NOVEL NEXT Chapter 41
[One day later, in a large auditorium in Sejong City. Government official event venue.]
S-Rank Hunter, Coser Maid’s declaration to conquer the S-Rank Tower in Jeju Island.
“Elaine buff, please.”
Although the speaker seemed shy, causing the impact of the statement to be somewhat subdued, the weight of the declaration was quite remarkable.
“We will conquer the S-Rank Tower in Jeju Island.”
The announcement to tackle a place that had never been conquered before, along with other towers, was met with applause from the hunters.
They couldn’t feel pure joy.
“Is she going to challenge it solo again?”
“Who knows? If she really appears in cosplay, she might let us in too.”
Those seated in the auditorium exchanged bitter expressions while speaking.
Although everyone was an A-Rank Hunter, more popular than celebrities in their own regions, the arrival of the Coser Maid gradually began to overshadow that attention and popularity.
“I went to the market the other day, and the market merchant asked me why we aren’t tackling the D-Rank Tower.”
“What? We’re A-Ranks; why would we go for a D-Rank? D-Ranks should be tackled by all those newbs who increased with the million awakenings to build their skills.”
“Exactly. If A-Ranks wipe out all the towers, they’ll say ‘That guy is just trying to sweep up the medals and certificates.'”
It may be considered somewhat trivial grumbling, but when people are unable to enjoy what they have been accustomed to, it tends to make them uneasy.
“Where has such a monster been hiding, making us struggle like this?”
“Hey, at least it’s a relief. If it weren’t for her, we’d have been told to conquer the S-Rank Tower.”
“Don’t you know why we’re all here?”
“Huh?”
“The A-Ranks gathered here need to go to Jeju Island tomorrow.”
“……Huh?”
Moreover, when someone is being impacted or inconvenienced due to someone’s hard work, it’s natural for most to feel that way.
“Ugh. Why is the Coser Maid so enthusiastic?”
The implication that they were suffering because of someone.
The A-Rank Hunters were seated with gloomy faces as if they had just come back from hearing someone in the military say, “You all should work hard and model yourselves after someone.”
“Right now….”
“Shh.”
However, perhaps only the three hunters sitting at the very front, in a spot like the VIP seats.
“It seems S-Ranks are getting uncomfortable, so let’s stop.”
“They probably heard everything we said anyway.”
“Even if they heard, they can’t really say anything back. They are all party members who will raid together.”
“What if they hear something?”
“Between adults? Come on, we’re not kids. Fine, fine, I’ll stop.”
Excluding one student among them, the remaining three were sitting at the front, which the A-Ranks couldn’t help but pay attention to.
“Still, isn’t it a bit much? Asking us to risk our lives suddenly. I mean, we have been risking our lives, but there ought to be a limit.”
“The President is entering.”
At the words of the secretary in a black suit, several hunters fidgeted as if to stand, but soon sat back down again.
The President’s entrance.
No matter how much of an age of Hunters it is, and even when S-Ranks and A-Ranks gather, there still exists a fundamental respect towards the head of state.
Only Ironblood rose in his seat, clapping and cheering for the President’s entrance, while the others sat with reluctant expressions, half-heartedly applauding.
“Ah, everyone.”
The President, taking the stage, made a slightly uncomfortable expression before speaking.
“Starting today, based on the total of 23 parties gathered here, we will be tackling the S-Rank Tower in Jeju Island. Led by Ironblood—”
“Why us?”
One A-Rank Hunter raised their hand and spoke.
“A-Ranks for A-Rank Towers. S-Ranks for S-Rank Towers. Isn’t that the safety guideline we’ve been following all along?”
“The President hasn’t finished speaking….”
“Previously, when we were going to challenge S-Rank, you said we might die if we were reckless, and now, because foreigners want to challenge the S-Rank Tower, you’re rushing us in?”
“Excuse me.”
“Did I say something wrong?”
The A-Rank Hunter’s attitude clearly displayed displeasure, which was likely an issue for someone, but no other hunters pointed it out or stopped him.
“So—”
“So, are you saying you won’t do it?”
Ironblood stood up and turned his head toward the A-Rank Hunter.
“Shouldn’t we move now, at this point?”
“Then why are we being forced to go in right now when we can try in two weeks?”
“…….”
“This isn’t some MMORPG where we’re trying to achieve an achievement by doing a boss raid. This is about people’s lives. Can’t we proceed in a calm and stable manner?”
“Hey.”
“Are we recording this? Are you planning to have another news segment for 24 hours saying ‘Hunter Kim made rude remarks’ until he apologizes? Come on. I don’t want to risk my life. I can’t.”
Despite the somewhat extreme comments from the A-Rank Hunter, even Ironblood couldn’t forcefully stop him.
“Tanking means you can withstand enemy attacks. How are we supposed to tank when in Jeju, we could all just get stabbed and die in one hit? Huh?”
Among the A-Ranks, he was the strongest tank.
“If you just put someone on the raid list without consulting them, do you think they’d say, ‘Yes, understood’ and step up? Huh?”
“Enough….”
“Hey.”
The young man sitting at the very front, Blue Lightning, stood up.
“I’ll be the tank. Support tank for me.”
“What?”
“I may be a dodge tank, but I can survive getting hit by one or two blows, letting others take an extra hit.”
“…….”
“Let’s at least give it a try. We can’t just sit back and do nothing. Who knows? While conquering the S-Rank Tower, I might awaken to S-Rank like this older sister.”
“I, I’m not really….”
“Whatever he says, we’re hunters too. We can’t just sit back and ask the Coser to do everything for us.”
“…….”
“If it doesn’t work out, then we can think about it again later. If anyone doesn’t want to participate in the raid, let’s find them and try to convince them.”
Blue Lightning spoke like reciting a prepared statement, forcing a smile as he spoke to everyone.
“I’ll even cosplay as Lightning Man, so let’s tackle this together.”
* * *
“There’s no etiquette in cosplay.”
After everyone had lunch and drank the beverages ordered, I couldn’t help but chuckle at Blue Lightning’s comments spreading across the internet.
“Isn’t that right, Elaine?”
“While I’m not the one cosplaying, I find it quite unpleasant to follow as if it were a gracious proposal from my master.”
Elaine sipped her smoothie while glaring at Blue Lightning on the monitor.
“It’s commendable that he’s trying to show leadership in the absence of the leader, but the author is not someone with leadership qualities.”
“What then?”
“Someone like my master is indeed the leader.”
“Thanks for the compliment, but I have no intention of becoming the leader of such a group.”
“Why? Because half of them are doing weird things behind the scenes?”
Draai approached and sat next to me.
Elaine slightly furrowed her brows, but Draai didn’t pay her any attention, staring at the monitor instead.
“Are you trying to gather only good people to form the party?”
“Not like that.”
As Draai said, you can’t just form a party with only good people.
Even in our party, we weren’t all just pure-hearted individuals.
Ignoring Elaine for the moment, even Draai should be considered a ‘Black Operative.’
And Kiharu, who had tried to destroy the world, didn’t need to be mentioned.
“No matter what they are doing behind the scenes, it’s only important that a Hunter manages to conquer the tower. At least, that’s what ordinary citizens think.”
Whether a Hunter gains popularity by conquering an A-Rank Tower, enjoying chaotic interactions with female fans who follow him, or receiving gifts from local dignitaries or capitalists, it really doesn’t matter as long as they’ve made prior agreements before stepping out to challenge.
“I had many thoughts about that before I awakened. Can’t we just conquer them all? …Raising newbs or gaining experience can be dealt with later, but shouldn’t we eliminate the threat to people first?”
“But you don’t seem to be moving all that urgently.”
Kiharu pondered while perched on my head.
“You announced you’d conquer the S-Rank Tower in Jeju Island in two weeks, but all you seem to be doing is checking community responses and playing games.”
“Games? Can you at least consider it a process to improve your specs? It’s like training to increase combat power for other hunters.”
I pointed at the multi-window on one side of the screen that was busy operating.
“Thanks to Elaine’s buff, she has become as strong as a top meta character now. We still have to clear the quests, though.”
“Get it done.”
It worked.
Thanks to Elaine speaking it directly, the NPCs patched Elaine, who had been released in the old version—me having maxed her out—to fit the latest meta.
It wasn’t just simple stat adjustments.
It seemed that for some reason, the game company required a justification or philosophy in its philosophy, and they introduced Elaine’s enhancement quest with updates that very morning.
“Elaine, how about it? Do you feel stronger?”
“Regarding mana usage, I can use it more efficiently than before. The buff is definitely noticeable.”
Elaine had indeed become stronger.
And while noting the game company’s influence, it was fine to act as if there were no connections with the game.
Cosplay is just a pure hobby.
If one were to look like a concept player, no one would think that our abilities were based on the game.
“And Kiharu, when did I say I was waiting leisurely?”
“Huh?”
“I’m going to tackle Jeju Island in two weeks. It’s just….”
I opened my social media.
“I never said I wouldn’t tackle other towers in the meantime.”
“…Could it be?”
“Elaine, can you manage one more cosplay?”
“If it’s my master’s order, I can manage any cosplay. Even if it means being a Coser Hunter pretending to be Elaine.”
“Okay, then….”
I pulled out the delivery box I had prepared in advance.
“Wasn’t that what you were told not to open, Master? …Could it possibly be a surprise?”
“Yes. It’s a surprise. It’s not a dangerously risky outfit.”
I opened the box.
“I had a bit of trouble finding something in a similar color, but still, if we’re tackling this place, I have to wear some festive attire.”
* * *
Suddenly.
“Contact at this hour….”
President Louis picked up the smartphone he had placed by his bedside.
He blinked several times to get used to the screen’s light as much as possible.
“……?”
What he saw was decidedly alarming.
“Request for transport ship support…? Right now…?”
Destination.
“…Dokdo?”