Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Bear Lessons and Study Hell
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It's not like everyone in the world can live busy lives all the time.
"Chwanbao!!!! You're so cute!!!! Grrr... I can't take it!! I'm gonna put you in my mouth and nom nom!!"
If you live too busily, people can break down, after all.
She chomped down on the cheeks of the adorable baby panda and suckled away.
She stroked it wildly, wishing she could abandon society forever and live as a wild bear.
Manager Won Da-hye was rolling around with the baby panda, cooing and enjoying her vacation.
Sadako, who had come to visit her, was watching from afar with the other zoo visitors, wondering when to say hello.
In the midst of it, the warning sign that read [Giant Bear is the Zookeeper—Do Not Feed] was hilariously spot-on.
Anyone could see she looked like nothing but a mother bear treating the panda like her own cub.
"Manager, it's about time to get back to work."
"Sigh, no helping it. I watched the stream."
"When exactly...?"
You have time to watch streams while playing with the panda? When Sadako asked in bewilderment, she smiled and replied that she was an elite, after all.
What even was an elite? She said there hadn't been a moment this happy since becoming manager, beaming with joy.
Seeing her passionately talk about her love for bears, you had to wonder if the manager and Wakamo were truly cut from the same cloth.
When someone rambles about something you don't understand, it usually tires the listener out, but her face overflowed with such pure happiness and passion that you couldn't help but listen.
"I can shapeshift into various animals as a Werebeast, but I still can only do deer. Do you know why? You're the only Shifter I know."
"It's advice as a climber, not a VTuber, then.─In my case, when I heard 'Shifter' class, the first thing that came to mind was a bear."
"Bear, huh... Suits you."
Manager Won Da-hye naturally reminisced about her early days, saying that even her initial transformations were hard to maintain, half-baked, and clumsy.
Folks like [Druids] operated on a whole different level of shapeshifting, so having the [Skill] was enough for them, but Shifters required a ton of proficiency even with the [Skill].
They could freely alter parts of their bodies and handle all sorts of animals─but it wasn't comparable to the Legendary class [Werebeast].
That class combined all the advantages of shapeshifting lineages.
Of course, if a Shifter set their mind to it, they could even turn into something like a [dinosaur]. And on a more extreme level, there were cases of turning into machines outright.
Every class had its strengths, clearly.
That was just the publicly known info, though. Among climbers, there was hardly anything you could say was "absolutely true!" outside of Legendary classes.
"At first, I really spent all day touching bears. 24 hours a day... every season. I'd close my eyes to feel their texture, imagine bears hundreds or thousands of times. I'd stare at them intently, lick them, make their sounds, sniff their scent, and do nothing but live with bears."
"......"
"After a while, bears started appearing in my dreams every night, and that's when the transformation felt familiar. Then suddenly, bear illusions appeared, and day by day, the imaginary bear gained more realism and presence. Like an imaginary friend only I could see. The weight, warm texture, cries─all of it. That's when I could naturally transform into a bear. Perfectly."
"......."
"Everything else should be the same as for you, Sadako. It's endless climbing every single day, after all."
"I see...."
In short, you unconsciously transform into the animal you're most familiar with. Since she had a sub-class that was a diluted version of Werebeast's pros and cons, she'd need to consider duration and performance, but if Sadako put in the effort, she could definitely shapeshift into various animals.
"Shall we start with bears, then?"
"Feels like sexual harassment..."
"I'll teach you about the 11 types of bears I know, plus the 384 bear-type monsters in the Tower."
"No, that's too many. Manager, can you transform into all of those?"
"More than that, even. You know how mating bears produces stronger offspring? At my level, coupling to create the next generation is as easy as breathing. Wakamo could do it too."
"That's so convincingly terrifying."
"So, bears it is!!! I'll teach you, the bear expert!!!"
Was this really okay? Maybe learning about tengu from Asuka would've been better?
Sadako was flooded with regret, but Manager Won Da-hye had no intention of letting go, gripping her tight with infused [mana].
Even escaping with [Shape Change] was impossible against that lethal mana density. Sadako gulped, reminded that this girl was the next Korean Association chair.
'Uh....? Even if we fought seriously, I don't think I could beat our manager...?'
All she could think was that the bear's raw power, speed, and feral intensity would flatten her.
Even her father, called the Fist King, had fought and beaten bulls and tigers before becoming a climber. But bears...? Never.
Could her fist pierce the manager's thick fur hide...?
"Eek!! Save me!! Please save me!!"
"Come here!! I'll show you what a polar bear's shred feels like!! Let's see that transformation!!!"
"This is insane! I gotta get out of here! Urk!"
Sadako didn't hesitate to roll on the ground to escape the manager, fleeing for her life.
Her face pale with genuine terror, she unleashed superhuman physical prowess she didn't even know she had.
The Tower and the [Six Freaks] were less scary than discovering a colleague who could turn into a bear.
"You took a paw jab, so she won't last long... Drag her back!"
"Kueong!!"
"Kreung kreung!!"
At Won Da-hye's command, the bears charged into a ferocious pursuit.
Shifters could transform, but no one said they could communicate with bears. That was Druid territory.
For some reason, Won Da-hye's orders made the bear legion surge forward.
"Ugh.... The manager's jab drained my strength...."
"Welcome to the Bear Club, new baby bear!! You joined of your own accord!!"
Sadako fainted with a "Hieeek..." at the sight of the manager pressing down her red octagonal hat and pulling out a honey pot, saying let's start with some honey.
.....
....
"An... Ancestor... Pl... Please... Have mercy.... Si... Sister's... Dying...."
Even Shao Liang, boss of the [Black Society] and tempered from childhood with training to kill people, couldn't endure the murderous schedule of 12 academies.
She clung to Yu Ying's pant leg, begging to climb the Tower instead, her head pounding from the home tutors.
Thanks to Mujon providing usable gear, Wakamo teaching [Skills], and even bus rides up the Tower, she'd gained incomparable strength.
But...
"Complain to Mom that you can't take it?"
"Wouldn't her head split open?"
"Not my problem."
"......."
Truly ruthless...!! No blood, no tears...!!
It felt just like the executives from the [Martial World]...
Shao Liang trembled at the blood-glowing red eyes, shrinking back.
She looked just like Mei, so pitiful... Was this vicarious satisfaction? Yu Ying mused oddly.
"But to be a vice president or something, you need brains and knowledge."
"Th... That's true... But what about the emperor?"
"Not doing it."
If she did, she'd really die. With Mom's overzealous personality, Yu Ying might end up in 12 academies too.
Amid it all, Mom sent steady health tonics, adding fear to the madness.
She genuinely rooted for her success. Provided everything needed for study!!
Even hired foreign professors to teach.
Sent a Legendary class [Professor] to instruct.
Shao Liang, demoted from Mujon's disposable [minion] to [grad student] under the Professor, clung to Yu Ying's leg: anything, just spare me!
"Heh heh, Miss Shao Liang. The longer the break, the more lessons pile up, you know?"
"It's weird!! It's not even a physical class?! Why doesn't she tire at that age, even pulling all-nighters?!"
"Sucking the life out of grad students?"
"......"
"Haha, kidding!! Climber, remember!!"
Yu Ying and Shao Liang hugged each other, backing away from Professor Sebastian.
His eyes gleamed with perverse joy at finding a "promising talent" with such academic passion at the [Six Freaks]' Legendary class gathering—pure terror that drained the soul.
"If it's too hard, you can quit. But Wakamo's philosophy is that to be a boss, in shadows or light, you need knowledge."
"Ugh......"
"You've only learned fighting your whole life, barely knowing Hanja... At least learn to read, right? Wakamo speaks four languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean."
"Mm."
"So, Yu Ying, you start learning from me today too. Permission granted."
Boom!
A partition slammed down as the Professor finished.
Yu Ying glared down at Shao Liang with a "You've been had!" look; she averted her eyes, having known.
"Enjoyable class time...!! Both of you have grad student talent!!"
"No, the direction's all wrong!! I hate it!!!"
"It's perfect?! Sisters, right?! Together!!!"
"Alchemists need vast knowledge!! You self-studied, right? I've always wondered! Beat me in a knowledge duel, and I'll cut your assignments!"
"Assignments too?!"
"Open book's fine. I've read over 10,000 papers on [mana] research, this Sebastian has!!"
"Huh?"
For real?
Sebastian nodded, and Yu Ying's spirit broke. She tried struggling, but he pointed out 80% of her knowledge was wrong, shattering her mentality. Her diligent self-study made her look like a chick chirping "I know lots!!" before a real professor.
Thus, the sisters sat side-by-side for Professor's lessons.
Wakamo said it'd help Yu Ying, so she came...
'Won't forgive her.....'
Betrayed...!! Rong Wei too, but Shao Liang too!
'I'm gonna kill you, Jackson... Spike your cola with laxatives!!'
The culprit behind this absurd prison was obvious, so Yu Ying ground her teeth.
Of course, she soon passed out flipping through an 1,800-page "Alchemist Basics" tome.
Learning is endless... Wakamo, with her sleepless body, studied steadily.
She believed if she could study like this, so could others!
Sadly, geniuses can't comprehend the average.
Wakamo, hearing the same lectures, might tilt her head at them: Why can't they get this easy stuff?
....
...
"Yes, yes, Pipkin Mami... no, Aiba here. What's up?"
"[Heard you pulled off another big one, so I called!! Fellow climber, right!! Congrats on debut!!]"
"Ahaha....."
"[People are unpredictable!]"
Aiba, fresh from a morning shower with a towel on her head, checked her reserved movie times while pasting on a face mask.
She sighed deeply at the [Stream Date] etched on her meticulously planned schedule.
She used to say games were for nerds, but now debuting as a VTuber? If her acquaintances found out, it'd be mortifying.
Still, more strangers than not, so okay for now. Streaming earned money... Honestly, no interest in idols.
She was into releasing original songs, making albums, earning from that.
Plus, [Wakamo Corporation] was a massive national conglomerate—great for a resume line.
Someday retire, then a real job... Model? Actress? She nibbled a Pepero stick, pondering.
Caller was Robert.
Could ask Asuka, but bad trauma, didn't wanna talk.
For US updates, better from fellow climbers than news. Especially a skilled, connected [Shooter] cop in a climber hub city.
Ex-coworkers still working couldn't spill due to secrecy rules.
They sneakily probed about Wakamo Inarizushi casually, which was annoying.
"[How's the Guardians situation? Korean defectors to the US too?]"
"[Eh─Vigilantes are more common now. Like Mexico assassinating CIA agents, the US gov—especially the current prez after the ex-prez's atrocities the military hid—is facing public fury. All involved are getting rounded up.]"
"What about second-gen Man Eater? Gov took her, right?"
"[Rumor... But she listens to one person only. For Tower entry, her will matters. Public says she lost sanity to her class, but whispers say she regains it sometimes.]"
"Conspiracy again? Tell me fun ones."
"[Like first Man Eater died in bombing, they reverse-engineered to mass-produce via 【Sub-class】! Scary plot! Haha! Unlikely, but if so, they'd have superpowered squads like you, miss!]"
"Uh.... Um...."
Gov buried it secretly, destroyed labs—no more. But it existed.
Listening, Aiba felt unease: What if they're making more somewhere?
"[Besides, Nazi remnants in Antarctica, monsters in French catacombs, Italy making angels—wild rumors. Late-night radio's fun. Who knew [Martial World] was real in China!! World’s full of surprises. Atlantis? Sky islands?]"
"Ahaha.... No way...."
"[Recent one: Legendary classes can change your body too, right?]"
"Yeah?"
"[Rumor Wakamo's not an unsealed idol but a VTuber-loving guy! Hilarious troll post, cracked me up!]"
"Haha! That's funny! An idol who's lived eons, mastered arts on sight, braved countless battlefields fearless of death—is actually a normie otaku dude living off stocks and crypto? Wild fantasy."
"[Well-written, plausible. Claims to be classmate or whatever, haha!]"
They swapped trivial chit-chat after.
─Robert's conspiracies hit too often, making Aiba anxious. Wakamo a human guy turned idol...? Laughable, so reassuring. She'd check late-night Napolitan ghost radio when bored.
"Funny too: Cults vanishing 'cause idols eat 'em—total exaggeration online."
Why would Wakamo hunt cults?
【Idol】 class hunts sacrifices? Overhyped.
Aiba killed time reading Robert's links, then headed out for the movie.
Her cute viewers were ghosted like dogs again today.
.....
....
"Huh? Isn't that a Blue ArXiv character? Ah! BlueA VTuber!"
-Iosif.
-Stop.
-Kraaak!! No!!
-Yunhamoto=Kan! Mercy!!
-Off to Cheonggyecheon, you white dragon!!
"Eh...? Yuu-ne...? Ah... Different VTuber."
Even on everyone's off day, Iosif streamed from morning, doing VTuber guessing quiz.
Hit rate: 30 questions, only 2 correct!
Even those via Virtual Live; Korean VTubers? No chance.
"Only me streaming? Gotta hustle! Collab reactions were great!"
-Glasses where?
"That guy's dead. Don't look."
"New glasses here. White dragon style!"
As she firmly bid farewell to her glasses, invading Lucia plopped new ones on Iosif's face.
"This is your new glasses... No need to thank me."
Iosif's conflicted face—she couldn't remove Lucia's gift.
"Uncle Adolf brought new glasses."
-lolololol
-lollololo
-Looks so kindly~
-I bet he says "What I wanna see is the world burn lol"
"New glasses, so let's energetically do VTuber guessing!"
Next VTuber World Cup pitted her oshi and Wakamo; Iosif rage-quit the stream.
Viewers loved the glasses quit meme.
Iosif Kan pondered going full variety...
But sadly, couldn't beat Asuka's madness.
Her future presence was bleak.