Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Adelheid von Bismarck
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Adelheid von Bismarck.
Her life could truly be called one dotted with tragedy.
When she tightly gripped her mother's hand and visited the National Gallery in Berlin, Germany, to see Adolf Menzel's works.
She candidly shared her dream of becoming an artist like that.
Diving into the art world... wasn't as glamorous, free, or romantic as one might imagine.
It was more like a daily survival struggle. A field where securing a livelihood was incredibly tough.
The existence of so-called "passion pay" said it all.
Was it even possible to worry about survival every day, barely eating for months on end?
The odds of experiencing that in the arts were higher than one might think.
It wasn't for nothing that so many painters ended up with heads full of white hair.
Tuition, material costs, living expenses—while juggling school studies and practical training, art majors had to navigate constantly shifting admissions trends, and everyone said creativity didn't pay the bills.
Without connections, breaking into the art market was impossible, so side gigs as instructors were often necessary.
Even so, she dreamed of becoming an artist.
Born in places teeming with art—Germany, France, Italy, Britain—how lucky was that?
She created works, painted, studied relentlessly, and soon earned the title of youngest prodigy painter, gaining fame.
Her future was bright. Her parents supported her from behind the scenes.
Of course, they barely helped financially, insisting she stand on her own, so she relied on Germany's arts grants—but she scraped by selling pieces, affording art high school and prepping for university entrance.
Then, at 19.
In her high school days, the Tower bestowed upon her the absurd job of "Artist."
Conditions like drawing 10,000 pictures, sculpting 500 pieces, and so on... For her, who'd started at age 7, they were laughably easy.
Including 1,000 works worthy of admiration from others—just 12 art-related conditions total, and she'd not only met but exceeded them.
An Artist acknowledged by the Tower!
She worried about climbing without ever fighting or exercising, but with government officials and broadcasters showing up...
Her life seemed poised to soar higher, filled with excitement and dreams...
Until she entered the Tower, kicked an old goblin—and even swinging a sculpting knife did zero damage.
Only then did she check her [Skill] descriptions.
Even showing a wooden sculpture... She'd never heard of killing monsters through art.
Literally, she had to artistically slay monsters. Was that even feasible?
In the end, the weakest among Legendary classes.
Britain had its King, other nations their stellar Legendaries.
But Germany's first Legendary was this trash—branded a stain on national pride, her fame-dependent artist life plummeted to rock bottom.
A Legendary who couldn't clear Floor 1.
Right on cue, the Engineer appeared.
The government tried burying her shameful existence, but the Engineer seized the chance, succeeded wildly, switched to [Six-Eared Macaque], and smacked Germany in the back of the head.
Unable to bear the public scorn, her parents disowned her.
High school expelled her, citing damage to reputation—beyond just being unable to attend.
University prep fell apart amid the chaos.
Suddenly homeless, she scraped by with savings, desperately trying to survive as an artist.
But reliant on anonymity, she wandered the internet, taking commissions to barely eat.
Savings dwindled paying lawsuit interest; overworking wrecked her health.
Four years later, at 23, she snapped to reality.
All that remained for Adelheid von Bismarck was a Stage 2 pancreatic cancer diagnosis.
No rent money, no buyers for her art—the "Architect" in similar straits occasionally messaged, but he seemed happy now, a small relief as she wondered how life turned out like this.
Gazing at the twinkling Spree River in Berlin, her youthful sparkle, all her efforts chasing dreams.
All shattered root and stem by the Tower—she drowned despair in cheap booze bought with her last coins.
"Hueh... If there's a next life... then I wanna do art, not be a climber..."
Starving a week straight, yet her mad passion craved art.
For Adelheid, lacking materials hurt more than hunger.
An incompetent climber stuck on Floor 0... a failed artist denied university.
Hers was a pitiful life with nowhere to go.
"Ah— God, please... in the next life, let me be born later... in an era where we can dream of art freely..."
AI "clicks" stole her style entirely, snatching even her scant gigs to other artists.
She drew too well, so AI trained perfectly—why pay big when "click" made it free? More opted for that.
Truly tragic. Maybe refusing price cuts out of pride sealed it.
"If it's come to this, a real mermaid princess in the next life ain't bad..."
"Adelheid von Bismarck?"
Someone calling her name.
Only landlords chasing rent or officials demanding debt repayment ever sought her—startled by the unfamiliar voice, she looked up.
Breasts. Enormously huge ones.
Feeling the oddity, she craned her neck further.
Over-tilted, she nearly tumbled into the river, but Wakamo caught and steadied her.
'Finally found her.'
Wakamo had scoured Berlin; hearing she'd been evicted for unpaid rent nearly made her panic-search harder.
Gray hair, green-tinged eyes, exhausted, sickly gaze—just as Jackson described, but confirming once more.
"Adelheid, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
Wakamo thoroughly inspected the doll-light Adelheid, turning her this way and that.
The giant woman was startling enough, but fox ears? Adelheid's shock faded quick—she recognized her.
The top climber everyone knew these days... Korea's greatest, Wakamo Inarizushi!!
"Straight to the point: I'm here to scout you. On Jackson's intro."
"...Me? Uh... sorry. I'm terminal..."
"Just climb the Tower, problem solved?"
"Eh..."
"I'll make you climb!!"
"Y-Yes...?"
What presence. Overwhelming?
The oppressive vitality from Greek hero statues—Adelheid, already depressed and timid, could only shrink and peek nervously.
Jackson the Architect's referral meant he knew her cancer, debts—yet came anyway.
"Um... sorry. Too much debt to leave Germany..."
"How much?"
"...100,000 euros...?"
BAM—!
Wakamo stormed the Berlin tax office. Staff panicked at the sudden giantess, but she thudded a suspiciously sourced money bag before them.
Too intimidated to even mention tickets, they spotted Adelheid dangling from her waist like luggage. Some pitied the cancer/debt victim; others scorned Germany's disgrace...
What relation did she have to this titan?
"100,000 euros. Cash."
"Pardon?"
"Here to pay debts!!"
Wakamo paid in full, flaunting her cash-only wealth with swagger.
Other tangled debts too, but she told them to bill Korea's government, grabbed Adelheid, and bolted before Engineer ties—warping Korea via abandoned camera, skipping airport!
Unprecedented climber kidnapping, but waiting Manager Won Da-hye waved resignedly from Germany, death-row calm: "Handle it."
Famous artist's saved fortune meant debts ~100 million won(?). Lucky, Wakamo thought.
She'd asked Asuka to help Manager Won Da-hye, just in case.
"Artist!"
"Architect!"
"You actually brought her? Whoa..."
For safety, Wakamo housed her in her Floor 1; even Jackson hadn't expected same-day kidnap.
He could only marvel at Wakamo's insane drive.
Thus gathered three Tower-tragedied non-combat Legendaries.
"One more and it'd explode."
"Puyo Puyo much?"
One's civilian sans cash; one's dead sans mana/believers; one's combat-zero despite needing climbs.
Pitying glances brief.
Bringing her solved zilch fundamentally.
[One Who Loves Art]'s effect treated her body as art tool—no damage possible.
Irony: not kill, but artistically slay.
Art-ing dying old monsters? What was the Tower thinking? Incomprehensible.
"Climbers climb—that's premise. Non-combat has limits, yeah?"
"Or OnlyFans armpit pics from skinny loli till death to repay grace..."
"No, stop the breakdown fuel. Adelheid, Wakamo has a plan."
"First, show stats?"
"Ugh... here..."
Shoulders slumping at request, she timidly revealed after agonizing.
[Status Window]
[Climber: Adelheid von Bismarck]
[Job: Artist]
[Age: 23]
[Stats]
Vitality: 10
Fame: -3,456
Health: 1
Dexterity: 1,869.
Aesthetic Sense: 1,254
Art: -3,456
Luck: -3,456
Insight: 893
"?
?"
Jackson baffled; Wakamo baffled. Dexterity? Aesthetic Sense? Insight? Why negative Fame/Art/Luck? Cancer from bad luck?
"Fame drops... heh... bring misfortune... nothing goes right... terminal anyway, maybe suicide sells works post-mortem..."
"So bleak, can't take more, Wakamo."
"Quiet. I'm losing it too."
One slip tanks Fame, spirals to doom—Tower urges "artistic suicide"? What did it learn from Earth artists? Wakamo questioned deeply. Beyond baffling, shocking stats left her speechless.
"Fucking!! HOLY SHIT!! What satanic demon shit is this!!"
"Tower knows no human heart...!! Such cruelty!! No humane being does this!!"
"Germany Tower, maybe...?"
"Suddenly convincing."
"Damn, mine's American—that why?"
Korean Tower suddenly seemed kind. Tough, Tower Collapse threats—but vs. these? "Body Twist" clears viable. Fairy, even? Decided kinder to Tower henceforth.
Viewer skills proved its favor.
"First, [Tower Reset]. Then Incheon Tower. Got it?"
"M-Me... climb Tower? No, yes... sorry to owner who paid debts, sob... work till body breaks... raise me like dog... Hek! Korea eats dogs?!"
"Wakamo's fox, so can eat dogs, right?"
"Fox hunting dogs to eat... unworthy worm like me can't compare to that courage, spirit... sob... hang myself..."
"No dying!!"
More like, I don't eat dogs!! What barbaric talk, foreigners!!
Life's hardships turned Adelheid pessimistic. Thick tears, hollow eyes, quivering voice—pitiable, so feed first.
"What! Skin and bones!!"
"Week of water only... hehe..."
"Can't stand this!!"
Loaded soft foods to avoid upset; she devoured.
Petite beyond why, stunted growth? Height rivaled Yu Ying.
Yu Ying growing fine; hers closed ages ago—deeper pity.
"So, Wakamo. Plan?"
"Only art tools equippable, right?"
Wakamo drew dagger-like knife. Pure weapon.
Curious, he checked info: just [Sculpting Knife].
No details but name—Jackson wondered logic, didn't pry.
"Wanna hear?"
"It's a dag..."
"Sculpting Knife."
"But... clearly..."
"Sculp-ting. Knife."
"Sculpting Knife!"
Yes. [VTuber Assets] made a dagger, slotted empty, named [Sculpting Knife].
Sculpting knife = stationery... art tool.
Tower had few duplicate names?
Looks dagger, but [Sculpting Knife].
Tower approved Wakamo's naming—thus, it was!!
'Works for real, fuck...'
Exploiting Tower BS.
Her skills: she customized, named.
Confident it'd stick—did!
'Worst case, invade Tower, puppeteer via camera stabs...!!'
Difficulty might spike later, but save life first.
No mana—90% skills unusable!!
Germany Tower's malice-packed Artist class.
All demerits, but inversely: merits match penalties.
Climb Floor 1, who knows changes.
"[Tower Entry]!"
Wakamo watched via pre-attached camera: familiar Incheon Floor 1.
[Oil Slime] slithered at Adelheid.
"Eek... eeee!"
Feeble swing like swatting fly poked Oil Slime—no damage despite contact.
But Wakamo mana-infused blade grew, shredding it.
Clear chime rang.
"Wa... waaah! I! I did it!!"
How long the bitter wait.
Near four years, countless entries—always fails.
Exhausted every means; consumables/scrolls impossible for this absurd class.
Hopeless, fully quit... till savior descended!
"Wakamo, my light... my life... my rest!! Oioioi, Hoppla!!"
Ecstatic, hopping, cute dance—stepped to Floor 2.
Skills gained? Irrelevant to Wakamo.
Just wait her exit.
......
......
......
".....Why no exit?"
"Wait... first climb in 4 years."
"True... Tower-climb burnout here."
.......
.......
"Jackson, time?"
"4 hours in. Alive?"
"Camera no Floor 2..."
"Ah....."
Follows entry, not climb—camera stuck Floor 1, screen off. So climbing now...? How?
What skill? Curious, but wait. No force-exit.
Checked name persisted; waited with Jackson ages.
7 hours passed.
Mid tag-team gaming, exhausted Adelheid staggered out.
"Okay?"
"Fine! Wakamo! I'm happy kid...! Art school fail cursed world... but all to meet Wakamo!!"
"Seems fine... yeah..."
"More, harder! Useless without Wakamo need!! Ehehi... uhehehe... blood festival for Wakamo now... human sacrifice art for idol!!"
"Kid always this?"
"Legendary wrecked her."
"Life's worth felt at death's door... beauty... sculpting life art...!! Tower's era-transcending art!! Wakamo! Hit Floor 10 one-shot! Good? Useful? Right??!"
"Psych hotline number...?"
"Wakamo no use? Better die!!"
"No, need you. Long-term: join company, be VTuber."
"Will!!"
Eyes manic glee. Climb euphoria, adrenaline rush... yeah... turned bipolar depressive suddenly. But fine—no pain from stabs. No issue!!
"Saved one, Jackson..."
"Tower's fault..."
"Still feel it in fingertips... life-stealing thrill... fading breath, eyes... killing mirror's worthless Adelheid... masochistic joy... new self-harm... yes, this is art!!"
Blood dripped from Wakamo's gifted sculpting knife.
Throat-scratching, eyes rolling—this girl needed hug-calming. Sobbed pitifully—diagnosed rapid bipolar, called manager.
German manager's Korea workload upped, unavoidable.
Asuka ask? "AI dies!!" knife-stab vibes.
'1st gens separate rearing...'
"Mentally ill... nostalgic VTuber vibes..."
"Not reminiscing now?"
"VTuber? Stabbed = thrilled."
"....?"
Legendaries = crazies.
Thus Adelheid von Bismarck newly housed Wakamo Floor 1.
Wanted home with future VTuber for care, but sudden intrusion bad. Housed with Mei Shaolongbao.
1st gen: Mei, Adelheid, 1-2 more planned.
"Must climb... Adelheid... Wakamo love wants art repay... VTubers get attention? Hated? Wakamo soothe...? No abandon no abandon no..."
"No abandoning."
"Right?!"
"But know AI senior?"
"F-Fine...!! No lose to AI trash!! My art—!!! Show Wakamo, Tower-approved skill! Scrap that garbage—!!"
"No, VTuber senior. Draws herself."
"To bond seniors, without Wakamo hate...?"
Fidgety, anxious, scratching throat—Jackson peeked window, fled.
"All kind. Treat like family... so VTuber chara?"
"Despised, discarded jinx like me... orange curly hair... aa... little mermaid... aa!! Art-blind fools!! But Wakamo's idol beauty perfect... uhehe... paint, sculpt... city gold statue artless trash... tell Jackson rebuild... uhi hi..."
"Hm... cancer gone. Adelheid, daily routine?"
"Draw."
"Besides?"
"Draw."
"Other?"
"Draw."
"Tower climbs too?"
"Monster blood art!! Haa.. haa..!! See this fresh blood? Life-packed red!! Show Wakamo before fade...!!"
"I see─"
1st gen future dark. Or VTuber-bright? Camera-toting, bag-slung, light gear, orange hair wish... key: name...
"From painter I first loved: 19th century realist Adolf Menzel... Adolf Lucia... ehehe..."
Noble light wolf walking artist's path...!
But Wakamo owns animals—no dare intrude; just named, smiled.
Mei pondered... wrote 1st gen cafe debut.
[Tragic failed-art-school German artist Adolf, 1st gen debuting!!].
'This buries deathbed tale solid.'
Mei debut-mate 1st gen. Few more needed, unsure easy.
"Mei!! Lock Wakamo-defamers via Jackson, bake pottery-style?!"
"Germans can't say that!"
"Burn sauerkraut Nazis with German Tower for world peace, Mei!!! No forgive... innocent me... succeed, crush regrets... nah! Just impress Wakamo! Meet seniors!"
Mei Shaolongbao quietly summoned psychiatrist home.
Four years torment, scorn—身心 shattered Adelheid.
Grinning manic, eyes gleaming: Wakamo's knife would sublimate to art.
"Drip coffee? One for you? Wakamo likes? Seniors? Jackson hates... black..."
"What?"
This kid okay...? Mentally?!
1st gen first member shaky—Mei prayed therapist succeeds.
======================
23-Year-Old Dropout Ex-Famous Artist.
Adelheid von Bismarck
Mentally Ill Art-Obsessed VTuber.
[Adolf Lucia].