Chapter 27
Chapter 27
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Fox God VTuber Climbing the Tower
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Huff... huff..."
[Arizona Tower Floor 11 has achieved Platinum conditions and is now open to all humanity!!]
"Is this... for real?"
The panting climber of the [Summoner] class couldn't believe the feat he had just accomplished.
He had only heard rumors about it now and then and watched others do it, but to think he had pulled it off himself...? At the same time, though, didn't that mean he'd eventually have to face off against the holders of fully攻略ed upper floors if he climbed higher?
It was a distant concern, but a sigh escaped him anyway. At least, among the misfortunes, the silver lining was that only ownership of the floor would be taken.
The achievements and rewards upon completion went entirely to the climber, so there was no worry of them being snatched away.
Gulping nervously, he stroked his [Gray Wolf] and [Black Hawk] in anticipation of what rewards would pour in.
[Rewards increased due to Platinum clear of the tower floor.]
[10 additional stat points provided to the climber.]
[Rare item [Summon-exclusive Armor (No Race Restriction)] granted!]
[Rare item [Ring of Bond] granted!]
[Rare item [Summon Growth Elixir x3] granted!]
[Acquired passive skill [Owl's Eyes] for [Summoner] class based on achievement.]
[Please select 1 reward.]
"This is insane!!"
He couldn't help but exclaim in awe. The American [Summoner] climber now understood why people who tasted this once would even reset the tower just to climb it again.
If even the lowest floor gave rewards like this, how much would the mid or upper floors offer...?
Just achieving it created an overwhelming gap with other climbers.
Not only did it offer massive rewards, but it also provided skill and gear options, plus even a [reward selection] for choosing a [summon].
He could only breathe a sigh of relief knowing that even if he handed over this fully攻略ed floor to an upper-floor climber he'd meet while ascending, he wouldn't lose this.
"...I heard there's a crazy climber in Korea who clears them consecutively. Must be insanely strong compared to someone like me."
His joy was short-lived. He recalled that in that small country across the ocean, there was a supernova climber who had recorded ten consecutive fully攻略ed floors. Even the American Climbers' Association was paying attention, and rumor had it the president was interested too.
Word was, it wasn't even human... Truly the mystique of Asia.
"The mystique of the East is just nonsense."
The [Summoner] climber seemed to be misunderstanding something... but as a [Combat Job] holder, he had succeeded in conquering the floor through his own efforts.
If he could see the floor info like Wakamo, it would have been displayed like this.
[Climbing Arizona Tower Floor 11 World]
-Cooperate with your summons to hunt [Axehandle Hounds]. Watch out for those axe blades.
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-Take no damage from [Axehandle Hounds] (1/1)
-Do not flee from [Axehandle Hounds] (1/1)
-Use only job skills against [Axehandle Hounds] (1/1)
-Do not use consumables against [Axehandle Hounds] (1/1)
-Do not lose any [Summons] to [Axehandle Hounds] (2/2)
-Destroy the [Axehandle Hounds]' head axe (1/1)
-Defeat [Axehandle Hounds] within 5 minutes (4:57)
Receipt-like achievement conditions given to [Combat Jobs] on lower floors... But looking back, it wasn't much different from saying to stand your ground and defeat the enemy using only the power given to you. It seemed like a fairly lenient condition that looked easy to achieve.
The American Climbers' Association provided all-out support to every tower climber.
The [Summoner] had forgotten to restock consumables from the previous floor and come up empty, but America invested so heavily in its climbers that it was as good as achieving it anyway.
It was partly for securing resources, but also because they wielded individual power rivaling armies, including for political reasons—they needed complete control.
Once, a [Legendary Class] called [Man Eater] had caused massive damage, so unregistered climbers in America were basically shot on sight. American climbers had no choice but to register with the Association, like it or not.
Of course, they respected job classes.
Even if you didn't reveal your job, they could tell from the loaned weapons, so it was pointless anyway.
With climber terrorists like [Six Freaks], America showered exceptional climbers with attention laden with various intentions. And who they were most focused on lately... well, that went without saying.
Back to the point.
The tower provided jaw-dropping rewards to climbers who accomplished such feats admirably. And in proportion, it ramped up the difficulty.
That's why the tower favored idols who squeezed out wisdom with what they had and climbed without bending to these unfair rewards and unequal treatment.
If they gathered believers outside and slowly built power as idols, that might be one thing.
But this blockhead lived like a beast to the point where you doubted if she had ever been human.
Rewards had to be given, so the tower lavishly handed out [Relic-grade] items from human history fitting for an 『Idol』. But since it was hard to stray far from the realm of 『Idol (VTuber)』, it started giving increasingly odd items.
The floor was too low for over-the-top rewards, yet the achievements were too great to skimp.
Wakamo climbed with difficulty jacked up 300% while receiving only about 30% of the rewards others got.
For such climbers, the tower prepared [Attack Skills] while also readying [Idol (VTuber) Skills] and 【Job-exclusive Skills】.
The rewards Wakamo hadn't received were piling up.
It was safe to say they'd explode in some unimaginable form any day now.
※※※
[Author: Anonymous]
[Title: Let's watch yesterday's stream]
(Sleeping inside the tail)
This is welfare... this is hope.
Sob sob... Hire newbies at the company soon...
The fan dance was insane, and the gayageum, haegeum, danso performances were insane too.
Bet she can do pansori well?
I wanna be held in Maman's embrace too...!!
The maternal love I've been searching for is inside the screen!!!!
-Dickhead doesn't know how hard being a VTuber is?
- Lol; I'm a girl.
-Sent you a DM.
-Ah, fuck you crazy bastards.
-Me too, I'm a girl! (Derp).
-But the stream... studio for promoting Kigi machines... it's a real company now...
-Growing this fast on clippers is talent too.
-Saw some YouTubers analyzing Leader's performance already.
-"Too hobbyist to call pro-level skill"
-TMI) Leader said there's no instrument she can't play.
-Living 1,000 years, you'd master instruments as a hobby lololol
-Wow, but what's the cut part in this video?
-Ah.... Didn't watch yesterday?
-No!
-Better off not knowing...
-Sometimes, the truth hurts.
-Wanna see? (Link)
-The guy who asked isn't coming back?
-You killed him!!
[Author: Gurgasm]
[Title: Haaang~]
Leader dances and performs.
Ends with ASMR that's so ticklish, oh man...
This is a real fox, fuck lololol
Tickles the ears, blows wind.
Kut kut, giggling while nom nom....
This is pro.
That "Goodnight" voice at the end, oh man...
Well. Made.
-Saying this sucks, but Leader's voice is insane.
-Kinda has this bold general vibe charm.
-But why is she so good?
-Leader owns over 20 ASMR streams.
-Big data implementation lol
-Top-tier for a VTuber.
-Gotta milk this hard.
-Already saved lololol
The first stream from the studio was a smashing success. Influx from Yu Ing's singing and Wakamo's performances. Even after the stream ended, with the expensive ASMR mic bought specifically, Wakamo handcrafted pro-level videos and uploaded them, which also succeeded.
'How many ASMR streams did I watch, and how many VTuber ASMRs did I buy from overseas sites?'
Some ASMR specialist VTuber invested 70 million yen in studio building and land alone, plus three 1-million-yen mics and other gear totaling 80 million yen.
ASMR isn't just buying a mic, so Wakamo stripped off her top to eliminate clothing friction sounds, meticulously tuned over ten sound devices including the audio interface settings, and gave it her all.
Just plopping a mic down could lead to crap audio quality.
As a VTuber, you must always earnestly research content for your fans. (No, you don't.)
Prep took 7 hours, recording 30 minutes, editing 3 hours... So, the quality of the ASMR she'd only ever listened to?
Coldly self-evaluating as a VTuber lover, out of 5 stars, barely 1!!
Voice was a fail!! Gave 1 star for good breathing.
Settings were dialed in, so next was recording Yu Ing's ASMR.
I'll make it so stimulating it shakes perverts' brains...
"Now then, shall we head up the tower?"
After VTuber content and studio streams delighting believers, it was time to inject dopamine from Wakamo's other stream!!
Body split in two wouldn't even suffice, but with no pain, no breathing, no eating, no sleep needed, always peak condition body, Wakamo didn't care!!
"What's next..."
[VTuber Assets]
-Functions identical to 『Virtual Chat』.
-Owned count increases with climber's攻略 floors.
-[Registrable Assets 2/3]
-[Dazzling Glow (Color Changeable)]
-[Dual Discs]
"[VTuber Assets] still has one slot left, but..."
No clue what would come out anymore, so Incheon Tower info was useless. What point in weakened [Elite-grade] or reduced numbers of guys who should be way higher up?
She was back to initial climber days, instant reactions floor by floor.
"Gotta fully utilize my [Skills], huh."
Excluding [Tower Entry], Wakamo already had 11 [Skills]!! But if picking ones helpful in combat, not a single one!! No common [Attack Skill] for direct hits or damage.
Because Wakamo didn't pick any!!
Understandable sincere love for VTubers, but as a climber, it was shortsighted idiocy judging only what's in front.
'[Video Recording]'s [Viewpoint Sharing] covers blind spots with 3 cameras. Can't exit tower, but [My Worlds] secures shelter for rest. [VTuber Assets] for weapons too.....'
Usable items: gold thread reinforced with [Mana Manipulation], or controllable Strong Angler's fishing rod.
'Focus on consumables?'
Next floor concept: drunken fist, chug gourd of poison potion Yu Ing made, spew fire. Sounded pretty cool visualized.
[VTuber Model] caught her eye—but she already had a use planned, so skipped.
"Hmm...."
While checking skills, Wakamo spotted her very first skill. She scrolled absentmindedly, then it hit her.
In truth, to Wakamo, they were all this skill anyway.
Or rather, she had defined its existence value.
"Can't this one be upgraded?"
Sighing at [Idol's Body], Wakamo cast [Tower Entry] and entered the tower as usual.
Vast plains appeared as the dazzling light faded. Reminiscent of the savanna called 'tree-less plain' from documentaries. Wakamo turned to greet believers via the live stream.
"Everyone, hello~ Kon kon ki—"
[Climbing Incheon Tower Floor 16 World]
-Difficulty increased due to [Wakamo Inarizushi] climber's achievements!
-Overcome [Elite Monster]!
-Defeat [Lightning Rage Rhino].
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-Do not dodge [Lightning Rage Rhino]'s [Charge] (0/1)
-Block [Lightning Rage Rhino]'s attacks (0/1)
-Defeat [Lightning Rage Rhino] (0/1)
The攻略 conditions appeared simultaneously.
No precondition of zero damage—Wakamo realized the difficulty was brutal.
Especially demanding to not dodge and block attacks—perhaps the tower was experimenting on her, she even felt malice.
And this wasn't even the original Floor 16 monster. Hadn't a Floor 30 monster popped on 13?
Lamenting inwardly why she alone had to climb so hard, she tried to end her greeting.
That's when Wakamo locked eyes with the massive rhino staring her down. Oppressive presence.
Thick armor-like skin covered its body, curved sharp horns protruded.
Bloodshot eyes shot hatred and killing intent at Wakamo—front legs bent, hind legs tensed with bulging thighs, rhino crouched.
Poised to launch any second.
Wakamo, eyes on the elephant-sized rhino monster's enormity, understood viewers couldn't even chat, no time to finish her opening greeting.
And for good reason——
——The opponent's [Charge] struck without warning.
Moreover.
If its speed neared Mach 1 at 1,000 km/h, as fast as the sound preceding it.
In slowed perceived time like the world in slow-mo, Wakamo prepared glowing assets and spread her arms.
And there was light.
-Kgyaaah!!
-Aaagh!
-Wha, the fuck?!
-Accident right as stream starts????
-Turned off speakers in panic fuck...
-Can't see shit...
-Ambushed right on entry?
-That's the Rage Rhino from Floor 31, fuck??
Ears ringing to tinnitus levels from the collision. Casual viewers screamed and cursed in pain.
Wakamo's first horrific stream accident. But no one blamed her.
Climbers had seen the monster charging at Wakamo just before the blinding flash.
Non-climber viewers also grasped it was a monster ambush, mid-greeting.
Monster name: [Rage Rhino]. On Floor 31, 7 appeared in a pack, only used [Charge], so vicious and dumb they attacked each other—攻略 was just letting them fight, easy to handle.
But if caught off-guard head-on, instant death usually.
Why? It rams at 350 km/h race-car speed.
Climbers were superhuman; by Floor 30, they'd react fast.... But don't forget.
Previous Floor 30 was pitch-black darkness with no visibility due to terrain.
Eyes unadjusted to sudden brightness post-ascend, groaning—bam, dead. Malicious setup.
No-reaction-time hyperspeed headbutt!!
Elite version nearly 3x faster.
And Wakamo took it full-frontal, no dodge.
As light faded, believers held breath in anxiety.
-It's... stopped?
-Something's off.
-...Leader's standing still?
-Wtf? What happened..?
[Incheon Tower Floor 16 has achieved Platinum conditions and is now open to all humanity!!]
Clear declared before they could process, leaving believers baffled.
-Just watch. Stood firm against the charge.
-That's possible????
-It's possible cuz she did it and the impact killed HER!!!!
Unbelievable even for climbers, but unfortunately live. What they saw was reality!!
Upon reaching Floor 16, Wakamo hadn't moved a single step from spot, standing like Mt. Tai.
The elite Rage Rhino that charged her.
Face crumpled, head impaled on own horn, body squished—utterly gruesome.
Tough leather contained guts... but might as well call it a water balloon.
And Wakamo's impact was beyond imagination, though she looked fine.
[Stats]
Mana: 545,876 -> 137,543.
"Whoa, close call."
No defense attempted, but the exhaustion was beyond expectation.
Original plan: grab charging rhino to halt it.
[Idol's Body] made all physics relative to Wakamo, so she figured she wouldn't budge. But zero movement? Unimaginable.
Where did collision damage vanish post-impact..?
'What's the principle....'
Even she couldn't comprehend her own body.
Mana-composed body was stranger than she thought.
Killer Ankole Watuzi or Feral Deer aside, not budging from elephant charge...?
'Gotta research this.'
Perfect for bluffing.
"Ask Blackbox channel how fault's judged in accidents like this?"
-Looks like she got hit by an electric scooter lol....
-No, really fine? Didn't budge an inch?
-Knew she wasn't human, but beyond imagination.
-How tough are those slender body's muscles....?
-Martial artists train lower body; 1,000 years, possible?
-Has humanity lost strength to tech progress...
[Acquired skill [Weight of Faith]!]
"...Huh?"
Standing with massive rhino corpse backdrop, Wakamo tilted head at unprompted skill.
That's it...? For real?
Usually like this, but now no selection?
[Settling rewards due to Platinum tower攻略.]
'Settling...?'
What now?
Elite monster placement nearly killed her, now skimping rewards too?
Tower's thoughts inscrutable, frustrating Wakamo scratched head.
"No, it charges in and suicides... believers got nothing to see."
Grumbling at dead rhino, Wakamo vented.
-Rhino didn't expect this.
-Full-power clash, no dodge?
-Natural disaster; not knowing ain't crime.
-Like bird smacking glass.
-At this level, bullets bounce off...?
-Tower monsters die to bullets lololol
-I am a faithful believer!! My ancestors too!!!
"Hmm, seems y'all disappointed, so next floor?"
Too early to end stream. Ending after 5 mins from start worse than accident.
Believers worried don't overdo, but needed to gauge tower's whims like arbitrary skills or withheld "settled" rewards.
Only way: climb.
[Climbing Incheon Tower Floor 17 World]
-Difficulty increased due to [Wakamo Inarizushi] climber's achievements!
-Overcome [Elite Monster]!
-Defeat pack of [Indestructible Chain Devils].
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
-[ ]
"....Hah?"
Platinum conditions... blank?
-What's Chain Devil?
-First time seeing?
-...Isn't this UK Tower monster?
-Demons only in Europe...?
-Yeah, lots near Vatican.... No companion skill, it'll suck?
Strong premonition something wrong, then spotted demons surrounding her.
Humanoid monsters like grotesque metal cacti, chains wrapped whole body, nails embedded—6 of them encircling Wakamo.
Never seen before, obviously.
-Where do these appear?
-...UK Tower Floor 30...?
-Chains bind, spam [Hellfire]...
-Strat: destroy chains!!
Chats rushed in; Wakamo got weakness was chain destruction. But with grandiose [Indestructible] title, she punched incoming chain skeptically—didn't shatter, not even scratched.
Like rhino on previous floor?
Claaang!!!
Arms, legs bound instant, waist coiled—immobilized prisoner, Wakamo staggered. Chain Devils charged spikes raised to impale.
Viewers screamed unable to watch carnage.
Crunch!!
-Eh?
-Huh?
-Wha?
Chain Devils collided into each other, tumbling.
"Ahh— seriously! I'd be dead otherwise!"
Grumbling voice, pattering footsteps from screen bottom.
Camera lowered, something cute and small emerged from chain clump.
Girl pressing red round metal sunglasses—unlike worried viewers, utterly relaxed.
Back-to-back stream disasters.
But Wakamo was a VTuber, and a pro at that.
"Can tower climbs be this unfair? Well... great for stream realism."
"Reversing crises like this is what believers love, right?"
Chats exploded at Wakamo tilting head cutely to camera.