Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: The Cost Lending Scheme
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"Huaaah... I'm melting, melting... How is this 【Tower Lord】 so different, I wonder..."
The Mediator lounged in the hot springs of the Russian Tower, grumbling to herself.
The moment she arrived, they welcomed her with a "Welcome!" and handed over a special discount VVIP card right away. The attitude was completely different from the start.
"Special treatment feels unfair, but... that's just how the world works."
It wasn't all that strange for Towers to bribe the Mediator in hopes of currying favor.
Each Tower had its own ego and characteristics based on the land it stood upon, so it was actually more surprising that they hadn't been bribing her until now.
"Anyway, the more I think about it, the more absurd it gets."
The Mediator didn't pay much attention to climbers' personal details.
As someone who maintained balance, she imposed rules on herself and was careful not to cross any lines.
She was always wary of the [American Tower], but the [Vatican Tower] had truly been unexpected.
It had been an elite truly fulfilling its duties as a Tower, purely creating Companions, Saints, and Champions.
In any case, after that incident, she had checked information on Wakamo Inarizushi through the [Korean Tower].
The Korean government had already thoroughly erased all records, and the Korean Tower had simply written [Wakamo Inarizushi] in the spot for the climber's real name.
Knowing her real name when no one else in the world did felt like it would ward off any curses.
And amid all that, the most mind-blowing part was definitely the Idol (VTuber).
The Korean Tower had hammered away at it with some basic framework, determined to make one, only to produce the world's most trash-tier product.
No... even so... there should be some fairness in professions or at least some balance, but to the Mediator, this was excessively defective-class.
Even [Maids] had skills like [Knife Throw x1000], yet this Idol had nothing of the sort.
Her combat style was just cranking up output with overwhelming mana, burning lifespan to smash down on foes.
Straightening her dizzy head, the Mediator continued reading Wakamo's info, groaning at records starting from taking down 12 gangsters single-handedly, beating up school bullies during her student days, and even thrashing her worthless squad leader in the military—a terrifying history.
Was she a born fighter, or more beast than human?
'The red pill for VTubers is taboo, though. I must never speak of it, even on my deathbed.'
She might flip a rage switch and transform into some super ultra Idol God Wakamo, so the Mediator decided to bury it forever.
"Even thinking about it again, I can't believe it."
She wasn't born of some special bloodline, wasn't an alien, hadn't regressed from the distant future or reincarnated from another world.
She had checked because of the [Vatican Tower]'s incident, wondering if the [Korean Tower] had really brought over an Idol or something sealed away somewhere—but before becoming a climber, she had been an utterly ordinary civilian!!
Who would believe that a plain otaku living a hobby-filled life with zero interest in Towers or climbers was the truth?
Even the Mediator had suspected the Korean Tower of smuggling or hiding something, so she did her own background check.
Yeah, the Korean Tower lacked the brains for manipulation or concealment.
When asked to bring it, the Tower just grinned like an idiot and handed it over—no brains for scheming there.
Its own climber had no stats, and apparently neither did the Tower...
Shouldn't it invest in itself using [Cost]?
"Anyway, I'll be idle for a while... Might as well stay in the Russian Tower, pay back the loan, and earn some Tower Coins?"
Tower structures favored latecomers with better treatment.
Leading climbers had so few ways to earn Tower Coins that they groaned in frustration.
The [Korean Tower] had given a ton to let her vent stress freely, but it was too much for the Mediator alone.
And with VVIP discounts on top, she could splurge freely.
"...But I feel like I'm forgetting something? Hmm..."
Sipping sake in the hot springs while munching delicious food, the Mediator shrugged it off.
...
...
"So, what do we need first to optimize a 【Legendary Class】's performance?"
[The Korean Tower says it needs a ton of Cost!!]
"Right, so we gotta... make money!!"
["Uh, should I join in too?"]
The Russian Tower Lord blinked anxiously, glancing back and forth between Inari Fox Goddess and Wakamo.
The moment the Mediator said she was heading to the Russian Tower, Wakamo ordered the Tower Lord to give her a VVIP discount ticket immediately.
Thanks to that, the Tower Lord—who was facing massive losses—was sniffling about real-time damages.
But Wakamo convinced her with a wicked grin, saying she had a demonic way to completely reverse the situation.
Yes—the Tower Lord had complaints, but lacking confidence to win a fight, she listened for now.
"Okay, first off, the recent update added [Towers that ignore restrictions and permit entry]. As you see, they're in small nations with low populations or places where climbers lack the leeway to climb due to circumstances, or collapsed Towers.──Surprisingly, they all share one thing in common. Does anyone know the answer?"
"The countries are poor?"
"That's true too, but no. Nya-peng! Any other guesses?"
["Uh— no climbers?"]
"Exactly!! Damn it, Nya-shik!! Your purr-fectly a-sum answer just ripped my shirt!"
Did she need to rip her top? The Russian Tower Lord clamped her mouth shut.
Inari Fox Goddess furrowed her brows, signaling to move those tits aside.
"Okay, why no climbers? Because the environment prevents the Tower from creating them!! They need external climbers!! Cost is required to make climbers!! That's why this vicious cycle happens!"
[The Korean Tower is shocked at how smart that is!]
'More than that, how does Wakamo Master know Tower biology so well when she's not even a Tower Lord?'
Inari Fox Goddess listened intently as Japan's representative, but she was genuinely puzzled why this non-Tower Lord knew so much.
Climbers were simultaneously the absolute bottom rung.
But as a pro at nurturing, 【Idol】 Wakamo proposed a massive 【Project】 on the whiteboard, claiming she'd found the right expert.
"Planning well is what VTubers do!!! Listen up! Fun planning = more viewers = more revenue!! All the world's problems can be solved by inserting VTubers!! It's the invincible, omnipotent, miraculous theory!!"
Step one: Lend the massive [Cost] hoard the [Korean Tower] had to other Towers.
In exchange, the [East Asian Federation] climbers would gain entry permissions to those Towers—that was the [Korean Tower]'s job.
Here, Wakamo firmly stated they couldn't just lend Cost for free.
"Towers with many climbers get high interest, those with few get low interest."
[The Korean Tower worries if that'll cause losses.]
"Right, they might not borrow."
"That's why we offer an opening discount on interest. Give weak Towers zero-interest loans!! Convince them: Make lots of [climbers] and pay back quick!! Of course, account for climbers defecting elsewhere, but that's the borrowing Tower's problem."
Towers couldn't avoid repayment by structure!! If interest piled up to bankruptcy, Wakamo whispered she could use them as Japan's subordinates.
"Ehehehit... Master! What should I do?!"
Wakamo ordered the eagerly grinning Inari Fox Goddess—with her foxy smile—to wait, saying even good ideas fail if rushed.
"Just make them think they'll lose out if they don't borrow now. Once they borrow, make climbers, start earning Cost, then they'll worry. 'Maybe borrow more?' That's where the Russian Tower comes in."
["Me?"]
"Hire climbers who want Tower Coins to sell goods. Charge more including shipping. Climbers will start coming directly to buy, right?"
["Y-Yeah... probably."]
"With more climber visits, start 【Tower Coin】 loans."
If Towers borrowed [Cost] from the Korean Tower, climbers borrowed [Tower Coins] from the Korean Tower.
It was a mad tactic only the hoarding Korean Tower could pull.
"Adjust interest based purely on climb progress. More floors climbed means lower interest. Why? Leaders struggle to earn 【Tower Coins】 even resetting due to high difficulty. As you'll see, upper climbers do side gigs for coins instead of climbing, parking themselves."
[The Korean Tower is startled looking at the graph!]
["Oh—yeah? Can't climb, so they source coins elsewhere."]
"Lots want 【Partners】 too. Add features with enough Cost, right?"
Wakamo told the Russian Tower Lord to borrow [Cost] in front of the others.
Already losing money, the Tower Lord was puzzled even at zero interest, but it highlighted the Korean Tower's Cost abundance. Seeing someone borrow first sparks desire.
"Add [Golem] types with robot vibes. Sell [Mounts] separately too. Mobility lacked against angels before, right? Towers need more gimmicks too. Use borrowed Cost for that."
["Repayment...?"]
"Open a shop in the Russian Tower lending 【Tower Coins】. Key is—you promote: 'Borrow Tower Coins to gear Partners, Mounts, equipment, and climb!' Finally, the most important part:"
──Ban purchasing [Adult Mode] unlocks with loaned Tower Coins.
The Russian Tower Lord gasped at Wakamo's words.
Men and women alike made Partners for that purpose(?), so wasn't this tricking loaners...?!
Wakamo was shameless. Just write in the contract: Certain items can't be bought with loaned coins.
She devilishly laughed that no one reads fine print these days.
"Unfairness!! Hard climbers feel left behind...!! They need rewards, Tower Lord.... Lend at zero interest too. That's how they climb, right? Never make customers feel unfair. Our East Asian Federation Towers must be beloved. Especially to make money!!"
Don't forget to list 【Babel Fragment】 as purchase-banned.
If asked, just show the long list—that was the bonus advice.
"There's even a casino for Tower Coin gambling? Totally insane...! Why do it...? Pure path to ruin... gambling!!"
But ultimately, climbers needed 【Tower Coins】.
If they could climb other nations' Towers, they'd scout and go.
At this point, Wakamo told Inari Fox Goddess it was time to train climbers.
"Japan builds 30-50 floor Towers from now on. 100-floor ones are too daunting. Low floors are easy, and once攻略ed, restrictions lift—climb another."
Difficulty scaling was the same, but with Wakamo making climbers nonstop, more Towers were better.
To climb fast, hit a wall, need a teammate for climbing—whatever, 【Tower Coins】 loans were inevitable.
"We take Cost from climbers climbing Towers, and Tower Coins from those climbing...!!"
Truly diabolical...!!
The Russian Tower Lord slightly wet herself...!!
Money breeding money. Wakamo devilishly laughed that the world worked that way.
Remembering the Korean Tower was run by a stock trader made sense, but she didn't mention it.
"We give generously. Kings don't fight losing battles. Russian Tower Lord... you're still green. Make Towers and climbers reach out first!!"
Lend Cost to Towers to spawn climbers, who gain entry perms and visit to climb.
Where would they spend earned Tower Coins? Russian Tower—biggest and most famous.
Planning massive expansion with Korean [Cost] loans left no competition.
Unlock 【Tower Coin Loans】 then? Climbers would flock.
Upper climbers get bulk earning; lowers get early advantages.
Japan spawns 30-50 floor easy Towers for casual climbs.
If攻略ed first, just hop to another—restrictions lift.
Scaling by floors but more by攻略, so easier here.
"Give Towers growth chances, climbers inequality fixes. We never force loans. Sit nobly—that's it. Korean Tower knows, right?"
Was any Tower as desperate as Korean?
Wakamo whispered to look at herself—the joy, relief, thrill of picking that climber.
Pushing other Towers lightly while making climbers: one might be a Wakamo.
Near-death agony to life reversal—how sweet?
Korean Tower knew best, grinning ear to ear.
Wakamo showed Russian Tower Lord minimal-interest profits; she smirked in relief at being first pick.
Japan Tower laughed imagining squeezing bankrupt Towers.
["Vatican Tower is such idiots. One good climber nets more than 11 years of enduring. Insane!!"]
"But what about the Chinese Tower?"
"Not my problem?"
"Fair enough..."
Thus began the Cost & Tower Coin lending business.
Towers initially scoffed "What's this?", but seeing Russian Tower borrow massively for commerce expansion on "opening event," some borrowed to nurture climbers.
Korean Tower pushed contracts with innocent smiles, headlined [You too might get a Wakamo Inarizushi]──not planning to kill them all, rates weren't high.
Still, Korean Tower profited most.
Wakamo's followers got alerts for free entry to other Towers—puzzled but happy, they went.
"Kraaaah!!! Unlock breeding already!!!"
"Finally got my Partner!!"
"Selling ghost horse? For real? Can't hold back."
"Kyaa, Golem robot skins are nuts."
"Sob sob... Tower Coins so hard to earn, thought Partner forever out of reach... this chance..."
Tower Coin loans had complaints, but early Partner buyers were mostly laggards.
Leaders were grateful even to buy Partners.
Unfair? Sure, but everything else purchasable—complaints died quick.
Russian Tower Lord built mining, monster-hunting spots for earning coins.
Climbers slaved to repay loans produced [Cost]; her smile reached her ears naturally.
And some boldly hit the casino.
Jackpot winners cheered; moths-to-flame climbers flocked.
"They're breaking, truly breaking—why do it? Path to ruin... gambling!"
Sipping wine overlooking pitiful climbers, Wakamo shook her head sympathetically.
Instead of steady climbing for coins, gambling...?
Loans thoughtfully designed for growth: lowers repay quick post-climb, uppers if not overdoing.
Leaders hated no coins, so this vented that—Wakamo's idea.
She'd suffered too; didn't want believers hurting.
Added request: More coin-earning for tough climbers.
"But how do bankrupt climbers get managed?"
Japan Tower would handle; discussed with Russian.
Eh, they'll figure it out—Wakamo moved on.
...
......
Snapping to...
I'm in hell...!
Unknown... underground depths...
A forced labor camp infested with bankrupted climbers...
Tower Coin-overloaned failures swarmed the underground labor site.
They became pitiful wretches doing menial tasks.
From item sorting to simple material processing—basic labor helping [Russian Tower] produce items faster.
Some wept, never dreaming post-climber life as warehouse drones.
Normal climbers earned via 1F part-time or Wakamo Land extras.
At least with job freedom, no coercion.
This was Japan Tower's underground labor camp.
Not just forced bankrupts—voluntary workers too.
Treatment differed hugely—but pay was fair, equal in a way?
No interest accrual during forced underground labor was the one perk; no outings for slaves(?).
[Tower climbing] still allowed; rest times for training to repay and escape.
In a way, anti-gambling therapy spot.
Three meals, hot springs, training room—luxurious camp even had a convenience store.
Sold everything... but only for 【Tower Coins】!! Fatal flaw!!
Temptation trap in a place for honest labor and climbing escape.
There, the Mediator—sans helmet—gulped cool canned beer.
"Kya! Beer after labor hits different~"
VVIP perks included luxury private room; all store items free!!
Watchers couldn't resist, tearfully shopping as she snacked gleefully.
Why free for her?
She had massive loaned Tower Coins from Korean Tower!!
Zero interest, leisurely repay—but she worked to do so.
VVIP luxury room merely in the labor camp.
Yeah, she wasn't really laboring.
She induced spendy behavior in slave-labor climbers—sales tactic!
P.S. Korean Tower suggested the store.
Like Tower, like climber.
...
...
Having shipped the [Mediator] to labor camp(?), Wakamo schemed with Korean Tower.
"Korean Tower, got a great idea."
[What now, Wakamo?]
"No Mediator to stop us—let's free-load the Legendary Class."
Not changing jobs anyway.
Wakamo racked her brain again.
Wanted to promo TCG shop; make class using related [Cards].
Mana-as-currency summoning combat like a summoner.
Key: Used cards vanish.
Exclusive items: Packs holding used cards, Pokedex boosting stats with collections.
[Where get cards if used ones vanish?]
"Buy card packs with Tower Coins."
Devilish words...!!
Even Korean Tower shuddered...!!
"Card contents: Rip off global TCGs."
[Korean Tower asks if that's okay.]
"Only one user—who complains?"
Yeah, who?
Legendary Class solo; who to complain to?
Arbitrary justice enforced by overwhelming violence proves conviction.
Power—martial or authority—nails your justice.
Jealous? Come at me, human.
Wakamo Inarizushi: Duels (real fights) welcome anytime.
Class performance solid.
Just needs lots of Tower Coins.
Decks cost big anyway?
Korean Tower offers loans!!
"Hold card game tourney; let winner job-change."
[Korean Tower agrees: Fucking genius idea.]
"Synergy? Buy exclusive items with Tower Coins too."
[Brilliant, laughs.]
"Climb rewards: Skills and card packs."
[Will build with 70% reward skim.]
"Shop packs for common; Legendary separate. Make UR rare for Legendary. Gotta grind climbs to earn, right? Normies collect too—super lucky☆"
[Themes diverse; smells money.]
Wakamo and Korean Tower cackled, prepping the class.
Others buyable, but UR grade!!
Blind spot: Includes VTuber cards; Wakamo never said no.
...
...
"Feel like forgetting something..."
Pickaxe swinging at ore, Mediator pondered, stroking chin.
But nothing surfaced; back to work.
Dreaming of post-shift eats, worked till exhaustion.
Alcohol soaking in feels great...!!
"Russian Tower's the best~"
Yummy food, drinks, fun spots galore.
Save leisurely, buy Partner and Mount~
The [Mediator] chugged cool booze flauntingly before slave(?) eyes.