The World Enters the Great Climbing Era (2)

After Su-yeon entered, a few hours passed. Even though it was winter and the days were short, the sun was already starting to set. I was starting to worry if some dangerous variable had popped up.

But seeing no changes in the ice crystal I'd attached, it looked like the "non-combat class" claim wasn't a scam after all.

"Su-yeonie... you're lateee. At this rate, I'll turn into a grandma?"

"Yeah. Calamity-nim. Do you age?"

In the midst of that, Jo Cheol-min, that uncle, zeroed in on the sharp point. The other awakeners around were giving their rep looks like, 'Well, wouldn't she not age?'

"Of course I don't age."

I really don't. Powerful ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠magical girls barely age anyway. But I'd gone a step further—ever since the TS, there hadn't even been any external changes to speak of, let alone aging. Twelve years in the other world, two more back on Earth, and still nothing. I had no idea why. Had I frozen my aging solid too? ...Kinda starting to guess, though.

That's what I was thinking when—

"Whoa. I'm jealous."

"Jealous?"

"...Yeah, still jealous!"

The jealous awakener (a woman) eyed my size after I asked back, pondered for a sec, then yelled it again. She was still young and pretty-faced, but she must've feared aging enough to put up with this baby-sized frame.

"It's a sweet deal, yeah."

"But since everyone handles mana, aging slows down a bit, right?"

Mana interacts with the body even if you're not a magical girl. It shows more at higher realms, but even basic handling slows superficial aging.

"Whoa, really?"

"Does it get stronger with higher realms?"

"Yup."

At a decent mature level, folks look 20s-30s even past 50. Sword masters or high mages turn from geezer to fresh youth overnight—no biggie. There was that grand mage who suddenly youthened up and blended into freshman crowds, snagging girls left and right. Nearly fell for that wizard myself. Not that I miss it...

"Rep. I'm burying my bones in that tower starting today."

"Why did I avoid combat all this time? Unbelievable. The true warrior's blood is boiling now."

Somehow, even my peaceful territory's awakeners were overflowing with reasons to get strong. They all turned berserker-mode and bolted for the tower.

"If you'd said this sooner, would we have even joined the association?"

"Nah, that's tough. Seeing the tower's growth potential lit that fire. They know they can now. Who'd risk their life for uncertain gains?"

"I guess?"

True, certainty's a big deal. They'd felt mana's body effects before, but didn't clock it till I stamped it official.

"But uncle, you're not interested?"

"I am. Just no need to rush."

True, his awakened ability level was worlds apart from theirs. Long-term vision's the play at his rank. Raising realms gets tougher uphill. The tower here might change that, though.

"Heh heh. Still, this'll jack up land prices big time."

"Huh."

Real estate talk at this timing?

"Every awakener'll wanna climb that tower."

"Wouldn't they head to Seoul or Busan usually?"

From what Seong-yoon told me, Korea has three towers: Seoul, Busan, and Yeongju here. Called Sobaeksan Tower since it popped there. Wonder what the criteria was. Not Jeju or Jirisan—why Sobaeksan? Not like it got fox-charmed like me.

"Someone always eyes the niche market."

"I see."

I had no land, and a magical girl speculating felt weird.

"Even if money doesn't tempt you, changing surroundings affect everyone. Gotta know."

"Fair point."

Me staying put doesn't keep the hood quiet. Booms breed brawls—classic.

"We'll see the impact watching the situation. I've got some land, so I'm hyped."

"Pfft."

Deflating. Still, prep might be smart. Broadcast drama fattened my settlement-starved bank, but enough for land/buildings? Units change scale. Did I have cash sources...? Oh, right.

Recalling Seong-yoon griping about stalled corpse negotiations—

"Oh. Lady's out."

"Unniii~!"

Su-yeon burst out beaming from the tower.

"Done?"

"Yes! Cleared floor 1 for sure!"

Su-yeon, egg tucked close, looked beat—sweat beading—but grinned ear-to-ear. No 'took you long enough for that face' to kill the vibe.

"Good work. Did great."

"Phew. It was tough~."

"How so?"

"On her floor, pick and demo a skill you want."

Real non-combat then. Not production-class 'cause unproductive skills fly too.

"What'd Su-yeon pick?"

"Cooking."

"Oho. Cooking, huh. She's good then."

Jo Cheol-min uncle rubbed hands slyly, jumping in.

"Ahem."

"She's ace. Owe her big time."

"But actually failed a ton..."

That the delay? Su-yeon pouted, explaining.

"Thought I nailed some masterpiece braise, but kept failing clear conditions. Got scolded."

"Rough difficulty."

"How'd you pass?"

"Spent time perfecting the braise. Succeeded."

Braising's hot lately—even tower bowed.

"Gonna need training for floor 2."

"Training? Practice?"

"Yes!"

Su-yeon stroked the egg carefully, eyes fired up.

"Nice rewards, huh."

"Egg hatching progress up."

"Oho. Anything else?"

Other rewards: gear, skills, pure gold. Hatching boost instead of stats? Non-contracted magical girl stats matter little anyway. Combat or non—rewards similar.

"Special training starts today!"

Honestly, counting days to hatch was fun. But crushing her drive? Nah. Harmless, so watch.

"By my feel, 5 floors'll hatch it!"

...So it'd hatched soon anyway? Swallowed the quip, headed home with Su-yeon.

The next day. Hid Su-yeon with Live2D virtual instead of yesterday's 3D transform form...

Heat hadn't died—a fantastical number danced. Thought it'd crash again, but smooth. Quick phone check: overseas backlash to yesterday's fiasco hit hard. Embassy doors pounded. Lightning didn't solo-fix—gov scaled servers? Feet this quick for once.

"Worldwide aggro's scary."

"Stop calling influx a blender?"

True tho. VTubers polarize hard. Even origin fans in uproar. Casual 'tower opener' search-ins? Obvious.

"Who's the peasant! Sigh. Lady's deep in serious cooking practice."

Tired yesterday, crashed early. Up at dawn, bustling.

"Even if, in this state?"

Su-yeon's ice face aside, using for issue cleanup—not cam-ready.

"Let's cafe."

My fan cafe was a rundown ghost town before. Now? Post-stabilization, settlers overwhelmed frosties, spilling into cafe. Enabled this content. Small streamers can't.

"Whoa. Takes time to browse all."

Impressive numbers despite meh access. Gotta tend for continuity.

Clicked first post.

"Ooh... everyone's faces lit up."

Miracle, grace period 'temporary' aside. Tower opening slashed gates' biggest ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠threat: unpredictable ambushes. Humanity breathes.

"But was China's Chairman always that guy?"

Curious eyeing vid—he seemed old before. Looks young now.

"Huh. For real?"

Big news, missed it.

"How do y'all know then."

Collective intelligence? Nah. Even sparse Hakko days answered queries. Just web-savvy peeps.

Back-buttoned.

Topic's hot—most posts tower-related.

"Status not just viewable—screenshotable?"

Principle? No clue. Tons of gov climb encouragements, supports. Pics of awakener swarms at city towers everywhere.

"Blaze junior's in one."

Response team's pic at domestic tower—max climbing in breather window. But rest a bit? Eyes tower-mad, sure.

Glimpsed drip in chat—I grinned like some great sea king.

"If you want it, I'll give... Climb if you crave. All awakener growth's in that tower now!"

Honestly, how to hold back.