Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Fox God VTuber Climbing the Tower
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A short, shameful time passed.
Wakamo checked the info on the 11th floor.
—It was different from the Incheon Tower information she'd received.
Forced matching like this wasn't unheard of, but not from such a low floor!
[Climbing Incheon Tower 11th Floor World]
-The tower doesn't have to be climbed solo.
-You'll be matched with suitable climbers who meet the climber's conditions.
-If you're short on power, team up!
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-Get friendly with [Non-Combat Job] companions (0/2)
-Become friends with [Non-Combat Job] companions (0/2)
-Team up with [Non-Combat Jobs] to take down [Burning Monster Tree] (0/1)
Had she ever seen such a tough condition in her life?
Compared to everything she'd seen so far, this was brutally hard.
Making friends wasn't tough. She could just claim her followers were her friends!!
But getting close to strangers and becoming friends?
On top of that, she could sense the other person was wary of her. Worried eyes, but hand on the hilt at her waist, like she didn't think Wakamo was a floor monster.
From Wakamo's view, it just looked like the tower was suddenly trying to kill climbers.
What's the difference between this and suddenly forcing her to team up with a friend?!
And look at them forcing [Non-Combat Jobs] together, like "get along from now on." It felt malicious, even if she couldn't pinpoint why.
But more worrying than that—if the tower kept forcing collabs like this with the girl in front of her... or even in the future?
What if the tower just casually matched her as an idol so climbers could worship her?
She hated to imagine that plot twist...
Her plan to delight followers with "perfect clear floors" from the start felt like it was getting dragged through the mud.
Some pink-haired lewd VTuber girl did her own cosplay and showed the real thing. Wakamo could push in like that and pivot—but no, she didn't want to.
She wanted to be a VTuber who hid the red pill(!?). This time, the Climbers' Association helped take down the red pill video, but it was still floating around overseas.
Okay, that couldn't be helped!
But the tower's forced collabs? No thanks. So she just needed a teammate.
Which meant turning this girl into a VTuber.
Only one answer.
Wakamo decided to kidnap the beauty.
No choice. The tower threatened her VTuber.
She activated Skill [My Worlds] to open a portal, yanked her in, dragged her to the room, and shut the door. Even this movement counted as being inside the tower—perks of a [Spatial] skill!!
Despite being kidnapped by a massive fox monster(?), Wakamo worried she'd freak out and thrash. But the girl stayed calm.
Except, at just 17 years old, Wakamo herself panicked!!
"Waaang."
While Wakamo agonized, the girl blinked around curiously, checking out the house.
Full options as advertised: fridge, microwave, and now a proper bathroom and toilet. No windows meant ventilation worries... but they said electricity came from Wakamo's mana. They probably didn't explain, but water did too.
Since it was just electricity, maybe that's all the tower mentioned.
Wakamo politely pulled out a chair for the girl wandering the kitchen and asked her to sit at the table.
"I lost my cool for a sec... but let's do a VTuber interview. Pass, and I'll give you top-tier treatment(??)."
She still seemed excited, mind blown. But instead of freaking out at Wakamo, the girl acted like she was visiting a friend's house. Tower's pick? After a moment's thought, she spoke.
"Can I, go grab my stuff real quick?"
So cute. Her short-tongued voice popped with energy, covering the lisp perfectly.
This girl had VTuber talent...!!
Maybe the tower introduced her to save this tragic climber's life as a VTuber?! (No.)
While agonizing, Wakamo considered the girl bolting through the portal.
She didn't follow. But maybe that built trust, like she was listening and considerate? Soon the girl dragged back a bag as big as herself, plopped down on it, and smiled at Wakamo like all worries were gone.
"I'm Liu Ying."
Introducing herself. Wakamo thought Korean, but nope—Chinese.
Climbers had no language barriers. Hard to tell East Asians(?) apart visually.
Only then did Wakamo suspect her identity. Vague guess, but if true, pretty pitiful.
Goggles on her head, overly many bags, police pistol she couldn't use in the tower but carried anyway. Climbers used them, but not gas masks typically. Her clothes and shoes screamed scavenged from trash.
And the clincher for Wakamo's guess: her red eyes.
"Closest to Korea—Beijing survivor?"
"Yeah."
She nodded like no need to hide.
Like Korea, China suffered tower collapses. They attacked the one in the capital, collapsing it—but that led to monsters bursting out.
Worst, plant-types spewing spores and weird powders, turning the country to wasteland overnight.
True to its surveillance state, harsh climber regs, forced drafts common. Climbers rebelled, went guerrilla.
The Korean terror culprit [Collector] was Chinese too.
No need to say how many died in Beijing's collapse 10 years ago with the towers.
Liu Ying survived that disaster at just 7. Why was a kid like that so obedient?
Even if unusable in tower, she carried that gun for self-defense against climber-hunters or threats outside.
Days scraping by alone in monster-overrun city—thinking of it almost brought tears. But questions first.
"I kidnapped you, so me asking... why so docile...?"
"Tower recommended it? I, work good."
Her cute plea not to abandon her hit like a crit. Talent... demonic talent!!
Couldn't hire on spot, so Wakamo heard her out. First, she promised VTuber employment. Didn't know what, but Liu Ying was more worn out than thought. That's why she took the tower's mystery offer.
—People like her were called 【Tower Collapse Victims】.
Lost parents, kids, irreversibly scarred by towers.
Global refugee crisis, still unmanaged.
Liu Ying barely survived at 7.
She struggled through the collapse. Red eyes from monster pollution—bad vision, she said.
But she awakened as a climber at 7.
Shock at 1st-gen climber aside, no parents meant quick adaptation: tower for clean water, ruins for supplies, reset stats to hop towers, even to North Korea.
North Korea? Long gone. Just say they shelled the tower.
Feared forced draft as climber in China.
Smart kid, over 10 years she reached Seoul area, entered [Incheon Tower], stopped at 10th floor for survival and job limits, lived in ruined city—till tower invite.
[Meet an idol who can change your life?]
Couldn't live like that forever.
So she accepted, met Wakamo.
Wakamo's conclusion?
Tower didn't troll her—it carefully matched thoughtfully.
Tower's gentle pat... complicated feelings.
"...Work with me as VTuber... three meals, all broadcast earnings, idol debut support. I'll handle your whole life!! Talk to Association for ID!!"
"Real? Then Liu Ying call you President?"
"Wanna be VTuber?"
"Yup."
Tricked the whatever-it-takes girl into signing the VTuber contract. Hiring minor illegal immigrant was straight-up scam territory, but Wakamo saw star potential.
If busted, tower's fault.
"Hope manager doesn't rage..."
Seoul lawless zone meant tons of illegal [Incheon Tower] climbers. Non-citizen, her name on records? Could be wanted.
"Ask for quick 2D live model... get yelled at?"
But Wakamo didn't care!! Her kid wants to VTuber—priorities?!
Street-picking VTuber mom(?) had no brakes.
"From now on, publicly on stream: 'Hajime Ichigo' alias."
"Yes, Liu Ying. Listen to President good."
"Sit at computer. This is clicking."
11th floor left hanging, bitter.
Pounded VTuber concept into her, drew temp 2D model. Motion model later, whatever.
Back to 11th, camera up, scooped Ichigo into arms.
Height gap huge. Wakamo 243cm, Liu Ying 156cm!
"Look at camera, say name and age."
"Today debuting Hajime Ichigo desu. President's good listener VTuber. Hello~"
Bowed, waved cutely at camera.
Looks: haughty, androgynous with sexy edge. But speech lispy like chick peep, voice uniquely charming, not grating.
"PIPIPIPIPI. Wakamo Inarizushi followers. Today, collab tower climb with cute new debuting VTuber!!"
Potential issues, so pre-recorded!!
"Excuse recording. Wanted live, but busy!!"
"Sowwy."
Wakamo bowed apology, Ichigo copied eagerly. Motivated eyes overflowed talent.
Yeah, trained that losing horse Hara Ura to champ, right?
Resolved to be ideal VTuber? Now train one, self-reflect, temper self!!
Yeah, master-disciple vibe!!
Fell petals inspired martial arts, right? Wakamo could too.
Studied VTubers hard—got disciple-raising arts!
"Ichigo [Alchemist] job. Hunt good with this."
"Ah...."
Yup, [Non-Combat Job]. Imagining her struggles welled tears again.
Combat job easier... but non-combat let 7yo escape China?
Smart too. Self-taught speech some. No Korean, but learned fast, remembered all.
Thought monster poison or bad meds lisped her... nah, natural. Surprise.
Anyway... [Alchemist] had piss-poor rep, called [Piss-Pants].
Potions great, sure.
But skills need climbs, conditions.
Weapons sometimes, but climbing meant [Attack Skills].
Tower not solo always.
Early climbers bring others to cleared floors for loot. Newbies can only [Tower Exit].
Same-floor parties scale trials by numbers.
Fatal: rewards drop exponentially per extra person.
Unless 『some exploit』.
Tower counts heads on entry.
Ultra-rare [Spatial] hides climbers, joins—no reward drop.
Tower generous on brainy exploits?
But eventually limits.
Hidden climbers don't count for rewards.
Strong escort? Tower ups difficulty to match.
Permanent, even if ditched.
Lost [Spatial] from reset trying that, tragic tale.
Penalty-locked exit, death risk. Class force-changed from [Wizard], nasty backend.
Tower has massive will, people say.
"No recovery skills at all, obviously..."
[Alchemist] needs lots.
Liu Ying's: [Scrap Synthesis], [Extreme Poison Craft], [Lethal Toxicity], [Sturdy Body], [Tough Vitality]. Other 5 floors: materials. Multiple resets, her best build.
[Sweet Flame Throw Bottle]
Rank: Consumable.
Strawberry gum scent.
Thrown: instant ignite, explode.
Sticky contents cling.
[Sweet Flame Potion]
Rank: Consumable.
Honey scent.
Drink: guts and throat burn.
[Chocolate Extreme Poison Potion]
Rank: Consumable.
Chocolate delight.
Drink: muscles melt.
Not chocolate milk.
"With this, hunt good, President."
Dumb-monster killers.
Maxed [Alchemist] improv materials.
Monsters lured by smell, ate, died—don't wanna picture.
"Shall we?"
"Yup."
Left heavy bag home, Ichigo followed to forest. Stride gap huge—one my step, three hers. But hustled close—followers love.
Apocalypse survivor cutie... concept hits!
Followers freak over exploiting minor illegal foreign labor? Later!!
Target: [Burning Monster Tree].
Annoying gimmick type.
Cut roots to open trunk, hit core inside. Combat jobs blast trunk or nuke core.
Tough for poor [Non-Combat] duo.
"President, here!!"
"Hm? What?"
Faint rumble, Ichigo hopped and yelled—but my reaction lagged.
Roots burst soil, snared ankle, yanked hard.
Ichigo panicked, hurled firebomb far.
Bad eyes? Throws great. Survival pro skills?
Hit perfect, shattered, flames spread—camouflaged [Burning Monster Tree] screeched out.
Just smash? But teamwork condition.
Combine power... how? Fuse physically?
Possible? Ichigo survive?
...Die?
Instant—VTuber god flashed inspiration. Broadcast adlib!!
"President?!"
Snatched [Sweet Flame Potion] from waist, chugged. Hot surge from belly. Mana-fueled blaze?
Dodged silent root swipe closing in, shoved Ichigo behind, deep breath.
"Wakamo Fire—!!"
Full blast exhale— whooooosh!! Flame torrent.
[Burning Monster Tree] panicked at flames, halted.
BOOM! Mana-packed blaze exploded, toppled trees, engulfed all.
Meant ninja fire...
"Too hot...?"
Scene: kaiju breaching sea, spewing fire—horror.
Forest ablaze, writhing tree agony.
Soon stilled, collapsed—congrats rang.
[Incheon Tower 11th Floor achieves Platinum—unlocked for all humanity!!]
"President okay? No weird..."
"From cute VTuber, poison fine."
"VTuber big sis...!"
Misunderstanding, but sparkling happy Ichigo? Whatever.
Wakamo's first collab/debut VTuber stream? Solid.
......Need channel rules, but debuting newbie okay?
Fine.
All that—tomorrow Wakamo handles!!