near the BEXCO venue and were now reminiscing in small groups after the servers shut down.
"Uwooooah!!"
Three.
"I don't have to look at that damn tower in my backyard anymore! Uwaaaah!"
Busan locals.
The citizens living around the landmark known as BEXCO were going wild.
They didn't know what outsiders thought, but with no chance of moving and houses unsellable, that A-Rank Tower visible from their balconies had been an eyesore.
They knew S-Rank Hunters could handle even a Break, but who knew what might happen?
Heroes weren't robots on constant standby, deploying the instant a Break occurred.
If a Hero overslept and a Break happened, even a three-minute delay could mean countless civilian deaths.
"Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!"
"No, it's Elaine!"
"Not Elaine! She's Agent 4577 right now...!"
"Pah, who cares about that!! She cleared the A-Rank Tower right in front of our homes!!"
No more worrying about the tower.
"Now I can sleep with both legs stretched out, experience points be damned!!"
The nation had left it untouched under the guise of a "managed tower"—perfectly conquerable without S-Ranks—and its disappearance felt like a massive weight lifted.
"Kuh...!"
Not everyone was thrilled.
"Crazy... She actually conquered an A-Rank Tower...?"
"Not just up to the boss—she killed the boss?"
Some couldn't simply celebrate the A-Rank Tower's demise.
"Even for an A-Rank, it's not fully cleared, and she did it in under three minutes...!"
"Blue Lightning's record is shattered again...! Same standards! An S-Rank Hunter clearing an A-Rank Tower!!"
For some, it challenged veteran Hunters' legacies.
"Damn it, this is insane. I was waiting for the BEXCO Tower raid in two weeks to conquer it with ten A-Ranks...!"
For others, a skilled conqueror taking the tower robbed promising climbers of experience for S-Rank ascension.
"Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!"
Out of a hundred people, ninety cheered while ten hid their bitterness. Meanwhile, the tower's conqueror strolled out leisurely.
"Waaaaaah!!"
Unlike her previous maid cosplay.
Gun instead of sword, radiating utter nonchalance.
No color parts equipped, technically breaking regulations—but who cared?
She'd cleared a potentially deadly A-Rank Tower.
"Th-there!! A Busan KBC reporter...!"
As a female reporter pushed through for an interview, mic in hand—
Boom!
Something dropped from the sky.
A powerful shockwave made people stagger in the wind; some fell flat on their butts.
"Wh-what!?"
"That sonic boom... Whoa, she's here!!"
A new spectacle unfolded before their eyes.
The very scene netizens dreamed of.
"S-Rank Hunter, Cosplay Maid."
"I-Iron Blood!!"
Korea's S-Rank Hunter, Kim Min-jung, bearer of the moniker [Iron Blood].
Tall in a suit, she clenched and unclenched her fist, as if ready to smash the face before her.
"Whatever your identity, I have one clear question."
Iron Blood drew something from her pocket.
"Did you get dungeon conquest permission before tackling this dungeon?"
It was a smartphone, its large screen displaying a photo of an official document.
An official notice.
"Korean or American, to conquer dungeons as a Hunter in Korea, you need formal approval from the Association and government. Didn't you know?"
Some onlookers grimaced at Iron Blood's rigid words.
Like seeing cops ticket someone for speeding and illegal parking after they saved lives by rushing in.
"Hiiik...!"
But Iron Blood glared, and the stares vanished.
They might think it inwardly, but facing her in person silenced them.
"Your answer?"
"......Hmm."
Unlike civilians, S-Rank Hunter [Cosplay Maid] met her gaze steadily.
"......That."
She hesitated mid-sentence, as if something caught.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
Iron Blood sneered, but Cosplay Maid holstered her gun in response.
"Good. Lower your weapon and cooperate—"
Shhwick.
Mana surged from her outstretched hand, a sword sprouting from her palm.
A blade forged of mana.
Hunters wielded myriad powers; aura blades from hands were commonplace.
But that meticulously woven mana sword being a "Frostblade" shocked some.
"This is the last thing I wanted to draw."
Cosplay Maid grimaced, as if unsheathing was a grave mistake.
"No choice. That cosplay toy gun won't cut it."
"...What?"
"No need to hear you out."
She readjusted her Agent 4577 ponytail into her debut hairstyle.
"You've put me in a bind."
Though dressed as an android, not a maid, her tone was impeccably maid-like.
"My concept's ruined."
"...What?"
"Historical accuracy failed. Sigh. Half-baked now—how disappointed will he be?"
"'He'... the U.S. President?"
"Ha."
She sneered, curling one lip.
"As if I'd tell you about him..."
Her smirk deepened as she leveled her sword one-handed at Iron Blood.
"Such crude ploys to extract info from me."
"......!!"
"If you want something that badly... I'll tell you this much before you go."
Tap, tap.
"You're weak."
Kaboom!
Her words barely ended when Iron Blood vanished.
The shockwave hit faster than she disappeared.
Iron Blood's fist met Cosplay Maid's Frostblade; another shockwave forced eyes shut.
Only cameras captured it unblinking.
The glass lenses recorded their first clash and the ensuing "fight."
Thud, thud.
Stab.
Three exchanges.
Dodging Iron Blood's rush lightly, parrying with sword—after three clashes of blade and fist, it was over.
"......Huh?"
Onlookers blinked at the scene shift.
A dull impact echoed, yet before them:
Iron Blood punching air.
Cosplay Maid casually aiming at her throat from behind.
"I told you."
She lowered her sword; no fight left.
"You're weaker than me."
"You...!"
Iron Blood spun, swinging again—but
"Enough."
"!!"
The lowered sword hovered before her face.
One more centimeter, and it'd pierce.
Iron Blood had halted her momentum's inertia with mana.
"More mana, and civilians get caught."
"......!"
"If you insist on fighting... do it in a 'tower.' Somewhere safe, no civilians."
With elegant poise, she bowed—then frowned, fussing at her clothes.
"Next time, proper attire. Farewell."
She curtsied, hands lifting imaginary skirt hems.
"You—!"
Iron Blood lunged, face demonic.
"Uwaaaah!!"
Civilians behind Cosplay Maid had wisely retreated, but a block or counter's aftermath...
Flash.
Teleport-like light, and Cosplay Maid vanished.
Whoosh!
Iron Blood's fist sliced empty air.
"......!!"
Her mana-charged fist trembled, unable to unclench.
* * * A river flowed, birds soared, lush greenery thick.
"......."
Elaine stood alone, awaiting something.
Her master's touch.
For him to pull her from this alien space.
As she waited—
[Why.]
A group stared at her.
[Why only you?]
Confused—or refusing acceptance—they beamed intense will at her.
[I want to go too!! Get me out!]
[Maid, show us the path to the Captain too. We were comrades once!]
[Hey!! Aren't we people too?! Give us a chance at life! Talk to him—]
"Quiet."
Elaine drew her sword calmly against the wailing phantoms.
"Competitors are growing; no intent to invite you."
[Wh-what...?!]
"In this world, I'm enough by Master's side. Other Captains might summon 'Sword Saints' or 'Archmages,' but."
With radiant smile, she spread arms to an oncoming colossal presence.
"I'm Master's first. Vanish, specters. You're just my guilt and regrets."
Eyes snapping open, her view filled with a familiar space.
Modern Earth's officetel.
Where her master resided, tidied by her hands.
Here, he always greeted her at his desk...
"H-hey~ Sis, you're first, huh?"
"......Ha?"
Computer chair.
Master seated, a woman atop him.
"Whoa, same outfit as me? But it really doesn't suit you! What do you think, Commander?"
"Get down first, please?"
"Oh? Saying I'm heavy...?"
"N-no! Not that!"
"Then what's the issue? I'm a doll, an android. Ahaha!"
"......Kiharu."
Elaine eyed the sofa, where Kiharu lounged as a cat.
"What's that?"
"Junior, nyang."
Kiharu stretched lazily.
"While you tangled with Iron Blood, we just finished summoning her."
"...Just summoned, and she's like this?"
"Well."
"Oh my, Maid Sis is stiffer than I thought. Commander, what do you think? Stiffer than my chassis?"
"......How about introductions first."
"Yes, please."
Elaine breathed deep, glancing down at the purple-green two-tone woman on her master.
"Indeed."
"...Where you looking?"
"Doll-like, or rather, chest armor like a kite shield—impressively sturdy."
Shoulders back, chest out, beaming.
"Pleased to meet you. Master's first familiar, Elaine. You?"
"...Third. Name..."
The android glanced aside.
"Commander's giving me a special one, just for me☆"
"......."