Chapter 46
Chapter 46
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Searching for the Master (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Meanwhile, in Seoul. Blue House Presidential Residence Office.]
"Hah, those rotten bastards. They think the public sector is their personal playground."
Sitting in the office chair, staring at the situation board, Korea's president, Shin Minguk, unconsciously made a motion as if grabbing a cigarette before clenching his fist.
"Haaa... shit..."
Anyone, Korean or foreigner, would know what word came after that.
But he held back from saying it outright because he wasn't alone in the office.
"NIS Director."
"...Yes, Mr. President."
"So, some of your 'Hunter dropouts' tried to raid the house of the guy we suspect is the Master?"
"Y-Yes, that's right."
"......."
The NIS Director paled and bowed his head at the president's words.
"Didn't I tell you not to specially appoint any random Hunter with no background as a public servant just because they awakened?"
"W-Well..."
"You didn't see this coming? Hah. They didn't even take the civil service exam or the senior administrative exam—they just awakened by chance on the street, and we fast-tracked them to Grade 5 positions. And now look at this mess? They think public service is their damn sandbox."
"Mr. President, please mind your dignity..."
"Mind my dignity while the country's about to flip upside down?!"
The president slammed his fist on the desk and shouted.
"A shootout in the middle of Seoul? Is that remotely acceptable?!"
"W-We didn't fire first..."
"You provoked them into firing! Why poke the hornet's nest? Why?! Be honest—did you know or not?!"
"I-I didn't know. My subordinates colluded with the Russians..."
"You're done after this. You know why, no need to spell it out."
The NIS Director's ears burned red, but he clenched his fist on his thigh and merely nodded.
"Hah, damn it. Back in our day, the president said sit, you sat; stand, you stood. The world's changed too much—changed into a real shithole."
The president covered his face with one hand and pointed at the TV in the situation room.
"Is that for real? Huh?"
On the TV screen, footage played.
"The U.S. president openly announcing he's sailing an aircraft carrier into the East Sea—is that okay?"
Reporters outside the White House were interviewing a man who was deftly parrying their questions like a marketplace vendor.
"Sea of Japan? No. It's the 'East Sea'—'Dong-hae' in Korean. Please make that clear. The O-map says otherwise? Then the map must be wrong." "B-But the U.S. president is taking our side on the Dokdo issue, isn't he?"
The Foreign Minister ventured cautiously.
"He even said 'Dokdo,' not 'Takeshima.' This could resolve the issue the previous administration left hanging..."
"Dokdo or whatever—if we're not handling it ourselves and just eating what's spoon-fed by America?"
"...Mr. President. That's the situation."
The Foreign Minister continued with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"The U.S. president's moves have gone beyond prediction. No one in Wall Street, Silicon Valley, or Washington politics saw this coming."
"Isn't predicting that your job?"
"W-Well, according to our projections..."
"Projections?"
"Depending on when Dokdo is cleared, the carrier might head to Jeju."
"Hah."
The president covered his face with both hands at the Foreign Ministry's forecast.
"What an end times. ...Still no word from Jeju?"
"No. The last A-Rank Hunter we sent returned from the tower and reported they're already inside the boss room on raid."
"......Hoo."
With no clear solution, all he could do was sigh.
"Even when a million Awakenings happened, I thought we'd manage somehow, but the world's gone mad. No basic courtesy for the state or administration, no actions for the country. Is this a nation?"
"......."
No one could respond.
"And the one causing the biggest international stir is..."
"Is Dokdo American territory? No. Dokdo is Korean territory. Is Korea America's 51st state? That would be an insult to Korea. Mind your words." "The U.S. president, of all people."
"Mr. President."
"What now?"
"Assuming both Jeju and Dokdo... once the towers are cleared, how about preparing speeches in advance?"
"Both?"
"Yes."
"......."
His head ached, but politicians must make choices for the nation and people even in chaos.
"...First, express deep regret over the carrier arriving unannounced. And issue a statement hoping for the successful clearing of Dokdo's S-Rank Tower. Hah, whether that's a silver lining or not."
The president shook his head.
"America suddenly becoming pro-Korea overnight—better than Tokyo, which got turned upside down?"
The aides gave ambiguous smiles and short nods.
Yeah.
At least better than Japan, where territorial disputes ended overnight.
Unlike here, secretly hoping for Dokdo's S-Rank Tower to fall, they probably genuinely hoped for failure.
The Master's.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Limousine.
After Patrick left, only Elaine, Kiharu, and I remained.
"Master. The conversation..."
"Doesn't matter if it's recorded. If it leaks, blame America."
Since we're in an American car, no need to fuss over potential black box recordings.
"But plant some bait beforehand. If our talk leaks, it won't be fun."
"...Still, be as cautious as possible."
"That's my line."
I pointed my index finger at Elaine.
"Solo clear. Can you do it?"
"If I can't, I'll come back."
Elaine nodded toward Kiharu on my thigh.
With Dray absent and Kiharu stepping up as my guard, Elaine had to tackle the S-Rank Tower alone.
"I'll be off, Master."
Elaine bowed gracefully, tapped the limousine door, and I nodded back in response.
Whiiiir.
The door opened, letting in a strong sea breeze—utterly different from the city scent.
As soon as Elaine exited, the door closed. I watched outside via the interior CCTV feed.
"Hah."
Ahead of the forward-facing limousine.
U.S. Marines lined up left and right with stern faces, and in the center stood elderly men in uniforms.
Thud.
One foot stomp, and the uniformed men saluted Elaine in unison.
The insignia on their shoulders and chests matched U.S. generals from a wiki search.
Generals.
Under our friend Luigi's orders, the navy commander who brought the carrier from Okinawa was saluting Elaine.
And perhaps briefed somewhat.
Even as she passed, they kept saluting toward the limousine.
"......."
On a whim, I cracked the window, waved through the gap signaling to drop salutes.
The generals lowered hands and faced Dokdo.
"......."
Feeling oddly embarrassed, I shut the window and turned to the summon management app on my smartphone.
💬 GRIMMORE CHAT 💬 🐱 Kiharu: Controlling U.S. generals with a single gesture. You've become a huge deal, nya. Kiharu messaged via the app.
A talking cat would shock even Americans, so ease them in gradually.
💬 GRIMMORE CHAT 💬 👤 Master: That means more responsibility too. Why else afford such ceremony to a mere company drone pre-Awakening?
They want U.S. towers cleared.
'If they're giving perks hoping I'll do it, then I'll do it.'
That's why I left home in the first place.
Otherwise, I'd have stayed holed up.
"...Hoo."
Deep breath.
No Kiharu support, so Elaine needs full focus for the tower.
Rumble rumble.
The carrier heads to Dokdo.
Between the two islets, the White Ivory Sky Tower pierces the sky—an impregnable fortress never breached to the boss room.
Japan unofficially sent S-Rank Hunters and retreated overwhelmed; some say it's SS-Rank difficulty—
💬 GRIMMORE CHAT 💬 👤 Master: Elaine. You can do it, right? 🧹 Elaine: Of course. Elaine isn't just any S-Rank.
Tat-tat-tat.
Elaine dashes across the carrier's runway.
From limousine to bridge bow—straight down the fighter takeoff path, leaping from the end onto the railing.
"Whoa."
The marines outside gasp at her jump.
Trailing mana glow, she arcs toward the tower. I open the management app—
Slide.
Lounging in the limo, I grip the smartphone horizontally.
Tower interior.
Despite atop Dokdo, it has its own vibe—strangely unique.
Vast wasteland.
Like the sea turned plains, the first zone is endless barren earth welcoming us.
Rumble rumble.
The ground shakes.
Something kicks up dust waves, surging toward us.
Slide.
Left hand on directional pad.
Right thumb hovers over unactivated button.
As Elaine grips her sword, I press forward hard.
Kyaaak!!
A massive something lunges from ahead.
Elaine blinks forward in white light, charging ahead.
Dokdo S-Rank Tower.
No known path to the top; endless A-Rank worm-like monsters pour out madly, no respite—just beasts everywhere.
💬 GRIMMORE CHAT 💬 🧹 Elaine: Master. I leave it to you. 🧹 Elaine: The new buff added to me... 'Decisive Battle Mode.' Game company's buff.
I tap the newly flashing button aside the usual ones.
And that instant.
Slash.
The screen.
The world split.
Elaine's buff.
Not stat tweaks or breakthroughs.
-We'll add one special move per character!
-Here's a daily character pull ticket—experience new ultimate skills with Elaine and your fresh pulls!
A technique custom-made by the game company for Elaine.