Chapter 74
Chapter 74
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Without Any Intention of Hiding It (3)
"Phew."
For now, a sigh of relief.
Without even thinking about the aftermath, I'd already shifted into a mindset of dealing with it later and ordered Illinois to open fire.
On a spot roughly 5,000 kilometers away.
Only after firing did I think about it.
It worked.
Once all the monsters were wiped out, the thought hit me.
Thank goodness.
"Commander. Any regrets?"
"Not a chance. It's already done, so no regrets. If anything, I'm even more relieved."
I took a light sip of coffee while gazing at the footage of the bombardment site on Illinois's bridge display.
"If it hadn't been for the bombardment, the hunters in the area would've arrived in at least ten minutes. In that time, those monsters would've crawled out of the tower and massacred the civilians nearby."
"From hunter to hero now, huh."
"Hero. It's an embarrassing title, but anyone with this kind of power would've done the same."
I'd simply shouldered the bare minimum responsibility that came with my abilities.
When people see a child fallen on train tracks, most scream or shout "What do we do?!"
But that reaction stems from two emotions clashing inside them.
One is the urge to save the child.
The other is the self-aware realization that rushing in to save them might get you run over by the train too.
But what if, in that moment of self-assessment, this thought arises?
-I can do it. I can!
Anyone with the power to save the child faster than the train could crash would act.
That's why I fired.
Of my own will.
"If anything, I should be disappointed. The tower's still intact."
Right now, near the breached A-rank tower, a group of hunters was fiercely battling the monsters.
A bit weaker than the vanguard monsters, but perfectly suited to handle them, these hunters were holding their own against the giant beasts while evacuating civilians.
"What now, Commander? A few more support barrages?"
"Doesn't look too necessary from the battlefield report. Nah. Let's save the mana. You're going to need some recovery time too, Illinois."
It wasn't like her mana was critically low, but fresh out of a dungeon raid, firing off an ICBM-level magic cannon barrage and still being at full strength would raise eyebrows.
They'd start expecting more and more.
"Hm? Hold on."
Beep beep bleep.
"Yes, Mr. President."
[My friend. I've called to ask one thing.]
"What is it?"
[You don't have any nuclear missiles or the like, do you?]
"......."
The sudden call was one thing, but the content made me chuckle in disbelief for a moment.
"No nuclear missiles."
[Nuclear missiles?]
"Yes."
[None at all?]
"Of course not."
No matter that I'd precisely lobbed a magic cannon shell at a tower thousands of kilometers away, Illinois wasn't equipped with something as heinous as nuclear missiles.
Not yet, anyway.
[Understood. Get some rest.]
"Oh, do you need any?"
[.......]
"Kidding. Just an American joke."
[Ha, haha. When you say it like that, Master, it sounds all too real.]
"Even without actual nukes, and even if it's not physical devastation, we've got more than enough tactical nukes in other senses. No need to detonate actual nuclear missiles, right?"
[......Well.]
"Now that we've cleared an S-rank tower, it's about time we discussed some rewards. Wouldn't you say, Mr. President?"
I sent a message to President Luigi, specifically naming certain individuals.
"I'm demanding that those pedophiles who got high and messed with kids get processed according to the law. After clearing an S-rank tower, isn't it reasonable to ask for criminals to face justice?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [About an hour later. U.S. Congress. A quiet room somewhere.]
A room devoid of electronics, without even the glow of CCTV lights.
A warehouse-like space without bugging prevention, where about ten people huddled around a single table.
"Even if the Master cleared an S-rank tower for us, we'll need some explanation for this incident."
A balding man spoke up.
His suit bore the badge of a U.S. Senator, as did the others'.
"From Oregon to Pennsylvania. Practically from the West Coast to the East, no? We can't pull out devices to watch footage, but you've all seen the video by now."
"The main guns from the warship docked at Crater Lake National Park precisely striking the A-rank tower in Pennsylvania, and all the monsters pouring out vanishing in an instant?"
"Exactly. You say that like this situation makes any sense?"
"What can we do if it doesn't? It already happened."
Indeed.
It had already happened, and they'd gathered to respond to the event.
"What should we do?"
"What do you mean? Good is good."
"You make it sound so simple..."
"At least within U.S. soil, anywhere within a 5,000-kilometer radius—"
"Damn it, another one with a brain customized for the Master. Because of him, the whole country's about to swap familiar units for ones we've never heard of."
One senator threw up his hands at the kilometer mention, grumbling.
But he soon sighed deeply, schooled his expression, and rapped the table to draw attention.
"Let's discuss this seriously. President Luigi has two years left in his term. Then come the elections."
"......."
"Who'll run against President Luigi? Someone has to step up as a candidate."
No one opened their mouth easily at the senator's words.
"Just bringing the Master here has his approval rating at 70%. Now that we know he can prevent tower breaks and monster outbreaks too, what do you think it'll climb to?"
"The regime changes hands. It already has."
"That's why we're crammed in this back room to plan countermeasures. Where no hacking can eavesdrop."
"How about pushing a promising candidate? He seemed interested in the presidency himself."
"What? That real estate guy? No way. He's already ranting about slapping huge tolls on ships passing through Panama as payback for helping them out. What happens if he becomes president?"
"Who else is gonna run? You?"
"......."
Silence hung heavily in the cramped room.
Normally, they'd be yelling veins bulging, but before Illinois's overwhelming feat and the president who'd secured such a being for America, they had nothing to say.
"We give up. No point charging into a typhoon. Better to hunker down at home and wait it out."
"Until when?"
"Who knows. Until the day the Master walks a path against this country's interests?"
"...Will that day ever come?"
"We can only hope. Until resentment builds up and explodes against him someday. Or until someone appears who can fill the void he leaves. The White House will turn white again."
"...This is driving me insane."
The senators covered their faces with their hands.
"To even speak freely, we have to hole up where not even radios work, holding our breath."
"Can't be helped. Luigi's government agents have us all on tight leashes. At least we're only in for hiring scandals or tax evasion..."
"......."
"Here's one good idea."
"What's that?"
"The method that's worked best historically. Honey trap."
One senator pulled a yellow envelope from his bag and extracted printed sheets.
"The Master's a man too. He won't refuse a beauty. Especially now that he's got flowers in both hands, from what I hear."
"Th-this is...?"
"Gentlemen? From now on, we..."
Gulp.
"...need to select a 'mobile gacha character' with the most American image, aligned with our politics, and matching the Master's tastes, and make her one of our party's own."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Meanwhile, in Korea. NPia Corporation President's Office.]
"Man, look at that guy getting hauled off to the slammer."
NPia's president stuck out his tongue at the sight of a politician in cuffs on the live news ticker.
"Drugs... Sheesh. Just rumors before, but it was real."
"You never did anything like that, right, sir?"
"What?"
"Just checking for owner risk management."
At the vice president's probing glance, the president straightened up and vigorously shook his head.
"If I've done one wrong thing in my life..."
"What?"
"Getting married."
"Ah."
"Other than that, I've done nothing wrong."
"You're not divorced, and you've got a wife."
"I mean I should've married a year earlier. Anyway, I did nothing wrong. I never did anything to get arrested like that."
The NPia president spread his arms proudly.
"If I'd done something arrest-worthy, would the Master have summoned Elaine... ahem, the maid?"
"Speak freely. Everyone thinks of Elaine now as the hunter assisting the Master by his side."
"That's... a bit regrettable."
The NPia president gave a wry smile and lifted his mug.
"But on the other hand, it's a relief. Our girl's not working under some shady guy—she's by the side of someone striving for the world's normalization... and peace."
Slurp.
"Is the modeling team on vacation right now?"
"Yes. Ends tomorrow."
"Soon as they return, let's run a project together. I'll dive into development myself."
"Huh? What for...?"
"Nothing much."
The NPia president pulled out two pre-printed photos.
"Gonna make skins and distribute them."
"......."
Fan art circulating online.
2D images of Elaine in outfits other than her usual maid uniform.
"Hanbok's a must first, and hmm, for the American side..."
"...Cowgirl maybe?"
"Shouldn't we prioritize making the next gacha target for the Master? The whole country's going nuts over mobile gacha games right now."
"We do what we do best."
Slurp.
"The game has to be fun first. Know why Elaine got pulled first?"
"Why?"
"'Cause our game's a god-game."
Slurp.
"Before those mass-produced cash-grab gacha games desperate for the Master's favor beat us, we make an even better one with our current revenue. Sincerity wins out."
"......President."
"Of course, it's all thanks to the Master that we have the funds! Hahahahaha!"
"......Ha."
The vice president sighed.
"Since we're doing skins anyway, should we plan a main-story-level event? One more concept besides hanbok or American outfits."