Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: Legendary Classes
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"Legendary classes are ones the Tower created after observing humanity."
Ten years ago, along with the Tower's appearance—Sebastian had said that the boss of the [Six Outer Demons] was probably the "first Legendary class."
Fulfilling the utterly ridiculous conditions required was no easy feat.
Sebastian held up five fingers, saying that cases where they aligned by some miracle were rare enough to count on one hand.
He explained that in his own case, he'd been provided with research materials on [Mana] by the boss of the Six Outer Demons so he could write a paper, and ended up job-changing on the spot.
Yeah, the vast majority of Legendary classes were ones the Six Outer Demons' boss had personally selected and job-changed.
Either by guiding them indirectly, leading them directly, or teaching circuitous methods to achieve the job change.
"Artificially created Legendary classes probably don't exist beyond [Man-Eater] or [Esper]."
Ironically, both had emerged from America. Sebastian mentioned that the class called [Alien] was likely part of America's "Legendary Class Project" as well.
But since the Tower had created them with the existence of beings in mind, it was more accurate to say the U.S. government had artificially selected who would obtain those classes.
"Over the past ten years, Legendary classes have continually evolved and developed as the Tower learns about humanity, periodically introducing new variants. Even the Tower doesn't know which climber on which floor will job-change into them—it's more like it's preparing them in advance."
As always, the example was Man-Eater.
He pointed out that classes like [Devil Worshipper] had emerged from humanity's history of cannibalism and human sacrifice.
Since Towers overseas featured primitive tribal monsters of the cannibal lineage, the breadth of Legendary classes was clearly designed based on all of human history, Sebastian explained.
After that came classes like [Artist] or [Artist], [Driver], and [Master Chef]... ones far removed from barbarism.
But since these had emerged during development, their balance was a total mess—including inconsistent stat growth, with massive advantages offset by horrific drawbacks. He cited a climber who'd job-changed into [Reaper], only to lose their neck entirely.
They were special humans chosen by the Tower, but that didn't mean the Tower's choices were always good. Their thought processes were worlds apart from ordinary humans.
"And the class the boss is most interested in is Wakamo's, of course."
The most recent—and final—Legendary class to "appear."
The brand-new 【Idol】 class, which hadn't existed until now.
It came with the unprecedented penalty of death upon reaching 0 mana, in exchange for being a non-combat Legendary class capable of artificially creating climbers.
Sebastian explained it as the Korean Tower's desperate patriotic measure to save a land where climbers were vanishing and extinction loomed.
The problem was its atrocious completion level. The Korean Tower had shoehorned in modern-day idols—VTubers—to fit the framework of an "idol that artificially creates climbers," revealing just how desperate and frantic it had been.
On top of that, the Korean Tower had even drawn information on VTubers and idols directly from Wakamo Inarizushi's mind to build the skill tree.
As Wakamo whined, "Give me attack skills!!!", the Tower thought, This guy's gonna die using mana... is he insane? but granted the wish anyway, growing increasingly concerned as it deviated further from expectations...
But damn, this thing's OP? Jackpot?
No need to elaborate further on what happened next.
The emergence of sub-classes aside, Legendary classes were essentially the Tower's beta testers.
As Towers were conquered, the completion and balance of emerging Legendary classes improved—but the most garbage, "same-day rush job" level of trash was 【Idol】.
In a way, the worst possible counterexample for other Towers to learn from... the absolute nadir of Legendary classes.
It was only natural that the latest one, with no solid foundation and built by scraping Wakamo's brain, ended up a total mess.
The upcoming 【Emperor】 and 【Zmy】 addressed various flaws by adding cooldowns and restrictions to skills, balancing them as best as possible, filling gaps with dedicated gear, and imposing penalties.
In that sense, the Legendary class Idol served as a textbook for all Towers on "how NOT to design a Legendary class."
As Towers were conquered, climbers would receive more benefits, and even more climbers would emerge in the future.
Then perhaps we'd understand why the Tower revealed itself to humanity?
And though the grad student didn't say it—【Akomo Inarizushi】, who was pioneering a path no one else could hope to follow, would be the one to witness 【The Truth of the Towers】.
"Um, so... I keep getting messages from other Legendary classes I know, asking if you can hire them."
".....Huh? Aren't they all doing pretty well for themselves?"
"......."
"......."
"......."
Surprisingly, non-combat Legendary classes shared a silent communication ability.
It was like an unlisted passive skill that massively boosted empathy due to their shared circumstances.
"For now, the moment a Legendary class fulfills its conditions, no one else in current humanity can become it. But Wakamo, you know this, right?"
Even if you met the Tower's conditions, were recognized as the class master, and acknowledged as one of humanity's peaks...
Whether you could grow stronger as a climber by acquiring [Skills] while ascending was a separate matter entirely.
It all came down starkly to the climber's talent and capabilities.
You could see it in the gap between a 100% combat Holy Swordsman and the 100% non-combat Idol.
"In a way, you could call the Tower fair."
It tailored trials to match the climber's capabilities. Even Legendary classes were no exception.
Each faced different tests... and conquering those floors came down to the climber's skill alone.
In that sense, humanity's current strongest climber was...
"Um, Sebastian."
"Yes?"
"What on earth is the boss of the Six Outer Demons thinking?"
"No idea."
They'd job-changed countless people into Legendary classes.
Some suffered for it, but others saved nations, and some even became kings or rulers in their own right.
"Looking at classes like Satyros, the early Towers must've been downright barbaric. Now they've gained intellect fitting national traits. What about the Korean Tower?"
The grad student Sebastian, mid-lecture, curiously asked Wakamo—who ran the frontlines as a fellow Legendary class—if she'd communicated with the [Korean Tower].
Wakamo clamped her mouth shut.
The only nation where not a single Legendary class had emerged in nearly ten years.
The weakest nation, after all its climbers fled.
And yet, through the Idol Legendary class born there, the Korean Tower had learned relentlessly from Wakamo early on.
'Isn't this... fucked?'
The Korean Tower was learning from me...? Is this really okay...?
"And even non-Legendary climbers can acquire special skills based on their achievements..."
Sadly, though Wakamo thought the Korean Tower had ruined her, she also realized she'd ruined it right back—so the grad student's lecture went in one ear and out the other.
To top it off, an assassination incident exploded right after—so Wakamo's days were anything but peaceful.
※※※
『Companion』: A group that shares 『Common Skills』 and the like from a Tower-designated organization.
Since everyone could learn the common skills, cooperation was easy, and forming a faction became straightforward.
For climbers, it was currently the only way to change classes.
Among common skills were things like the Papal Court's mana-to-holy conversion, or Japan's Four Great Families' shaman job-changes.
Of course, the Tower assigned classes based on "personal aptitude."
Mismatches could lead to total failure.
For reference, Wakamo Inarizushi was the prime example of such growth.
If even a total mess like hers could flatten everything, it was hardly a problem.
Such growth might even evolve into a entirely new class form, free of old constraints.
Anyway—the time had come for Wakamo's [Idol's Shrine] to properly job-change into a Companion.
The 【Great Cataclysm】 had added various functions, allowing even non-Idols—believers—to be taught.
As Wakamo climbed higher, [Idol's Shrine]'s functions would evolve and grow more useful, brightening Kyoto's future.
It was already steadily producing talismans and assorted byproducts daily.
They were genuinely effective, so their popularity went without saying.
Cute fox spirits could even be seen in person—and while that drew thieves and nuisances, the dojo's master was Japan's strongest, Fist King, with the Japan Association President and senators as backing, so issues resolved smoothly.
Japan was a nation with deep-rooted faith, after all.
More people scolded troublemakers for provoking the fox god's wrath and inviting disaster.
When earthquakes struck, the fox god herself appeared to quell them—who wouldn't side with her?
With Korea and China allied in government, and now even Russia joining—the politicians bickered over whether Japan would just sit idly by. Politically turbulent times for Japan.
Even as the capital seemed poised to shift to Kyoto, Sadako lounged carefree in the dojo.
Even as initiates begged her for a single lesson or demo, she just chugged booze. Fist King's veteran disciples sighed at how she hadn't changed.
"So you went around calling yourself a wizard who did karate, and now you've job-changed to samurai, huh, kiddo?"
"Ehh~? Nah!! This is a reward from the Tower on floor 54. Cool, right?"
"It is cool... but you planning to display it in the dojo? This is a karate dojo. Hanging a Joseon sword feels off, no?"
"I brought it to show off. The master's teaching me [Swordsmanship Skills] now. Already learned four? Oh, right!"
"Hmm! Father's delighted our daughter earned the fox goddess's favor as her disciple. The day I pass Japan's strongest to her isn't far off."
"So, where's my otaku big bro??"
Scratching his belly as she asked, Fist King clicked his tongue pityingly: her bro had holed up hikikomori-style, tired of friends constantly prying about his super-popular little sister.
Sadako now understood(?) her bro's lack of grit bordering on overflowing femininity, turning him into a female VTuber. Eh, could happen—she laughed it off.
Back then, she'd have been grossed out: a guy flirting with men in girl form doing ASMR? But working the same industry, she respected his sincere hard work and studied diligently herself.
In truth, her bro was utterly crushed by Sadako's overwhelming VTuber talent.
Losing karate to his little sister bruised his pride, but her VTuber genius had spread her fame worldwide.
Fist King—who'd rigorously trained both kids equally—grumbled that the eldest son lacked grit.
His disciple, sitting nearby, knew it was fallout from Sadako's genius and silently pitied his friend.
Nothing harder than being treated as average between genius dad and genius sister.
"So, what swordsmanship?"
"[Martial Arts Encyclopedia—[Dual Wield]]: Now I can ride horses and dual-wield!!"
"Ooh... that's pretty cool!! Our girl's a full-fledged samurai now!! Haha!! No, a general? Always had that vibe since you were little!!"
"Nah, floor 54 clear reward: three Joseon swords from the Tower. Master saw 'em and taught me his new skill. Trying to get me to naturalize?"
"Hmm... doesn't matter much? Naturalizing doesn't bar Japan."
"Why not just have Dad beat up the Japanese government into joining the alliance?"
"Fists won't cut it."
"True!! Gehahahahaha!!!"
"Stop laughing like that!!"
Sadako guffawed heartily, chugging booze straight from the bottle.
Fist King sighed deeply, fretting over who'd ever take this daughter. At this rate, she'd end up a spinster like the Association President? Even the eldest son's marriage was dubious... the family line ends with me, he lamented inwardly.
".....Need a sister?"
"Uwaaack!! Gross!! For real?!"
"You two both seem unmarriageable... gotta continue the line."
".....Uh.... just in case, maybe two...?"
"Kkh..."
See the results of Dad's genes? Sadako said dead seriously, and Fist King couldn't argue. Truth was, with the daughter rarely home, dojo affairs ran smoothly and the couple was harmonious—decent progress, he cleared his throat.
"Not curious about Mom and Dad's sex life!!!"
"Watch your mouth!! Done with Companion talk??"
Fist King flushed beet-red at his daughter blurting embarrassing stuff in front of disciples and hastily changed topics.
Sadako had learned [Seimei Ryu Onmyodo] plus [Martial Arts Encyclopedia—[Dual Wield]] from Wakamo. It belatedly fulfilled her onmyodo request, but closer to: she was too dumb for it anyway, so nah.
With the Companion cataclysm, he'd pushed her to take it—her limit was summoning a few [Skeleton Spirits]—but now she could use shaman skills sans wizard, and was thrilled...
"This spirit chills booze!! Awesome, right!! Look at that thin ice!!"
Sigh... whatever.
Disciples' faces darkened as Sadako boasted her revolutionary discovery: freezing booze with the chill of [Skeleton Spirits]' restless dead.
The dojo's future... so bleak.... The heir disciple was set, but... this as next Japan strongest...?
"But Dad, question... You teach karate here, right? Who teaches for folks wanting onmyodo now?"
"Uh.....hmm.....you?"
"Me?"
Dead serious? Sadako blinked at him, and Fist King agonized.
The dojo would now teach [Onmyodo].
Meaning Wakamo was openly challenging Japan's Four Great Onmyodo Families.
Competition meant messy entanglements ahead... political fatigue, shamans raging "Korean onmyodo doesn't count!"... wait.
"Oh yeah. What'd you say the onmyodo she taught you is called?"
"Abe no Seimei."
"Four Families are screwed."
Fist King ordered his disciples to make a new sign. From today, his dojo would become a new onmyodo family.
Abe? Tsuchimikado? Kuzunoha? Kamo?
The Abes claimed descent from Abe no Seimei, but theirs was [Abe Ryu Onmyodo], not [Seimei Ryu Onmyodo].
"From today, we're the Seimei Family!!"
"What's with forging ancestor records? Oh, Asuka-prof's coming to lecture. No issues, Dad."
"Mind asking that girl if she's open to meeting our eldest?"
"Dad, Wakamo'll crack your skull. Think: if Asuka's her daughter, would she marry her off to Bro?"
"Crack his skull."
"Right?"
....
......
[Companion]
[Group: Idol's Shrine]
[Shrine worshiping and adoring the Idol]
[Join Conditions: Idol]
[Companion Buffs]
[Within Companion range: HP Recovery +15%]
[Within Companion range: Stamina Recovery +15%]
[Companion produces small amounts of [Inari's Dew] [12 per day]]
[Companion produces small amounts of [Fox Orbs] [12 per day]]
[Companion produces small amounts of [Blessing Talismans] [30 per day]]
[+Diet Talisman]
[+Health Prayer Talisman]
[+Luck Prayer Talisman]
[Companion Skills]
-[Seimei Ryu Onmyodo] 50 Tower Coins.
[Condition: Believer]
-[Izuna Ryu Onmyodo] 10 Tower Coins.
[Condition: Believer]
-[Kuzunoha Ryu Onmyodo] 10 Tower Coins.
[Condition: Believer]
"Dad, the Four Families are totally fucked."
"Yeah. I got some Tower Coins too... can I learn?"
"Dad, your INT's low."
"Something off about that phrasing?"
Disciples buzzed: now even this karate-heavy [Fighter] dojo taught [Onmyodo], thanks to Wakamo—many had become climbers.
Fighters got modest mana from INT/WIS boosts.
But using onmyodo had romance... plus some job-changed to [Wizard], heightening excitement.
Veterans rushed off to climb for Tower Coins, and Fist King warned the eager bunch not to get hurt.
"So other [Companions] let you learn more skills with 『Tower Coins』 as cost?"
"We could learn Plum Blossom Swordsmanship."
"....Aren't we getting the overwhelming edge?"
"Quit being a believer, and you lose access?"
"Isn't that common to all Companions?"
"....Yeah?"
Chatting and laughing with his daughter, Fist King had separately contacted the Association President.
Japan's government still refused subordination to Korea.
Publicly the Asia Alliance, equal partners—but late joiners felt it lowered their status.
But Wakamo was growing [Idol's Shrine] to rival and check Japan's largest Companion: the onmyodo families.
She personally trained the next Japan strongest, quelled earthquakes—building influence.
Public sentiment already leaned her way. He hoped the government wouldn't resort to extremes.
—Fist King knew of Legendary class assassinations and America's [Legendary Class Project] via the President.
Plus the shadowy climber organization lurking for ten years, unpublicized.
Early chaos from climbers and Towers had stabilized into peaceful society—but as climbers grew stronger, the balance teetered.
Better to unite forces then.
The fox goddess Wakamo sought the world's unchanged peace from the start, no?
The last modern idol.
She smiled that humans no longer needing her would be best—but perfectly guided them regardless.
"What must she feel, watching over fools like us..."
Unchanged over eons, bittersweet yet lovingly embracing our folly?
Fist King couldn't fathom the weight of her loving humanity despite endless humiliations.
She taught his young daughter without demanding anything, letting her do as she pleased.
"Like she'd be happy just VTubing."
Of course, that wouldn't happen!!
Fist King laughed—his gut wasn't always right—and ordered disciples to prep a sushi party for Sadako.
Today was a good day.
And with the fox goddess around, good days lay ahead.