Chapter 37
“She actually won…”
Won Da-hye, the manager who had been watching the live broadcast with bated breath, nearly lost the strength in her legs.
The appearance of a golem immune to Mana-based attacks against Wakamo, who was speculated to be a [Spellcaster], was unexpected for her as well.
When Wakamo only asked for iron rounds, she wondered what she was planning—but to think she’d drill a hole in it, wrap it in wire, hook it, and throw it like that.
‘Her courage is on a different level…’
She must have crossed countless battlefields in her thousand years of life. If not, then she’s simply a genius in combat.
‘She said she’s a master of Taekwondo, but that’s not even the issue anymore.’
Snatching a ninja’s sword with a spinning kick and taking it away.
Defeating the Fist King, Japan’s strongest fighter, in unarmed combat.
“Ugh…”
When the Spellcaster who used [Mana Burn] appeared, she even let out a scream, something unlike herself. Even the Chairman watched with a hardened expression.
Wakamo told the Believers that she was weakened.
She said that being chosen as a Climber by the Tower actually drained her strength. Although she couldn’t discern the full truth of that statement… Won Da-hye had seen Wakamo’s true form as a tiny fox girl.
Which meant that even if she wasn’t a [Spellcaster], her current towering form was likely an illusion created using [Mana].
Even as a physical adept at the level of a superhuman, she couldn’t fully utilize her accumulated martial arts in her reduced state.
Whatever method she used to create her body with [Mana], Wakamo hadn’t explained it to her, so she had no way of knowing.
In all honesty, she just wished Wakamo would stop broadcasting.
Including the Six Dreadful Calamities, many envied her fame, and various countries were plotting to take advantage of it. The more Wakamo broadcasted, the more she revealed about herself.
‘She basically just admitted her vulnerability to [Mana Burn] in front of everyone.’
Her real appearance was a young fox girl, so the enormous form she showed now was merely a fake to hide her true self.
It was similar to a VTuber hiding their red pill while streaming. (No, it’s not.)
‘There are quite a few skills that nullify magic or Mana… but it shouldn’t matter.’
Yet she displayed overwhelming prowess that put Won Da-hye’s worries to shame.
She survived the explosion of [Mana Burn] by reducing her body size, minimizing damage, then swiftly closed in again.
Growing large, she grabbed the Shaman’s wrist and executed what could be called the Fist King’s signature finishing move.
She brought his head down to the ground in a brutal slam.
It might look simple at first glance, but she flipped and slammed the empowered Orc Shaman like a baby.
Outwardly intact, his arm was dislocated from his shoulder, his body flipped over, unable to move. His lungs were likely crushed, leaving him unable to breathe. Although he protected himself with a [Mana Shield] to prevent his neck from breaking, even that deactivated after reaching its limit from [Mana Burn]’s explosion.
What followed was an execution.
‘The Tower presents trials suited to the Climber’s abilities and level…’
People said it was “only the 20th floor,” wondering what was so impressive that she was so highly praised.
Government officials were frantically working to curb Wakamo’s growing influence, trying to downplay it, while forming a front with the Chairman’s supporters to prevent unreasonable regulations that would impede the Tower Countermeasure Association’s best efforts.
Now it was all over.
Even a disaster known as the [Mana-Burned Soul Devourer], which appeared on the 50th floor of the British Tower, couldn’t defeat Wakamo.
No class dislikes Wraith-type monsters that absorb Mana upon contact as much as the [Wizard] class.
With Mana draining at around 2,000 units in an instant, they’d freeze to death without even realizing what hit them.
To begin with, this was not a monster intended for a Climber on the 20th floor to defeat.
But she won.
In a live broadcast, she showed how to annihilate monsters with an insurmountable attribute advantage over a [Spellcaster].
TL/n: here Spellcaster is being used for Shaman as well.
And at the end, though she didn’t show her trump card, her video displayed a “bang” sound and a temporary blackout. Then, the screen revealed a scorched floor.
The scene looked like it had been hit by a bombing.
And in the midst of that wasteland, Wakamo stood, completely unharmed.
Her presence seemed to say, “No matter what you bring, I’ll face it.”
With a confident stance that showed she wouldn’t retreat from any enemy, and with a smile that always delighted her Believers as a VTuber.
All one could think was, “Thank goodness she’s an ally.”
‘The Tower attempted to exploit her weakness, but she shattered it in front of the public. Striking at her vulnerability, armed and aiming for a weak point… the failure of the [Ninja] has become well-known. This is truly a testament to her ability to respond to anything that comes her way.’
Her body trembled.
Was it fear…? No, it was wrong to say that.
As a fellow Climber who had fought recklessly alone and sometimes struggled with others against the Tower’s trials, her body trembled with awe.
‘It was the ultimate broadcast.’
Even if someone continues the content of Tower climbing after her, no one could match what Wakamo brought to life.
She showed not only the dangers of the Tower but also the highest level of skill a Climber could display.
And even if she healed, she climbed three levels in succession, including the boss floors?
What kind of mental fortitude does she have… It must be different for someone who has crossed countless battlefields.
Even the Chairman, who had been watching with her, unconsciously wiped away the cold sweat that had trickled down his sleeve.
“Haha… truly exhilarating, enough to make even this old heart race.”
The screen recorded by what seemed like a professional camera and the fierce battle that risked her life.
Looking back, from some point onward, the Tower had only imposed absurdly difficult trials on her.
This was her first Tower climb, yet even at the 20th floor, the difficulty was this high.
What challenges await her in the future?
“Haha…”
For Climbers, information about the Tower was the most valuable. Just hearing about the strength of an opponent from someone who had fought them was precious information.
Even those aiming for Complete Conquest wouldn’t value it over their own lives.
Climbers on higher floors would be watching Wakamo’s broadcast quietly, even if they didn’t admit it.
With her raising the nation’s prestige and capturing the attention of other countries, it’s too early to feel relieved that she won’t leave Korea, isn’t it?
“By the way, her subscriber count isn’t increasing much. Is that normal?”
“VTubing isn’t exactly the most accessible medium… But she’s still at the top domestically.”
“I suppose so! Really, don’t young people these days enjoy this?”
“Chairman…”
…
……
“Yes─!!”
The Fist King, watching the Tower climb with his disciples gathered in the training hall, was moved by the powerful slam and stood up.
If a martial artist has a weakness, it would naturally be any class capable of long-range attacks.
Using footwork as slippery as a fox, she slipped in, penetrated the weakness, and took her enemy’s back.
And to think the move she used was the very slam that he once attempted on her but failed!
“Did you see that? This is the power of the technique I’ve been talking about. It can end an opponent instantly. There’s no technique exclusive to karate. This is a form of grappling…”
The Fist King explained the principle of a move that allows no chance for a counterattack to his disciples, whose eyes sparkled.
In the past, his vast, desolate training hall was now filled with people eager to join, and tourists flocked to see the Shrine of the Fox God.
The Fist King had already completely become a fan of the VTuber Wakamo.
To reporters seeking stories, he called her stronger than himself, the real Fox God who could build a Shrine, and the messenger sent to grant the wish he prayed for without giving up at Inari Shrine—
If Wakamo had heard, she would have sighed, wondering what to do with this old man holding the back of his neck in exasperation.
“Come to think of it, didn’t my son say he wanted to be a VTuber?”
The Fist King, brimming with excitement, remembered something and asked his top disciple, who held a first-degree black belt, about it. The disciple’s expression turned grim.
The disciple, who had been anxiously waiting for this day with fear and dread, looked as though he had just received a death sentence.
With trembling eyes, the disciple nodded, looking as if no one facing a terminal illness could look any more miserable.
“Do you think Wakamo would like him?”
The disciple imagined Wakamo splitting the Fist King’s son in half with a knifehand strike.
‘How can I tell him that his eldest son is a VTuber who streams with a voice changer as a hyperactive catgirl?’
The disciple, feeling resentful towards his runaway friend, could only avert his eyes, believing he had done his best. After all, wasn’t there technically no rule against a man being a female VTuber? How was he supposed to explain that the son streams as a lively cat-eared anime girl VTuber while openly declaring he’s a man?
His father, whose brain was filled only with muscle, was irritating. And his younger sister, who had run away saying she didn’t want to live in a house where her brother meowed in a VR headset, was equally frustrating. As the Fist King’s number-one disciple, he sighed deeply, pondering whether he should reach out to her.
Maybe it’s time to tell her that their father might find out her brother’s a VTuber.
Then she’d likely show up in mourning attire, asking where the funeral would be held…
“And by the way, I had a talk with the Chairman. Since my daughter is a Climber, what do you think of entrusting her to Wakamo? Wakamo seems skilled in spellcasting, and my daughter is a [Spellcaster] herself. She’d be much safer than climbing alone, wouldn’t she?”
‘Master… [Wizard] and [Spellcaster] are not the same class…’
There was no hope. While the Fist King was a doting father, he was, after all, a musclehead.
‘Sadako… what am I supposed to do?’
As someone who wasn’t even part of their family, he found himself inexplicably entangled in their family issues, feeling a tear form in his eye.
Seeing the Fist King’s disciple being tormented like this, the other disciples silently resolved never to end up like that.
Meanwhile, Watanabe Tomoko, the Chairman of Japan’s Tower Countermeasure Association, was aware of the Fist King’s treatment of his daughter. Unlike her father, she had chosen the path of a [Wizard] and was considered a delinquent for having run away. Despite wanting to emulate her father as a Climber and having conquered Osaka Tower’s 30th floor, her reputation was poor.
As a result, she was now studying diligently, hoping to join the association as a government official instead of climbing the Tower.
Yet she knew deep down that her true desire was to become as famous as her father as a Climber.
Wakamo Inarizushi wanted to succeed in Korea as a VTuber. The reason was unclear, but she seemed to simply enjoy it.
It was known that she was streaming alongside a Chinese girl named Yu Ying, also known as Hajime Ichigo, as her fellow VTuber. Yu Ying had been an [Alchemist] who had lingered on around the 10th floor for a decade.
With the government’s support, her floor had reached the 25th thanks to the myriad of by-products she gathered from the Complete Conqueror level. Technically, she was at a higher level than Wakamo.
‘From the 25th floor to the 30th floor, Incheon Tower is a cooperative level, right?’
Most likely, she’s parked herself there to wait for Wakamo.
──Before that, it might be beneficial to establish connections with her on behalf of Japan.
The Chairman had already subtly informed the Japanese government. Given that she was the Fist King’s daughter and the close relationship between Wakamo and the Fist King, it could become an excuse for her to cross over to Japan if needed.
‘Didn’t Wakamo treat Yu Ying like family? I wish she’d do the same for Sadako.’
The Chairman thought about how the girl, deprived of familial love due to her father’s shortcomings, had jumped at the opportunity to go to Korea when it was offered to her.
“She couldn’t pass up the chance to learn spellcasting directly from a true Spellcaster! Haha!”
‘[Wizard] and [Spellcaster] are different classes, though…’
Tetsuya, the Assemblyman who stood silently beside the Chairman, held his tongue rather than correcting him.
After all, what could you expect from a country that calls a [Fighter] wielding a sword a [Samurai]?
※※※
Ding ding─
Wakamo, unable to advance to the 21st floor, drank mana potions to replenish her Mana while watching VTuber broadcasts.
She clipped and uploaded highlights, checked reactions to her latest video titled “Conquering Three Floors at Once!!” and noticed Yu Ying’s sudden message that she’d “parked on the 25th floor, waiting for the Boss.”
She felt a little hurt by the abrupt notice.
Couldn’t you at least give me a heads-up…? When did you start climbing without saying anything?
She’d been playing a princess-raising game and focusing on her VTuber broadcasts, only to feel bewildered as if the princess had suddenly returned from decapitating a bandit leader.
She was diligently broadcasting, consulting her manager, packing things into her bag, and making all sorts of potions… Now that she thought about it, all that preparation wasn’t for her content, but for climbing.
Even now, at only the 20th floor, Wakamo felt a bit down…
“By the way, why do I keep getting emergency alerts?”
[Emergency Notice]
A conscription notice from the Military Manpower Administration has arrived.
Non-compliance may result in penalties.
Please check the link below for inquiries.
“?”
The phone was still registered under Wakamo’s fake ID, so she didn’t pay it much mind, but this left her a bit taken aback.
Assuming it was a scam, she searched online and found everyone in an uproar.
Seeing the flames online, it unfortunately seemed real.
Being summoned for military reserve duty… Was this even possible?
After a brief moment of frustration, Wakamo scratched her head, pondering how to handle this.
Having used this phone for a long time, she hadn’t burned it along with her house, and now it was coming back to bite her.
Yu Ying, also a Korean Climber, had received the same message.
Apparently, Gimpo Tower’s 40th floor had collapsed, and the words of the Climber responsible were inciting public outrage.
“[I was curious to see what would happen if I selected the Tower Collapse option. Apologies to the residents of Gimpo City, and I’ll make amends for this mistake by climbing like Wakamo─]”
“Why am I being dragged into this?”
Wakamo realized she had become quite notorious as a Climber.
She understood, though. Her manager had mentioned how the Chairman couldn’t stop smiling since Wakamo’s 1st floor expanded massively. She was practically a superstar among domestic Climbers.
“Is it really okay to collapse a Tower like this, Boss?”
“Hmm… That’s a good question.”
Even if a Tower is conquered, another will appear eventually.
Low-level Towers are highly popular among novice Climbers due to having fewer levels to conquer and because it’s easier to find companions for the challenge, as other Climbers who’ve conquered low floors can assist. With guilds here and there, and even participants from overseas, it’s feasible in today’s age.
Just make sure not to choose the Tower Collapse option upon reaching the top floor.
Such a terroristic act would be fitting for one of the Six Dreadful Calamities.
Judging by his young appearance, it seemed he lacked any sense of danger. Whether he acquired a good skill or found a valuable item was unknown—but they probably wouldn’t meet again.
Though there’s no death penalty in Korea, that doesn’t apply to Climbers.
“Seriously, isn’t this a bit thoughtless…?”
Claiming he was curious about what would happen—is that even reasonable? Was he dozing off during Climber training? Seeing him speak so brazenly, maybe he was.
‘…This is odd. Does a reckless young kid like him conquer and collapse a 40-floor Tower…?’
Wakamo narrowed her eyes, sensing an inexplicable unease, though she felt relieved knowing no one was harmed by the Tower’s collapse. Given its remote mountain location, it seemed there was no major damage and little attention.
It seemed as though the Tower that could collapse without harm had been carefully chosen…
“Well, it worked out. I’ll be meeting with my manager anyway, so let’s look into it.”
“Whew.”
Her Mana had largely recovered. With increased skill efficiency, her Mana now regenerated even when she recklessly used it. Just resting while drinking Mana potions allowed for a full recovery now!
Finally, there was no longer a need to hastily climb layers for survival!
Reducing the time spent watching VTuber broadcasts should help, but let’s move on.
“By the way, I did say I wanted some equipment items, but… is this really what they give me?”
Wakamo looked at the tattered Taegeukgi draped around her neck, her reward for conquering the 20th floor.
No matter how she thought about it, she looked like someone protesting at Gwanghwamun Square. Was this the best item they could give to the Idol?
“Damn…! If only I were a Shrine Maiden, they’d have given me a shaman’s blade!”
“Boss… Shaman’s blade is for shamans, not shrine maidens…”
“…Oh, really?”
Aren’t they the same thing…?
Anyway, she decided to keep the item, thinking of giving it to her manager.
[You have obtained the Artifact-grade equipment item [Flag of Solidarity]!]
[Flag of Solidarity]
Grade: Artifact.
Equip Slot: Cloak.
A genuine item from the independence movement.
Embodies the spirit of resistance and unbreakable will against oppression.
A proud symbol of the fight that brings unity.
Leadership +10%
Crowd Effect +10%
Party Member Vitality Boost +20%
Charm +10%
Was the Incheon Tower unhappy that she claimed to be from Japan and China on her VTuber broadcast? Did it want to declare her a proud Fox God of Korea or something?
How was her first piece of gear something from the independence movement—a flag almost a hundred years old?
“This should be in a museum.”
Opening a portal, she stepped out in front of Incheon Tower and headed toward the Climber Association, where Climbers and reservists had already gathered in response to the news.
Transforming into her small form and concealing her identity with a mask and hat, she and Yu Ying, aided by an association staff member, slipped in. Waiting for them was Manager Won Da-hye, greeting them with anticipation.
“Congratulations on clearing the 20th floor! Wakamo, did you come because of the alert, too?”
“Technically, yes, due to my old identity. The reservist alert is like a fake phishing message one desperately wishes were fake. I nearly got PTSD from it.”
“Haha… While it’s an emergency, the military has it under control, so it’s more like a standby situation.”
Manager Won Da-hye refrained from mentioning her suspicion that it was a political scheme by the President.
The President, labeling Wakamo as a thousand-year-old Fox Witch and declaring her a threat, had maintained a hostile stance, even though she’d cleared the Complete Conqueror level. After seeing her latest footage, he’d been frightened, calling her a monster, causing the frustrated Chairman to click his tongue in disgust.
──Claiming Wakamo was a threat to humanity, he alleged she was devouring and stealing, that she was an old Gumiho hiding among humans for ages, and that she needed to be dealt with.
This insane scheme was undoubtedly intended to lure Wakamo toward Gimpo.
Manager Won Da-hye had no doubts about this. Although there was no direct threat to her life, one should always eliminate risk.
The captured Climber, who would normally have been executed immediately, had been detained to uncover the truth, but was later found dead in his cell, raising countless suspicions.
“Wakamo, did you also serve in the military?”
“Huh? Well… yes? To clear any misunderstandings, I didn’t, like, devour people or steal or anything. I even went to school regularly, too!”
Isn’t that even more impressive? Attending elementary school while living a thousand years?
Manager Won Da-hye glanced at the authentic independence-era Taegeukgi that Wakamo intended to donate, suddenly wondering just how many times Wakamo had served in the military.
‘But why go as a male under a fake ID…?’
No, better not to dwell on that. She felt relieved, thinking the Taegeukgi could be useful for her future broadcasts.
“Wakamo, do you know about VR roleplaying? Things like virtual reality animation or films?”
“How could I not?”
“──I’ve planned a new content that perfectly matches Yu Ying’s ‘Apocalypse Survivor’ setting. I think it’d be great as a members-only feature.”
Laughing, Manager Won Da-hye unveiled the Association’s massive new corporate-style project.
As ominous as the President’s schemes were, she knew crushing them with greater achievements would suffice.
“Let’s call it… 『Battlefield: Seoul Reclamation』. We’ll go all out with CGI to make it look like a game! We have the budget!”
‘Manager’s naming sense… not great.’
Boasting of having a 3D CGI team ready, she explained that amidst the current fuss over the Gimpo Tower collapse, they’d shoot a massive special to allay the public’s fears.
“We’re filming a video with the ‘setting’ of reclaiming Seoul’s territory lost in the Seoul Tower collapse.”
Why was the Ministry of Defense supporting a VTuber broadcast?
Seeing both the Army and Air Force on set left Wakamo speechless.
“It’s just a little something like VirtualLive’s ‘VirtualGRA.’”
“Like that?”
Even Yu Ying, bewildered by the long list of firearms, looked at Wakamo and asked.
Wow~ Being a government-affiliated VTuber means you get airstrikes. Impressive~
“Why are you even showing me this!!”
“We’re always aiming for overwhelming realism in VTuber broadcasts!!”
Damn, her manager had finally lost it.
Black companies are the worst….
Wakamo did nothing wrong…
—
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