Awakening as a Bedwetting Loli Water Mage

I awakened. As a loli, no less. Doesn't that mean I gotta do the trendy TS thing and start streaming?

Hmm... Can a natural-born loner like me even pull off broadcasting?

Watching streams is fun, but doing it? That's gotta be a pain.

Quick give-up!

Yep, snap decisions are peak Lee Daram.

Now that I'm an awakener, climbing the Tower is mandatory. In a national crisis, awakeners get drafted first. Whether you're grinding low floors or high ones, it's all the same.

It's pressure to climb the Tower and build strength if you don't wanna die like a dog, and the government's way of saying they won't waste awakener resources.

You might wonder, why not just hide your awakening? But a nation-state ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠has awakeners with detection skills or artifacts that do the same, everywhere.

Detection-type awakeners and artifacts monitor the whole country, so a fresh newbie like me can't slip through the net. That's why you get a Hunter Association summons right after awakening, like a military draft notice.

Anyway, since I've awakened, even I—who spent my school days like,

"Was there a kid like that in our class? First time hearing her voice."

And post-graduation ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earned titles like: Jobless Youth, Once-a-Month Convenience Store Outing Guy, Child of Darkness—achieving a triple crown of glory—can't escape the radar of the bigwigs trying to conscript my talents.

So, fingers crossed for a killer job!

F-rank makes sense for a fresh awakening... Water-attribute mage, huh. Not sure if that's good. Can't recall any active mages with water right now. At least I won't die of thirst mid-Tower or Gate run.

"But casting something like 'Water Affinity Even Without a Source' right after awakening? Talent confirmed."

I glanced at the yellow-stained bedsheet.

"......"

A massive reality check hit me.

What the hell was I babbling about?

"Community."

To gather info, I activated the Tower system's community feature—exclusive to awakeners. A translucent window popped up: Top Gallery.

A place I'd always envied a bit. Nothing beats community drama for fun, and with the world as it is, all the hot issues revolve around the Tower. Normies can't access it, and awakeners don't bother with regular internet sites. Felt like their own little world.

Thump thump. I'm one of them now. What kinda convos go down here?

Gate raids? Climb strategies? Or the eternal "Who's the strongest awakener?" debate?

Brimming with excitement, I started reading posts.

Uh... no different from regular internet communities.

Kraaack!

First post I see after joining the gallery is a gross pic? I was so wronged tears streamed down. The yellow bedsheet caught my eye. I snapped a pic with the status window right away. No way I'm suffering alone.

What... I'm basic? Super common basic bitch! Sigh, wasn't expecting much anyway. Awakening alone is a win, I guess.

Got it.

I crossed my legs in the classic pose and closed my eyes.

Will this really let me use magic?

Ah, stray thoughts. Clear 'em. Clear. Gone.

Laughter from jammin kids outside. Passing truck. Hair-pulling fight.

They faded one by one.

Then new sounds started.

Shwaaa— Shwaaa—

Ocean waves?

A vast sea rose in my mind.

Chworak— Chworak—

Not waves?

I opened my eyes. Water streams and droplets floated around me.

Eh? What's this? Natural mana?

They don't believe me. So frustrating!

Eh? Am I actually a genius?

Hmm, claiming it now would just get me baited harder.

Woulda got flamed on regular net, but wholesome replies. Guess Tower climbing's life-or-death, so everyone's helpful.

Searched "water mage basic spells." Boring, pretentious magic circles filled the screen.

Kraaack! My eyes!

Lotsa basics, but Aqua Bullet caught my eye. Low mana, high penetration—perfect for slimes unlike Aqua Cutter or Ball.

I studied the circle, gathered droplets at my fingertip.

Ah, got it. Kinda intuitive now.

Felt the power instinctively too.

Firing this in-room would punch through wall n "Uwaaaang!" the neighbor.

Awesome! Tutorial time!

Heh, public opinion flips soon. "Enter Tower!"

The world rippled.