Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Pay-to-Win Knows the Answer (1)
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After the world plunged into chaos from the 1 Million Awakener Incident, it had been about eight hours since the tower was cleared in a time so blisteringly fast it was immediately certified by Guinness.
💬 Comments — Anonymous Yo, that maid cos is legit fire, right? — CosplayFan123 This person's definitely a cosplay enthusiast. With quality like that, they've gotta have a pro account or something... — Huh? Wait, what? People latched onto an unexpected angle regarding the [Maid]—a powerhouse guaranteed at least A-Rank, capable of solo-clearing the tower.
Someone who can pull off maid cosplay at that level has to be a dedicated cosplayer!
That was the only logical conclusion.
— ConspiracyNut ↳ Reply Guys, what if it's actually some jacked muscle daddy uncle transforming into Elaine-chan? — OtakuDreamer Or maybe Elaine-chan got fed up and jumped out of the game to help her master. ...A few wild theories floated around like that, but common sense pointed squarely to cosplay.
No matter how many people worldwide awakened with powers straight out of movies or games, turning into a game character was a whole different ballgame.
— SkepticAnon Has there ever been even one case like that before? Nope.
— FactChecker Transformation ability users turn into beasts or dungeon monsters, not exact game characters. No gym rat benching 700 could yell "Transform!" and become a black-haired, golden-eyed battle maid.
— LogicLord Domination ability holders can only control monsters inside towers—they can't bring them out. Summoning as an ability didn't even exist until now. Not a single Awakener had ever summoned so much as another being, let alone a game character.
Short of it, common sense was the only option, and people fell back on their existing knowledge.
— PatriotPeak What about Great Americaman in the US? That A-Rank superhuman flyer. The symbol of superhumans.
Once America learned one of their musclebound superhuman Awakeners could fly, they slapped him in a red suit, blue panties, and a pentagon "A" on his chest.
Super obvious superhero.
Whether copyright issues lingered or rabid fans balked at an non-S-Rank wearing an S on his chest, Great Americaman couldn't quite match the comic book look.
But some hunters started mimicking costumes from games, movies, or anime in his wake.
Some for national pride propaganda, like Great Americaman.
Some as walking billboards, contracted with IP-holding companies.
Others just because they were hopeless weebs.
So when a mobile gacha character's exact likeness showed up, common sense kicked in.
A pro cosplayer-weeb must've Awakened while wearing the outfit!
No wonder those golden eyes shimmered with mana—channeling power makes them glow without color contacts!
"Director, the report."
That "common sense" soon became "expert opinion," filtering up to the organizations running the nation.
"Digging into SNS profiles of pro cos...players? You want our top National Intelligence Service agents combing personal accounts of models imitating game characters?"
"Not models—cosplayers. As a personal hobby..."
"Investigate now! Contact the US for SNS data!!"
Intelligence agencies worldwide turned their gaze.
"That game's company is Korean, right!? Track down the CEO and figure out any connections! Check every CCTV in the country! Run algorithms—if that [Maid] shows up on screen, report to me immediately!"
"D-Director...!"
"CIA might miss it, but if Japan or China finds her first, we're all done for! Got it?! She speaks fluent Korean, so she's gotta be Korean! Find her before other countries steal our maid!"
"Yes, sir!!"
At least A-Rank.
Solo tower clear.
"...She might actually be an S-Rank hunter!!"
In this world, S-Rank hunters were practically national power.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [...Accordingly, the government plans to mobilize all administrative resources to ensure all Awakeners complete registration by 6 PM Monday...]
The news blared from the car radio.
In this messy situation, the government was pulling all-nighters even on weekends to register Awakeners.
"Master."
Elaine spoke softly from the back passenger seat.
"Do we really need to bundle up like this? Won't it just draw suspicion?"
"We do at this hour."
I glanced at Elaine in the rearview, lit faintly by passing lights, as we cruised the midnight highway.
Elaine wasn't in her maid outfit now. She wore a black jacket—mine, oversized—track pants, and sandals.
The jacket hung loose, and the pants threatened to slip off her slim waist with any movement.
Buying women's clothes was tricky at this hour. Late-night stores only stocked stockings and lingerie, which I could pass off as "for girlfriend and boosting national birth rates," but regular clothes? No dice.
No open clothing stores at midnight.
Not like I could hit a motel for cosplay rentals either.
So, my clothes it was. Maid dress and heels stayed packed in the carrier.
"Elaine. If anyone asks, what do you say?"
"Oppa, come on, let's just go."
"...Perfect."
"I'm a Perfect Maid, after all."
Spots on—an irritated girlfriend griping about her sloppy outfit.
"Elaine. You know why you're in the back?"
"CCTV?"
"Yeah. You've seen them coming down here—cameras everywhere."
We'd just passed an enforcement cam.
Angle-wise, she wouldn't show, but tint wasn't super dark. Daylight might reveal the interior.
"Even so, we're heading to clear the Mungyeong Saejae S-Rank Tower because I need 'certainty.'"
"What kind?"
"As your master, how far I can push, how much I can flex."
Now that I was Elaine's master, protecting her was on me.
"I have summoning powers, but raw combat strength is yours, not mine."
"I am Master's combat strength."
"Others won't see it that way. Say, some rowdy hunter as strong as you."
"...I understand."
Elaine snapped her fingers.
"Is Master worried about NTR right now?"
"Of course—wait."
"...Hee hee hee."
Ah.
Fooled.
"No idea where you picked up 'NTR,' but I mean as a summon, right?"
"Who knows? I can't read Master's mind."
"...Fine. Not wrong, so I won't deny it. Elaine, you're my summon. Whatever you think, I see you as my eternal partner in this Awakener life."
"Eternal partner..."
"If a partner that skilled draws every guy worldwide, my only defense is unsummoning you."
"I hate that."
"So, to shield you from them, I'm confirming now."
The tower loomed closer.
"S-Ranks have certain criteria. First, hunter ranking rules."
"Ranking rules..."
Elaine set down the spare phone she'd been fiddling with.
Data sharing was on, but a lit screen might silhouette her face—risky.
"Basically, can you beat enemies in a tower of that rank? And fully clear it."
"So I'm at least A-Rank."
"Entered and cleared an A-Rank dungeon."
Even exiting after twelve normal hours would've certified A-Rank.
But 1 hour 10 minutes?
"Among Korea's S-Ranks, there's Blue Lightning. He held the national record—how long for his A-Rank clear?"
"How long?"
"3 hours 49 minutes."
"...Should've held back a bit?"
Elaine gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry. With all the love Master poured into me, I got too strong—cleared too fast and put you in a spot."
"A spot? If I'd known—"
Whoops.
Almost blurted, 'Should've duped the others fully too.'
"...Master?"
"...Maybe should've pulled your alt versions. Ahaha."
Alt.
Same character in different skins.
Like Elaine (Swimsuit) or Elaine (New Year), released as new units.
"Master."
Elaine's reaction was ice-cold.
"No chance of a stronger me popping out, right?"
"......."
Original Elaine vs. Elaine (Swimsuit).
Two Elaines at home, holding both hands with the same—
"Tch..."
"Master."
Midnight drive blues?
Chill from the back.
"I'll prove it."
Elaine leaned her upper body toward the driver's seat.
"That I'm more than enough alone."