Adelheid von Bismarck.
Her life could be described as truly marked by tragedy.
When she tightly held her mother’s hand and went to the National Gallery in Berlin to see the works of Adolf Menzel.
She expressed her sincere dream that she, too, wanted to become a painter like him.
Diving into the art world… it’s not as glamorous, free, or romantic as it seems.
It can be said that every day is like survival. It’s also a field where it’s hard to guarantee a livelihood.
Not to mention, there’s the so-called “passion pay.”
Would it be possible to worry about survival every day, barely scraping by for months?
When doing art, the chances of such experiences are surprisingly high.
There’s a reason many artists have lots of grey hair.
Juggling school studies, material costs, and living expenses, all while being in a constantly changing art world, and hearing that dealing with creativity isn’t lucrative.
Without connections, breaking into the art market isn’t easy, so becoming a tutor on the side was something to consider.
Nevertheless, she dreamed of becoming an artist.
Born in places like Germany, France, Italy, and England—where one can be exposed to so much art.
Thus, creating works, drawing, and studying, she began gaining fame as an exceptionally young genius painter.
The future seemed bright. Her parents supported her and watched over her.
Of course, claiming she had to become self-reliant, they barely provided support, making her rely on the art support policies run by the German government—selling her works to somehow pay for school, attending a specialized high school and preparing for art college exams.
Then at the age of nineteen.
As a high school student, the Tower bestowed upon her the ridiculous profession of ‘Artist.’
With tasks like drawing only 10,000 paintings and crafting 500 sculptures… For someone who had been doing art since age seven, these were exceedingly easy conditions.
With only about twelve conditions to meet in terms of art, she not only fulfilled them but exceeded them, including impressing people with 1,000 works of art.
To be recognized as an artist by the Tower!
She was concerned about ascending the Tower since she hadn’t even fought or done any sports, but with politicians coming and cameras rolling—the anticipation and dream that her life would soar once more made her…
Finally, when she entered the Tower and kicked an aging Goblin, even swinging a sculptor’s knife did no damage.
She then checked the description of her [Skill].
Even when she showed a sculpture of wood… she had never heard of killing a monster through art.
Literally having to kill monsters artistically—how was that even possible?
Eventually, among the Legendary Classes, she was the weakest.
While there were kings in England and legendary classes in other countries.
The first legendary class to come out of Germany was treated as a disgrace that tarnished the country’s reputation, and her life as an artist, where fame was especially important, fell into ruin.
A Legendary Class who couldn’t even climb the first floor of the Tower.
Unfortunately, an Engineer appeared at that timing.
The government tried to erase her existence out of embarrassment and shame, while the Engineer seized that chance to succeed and then turned into the [Six Legged Beast] and betrayed the German government.
Her parents, unable to endure the public’s criticism, severed ties with her.
Not only could she not attend high school, but she was expelled for tarnishing the school’s reputation.
Her preparation for art college also failed, being delayed due to confusion.
In an instant, she found herself on the streets, trying to hold on and survive as an artist with her dwindling savings.
However, in the end, she had to rely on anonymity, wandering the internet, taking commissions, and scraping by.
Yet the money she had left dwindled, paying off debt interests from lawsuits, and her body was breaking down from overworking to pay them off.
When she came to her senses, four years had passed by the time she was 23.
All that remained for Adelheid von Bismarck was a diagnosis of stage 2 pancreatic cancer.
She couldn’t even afford rent, nobody was buying her artwork—even the ‘Architect’ contacted her occasionally truly because he pitied her predicament. But still, he seemed to have found his life’s happiness, “wondering how life ended up like this.”
Looking down at the Spree River in Berlin, she lamented the youthful days that sparkled, all the efforts she put towards her dreams.
Feeling despair as everything crumbled because of the Tower, she drank the remaining alcohol she’d bought with her last money.
“Hah… In the next life… I don’t want to become a Climber but wish to do art….”
Even after not eating for a week and starving, her insane passion for art remained.
Adelheid regretted not being able to carve because she couldn’t afford materials more than starving due to having no money.
An incompetent climber who couldn’t ascend the first floor… a failed artist in art college admissions.
She was an unfortunate life with no place to go.
“Oh—Dear God. Please… let me be born in an era where art can be pursued in the next life…”
With “AI click,” as her illustrations and styles were stolen and even the last of her jobs were taken by others,
People kept choosing “click” over expensive payments because it learned so well from her great art.
She truly felt it could be described as a tragedy. Maybe it ended up like this because she didn’t lower her prideful prices.
“Since it’s come to this, maybe being a mermaid ginger in the next life wouldn’t be so bad…”
“Adelheid von Bismarck?”
A voice calling her name.
The only ones who called her were the landlord collecting rent and officials collecting her debt, so who could this new voice be, she wondered as she looked up.
Before anything else, she saw a chest. A massive chest.
Feeling a sense of strangeness, she tilted her neck further back.
Tilting so much she almost fell into the river, Wakamou caught her and lifted her upright.
‘Finally found you.’
Wakamou, after searching around Berlin and hearing she was evicted for not paying rent, was shocked to find her.
Gray hair, eyes with a green glow. And the tired eyes that looked like they were sick. Exactly as Jackson described, but because of uncertainty, he asked for her name again.
“You are Adelheid, right?”
“Y-Yes..”
Wakamou, who was picking up light as a feather Adelheid, inspected her thoroughly.
Even a gigantic woman was surprising, but with fox ears, Adelheid was startled briefly. She immediately realized who she was. The highest climber of Korea, whom it’s impossible not to know among today’s climbers—none other than Wakamou Inarizushi!
“To be blunt, I’m here to recruit you. On Jackson’s recommendation.”
“…Me? Um… Sorry, but I’m terminally ill…”
“Then just climb the Tower, right?”
“Huh…”
“If you can climb, it’s fine!”
“Wh-What…?”
Her spirit felt different. Should I say it was overwhelming?
The intimidation of statues of Greek heroes combined with a sense of life made the already gloomy and dejected Adelheid unable to speak, observing timidly.
Thinking Wakamou came on Jackson’s and the Architect’s recommendation, despite knowing about her pancreatic cancer and debts, was surprising.
“Eh… I’m sorry. I’m too indebted, so I can’t leave Germany…”
“How much?”
“…100,000 Euros..?”
Bang─!
Wakamou barged into the German tax office. The massive woman appeared so suddenly, and the staff were overwhelmed, but somewhere came this suspicious cash despite all odds, bags of money thumping on the floor in front of them.
The atmosphere was so overwhelming that they couldn’t even tell her to take a number, and they found Adelheid hanging like luggage on her waist. Some pitied her for her unpaid debts and terminal illness, calling her a disgrace to Germany, but…
What exactly is her relationship with this giant?
“100,000 Euros, in a lump sum.”
“What?”
“I’m paying my debts!!”
Wakamou boasted her money by boldly paying it all at once.
Being tied with lots of other payments she had to make, Wakamou told them to contact the Korean government, and before getting entangled with the Engineer, she whisked Adelheid away. Without using airports, using the cameras she left behind to warp from Germany to Korea instantly!!
It was an unprecedented climber kidnapping case, but Manager Wanda Haye, who was standing by, reassuredly waved her hand to let go with a resigned expression as she traveled to Germany.
Since she had been a famous artist before, it wasn’t a huge relief that she only had about 100 million in debt (?)
Wakamou had also asked Aoi Asuka to assist Manager Wanda Haye just in case.
“Artist!”
“Architect!”
“You really brought her? Wow…”
Jackson didn’t expect her to be kidnapped and brought back within a day when she brought Adelheid, who had been safely housed on the first floor of Wakamou.
He could only marvel at Wakamou’s insane ability to take action.
Thus, the tragic tale brought upon by the Tower… the three non-combat Legendary Classes gathered in one place.
“Just one more, and this is it.”
“Is this Puyopuyo?”
One without money would be like an ordinary person, one would die without mana and believers, and one had to climb the Tower but had a combat ability of 0.
Briefly exchanging pathetic, sympathetic glances at each other.
Bringing her over changed nothing in solving the fundamental problems.
Because the effect of [Loving the Art] treated the body as an art tool, there was no damage to be dealt.
Not just killing but having to kill artistically was the ironic contradiction.
No matter what, the assumption that climbers should climb towers, even non-combat roles had their limits, right?
“Right before dying, make some sicklolicon with only armpits to repay—”
“No, please stop saying crazy things, Adelheid. There must be a plan for you.”
“Can you show your status, to start?”
“Umm… I’ll show it here….”
Hesitatingly, Adelheid had shown her stats.
[Status Window]
[Climber: Adelheid von Bismarck]
[Class: Artist]
[Age: 23]
[Stats]
Health: 10
Fame: -3,456
Health: 1
Dexterity: 1,869.
Aesthetic Vision: 1,254
Art: -3,456
Luck: -3,456
Insight: 893
“?”
“?”
Jackson couldn’t understand it, and Wakamou couldn’t either. What is dexterity, aesthetic vision, and insight? Why is fame negative and art and luck negative…? Was pancreatic cancer from having no luck?
“When your fame decreases… heh… you become unhappy… so nothing works… and since it’s terminal. I’m just hoping that maybe my works will sell well if I commit suicide….”
“No, I don’t think I can be here anymore, Wakamou.”
“Shh, quiet. I’m about to lose it too.”
So if you slip up once and your reputation falls, you become unfortunate, and the Tower hints, “Commit suicide artistically”? Seeing this, what exactly did the Tower learn of Earth’s artists? Wakamou honestly wondered. Beyond missing the meaning, the shocking stats left Wakamou speechless too.
“Fucking!! HOLY SHIT!! This fucking satanic demonic bastard!!”
“The Tower doesn’t understand human hearts…!! To do this!! No human being could do such things!!”
“Isn’t it because it’s the German Tower…?”
“Strangely convincing when you say it like that.”
“Damn, it’s because I’m from the American Tower, huh.”
It suddenly started to seem that the Korean Tower was exceptionally gentle. Though it threatened with collapse, given these two’s situations, isn’t it rather a goddess for allowing “twisting the body” to clear somehow? From today, decided to be a bit kinder to the Tower from now on.
Judging by the fact that it also gave a viewer participation skill, the Tower should be favorable towards me.
“First, we’re doing a [Tower Reset] and going for the Incheon Tower. Got it?”
“Can someone like me… climb the tower? No, sorry to the Master who paid off my debts, sob… I’ll work to ruin until my body breaks. Raise me like a dog… Gasp! Don’t they eat dogs in Korea…?”
“Isn’t Wakamou a fox, so she can eat dogs?”
“Winning the hunt against dogs and eating them as a fox… Such courage and fighting spirit incomparable to a mere bug like me…. Sob sob… I’ll hang myself….”
“Don’t die!!”
Aside from that, I don’t eat dogs!! What kind of barbaric talk are these foreigners rambling?!
After living such a turbulent life, Adelheid developed such a pessimistic personality, large tears streaming from her squinty eyes and trembling with a weak voice, it was miserable, so she was fed first.
“What is this! It’s nothing but bones and skin!”
“You’re nothing but skin and bones!!”
“I’ve been living off just water for a week… Hehe…”
“I can’t stand this!!”
Adelheid shoved food into her mouth so fast she couldn’t even swallow, resulting in a messy upchuck. Claiming it had been years since she’d eaten meat, her pitiful tale brought tears to Wakamou’s eyes. The Legendary Class had ruined the life of a bright young artist!
“Munch… Munch…”
When given soft bread and soup to be gentle on her stomach, she started eating heartily.
Having such a small build, it seemed she had hardly eaten during her growth period. She was as short as Liu Ying, who was still growing, while Adelheid had most likely already passed the age for growth spurts, invoking even greater pity.
“So, Wakamou, what’s the plan…?”
“You can only equip art-related tools, right?”
Wakamou said this as he pulled out a knife that looked very much like a dagger. In any view, it seemed like a weapon.
Upon being asked about this odd tool, the response was a simple [Chisel].
Though curious about how it worked, Jackson refrained from probing too deeply.
“Wanna hear more?”
“This is a…”
“Chisel.”
“No matter how you look at it…”
“Chisel.”
“It really is a chisel!”
Indeed, using [VTuber Asset], Wakamou had created this dagger. Filling an empty slot with a dagger, he insisted on calling it a [Chisel].
Chisel means stationery… Indeed, it’s an art tool.
There aren’t many items with the same name in the Tower, are there?
It looks like a dagger, but it’s called a [Chisel].
Because Wakamou declared it, and the Tower allowed it, it’s a chisel!
‘This actually works… holy…’
They had exploited the Tower’s quirks in this attempt.
Because Wakamou crafted and named the so-called [Chisel] himself, he was confident it would work, and it did!
‘If worse comes to worse, we can infiltrate the Tower itself to help her grow… Even attach a camera, manipulate the knife, and stab if necessary…’
Though unsure if the difficulty would rise later, Wakamou decided it was important to save her first.
Without mana, she couldn’t even utilize 90% of her skills.
The artist class packed with Germany Tower’s malice.
Demerit-laden at first glance, indicating that its strengths were hidden beneath penalties.
Climbers surprisingly transform with just one level.
“[Enter Tower]!”
Wakamou watched through the camera attached to Adelheid as she vanished before her eyes and entered the first floor of Incheon Tower.
[Oil Slime] wriggled its way toward Adelheid with menace.
“He… Helpp!!”
With a weak and shakey swipe that seemed too puny to even swat a fly, she poked at the Oil Slime. Even though it made contact with the blade, it didn’t seem to take any damage or be sliced.
However, Wakamou had imbued mana in the chisel’s blade, ripping apart the Oil Slime.
And a congratulatory clear message resonated.
“Wow… Wow! I did it! I did it!!”
How long the time of sorrow had been.
Almost four years, trying numerous times to enter the Tower and climb, only to fail repeatedly.
Every possible measure and means had been tried, but with such an absurd class that prohibited even using consumables and scrolls, hope seemed nonexistent…
Until a savior arrived and rescued her!
“Wakamou, my light… my life… my peace!! Oioioi, Hoppla!!”
Adelheid took a cute leap of joy and confused dance step toward the second level.
What skill did she gain? Wakamou didn’t care much.
He merely awaited her return.
“……”
“……”
“……”
“…Why isn’t she back yet?”
“Give her a little more time… It’s her first climb in four years.”
“You’re right… I got so fed up with climbing I gave up.”
“…….”
“…….”
“Jackson, how long has it been?”
“Four hours since entry. Is she alright?”
“The camera didn’t follow to the second level…”
“Ah…..”
Following up to the entrance but not able to track the climb, the camera remained on the first level and turned off. This suggested she was climbing the Tower… somehow.
What kind of skill did she gain? Curiosity was piqued, but waiting was all they could do. There was no way to force her out.
Checking if the name inscribed in the Tower wasn’t erased, Jackson joined Wakamou in waiting for Adelheid’s return.
Seven hours passed this way.
While Wakamou and Jackson played tag team on a gaming console, a worn-out Adelheid staggered out of the Tower.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m alright! Wakamou! I am truly a happy child…! When I failed to get into art school, it all seemed cursed, but… it was to meet Wakamou!”
“You do look alright… yeah…”
“I’ll work even harder now! A me who isn’t needed by Wakamou is useless!! Uh heehee… Uh heehee… From now on, I’ll work hard for a festival of blood for Wakamou!! Sacrificing for the Idol’s art!!”
“Was she always like this?”
“The Legendary Class ruined her.”
“The value of life that can only be felt when driven to death’s brink… Its beauty… Art made by sculpting life…!! The timeless art the Tower desires!! Wakamou, I climbed ten floors in one go! I did well, right? Adelheid is useful, right? Right??!”
“What’s that psychiatric helpline number again….”
“Ah, if I’m useless to Wakamou, I might as well die!!”
“No, you are needed. Long-term, I want you to join our company and become a VTuber.”
“I’ll work hard…!”
The gleam in her eyes was filled with madness. The thrill of climbing the Tower had sent her adrenaline wild… Suddenly, the girl who had lost it to depression had become a manic mess. But on second thought, it was fortunate that I don’t feel pain even if I get stabbed. Getting stabbed isn’t a problem!!
“Managed to save a person, Jackson…”
“The Tower is bad…”
“The feeling still lingers on my fingertips… the sensation of taking life…! The breath stopping and eyes fading… It feels like I’m killing the incompetent Adelheid I saw in the mirror every day, a peculiar pleasure… A new form of self-harm… yes, this is art!!”
Blood dripped from the chisel handed by Wakamou.
He decided to embrace the young lady as she trembled, calming her as she began crying again in sorrow. It was quickly diagnosed as bipolar disorder, and a call was made to the manager.
Though it would mean more work for the manager traveling from Germany to South Korea, it was unavoidable.
If he asked Aoi Asuka, she’d probably yell, “AI must die!” and stab him with a knife.
‘The first batch will have to be raised separately…’
“Ah, a menhera reminds me of a certain VTuber I long ago…”
“Aren’t you feeling nostalgic at such a time?”
“Even if I get stabbed, for a VTuber, it’s fine.”
“….?”
Only insane people belong to the Legendary Class.
Thus, Adelheid von Bismarck newly settled into the first tier under Wakamou.
As a pre-VTuber, he wished he could just bring her home and care for her, but suddenly escorting someone would be a problem. Instead, he arranged for her to stay with Mei Xiao Long Bao.
His plan included Mei, Adelheid, and perhaps 1-2 additional members for the initial group of First Generation.
“I must climb the Tower… Adelheid… you want to be loved by Wakamou, don’t you… Show your gratitude with art… VTuber is a place to get attention, huh? What if I’m hated by all? No, if that happens Wakamou will comfort me…? I don’t want to be abandoned, don’t want to be abandoned, don’t want to be abandoned…”
“You won’t be abandoned.”
“Really?!”
“But you know there’s an AI among the seniors, right?”
“I’m fine… I’m fine!! I won’t lose to some AI─!!!! As an artist for Wakamou, I’ll show off my talent certified by the Tower! Such garbage AI can be scrapped─”
“No, it’s a VTuber senior. He draws his own.”
“How do I get close to the seniors…?”
Nervously scratching her neck and darting her eyes anxiously, Adelheid asked how to earn the affection of her seniors and avoid Wakamou’s displeasure. Jackson, checking in, took a tiny peek through the window and bolted away without turning back.
“They’re all nice. Surely, they’ll welcome you from the heart…. So should we create your VTuber character?”
“I like Ginger who was discarded like me by those who disdain art… Ginger curls, an orange feel… Ah… The Little Mermaid… Ah!! Why doesn’t anyone understand art!! But Wakamou, simply existing, is a beloved Idol… Hehehe… I’ll paint and sculpt… A pure gold statue at the city center lacks artistry… I’ll tell Jackson to rebuild it… Uh hehe…”
“Mmh… Thanks to cancer being cured. What does Adelheid do in her spare time?”
“Painting.”
“Besides painting?”
“Painting.”
“Besides that?”
“Painting.”
“There’s Tower climbing, right?”
“Art made from monster blood!! Haa.. Haa..!! Can you see this crimson red filled with life?! I want to show Wakamou this color before it fades…!!”
“I see─”
The future of the First Generation is dark and bleak. But perhaps it’s bright from a VTuber perspective? She’d like to carry a camera, wear a backpack, have light gear, and orange hair… Most importantly, the name…
“Using the name of Adolf Menzel, the 19th-century realist painter who I first fell for…. Let’s go with Adolf Lucia…. Hehe…”
A noble light wolf walking the artist’s path…!
But since Wakamou handles animal characters, she refrained from crossing that line, so it was just a name, she stated with a chuckle.
Mei, after a brief contemplation, drafted the First Generation debut concept for the café.
[A tragic artist from Germany who failed the art entrance exam, Adolf, set to debut with the First Generation!!].
‘With this, those crazy tales will be surely overshadowed’
The First Generation the debut with Mei Xiao Long Bao. Though they still needed one or two more, finding them might not be so easy.
“Mei! How about asking Jackson to round up and trap those vile slanderers of Wakamou, and cooking them like pottery?”
“A German shouldn’t say such things!”
“Sauerkraut-loving Nazis ought to be burned with the German Tower for world peace, Mei!!! I can’t forgive, I can’t forgive, I can’t forgive…. I did nothing wrong…. I’ll conquer them with success, make them regret… Never mind, all I want is to impress Wakamou and meet the seniors!!”
Mei Xiao Long Bao quietly called in a mental health consultation consultant at her home.
Four years of harsh treatment and slander left Adelheid mentally exhausted.
With the chisel given by Wakamou, she dreamt of elevating her art, chuckling with eyes wild.
“Do you enjoy drip coffee? Would you like a cup? Does Wakamou like coffee? The seniors? Jackson said he doesn’t… He’s so dark…”
“What?”
Can she be alright… this child… Mentally stable…
Mei ardently hoped the consultant could help, as the First Generation’s first member already seemed unstable.
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