Stay-at-Home Summoner

After the world fell into chaos due to the incident of one million awakeners, about eight hours passed since the tower was conquered in record time, enough to be listed in the Guinness World Records.

[Hey, doesn’t that maid cosplay look amazing?]

[This person definitely seemed interested in cosplay. With this level of quality, they probably have a lot of accounts and stuff…]

[Huh?]

People began to grasp a surprising clue about the individual known as [Maid], a skilled player guaranteed to be at least A-rank, who could clear the tower solo.

– Only someone who specializes in cosplay could pull off a maid cosplay of this caliber!!

There was no other way to think.

– You guys, what if a muscle-bound man turned into Elaine-chan?

– Or maybe Elaine-chan couldn’t bear it and jumped out of the game to help her Master.

…While some people had those thoughts, it made more sense to consider it as cosplay in rational terms.

Even though various people around the world awakened with abilities seen in movies or games, they were still embodying ‘game characters,’ which had a completely different significance.

– Has there ever been such a case before?

There hadn’t been.

– Even shapeshifting ability users turn into beasts or monsters found in dungeons; there has never been a case of someone transforming directly into a game character.

A muscular young man who lifts 700 in three lifts and yells “Transform!” would never become a black-haired, golden-eyed battle maid.

– Those with governing abilities can dominate monsters inside the tower, but they can’t bring them out into the outside world. The ability to summon itself has never existed until now, has it?

Reviewing all previous awakeners, not a single one could summon ‘another existence,’ let alone a game character.

No matter how you think about it, people had no choice but to judge based on ‘common sense,’ seeking conventional knowledge and information.

– Is it like that ‘Great Americaman’ in the U.S.? A type A super powered individual who awakened his flight ability.

The symbol of superhumans.

Once it became known that a muscular superhuman awakens flight abilities in the U.S., they dressed him in a red suit with blue underwear, showcasing an ‘A’ inside a pentagon on his chest, symbolizing America.

Everyone could see he was a super man.

Whether it was due to unresolved copyrights or the apprehension of fervent fans reacting against “don’t even think of adding an S to the chest since you’re not S-rank,” Great Americaman did not have the exact costume from the comics.

However, some hunters began to mimic the costumes of characters from games, movies, or animations.

Some wore them as propaganda to boost national pride, while others promoted that IP through contracts with the companies holding the character’s rights.

Some just did it because they were otakus.

In the midst of all this, it was only natural that a character from a mobile gacha game appeared, prompting people to judge based on common sense.

Ah.

An otaku cosplayer awakened in cosplay attire!!

No wonder those golden eyes seemed to shine with mana; she sparkled gold without even needing colored contacts!

“Director, here’s the report.”

Such ‘common sense’ began to become the ‘expert opinion’ and slowly made its way to members responsible for national operations.

“Are you saying we should gather personal information on the professional cosplayers on social media accounts? Does that mean we’re sending National Intelligence Service elite agents to investigate the personal accounts of models mimicking game characters?”

“It’s not models; it’s cosplay. It’s an individual’s hobby…”

“Investigate immediately! Contact America and obtain social media account data!!”

The National Intelligence Service and all the world’s information agencies shifted their focus.

“The game’s company is a Korean company, right? We need to find the company’s CEO and figure out what the connections are! Check all the CCTV in the country! Run algorithms, and if that [Maid] shows up on screen, report to me immediately!”

“Director…!”

“Even if it’s not the CIA, if Japan or China finds out first, you’re all in trouble with me! Got it?! At least they must be Korean since they speak Korean so fluently! Find them! Before other countries steal our maid!”

“Yes!!”

At least A-rank.

Solo clearing of the tower.

“…Maybe she really is an S-rank hunter!!”

S-rank hunters became synonymous with national power.

***

[… Accordingly, the government plans to mobilize all administrative powers to ensure that all awakeners complete their registration by 6 PM on Monday…]

News came through the car radio.

While the situation was complicated, the government was working hard late into the weekend to register the awakeners.

“Master.”

Elaine, sitting in the back of the passenger seat, spoke softly to me.

“Do we really need to go through such trouble to hide ourselves? Wouldn’t it be more suspicious?”

“We have to at this hour.”

I glanced at Elaine, illuminated slightly by the lights as we drove down the night highway.

Elaine wasn’t wearing a maid outfit; instead, she wore a black jacket, sweatpants, and sandals.

The jacket was mine and oversized, and the sweatpants were so loose that I worried they might slip down with slight movement.

It would be awkward to buy women’s clothes immediately, especially since clothing that a man could buy at night would only be stockings and underwear.

I could try to skirt around it with ‘this is a patriotic act to help my girlfriend contribute to the national birthrate,’ but there was no way to get regular clothes.

No clothing stores were open late at night.

That said, asking where I might get clothes at this late hour—

‘I’d have to rent a cosplay outfit from somewhere, but how do I even get there?’

Without complicating my thoughts, I decided to just dress her in my clothes.

With the maid outfit and high heels packed away in the carrier.

“Elaine, do you remember what I said about what to do if someone asks?”

“Brother, it’s fine. Let’s hurry.”

“…Perfect.”

“I am the perfect maid.”

Elaine resembled an annoyed girlfriend, burdened by her current appearance.

“Elaine, do you know why you’re sitting in the back?”

“Is it because of the CCTV?”

“Right. You’ve seen it while coming here, but there are cameras everywhere.”

We just passed another surveillance camera.

While Elaine wouldn’t be visible from that angle, during the day, due to the tint, a fair amount might show through the windows.

“Despite that, the reason we’re heading to conquer this S-Rank tower is that I want to have ‘certainty.'”

“What certainty?”

“As your Master, I want to know how far I can push or defend you.”

Now that I had become Elaine’s Master, I had to protect her.

“While I possess summoning abilities, when it comes to raw power, you’re the strong one, not me, right?”

“I am your strength, Master.”

“The problem is that others don’t think so. For instance, there are rogue hunters who are as strong as you.”

“…I understand what you mean.”

Elaine snapped her fingers.

“Are you worried about NTR, Master?”

“Of course—wait a second.”

“…Hehe.”

Ah.

I’ve been caught.

“How did you know the word NTR? You mean the NTR as a summoned creature, right?”

“Well, I’m not sure what you think, Master.”

“…Right. I won’t deny it since it’s not entirely wrong. Elaine, you are my summoned creature. You may have different thoughts about it, but I see you as my eternal partner in my awakening life.”

“Eternal partner…”

“If my partner is so exceptional that men from all over the world pursue you, then the only way to protect you is by recalling you.”

“I don’t want that.”

“So, in order to protect you from those men, I want to verify this.”

Before I knew it, the car was nearing the tower.

“S-Rank classified individuals have several conditions. First, there are rules for obtaining hunter ranks.”

“Rank regulations…”

Elaine fiddled with her sub-phone before putting it down.

Although data sharing was set up, it could be problematic if the light from the screen revealed Elaine’s face.

“Basically, the rank is determined by whether you can fight and defeat foes at the respective tower. And if you can fully clear it.”

“So, I’m at least A-Rank.”

“I entered an A-Rank dungeon and cleared it.”

Even if I had exited normally around 12 hours later, I would have been recognized as A-rank.

But 1 hour and 10 minutes?

” among S-Rank hunters in Korea, there’s one called [Blue Lightning]. They held the Korean record for how quickly they cleared an A-Rank dungeon. Do you know how long it took?”

“How long?”

“3 hours and 49 minutes.”

“…Maybe I should have adjusted my strength?”

Elaine smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry. It seems that I grew as strong as the affection you’ve poured into me, which led to clearing it so quickly, putting you in a difficult position.”

“It’s problematic. If I had known—”

Oh no.

I almost said, ‘Other girls could have pulled it off too.’

“…Master?”

“…I should have pulled out the other characters. Hahaha.”

Other characters.

This referred to when the same character gets released in a different form.

Usually something like Elaine (swimsuit) or Elaine (New Year), coming out as a new character—

“Master.”

Elaine’s reaction left something to be desired.

“Is it possible that a stronger version of me might pop out?”

“…….”

Elaine’s original version and Elaine (swimsuit).

Having two Elaines in one house, each holding the same person at the same time—

“Ugh…”

“Master.”

Maybe because it was a late-night drive, I felt a chill from behind.

“I will prove it.”

Elaine leaned forward toward the driver’s seat.

“That I am enough by myself.”

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