Stay-at-Home Summoner

In an instant, I felt like a celebrity, a sports star, or even something beyond that.

The gaze full of respect and admiration, along with slight doubt and caution directed towards me.

That gaze remained fixed on me as the vehicle moved to a place I had never seen before, making me wonder if such a location existed in Korea.

There was no conversation.

Even if someone over there initiated a conversation, I wouldn’t easily respond, but at least I didn’t need to start the conversation myself.

Eventually, a discussion would happen.

I don’t believe in physiognomy, but the white male assistant who referred to himself as a nanomachine presents a trustworthy impression.

“First of all, passing the suspicion that I’m a shapeshifter.”

How many awakened individuals has he met while serving as a presidential assistant until now?

Among them, there must have been those who could transform their upper bodies into Tyrannosaurs, and others who turned entirely blue.

In the midst of that, the master of the maid, referred to as “Master,” appeared as a Korean in a suit, not a black-haired beauty with golden eyes.

“I would have thought the same.”

As a presidential assistant, he must have reasonable and rational deductions regarding the hunter industry.

– This person is a shapeshifter!

– Cosplay is a special ability!

– The reason their identity hasn’t been revealed until now is that they deceived the world with transformations!

…It can only be the thoughts of a professional.

In that sense, I felt a bit proud.

To have reached the reasoning of a presidential assistant.

As much as he is cautious of me as a clear awakened individual and an “S-Rank transcendent being who can draw out the maid’s power at any time”—

“Mr. Master?”

“…Just call me ‘Kim.’”

“Mr. Kim. One thing, just in case….”

The assistant, codename Nanomachine, tentatively opened his mouth.

“We do not threaten someone with a gun aiming at the head to become our country’s hunter, nor do we show family photos and say, ‘Your daughter is beautiful.’”

“Are you talking about the West Korea?”

“West Korea… of course. Surely, what happens on the land we are on now?”

His expression softened slightly at my words.

It seems that among the hunter hegemony where the U.S. stands in sharp opposition to West Korea, he quickly understood my intentions within a short conversation.

“Do you like airplanes?”

“I do like them, but if there’s no need to fly… then I wouldn’t.”

“Ah… then.”

“If there’s a reason to fly, then of course I should. For instance, if there’s a tower that must be conquered.”

“!!”

The assistant’s face jolts.

“What is your name?”

“Pardon?”

“We can’t keep calling you Nanomachine indefinitely.”

As I extended my hand for a handshake, the assistant swallowed hard and grasped my hand.

“John Patrick, serving as the secretary to the president and head of the Secret Service.”

“Secret Service chief?”

“It’s classified information, sir.”

“Is it alright for you to disclose this?”

“If you’re addressing me as sir, you likely understand what I mean.”

Now that I know classified information, you can’t back out, can you?

“Understood. Well, if you don’t like the ‘contract,’ you can just go anywhere except the U.S.”

He shuddered.

The grip that had been trying to hold onto my hand loosened gradually, and I lightly tapped the back of Patrick’s hand.

“Let’s start guiding. So where is the counterpart? Surely not the driver?”

If it were a muscular man, I would have had doubts, but the people in this vehicle are purely assistants or secretaries.

“You’re not seriously telling me someone is waiting at some official venue, are you?”

“…Considering the U.S. president is on an emergency visit, the political attention of this country is highly focused.”

Assistant Patrick took out a tablet from his suit.

“The president is currently dealing with a troublesome situation regarding such a visit.”

“Troublesome?”

“Yes. The meeting with the president of the Korean Hunters Association has been delayed, ministers are reluctant to meet, and they even sent a B-grade hunter instead of an A-grade hunter to handle things.”

The tablet was filled with various news alerts.

Though it was full of political rhetoric, most stories suggested that “the U.S. president is currently in a pickle.”

“…To this extent?”

“Yes, and I consider that fortunate.”

“Fortunate?”

“It seems they don’t realize things.”

Assistant Patrick smiled widely at me.

“They probably think they can contact the maid or relevant individuals first, but see, that master has reached out to us first.”

“Follow me this way.”

The car stopped, and the door opened.

As soon as we descended into the underground parking lot, people in black suits formed a path while keeping watch.

“Where is this?”

“This is the hotel where the president is staying. We are waiting in a suite.”

“Waiting, huh.”

The expression of those lined up to the left and right slightly frowned at the assistant’s wording.

“Did you receive a call saying we just arrived?”

“Indeed, sir.”

“There aren’t any media or such hanging around, are there?”

“We are managing thoroughly. You can be assured of that. It’s the intelligence agency.”

“Then, since you came from afar…”

*Snap.*

I lightly snapped my fingers.

“Elaine.”

As I called her name—

*Rustle.*

Without any prelude, Elaine appeared behind me.

“!!”

“Let’s go, Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

She walked forward, standing tall.

Whether those flanking me were hiding handguns or powers, I felt no fear.

“How…?”

“From the very beginning.”

Towards the surprised assistant Patrick, I pretended to open and close the car door.

“From the moment I left home, Elaine was secretly following me.”

“……Invisibility? Optical camouflage?”

Neither.

She simply followed me physically, hiding from view.

* * *

A short while later.

In the suite of a place I had never been to in my life, not even in videos of Vlogs on YouTube, I felt like I was in a movie.

A man in a white suit with a tie patterned with the U.S. flag greeted me, holding a glass of whiskey.

“Is this a film?”

They say anyone looking at his enormous physique feels an instant pressure, and with sunglasses on, the intimidation grows even stronger.

*Swish.*

The assistant Patrick approached the president and handed him a smartphone.

Did he even let go of his smartphone for his SNS account to meet with me?

“That indicates sincerity.”

An invisible pressure was palpable.

No, beyond that, just looking directly at him was intimidating.

*Push!*

Above all, the mask hanging on his face.

It resembled something akin to a cyberpunk device that protects the jaw, and as soon as I saw it, I felt flustered.

[Nice to meet you, Master K.]

“…Korean?”

[I’m using a translator. This device translates my words into Korean and outputs them as audio. I’m Aizen A. Louis, the President of the United States.]

President Louis pointed at the earpiece he was wearing and opened his arms.

[Please feel free to speak. Interpretation is unnecessary.]

“…….”

[Did I perhaps offend you?]

The expression of Elaine standing beside me stiffened, but President Louis continued to gaze at me, not at Elaine.

This man knows.

He is well aware of exactly who he is conversing with.

“Let’s sit down for now.”

I took a seat on one of the chairs opposite the sofa.

Then, President Louis also sat down in front of me and poured something into a glass placed on the tea table.

[As I came this far, I reflected on a lot. I looked back on all the negotiations I have made until now and how I have persuaded the opposing party.]

What filled the glass was merely transparent water.

[Instead of holding up a busy person and explaining my situation, I thought it would be quicker to show my sincerity this way.]

Beside the transparent water, President Louis took something out from his pocket.

[This is my smartphone. Please write down everything Master desires on it.]

“…Everything?”

[Yes. Anything at all.]

“What about ‘anything’?”

[As the U.S. president, I will provide everything I can. If it is within legal boundaries, that goes without saying, and if it involves illegal matters… then in a way that no one knows.]

“…….”

[Everything I can do. I couldn’t think of anything else.]

President Louis shrugged his shoulders, raising both arms.

[If you’re worried about a ‘warrant,’ I can immediately grant you citizenship. If you wish to live here while hiding as a non-awakened person, I will ensure that you do so without any worries, using all of the nation’s resources.]

“What about your wishes?”

I turned the smartphone around and offered it to President Louis.

“If you’re willing to give anything, there must be something you particularly want.”

[That would be….]

“One thing.”

I raised my index finger.

“Just name one thing. The thing you desire most.”

[…….]

“Elaine. Can coffee.”

“Yes, Master.”

As I reached my hand out, Elaine placed a can of coffee on my palm.

Where or when could she have prepared it?

That’s a nonsensical question for a perfect maid.

*Snap.*

“To me, no….”

*Clutch.*

“What are you hoping for from us?”

I grasped not the can of coffee but, instead, Elaine’s wrist, pulling her toward me. Though slightly flustered, Elaine settled herself closer to me.

[What I wish for….]

Without hesitation, President Louis operated his smartphone.

In front of me, one of the pictures from his gallery appeared.

[For all towers to disappear, allowing humanity to find peace.]

The photo was of him with a kindergarten child. On the drawing paper held with the child, the picture of “a world without towers” was drawn.

[If you can conquer the S-Rank tower in the U.S., I will help you with anything.]

“…….”

[Please.]

*Click.*

The mask is removed.

“I’m asking you for a favor.”

Although awkward, the Korean language was clear.

At those words, I took out my smartphone and copied the prepared text to send my demands prepared with Elaine via messenger.

“Mr. President.”

“…What the?”

“The fact is, I’ve been an American citizen since 28 years ago. Right?”

Wasn’t it?

No.

I was born in Korea and grew up under Korean parents.

“The same goes for Elaine here. She’s—”

“Born in 2010, Master.”

“…….This year, 20 years old. An American citizen, they say.”

Was she?

Of course not.

“They say you can get an ID for 2 million won from a broker, so getting citizenship for two awakened individuals shouldn’t be too hard, right?”

[Do you intend to use the U.S. president as an identity laundering broker?]

“What broker? We’re just going to redo the missed administrative work. Though I’ve had 28 years already, and Elaine for 20 years. I trust that minor administrative issues will be handled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or whoever it needs to be.”

[…….]

President Louis quietly pushed up his sunglasses.

[West Virginia.]

“?”

[The place where you can see the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Shenandoah River.]

Even with a mask on, he was smiling brightly, as if I could see it.

[I’m glad to meet my hometown friends here on Korean soil.]

* * *

[One day earlier.]

“…Are you saying you would use the president as an identity laundering broker?”

“He’ll manage fine.”

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