Stay-at-Home Summoner

[Morning, Dungeon Management Committee Seoul Branch.]

“Should we go overseas?”

Kim Min-soo, the deputy director of the Dungeon Management Committee Seoul branch, sighed at the unending bad news filling the headlines every day.

“Going overseas? Why? The S-Rank Tower in Ganghwa Island has been cleared too, hasn’t it?”

In response to his muttering, Assistant Manager Jang Taek-hwan, who was working, asked.

Unlike other bureaucratic offices filled with older professionals, those in their 20s and 30s occupied the space, and the deputy director’s sigh drew their attention away from their computers for a moment.

“Deputy Director, you made a lot of money before coming here, right? As a corporate hunter.”

“Yeah.”

“You came here because you felt too constrained at the corporate agency, didn’t you?”

“That was the case, but now I’m still working myself to the bone here.”

“That’s…”

The staff members forced a bitter smile.

Though government agencies tend to become busy during certain periods, experiencing this much hustle and bustle was quite rare.

“It was good that our Elaine-nim cleared the S-Rank Tower, but her altruism is so overwhelming that it exceeds what this country can contain.”

“Deputy Director, please watch your words.”

“Did I say anything disrespectful? I’m merely praising the greatness of Elaine-nim.”

The staff swallowed their retorts, thinking that it was essentially the same thing.

They suppressed a nasty thought that perhaps the country was just too small for someone like her.

“So, where are we going after leaving Korea? Southeast Asia? Or America?”

“We have to go to America. If we apply for an immigration visa as an Awakened, they’ll probably accept it.”

“Do you think the country will let that slide? They’ll probably publicize the names of those who emigrated and trash them!”

“Well, we can disconnect from the internet. We can buy a house in some remote city and just have a party there. Awakened aren’t getting robbed or shot dead, are they?”

The staff chuckled lightly.

Since there were no unawakened individuals present, it was a joke that could only be shared among Awakened.

“Actually, Elaine is probably building up to go to America right now.”

“Since she’s an American…”

“Isn’t it because she has some lingering feelings for Korea? I mean, the Korean spirit, you know? She probably wants to clear the remaining S-Rank Towers before she leaves.”

The deputy director spread out four fingers and then folded two.

“The S-Rank Tower in Jeju has those S-Ranks from China saying they’ll clear it, and the S-Rank Tower in Dokdo is being actively targeted by the Japanese government.”

“That’s confidential.”

“It’s an open secret. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always yelling for dungeon inspection data. That—”

“Deputy Director!!”

The office door burst open, and an employee rushed in, looking pale.

“Elaine-nim has appeared!”

“Where?! Jeju Island? Dokdo? You’re so fast—”

“She’s on the first floor!!”

“…….”

The deputy director and the staff in the office paused briefly before immediately channeling their magic and rushing outside.

“Please tell me she’s not just a cosplaying attention-seeking YouTuber?!”

“There’s a magical response, and B-rank Hunter Cha Jeong-hwan rushed in and got one-shotted!”

“Then she’s the real deal! Oh, damn!”

With a mix of exhilaration and anxiety, the deputy director leaped over the stair railing and reached the first floor in an instant.

“Haah, huff…!”

First floor lobby.

The staff already had their smartphones out, recording or live streaming, and in the center of the lobby was a muscular man in a suit kneeling on one knee.

In front of him, a woman in a maid uniform, a Coser maid, was retrieving a sword and thrusting it into the ground.

Though the marble floor bore a scratch from the blade, the deputy director approached the Coser maid as calmly as possible.

“I’m the deputy director of the Dungeon Management Committee Seoul branch. Welcome, [Coser]!”

“…….”

Even from up close, it was Elaine.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

“…you?”

“……Should I say ‘It’s a pleasure to meet you’?”

“Ah, um, you really sounded like Elaine just now! Haha… Please, speak as you wish. Ahem.”

The deputy director was thrilled to see a character from his smartphone game come to life, but he was also disconcerted that the sword was not his character’s exclusive weapon, but one meant for another character.

Even her manner of speaking was different.

Elaine used the utmost respect even towards enemies.

She would never say something like “I will do OO”.

“I came to inform you that two weeks from now, I want the S-Rank dungeon in Jeju vacated.”

“……!!”

A shiver ran through him.

It wasn’t just the similarity to the voice of the voice actress, but the message delivered in that celestial tone made him feel the thrill of being called to the Blue House.

“Finally, you’re going to raid it! Um, will you be solo playing this time as well?”

“…I’m still deciding whether to go alone or to form a party.”

The Coser lightly adjusted her maid outfit.

“I’m open to teaming up with those who like cosplay to tackle the dungeon together.”

“C-cosplay…?”

“Is that a problem?”

“Ah, no! Of course, that’s fine! But, um…”

The deputy director swallowed hard and asked.

“…Do you have any plans to form a party with Korea’s S-Rank hunters…? Haha.”

Though he made the remark jokingly, the Coser showed no change of expression.

“Well, I thought maybe a Coser could clear the S-Rank Tower alone…”

“Hey, Kim Min-soo!!”

A booming voice echoed through the lobby.

Upon hearing his name, the deputy director muttered under his breath.

“Oh crap. This is bad.”

“Step aside! I’m here now!”

A balding middle-aged man pushed Kim Min-soo aside.

Though it was a gesture from an unawakened individual, Kim Min-soo had no choice but to yield.

“Oh, welcome! I’m Lee Yong-baek, the branch director of the Dungeon Management Committee!”

“…….”

The branch director extended a hand to shake, but the Coser took three steps back in response.

“……!!”

A moment of humiliation displayed outright.

However, without having the time to frown at that humiliation, the Coser’s eyes darted around as if realizing something.

“By the way, regarding the S-Rank dungeon raid, is there any kind of reward?”

“Re-reward? O-of course there is! If you leave your contact information, we can coordinate with government officials to immediately arrange a ceremony for you…!”

“Ah, I don’t need that.”

The Coser firmly shook her head.

“Don’t bother making me come over on errands.”

“……!!”

So MZ.

It could be said that the Coser maid’s achievements had already surpassed that level.

“While you just let the tower, which is a threat to humanity, sit idle, you’re busy preparing to raid it.”

Furthermore, the words spilling from her lips were the undeniable truth, leaving no one, including the branch director, able to refute her.

“Can’t we take just one day…!”

“If you slack off on that one day of preparation and fail the raid, will you take responsibility?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“Enough. I have no desire to swing my sword against a troublesome woman. Um, excuse me?”

“Ah, yes!”

The muscular young man who had been kneeling got back up.

“When you throw a punch, relax your shoulder a bit. Think of it as swinging your magic rather than your strength.”

“Uh, o-okay, got it!”

“Then I’ll be going now… Ah.”

The Coser scanned the room and approached the youngest woman, who was live streaming on her smartphone.

“Ah, um. If the president of Enpiah is watching this, I’d like to make a request.”

For the first time, the woman who moved like a phenomenon during the S-Rank dungeon raid spoke the word “request” in a public setting.

“I know it’s unfair, but Elaine is my favorite. Elaine is me, and I am Elaine. So…”

The Coser took a deep breath.

“Can I get an Elaine buff?”

With that said, her face flushed red as she handed the smartphone back and turned away.

Pop!

The Coser vanished in a flash of light.

Following that, the Dungeon Management Committee branch was thrown into chaos.

Boom—!

“Where did the Coser go?!”

Ironblood appeared at the entrance of the Seoul branch, but the Coser had already disappeared without a trace.

* * *

[At the same time, in the White House, United States. Presidential Office.]

“Incidents like this are always welcome.”

Watching the news broadcast on the large screen, President Louis clapped his hands and smiled lightly.

“Two weeks until the raid on Jeju Island. Should I call the navy to send warships for training in the nearby seas? Or should I transport them directly from Seoul to Jeju by warship? No, we can’t let them find out we’re in Seoul. If possible, let’s bring them to Busan first….”

“Mr. President.”

His assistant, Patrick, called his attention while handing him a tablet.

“As you instructed, we have acquired a significant amount of stock in the Korean game company, Enpiah. We bought it through ‘Lord Wayne,’ so there shouldn’t be any issues.”

“Really? That’s a relief. With this, we can enhance the leisure activity of our friend.”

President Louis leaned back in his chair and smiled.

“That friend isn’t a politically correct one, is he?”

“Yes.”

“Have Lord Wayne communicate for us. Don’t add any PC elements just to fit the global standard. An investor who has made a sizable investment will be more trusted than a message from the President of the United States.”

“Understood. And….”

“And?”

“The ‘S-Child Group’ has reached out. They’re asking if contact through investments in the summoner’s leisure activities is possible.”

“Um.”

President Louis furrowed his brows for a moment.

“Who from S-Child?”

“Robert.”

“Robert? Absolutely not.”

“What? But Mr. President, he has been a long-time partner.”

“I didn’t expect him to act that way. I can’t tell you yet, but… have him contact Adam instead of Robert.”

“…That man has spoken ill of you, Mr. President.”

“Better to deal with a bureaucratic elite than a hypocrite.”

“…It seems you’ve learned something about Robert that I don’t know. Understood. I will follow your orders.”

Patrick passed over the tablet with the utmost calmness while observing President Louis’s bitter expression.

“Additionally, I’ve had contact with the president of the company that made the original ‘Android’ that the Coser cosplayed.”

“Oh, what happened?”

“They said they might move to the U.S. for the sake of creative freedom, but they can’t just leave behind the graves of deceased colleagues. At the very least, they want to honor their memories by completing the game that halted due to funding.”

“Um….”

President Louis let out a thoughtful hum.

“Is there a belief that cannot be persuaded by money or freedom?”

“Isn’t that similar to the summoner? Considering they choose to stay in Korea even when it’s like this.”

“Well, I can’t bring myself to ask them about that. I’m not sure if they’re worried about paparazzi or if they’re searching for a place to live in the U.S.”

“…As you mentioned, we have arranged for a building for the summoner in each of the 50 states, but can’t they just choose one?”

“Maybe there’s something that prohibits them from leaving Korean soil, or…”

President Louis picked up his smartphone.

“Perhaps there’s a reason they can’t step outside their home.”

* * *

“Elaine. Good job.”

“…….”

As soon as she returned home, Elaine threw herself onto the sofa.

“Can I get an Elaine buff?”

“You’ll die, you know.”

Dry perfectly mimicked Elaine’s voice, and Elaine lay on the sofa with her head raised, warning Dry.

“Don’t mimic my voice.”

“I didn’t mimic it. I just replayed what you just said using the voice playback module.”

“…….”

“Don’t fight, you guys. We all need to go raid together in two weeks.”

Kiharu intervened to mediate between the two.

“Partner. Can we play in a party like this?”

“Of course. While we might bicker playfully at home, we’re both elites in the field. Right? It’ll be the same when we go to America later.”

“Oh my, are we going to America?”

“After we clear the S-Rank Tower in Korea.”

“…Is it because you feel a sense of debt or responsibility?”

“It would be a lie to say there’s none. Maybe about 1 gram.”

“What then?”

“A quest has been issued. Alice, you can relay this.”

I picked up my smartphone.

[If you clear two more S-Rank Towers, you can summon one more creature.]

“Sounds good.”

“…….”

“Clearing this will also solve the house issue. I’ve just started a new one.”

For our ‘safe home.’

“I’m thinking of getting a Wisconsin model.”

“……?”

“Or maybe an Ohio, Enterprise, Georgia, or West Virginia 44 would be fine. …Ugh, no. If I’m getting one, it should be the latest model.”

When we go to America, we will travel by ship, not by plane.

“In any case, if we succeed, we could be able to move across borders.”

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