Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: The Pay-to-Win Knows the Answer (2)
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An S-Rank Tower meant monsters appeared that only those at S-Rank Awakener level could handle.
At the same time, it meant that unless you were S-Rank, survival inside the Tower was unlikely—or if you were even one rank below, you'd die the moment you stepped in.
South Korea had a total of four S-Rank Towers.
Counting the one on the Korean Peninsula as well made five, but the Tower at Mungyeong Saejae was the closest by distance and the least likely to draw unwanted attention from others.
'No way they imagined I'd come here.'
I'd figured that even after Awakening as an Awakener, I'd start with the dungeons in F-Rank Towers. Never dreamed I'd straight-up challenge an S-Rank Tower.
Was this insane?
Yeah.
Someone might ask what this was all about, risking my life like this—but if the raid succeeded, the rewards would be beyond words.
It wasn't just the money the System handed out after clearing the Tower.
The 'achievement' of conquering an S-Rank Tower.
That would become a powerful bargaining chip against all sorts of organizations in the future.
If asked whether I had to risk my life this much just to raid an S-Rank Tower, the answer was yes—to protect Elaine.
Screech.
I pulled the car to a stop.
While lost in thought for a moment, we'd already arrived at our destination.
"Here we are."
"Isn't this just the shoulder of the road?"
"Can't go any further from here. They've blocked the entrance."
About a kilometer ahead was a 'military base.'
Normally, you could drive up to the parking lot set up for viewing the cultural heritage site of Mungyeong Saejae Pass, but the S-Rank Tower—visible even in the darkness—had all access restricted within a 5km radius.
"See it over there?"
"Yes, I do."
Elaine leaned over toward the window on the passenger side of the driver's seat.
She didn't roll it down, but the White Ivory Sky Tower, illuminating the surroundings even in the dark, was impossible to miss.
Towers generally appeared as holograms floating at specific spots, about the height of a building.
But S-Rank Towers like this one soared into the sky high enough to be seen from afar, like Lotte Tower or Namsan Tower.
Just like the S-Rank dungeons that had appeared on Ganghwa Island, Jeju Island, and Dokdo.
"Korea had several S-Rank Towers. Aside from the ones on the islands, all the urban ones have been cleared by Hunters—except this one."
It wasn't that Korea's S-Rank Hunters were incompetent.
On the contrary, their average individual ability was far superior to S-Ranks from other countries.
Proof of that: they'd cleared every S-Rank Tower that appeared in various cities, succeeding a whopping seven times.
So why hadn't they cleared this one?
"...Three months ago, an S-Rank Hunter died trying to raid this place."
There had been an accident.
"That reduced the number of S-Ranks in this country from five to four, and since then, everyone's been taking a break. They needed time to pull themselves together."
"So it's the place where a comrade-in-arms fell in battle."
"Yeah. That's how dangerous it is. Think you can... climb it alone?"
I gripped the car's gearshift and shifted into reverse.
"It's not too late even now. We can head back to Seoul, or go down to my hometown. No house there, but we can stay at a hotel for a bit and play it by ear."
"No."
There wasn't a hint of hesitation in Elaine's eyes.
"I can do it. And more than that, I believe Master's 'skill' will lead me even higher."
"...You mean it?"
"Yes. To be honest, it might even be better if Master commands me rather than me fighting on my own."
"......."
Elaine's gaze flicked toward the smartphone I'd left in the center console.
"Just as Master trusts me, I trust Master too. Master's...'strong control freak' side."
"Not something to brag about, but yeah, it'll definitely help in this situation."
Confirmation complete.
Since we'd double-check right at the entrance, hitting the emergency escape button wouldn't be an issue.
"Elaine. Should I come with you?"
"No. Please wait here, Master."
Elaine shook her head firmly.
"We need to leave the area immediately after raiding the Tower."
"Right. If we actually clear it, they'll start searching the surroundings for sure. A suspicious car lingering nearby would draw attention."
"...Going somewhere else entirely might be an option."
Elaine pointed at the car's navigation.
"I'll handle the raid, so Master should head toward the sea. Then..."
"That might hide my identity, but I can't do that."
They might spot me on CCTV moving from here.
But my presence here wasn't just for show.
"Elaine. Hard to explain, but with this, we're 'connected' even if we're a bit apart. Right?"
I pointed at the app on my smartphone.
"Yes, that's correct."
"As long as I'm nearby, I can give you orders inside the Tower, even if it's a stretch. Right?"
"You confirmed it at the highway rest stop earlier? Using the summon management app to check your status and recall you."
"...Yeah."
There was a connection range between the summon management app the System installed on my smartphone and Elaine.
It used mana instead of radio waves for signals, but thanks to the app, I could monitor Elaine's status.
And I had seen it.
Earlier, Elaine climbing the dungeon.
Even while skimming the community's reactions, I'd clearly watched Elaine ascend the Tower through this app on my phone.
The world might have only seen her enter and exit the Tower, but I alone had witnessed her battles.
"Master. What if, just in case..."
"If someone shows up and asks questions, I'll handle it. Don't worry."
I pretended to recline the car seat fully and picked up my smartphone.
"It's fine. Once the Tower's cleared, even if we're exposed, we can deal with it then."
It was exactly what I hoped for.
If we truly succeeded in raiding an S-Rank Tower, I'd want them tracking us at that point.
And I'd decide who got to grab my tail and collar.
"I'm counting on you. Not trying to pressure you, but you at least need to reach where the previous raid team did and take down the mid-boss for me to survive this."
There was one very important reason I had to go this far.
"Sounds petty, but it's a huge deal for Koreans."
In the age of Hunters.
The nation only bent to Hunters once they reached S-Rank; A-Ranks still felt the government's influence.
Because two of the S-Ranks belonged not to some other group, but to the 'state' itself.
And this country...
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [Meanwhile, somewhere in Seoul. Underground bunker conference room.]
"Minister. So what's the current status of Awakener registrations?"
"As of 02:31, approximately 645 Awakeners have self-reported their Awakening."
"645 out of a million."
The president's low voice made the gathered cabinet members exchange uneasy glances.
"They haven't all reported yet, right?"
"Yes."
"Anything from the 'Awakener Management Committee'?"
"Well..."
Flicker.
[Excuse me.] A massive screen at the front of the conference room lit up, revealing a woman with long black hair.
[This is the Awakener Management Committee. Participating in the National Emergency Response Meeting as proxy for the Chairman.] The committee members gulped at the appearance of the woman, who looked young enough to be their daughters.
It wasn't some instinctive male reaction to a beauty—it was the feeling of a tourist staring at a ferocious beast through transparent glass.
"Right, [Oniciana]. What's the Committee's stance?"
[The Committee believes we should repeal or withdraw the relevant 'law' at dawn, or enact and promulgate an emergency special law.] "No way!"
A man in military uniform rather than a suit shouted among the bureaucrats.
"In this Tower emergency—especially now with an unspecified mass Awakening of Hunters—we can't give them special privileges! The existing personnel will rebel!"
"Hmm..."
The president tapped the table lightly with his finger.
"Should we repeal the [Awakener Mobilization Act]? The law forcing Awakeners to serve half a year in national defense?"
[If I may say one thing.] The woman on the video call, S-Rank Hunter Oniciana, spoke up.
[Of the 645 self-reported so far, fewer than 30 are men in their 20s or 30s.] "......."
[Even those mostly registered not out of true self-reporting, but because they Awakened near military bases, bars, PC bangs, or other crowded spots and got reported by bystanders.] "Hmm... Still."
The president hesitated slightly before speaking.
"That person of interest... the [Maid] is a woman in her 20s, so not subject to conscription, right?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Rest assured, Master."
Elaine flashed a bright smile.
"As long as I'm here, you won't have to reenlist."
"Thanks. Truly. And if they still push for reenlistment even after we clear the S-Rank Tower..."
I pointed east.
"...Let's go to America."