Stay-at-Home Summoner

Towers appeared all over the world, and as people began to refer to these towers as ‘Dungeons’ and those who challenged them as Awakened Ones or Hunters, who suffered the most?

Politicians? Or perhaps administrators who are diligently discussing the peace of the world today?

There are many people to consider, but fundamentally, one cannot ignore the ‘economists.’

The emergence of ‘Tower Coins.’

The divine entities managing the system provided appropriate rewards to those who challenged the towers.

This includes mana stones obtained from the towers, as well as various products harvested from every floor (Dungeon).

Aside from such ‘loot’, there are clear rewards given to Awakened Ones for each floor they successfully climb.

Tower Coins.

This virtual currency provided by the internal system of the tower has established an economic system both in dungeons and in reality.

From the moment Awakened Ones on the other side of the world began trading through Tower Coins via the system window, Tower Coins effectively took the position of a new currency.

From the late 2010s to the early 2020s, various electronic currencies, including the infamous coins, became new investment avenues for non-Awakened individuals.

Tower Coins became a system currency market for Awakened Ones, by Awakened Ones, and for Awakened Ones.

One advantage of the system, perhaps due to it being run by divine entities that assist the awakening of Hunters, is that the prices and descriptions apply to the individuals using the status window.

Just like the status window that has just appeared before me.

[Current Tower Coins: 10 billion.]

“…….”

I earned 10 billion.

While sitting at home, turning on the computer and tablet, and monitoring the community’s reactions, 10 billion appeared.

“I wish it were in dollars.”

“It’s in won.”

“Right?”

10 billion won.

This is the reward from the system for Elaine having fully conquered the tower.

Difficulty level – A.

You might argue that only getting 10 billion for conquering an A-Rank Tower is not enough, but this 10 billion is closer to a ‘bonus.’

“Elaine, you haven’t put the mana stones or anything still in the inventory up for auction, right? Ah, do you know how?”

“I know how, but I can’t do that without the master’s permission. The items I obtained from hunting are yours, master. They’re all in my ‘possessions.'”

The real money comes from the items dropped by the monsters.

It means that the total gold or currency earned from defeating the monsters and bosses on each floor amounts to 10 billion.

“I heard that Hunters drop at least 100 million just for climbing one floor, so you monopolized that.”

10 billion.

The bonus funds earned from conquering the fountain in front of the office apartment where I live.

If I sell the mana stones and byproducts at their actual values, I could earn at least ten times that amount.

Roughly 110 billion.

If it weren’t for Elaine, I probably wouldn’t have made this much money by fully conquering the top floor of an A-Rank Tower and defeating the ‘Master’ of the tower.

And that was done in just a little over an hour and ten minutes.

And that’s also the reason why people assess Elaine’s combat power as ‘at least A-rank.’

“Master.”

“Yeah.”

“The Guinness World Records has set a reward for something; what should we do about it?”

“Huh?”

Elaine showed me something she searched through the sub-phone I had handed her.

“The Guinness World Records is declaring a reward for the ‘Fastest Hunter to conquer a dungeon’, offering about 1 billion won and a trophy.”

“That’s predictable.”

Even though it’s called the Guinness World Records, there’s likely a government backing it.

“They’re trying to get you to sign a contract no matter what. Whether it’s a nation or a corporation.”

“Me?”

“Of course, they want you to….”

“It’s fine to call me a summoned creature.”

Summoned creature.

The final word means ‘beast,’ so is it okay?

“In some situations, I can also be a beast, so feel free to call me as you like. To put it another way, aren’t people also part of the animal domain?”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

If that’s the case, there’s no helping it.

“Alright. For now, no one knows that you’re a summoned creature. While you were conquering the dungeon, I did some digging online. In our case, no one else exists, and we are unique.”

Not just unique in the country.

Unique in the world.

Right now, the Guinness World Records is discussing it, but perhaps some information organization that could be straight out of a movie is looking for us.

“Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

“If I suddenly withdraw this 10 billion as ‘money in my real bank account,’ I’d immediately get caught by the National Intelligence Service, right?”

The money earned from Tower Coins can be transferred to a real bank account.

There is a slight fee, but since the Bank of Korea also manages assets related to Tower Coins, it could be exchanged for real won.

“Yes. Comparing it to your life before awakening….”

“I barely saved up to 100 million, not even close to 10 billion, so if I suddenly end up with 10 billion, it would definitely seem strange.”

Since I was 20 years old, I worked countless part-time jobs and earned just over 100 million.

But suddenly, the bank account shows 10 billion?

And that’s even through the Tower Coin exchange for 10 billion?

“Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I have to register as an Awakened One in order to exchange it, and that’s a bit problematic, isn’t it?”

“While that is your choice, if you want to hide the fact about the summoning, you need to hide it thoroughly.”

Elaine mimicked zipping her mouth and pressed her smartphone.

“The knowledge I received from the ‘system’ upon being summoned is based on the foundational knowledge you possess.”

“Hmm….”

“While the fields we see in movies or games may differ from reality, there is a possibility that we could find information in ways we haven’t even thought of.”

“That may be true.”

They may have already found out.

Through my very own ‘search history.’

“Master, could it be…?”

“Don’t worry. I thought about this even before I started searching, and I used multiple layers of VPN.”

The techniques I learned to avoid lawsuits while keyboard bashing and using a dynamic proxy, as well as the programs I installed to play overseas games that can’t be played in Korea, have turned out to be useful in this way.

Of course, there are limitations.

If the state, or the whole world, is determined to find out, they will eventually discover it.

“Elaine, do you know the common ways the National Tax Service catches people who use black money?”

“When someone suddenly purchases enormous assets compared to their holdings, perhaps?”

“That’s right.”

Someone earning 200 a month suddenly buys an apartment in Seoul or pays in cash for a luxury sports car, or brags about buying all sorts of luxury goods on social media.

In other words, one must not change their spending patterns carelessly.

Very slowly, discreetly, in such a way that it does not raise suspicions in the digital records.

And if they do use real-world items, it’s better to spend it where ‘Tower Coins’ can be used as is.

At least Tower Coins guarantee a certain level of anonymity, even if they are slightly more expensive.

“So, Elaine.”

“Ah.”

I snatched Elaine’s smartphone and pointed to the items in the shopping cart of an app linked to an online shopping account.

“Would you mind holding off on buying electronic appliances like refrigerators or washing machines for millions of won all of a sudden?”

“But Master.”

Elaine pointed seriously at herself, me, and the space inside the office apartment alternately.

“How about improving your living conditions? At least somewhere other than here.”

“…….”

“I have one serious question to ask.”

Elaine reached for my work bag.

“Are you going to keep doing your original job?”

“…….”

Should I hide my identity while continuing to work at my old job and both act as unregistered Awakened Ones?

Should I quit and register as a Hunter, with only me registered and Elaine kept a secret?

…Or should I disclose everything and completely entrust everything to the flow of a world I know nothing about?

“Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Can you protect me in any situation?”

“Of course. I am a perfect maid.”

“In that case, I’ll ask just one question.”

I searched online and opened a window containing information about a certain region.

“One of the S-Rank Dungeons: [Mungyeong Saejae Tower].”

A place I’ve either visited at least once in my life or heard about while passing by; Mungyeong Saejae.

If you like historical dramas, it would likely come to mind as ‘Ah, here!’ as one of the historical heritage sites.

In the middle of this provincial park, a tower rises majestically as if protected by the fortifications of Mungyeong Saejae.

If Elaine can solo conquer this tower?

If a being with that kind of power thinks of me as her Master, Elaine’s proposal would naturally become my choice.

“S-Rank Dungeon, huh.”

Elaine nodded briefly.

“Yes, it is possible.”

Elaine asserted.

“If you want to check whether my full power meets S-rank by modern standards, it’s best to act quickly.”

“Right away?”

“Yes. While 1 million Awakened Ones have appeared around the world, the Awakened Ones Management Committee will quickly encourage their registration and try to gain control.”

Tap, tap.

Elaine tapped her own body with her hand.

“To find out who the minimum A-rank Awakened one, [Maid], is who solo conquered the tower.”

“…That would make sense.”

Just then, one of the news headlines caught my attention.

[Breaking News] Awakened Ones Committee urges, “Please register as Hunters immediately.”

They are looking for us.

“Let’s think about it slowly for now. It’s night time even if we try to go down….”

Beep beep beep.

A sudden ringing phone.

“Huh?”

Why is it ringing at this time?

I signaled Elaine to be quiet, and I prepared myself as much as possible to answer the call.

“Hello? Yea-eun?”

[…Assistant Jin-hyeon! Did you check it?]

“What do you mean check?”

A junior team member from the company.

She’s often called to check what I’ve eaten or what I’m doing, but it’s not often she calls like this.

[The lottery ticket you bought has been won, the sub-team leader says! Second place!]

“…Really?”

[Yes! But…!]

The junior team member shouted in an extremely irritated voice.

[She called me and suggested we go eat a meal tomorrow, saying that since you bought it, shouldn’t I share some of the prize with you?! Why should I share the winnings for a lottery ticket I won?!]

“……Yea-eun.”

Decision.

“I’ll treat you to a meal sometime. I’m taking a day off on Monday.”

Perhaps, continuously.

“I’ll call you separately soon, so just relay that for now. Got it?”

[Assistant?!]

Click.

“…Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Let’s go. To the tower.”

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