Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Tower-Climbing Fox Goddess VTuber
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"~Previous Episode~"
Wakamo single-handedly(?) conquered the 60th floor of the Tampa Tower in America.
With cheers from Pilot and Ichigo, she even took down the Architect in the ring—after all sorts of trials and tribulations, she emerged victorious over America.
America has been defeated!
But a tower is still a tower.
It stubbornly refused to die like the Korean Tower and handed over an item it had vowed to withhold until the end, providing it anyway.
A shocking truth comes to light...
In fact, the growth plan had been royally screwed up from the very start!
But that was the Korean Tower's mistake. There was no way someone who met the minimum requirements to become an Idol could be an ordinary person.
No, from the outset, anyone qualified for a [Legendary Class] harbors an insane obsession with their "job" that no one else can touch.
The tower shortens your lifespan! Quit already! No matter how much they pleaded, these people went monkey-mode with IQ zero the moment "VTuber" was on the line, picking skills left and right.
The plan had veered wildly off course from the start. So they hid the manual they were planning to provide just to see how far she'd go.
Now, with growth at the midway point, Wakamo is torn over whether to reset the tower since [Wakamo Floor 1] is holding steady and start raising it from scratch again.
Even introducing Yu Ying on Floor 10 was the Korean Tower's intent to turn her into a "shrine maiden."
Just what direction will the chaotic, haphazard idol life of Wakamo Inarizushi as a VTuber fox goddess take from here...?
"Asuka, if you don't want to get hit, watch your step."
"Sorry."
For some reason, as if struck by a monster wave, Wakamo told the narrating Asuka to pipe down, then let out a deep sigh.
Just as she said, with [Wakamo Floor 1] still holding, they could just reset the tower and retrain from the beginning.
But now? After all that hardship, suddenly switch genres to a training sim?
Did the Korean Tower really not know that Wakamo would dive into fire for dopamine as a VTuber?
Even if they flashed a barrage of attack skills, if a VTuber skill was mixed in, she'd pick it without hesitation.
"There is not a single regret in my VTuber life!!!!"
"But you were too busy to watch the concert last time, right?"
"Arrrghhhhhh!!!!!"
Wakamo spat blood and collapsed at Asuka's single remark.
She wailed face-down on the floor, watching her VTuber concert—unrecorded live stage, impossible to rewatch—fade into the distant horizon.
"Gyaahhh!! Graaahhh!!! My VTuber concert!!!!"
You might have forgotten, but... the reason she risked her life climbing the tower was to see the 7th gen debut on Virtual Live 3D next year, attend the Virtual Live Festival concert, hit up collab cafes, and more—she staked her life on it all.
"Eheheheeeeh!! Ahihihihih!!!"
She was such a maniac that any normal person would think, "What's wrong with this freak?"
"Give it back! My coooooncert!!! My live concert aaaaaah!!!"
"Uh... sorry. Please calm down..."
This was standard for those who job-changed into Legendary Classes.
If you think about it, aren't they the tower's acknowledged top lunatics of humanity?
Among them, the absurd penalty of death upon hitting zero mana.
The tower never forces climbers to climb.
It's more like, "If you wanna, go for it—but do you really have to?"
Of course, you can't forget that only those with the will and goal to climb become climbers in the first place.
In a world like that, what meaning does "common sense" hold for someone climbing not because "if you don't climb, you die!" but "if you don't climb, you miss VTuber streams!!!"?
Even if she applied for a VTuber viewer participation stream, she wouldn't play FPS games solo because if she ended up on the same team as the VTuber and messed up, she'd want to die.
Why? Because she'd suck. Because her screw-up turns a winning fight into a loss... Wakamo might die from the guilt shock.
"There is no way I'm the only one at 7%!!! Everyone assemble!!!!"
The first [Assembly Order] issued by the president since Wakamo Corporation opened its doors.
Well-rested employees, managers, and acquaintances all rushed in, wondering what was up, gathering at the Idol Shrine on [Wakamo Floor 1].
"Whoa, everyone really showed up."
"You called for us!"
"You, you're the council chairman!! Is it okay for you to just drop everything like this?!"
"Don't you know the secret to office life is showing up when called?"
Wakamo wiped her face seeing Yong Wei mixed in with the group.
She'd only texted Sadako, Yu Ying, Won Da-hye, and Adelheid.
But each must have texted others asking if Wakamo issued an assembly order and what was going on, spreading the word.
Wakamo tensed up seeing even the Fist King and Korean Association President there.
She wondered why the Japanese ninja was hanging around—maybe subbing for the Japanese Association President?
After a moment's thought, Wakamo realized she couldn't just brush it off with "Oh, it's nothing~ hehe" given the star-studded lineup, so she decided to spill the classified info.
"...Everyone, I received know-how from the tower on how to raise [Climbers]. No... you're all people I can trust... so I'll lay it out."
"I'm Kira."
"Yeah, I'm the god of the new world. Kira—Asuka?"
"Sorry."
Wakamo ruffled Asuka's hair wildly as she apologized quickly, then told everyone to sit and placed the [Unique]-grade item [Know-How for Raising Climbers] in the center for all to see.
Instead of shock at the unheard-of item, they just reacted like "Wakamo being Wakamo again," leaving her a bit hurt.
Just what do they all think of me?
"You all know my class is [Idol], right?"
"Yep."
Looking at the smiling Korean Association President, Wakamo recalled the manager's complaints about too few climbers in Korea and how she hated Korean climbers who abandoned the country coming back.
Turning to meet the Fist King's eyes, who asked with his expression if she was finally revealing it, Wakamo nodded.
"I can create [Climbers]. The condition is a penalty making [Tower Entry] impossible if I die."
"So basically no penalty at all?"
Everyone jumped up in shock at the bombshell.
"You can make them!? Climbers?! Artificially?!"
Especially the new Chinese government, which had spilled much blood rebuilding and was still struggling with too few climbers despite losing territory. Even with more leeway than Korea, Yong Wei and the Association President shot up, doubting their ears as they demanded confirmation from Wakamo—it was that astonishing.
Because no Legendary Class had ever produced climbers before!
"I knew it. Revealing it now means... that item must be incredible!!"
"Wait, you knew? ...Right, it was something to keep secret."
"Sharing that means... Lady Wakamo! Such trust! Yong Wei is moved!!"
The Fist King stayed calm, but guessed the item's value was beyond imagination from her revealing the truth.
It was that kind of item. Though it did hurt climbers' feelings quite a bit.
Otherwise, just minor stuff like seeing what [Class] a civilian would get if they became a climber?
The Association President grumbled about why she hadn't told him, but conceded it was smart given unknown spies in the Korean Climber Association. Yong Wei nearly bowed in感動, forgetting dignity, until Wakamo stopped him.
This elder's only flaw was being too into the Three Kingdoms.
"So, Lady Wakamo. What exactly is that item?"
Making climbers was amazing, but Jackson asked what it had to do with that raising item.
Wakamo looked at him with eyes reserved for the world's most pitiable soul, inwardly anxious: What if this guy's aptitude is higher than mine...?
"It lets you check [Legendary Class] training progress, tells you how to raise them, and identifies unknown skills accordingly."
"What... did you say..."
"And for reference!! I'm at 7%!! The Idol class is about building forces by raising climbers, apparently!! Not barbarically climbing the tower like this!!!"
Wakamo wailed in genuine hurt and grievance, but the reactions were unexpected.
Everyone there just gave looks like, "Isn't that obvious...?"
If anything, they coldly shot back that barbarically climbing with a non-combat Legendary Class was the real abnormality, shutting Wakamo's mouth tight.
This isn't the reaction I wanted.... What's going on.... Am I the weird one...?
"Lady Wakamo! You are the world's strongest!! Don't get down!! The undisputed king of sorcery...!! No need to follow the tower's scripted path. The path you blaze is the royal road!!"
"Mr. Yong Wei... you don't have to go that far... Wanna swap with Asuka?"
"What. Lady Wakamo!! I can suck ass better!!"
"No, what crazy talk is that, Asuka?"
"I learned it online. I saw a unicorn VTuber doing onahole ASMR! Asuka can do that too!!!"
"Out."
Now seemingly used to it, Asuka shoved her butt into the trash can and curled up like an upside-down hermit crab.
"Now, Miss Adelheid... since you're still low-floor, could you use [Know-How for Raising Climbers] and tell us your progress?"
"Yes!! Let's see... Current training progress is... 54%. Hmm... nothing off-track since she only picked artist-fitting skills?"
If that's perfect, what am I?
Wakamo made a hurt face, and Adelheid laughed "I'll hang myself" while pulling out her carving knife.
Wakamo hugged her tight, reassuring her it wasn't her fault—no, precisely to stop her from seppuku on her own belly.
"Mine's 93% as a [Shifter]... no big issues?"
"Boss, check this: [Shape-Shift] wizards can invest in strength and agility? Progress 100%. Whoa~ total lucky bitch─☆"
"Sachan, Yu Ying no big problem either. Progress 85%.... Probably 'cause invested in raw meat series snacks....?"
Afterward, checking their progress and training routes via [Know-How for Raising Climbers], everyone was mostly fine.
Meanwhile, Sadako hit 100% perfectly without a guidebook, leaving Wakamo speechless.
She excels at VTubing and climbing? Kinda jealous.
"Hm, learned collector series collection skills, combat tech self-taught... progress 95%."
The fellow Legendary Class Collector had insanely high progress.
Even if Adelheid was still growing, someone basically done should be at 95%—a twinge of envy rose.
The ninja clapped happily at his own 90%, while Fist King and Association President boasted theirs were over 90% too.
"No!!! What?! Making money by building structures and selling resources?! I want to build!! Not run factories!!! Charging climbers fees? Are you kidding me!!!"
And Jackson, notebook in hand, cursing the heavens with roars and wails.
[Architect] was a class that fleeced climbers for cash and put it to use.
Build useful facilities, charge for use... it even had [Forced Collection] or [Tax] skills, making him sob tears of blood.
His progress, built on true passion for architecture...
"Only 3%?! This can't be!! FUCK!!!"
"Come to my arms, Jackson!!"
"Eheheheeng!!"
Together we're barely 10%.... In shared sorrow, they embraced and wept hot tears.
No metrics on raising Legendary Classes, so climbers raise as they please.
This tower bastard totally missed the dev intent? Uneducated. They stamped it and flopped down.
They clung, weeping wordlessly in grief for a long time.
Our efforts, our pursued ideals and dreams.
But the tower only judges practical job aspects—how can it be so cruel, vicious, ruthless?
"Jackson─!! The tower's 'excellent Legendary Class' talk is bullshit!! Climbers climbing their way!! Doing what they want!! What's wrong with that!! So what if the tower laughs!! Our dreams don't end!!!"
"Wooooh──!!! Tower can say what it wants!!! We have our dreams and ideals!!!"
Skipping preset skill trees meant harsh Legendary penalties with no gains, massive losses—but these two wouldn't bend.
Their deepening friendship only made those with high scores jealous.
Especially Yong Wei, the most envious.
"But Sadako, investing all in [Shape-Shift] means you gotta spec strength and agility?"
"That's what it says."
"Total shit job..."
"Facts─!! Jeheheheheha!!"
Sadako burst out laughing so hard it felt refreshing, clutching her belly at how wizards skipping magic for this tree was insane from the start.
Yu Ying wondered what criteria it used for climber class progress.
If aggregating global climber data, it wouldn't explain Legendary Classes.
Probably notes on the most ideal path for [designed classes].
'Then what about [Emperor]?'
This Legendary Class wouldn't exist without Wakamo getting the imperial seal as a reward, right?
Curious, Yu Ying held her crown and opened the manual—surprisingly, info appeared.
[※This class is a revamped version based on [Idol].]
Yu Ying quietly closed the notebook.
The countless [Skills] abandoned because Wakamo didn't pick them... come to think of it, both Idol and Emperor need followers.
The tower minimized flaws, maximized pros, and pushed the crown at Yu Ying like "Great job!"
She'd come back for it later, but for now tossed it in the trash.
Better to bury this truth in darkness.
※※※
"So, to sum up, using Manager (Shaman) Recruitment removes learning restrictions on skills for [Climbers] Lady Wakamo creates?"
"But at huge cost."
"Like betting affinity in a training sim, but no skip button in reality."
Short explanation: Climbers need to climb high for more [Skills].
Wakamo buys [Skills] with points, then spends extra stats to have [Shrine Maidens] learn them.
Even 10,000 points might not cut it.
"You climbed the American Tower, but all you got were materials, [Shooter] gear mountains, and gold piles?"
"Still, got decent [Faith]. 180 points from 3 per floor over 60."
Last one was generous.
Extra stats for conquering the tower.
The manual? No clue why American Tower gave it.
Did she really snatch it from the Korean Tower that hid it?
[Status Window]
[Climber: Wakamo Inarizushi]
[Job: VTuber]
[Age: 1,000 years old]
[Stats]
Magic Power: 1,500,000
Idol's Apostle: 1,750,000
[Additional Stat Points: 484]
[Faith: 582]
Seriously generous.
A grand "super-alliance" flourish at the end?
Did I show Korean Tower how stingy it was? Reward making her consider conquering its 100th floor and switching.
Of course, conquerors say extra stats are standard and they give [Skills] too...
Whatever! Used to it, no hurt feelings.
"Can make about 48 climbers now."
"That many...?"
"Can teach 4 high-tier skills too."
Without using [Faith].
Wakamo suggested experimenting with 20 each for China and Korea.
Japan had plenty, so compromise at 8—Fist King agreed.
Specifically, pick 8 from his dojo. Better talented folks under trusted teachers anyway?
Honestly, Wakamo wanted "reliable people" over talent or class.
Office life... mutual respect, competent workers.
Of course, everyone wildly misinterpreted her "betrayal-proof reliable human" criteria.
Setting that aside, they discussed info leaks.
Most agreed Fist King's disciples were riskiest.
"If extra stats are cost, better use on my daughter. She joined under you to get strong, right?"
"Ah."
"Sadako?"
Sadako shattered his fatherly love without mercy.
Didn't she say that? Fist King facepalmed at her chewing her finger with the world's dumbest look.
"I'll raise your daughter well."
"Please do..."
"Sadako, wanna learn sorcery?"
"Too dumb, impossible."
"Figures..."
No need to resemble Wakamo in useless ways.
Asuka sparkled from the trash can that she could learn.
Come to think, Asuka's training was totally neglected.
.......
.....
[Status Window]
[Climber: Wakamo Inarizushi]
[Job: VTuber]
[Age: 1,000 years old]
[Stats]
Magic Power: 1,500,000
Idol's Apostle: 1,750,000
[Additional Stat Points: 84]
[Faith: 582]
[Believers: 41].
".....How's the judgment work?"
Subscribers count as believers boosting magic power.
If it counts climbers she made as believers, that's +41 mana?
It didn't show for the 1 test in Japan, but 40 at once registered it.
Varied classes, even gave American Tower trash... rewards to the [Shooter] from Korean Tower.
"....Shouldn't have looked at the guide."
Suddenly deflated.
She customized her VTuber class her way, then devs pop out like "Nah, that's not how. Total trash build~"—tension drop inevitable.
Researched 175 [Mana] weaknesses and counters with Manager Won Da-hye.
Checked raised climbers, discussed final Seoul reclamation op.
Listened to reports on mystery [Chimera Monsters] steadily descending from Russia—doing unrelated civil servant work might sap her VTuber motivation more.
"Where's our workplace? Humility says look down?"
Job made her question: VTubing is a real job too, right?
As president, am I providing proper welfare?
Where does Wakamo Corporation rank among SMEs?
"Usually when you open your anus."
"Really gotta lower my gaze."
"Both of you, out of the house."
Yu Ying snapped at Asuka and Sadako's nonsense.
"Sachan! Yu Ying can do shrine maiden great!! Let me!!"
"Planning to have Manager Won Da-hye debut as bear VTuber. Wait a bit, Yu Ying."
"You're saying that with manager here?"
"I'm a truth-pursuing, no-secrets VTuber!!!"
Done repping Korea diligently at Climber Association, now VTuber stream time.
Wakamo hoped for group 50-floor climbs.
Manager Won Da-hye was exasperated at the VTuber plot, shoving her schedule.
"Don't you have Baldur's Craft too?"
"You tricked me, manager!!!"
Suspicious promising to explain after gathering—terror again!!!
Wakamo wailed in despair, now routine, ignored by manager telling her to prep the stream.
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Author doodles: 2 pages today.
Got 4 from the AI artist.
Discarded 1 for being too bad, uploading 2.
Always think it, but progress so fast, art industry worrying...
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