“Ten years since Seoul turned into that state. How long has it been since we’ve had good news?”
High-rise buildings show a sky-piercing Tower of Babel.
The wrinkled old man, gazing beyond the hundred-story tower that doesn’t suit South Korea, towards the direction of the once-brilliant capital of the Republic of Korea, was smiling.
At 60 years old, it might be hard to call him old in this current aging society, but the ups and downs of his life had been quite dramatic over the past decade.
“Association President, we’ve obtained information about the climbers of the Incheon Tower.”
“I’ve been anxiously waiting. I was so excited that I haven’t even had my favorite strawberry milk.”
“Perhaps one should moderate the consumption of dairy at your age…”
“Must be nice to be young! Haha!!”
The woman, with torn stockings, a crumpled suit, unwashed hair for several days, and hollow eyes, placed a stack of documents on the table. The Association President retorted, sounding somewhat sulky, that if youth was the case, then perhaps excessive caffeine consumption wasn’t good either in response to the surveillance team’s manager’s scolding.
“What do you think, Manager Wanda Haye?”
To the young lady whom he trusted the most and whimsically branded as the next Association President, Yoo Kyung-yeon, President of the Korean Climbers Association, inquired. Though he called it ten years, it seemed to him as if only ten years had passed.
The sudden rise of the tower in Seoul. The ruling party regulated the awakened as potential risks that could explode at any moment, while the opposition sought to recruit such awakeners—a multitude of parties pursued the excessive power that individuals possessed. There even was, at one point, something like the Incheon Climbing Workers Union.
The thought of how much blood had been shed before the climbers’ association, established for tower measures, even came into being was something he didn’t even want to consider.
If a tower is neglected for a certain period, its collapse rate increases. Further, if a lot of resources are extracted from it, it rises the same. However, climbing the tower decreases the collapse rate. In such a manner, resources are retrieved from the tower and gradually harvested layer by layer, allowing companies, guilds to which awakened are affiliated—and the new parties supporting them from behind—all to benefit.
Speaking of it now was exhausting.
Politics are tiring, especially when it was not a position he aspired to climb in the first place.
“A state conference will likely be held.”
From the moment climbers awaken, communication becomes possible even if they can’t read. So, each awakened soul, exhausted by that nightmare of a day, might have departed, uncaring whether the country crumbled or not. There were still many voices of resentment towards the awakened who had left.
South Korea was the country with the fewest awakened in the world.
Ironically, with the proliferation of works like tower-climbing tales, should one laugh about a quick response to this? A country that once regulated adult novelties for adults. Truly, many things have changed now. The newly seated president, a corrupt elite more inclined to care for the upper class like guilds and companies than the citizens, was rather easy to deal with due to being an opportunist power-broker.
Yoo Kyung-yeon, as the Association President, always did his utmost to prevent the country from collapsing.
Neither guilds nor companies could ignore the Climber’s Association. It existed as the sole deterrent and simultaneously ensured that no climber-related crime occurred—thanks to it.
Seoul 77th floor tower strategy, Incheon 50th-floor tower strategy, Hwaseong 40th-floor tower strategy… With authority unmatched in South Korea and as the strongest of South Korea’s first-generation climbers, the power grasped with force was feasible.
His ideology had always revolved around the strategy of the tower.
Whether guilds, companies, or climbers were involved, as long as they strategized the tower, ensuring the tragedy in Seoul never occurred again sufficed.
But, with such an event unfolding unexpectedly, his lips couldn’t help but stay curled in a smile reaching his ears.
“Manager, I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Witnessing the Complete Strategy Layer in Korea was a first even for him.
Known as the Platinum Strategy within the tower, the Complete Strategy Layer that changed the color externally appeared in the Incheon Tower.
Starting from the issue of not knowing the strategy conditions at all. Even if, by any chance, one learned those conditions [as a Tower Reward], one would never gain the qualification to challenge that layer again once ascended. Even if one tried, having abandoned tower climbing and all skills and abilities reset to initial states, it would be the same. The only option was to provide information to another climber, but such occurrences were exceedingly rare.
Complete Strategy is rare but typically resolved by gaining such information, or sometimes hints existing within tower layers allow success.
The absolute condition is that any climber, upon reaching that point each time, is given only one opportunity.
In essence, it’s no different from telling climbers not to fulfill conditions.
However, the benefits granted by the Complete Strategy Layer are beyond imagination. Even non-climbers can enter through the tower, use modern scientific civilization as is—and, if necessary, utilize it as a shelter-like bunker. Furthermore, even without ascending the layer, with the long cycle, the internal environment of the tower restores itself. It implies providing virtually perpetual resources until the tower is conquered.
Numerous towers occasionally exhibited such Complete Strategy Layers.
But obtaining a Complete Strategy Layer from the first floor—is, undeniably, something that has never existed.
Now they’ve already reached the second floor.
“Did a returned climber saving annihilated humanity appear?”
“Please stop reading novels… It’d be better if it were a regression. The problem is it isn’t.”
Manager Wanda Haye showed a picture at the turn of the first page. No matter who looked, it was a character drawing. A 2D character, that is. Not knowing how to react, the Association President pondered respecting her taste, eventually deciding to calmly ask the young lady.
“Could you explain it so this old man can understand?”
“Wakamou Inarizushi. Standing at 243 cm tall, weighing 211 kg. A 1,000-year-old Fox Deity who, after being sealed away, was released into modern times and has been streaming for 5 years now as a str… I mean, a VTuber.”
“What’s a VTuber?”
“Well… It’s when someone uses such an image for personal broadcasting.”
Manager Wanda Haye explained with a somewhat befuddled expression. To be honest, it all sounded absurd to her as well.
The entry rights to the Complete Strategy Layer were given to the climber who strategized it, making them the de-facto owner of the layer, and the tower gloriously inscribed the name of the climber with honor… The name [Wakamou Inarizushi]! Of course, Manager also wanted to chide the subordinate asking if they’d had midday drinks, but unfortunately, it was reality.
“So, you’re saying someone who does virtual reality broadcasts is actually climbing? Does that mean they’re genuinely a thousand-year-old Fox Deity? If towers can rise, can’t such beings exist too?”
“Would the higher-ups accept that?”
“They must.”
The air thickened. The always-friendly Association President’s eyes gleamed like a beast’s. At long last, an excellent climber appeared in Korea; what did their identity matter? As long as they had no criminal record, that was enough. If any party intended to interfere with the climb or make unwarranted approaches, they must be prepared to see blood.
“But it’s fortunate they’re a broadcaster. Those people always mind their appearance and manage themselves. Of course, there are instances of getting drunk on fame or becoming excessively greedy—but try to make contact without ruffling any feathers, Manager. Isn’t that the sort of thing you like?”
With a dropkick to the President’s shin, Manager exited saying she understood. It was worthy of getting berated when one’s personal interests were mocked as a joke.
Talking about hobbies as if they were a joke, it was only natural to get teased.
In this day and age, everyone probably has a hobby or two like an otaku, so Association President couldn’t understand what she was so embarrassed about. But the reason she urgently ran out seemed to be elsewhere.
The world is full of extraordinary coincidences… Who would have guessed that someone they casually became a fan of by watching a stock broadcast, and who despite neglect, started a fan cafe and even became a manager, would be the head of the monitoring team at the Climber Association?
“Wow, no. Ha. What… this is driving me nuts.”
Pulling her hair in frustration, she was checking the YouTube channel, the cafe, and every potential communication route, but everywhere was utter chaos. All communities were in an uproar, naming the person who gifted the first Complete Strategy Layer to South Korea. The fact that it wasn’t even a person but a VTuber was the problem.
And that it was the osh of Wanda Haye who rarely broadcasts and just circles around other VTuber broadcasts, chatting all day as a Clipper!!
“Leader, start the broadcast!! What is this now!”
[A climber from Japan is illegally entering and climbing the Incheon Tower?!]
“Ugh!!!”
Meanwhile, the first page of internet news was filled with articles that hadn’t even been properly investigated yet.
The extravagant and lofty monument of honor that can be seen immediately upon entering the 100th floor of Incheon Tower bore a peculiar name. It wasn’t a name a Korean would typically have, and it was too bizarre to be Japanese. How could someone’s name be Inarizushi?
“It’s over.”
The broadcast’s chat could get messy, but she didn’t care; there’s no manager, as she handles her video editing herself, so there’s no editor. She knows the fan cafe exists, but never checks it. The only way to contact is to send an email, but knowing the ecosystem of VTubers… No, streamers, the mailbox would already be on fire. Contact info? No way.
“That crazy guy who was clipping and promoting to join the duel tournament until yesterday, why is he on the tower!”
Collaborated VTubers would have contact info.
“Is this right…?”
Is it really right to ask around like this?
Reluctantly, Manager Wanda Haye opened the door on the first floor of the association, and a flood of reporters swarmed in as rabid dogs, pelting her with questions. How could she even explain? Maybe it would’ve been better if he had smuggled from Japan to hide in Korea. That way Japan would have just lost a talented individual to Korea!!
But the Wakamou she knows is Korean!! Although she hates to admit it, he might actually be the Fox Deity..!!
And now she has to explain all that?
[Incheon Tower’s 3rd Layer opens to all humanity as Platinum conditions are achieved!!]
As if mocking her, a fanfare blared about, making her head hurt.
Having celebrated as they revered him as a God for his unerring stock investments just the day before, she was now engulfed with the thought that he might truly be the Fox Deity and couldn’t dare speak hasty words—only trembling.
All she could manage was posting a comment on Wakamou’s channel community to start the broadcast.
※※※
“Wow, look at the speed of those posts coming up.”
Opening the internet meant that live streaming was possible!!
“So that’s why no damage was taken on the 2nd floor.”
Sitting atop the corpse of the [Angry Boar] roaming around the 3rd floor, he pondered, but the outreach was beyond imagination, and with his channel’s mailbox also on fire, he blocked everything leading to a consolation of peace. It granted him some leisure.
[Status window]
[Climber: Wakamou Inarizushi]
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1Y2VIUWZiVkQ1UHFPVnhKWjVSVlBpd2RxTjF2RXM1MXp3MU9YNFo5VGk4aQ
[Occupation: VTuber]
[Age: 1,000 years]
[Stats]
Mana: 149,367
With his mana rising exponentially! Having caught something more vibrant than any algorithm, wasn’t it only natural? Having spread his name across South Korea… Despite asking VTuber acquaintances and Clipper friends what the situation was, that wasn’t even the priority.
[Internet Connection]
– Connect to the internet perceived by [Climber].
– Synchronize with video recording and Skills.
– Mana is consumed upon using a Skill.
Being connected to the internet meant….. games were also possible!
“With the free time, I’ll set up my duel deck for collaboration.”
Logging into the game to check his cards, he read the window in front of his eyes.
[Climbing the Incheon Tower 3rd Layer World]
– The tower has various monsters, let’s hunt [Angry Boar]!
[Platinum Achievement Conditions]
– Defeat using a weapon crafted on the 2nd layer (1/1)
– Defeat [Angry Boar] without taking any damage (1/1)
[The Platinum Strategy of the Tower enhances rewards]
“This time, I must definitely choose an attack skill.”
[Select one reward]
[Idol’s Flame]
– Ignite flames by consuming possessed mana.
[Idol’s Thunderbolt]
– Launch a lightning spear by consuming possessed mana.
[Revered God]
– Mana recovery speed increases in proportion to the number of believers.
[My Worlds]
– Identical function to 『Virtual Chat』.
– The quality of the room varies according to the number of [Climber’s] strategy layers.
– Summon a personal space of a small one-room size.
[Skill [My Worlds] acquired!]
“[Exit Tower]!!”
Returning home faster than the speed of light, he composed himself.
“[My Worlds]!”
Without even needing to identify what the skill was, he plunged his face into the portal that appeared in mid-air, checking the modest one-room form space and packed everything in hastily. Stashed away the bed first, grabbed the computer, and packed all his cherished VTuber collectibles, vacated the house before entering and shutting it.
Skills involving spatial capabilities…! A skill so valuable it could be counted among the rarest!!
And soon a brief contemplation.
Contemplation took but a moment, the resolve just a heartbeat. The amassed VTuber collection and the computer’s core he packed.
Although it required a myriad of hardships to attain this real estate…
If it obstructs my path as a VTuber, then it’s unnecessary…!!
Since I can go into the tower and come out in Incheon!!
Boldly, he set his own dwelling ablaze.
Never will I return again… not until I succeed as a VTuber….
“I’m sorry, Going Merry…!!!”
Tears flowed as he bid farewell to his home, and he threw himself into the portal.
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