Stay-at-Home Summoner

**[Storm Dragon Shahabute]**

Elaine knows that name not because this boss was in her world, but because enough information has been leaked for me to recognize it too.

– “Ugh, is this the end…! Everyone fall back! The damage will be too great if we push any further!”

This is because there have already been several attempts to clear this boss in this country.

The government wants to record the boss raid on video. Not just in this country, but in the United States and elsewhere as well.

“Behold our amazing Grade A Hunter taking on the boss!”

That is the propaganda. If they fail, they won’t release it. If they succeed, videos will be uploaded to all official government channels, the agency of the hunter, and even the individual hunter’s channel.

To put it crudely, it’s to satisfy the so-called ‘retail’ aspect.

If only Elaine had recorded her process of taking down Orobore, she would have probably hit at least 30 million views by now.

One raid video of S-Rank Tower was watched 300 million times over the course of two years, so it would likely be similar.

“If only the footage of the monster’s body being severed hadn’t flashed across the screen…”

If not for some incident that led to the video being taken down midway, it might have reached not 300 million, but 3 billion views.

Especially if it was a solo raid.

The problem is that not all successful raid attempts are uploaded. The government and the hunter agencies do not wish to release footage of failed raids, but when attempting as a party, someone is bound to make a mistake.

– “Leaked!”

Whether it’s through a tiny camera attached to glasses for covert recording, or decorations on weapons that turn out to be recording cameras, various methods have been used.

An A-grade hunter, who lost one eye and wears a prosthetic, participated in a raid on the S-Rank Tower in Ganghwa, and upon exiting the dungeon, uploaded the recorded footage from his prosthetic camera to his own channel.

– “Here is a video of South Korean A-grade hunters failing their raid! Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and set your notifications!”

Confidentiality breach.

If one were to ask how a hunter belonging to a nation could leak raid information, it’s because that person had given up on living in that country.

– “With a codename like Storm Dragon Shahabute, it seems the Korean government couldn’t clear it up lol I will head to the safe Nippon lol.”

That hunter received immense backlash.

The country even publicly issued a wanted notice for him.

However, the family had already traveled to Japan before the raid attempt and did not return, and the request for the A-grade hunter’s extradition was ignored.

Why go to such lengths?

– “Because we will clear the S-Rank Tower raid if you hand over this land to us.”

…The raid on the tower had expanded into a new form of territorial war in modern times. Naturally, eliminating the tower is a common task for humanity, but many cases arise where other concessions are demanded in exchange for eliminating the tower.

For example, the S-Rank Tower on Dokdo is closely tied to political issues.

Prior to Elaine initiating the raid on the S-Rank Tower, there was:

Mungyeong Saejae. Ganghwa Island. Jeju Island. Dokdo.

If one were to ask which location should take priority for a raid, the answer would naturally differ depending on the region.

Those living near Seoul would prioritize Ganghwa Island.

Residents of Gyeongsangdo, Gangwondo, and Chungcheongdo would emphasize Mungyeong Saejae.

Those from Jeollado and Jeju Island would opt for Jeju Island.

And those living on Ulleungdo would naturally focus on Dokdo.

Due to this, the government has predominantly conducted raids on S-Rank Towers focused on Ganghwa Island.

– “Is this the Republic of Seoul!!”

To which, there was always the retort:

Isn’t it statistically accurate that a place with 20 million people is more important than a region with 1 million or 2 million?

Despite being criticized by citizens from the provinces, some shrugged it off, saying, “That expression was a bit excessive.”

– “Oh, please quickly raid the S-Rank Tower! I’m getting dizzy!”

Raids have been sluggish.

Attempts have been nothing but failures.

At least the dungeons before the boss room and mid-bosses can be cleared.

– “Shouldn’t we just leave it to hunters from other countries?”

Such comments have begun to circulate.

At least for now, those discussions may be less prevalent if we, Elaine and Kiharu, succeed in our raid.

***

Kyaaaahhh!!

At the summit of the tower, unfolded in another dimension, a massive green dragon roars mightily.

Simultaneously, burning rocks begin to fall from the sky.

“That seems dangerous, doesn’t it?”

Kiharu, who is beside Elaine, points alternately at the sky and the ground.

While this battlefield can be considered a boss room, it doesn’t look sturdy enough to withstand those falling, massive, burning rocks.

“It’s dangerous. It’s trying to break the ground beneath us.”

Elaine brandishes her sword, which gleams with frost.

“Kiharu. I will show you a miracle that my master can create.”

Elaine takes a stance.

It was the basic stance she used when entering battle in the game.

“Kiharu, if my health drops, please heal me immediately.”

“Health?”

“You’ll understand once you experience it directly. Now… it’s coming!”

As the massive fireball descends,

“…Master, now!!”

Just as Elaine shouts, her body glides sideways, shimmering with light.

“!!”

Kuwaaaang!!

The fireball crashes into the ground, creating a powerful shockwave.

It sends out a strong vibration and spreads fiery energy around, but—

“Oh my…! Is that really how the laws work…!”

Kiharu’s eyes widen even larger at the ‘unbroken ground.’

“A violation of physical laws…! Overlaying one world over another…!”

“Second!”

As Elaine dodges to the side, she begins to run across the ground.

“It’s coming toward us…!”

“It has a homing function!”

The fireball isn’t just falling; it starts to curve towards where Elaine is fleeing.

“…! Now…!”

Elaine suddenly stops in her tracks.

Then she stretches her sword beside her waist and gathers her magical power before sweeping it forward.

Swish!

The fireball splits in half as it falls from the sky.

What had mass is shattered and scatters like embers behind Elaine.

Ding ding ding.

A golden aura emanates from Kiharu’s body.

That aura envelops Elaine, and she smiles faintly.

“As expected.”

“…Is this really working?”

Kiharu chuckles softly.

“What would you have done if healing didn’t work?”

“Then I would have found another summoned creature that could heal. The identity of our 5-star healer is unclear… hmm.”

Kyaaaahhh!!

“It seems Shahabute is really getting angry now.”

“Whatever happened, the ‘ground breaking’ didn’t work. So Master, are you still controlling me?”

“Yes. And now… it’s our turn.”

Shahabute opens its mouth and lunges towards the ground.

It descends like a missile to bomb the earth.

“Master, now it’s my turn.”

Elaine lowers her stance sharply.

A position that is impossible in the game.

It was the stance of real-life Elaine, similar to a cat crouching to leap, and the moment Shahabute plunges its head towards the ground—

Ta—!

She leaps to the side, trying to reach the edge of the floor.

Kuwaaaang!!

The ground is destroyed in an instant.

Huge boulders break apart and fall beneath the tower.

Kyaaaahhh!

Shahabute’s eyes widen as it sees its intended prey evade, but it soon narrows its eyes at Elaine and grins.

In midair.

As the top of the tower collapses, humans can only fall under the influence of gravity—

Ta!

Elaine jumps off a crumbling rock.

Then, she swiftly rides atop Shahabute’s body and plunges her sword into its scales.

Whoosh!

Flames erupt from Shahabute’s body.

While it was an attempt to rid itself of the pesky invader, Elaine endures even amidst the flames with her sword still embedded.

“You really didn’t have to help this much.”

“Just take the healing for now!”

As flames begin to scorch Elaine’s hair and skin, a golden aura quickly regenerates her burnt skin and body.

“How is it? The difference between healing directly and healing from ‘Master’s control world’?”

“At least it’s a relief that my back doesn’t seem to have injuries!”

“Exactly.”

Elaine adjusts her stance.

“The reason Master wants to control me is that the wounds, at least, are not visible. It also reduces the pain.”

Even while falling, she begins to run down Shahabute’s massive body, using it as a foothold.

“But for this ‘enemy that breaks the field,’ there’s nothing that can be done, so it’s the only way to respond.”

The moment Shahabute tries to change direction and fly back into the sky, it suddenly spots Elaine, who is running along its back, and its eyes widen in surprise.

“Using all its abilities.”

Kyaaaahhh!

Shahabute begins to wildly spin.

Like an alligator performing a death roll, its enormous body starts to twirl in a spiral.

“Heh.”

Elaine lets out a low laugh.

Its movements seem like a ‘struggle,’ so Elaine leaps forward like a flash.

Towards the shining red jewel behind Shahabute’s neck.

“I found it.”

The moment Elaine aims her sword at the red jewel,

Puh-woom!

A green beam shoots out from the red jewel towards Elaine, piercing her abdomen—

“…Heh.”

Just before it strikes, Elaine’s body flashes and she zips forward, teleporting instantly.

Her position is beyond the red jewel’s original target, but Elaine immediately flips her body, aiming the sword forged from magical power at the red jewel.

Whoosh!!

The ultimate final struggle.

Flames burst forth from between the scales, attempting to burn Elaine; however,

“In a brief moment, I can endure even with the limited power of this body.”

Kyaaaah?!

Faster than the flames, Elaine’s body regenerates, and she drives the brilliantly shining sword of magical power into the red jewel.

“As expected.”

Kyaaaah!

“Orobore spoke, but it seems Shahabute lacks such intelligence.”

Puh-woom!!

Kya, kyaah!

“Are you feeling wronged?”

[Khih, khihik…!]

A strange sound echoes from within the shattering red jewel.

[“You, you will fall with me…! This, human…!”]

“A fall, is it?”

Towards Shahabute, which is plummeting alongside the collapsing tower in another dimension, Elaine leaps into the sky, sword still embedded in the red jewel.

“Well.”

Flap.

“I have the power given to me by Master.”

Mechanical wings unfold behind Elaine.

[What.]

Along with flames, Shahabute begins to plummet toward the ground.

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