Chapter 49

When an S-Rank Tower was conquered, people were very surprised.

When two S-Rank Towers were conquered, those who had shown no interest began to open their eyes wide and show concern.

So what happens after conquering three S-Rank Towers?

– Coser’s Master to the National Assembly!

– No, to the presidency!

– Raise them to Special EX Rank, and give them the priority to conquer all Towers in the world!!

“Isn’t this just chaos?”

I somewhat recognized the parts where they raised it to a different SS Rank or Special EX Rank… but I couldn’t help but laugh at the blatant desires of the people contained within.

“If the Master wishes to conquer Jeju Island, which the S-Rank Hunters of Korea couldn’t manage, I will follow. Of course, if you decide not to conquer Jeju Island because it has become too noisy, I will follow that too.”

Elaine wasn’t pushing any responsibility onto me.

Whichever choice is made, it’s her expression of confidence that she will make the best outcome from that choice.

“But one thing, I hope you’ll think about this.”

“What kind of concern?”

“If by any chance, we were to conquer alongside the S-Rank Hunters of Korea, then two people cannot join.”

Even Elaine had her conditions.

“Blue Lightning. We know he’s got a sense of justice, but since he’s a man, he can’t join.”

“That’s the same for me.”

First, no men as party members.

Someday, when there’s a need for a performance party, I might summon a male summoned being to send up the Tower together.

But at least until now, we could conquer sufficiently as a concept party—meaning it’s a female character party (Elaine solo or Kiharu’s support).

“What if the game company releases a male character as Elaine’s part character, and that male character boosts Elaine’s performance by 300%?”

…

No.

Even if that happens, I’d rather find a female character in another game that provides a 200% efficiency boost, rather than summoning a male character that way.

“It’s like producing male character illustrations for web novels.”

Even authors writing novels would prefer to create diverse female character illustrations rather than spend on male character illustrations.

Anyway.

Elaine herself mentioned such things, but a male character cannot join.

Unless we absolutely must form a party with a male to conquer and there’s no imminent threat of a nuclear bomb exploding and destroying the Earth if we don’t act now.

Then what’s the second condition?

“Who else is not allowed? Is it… him?”

“Ironblood cannot join.”

A case of personally disliking a woman.

“You’re not saying you dislike her just because she’s older, right?”

“Age doesn’t matter. I treat Kiharu just fine, don’t I?”

“What are you talking about?”

Kiharu charged at Elaine, unsheathing her claws, but Elaine lightly dodged Kiharu’s attack, gripping her body.

“Even if there exists a goddess who has lived for hundreds—or rather, 4.6 billion years like Kiharu, I do not discriminate people based on age. Humanity is what matters.”

“Ironblood is indeed like that.”

Could there have been many issues during the Jeju Island conquest?

The atmosphere of vetoing S-Rank Hunters was already forming, and the criticism and scorn directed at Ironblood had the Korean community boiling.

If there was a ranking of search terms, the top ten would all be about Dokdo and Elaine, with Ironblood’s name appearing around eighth or ninth.

“There’s a bit of a feeling of unfairness, but saying ‘the Jeju conquest failed because of Ironblood’ isn’t entirely wrong either.”

“The one who forced others to follow him with power and authority couldn’t perform in the boss battle, so it’s only natural that he receives backlash.”

As Kiharu said, Ironblood is currently receiving tremendous contempt.

But is that our fault?

No.

If there’s a fault, it’s that we conquered too quickly and effectively.

We conquered the same S-Rank Tower—though to say it was the same would be a stretch as the structure and boss forms differ—some went in and cleared the weekly boss shortly after, while others entered as a group and couldn’t finish the raid.

Naturally, such discussions arise.

-50 reasons why Coser’s Master should be raised to EX Rank and remain in Korea.

That’s the type of post that receives the most recommendations in the community right now.

The titles or content differ depending on the community’s tendencies, but even the elderly in Tower Park or homeless people near Seoul Station say, “Get rid of Ironblood and send that Master or whatever he is to Korea.”

Of course, some people frame it as, “If he goes to America, he’s a traitor.”

“Hm?”

Beep.

I received a text from Dry.

[Commander. I have good news and some troubling news. Which do you want first?]

“…Is the current situation alright?”

[Not bad. Oh, please don’t recall anyone. The American special forces are currently moving our stuff from your house.]

While we were conquering the Tower, Dry had packed up all the belongings from my house along with the American special forces.

I thought I just needed to gather my electronics, including my computer, but the Americans insisted, “We cannot leave even a single strand of hair that might contain genetic information,” and literally “cleaned” the officetel I had rented.

Every detail, including the amount involved in the monthly lease contract or the report of residence.

“Is this not the situation to call?”

[Correct. Oh, just talk normally. I can hear everything.]

“This facility is inside an aircraft carrier, you know?”

[It’s me~]

Why does it feel like I can hear her voice from the text?

That must mean Dry is relaxed enough.

[Oh, by the way. How about having a chat with the president? They seem to be confused about where to send your things. They’re currently headed to Pyeongtaek.]

“Where to, uh…”

If we have to go somewhere.

“I guess we should go to Jeju.”

“Jeju Island?”

[Are we going to conquer Jeju Island?]

Just as expected, Jeju Island.

“It’s not about conquering it but controlling it a bit to avoid letting others take it.”

“Control?”

“Yeah. The sea route to Jeju Island is open, and if we secretly enter by submarine and move up a bit while avoiding people’s gazes, we’ll hit the Tower in no time.”

“…Are you suggesting they’ll be moving on both sides?”

“Perhaps?”

It’s unlikely anyone is moving just yet, but if they feel the heat under their feet, it’s not strange for them to act immediately.

“Whether it’s Japan or China, if I were their prime minister, I’d send people to secretly conquer Jeju Island.”

“Isn’t sending S-Rank Hunters to another country a violation of international law?”

“That may be true, but if they succeeded in the conquest, they could cover themselves with that. They could say, ‘It was conquered with righteous intentions, without asking for anything in return.'”

“…Those guys wouldn’t think like that, would they?”

Elaine pointed between the East and West Koreas.

“It doesn’t seem like the East and West Koreas, which I learned through your smartphone, would have those tendencies.”

“Exactly. Rather, there were those who tried to secretly send Hunters by submarine to conquer Dokdo. But… that makes it even more likely they’d try to conquer Jeju Island.”

I pointed among myself, Elaine, and Kiharu.

“Because of us.”

“Because of Master…?”

“Our party. Elaine. What would you say is the tendency of our party? If you had to say?”

“…Dark Hero?”

“That’s close.”

Kiharu affirmed Elaine’s words.

“Due to the shitty laws targeting Hunters, people are acting with significant power and state-level influence until that issue is resolved, but for the citizens, it would just feel entirely different.”

This is a saying from an expert in human observation.

With the words of a goddess intending to destroy the world when people’s perceptions go awry, it’s essentially no different from what people currently think.

“What is the most common perception of our party by the people?”

“A hero who conquers the most dangerous Tower faster than anyone else solely for the peace of humanity, unbound by order and regulation. With slightly peculiar tastes.”

“Cosplaying is rather a wholesome taste.”

The public holds a good image of us.

“We’re not the kind of people who conquer and then say, ‘We conquered this, so hand over the money.'”

“Have there been such people?”

“Yeah. Most of the Hunters in Korea are like that. It’s not weird. If they’re risking their lives to remove Towers, they’d expect a reward for that.”

Beep beep beep.

A phone call came in.

From an anonymous number.

Anyone who knows my number can call, but only one person can call deep into this aircraft carrier.

“What’s up, Dry?”

[This isn’t Dry.]

“You sure sound relaxed, so you must be in a good space.”

[Tch. Okay. But is it fair to say this is the only time I could afford to joke around?]

“Is there a significant issue I need to know about?”

[Yes.]

Dry sent over some information.

[Apparently, three S-Rank Hunters are currently in China, waiting to board a submarine. What do you want to do?]

“…Wow.”

I half-expected it.

“Are they actually doing it?”

Sure enough.

It’s only natural.

Since this boss would have its health already reduced by 50% due to Korea’s conquest, trying to challenge it with the mindset of finishing it off shouldn’t be a problem.

“Master.”

Elaine tapped her sword.

“I, the S-Rank Hunter—”

[Why not leave the matters of the Underworld to the experts?]

“……Dry, are you sure you can handle three S-Rank Hunters?”

[It could be more than three, but am I being underestimated just because I’m an electronic warfare specialist?]

Dry chuckled playfully.

[Wasn’t I a performance pick?]

“…That’s true.”

Dry.

She lost her chest and gained performance—

[Commander?]

Anyway.

“Even if it comes to that, I can’t let China take Jeju.”

This world.

It would be great if we could only conquer Towers, but it’s a world where we cannot only conquer Towers.

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