Chapter 50
Chapter 50
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: The End of the Shang Dynasty, Which Had Been Postponed, Approaches..
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mentioning a VTuber's past life is bad manners.
The faithful can just pretend they don't know since she denied it herself.
She's a fox goddess who travels with Ho Hwimi, protects Liu Bei's descendants, and holds the Imperial Seal.
But we no longer need to know any more!
-Retro's trending, so the hanging's making a comeback lol..
-Trends always come full circle anyway.
It came back too far!!!
-Daji just likes China, that's all.
-She wants to expand to the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms.
-Aren't small countries neither great powers nor China?
-Isn't it natural for small countries to follow Korea?
-Hey, Pilot's streaming. Announcement went up.
What is it?
Said she'll stream solo for a few days, no breaks until she returns?
Dude, we're screwed. Streamer's clip channel posted a hiatus notice.
The streamer who's never taken a break before? For real?
Yeah.....
This is China crumbling....
Gonna pay tribute on Pilot's stream... If I become a zealot, Wakamo'll save me.
The current president of a weakening China, Jo Heo-ping.
He rose to power right after the Tower collapse disaster, but independence declarations that defied him and the rampage of climbers were twisting his guts.
It started with America's irritating interference in the name of peace, and Taiwan had seized everything up to Fujian Province across the sea.
Hong Kong declared liberation from government meddling, proclaiming their independence—and following suit, Uyghurs and Tibet declared independence too, emboldened by the Tower's endless supply of water and resources.
Even the annoying peninsula small-fry were a thorn, and now Japan was mocking China as international tides turned. Russia was outright occupying ownerless territories under the pretext of protecting nations from monster threats—what more was there to say?
This was absolutely unforgivable.
It had to be stopped.
"I didn't expect the small country's president to be this cooperative. So, have you made contact with the climber?"
"Yes..... But she has a guardian with her."
"Hmph... Ridiculous. As if a real Daji exists. She's probably tricking people with some 'Legendary Class.' Climbers are the type who should be loyal to their country but only chase personal gain. That's why the nation's future is so dark."
Korea's president feared Wakamo.
He claimed she was bewitching people.
Who knew when she'd reveal her true colors and swallow Korea whole with her ambitions.
He groveled, begging China's Tower raiders to kill her. He didn't care about small-country politics—but that Imperial Seal the fox monster brought back was worth reclaiming.
It was China's to begin with. For a mere livestock to claim ownership was an outrage.
"We've posted a 50 million yuan bounty."
They couldn't let reactionary terrorists occupying Sichuan become China's president.
Trying to dismantle national peace and a unified China. Calling himself the Son of Heaven, espousing anarchist nonsense and pushing for imperialism—it gave plenty of plausible deniability for the operation.
"In the end, climbers are small fry. A 30th-floor raider can't beat guns."
Disguise it as terrorism by Collector supporters, take out the fox, recover the seal and climber—job done. With Towers pushing all nations toward advanced status, did it make sense for China to lose East Asian dominance?
"Make sure it doesn't fail."
"What about civilian casualties?"
"Regrettable."
Eliminating insurgents was more important for reclaiming power. Blame it all on those supporting the terrorists—that was the president's cynical response.
"What if we're caught staging the terrorism?"
"Impossible. We'll leave it to the dedicated team, President."
Even if something went wrong, they wouldn't get caught.
Climber-led "freedom struggles" inciting civilians had already caused plenty of similar incidents.
"Prepare to sway public opinion too. The Imperial Seal is China's rightful cultural heritage. Not something for a small country."
"......President. If you'll pardon the question—what if she really is the legendary Daji?"
"Then even she'd have weaknesses. Don't believe in superstitions."
※※※
"The Party General Secretary is waiting for you, Wakamo...! Please...!"
"I'm hungry, though?"
The government agent couldn't refuse Wakamo's demand to be taken to Shanghai's most expensive, luxurious restaurant.
The other party was a climber. Killing him for being annoying could end in mere political backlash.
Preparing excuses about being overpowered, he insisted he couldn't provide protection, warned that Collector hardliners might terrorize Yu Ying—and tried desperately to persuade her.
But she'd never intended to listen.
When Wakamo shamelessly dug in, he guided her to the restaurant like it was a relief and quickly withdrew.
Even after her escort soldiers peeled off, she kept up the act until entering the private room of Shanghai's upscale eatery.
"I have shield items, so it's fine. And detection trinkets for assassins."
"No matter how many come. How about our manager eats her fill today too? Order all the booze you want."
"Okay."
"I'm on duty, so I'll pass."
The president's political maneuvering had summoned the association chair, leaving no escort for Wakamo's trip to China.
Still, Association Chair said one person—Deputy Director Won Da-hye of the surveillance team—would more than suffice, so she'd come along as manager with top support.
Cooperating with China could disadvantage Taiwan and Hong Kong, who got U.S. aid including the Collector—making terrorism against Yu Ying possible, per the agent's warning. But considering the president itching to kill Wakamo as a thorn in his eye...
'There were reports of a Chinese climber at the Kimpo Tower collapse site.'
Eyewitness accounts only, since evidence was erased and they fled—no hard proof.
China might've long eyed the Imperial Seal Wakamo held, plotting to kill and steal it.
Just looking at the 【Sword and Seal of King Han Zhong】 item effects... Wakamo could meet the conditions. If she used it to raise an army, it'd be a disaster for other factions.
That's why they might fabricate terrorism on that pretext.
'Assassination terrorism... whether it's possible doesn't matter.'
Wakamo wouldn't die from it anyway. She'd just get pissed!!
'If cornered China launches nukes in desperation... that's a catastrophe too....'
How did she get dragged into this mess? Head spinning, the manager gulped at the array of Chinese dishes hitting the table.
Right—think positively. Overseas trip.
"Shajang-nim, this one's got poison."
"Really~? Yu Ying's got talent~ What kind?"
"Hmm... almond taste.. cheap cyanide? But this red one's crab shell or something?"
"Hmm~ Does the manager have poison resistance?"
"....No."
"Then you can't have it. Hmm, this one's got a tangy bite?"
"Poke! Poke poke!"
"Oh dear, alright~ Eat up~"
"Nom."
Unlike the manager's grim face, Wakamo and Yu Ying were nonchalant. Yu Ying was an alchemist with poison resistance; Wakamo's mana body shrugged off human-lethal toxins.
Even Wakamo unscathed—the manager sighed at the food before her.
Her earrings glowed—poison gas was being quietly pumped in.
Reacting this fast? Might as well have been tailed from the start.
Safe to assume they planned to kill from the outset—or Chinese government incompetence had pierced the heavens.
"Shajang-nim."
Before the manager could react, Yu Ying sensed presences and spoke. Wakamo rose naturally, opening the private room door.
Who wants kidnappers causing hassle?
Stepping into the hall, a hulking man—1.9 meters of muscle in full suppression gear—waited like he'd been gunning for her.
Full-body suit? Wakamo stared; he charged without intro.
"At least introduce yourself."
"Die, youkai!!"
Human speech confirmed climber—then his fist slammed Wakamo's gut.
A 【Fighter】 who'd conquered one Tower, his custom knuckles were for killing climbers.
Even 【Rare Metal】 would shatter under his strength.
But the moment he hit, his fingers shattered. Fast recovery and stamina skills would heal it instantly.
The sensation mid-strike... like punching an immense mountain!!
No give even at full acceleration.
Crackle—!!
Suit's embedded 【Skill】 activated, high-voltage current surging his iron fist. He cast his own skill, mana-wrapped uppercut to Wakamo's jaw.
A pro killer specializing in climber assassinations, he didn't panic—unleashed combos relentlessly. But even to the fragile jaw, her head didn't shake; his rising arm halted abruptly.
"Strength breeds arrogance.... Fights happen anytime if there's an opponent."
Gently, warmly.
Arms spread, unmoving, Wakamo took every full-power barrage and addressed the assassin.
Doubting fox charm, he helmet-smashed his face, checked mental barrier item—no enchantment.
Despairingly... she was just standing there.
"Only fighting after I say 'begin'.... rude, isn't it?"
Aristocratic tone of courtesy—Wakamo raised a hand. Assassin wrapped arms around it, legs slamming like nails—!!
【Grapple Skill】 to hurl, smash skull.
His trump card—tank-crushing neck-breaker, maxed reinforcements, full power—but—
Silence like time froze.
Soft flesh against his back. Massive woman bear-hugging him skyward—he thrashed, elbowed her head, boot-blade stabbed, skills resisted escape.
He realized.
Since combat started, Wakamo hadn't budged!!
"Shouldn't you enjoy a beauty's embrace?"
Doll-like flip to face her—crimson blade pierced her throat from Wakamo's mouth.
Hidden darkness assassin struck; ceiling shadow another speared her heart.
Not stopping, rear ambusher distanced, twisted wrist—explosive quills like porcupine spines riddled her.
Spearman leaped off comrade's shoulder, slashed sword at Wakamo's crown.
Sickening squelch—blade sank.
Empty hand summoning 【Rogue】 stabbed another sword into her chest.
All assassins buffed by 【Wizard】 support—evident.
"Not that she didn't move—she couldn't."
Distanced 【Rogue】 muttered. 【Rare Metal】 plus worm-monster invisible threads.
He was sure the assassin hadn't known what bound him.
Moving would've shredded him!
Self-thrown into corridor traps.
"50 million yuan target ain't shit...."
Sneering like it was over, 【Rogue】 moved to abduct—hesitated.
Why's she still standing?
Snap—
Invisible strings snapped.
Crack—
Human Butcher comrade folded in half.
Suit and all, Wakamo crushed spine, dropped him—turned, yanked crown sword, offered hilt reversed.
"Here, fighting unarmed's unfair, right?"
"You monster bitch!!!! Tsu-han!!"
Rusher mounted, claws pierced skull—grabbed jaw to twist off—but Wakamo offered sword, smiling: "Won't take it?"
Something gravely wrong.
Nails raked mounter's limbs—clean cuts like sword, limbs dropped.
Impossible without extending claws.
Screaming at severed limbs—Wakamo's tail gaped, swallowed torso, slammed wall.
"U... ugh....!!"
It's real....
Real—!!!
Not some Legendary Class racial shift... no, even then, not a normal climber!!
"Begin prep!"
Shout—tossed sword faster than assassin caught.
Afterimage rush—assassin shadow-stepped clones dodged, gripped thrown sword, posed skill—
Crackle—
"【Idol's Flame】"
Sword current burst white-hot inferno.
Arm engulfed—assassin yelled 【Tower Entry】—Wakamo's fingers clogged throat.
"Relax. I don't like cruelty much...."
Pressed—legs reversed with gruesome snap, he convulsed.
Closed in, stomped face of limbless one long ago.
Climbers don't die easy.
"【Delete Area】!!"
Invisibility dropped—【Wizard】 emerged midair, erased Wakamo's space.
Few climbers survive zero oxygen.
Seizing surprise—【Wizard】 smashed skull ornament, cast 【Magic】.
"【Reaper's Grasp】!! 【Shared Pain】!!"
Synced damage from three downed to Wakamo, draining life!!
Shattered skull's black smoke enveloped, sucked in to erase remaining life.
Curse item, pricey African import.
【Wizard】 resolved to at least incapacitate—but.
Wakamo stood.
"Ah, waiter. Three more Buddha's Temptation here, please. No poison in one? Make it stronger if adding...."
Charming smile—ordered from trembling staff behind 【Wizard】.
【Wizard】's feet pooled water, staff dropped—Wakamo gently stroked her hair.
"Store policy—mind clearing this trash?"
"Y-yes... yes...!!"
Soul-drained 【Wizard】 kowtowed desperately.
Real... real!!
"Life's precious—no killing, okay?"
Vowing obedience, not burning live comrades—【Wizard】 hyperventilated, fainted.
"Manager-nim. Four down in the hall. Store won't sue for nuisance, right?"
".....Probably... fine..."
"Bad for Yu Ying's education and morals. Ask them to clean?"
"I'll do it..."
Pro climber assassins wrecked but alive—Won Da-hye wiped cold sweat.
Casual as everyday.
"I'm scared of zombies... gore... so no killing. What's China's ambulance number?"
Pure worry—she called herself.
Later Buddha's Temptation was delicious—no poison.
Owner asked if satisfied—Wakamo tipped generously.
"Overseas trip stories great for viewers~ Assassins a flaw, though~"
"Mm-hmm."
"Anyway, he's waiting—so off we—"
Grabbed manager leaving—pushed back with Yu Ying—glass door exploded in shouts.
"Independence and freedom for the autonomous region!!"
"Foreign scum aiding the vile dictatorship—get out!!"
"True new era!! For great Comrade Rong Wei!!"
"~Seen this in Hong Kong movies."
Wakamo beamed at machine-gun-armed terrorists outside.
Stepped forward—bullets poured.
Manager spotted reddish glow: horrified.
"Rydel mite rounds...?!"
U.S. 【Shooter】 【Rare Metal】 ammo—in such numbers?
Penetration-focused barrage hammered Wakamo.
Casings rained; screams matched nonstop gunfire. Shanghai, China's second capital—police calls amid chaos, no government climbers.
Not normal rounds—weapons for climbers. Machine guns plus recoilless rifles—spectacle.
Colliding shells boomed—shattered district windows.
Anti-tank weapon direct hit on Wakamo.
Smoke surged—she strode through toward them.
"Sh-shoot!!"
Panic—no smoke pretense—muzzles tracked, bullets crumpled on impact, rained harmlessly.
"Grenade!!"
"O."
Pin-pulled toss.
【Enchanted】 magic grenade flew—Wakamo snatched, popped in mouth.
Beyond absurd—unforeseeable—explosion; smoke puffed from tiny mouth.
"Throwing these hurts people, y'know?"
Stunned—rushing 【Shooter】 drew pistol, eyed shot.
Silent 【Skill】 bullet—perfect eye hit, crumpled, fell.
No quit—waist shotgun point-blank—but Wakamo eyed him, smoke clinging.
"Bullets too small, friend."
"U... u...."
Unreal gentle voice—【Shooter】 dropped gun.
All disarmed—Wakamo smiled brightly, politely:
"Pick up spent rounds, please?"
No threat in golden fan offer—terrorists meekly gathered dented casings, piled reverently on her palm.
Unbelievably meek for terrorists.
Praising obedience—Wakamo tied their limbs ribbon-style: "Go quietly with police, okay?"
"[...So target's...? Scout her mana?]"
Distant street—【Mana Burn】 sniper prep, beside 【Wizard】—English radioed.
At least 1km.
【Shooter】 sniper doable on huge target.
"Over 9,000."
"[What!? 9k!? 30-floor possible? Threatening...!]"
Better handle as Chinese terror.
Unpredictable monster headache—even for U.S. Might birth new 【Six Freaks】.
Long watched.
But U.S. first time requested by ally prez.
"....Colonel, mana rising. Just hit...10k....."
【Wizard】's report dragged.
"[...Why? Issue?]"
"....Mana over 100k..."
"[Absurd. Top-tier wizard level...]"
"200k..."
"[What..?]"
Impossible. 【Wizard】 mana sense confirmed—impossible!!
Splurt!
"Ugh... broke 530k... 600k... surging...!"
Overwhelm bled eyes—【Wizard】 groaned.
"[....Abort shot. That Mana Burn... damage?]"
"Shanghai vaporized."
"[Walking nuke?]"
Tower top-boss level—600k+ mana. Beyond 【Wizard】 sight.
Wiped blood tears, calmed terror.
If unconfirmed shot... all swept dead.
"What the hell's Korea thinking... insane."
Korean prez meant to sic her on U.S.?!
If she solo rampaged Towers... U.S. done.
Guessed strength from climb vids—wrong.
If weakened... humanity doomed.
※※※
"Uhehehe, 【Rare Metal】 jackpot!! Like Zhuge Liang catching arrows barehanded."
".....Zhuge Liang didn't catch barehanded."
Bagged all pilfered rounds in Yu Ying's bag.
Loaded ones too—Wakamo grinned ear-to-ear.
"Alchemy these~ Right~?"
"Yeah!"
"Wow, throwing grenades... civilians not evacuated. Terrorism scary."
Mana body reinforced took it—but dipped under 10k, scary honest.
Spare mana pots allowed flex! Regen up—filled fast idle.
No mid-fight leisure, but more performance variety?
"....Shall we?"
Manager glanced meekly restrained terrorists/police, guided Wakamo/Yu Ying.
Toward waiting president—manager fretted what to tell her.
No easy answer—arrived at Standing Committee for seven power-holders.
Door opened—Wakamo cradling Yu Ying—gazes converged.
All stiff-faced—like heard of her terror.
Wakamo fanned golden glow, coy smile.
"Times change, but assassins' weapons same ol'. Shang kings poisoned meals galore..... No need to introduce myself, right?"
Released mana.
Climbers endured—normies paled, breathless from vast pressure.
Precise control—no offense—【Mana Manipulation】 retracted, fan snapped.
Oppression vanished—sweat beaded on committee/prez.
"Wise hearts have seven holes... wonder if modern too. Thugs rampage in palace housing people—seven too many?"
No one dared call out her blatant displeasure.
"My line drawn—with me as standard... underwhelming."
*(Judging others by one's own standards)
Frozen mood. Manager desperate: acting...? Right...?
VTuber core—embody concept... Queen... watching? Wakamo giving all.
"Mood stiff—how 'bout laughingstock fun? Po-luo formation? Rare sight. I could demo."
Oil-slicked pillars, roast over coals—China's cruelest execution—seductive smile at one committeeman: he yelped.
Fingered spent casing—melted gooey, dripped off finger unchanged—sat cradling Yu Ying.
"Hehe, kidding. Cute vs. Japan's nuke. Human? Die to bullets?"
Casually drew fishing rod from sleeve, placed.
Bewilderment—item info popped: faces hardened.
Why's rod that banished Daji in her hands...?
Pondered intent.
"Gang Shang lived full life—fearless. Thought royal invite fun outing... but business with our cute, precious goldleaf Yu Ying?"
Script memorized overnight—Wakamo inwardly beamed like debut success.
Unknowing them—how'd it sound?
They knew Japan stay. Nuke survivor real?
Even if not—rod authentic.
Zhou founder—fate failing to kill fox?
Prez had plans.
Ban-Korea: boycott, corporate penalties—threats galore.
Before seeing assassins unscathed by splits/gunfire lethal to climbers—!!
Thought strong climber tops. Kwon Wang, Korean chair—killable in China.
But she survived East Asia's war-torn history—real monster.
Worst—flaunting his archnemesis's item.
"Your petty schemes pierced. Laughable amateur terror—see rivals' ends."
Wakamo unintended—just "smart folks'll overthink props."
Prez realized Korean prez fooled him(?).
'Damn small-fry prez....!!'
But now—placate, resolve nice.
"Terror remnants—we punish. Just... seeking Yu Ying's aid against self-proclaimed Son of Heaven terrorist leader saving nation. Miscommunication."
"We'll resolve—reward relic item!! For global peace... Asian kin, please help. Generous compensation."
"Manager-nim, nicer than expected~"
Prez/committee groveling—Won Da-hye nodded, rubbed hands: "I see."
Bored near-sleep—Wakamo stroked dozing Yu Ying on chest, rose smiling.
"But gentlemen. This Wakamo Inarizushi needs no aid. No rewards."
"Yes...?"
"Can't stream, no VTuber shows—your first strike blew up. We'll do as we please."
Wide-eyed near-declaration—Wakamo left.
Offered 【Sword and Seal of King Han Zhong】—ignored, departed.
To Sichuan...!!
Beat Collector senseless—stole all my relic items.
Packed grudge—no stream, no VTuber, no clips...!
"Tell Collector—Wakamo Inarizushi's coming!!!"