The Fox God Has a Manager!

"I have a lot to say, but that was reckless. Isn't revealing one's identity the worst thing for a VTuber?"

"There are no VTubers without fans, so I was even prepared to die for my fans!! That's what a VTuber is!!"

In reality, Wakamo dies without fans. If even one fan spreads a heartwarming story about her, that alone is a gain!!

But Department Head Won Da-hye had completely misunderstood that.

Her ideal of a VTuber was so lofty it was almost impossible to comprehend, but...

She must once have been worshiped as an idol, and since she was not human but a fox god, naturally she would care for her believers.

Department Head Won Da-hye wondered what she had been like when she was worshiped. She probably told people things like when it would rain, helped them fight foreign enemies, made fire, or hunted to feed the members of her tribe(?).

That was why she was, if anything, relieved by this unexpected situation.

Even though her identity might be exposed, she had not hesitated to confront a powerful enemy in her weakened state to protect her believers.

'So this is what a bottom-floor Climber is capable of?'

As someone who regularly watched her streams, she believed Wakamo's claim that she had lost her divine powers and could no longer use sorcery.

So, believing that Wakamo had fought using nothing but pure physical strength, she could still vividly picture the form of the [Tree Sentinel] and let out a hollow laugh.

Wakamo must have imitated it in the style of [Imitative Fist] because she thought it was an overwhelmingly powerful enemy. She had never imagined that such a thing was possible. Even while knowing that it had no physical existence, she had felt an overwhelming presence, as if a real knight had appeared.

She had sensed an enormous amount of [Mana] being released, even if only for an instant.

Even as a Tower conqueror herself, the amount was so astronomical that she could not even guess how much mana it represented.... There was no room to doubt Wakamo's strength.

At the same time, she desperately hoped that Wakamo's genuine love of people was not an act.

After all, as someone who had watched her broadcasts for a long time, she had thought Wakamo was a somewhat strange person!

Just look at her kind appearance as she lifted the girl in the cute bunny hood high into the air, gave her an airplane ride, and returned her to her mother's arms. In that era, a child must have been practically the future of the tribe(?), so perhaps she was precious to Wakamo for that reason... Or perhaps she cherished the girl because she was a promising youngster who loved VTubers enough to become one herself someday.

"Give me everything on the menu."

She asked the other agents to secure the area, including dealing with the Drake. Although nothing could be done about those who had fled, the collaboration venue began operating and accepting the remaining customers.

Naturally, from a common-sense perspective, evacuating in a situation like this would have been the bare minimum, so opening for business was bizarre.

However, the manager in charge of the Incheon Animaminus Shop exchanged glances with Department Head Won Da-hye, silently communicating their intentions. The collaboration schedule had been moved up in the first place as part of a national effort to draw Wakamo in, so what would happen if they canceled the event now?

They could only hope that the monster would not run wild inside the shop.

"Customer, would you like me to ring you up..?"

Boom.

"One coaster, postcard, sticker, holographic ticket, lenticular fan, masking tape, SD key holder, clear file, memo pad, trading Polaroid, acrylic shikishi board, transportation-card sticker, trading can badge, squishy cushion, acrylic stand, A2 tapestry, photo mug, all-over-print hoodie, multi-cleaner, cloak blanket, desk mat, acrylic glitter stand, tumbler, all-over-print T-shirt, eco-bag, portable battery, acrylic frame, wireless charging stand, noren, magnet sheet, round mouse pad, and eco-bag for every VTuber, please. And I'd like the purchase bonus, too."

"Ah, yes... Um... what about the food...?"

"Everything on the menu."

"Pardon?"

"All of it, please."

Cold sweat ran down the employee's cheek as they frantically scanned the barcodes, wondering whether they had misheard the order. Buying everything would easily cost more than two million won.... There were more than eight types of goods, and they wanted to ask whether Wakamo was really serious about buying them all, but Wakamo still wasn't satisfied.

"Other than the special bonus, are there any purchase limits on the other figures?"

"Yes... one per person."

"Then I'll buy one too. I entered with this number; did I happen to win?"

"You're a special-bonus winner! Congratulations! Please wait a moment!"

"Wow, I'm jealous."

Wakamo had thought getting the special bonus figure was out of reach, so she had planned to simply buy an ordinary figure and take it home.

She had asked for one of every type on display. She never expected the person who had come with her to be a special-bonus winner!

Seeing Wakamo eyeing it enviously, Won Da-hye subtly pushed the box the employee had brought toward her.

"I only entered because I wanted to meet Wakamo. I have a lot to talk about... May I give it to you as a gift from a fan, receipt included?"

"May I suck your toes?"

"Stop that."

Her violently swishing fox tail showed just how happy she was. The customer standing behind her was inadvertently buried and rubbed all over by the fox tail, but rather than looking displeased, they wore a blissful expression. The customer behind them glared at the back of their head with jealous eyes.

A huge pile of goods had accumulated, but Wakamo carefully carried everything to her seat, worried that something might get crushed.

'Eating restores mana too.'

She photographed the food as it arrived, admired its beauty, gazed at the VTuber characters emblazoned on it, offered a prayer of thanks, and enjoyed a happy meal.

It was already more than enough to make her happy that she could eat all of this, but it restored mana too? Wasn't this an insanely good deal!!

She wondered where it all went since she did not even have a stomach, but ignored the question and stuffed everything away. Every time she ate, she could feel her mana recovering in great bursts, and she was simply happy, as if the VTubers' love were wrapping around her body.

The happiness washed away all the unpleasantness she had felt during the terrorist attack...!!

On top of that, she had managed to obtain not only the 【『Figma NO.777! Virtual Live 5th Festival Commemorative! Paradise's Guerrilla☆Explosive☆Bunny☆Pekoyama!』 Animaminus Shop Korea-exclusive [Limited Quantity & Handwritten Signature Included]】 figure, which she had practically given up on, but also the 【Collab Commemorative Finisher! Domain Expansion Backrooms Abduction Pro Charisma White Fox Limited 1/7 Statue】.

This is the weight of happiness....?

I'm so, so happy!!!!

Department Head Won Da-hye sat beside Wakamo, who was eating with a beaming smile, and sipped her drink. She decided it was probably time to get to the main point and opened her mouth.

"To start, as you can see, I'm Department Head Won Da-hye of the Surveillance Team at the Climber Association. Here's my business card."

"Hmm..."

"For the record, I entered the collaboration cafe lottery to meet you, Ms. Wakamo. I stood in line since dawn."

"Tent-dwellers are wild..."

"But you're the one who said to go the day before if we wanted to buy merch, Ms. Wakamo."

"That's true.... Looking at your ID, I know who you are. You're the person who listened diligently to the stock and coin information I gave and was happy to make a lot of money, aren't you?"

"You remember me?"

"I remember the IDs of all 200 regular viewers who watched my stream. These days the number has grown so much that I can't remember everyone, though."

Wakamo's words left Department Head Won Da-hye flustered. She remembered all of them...? No, remembering each and every believer, calling them by name, and looking after them was naturally part of a god's role.

Of course, Wakamo was not a real god, merely an idol who had been worshiped. To be revered like a god, she must have had countless things to worry about.

"Can't you tell us stock or coin information anymore? You don't have your divine powers. Now there are so many people that it feels like revealing heavenly secrets."

"Ah, that's all right. The people who missed their chance are the ones with the problem. I've made so much myself that I could retire right now."

Twenty billion won was enough to quit working and spend the rest of one's life holed up playing without a second thought. But she had become a Climber because she respected the Association president. She had merely discovered Wakamo by chance while watching streams in all the free time she had.

Perhaps this was all fate as well. She felt as though she could sense the pull of some unknown destiny.

In reality, she had simply watched so many stock-related streams that Wakamo had appeared in her algorithm recommendations.

However, wouldn't it be better if neither of them knew that truth that shattered the fantasy?

"We are already aware of your special circumstances, Ms. Wakamo. We have secured the CCTV footage from the surrounding area. If any footage is uploaded to YouTube, we will immediately have it removed, and our Association plans to take measures to conceal your red pill. After all, you're a Climber."

"You want something more than that, don't you? Such as a 『Complete-Clear Floor』."

"That's right. I wasn't trying to hide it from you, Goddess. Rather, I'm flustered because the oshi I watched suddenly debuted as a VTuber too. You have more talent for streaming than I expected, so I've been enjoying it. Especially [Dark Ring]."

"Ahem..."

Wakamo blushed and snickered, saying that being bad at games was a talent too. She hugged the limited-edition figure Department Head Won Da-hye had obtained tightly and preciously. It was fair to say that she had already won plenty of favor. After all, she was a VTuber who cherished her believers... no, her fans.

Wasn't that obvious just from the gentle tone of the voice she used when speaking kindly to a longtime viewer who had watched her even before her VTuber debut?

"A 『Complete-Clear Floor』 can now be entered by civilians who aren't Climbers as well. 『Public Floor』 would be the more fitting term. Although it's only a bottom floor for now, starting with securing the [Oil Slime] found there, the [Horn Bunny], [Angry Boar], and [Feral Deer] are classified as food materials, while the [Killer Ankole Watusi] can be used to make armor materials. The monsters on the floors above also each have useful properties, but──above all, the floor itself has immense value as 【land】."

Department Head Won Da-hye kindly explained each resource to Wakamo. Even though it was still a bottom floor, there was land where people could farm safely without being attacked by monsters, along with wood, coal, iron ore, and even stone─there were that many resources to obtain.

"If we compare it to copyright, it would be accurate to call it 『Floor Lease Rights』, wouldn't it? As you know, ownership cannot be transferred. You could say that you're the overwhelmingly powerful party holding the development rights and the authority to lease the land. If you grant those rights to our government... no, to the Association, you would receive benefits on income tax, resident tax, and national pension deductions, including insurance──"

"Forced land expropriation would be difficult, right? It would be like the state leasing the right to use the land. I don't need that large a share of the profits. If we have to put a number on it, 2%?"

"Ownership of the conquered floor belongs to you, Ms. Wakamo. It would be wonderful if you were willing to make that concession, but.... Wouldn't you be taking too large a loss?"

"One percent will go toward VTuber merchandise purchases, and I'll set aside the other 1% as a salary since I'll probably need a manager if I'm going to keep streaming."

"I understand. Would it be all right if I took on the manager role?"

"Is that all right? What about your Association work?"

"That is included as well, since you're a promising prospect. We will issue you a new ID that you can use, and you can consider our side responsible for managing your VTuber broadcasts and providing related support."

She said this was a sort of contract and presented one, saying she had already planned to do this. Only the section concerning the division of profits was left blank─but she said she had no intention of deceiving Wakamo, so she asked her to examine the contract carefully and give her any opinions, since it could be changed at any time.

Wakamo considered it for a moment, then signed without hesitation.

"As for the term... I'll set it through the current Association president's term. I remember you often saying in chat that our boss is a really good person."

"Ah.... Um... how much do you know about the Association president..?"

"The bearded old man?"

Well, unless one was a Climber, it was difficult to take that much interest in him. Department Head Won Da-hye was relieved that Wakamo did not dislike him, at least, and rubbed her chest with her hand.

"Along with managing your broadcast channel and fan cafe, we can support creators of image resources such as thumbnails and help with content consulting, so please contact us anytime without hesitation, Ms. Wakamo. Would it be all right if we posted an announcement about this on the cafe?"

"Wouldn't it be better to tell them I've gotten a manager...?"

"Then we'll have to make rules first. We have a lot to do."

"Um.... Would mana potions be provided too?"

"That's easy enough. I look forward to working with you. Since your residence must be a secret as well, how about we meet at Incheon Tower?"

"Sounds good."

They shook hands and sealed the contract with a hearty shake!!

She reviewed the contract several times, but there was nothing particularly problematic about what Department Head Won Da-hye had said or about the agreement itself.

It did not seem as though she was trying to deceive Wakamo. Seeing how moved she was that Wakamo was willing to accept less money made it clear that she was sincere.

Besides, money was not really an issue for Wakamo, but she could not go on without earning anything forever, so she had accepted a reasonable amount. Her body did not need food and could survive as long as it had mana, so there was nowhere for her money to go. She could not even get sick, after all!!

And if the Association had her back with the 『Complete-Clear Floor』, which she would have no use for even if she kept it, wouldn't it be reassuring to let the Association handle all the political issues?

Her worries about her red pill being leaked had been reduced by this arrangement!!

'Would the believers be a little flustered if they found out?'

Anyway, Wakamo enjoyed the collaboration menu, went to a suitable alley, gathered up all her purchases, opened a portal, and returned home.

Department Head Won Da-hye also gave her several mana potions, and Wakamo thought drinking them might help her recover a little, but.

[Stats]

Mana : 44,571

"This is bad...."

While she was lost in thought, wondering what she should do, she happened to look over at a construction site.

I suppose I'll have to go through with it.....

※※※

[Author : ㅇㅇ]

[Title : I Almost Died After Going to the Collab Cafe].

I heard the event had been moved up, so this unemployed bum excitedly ran over right away.

Of course the line was fucking long. There were even people who had been standing there since dawn.

But there was this person with an insanely strong presence.

They were huge even from far away. Their proportions were on another level.

Their proportions were insane. The way they folded their arms—holy shit.

Then I looked again and realized it was our mod!! It was a red pill, so there are no photos, ㅇㅇ.

I was marveling that she had really come to buy this stuff and that she looked even prettier in person when.

[A photo of a Drake staring into the distance]

Can you see it? Jurassic World in real time, fuck.

I thought, I'm going to die this pointlessly without ever even dating anyone.

But our mod beat it up with the Tree Sentinel [Imitative Fist].

I watched a news interview later, and a guild-affiliated Fighter said that was the genuine [Imitative Fist].

The genuine Chinese martial arts that I thought had vanished during the Cultural Revolution is alive and well in Korea without its lineage being severed.

[A photo of an enormous Tree Sentinel]

Fighting spirit visible to the naked eye.

Of course humanity would win a fight between a cold-blooded animal and a warm-blooded animal.

-If it's [Imitative Fist], shouldn't it be invisible?

-Gaaal!! It was visible because the mod's inner power was profound!!

-I cried over the Fox God, who treasures her believer more than her own identity, even after her red pill was exposed.

-Is this the primordial strength that humanity lost..!

-Even a jobless, virgin, loser otaku bastard like me is worth keeping alive... I'll love you!!

ㄴYou son of a bitchㅋㅋㅋㅋ

ㄴIf you're a loser, will she hold you to her chest? Asking urgently.

ㄴVTuber bro....

-She lost her sorcery and divine powers, but she has her believers! That's more than enough reason to risk her life!

ㄴIt really hits home that we live in completely different eras.

ㄴWasn't the mod's era the time when generals really rode horses and fought in armor with weapons?

ㄴNo wonder her voice sounded like a real manly man. She really is one.

-More importantly, she was carrying the limited-edition figure, so did she win the mod's lottery?

ㄴI'm fucking jealous, she said she had no divine powers!!! I wanted one!!

ㄴBut if our mod is happy, isn't that all that matters?

ㄴShe saved your life. Give her that much....

-I was standing behind the mod, and her tail fur was fucking fluffy. It smelled nice....

ㄴDie.

ㄴDie.

ㄴMod, what are you doing!! Why haven't you banned this bastard!!!

ㄴWhy do you get rewarded? Why do you get rewarded? Why do you get rewarded?

ㄴUh-oh, this guy's going dark.

[Author : ㅇㅇ]

[Title : You Really Have to See This on Video].

I can't watch the video now because they all got taken down.

The [Tree Sentinel] appeared around the mod as she took her stance.

There was a noise loud enough to hurt your ears, and that huge Drake was pushed backward.

Right afterward, the horse stomped it with its foreleg, and it squealed and died....

-The Drake that lived in the Tower came out into the field, encountered a boss, and died immediately.

-[Imitative Fist] is modeled after something stronger than a human... that's why the Fox God took the form of the strong!!

ㄴThe strength of the [Tree Sentinel] that taught it its most painful defeat.

ㄴNo, it was fucking huge in person. I almost pissed myself.

-But why was the video taken down? The posts on the message board are disappearing too.

ㄴBecause it was the mod's red pill, ㅇㅇ.

ㄴNo, fuck, did you see the cafe announcement? The cafe posted one too, but I got banned because I saw the notice too late; my life is ruined;

ㄴBeliever, did you post the mod's red pill on the cafe?

ㄴIf this bastard disappears, assume he was dragged away, ㅇㅇ.

ㄴWhat happened, then?

ㄴThe manager who ran the mod's fan cafe is the head of the Surveillance Team at the Climber Association, ㅇㅇ. Proof has been posted.

ㄴWhy the fuck is a government agent the cafe managerㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[Author : Reptilian Conspiracy Theory]

[Title : So This Is What the Mod Boils Down To].

She fucking loves VTuber broadcasts, clips them, and uses divine powers to give people information so they can make money.

The manager who had already made 20 billion won back then <-(Don't call her 'this bastard,' ㅇㅇ. Take note.)

That means she already knew the Fox God's identity.

Would an ordinary person believe that and invest? She invested because she knew.

So the government knew about our mod's existence and was hiding her.

Then she suddenly became a Climber, so they hurriedly made contact and made her the broadcast manager.

She gets to work as a civil servant, meet the mod in person, and receive fluffy tail fur? What a life.

I'm fucking jealous.....

Anyway, don't recklessly upload the red-pill video.

An older brother I know uploaded it and got dragged away by men in black suits.

-Usually the last part would be a pamphlet, but this time it feels fucking real.

-How is the manager the head of the Climber Associationㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Help me!! Help me!! My cat did it!!

-They say the cafe announcement bans questions about stocks or coins. Well, we have to hide it to avoid a financial collapse, ㅇㅇ.

ㄴFuck, why are both coins and stocks always past their prime once they become famous?? Why did I miss my chance?

ㄴThat's why the mod calls you a fucking idiot, you know.

ㄴAh! Our believer's intelligence is lower than a monkey's!!

ㄴI don't care if I'm a monkey; I just want to be held against those huge breasts once...

-Thanks to the mod, there are nothing but insane perverts in this forum....

-Then could our forum's moderator also be a government agent?

ㄴGasp.

ㄴGasp.

ㄴGasp.

ㄴAs expected, the moderator was a paid civil servant!! Mod, get to work!!

"What should we do about videos uploaded on overseas sites using proxy servers, even though we've taken down all the videos posted domestically and warned the reporters?"

"Leave that much alone. It will be hard to see unless someone deliberately looks for it. We need to let a little leak out for people to know, don't we? I'm glad the agreement seems to have been concluded successfully, Department Head Won Da-hye."

"Yes. First, President, could you review the plan to temporarily operate by lending the floor to guilds near Incheon Tower in the form of land leases? Government personnel are handling the aftermath of the terrorist attack."

"We should give young politicians a chance too. I saw her performance. Heh heh, an idol who steps forward for her believers... An idol can hardly exist without the attention of her fans..... Everyone says sacrificing oneself for others is noble. Seeing her do it herself makes even me feel proud."

The same thing must not happen again.

The Association president stood with his hands behind his back and issued that warning.

The [Six Great Evils]' terrorist attack had been stopped somehow, but they had failed to hide Wakamo Inarizushi's existence. It had been difficult to conceal her from the moment she began streaming, but now her existence would become known not only domestically but throughout the entire world.

There might be people who tried to hunt her because she was a genuine nonhuman existence rather than a human.

Even the president, who still called her a monster and feared her, might make a misguided decision.

No matter how the world changed, people were still cast aside once they had served their purpose.

"The days when the public was swayed by incitement are long gone. Department Head Won Da-hye. Have some of the profits generated by the 『Complete-Clear Floor』 donated in her name. Nothing wins people's hearts more easily than money, after all. As for dirty and complicated matters like politics─leave them to an old raccoon who's grown weary of it all."

A fixed-term contract lasting only through his term in office.

It was tantamount to her subtly informing the Association president that she had chosen him, granted him absolute authority, and would support him.

To be chosen and supported by an existence that might once have been called a god.

"The days when I resented the gods seem laughable now. Such a cute goddess has come to me. Would even an old man like me look like a child to her?"

"You look plenty young even now."

"Flattery."

As he looked toward Incheon Tower, which was being conquered, he thought the appearance of this idol might be the second most astonishing event since the Tower first appeared.

Even the old man felt his heart pound with anticipation over what kind of anomaly she might cause next.

"I can understand why people are crying out, asking when she'll turn on her stream."

"For now, I think she probably won't stream today."

"I suppose not."

[Floor 10] was by no means easy.

Would she really turn on her stream immediately after fighting a [Drake]? It would be good for her to rest for a day instead of pushing herself.

Ding─♪

"Oh."

But an alarm rang from Department Head Won Da-hye's smartphone.

"She turned on her stream?"

"What are you doing? Why haven't you lowered the screen?"