Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Fox's Hunt
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People's evaluation of goblins had changed a lot since the tower's appearance.
A single one or two posed no big problem, but they always came swarming in packs.
They even possessed enough intelligence to coat their weapons in poison or set up traps as strategies.
They were the most unintelligent and weakest humanoid monsters, but their numbers were annoyingly vast.
A combat-class job could kill them in one hit if they landed a proper blow, which was what made goblins goblin-like.
Yet the tower always dropped climbers into pitch-black caves or dense forests whenever they encountered them.
Because they were cunning and clever hunters.
They dug tunnels to hide, hung from trees, camouflaged themselves, and ambushed climbers to slaughter them.
[Tower Exit] was an option, so if you kept your wits about you, you could escape—but if you passed out, you'd be eaten alive or dragged off to suffer something horrific.
Even if you managed to flee alive, their hunting methods were so filthy they left traumas behind.
That was why goblins were one of the most headache-inducing monsters among those that burst out during the tower's collapse.
In fact, the ones outside had learned to fire scavenged guns.
With their small frames and tough stamina, they climbed walls or burrowed tunnels to raid homes.
That was why the believers were worried about Wakamo.
Her size was overwhelmingly huge, visible from anywhere.
An overpowering presence. Being a VTuber made the flashiness inevitable(?), but in response to her believers' worries, she spouted something ridiculous.
"Believers, take note. VTubers don't exist in reality!!"
They wondered what nonsense this was, but who didn't know that? Everyone played along with the setting, enjoying the stream with haha's and hoho's.
Some believers teased, *No, but you're a VTuber and you exist in reality, don't you?*
-What? What's happening??
-???? Is this some kind of spell????
-W-What skill? Like a thief skill?
-[Log] mentioned something like this skill exists...
-Isn't this the potion Ichigo made?
-Ichigo can only make poison.
They were watching the tower's interior through the screen but couldn't understand what was happening. Wakamo had clamped her mouth shut in silence, so the believers could only stare at the camera filming empty air.
The camera began capturing elite monsters—goblins evolved from ordinary packs, now even more heavily armed, prowling the forest.
From crude crossbows to spear-wielding goblins, there were even goblin riders mounted on wolves. With shields and leather armor equipped, the believers whispered that the elite title wasn't for nothing.
"Kieek, kiruk."
Three goblins, perhaps on patrol, rustled through grass as tall as themselves, moving through the forest.
More tense than usual due to an eerily ominous vibe today, they perked their ears, walking their set patrol route with a companion, meticulously checking traps for catches.
Puhwak—!
"Kyeak! Kieeak!"
"Kiruk kiruk!!"
Two goblins drew poison-coated daggers at the trap's activation sound and rushed toward it.
Excited that a trap had sprung on their path, they arrived to see their fellow patrol goblin impaled on spikes, dead in a gruesome scene.
"Kyeak?"
"Kyuuk?"
Had it tripped, or missed the trap's location?
But one goblin, seeing its kin's terrified death face, felt an ill omen.
The unusually silent forest felt artificially manipulated, impossible to shake off. As it tried to tell its companion to head back to the village, its eyes met the back of its companion's head—which was facing it.
*What's behind you?* it thought, peeking over the shoulder.
Then it realized the head was twisted around, not just looking back. Too late, it tried to blow the neck whistle.
Puuk—!!
The rotated-head companion's hand moved, piercing the goblin's throat precisely.
"Kik, kieek..?"
With a deflating wheeze, it couldn't comprehend why its kin attacked.
No, before that—how did it even move? Fumbling the stabbed blade in confusion, the goblin rolled its eyes back with leaking air and collapsed.
In an instant, the three patrol goblins were dead.
The camera showed a horror movie scene; viewers hesitated to even chat, gauging the mood.
Just... with a sense of déjà vu.
And a growing fear that the chief's promised *『Fox's Hunting Method』* was seriously, deeply wrong.
Unaware, dark clouds loomed over the goblins.
Rustle rustle.
A goblin guarding the village entrance aimed its weapon at the grass noise—but laughed *kiruk* at the rabbit that hopped out.
"Kyeak! Kyeak!"
It elbowed its fellow sentry's side, pointing at the dumb-faced rabbit staring at them. Thrilled at fresh meat, the companion hurled its spear.
The rabbit dodged the whistling spear, fleeing behind a tree; the two guards chased to catch and eat it, neglecting the entrance.
"Kiiik!"
Mid-chase, it glanced back mockingly at its companion tripping—then rounded the tree hunting the hidden rabbit.
And locked eyes with the fallen goblin on the ground.
Seeing its rolling head, the goblin froze, realizing something was wrong.
Bwoong—
It couldn't scream.
The goblin floated into the air involuntarily, thrashing as if grabbed by something.
On the believers' screens: the goblin's kicking legs... the vivid desperation hit home.
And soon.
Crack.
With a breaking sound, the limp legs vanished upward from the screen.
Still, nothing else appeared.
"Kyeak! Kieeak!"
"Kiruk kiruk!!"
"Kyeak! Kyeak!"
Goblin cries echoed, and three more burst from the grass.
The patrol goblins naturally walked into the village depths.
Holding hands, stuck together like one mass.
Goblins rushed out at the massive beast corpse they dragged.
In that moment, every goblin in the village gathered in one spot.
Then, the believers' screens dimmed—likely a brightness protection setting—as intense flash exploded inward.
Without it, the focused viewers would've gone blind.
The poor goblins clutched their eyes, writhing in agony.
The patrol goblins had vanished.
In their place, like heat haze, lifting fog, a mirage—Wakamo appeared, charging like a beast.
Her motion stretched long like afterimages; goblins tumbled dead in seconds.
"Didn't get spotted, right?"
No believers dared reply hastily to Wakamo's casual smile. They were busy trying to comprehend.
With her "Let's start" words, Wakamo's form vanished.
No—*went transparent* fit better?
They thought the camera filmed scenery, but it showed Wakamo to believers.
She conjured a non-existent *『Rabbit』* to lure goblins.
Revived the three dead scouts to walk.
"Believers. This is how you hunt."
-Yeah... got it....
-Now I know why you get snake-bit climbing mountains... 'cause you can't see...
-No, but this is actually invisible.
-Is this what it means to be bewitched by a fox? What even is this?
-Gonna sleep with mom tonight haha...
-Invisible Wakamo is insanely strong....
-No witnesses left, so yeah, assassination checks out.
-This is real stealth assassination...?
-This is support not warding and feeding.
-Blaming support here???
Satisfied with the hot reactions, Wakamo beamed proudly at her direction.
Through streaming, she hid weaknesses and thought: *How about creating "illusions"?*
[Idol's Image] produced mirages dealing no damage—but weren't they useful?
Sure, tough to instantly model and replicate on sight. She didn't tell believers, but Wakamo steadily practiced for perfect streams.
Plus, [VTuber Assets] for light effects—like the finale flash.
Like a magician hiding tricks, she alternated the two skills.
Couldn't move flashy, but projected surroundings to blend, matched dragged corpse size by crawling low.
Goblin cries: [Video Recording] audio via [Internet Connection] playback.
If plain [Stealth] or [Invisibility] existed, no need—but this was "bluffing" style.
*'Honestly... that was fucking close...'*
What if caught? She'd panic!!
But she did it. Done is done...!!
*'Really... glad for this body...'
Always full condition. No fatigue, even concentrated.
Thus, no room for errors. Pros shine perfectly on such stages, right?
No sweat body was a blessing, she thought repeatedly, forcing a smile.
"No, but I'm a fox. Can't do spells, but this much is basic. Can't hunt, you'd starve, believers...?"
Calmly emotionless, acting casual like it's nothing, arms crossed to show off—no room for doubt.
-Yeah, Fox God-sama's kids won't starve.
-Foxes birth litters, and hers look rice-bowl huge.
-Uuu... so scary.... forgot what happened....
-I'll go hunt snacks at the convenience store too.
-Pay and buy, right?
-Yeah...?
-Wabung-ah...?
-Have to go transparent to hunt in the wild?
"Exactly. What if you meet a mountain king tiger? Transformation is basic!"
-Ahahahaha yeah lololol
-To dodge jungle king, gotta learn invisible lol
-Chief scared of ghosts? Maybe 창귀??
-What's 창귀?
-Joseon tiger monster ㅇㅇ..
-Stealth is jungler basics.
Naturally upholding RP, she awaited rewards.
Honestly, visible but "enemy raid" undetected? Judgment generous.
[Incheon Tower Floor 12 achieves Platinum condition. Opening to all humanity!!]
*'Phew......'*
As if expected, arm on hip, relaxed pose held.
Double peace shaken to distract viewers elsewhere.
[Tower Platinum clear increases rewards]
[Choose 1 reward]
[Idol's Flame]
-Consumes held mana to ignite flames.
[Weight of Faith]
-Gets lighter/heavier proportional to believers.
[VTuber Model]
-『Virtual Chat』 identical function.
-[Climber]'s cleared floors increase ownership.
-[Registrable models 0/1]
"......"
[VTuber Model] not job-exclusive...? No clue the difference.
Raised finger for [Attack Skill] but... model... model..... Cosplay like game char in reality?
Fully transform to other VTuber chars?
Not illusion like [Idol's Image]...?
No, that'd be nuisance... but better than this giant frame?
Hand over mouth, pondered deeply.
"Can't resist cosplay..."
[Acquired skill [VTuber Model]!]
*'Loli Fox God Wakamo or Furry Fox God Wakamo mode too...?*
No wrong choice here.
"Alright, believers! Too little shown this stream, so one more floor. Date with Fox God—join me!"
-You're pushing too hard?
-We love it lololol
-Nothing visible though...
-No but seriously, how'd you go transparent???
"Hmm? Avatar transparency from 『Virtual Chat』, duh. VTubers don't exist in reality!! No overimmersion!"
-?
-?
-Ah, yes.
-Y-Yeah, that concept...
-Must be...
-That's why our chief doesn't breathe!
-Ahaha knew it was VTuber stream lolol
-If real, report wild fox on sight.
-Gov't'd drag you for knowing too much.
-Welcome back to service, believer!
Mmm, glad they took it fun.
"Shall we head up!"
Chatted 5 mins with believers, ascended next floor without hesitation.
Sudden darkness hit; Wakamo reflexively lit fingertip glow.
No torches this time—pitch black ahead.
-Dark... can't see shit....
-No torch? Cave? Wait, don't tell me???
-This ain't "that guy" lololol?
-Nah, no way lolol... that'd be bad.
-Chief, if killing anyway, amp the light big for safety.
-Now chief plays solo league.
-These fuckers not climbing but wiki-spamming advice, hate it.
-Chief's life on line, wouldn't you advise ffs lolol
Wakamo oblivious, but viewers noticed, freaking out.
[Climbing Incheon Tower Floor 13 World]
-[Wakamo Inarizushi] climber's feats raise difficulty!
-Victory over [Elite Monsters]!
-Defeat [Dwarf in the Starving Darkness]!
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-No damage from [Dwarf in the Starving Darkness] (0/1)
-Defeat [Dwarf in the Starving Darkness] (0/1)
Eyesocket skinned over, bat-like long ears, skeletal limbs. Humanoid but horror-movie twisted, it shuddered, head twitching side to side.
-Chief, don't talk. Real fucked if you do.
-Why's 30F guy here.
-Dwarves track by breath/heartbeat like map hack.
-Assholes 'cause underground no fire ㅇㅇ..
-Zone out in dark? Straight heart-ripping.
-Target sounds, specialty heart-pierce.
Fearing Wakamo'd speak, believers advised frantically.
Wakamo lit [No Advice] in air with light; believers baffled, she shrugged *what's wrong?*
Floor 30 [Dwarf]s pierced mana-clad metal armor with power, highly dangerous.
Agile too, tracked climbers by breath/heartbeat relentlessly.
Darkness hunters.
But conversely—as light-revealed form showed—lethal hit killed in one.
Like making Wakamo taste reverse goblin stealth.
Viewers worried: *Tower killing chief?*
Then one questioned:
-But... why not moving?
Holding breath, heart never stops.
Impossible approach silent to touch range undetected.
Yet Wakamo stood arm-around behind it, waving at camera.
Light source swayed above camera.
Whoosh—!!
Grabbed head, Wakamo vanished into dark; crunches echoed horrifyingly.
[Incheon Tower Floor 13 achieves Platinum condition. Opening to all humanity!!]
Good news spread via tower, but believers froze in screechy hallucination.
Like basement lit by lone bulb.
Eerie stillness, time stopped.
From dark, beautiful woman's hand slid out, waved at screen.
"Thanks for watching, believers. Dream of me?"
Fox God's joyful voice, light *pop* out.
Wakamo timed scream playback perfectly; stream ended.
-lol.....lolololol....
-Off to mom's bed lolol....
-I might've pissed a bit.
-I'll be good listener Fox God-sama believer!!!!
-Black suits grabbing kinder....
-What foxes hunt in cities...? Don't wanna know...
Anyway, today's stream succeeded in every way.