Stay-at-Home Summoner

It has been about ten days since the Day of One Million Awakenings.

Even though a million people awakened, there was undoubtedly one ‘Coser Maid’ who stirred up the entire world.

Some referred to her as a ‘Costume Player’ while others called her by her in-game name ‘Elaine.’ Still, others referred to her by her other name in the game, ‘The Flawless Maid.’

[This S-Rank Hunter is revealed to be Korean-American to the world.]

The eyes of the world were focused on U.S. President Eisen A. Louis.

And for good reason.

The Coser Maid had vanished after conquering the Bungeo S Rank Tower, and the last official appearance was a photo of her meeting with the U.S. President in a hotel.

Many raised suspicions.

[Is she really an S-Rank Hunter?]

[Did she really conquer the S-Rank Tower alone?]

[Is it true that she is American?]

[Did the President fly all the way to Korea, disregarding protocol, just to meet with an S-Rank Hunter?]

Amidst countless doubts, those who had gained miracles of awakening in the wave of one million awakenings also raised questions.

[Wait, I started from F-Rank, so why is she S-Rank?]

Most of those who awakened were F-Rank.

While they just awakened their own unique abilities with great difficulty, they could not unleash S-Rank power like the Coser Maid.

At best, those with exceptional talent might reach C-Rank.

Thus, the gaze of everyone around the world naturally turned towards the only official channel to reach the Coser Maid, the U.S. President.

[President Louis. There are allegations that someone resembling her is cosplaying, and that you are manipulating the photos to deceive the world. What do you think about this?]

The President personally faced the Senate for a hearing, receiving pressure from both ruling and opposition parties.

Some were based on pure curiosity.

Some approached the question of why an American was in Korea.

Some questioned the mysterious connection with an S-Rank Hunter.

[From the start.]

And some asked.

[Who is the one called ‘Master’ by the Maid? Is that a real person?]

Questions arose about the existence of the man sitting alone with the President in the photo during negotiations.

[I fully understand that many are raising suspicions. If another country’s president or prime minister had met with the Maid, I would have been the first to issue an official statement as the President of the United States.]

The President was confident.

[Oh. It seems my friend is watching this hearing. I just got a message.]

He held up his smartphone in front of everyone.

[My friend, Master, said he will conquer another tower in five days.]

Although they were exchanging messages in real-time during the hearing, no one dared to intervene in such a shocking development.

[What tower it is… well, that’s a secret.]

[So, is he coming to America?]

[Well, I would love for him to fly back to his hometown right away, but since Master wishes to stay in Korea for now, how could I casually say otherwise? Master doesn’t like noise.]

It was an implicit signal that he could come to America quietly if there was no commotion, but there was no way they could interpret it that way.

[In America, can he come a bit earlier?!]

[Earlier than the scheduled time?]

[There are various possibilities being considered, but one thing is clear. Although I haven’t gathered precise information yet, he is a ‘American’ who has a special affection for our ally, Korea.]

Eisen A. Armstrong smiled as he spoke in front of the whole world.

[Is it because of kimchi, or bulgogi? Or maybe because his parents are Korean? I can’t say for sure, but at least I know this.]

[What is it?]

[The game company that made the game, in which the Maid cosplays, is a Korean company.]

In front of everyone.

[We wish you luck, ‘NPia.’]

* * *

[One hour later, Guro, Seoul, South Korea. Office of NPia Corporation.]

“Wow, I can’t believe there would come a day when I’d receive a shout-out from the U.S. President.”

Park Ki-woo, a man in his early 40s wearing a baseball jacket, and the president of NPia, continuously replayed the recorded video, amazed.

“Is this the starting point for an entry into the U.S. market?”

“If we do that, we’ll get a tax audit right away, President. Please don’t.”

Nam Gung-hyung, the vice president dressed in a suit who was sitting at the conference table, firmly discouraged the president.

“How do you know that? Do you have someone placed in the National Tax Service?”

“Just now, the reports are saying ‘the patriotic company that made an S-Rank Hunter cosplay’ is causing a ruckus, and if you were to go on a business trip to America now, they’d beat you up for running away!”

“Well, we could at least set up a branch, right?”

“If we set up a branch, they’d accuse us of escaping to America.”

“Why are you being so negative? Did someone high up give you a hard time?”

“Yes. They want you to come out.”

At the vice president’s words, Park Ki-woo froze.

“Really?”

“They’re asking you to appear in the National Assembly tomorrow.”

“What?! Are they crazy? What have I done wrong?!”

“Here’s a summons to appear as a witness.”

“So why am I the witness?!”

Park Ki-woo shouted in frustration.

“Damn it, why are they coming to me when they couldn’t find it themselves?! I didn’t do the cosplay! Huh?! That girl did!”

“It’s not that she did it alone, but her Master must have instructed her.”

“Master…ha.”

Park Ki-woo slumped back in his chair.

“So, it’s definitely the ‘Master,’ right?”

“Based on the clues so far, we have no choice but to think that way. What kind of meticulously-crafted cosplay does a girl like that not have a PR SNS account? Either her front or back is non-existent? There’s only one possible explanation.”

Vice President Nam Gung-hyung raised a finger with a serious expression.

“Someone made his S-Rank Hunter girlfriend cosplay as Elaine and conquer the dungeon…!”

“Will an S-Rank Hunter girlfriend really do that for a nerd who plays our game?”

“Hey, you crazy fool. Our customers, who pay our salaries, are not just nerds!”

“But they are nerds! You’re a nerd and I’m a nerd, and this company was literally created to make nerd games!”

“Then does that mean our chairman who funds us is a nerd too?!”

“Yes.”

“Wow….”

“If this world were a novel, the author writing this story would be a nerd that no one would dare to approach.”

Vice President Nam Gung-hyung covered his face with his hands.

“Haah….”

“Alright, alright, Vice President. Let’s organize our terminology for tomorrow’s National Assembly appearance so that all citizens can understand. So….”

“Currently, our company has completed a thorough legal investigation into all players and found no problems. Please say this, President.”

“Fine. And what’s next?”

“After conducting the investigation…there were no particularly suspicious individuals. In fact, it’s difficult to investigate due to the excessive increase in recent user numbers, but please understand that this S-Rank Hunter has nothing to do with our company.”

“…Right. We were lucky.”

Park Ki-woo raised both hands.

“To all the nerds… okay, I understand. I sincerely thank the ‘Maid’ who cosplayed our Elaine from one of the many subculture mobile games, or the ‘Master’ who had his girlfriend cosplay for him. At least that’s genuine.”

“Is it true that we keep getting investment inquiries from overseas starting with America?”

“No. My parents live in Mungyeong.”

“…….”

“Maybe it’s thanks to the Maid and Master that I won’t have to bring my parents along this time. You know, they are in Jeju Island.”

“…You shouldn’t say that when you go to the National Assembly tomorrow.”

“I’ll be careful. By the way, I wonder what our ‘Master,’ who has placed us in the center of this attention, is doing right now.”

Park Ki-woo pulled out his work tablet with a tired expression.

“He’s probably struggling to plan for the next S-Rank Tower conquest right now?”

* * *

[Master! Be careful! In the Mortal Tower, aaah!!]

“Long time no see. Story cutscene.”

I grab the controller connected to the PC, preparing for battle.

On the monitor, the boss that appears in the stage of the three-part story ‘Sealed Mortal Tower’ is a massive wind dragon.

[No, Drakan!!]

The girl screams toward the dragon, which somewhat resembles a spirit, as a black iron rod is embedded in the dragon’s head, injecting dark magic into its body.

[Kiaaaah!!]

With the dragon’s roar, the boss battle begins.

In the center of the stage stands Elaine wielding a ‘dedicated weapon.’

“Master.”

“Yes.”

“Why did you create a new account just to summon me again and conquer the story from the beginning?”

“To control you better.”

Ignoring Elaine’s complaints, I continue the game with a freshly made account three days ago.

“The game company finally gave an emergency revival, so I can’t miss this opportunity.”

Emergency patch.

A new banner for Elaine has appeared, and many players have begun to summon her.

Even those who had no interest in the game downloaded it, spent about 200,000 won to pull Elaine, affectionately called ‘Business Card Specialist,’ and matched her dedicated weapon.

Not only in Korea but across the globe.

Amidst the countless waves, I created a new sub-account, summoned Elaine, and progressed through the story.

Only as Elaine.

“I’m not just pushing specs with full limits; I’m playing like this to improve my control skills.”

“You are already controlling me close to perfection.”

“Close to perfection, it’s not quite perfect yet, is it?”

I felt this in the last battle.

“Since I don’t solely focus on one game, I haven’t played to the extreme on just one.”

Just a few weeks ago, I had maintained eight worlds.

Considering I got frustrated in between, quit, or simply logged in only during story updates, the number easily surpassed two digits.

“Except for when you first picked me.”

“Is that so….”

“Oh, dead.”

Death.

Elaine collapses.

While she exists as data, the effect of extinguishing flames makes it feel wrong to say she died.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault for talking on the side.”

“It’s all good. This is a party issue.”

Is it my control issues? No.

“I’m sorry. If I had a self-heal skill…”

“No, it’s because there’s no healer in the party. This gimmick forces a damage-over-time reset.”

“…Reality is different from games. If you don’t hit, you’re fine.”

“Yeah, it’s different. But it’s also true that there aren’t many means to treat injuries. You don’t just recover to full health the instant you step on a ‘Return Stone.'”

I opened the party window.

Though I don’t have a character since it’s a sub-account, there must be healers among the characters I summoned in the process through until the third chapter.

However, right now, only Elaine is in the party window.

“Elaine. What should we do…? Should we pick a healer? Or not?”

Questioning my abilities.

“The next character being updated is said to be the best healer in this game.”

Is summoning only possible with characters that are fully developed and have 2 million won spent on them?

“I think we must have a healer, right?”

“…….”

Elaine placed her hand on the mouse I was using and clicked a button, accessing one of the internet browsers.

“Master.”

“Yes.”

“The new healer pickup… it’s a ‘female character.'”

“…….”

In the character PV of the next version.

There stood a pink-haired girl dressed in an idol-like nun outfit, praying to everyone.

Chubby.

“Master. If you wish… I…”

Ding dong.

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