[At that moment, near the BEXCO A-Rank Tower.]
Rumble, Rumble.
The tower collapses.
Although the destruction of an A-Rank Tower feels relatively minor compared to that of an S-Rank Tower, the people still cheer as the A-Rank Tower crumbles.
“The Cosplay Maid strikes again!!”
Who are these people gathered near BEXCO?
First, there are those who rushed over after hearing the news that the Cosplay Maid had appeared.
Second, there are cosplayers who had gathered for a subculture event held near BEXCO and are now reminiscing about their time there, as the server for their favorite game has recently been shut down.
“Whoaahhh!”
And third, the citizens of Busan.
For those living near BEXCO, a local landmark, the sight of an A-Rank Tower just outside their balconies was an eyesore. They rejoice.
While they knew that S-Rank Hunters could handle an A-Rank Tower even if it broke, people also understood how unpredictable life could be.
Heroes aren’t robots who can deploy the moment a break occurs.
If a hero were even three minutes late because they were asleep when a tower broke, the number of casualties during that time could be unimaginable.
“Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!”
“No, it’s Elaine!”
“That’s not Elaine! Right now, she’s Agent 4577!”
“Who cares?! She took down the A-Rank Tower outside my house!”
Finally, there was no need to worry about the tower anymore.
“Now I can finally sleep soundly without worrying about experience points or anything else!”
The disappearance of the tower, long neglected by the government under the excuse of being ‘manageable,’ brought immense relief to the locals.
However, not everyone was happy.
“Unbelievable. Did she really just conquer an A-Rank Tower…?”
“She didn’t just explore up to the boss; she actually killed it?”
There were those who couldn’t fully celebrate the fall of the A-Rank Tower.
“No matter how low A-Rank seems, conquering an uncompleted tower in under three minutes…!”
“And to think this rivals Blue Lightning’s record! Even under the same conditions, with an S-Rank Hunter!”
Some resented the disruption of the existing hierarchy of hunters.
“Damn it. We were planning a 10-person raid on the BEXCO Tower in two weeks…!”
Others were frustrated because the conquest meant that hunters aspiring to reach S-Rank lost a valuable opportunity to gain experience.
“Cosplay! Cosplay! Cosplay!”
Out of a crowd of 100 people, 90 cheered while 10 hid their frustration. Meanwhile, the one who had conquered the tower walked out nonchalantly.
“Wowww!”
She looked different than when she had cosplayed as a maid. Instead of a sword, she carried a gun, exuding confidence.
Though technically violating regulations by not equipping color-coded parts, no one cared—after all, she had just taken down a potentially deadly A-Rank Tower.
“Excuse me! Reporter from Busan KBC!”
A journalist pushed through the crowd with a microphone to ask for an interview.
Boom!
Suddenly, something fell from the sky. A powerful shockwave sent people staggering and even knocked some off their feet.
“What the—!?”
“This sonic boom… It’s here!”
What unfolded before them was a scene many had only dreamed of seeing online.
“S-Rank Hunter, Cosplay Maid…”
“I-It’s Ironblood!”
The Korean S-Rank Hunter, Kim Min-jung, also known by the alias [Ironblood].
Standing tall in a sharp suit, she clenched and unclenched her fists as if ready to throw a punch at the figure standing before her.
“Whatever your identity may be, I have one clear question for you.”
Iron-Blooded pulled something out of her jacket.
“Did you obtain proper authorization before attempting to conquer this dungeon?”
What she held was a smartphone, and on its wide screen was a photo of an official document—a government-issued notice.
“Whether you are Korean or American, you should know that in Korea, conquering a dungeon as a Hunter requires formal approval from both the Association and the government. Are you unaware of this?”
Her rigid tone made several onlookers grimace, their expressions resembling those of people watching a police officer chastise someone for breaking traffic laws, even though they had sped only to save a life.
“Eek…!”
But when Ironblood glared at those casting such glances, they quickly averted their eyes.
No matter what they might be thinking in their hearts, seeing her in person instead of through a screen made them shrink away.
“Well? Your answer?”
“…Hmm.”
Unlike the ordinary civilians, the S-Rank Hunter [Cosplay Maid] did not avert her gaze.
“…That.”
She hesitated, as though something was caught in her throat, interrupting her words.
“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”
Ironblood smirked at the sight, but instead of responding verbally, the Cosplay Maid holstered her gun.
“Good. Lay down your weapon and cooperate—”
Fwoosh.
Before Iron-Blooded could finish, mana surged from Cosplayer’s outstretched hand, forming a sword in her grip.
A blade crafted from pure mana.
For Hunters with a variety of unique abilities, creating an aura blade wasn’t unusual.
However, the sight of the precisely refined mana forming into a Frost Sword left some of the onlookers visibly shocked.
“I didn’t want to bring this out.”
The Cosplay Maid muttered, her expression twisting as if she had just made a grave mistake.
“But it can’t be helped. It’s difficult to deal with you using a mere cosplay prop gun.”
“What…?”
“There’s no need to listen to or entertain your story,”
The Cosplay Maid said, tying her hair back into a style reminiscent of when she had first appeared in the public eye.
“You’ve put me in a difficult position.”
Though she wasn’t wearing her maid outfit, her tone carried the same air of perfection as the Perfect Maid.
“My concept is ruined.”
“…What?”
“I said the authenticity is broken. Hah. Now everything is a mess, and I can only imagine how disappointed he will be.”
“By he, do you mean… the U.S. President?”
“Hah.”
The Cosplay Maid let out a scoffing laugh, twisting one corner of her lips.
“Speaking of him…”
She trailed off.
“… Do you really think I’d tell you?”
Her grin deepened as she raised her sword, pointing it at Iron-Blooded with one hand.
“Your clumsy attempt to extract information from me is laughably crude.”
“…!!”
“If you’re so desperate to gain something from me, I’ll give you just one thing before I disappear.”
She tilted her head slightly, her tone mocking.
“You are weak.”
Boom!
Before the word fully registered, Ironblood’s figure vanished.
Faster than the shockwave that followed, her fist connected with the Cosplay Maid’s Frost Sword, the collision generating another burst of energy that forced the crowd to shield their eyes.
Only the cameras, immune to such disturbances, captured the clash in its entirety.
Wham.
Thwack.
Swoosh.
Three moves.
Cosplay effortlessly dodged Ironblood’s initial charge, parried her strikes with the blade, and, in three exchanges of sword and fist, the conclusion was clear.
“…Huh?”
The citizens, who had been watching intently, were left dumbfounded by the scene before them.
Though the sounds of impact echoed in their ears, what they saw defied their expectations.
Ironblood, her fist outstretched, facing empty air.
Cosplay, calmly standing behind her, holding her sword to Ironblood’s neck.
“I told you.”
She said, lowering her blade as though Ironblood was no longer worth her effort.
“You are weaker than I am.”
“You…!”
Ironblood spun around, her fist already mid-swing.
“Stop.”
“!!”
The tip of cosplayer’s blade appeared mere centimeters from Ironblood’s face.
Had she moved even slightly further, she would have impaled herself on the sword.
Ironblood gritted her teeth, forcibly halting her momentum by suppressing her own body’s inertia with mana.
“If you go any further, the civilians will be caught in the crossfire.”
“…!”
“If you truly want to face me, I’ll meet you in a ‘Tower’. Somewhere safe, where no citizens will get hurt.”
The Cosplay Maid gracefully lowered her sword and bowed slightly before wrinkling her nose in irritation as she fiddled with her outfit.
“Next time, I’ll greet you in my original attire. Until then.”
Mimicking the motion of holding a maid’s skirt, the Cosplay Maid reached out to the empty air and bowed with impeccable elegance.
“This is-!”
Ironblood, her face twisted like a demon’s, swung her fist with all her might.
“Ugh, aaah!”
The citizens behind the Cosplay Maid had thankfully retreated earlier, but if she deflected the attack, the resulting shockwave would—
Flash!
In a burst of light resembling teleportation, she disappeared.
Whoosh!
Ironblood’s fist sliced through empty air where the Cosplay Maid had stood.
“…!!”
Her fist, infused with mana, trembled uncontrollably, unable to unclench.
* * *
A river flowed gently, birds flew across the sky, and lush greenery spread out endlessly.
“…”
Elaine stood alone in that serene place, waiting for something—or someone.
For her master’s touch.
For her master to pull her out of this strange, alien world.
Just as she steeled herself to wait longer—
[Why.]
A crowd of figures appeared before her, staring intently.
[Why only you?]
Their gazes, filled with incomprehension—or perhaps resentment—bore into her.
[I want to go, too! Take me out of here!]
[Maid, give me a path to the Commander as well! Were we not comrades once?]
[Hey! Are you the only one who matters? Give us a chance at life, too! Talk to him—!]
“Silence.”
Elaine raised her sword toward the ghosts shouting at her.
“As if there weren’t already enough rivals. I have no intention of letting you join the fray.”
[W-What…?!]
“In this world, only I am enough for my master. Perhaps another Commander might summon the Hero of the Holy Sword or the Lord of Magic, but…”
Elaine spread her arms wide, a radiant smile gracing her lips as she welcomed a massive presence approaching her.
“As for me, I am my master’s first and only choice. Begone, phantoms. You are nothing but remnants of my guilt and regret.”
The moment Elaine opened her eyes again, she found herself in a familiar setting.
A modern apartment on Earth.
Her master’s residence, the space she had meticulously maintained until now.
Here, her master always welcomed her, sitting at the desk before his computer—
“Ah, hi there~ So, you’re the first, Sister?”
“…Huh?”
A chair in front of the computer.
The one sitting on the chair was her master, and there was a woman on master’s lap.
“Wow, you’re really dressed a lot like me! But it really doesn’t suit you. Commander, what do you think?”
“Would you mind getting off me, first?”
“Oh my, are you saying I’m too heavy?”
“N-No, that’s not it!”
“Then what’s the problem? I’m just a doll, an android! Hahaha!”
“…Kiharu.”
Elaine turned her gaze to Kiharu, who was lounging on the sofa in her cat form.
“What is that?”
“She’s your junior, nyah~.”
Kiharu answered while stretching.
“While you were busy fighting Iron-Blooded, this one was summoned just moments ago.”
“She was summoned moments ago, and she’s acting like that?”
“Well—”
“My, my, Senior Maid, you’re surprisingly stiff, aren’t you? Commander, don’t you think she’s even stiffer than my main body?”
“…Why don’t we all take a moment to introduce ourselves?”
“Yes, please.”
Elaine took a deep breath and cast a sharp glance at the woman sitting confidently atop her master, her two-toned purple and green hair swaying slightly.
“I see.”
“…What are you looking at?”
“I was just thinking how doll-like you are. That breastplate of yours looks as solid as a kite shield.”
Elaine straightened her posture, smiling brightly.
“Nice to meet you. I am Elaine, my master’s first summon. And you are?”
“…The third.”
The android doll replied, glancing sideways.
“Commander said he’s going to give me a very special name, just for me☆.”
“…”
