LIGHTNOVELSTORY Wakamou Inarizushi the Clipper woke up from unsettling dreams one morning to find himself transformed into a giant Fox Deity in bed.
“Let’s stay calm for now.”
To be precise, it was before 6 AM in the morning. Now it’s 5 AM… In a little while, it’ll be 5 PM in New York, and he had an obligation to watch his favorite overseas VTuber broadcasting with their peers today. Frankly, he couldn’t afford to waste even a moment thinking about it.
“If I just stay inside, there’s nothing to lose.”
Anyway, anything he needed could be bought via delivery. Amazingly enough, he was a homebody who owned real estate. It wasn’t something he earned through Bitcoin or stocks alone; there was a miraculous lottery win involved, among other things he jumped on quickly in the market. He had bought a lot of Dogecoin back when it was just 50 won.
Thunk.
Standing up from bed, he hit the ceiling. Just how tall was he?
“But there’s no problem…!!”
Come to think of it, weren’t there VTubers who set their height at something ridiculous like 300 meters? This was just a contrived setting in the spirit of a once-famous “Tall Ghost” meme to exaggerate his appearance, size, and weight due to the VTuber concept he took on a whim — a Fox Deity, since the theme of viewer participation was gods.
Recalling those times filled him with mixed feelings. When he thought he succeeded as a VTuber, and then debuted as a singer appearing on TV, there was a sense of betrayal, but he was happy about the success… Even so, calling his broadcasting days a ‘launch pad’ in an interview left a scar.
For now, why on earth had he transformed this way?
The answer to his ponderings came immediately as soon as he thought of a question.
In modern times, sudden bodily changes were only present in the Awakening of Climbers.
Climbers’ professions were determined by how they’d lived their lives and what niche they naturally fit. But conversely, there were many bizarre cases where an unexpected individual received an occupation too. Strange roles like [Elf] or [Angel] popped up too. Was his occupation something like [Fox Deity]?
No, definitely not.
He was just a VTuber who paid an artist to create a 2D model, nothing more. The fact he transformed to match this setup mean──there’s a problem.
“『Status Window』”
Reality had become fantasy. Climber existence appeared with the emergence of Towers. Countless works were in 【Climber Tower】 genre in South Korea. Unfortunately, authors who used similar Tower settings in novels sometimes were kidnapped by extreme climbers. Because reality twisted so much, people who lost their grip also emerged in society.
But assuredly.
In these times, occupations never envisioned before now exist. Pro gamers and streamers fell in this category. As civilization progressed, more occupations emerged — but not this. This was a serious problem.
[Status Window]
[Climber: Wakamou Inarizushi]
[Occupation: VTuber]
[Age: 1,000 years]
[Attributes]
Mana: 70,584.
“O Tower! You chose the wrong VTuber!!!”
Why is his occupation VTuber? In reality, a VTuber is equivalent to a streamer… in other words, something like that. Surely there were VTubers cosplaying their characters while simultaneously sharing their actual self to audiences.
Broadcasting depends on the creator, but how is VTuber an occupation? Has the Tower lost its mind?
“This must certainly be a 『Legendary Class』 thing.”
As noted, the occupations given by the Tower are extremely radical. When they leaned towards fantasy roles. [Driver], [Artist], [Satyr], for instance. Most call them 『Legendary Class』. Considering what that term connotes, it attests to the extraordinary nature within.
For [Driver], they’re climbers who upon awakening had exceptional skill operating cars, trucks, trains, even planes, possessing a [Skill] to summon a vehicle.
[Artist] was infamously known worldwide as a famous singer, also being a producer, having dozens of world tours, using his ability to inflict status effects or grant buffs through song.
And [Satyr] belonged to a goat-loving maniac. Interestingly, only one individual had each 『Legendary Class』. When the first Satyr user died, revelation of the second one’s job condition led to global chaos. Situations with [Elf] or [Angel] worked out for survival versus other tragedies I’d rather not discuss.
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Indeed, just one person could meet the job conditions and have this strange occupation in the Tower.
Much like this odd existence, the Tower was unexpectedly merciful and didn’t force unruly trials upon humankind unlike in fictional portrayals. Yet, it undeniably posed a challenge. Even if it halted wars, if it propelled progress of technology and evolution, one mistake could level an entire city like a nuclear weapon.
“….Didn’t they say you could check display conditions?”
There was an overwhelming mix of unease and desire to deny reality.
An active, popular Clipper becoming a VTuber was no longer an urban legend, but rather public knowledge. A certain dessert enthusiast who adored killer whales achieving success as a virtual idol was legendary among Clippers.
Yet I never imagined this would be my plight!
“Let’s see the [Change Conditions] explanation by pressing the job button…”
[Change Conditions]
1. Be chosen by 100 VTubers.
2. Be known by over 500,000 humans.
3. Have over 1,000 VTuber-related works.
4. Have aided over 200 people with offering wealth.
5. Have produced over 1,000 pieces of music or symbols for VTubers.
6. Have informed over 1,000,000 people about VTubers.
7. Have performed a grand ritual before.
“….?”
Wasn’t this easier than expected? Even among acquaintances, I thought at least three could manage this, but felt an inexplicable sense of discrepancy.
It felt as though the Tower entirely misunderstood this occupation.
“Isn’t this idol worship?”
VTubers might subscribe to someone who made their video clips. VTubers weren’t a singular entity either, and over 500,000 people already knew “a Clipper obsessed with VTubers” anyway. Hence, producing over 2,000 videos for the channel meant no further explanation was needed.
But isn’t “offering” an odd term to use?
“Must be referring to donations…?”
What some termed support money. Watching from minor VTubers to those who grew successful in big corporations for five years. They couldn’t broadcast without earning money, and thus, the money I gave helped them. Item 5 involved voluntarily participating in song creation, playing instruments, arranging, commissioning fanart from artists as offerings…
A mere thousand seemed too easy, didn’t it?
As for 6, it was too obvious. Mentioning VTubers during collabs, directing channel viewers to other VTubers industriously spread their fame after all.
But isn’t item 7 especially odd?
Grand ritual.
“Isn’t this practically a concert?”
Though not a singer, my talent in playing instruments was unparalleled. Often lifting spirits with casual performances during stream, setting background music during collabs, creating fun scenes required effort. When not working inadvertently, I’d utilize skills in professional formats like playing at VTuber’s birthday concert.
If that’s called a ritual, it’s understandable. Music and dance are essential in idol worship.
“Why, why did they interpret this like that?”
As ridiculous as it seemed, the broadcast started, so he’d figure it out afterward. Watching VTubers reunited with comrades, singing joyously, chatting the night away felt heartwarming enough to pour countless donations and celebrate, before realizing five hours later:
Wasn’t hungry at all?
Nine monitors displayed various VTuber broadcasts while he recorded amusing scenes, unsure if becoming a VTuber mattered since focusing on Clipping inherently distracted. Normally watching for so long induced eye strain and stiff muscles due to lack of exercise, yet his condition felt unaltered.
“Uh….”
Consequently, concentrating on the core Clipper job became impossible. Why among countless VTubers did it have to be him?
He merely wanted to enjoy this fun alone, so this sort of entertainment could be spread widely!!
“First, let’s see if there’s any skill.”
[Attributes]
Mana: 69,856(70,584)
“….Huh?”
His Mana was now less than before?
Accompanied by an unsettling feeling, he checked [Skill Window].
[Skills]
[Enter Tower]
-Enter selected Tower.
-Once entered, cannot choose another Tower till climbing ends.
“This is the basic skill all climbers have…”
[Idol’s Body]
-Physical abilities based 100% on Mana.
-Pinned to a geocentric coordinate system; all physics are determined by the individual.
-Mana increases proportionally to the number of worshipping Believers.
-If Mana hits 0, he ceases to exist.
As expected, this crazy Tower treated a VTuber=Idol=Deity with nonsense logic. The Tower imposed class conditions each at whim, thus complaints over absurdities held no weight. Once you become a Climber, you were destined to live as one until death in this era. Class change existed, but 『Legendary Classes』 uniquely forbade it, a woeful destiny.
[Attributes]
Mana: 69,854(70,584)
“Isn’t this saying I’ll die in 19 hours at this rate?”
A novel existential crisis stopped his words. Though staying still didn’t decrease it, every movement dropped Mana by one!!
“Uh….”
Becoming a Climber obligated registration with associations in South Korea. However, if one had no intention of climbing towers, registration wasn’t mandatory. Upon ascending a tower, rookie climbers—irrespective of choice—entered a Tower; cute climbing newbies levelled the first floor! loudly announced by the Tower, though quietly added to a list…
“Considering all the Hot Six and staying up watching VTuber streams, I always figured a short life expectancy….”
This can’t happen.
He must survive at least until next year.
“I can’t die before witnessing next year’s new 7th-gen Virtual Live debut 3D festival! Not to mention, attending Anime Minus Shop’s collab cafe!!”
There were no options.
Unwillingly, the Tower twisted fate to make an unfortunate Clipper a VTuber.
Hopelessness, despair.
Yet secretly, satisfaction in becoming some idealized VTuber.
And, facing the unexpected void, melancholy overwhelmed him.
Once broadcasted—broadcast or not—leaving a trail online became an indelible Internet tattoo. One couldn’t fully erase their steps just like a tattoo.
Aren’t there many fanatics recording unarchived broadcasts and members-only exclusives?
Naturally, he personally kept them privately for viewing.
Thus tears came involuntarily.
“I can never dream of being a serene VTuber Fox Deity!!”
Knowing this would’ve happened, I’d never cursed during streams…!!
“[Enter Tower]!”
When asked why he became a VTuber, he’d tell them the Tower held a knife to his throat and threatened him into it.
Weeping, the Fox Deity climbed the Tower.
He may have led a life content to die any day but refused an unceremonious end without more VTuber broadcasts.