Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Tower-Climbing Fox God VTuber
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You have to show it when it's time to show.
From Manager Won Da-hye on down to Fist King, who had been laughing and chatting with Sadako.
The other climbers didn't seem to pay it much mind—but at this point, Wakamo Inarizushi's position was untouchable by anyone.
There was nothing to fear, nothing to worry about.
To put it extremely, she didn't even have to fret about going overboard and getting labeled a monster for caring too much about others' opinions.
Five out of the top ten strongest were affiliated with Wakamo Corporation, after all.
Wouldn't there be posts praising the Idol's wondrous climber-training skill?
After all, she'd elevated a single Japanese climber to the top ranks in just one year.
"—Isn't fighting climbers different from fighting monsters? Who knows what it'd be like in a real fight?"
"There's the unpredictability of Legendary Classes too. Plus, a ton of info's out there, right? Poke the right weakness, and maybe you could win?"
"Honestly, I think even if she's called strong, she's mostly hype."
"No way that's true. You saw the videos yourself."
"Sure, they film it, but how do we know it's real? Could be CG."
"That was the dumbest joke I've heard lately, buddy."
The climber burst into laughter at his civilian friend's joke, waving it off as absolutely not the case.
The civilians gathered here included those eager to see climber duels, and fans who came to cheer on Stars like those devoted to their countries, including Tower Collapse.
They were beings you couldn't get this close to normally, what with all the tower climbing and prowling through danger zones.
To civilians, they were stars too distant to reach, even if you stretched out your hand.
There were plenty who'd come with family or whole teams to cheer, and among them, the biggest group was there to support the US Association President.
Wakamo thought it was seriously intense, what with the cheerleaders and all, as she stepped into the arena.
Climbers of Royalty grade or higher began appearing one by one.
Some represented small nations, others were infamous crime syndicate bosses, and there were even those from the Six Freaks.
In the tower-hosted arena, only climber duels were permitted, so no self-righteous hotheads caused trouble.
And those climbers themselves? They were here purely for the fight... the "struggle" to prove their strength.
Fight someone stronger than you.
Fight someone who knows your weaknesses.
Even defeat brought experience that'd help on climbs.
PVP in the arena paid out regardless of win or loss, so it even drew gladiator types who farmed it like a grind.
In climber battles, there's "never" any absolutes.
Maybe a lucky consumable, an extreme matchup disadvantage, better gear on one side.
A bad day, a bit of bad luck causing a slip-up, or reluctance to hit a person instead of a monster.
──You never know until you fight!!
There are realms only climbers can comprehend.
Everyone here felt it in their bones.
Just standing there exuded such an intense presence that it was hard to look away.
Was this the fox's charm that bewitched humans? Or the fighting spirit toward an absolute?
Maybe the climbers were getting even more hyped by the visible pinnacle.
Climbing was a battle against yourself—a summit existed, but the end was nowhere in sight.
Even reaching the 100th floor wasn't the tower's true top.
Some climbers felt crushing emptiness from that truth.
The tower knew, so it provided clear benchmarks. It dangled a "low summit" for satisfaction, flaunting it.
"Gulp."
One climber swallowed hard. A foreigner.
Italy's champion was a big brute, but this one was bigger.
Easily over 2 meters. Up close, you could feel the weight class.
No need to question the strength.
Unequivocally the current era's strongest, the one and only existing Idol!
Legends said even rugged climbers turned into absurd monsters in her hands.
Climbers who'd joined Wakamo Corporation and risen to executive ranks got all sorts of skills supported, trained directly by her, walking the path she'd paved as an Idol.
From architects to artists, she flawlessly molded Legendary Classes that other nations couldn't handle.
Even those doomed to lose wanted to learn something, their greedy stares unhidden.
Wakamo, receiving gazes that made her feel stripped bare, let out a heavy sigh.
Even famous VTubers said they only truly felt their fans were real after seeing them at concerts.
Unless you're an entertainer, that level of attention was burdensome.
And Wakamo felt it too.
Bombarded by gazes mixed with all sorts of emotions, she was reminded anew why she'd holed up all this time—she'd never liked this stuff.
She usually stayed cooped up in My Worlds, and her personally raised believers were her responsibility and fans, so she cared about them.
But Wakamo Inarizushi wasn't the nicest person.
She had a strong sense of duty, clear likes and dislikes.
And she was fiercely savage.
Once you crossed the line, she was a cranky monster with no brakes.
Her school days tale of beating down delinquents and even gangsters with taekwondo had even hit the communities—what more needed saying?
A belligerent human who'd never lost a bare-knuckle brawl in her life...!!
That personality got her stuck with a Legendary Class out of sheer bad luck!!
Even non-combat jobs needed fighting spirit to meet conditions....
"I've decided. I'll hold a blood festival with you lot. I'll smash you so bad you'll never dream of disturbing Idol Wakamo Inarizushi's peace.... That's what you want, right?"
Unleashing the same ferocious killing intent she'd shown the Pirates, Wakamo opened her closed eyes, her red ones gleaming as she warned the stands and participants.
Feeble civilians fainted without knowing why from the sheer intimidation, and some climbers' legs gave out, collapsing.
But climbers on Wakamo's level grinned like they loved it.
And so began the climber duel tournament.
Higher leagues meant greater glory and rewards for the victor.
The tower popped up notifications saying winners got climb floors plus skills and items, sending all participants into ecstatic cheers.
"Everything prepped right?"
Sadako marveled at the colosseum setup, broadcasting central fights while letting spectators pick matches.
Screens displayed like Wakamo's internet-linked windows.
They showed climbers dueling 1v1 in separate spaces, like inside the tower.
Arena NPCs wandered, selling food and running betting on outcomes.
It was so thorough, Wakamo was a bit impressed—even dopamine junkies could get their fix here in this massive league.
Finally, these things are doing their jobs right?
'Still, this is tricky.'
[Please select "10" skills to use in the arena duel ahead of time.]
[Climber Wakamo Inarizushi has over 10 constantly active skills.]
For balance, pick 10 skills per match, apparently.
But Wakamo had too many passives to keep on—from Idol's Lion to My Worlds, Wakamo Floors and beyond.
The arena, knowing this, proposed limiting to [1] skill besides the upkeep ones.
With Idol's Body mandatory, options were nil.
No complaints, though—the penalty stemmed from her massive gap over other climbers.
'Was there ever a favorable matchup to begin with?'
No hesitation, no second thoughts!!
"Lock her in chastity till she's a crown prince.... Meaning lock her in the bridal chamber forever. Isn't that the artistic intent?"
"You hear she got NTR'd by a satyr and that's where that comes from?"
Adelheid, pondering as much as Wakamo, snapped her fingers with a laugh like she'd figured out the phrase.
Manager Won Da-hye shook her head at her off-topic ramble—no, that's not it.
Sadako, sitting beside, asked if Adelheid even knew what she was talking about first.
"Hey, Adelheid sis. You know what NTR is?"
"Of course!"
Adelheid proudly held up three fingers.
NATIONALISM (nationalism), TOTALITARIANISM (totalitarianism), RACISM (racism).
"Turning all inferior races in this world into climbers.... It's time for total war...!!"
"Uh, any engineers here? She's malfunctioning bad."
Sadako admired Adelheid's gleaming eyes—yep, not right in the head.
Won Da-hye, already given up, just nodded.
"Huh?"
The chatter evaluating climbers' fights suddenly muted like sound turned off.
Hours into the arena event.
The moment for the most-awaited Diamond League arrived.
Like other leagues, many climbers would fight till one victor took all.
But the tower didn't call up other climbers.
No out-of-bounds rules, killing allowed.
Once on the field, anything goes to beat your foe!!
And for the first match everyone expected, it was the climber everyone wanted most.
Just standing there had everyone tense, staring.
Even the civilian who'd called her hype clamped his mouth shut; his climber pal smirked and focused.
[[Diamond League] match starting soon]
[[Idol] VS [Phantom Punch]]
[[Idol] limited to [1] skill due to penalty]
"Ah, saying that makes me look ugly if I lose."
"......Huh."
The scenery shifted to the familiar arena Wakamo had fought in atop the tower a few times; she grumbled.
Her opponent, Vietnamese climber Tcheng Hieu, couldn't hide his shock.
He'd picked 10 skills too, but hers was harsher.
Unlike him, who knew his foe, she seemed surprised, like she hadn't gotten info.
[3]
Even he had no plans to check the "strongest" climber.
Other top climbers watching agreed.
"How good are his odds?"
Isudere Khan pondered Won Da-hye's question.
"Vietnam beat even America. And his class fits a top boxer. Boxing's biggest strength is [speed]. Won't underestimate, but hard to dodge the first hit."
The answer came oddly from the US Association President behind them.
Ranked 8th or not, Vietnam's top Fighter class.
[2]
"Arena rules mean Idol has lots of upkeep skills. Penalty for joining with them active."
"Then her one usable skill is...."
Won Da-hye listened to the Association President, careful not to leak boss intel.
Sadako and Adelheid guessed Wakamo's pick.
The Idol's identity, her everything: Idol's Body.
That'd leave Wakamo Inarizushi basically skill-less, right?
[1]
"But she can see [mana] with her eyes. Even top Wizards cast magic sans skills when blocked."
"Not bragging now, are you?"
"Haha! Cute miss. Top 10 takes effort—you know that. If blocked, you carry a [sword] for counters, no?"
"Nailed it, kiddo."
"Tch."
Sadako pursed her lips, unable to retort to the Association President and her dad's points.
She had karate, but without shape-shifting matching, it relied on stats—power dropped.
All climbers inevitably faced bad matchups and environments atop the tower.
How well you countered decided your caliber.
[Duel start!!]
'Full throttle from the jump....!!'
Tcheng Hieu gripped his custom gloves tight, deciding instantly.
Head forward, torso leaned precarious, balance teetering.
Signal dropped, top Fighter's punch on Boxer skill tree rocketed out.
Arm vanished past shoulder, soundless strike nailing Wakamo's face from 4 meters.
Impact instant, he boldly closed in.
"Idiot?! It didn't hit!!"
A watching Predator fumed.
Air popped! Dull thud followed, but Wakamo'd tilted her head back at contact.
A Werebeast knew why and countered.
"He knows and closes anyway."
What's the prime range for close-quarters classes?
Fist King praised the guy's wisdom.
Distance meant nothing against Wakamo.
Weaving steps, torso sway left blurry afterimages as Tcheng closed, punch firing.
Pull arm in, thrust out—too fast to track.
Even climbers saw wind-ripping whooshes, shockwaves from air punches.
Missed punches exploded visibly, blast-force power.
So a direct hit...?
'Damn, no hit sensation at all...!!'
At hugging range, relentlessly punching Tcheng sweated cold.
Overwhelming with his best speed, sure—but misses were pointless.
Soon, mana condensed, warping scenery.
Fist ballooned boulder-sized, flying; Tcheng stepped.
Emperor Slip activated, dodging Wakamo's barrage entirely.
Hips, shoulders, head shifts spawned mirage illusions—skill effect: [100% evasion]!!
Reacting spinal-reflex to Wakamo's shoulder twitches and intent, his punch landed.
Heavy gut shot thudded like striking a cliff, not Wakamo—image flashed.
Heavy, unshakable.
Like pounding a 1,000-year oak; alarm bells rang, back arched big.
Soft Sway cast, punch whizzed past eyes.
Wakamo's roundhouse followed, but he ignored, thrusting fist.
Ghost-like kick phased through Tcheng.
Post-evasion i-frame synced with lethal sure-hit strike!
"【Atomic Punch】─!!"
Near-instant-kill haymaker sank into Wakamo's chest.
Fist-flash erupted, screen-shaking shock.
"[Machine Gun Jab]!"
No pause, hundreds of hyper-speed punches per second hammered nonstop.
Dust cloud hid Wakamo, but he pounded like a wall.
And—like a real one—drums boomed loud.
"Uoooooh!!! [Strong Boy]!!"
Gloves glowed, morphed to wraps, bare fists out.
"Boxer sheds signature gloves!! Hey, holy swordsman! That skill line!!"
"Strongest punch power of any class: Boxer. Unarmed terror incarnate, living assassin...!"
Excited Predator Penthesilea couldn't sit still.
Holy Swordsman Alexander knew gear-liberation skills well.
A Boxer baring fists especially... meant killing intent!!
Barrages now leagues beyond prior speed/power, flashing as they poured.
So bright, civilians winced in pain.
"Huup...!"
Tcheng Rolled desperately, spinning out of dust, dodging fists, creating distance.
"What? That just now...?"
Emerging unscathed: Wakamo Inarizushi, no marks.
"No way...."
Tanked it all without a scratch?
Horrified civilians buzzed.
'Hits landed. If recovery skill, no-breather pressure.'
But climbers, especially foes, were elite.
Skill-blind on Idol's Body, he analyzed fast, charged again.
Ghost Step split him to seven illusions, blinding rush!
Couldn't articulate, but felt her closed eyes piercing.
He turned her analysis gaze against her—tactic worked.
Seven clones closed; Wakamo's kicks/punches shredded them.
"Bare-knuckle last Heavyweight Champ John L. Sullivan said: 'Kid, Boxing Heavyweight Champ means the strongest man on Earth.'"
"Did he...?"
Tcheng kept razor distance from Wakamo casually blocking his charge.
Flicker jabs harassed from no-touch range.
Hers missed; his extended like elastic arms, precise.
"[Glare Straight]!!"
Shoulder-thrown laser pierced Wakamo Inarizushi.
Ace boldly unleashed, going all-in.
"[Slaughter Body Blow]!!"
'Blocking's pointless! Overwhelm!'
Save cards if not ending it, but he went aggressive.
Body blow flowed seamless to left hook, stiffening Wakamo.
Preceding fist dodged via mobile Duke, closing.
Chest grazed head; all power upward to skull like ascension—Tcheng rocketed fist.
Pre-impact, he hurled back like fleeing flames.
"Too bad, only boxer I know's the cute bakery dog."
"What...!!"
Parry countered incoming fist's gap, planted his.
Ignored chop, parry again, hooked armpit.
Knee to chest—Away slipped out, 20/sec face stabs—Tcheng.
Sounded like one blast, insanely fast.
Breath-mixing range intense slugfest—or one-sided, Tcheng attacking.
"Hahk.... Hahk.... Nghhh....."
Five minutes evasion, parry, endless counters hammered—Tcheng staggered.
Bloody hands trembled.
"Yubi yubi."
Wakamo Inarizushi, never once hitting back, pristine.
Her casual smile nearly broke his will.
But really just acting chill.
Honestly, Wakamo'd figured 8th place wasn't big deal.
──Way stronger than expected.
Idol's Body alone, but who'd think zero hits?
Yet stamina-drained Tcheng ate a jab to the face.
"...No... way...!!"
Unbelieving, more punches—but Wakamo upper-body weaved easy.
Tcheng's breath roughened watching.
"—Like this?"
KABOOM—!!
Tcheng spun dozens revolutions in place like truck-hit, crashed headfirst limp.
Blood-pouring grit popped him up, mad eyes charged—but fist missed.
Disbelieving, his breath stopped.
Her casual swat: his own parry, shown countless times blocking her.
"Lariat Express!!"
"Huo!?"
Full arm-swing clotheslined Tcheng.
Charging Wakamo smashed him into far-field bedrock.
Massive crater caved; bedrock crumbled roaring.
"Ah... demon..."
A climber shuddered in terror.
She could've dropped him anytime, but crushed hope too.
Vietnam climbers turned away, pained by the Idol's brutal style.
──Actually, a bad habit from the tower caused it.
Seeing foe attacks sparked "Can I use that?"—if mimicable, she'd observe.
"[Boxing]'s learnable by anyone...."
Plus boxing, so extra easy—Fist King shook head.
Hoped watching Tcheng's pressure, but result tragic.
Some Diamond League climbers considered forfeiting.
Tcheng Hieu wasn't weak.
"This... is the world strongest....!!"
And his loss wasn't meaningless.
Higher walls bred more fighting spirit.
Climbers who'd worried "what if overhyped?" now grinned.
Even after Wakamo's uploaded fight vids, they hid no "wanna fight!" urge.
"—Arena's fulfilling its role well."
A watching Mediator in the arena praised Wakamo's match.
Climbers eventually need fight venues.
Black Tower or now Tower—climbers looked same.
"So, what's your true nature, Idol?"
Tower innards' monsters had classes too.
Some mimicked Legendaries.
But....
Higher floors, most overwhelmingly common class: Idol.
When would climbers learn that truth?
Mediator hoped it'd reveal Wakamo Inarizushi's red pill too.
A VTuber mystery incarnate!!
More enigmatic being exist?
"....."
Watching duels, Mediator lost words.
"Photon Force Beam, Getter Beam, True Zero Beam!! Breast Fire!!"
"Iyeeeek!!"
KABOOM— KABOOM—
Spartan rolled dodging eye-lasers from giant bear to survive.
──Bear monsters shot beams sometimes!!
But chest half-moon tattoo heat beams...?
Mediator didn't mem all tower monsters, but recalled one.
"Stona Sunshine!!!"
"Graaaah!!"
Won Da-hye hoisted massive fireball, smashing down on Spartan.
Crowd silenced by grotesque sight—forgot Wakamo's terror.
Bear-like, but no bear fights like that.
Probably....
"Kueng kueng kueeeng."
Mouth-gripping, head-shaking to crush Spartan—Predator paled, eyes shut.
Not even a skill—just yelling technique names!!
What madman...!!
"Fight till you shatter, Adelheid!!! Doesn't hurt!! There, belly gentle. See, over quick."
Artisan puppeteering self-doll and chisel, turning Shooter bullets in flesh to art.
"Navy Karate Secret!! Gomu Gomu Meigo Ice Age 100 Million Volt Discharge Crow's White Blow!!!"
"Not karate!!"
Wizard overwhelming with grotesque non-karate "karate."
Eyewitness Mediator got headache.
※
"So Asuka wants to invite everyone to Jotopia. Selfish to hog humanity's crap alone."
"Uh, can't you format or something?"
"Then memories with Jong-il vanish too."
"Who's Jong-il?! Who's that?!"
Grumbling, Yu Ing prepped Inarinoa—fox den shop.
Meanwhile, Asuka blocked her renaming card packs to [Yu Ing King].
"Gotta grab one dakimakura. Employee welfare."
"?? Ain't big ones home?"
Next, shelving merch, Yu Ing snagged Wakamo Inarizushi dakimakura.
Asuka pointed out nine on her bed; Yu Ing ignored.
Russia's Tower Lord, hearing Italy's arena, bubbled about card game events too.
"Card games risky as life-or-death real duels?"
"Make it real Shadow Duel?"
"No Russian ideas."
Tower Lord grinned, budget fat from Korean tower's [cost] haul.
"—Always wondered. What's cost exactly?"
"Human history, soul-spawned energy?
──Dunno honestly."
"Hah?"
"Mediators know? Climbers produce lots climbing. Makes resources. Our duty."
Died climbing or tower-collapse monsters killed—both yielded, Tower Lord said.
Low efficiency aside.
Yu Ing baffled—so disinterested...?
Inhuman, sure, but unsettling?
Glaring pitifully at Tower Lord tipping "destroy towers for coins if bored, few ain't issue."
Shop opened; customer entered, eyeing Yu Ing ominous.
Creepy gaze, unease, instinct alarm.
"עִיר?"
Ancient Hebrew for Guardian, tossed casual.
Word Wakamo learned from Black Tower suspects.
Customer flinched; Asuka raised gun.
"Freeze! Robot detective, Deckard!"
Instant flee; dual pistols fired—grazed nothing.
"Hey."
"Hit rate 1.09%. Rest 98.91% my human side maybe..."
Even Wakamo'd hit point-blank(?), right??
"Human skin suit? Chase? Annoying."
TCG shop duty, yet always tangled in this—Yu Ing wondered why.
Rough fate?
"How'd it enter?"
"No restrictions? How many?"
"—Felt killing intent from word: about 7."
Tower Lord, hearing Yu Ing, pulled megaphone: grab 'em, ask entry.
《Ahem, mic test. Eight [Guardians] in tower now. One presumed [ancient human]—bring 'em, get tower coins.》
Desire always moved folk!
Crowds surged.
With climbers mobbed in Italy, ominous happenings brewed.
"Speaking of, Robert said [ancient humans] boost virility..."
Bad stuff for ancient humans....
《[Ancient humans] great potion mats for virility too. Custom brews available.》
Asuka thumbs-upped silent.
Humanity's specialty time!!
Other-species extinction...!!
Self-exempt ladder-climbers charge!!