Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Something Too Big to See (4)
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When one S-Rank Tower was cleared, people were utterly shocked.
When two S-Rank Towers were cleared, even those who hadn't cared before began opening their eyes wide one by one and paying attention.
So what happens after clearing three?
💬 Comments — Anonymous Send Coser's Master to the National Assembly! — Anonymous No, make him President! — Anonymous Promote to Special EX-Rank, then give priority rights to clear every tower in the world!! "It's total chaos out there."
I could somewhat acknowledge the idea of promoting him to something beyond regular S-Rank—like SS-Rank or Special EX-Rank, or just plain EX-Rank—but the blatant greed packed into those suggestions was just laughable.
"They're not putting him up in some special facility on an aircraft carrier like the Americans would. They're just offering a chance to clear Towers. What do you think, Elaine?"
"I will follow whatever choice Master makes."
In a spacious room on the aircraft carrier that looked like it was reserved for VVIPs, we were taking a break while checking the outside situation on the internet.
"If Master wishes to clear Jeju Island, which the Korean S-Rank Hunters couldn't conquer, I will follow. Of course, if Master decides against it because Jeju has become too noisy, I will follow that as well."
Elaine wasn't trying to push the responsibility onto me.
It was simply her expressing confidence that she could turn any choice I made into the best possible outcome.
"But there's just one thing I'd like Master to consider carefully."
"What kind of consideration?"
"If we end up clearing it alongside Korean S-Rank Hunters, those two are absolutely off-limits."
Even Elaine had her conditions.
"Blue Lightning. I saw his sense of justice during the press conference, but he's a man, so no."
"Same here."
One: No men in the party.
Someday, when a performance-based party was needed, there might come a time to summon a male summon and send him up the Tower together.
But at least for now, the concept party—all-female party, with Elaine solo or supported by Kiharu—was more than enough to clear everything.
'Unless a game company released a male partner character for Elaine that boosted her performance by 300%, I guess.'
...
No.
Even then, I'd just find a female character from another game that gave 200% efficiency instead. No way I'd summon a guy just for that.
'It'd be like commissioning male character illustrations for a webnovel.'
Any author writing a novel would rather spend the outsourcing budget for a guy's illus on two diverse female ones instead.
Anyway.
Elaine herself had said the same: no men.
Unless it was an unavoidable situation where partying with a guy was the only way to clear, and not doing it immediately would lead to nuclear bombs exploding and Earth getting destroyed.
So, what about the second one?
"Who else is off-limits? Her, right?"
"Iron Blood is no good."
A woman, but someone disliked on a personal level.
"Not because she's an auntie, right?"
"Age doesn't matter. Doesn't Master treat Kiharu the same no matter what?"
"What're you saying?"
Kiharu lunged at Elaine with her claws out, but Elaine effortlessly dodged and grabbed hold of Kiharu's body.
"Even if there's someone who's lived as a goddess for hundreds of years... no, 4.6 billion years like Kiharu, I don't discriminate based on age. What matters is their character."
"Yeah, Iron Blood is definitely a bit much."
Did she cause all sorts of problems during the Jeju operation?
There was already a strong anti-S-Rank Hunter atmosphere brewing, and Korean communities were boiling over with criticism and backlash against Iron Blood in particular.
If there were search rankings, the top ten would be filled with Dokdo and Elaine-related terms, with Iron Blood's name popping up around 8th or 9th.
"It feels a bit like unfair piling-on, but strictly speaking, saying 'Jeju failed because of Iron Blood' isn't entirely wrong."
"She forced others into her party using power and force, yet contributed nothing during the boss fight. It's only natural she'd face backlash for that." Nyang.
As Kiharu said, Iron Blood was getting absolutely roasted right now.
But was that our fault?
No.
If there was any fault, it was that we cleared too quickly and too well.
They were S-Rank Towers—the structures and bosses differed, but still. One party goes in and clears it like a weekly dungeon boss in no time, while another enters as a group and comes out without finishing the raid.
Of course stories like this would pop up.
📰 Breaking News 50 Reasons to Promote Coser's Master to EX-Rank and Keep Him in Korea This was the type of post racking up the most recommendations on communities right now.
The titles and content varied by community vibe, but even the old folks in Tapgol Park or the homeless near Seoul Station were saying things like, "Get rid of Iron Blood and keep that master guy in Korea."
Of course, some folks tried slapping a "traitor if he goes to America" frame on it.
"Hm?"
Beep. A text from Dry. [Commander. Got some good news and some sticky news. Which first?] "...First off, everything okay on your end right now?"
[Not bad. Ah, don't unsummon me. I'm moving your stuff from home with the US spec ops guys right now.] While we were clearing the Tower, Dry had gathered up all our belongings from home with the US special forces.
I figured just grabbing the computer and other electronics would suffice, but the Americans insisted on "not leaving a single hair with genetic info behind" and straight-up sterilized my officetel.
Everything from the lease deposit to my residency registration records.
"Not in a spot to call right now?"
[Bingo. Or just speak up. They're all listening anyway.] "This is a facility inside the aircraft carrier?"
[It's me~] Why could I hear her voice in a text message?
It must mean Dry had some real leeway right now.
[Oh yeah. How about chatting with the president? They're stumped on where to send your stuff. Heading to Pyeongtaek for now.] "Where to..."
If we had to go somewhere.
"Jeju, obviously."
"Jeju Island?"
[Planning to clear Jeju?] Jeju it was, after all.
"Less 'clearing it' and more taking control before someone else snatches it."
"Control?"
"Yeah. The sea route to Jeju is wide open, sneak in by submarine, dodge the crowds a bit, and boom—the Tower's right there."
"...You think they're moving in from both sides?"
"Probably?"
No one was moving yet, but if they felt the fire on their feet, it'd be no surprise if they mobilized immediately.
"Japan or China—if I were their prime minister, I'd have sent hunters in secret to clear Jeju."
"Wouldn't sending S-Rank Hunters into another country violate some international law? Nyang?"
"Sure, but if they succeed, they can cover it up. Claim it was a 'righteous clear with no demands for reward' and call it a day."
"...They're not the type, are they?"
Elaine pointed alternately east and west.
"From what I learned through Master's smartphone, neither North Korea nor... er, West Korea seemed like that type."
"Right. They even tried sneaking a sub full of hunters to Dokdo. Which is exactly why I think they'll go for Jeju even more."
I pointed to myself, Elaine, and Kiharu in turn.
"Because of us."
"Because of Master...?"
"Our party. Elaine. Our party's vibe. If you had to pick a side, which do you think?"
"...Dark heroes?"
"Something like that. Nyang."
Kiharu nodded in agreement with Elaine.
"It's the result of someone with insane power refusing to register as a hunter in Korea until the hunter-oppressing laws get fixed, while maneuvering for national-level influence. But to the public, it feels totally different. Nyang."
Words from a human observation expert.
Coming from a goddess who wanted to end the world when public perception went to hell, it was pretty much spot-on with how people saw things now.
"What's the most common way people see our party?"
"Heroes unbound by rules or order, clearing the most dangerous Towers faster than anyone purely for humanity's peace. With somewhat unique tastes."
"Cosplay's practically a wholesome hobby."
The public had a good image of us.
"We're not like those who clear a place and then demand, 'We did this, so pay up.'"
"People like that exist?"
"Yeah. Most Korean hunters do it. Not weird, though. If you risk your life clearing Towers, you figure you're entitled to the payout."
Beep beep beep. A phone call came in.
From an anonymous number, no less.
Anyone who had my number could call, but only one person could ring through inside this aircraft carrier.
"What's up, Dry?"
[Not Dry.] "Joking around means you've got some breathing room, huh."
[Tch. Fine. But this is the only leeway for pranks, okay?] "Something important I need to know?"
[Yeah.] Dry sent over some data.
[China's got three S-Ranks loaded onto a sub, waiting to depart. What do we do?] "...Well, damn."
I'd half-expected it.
"They're really doing it?"
Of course they were.
It was obvious.
If the boss was already at half HP thanks to Korea's attempt, they could just swoop in, finish it off, and claim the last hit.
"Master."
Elaine tapped her sword.
"S-Rank Hunters, let me—"
[How about leaving underworld stuff to the experts?] "......Dry. Three S-Rank Hunters. You sure?"
[Might be more than three, but aren't you underestimating my electronic warfare expertise a bit too much?] Dry let out a playful laugh.
[I mean, I'm a performance pick, right?] "...True."
Dry.
She'd sacrificed her chest for performance—
[Commander?] Anyway.
"Even if we go, we can't let China take Jeju."
This world.
It'd be nice if we could just focus on clearing Towers, but it's not that simple.