Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: How to Clear the Tower Raw (1)
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No one knows the principle behind how 'Towers' appear on Earth's surface.
If Towers were simply disasters that brought only trials to humanity, people wouldn't value becoming Awakeners who climb them more than winning the lottery jackpot.
Clearing a Tower brings a flood of rewards.
These rewards can even be used outside the Tower, and many of them are items that defy human common sense.
Magic tools.
From objects that sparkle with light semi-permanently without electricity, to those that emit intense heat with just a trickle of mana.
Once magic stones from the Towers and these magic tools began taking over established industries one by one, it became obvious that Towers had become the oil fields of a new capitalist era.
Of course, climbing a Tower always comes with risks.
You might think there aren't many jobs where you risk your life to earn money, but those who climb the Towers—Awakeners—truly stake their lives fighting the monsters inside.
That's why even some who have Awakened choose not to climb.
For some, Awakening is something worth risking their lives to attain, while for others, it's an unwanted power that feels like an unnecessary burden.
And in the midst of all that, a million people Awakened. The world had no choice but to fall into chaos.
'Lucky, I guess.'
With chaos erupting everywhere around the globe, the aggro toward Elaine thankfully wasn't too bad.
Just like now, as I had five internet windows open on my dual monitors, refreshing various communities to check their content.
Community R Humor Board: nothing unusual.
Community D Gallery: nothing out of the ordinary.
Community A Channel...
"Ah."
—3D Elaine Hunter mouth gallerywwww
"Crazy."
I'd opened a bunch of communities just in case, and sure enough, one had caught me.
A post uploaded five minutes ago featured a side profile shot of Elaine, the black-haired, golden-eyed battle maid, gazing up at the fountain.
"Of all places...!"
This was bad.
It wasn't just that the info was spreading—this was a gaming community, not a Hunter one, so the users' tendencies were pretty raw and unfiltered—
—You know you'll get banned for sexual harassment toward real people, right? Careful with comments.
—Hey, be grateful Hunter sis is even cosplaying for us lol
"Huh?"
The comment reactions were strangely tame.
Normally, this place would have comments like 'strip Elaine out of her maid outfit, make her blush, carry her tiny master hubby to bed in a sack.'
But those kinds of comments probably weren't there because...
"She's sueable?"
She looked like a real person, so they were holding back to avoid lawsuits for sexual harassment.
Especially since she was an 'Awakener,' not just some cosplayer. Comments had to be cautious.
Hunters, Awakeners, climbers—those who scale the Towers are cut from a different cloth than influencers or celebrities.
They're humanity's heroes, the ones preventing 'Dungeon Breaks' from Tower collapses.
Not many would dare post something like 'fuck, those huge bouncy tits jiggling, wanna impregnate a non-Awakener but scared of lawsuits lol' against superhumans who could track your address and snap your neck in an instant.
In that sense, this was better.
They might think it, but they weren't broadcasting it online for everyone to see.
—My goodness, what are kids thinking these days?
"Ah, shit."
An unexpected—or maybe predictable—reaction popped up in a place I should've anticipated.
—Wandering around in that outfit right after Awakening. Not even bragging about being a Hunter~
—Whoever's daughter she is, doesn't she feel ashamed? Wearing something so revealing. Is she maybe in that line of work and Awakened or something?
—Anyone know her SNS?
The reactions pouring in right after a photo from another angle hit the local cafe were utterly repulsive.
It felt just like seeing losers online gang up on some guy's girlfriend caught on camera.
'I'll archive it for now, but no way to jump in and clap back directly.'
Unfortunately, I'm a guy, and only locals who've verified as 'OO Moms' can post there.
As the newly minted 'Elaine Mom,' I desperately wanted to barge in, line them up, and smack their loose lips or keyboards...
'Gotta hold back for now.'
The moment I let anger get the best of me and say something, this post would switch from public to members-only, and I wouldn't even be able to check it.
'I'll make them regret it.'
Messing with Awakeners is on a whole different level from celebrities suing over malicious comments online.
Celebs struggle without their agencies stepping in and often hold back to protect their image, but Awakeners are managed by the 'Awakener Management Committee.'
Sure, some operate unregistered, chasing freedom, and among them, 'Villains' step outside legal protection.
"Tch..."
A crossroads of choices.
It wasn't a decision I had to make right now, but as the million Awakeners started registering one by one, I'd have to do it too.
As an Awakener.
...As a Summoner?
"Search: Summon. Summoner. This ability."
I searched for info related to me in my most frequented communities.
VPN on, so loading was slow, but even with the safety measure, results were dismal.
I even hit foreign sites with 'Summon,' 'summoned beast,' every term that came to mind.
Did I really need to go this far? But on major national SNS, I searched '#Awakening, #Awaken' and kept refreshing for real-time updates.
—Guys I Awakened as a fire DPS!!
—Support lololol wtf nooo, me a tool?!
—Ice ranged DPS Awakener seeking master...
—Fuuuck I'm a tank... anyone wanna trade talents?
"Last one's just bragging."
Hanging out in online communities a lot lets you tell if someone's genuinely asking or just trolling.
Bragging.
Everyone wants to show off, especially Awakeners eager to flaunt their powers.
In this atmosphere where a million Awakeners got god's blessing, everyone's posting proof, and it feels like muddying the waters is fine!
"...Ha."
No matter how much I searched, nothing.
'None.'
Nowhere at all.
No one Awakened as a Summoner, let alone summoning characters from a beautiful girl gacha game.
The closest was...
—Guys I became a nyancatmon master lolol
"For real, taming stray cats."
A 'Beast Tamer' shoving wild cats into red pouches and throwing them to fight—closest example maybe.
I'd have gone public with that kind of ability.
But no matter how I thought about it, better to stay hidden.
—Damn Elaine concept is fire lol
—So now banging that hunter = banging Elaine?
"Kid."
I said that, but probably some middle-schooler posting with tiny fingers.
The fact that it might actually be possible sent chills down my spine.
"...This is driving me insane."
Elaine's traces still lingered in this room.
In a place no woman had ever entered, signs of the black-haired, golden-eyed beauty's brief stay remained vivid.
A fantasy world denizen, not modern, yet her scent matched my shampoo and body wash—
"?!"
I shot up and headed to the shower.
A towel of a different color from mine hung there, slightly damp.
"......."
Slap.
"......Gotta snap out of it."
I'm not a pervert.
I'd ask permission first if I wanted to smell her scent—I'm not so starved I'd stoop to this.
"...Sigh."
Trouble.
No matter what, she was undeniably 'female.'
"If it were some animal, I could handle it... ha."
Luxury problems, sure, but still troublesome.
"At least no more aggro here. Count my blessings."
Fwsh.
I turned on the TV.
My head hurt from all the refreshing; figured I'd check what breaking news was on.
For now—
[...The moment I say this, an Awakener has cleared the Tower!]
"?"
My thoughts froze.
[The one who cleared the Tower at S City Square Fountain... a m-maid?]
"Uh..."
Elapsed time: about 1 hour.
[Ev-everyone!! Humanity's fastest clear ever!!!]
"Ah."
Memories flooded back.
"Max level, traits complete, skills complete, relic score SSS..."
And.
"Full gear, full enhancements."