Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: The Path You Chose (4)
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[Morning, Dungeon Management Committee Seoul Branch.]
"Should I just head overseas?"
Kim Min-soo, the deputy branch manager of the Dungeon Management Committee Seoul Branch, let out a sigh at the news filled with nothing but bad stories day after day.
"Head overseas? Why? Even the S-Rank Tower on Ganghwa Island got cleared."
Section Chief Jang Tae-hwan, who had been reviewing reports, asked in response to his mumbling.
Unlike typical government offices packed with civil servants, this place was staffed mostly by people in their twenties and thirties. The deputy branch manager's sigh pulled everyone's eyes away from their computers for a moment.
"Deputy Branch Manager, you made a ton of money before joining here. Back when you were a corporate hunter."
"Yeah, I did."
"You came to this government agency because the company was working you to death, right?"
"That's true, but now we're grinding just as hard here."
"Well..."
The staff exchanged wry smiles.
Government agencies got busy during certain seasons, sure—but this level of frenzy was rare.
"Lady Elaine clearing that S-Rank Tower was great and all, but her sense of justice is just too big for this country's bowl to hold."
"Deputy Branch Manager. You're a civil servant."
"Did I badmouth the country? I'm just praising Lady Elaine's greatness."
Isn't that the same thing? The staff swallowed the retort.
They also buried deeper the snide remark that maybe the country's bowl was smaller than a soy sauce dish.
"So, where are you thinking of going if you leave Korea? Southeast Asia? Or the US?"
"Gotta go to the US. They pretty much accept Awakener immigrants, right?"
"You think the country will just let you? They'll plaster your name on wiki pages and roast you online."
"Pfft, just cut off the internet. Buy a house in some quiet town and party it up. It's not like Awakeners get mugged or shot to death."
The staff chuckled lightly.
With no non-Awakeners around, it was the kind of joke only Awakeners could share.
"Besides, Lady Elaine's probably already building up to head to the US herself."
"Makes sense, she's American..."
"Nah, the reason she's sticking around Korea... it's that Korean loyalty thing, y'know? She's planning to clear the remaining S-Rank Towers before she leaves."
The deputy branch manager held up four fingers, then folded two down.
"The Jeju Island S-Rank Tower—China's S-Ranks are claiming they'll take it. And the Dokdo S-Rank Tower? Japan's government is gearing up for a full assault."
"That's classified."
"Publicly classified. The Foreign Ministry's hounding us for dungeon inspection reports every day. And that's—"
"Deputy Branch Manager!!"
The office door burst open as a pale-faced staffer rushed in.
"Lady Elaine has appeared!"
"Where?! Jeju? Dokdo? She's so fast—"
"On the first floor here!!"
"......."
The deputy branch manager and everyone in the office froze for a second, then unleashed their old field mana and bolted outside.
"It's not just some cosplay-obsessed YouTuber, right?!"
"Mana signature confirmed. B-Rank Chae Jeong-hwan jumped her and got one-shotted!"
"Then it's the real deal! Shit!"
Eyes gleaming with thrill and dread, the deputy branch manager vaulted the stair railing and hit the first floor in one go.
"Huff, huff...!"
First-floor lobby.
Staff were already out with smartphones, recording or going live. In the center, a musclebound suit guy knelt on one knee.
Before him.
A woman in a maid outfit—a cosplay maid—sheathed her sword and stabbed it into the floor.
A gash scarred the marble, but the deputy branch manager approached the cosplay maid as calmly as he could.
"Dungeon Management Committee Seoul Branch Deputy Branch Manager. Welcome, Ms. Cosplayer."
"......."
Up close, it was still Elaine.
"Yes, nice to meet you."
"...You?"
"......Should I say 'pleased to meet you'?"
"Oh, uh, that sounded just like the real Elaine! Haha... Speak however you're comfortable. Ahem."
The deputy branch manager was thrilled to see his game's nameless account character come alive, but jarred that the sword wasn't his character's signature weapon—it was from another one.
Even her speech was off.
Elaine used utmost politeness even to enemies.
She'd never say casual stuff like "I'm here to OO."
"What brings you here...?"
"Came to tell you to clear out the Jeju Island S-Rank Dungeon in two weeks."
"......!!"
A shiver ran through him.
Not just because her voice matched the VA's perfectly—the heavenly tone delivering the notice made him feel like he'd been summoned to the Blue House.
"Finally heading out to conquer it! Uh, will you be... soloing it again?"
"...Still deciding between solo or party."
The cosplayer lightly tugged her maid skirt.
"But I do want to raid with people who are into cosplay."
"Co, cosplay...?"
"Not okay?"
"N-no! Of course it is! B-but..."
The deputy branch manager swallowed hard.
"...You're not thinking of partying with Korea's S-Rank Hunters... right? Haha."
He said it jokingly, but the cosplayer's expression didn't change.
"I mean, a cosplayer like you could probably solo an S-Rank Tower anyway..."
"Hey, Kim Min-soo!!"
A booming voice echoed through the lobby.
Hearing his name, the deputy branch manager mouthed silently.
"Ah, fuck. We're screwed."
"Outta the way! She's mine now!"
A balding middle-aged man shoved Kim Min-soo aside.
Non-Awakener strength, but Kim had no choice but to yield.
"W-welcome! I'm Lee Yong-baek, branch manager of the Dungeon Management Committee!"
"......."
The branch manager extended a hand for a shake, but the cosplayer stepped back three paces instead.
"......!!"
Humiliation right in his face.
Before he could grimace, though, the cosplayer scanned around like something occurred to her.
"Oh yeah, about conquering that S-Rank Dungeon. Any rewards?"
"R-rewards? Of c-course! Leave your contact, and we'll coordinate with the government for a medal ceremony right away...!"
"Nah, don't need that."
The cosplayer waved it off firmly.
"Don't make me go through the hassle."
"......!!"
So Gen Z.
But her achievements had already transcended that label.
"Towers threatening humanity are sitting there, and prepping to take one down is busy enough."
Her words were straight facts—no one, not even the branch manager, could argue.
"At least give us a day...!"
"If skimping on that one day causes a failed raid, you taking responsibility?"
"Th-that...!"
"Forget it. ...Not planning to swing my sword at some annoying lady anyway. Hmm, you there?"
"Y-yes!"
The kneeling musclehead stood up.
"Ease up your shoulder when you swing. Think of it as swinging with mana, not raw strength."
"O-okay, got it!"
"Then I'll be off... Oh."
The cosplayer glanced around, then approached the youngest woman's smartphone, which was live-streaming.
"Ahem. Um. So."
She seemed about to say something, then looked a bit shy.
"...If NPia’s president is watching this, I have one request."
The woman moving like a Heavenly King in S-Rank Dungeon conquests uttered the word 'request' for the first time publicly.
"I know it's unfair, but Elaine's my fave. Like, I'm Elaine, or Elaine's me vibe. ...So."
The cosplayer took a deep breath.
"Gimme the Elaine buff."
With that, face flushed beet red, she handed back the phone and turned.
Fwosh!
She vanished in a flash of light.
Behind her, the Dungeon Management Committee branch shook violently.
Boom!
"Where's the cosplayer?!"
Iron Blood appeared at the Seoul Branch entrance, but the cosplayer was long gone.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Meanwhile, White House, President's Oval Office.]
"Incidents like this are always welcome."
Watching the news on the big screen, President Luigi clapped lightly with a faint smile.
"Jeju conquest in two weeks, huh. Should I contact the navy to send warships nearby for 'training'? Or transport her directly from Seoul to Jeju by warship? Nah, can't let on she's in Seoul. Maybe get her to Busan first, then..."
"Mr. President."
Aide Patrick handed over a tablet, interrupting.
"As you instructed, we've acquired a large stake in Korea's game company, NPia. Bought through 'Lord Wayne' as an investment, so no issues."
"Good. Now our friend can enjoy his hobby even more comfortably."
President Luigi leaned back in his chair, grinning.
"That friend doesn't do PC gaming, right?"
"Yes."
"Have Lord Wayne pass the word: no forcing global standards with PC elements. Keep doing what they're doing. He'll trust a major investor over the US President."
"Understood. And..."
"And?"
"Contact from the 'Eschild Group.' They want to know if they can connect through investments in the Summoner's hobbies or whatever."
"Hm."
President Luigi furrowed his brow briefly.
"Which Eschild?"
"Robert."
"Robert... No."
"Pardon? But Mr. President, isn't he a longtime partner?"
"I didn't expect this from him either. Haven't told you yet, but... connect with Adam instead of Robert."
"...He's the one who criticized you."
"An elite bureaucrat's better than a hypocrite."
"...Looks like you've uncovered something about Robert even I didn't know. Understood. I'll follow your orders."
Seeing the president's bitter look, Patrick calmly swiped through the tablet.
"Also, regarding that 'android' the Cosplayer cosplayed—we connected with the president of the company it originated from."
"Oh? How'd it go?"
"Might move to the US for creative freedom, but can't leave his dead colleagues' graves behind. At minimum, wants to honor their spirits by using investment funds to finish the game they were working on."
"Hm..."
President Luigi let out a low hum.
"A conviction money and freedom can't buy, huh."
"The Summoner... isn't he similar? Sticking around Korea despite all this."
"Who knows. I haven't dared ask that far. Wonder if he's worried about paparazzi, or scouting US spots for a home."
"...As you said, we've prepared a building for the Summoner in each of the 50 states. He can pick any."
"Maybe there's something about leaving Korean soil... or..."
President Luigi picked up his smartphone.
"...Some reason he can't leave home."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Elaine. Good job."
"......."
The moment they got home, Elaine flung herself onto the sofa.
"'Elaine buff.'"
"I'd die, you."
Dry mimicked Elaine's voice perfectly from his own mouth. Elaine, face-down on the sofa, lifted only her head to glare at Dry.
"Don't imitate my voice."
"Wasn't imitating? Just played back what you said via the voice playback module."
"......."
"Don't fight, nya. We're all partying up in two weeks."
Kiharu stepped in to mediate.
"Partner. Think party play's feasible like this, nya?"
"Of course. They bicker playfully at home, but on-site, both elites. Right? Same even after we head to the US."
"Oh? We're going to America?"
"After conquering Korea's remaining S-Rank Towers."
"...Is it guilt? Or responsibility?"
"Lying if I said no. About 1g worth."
"Then?"
"Got a quest. Alice, you explain."
I pulled out my smartphone.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Conquer two more S-Rank Towers, and you will be able to summon one additional familiar.] "Lame."
"......."
"Clear this, and our house issue's solved too. Started a new one already."
For our 'safe home.'
"Gonna try pulling a Wisconsin."
"......?"
"Or Ohio, Enterprise, Georgia, West Virginia '44. ...Tch, no. If we're pulling, might as well go latest model?"
When we go to America, we'll sail, not fly.
"Anyway, if it works, we might transcend nations altogether."