170 - Fool the Viewers

QBS's report hit the airwaves, and Korea erupted in chaos. In just three short days, the three letters "NoName" were seared into people's minds.

QBS's V-Tube channel was an absolute smash hit. Views skyrocketed to a million in no time. Wherever public interest converged, envy and admiration always mixed, turning it into a battlefield.

"What's the big deal with a streamer?" Those still more familiar with the term "internet broadcaster" typed out six letters on their old-school smartphone keyboards. And the videos they found showed a tiny kid with childlike hands scribbling equations like crazy. The footage was labeled as VR, but it sometimes tricked people into thinking it was real, sparking needless misunderstandings.

A minor's astonishing academic feats always drew massive attention. Yet such coverage was taboo because it uprooted talent at the seedling stage. A five-year-old doing calculus is mind-blowing, but by high school age, it's no big deal. Plus, once the face goes public, the kid bears a huge privacy burden from constant exposure. This sparked big and small issues nationally and socially.

But starting the trend is always the hardest part. Like the first couple in a new semester at high school, or a chicken chain raising prices first amid consumer watchfulness—broadcast stations pounced like patient predators, flooding airwaves with NoName coverage.

Reporter Jang Seongmun, who flew to the UK for a direct interview with Prof. Kronheimer, clicked his tongue in surprise at the ripple effect. The editor-in-chief's proposal was like a poisoned chalice. If NoName slipped up, all blame would fall squarely on QBS as the first reporter.

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But Jang hadn't accepted blindly. First, the footage was from VR space—no doxxing risk. Second, only the 'proof' videos were cleared for sharing and commercial use.

'Maybe NoName wants the publicity herself?'

He had no idea why she'd upload during an ongoing tournament. The proofs weren't a one- ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or two-day job.

'On purpose...?'

The thought flashed, but suspicion alone changed nothing. Jang trusted only what he'd seen and heard himself.

Glancing aside, Kronheimer's interview looped endlessly on TV—a sign QBS was raking it in. He marveled again at the editor's devilish decisiveness.

After two long days off-air, Kariri announced her Twitch return.

"Honeybees, welcome back! It's been forever!"

The World of Arceria tourney was postponed three days for her sake. A streamer nearly faced disaster, yet organizers patted themselves on the back for the "generous" delay—earning a torrent of hate. They stubbornly refused overlap with ACK Summer pro matches.

Kariri returned with her usual sunny smile, but viewers were deeply worried. Early this year, the female camper serial stalking case had spread to her. Some detectives even linked a "Dogok-dong home invasion" news blurb to her.

Viewers hit 10K instantly. Kariri stared resolute into the camera.

"Kariri, can I share something serious before we start?"

Her tone stripped of giggles. The ever-cheerful girl's gravity was striking.

"A tough thing happened recently. Some know, some don't, but basically, someone broke into my house... Not the usual stalker who'd been tailing me, someone else."

Recalling the persistent one soured her face briefly.

"I really thought I was gonna die... It ended okay, but I agonized over if I could keep streaming. Made me realize how many people hate Kariri."

A few all-knowing viewers comforted her: the intruder was the bad guy, not her.

"Kariri knows why you like or hate her. I tried so hard to win more fans."

Gathering fans was an idol's fate. Even as a VTuber, Yoon Seol clung to idol dreams, tirelessly hunting content off-stream.

"But like or hate me, breaking into my home is a crime. Not just this time—all stalkers... Might seem nothing to you, but I was terrified every day..."

Kariri bit her lip, holding back tears. Her forced composure was heartbreaking.

"Kariri's strong, but... do you know Kariri dreams every night? Eyes turning black, white hair gone, back to a commoner, not empress. You Honeybees kinda know who."

In those nightmares, she was Yoon Seol.

"That person's not strong like Kariri. Too weak. The one Kariri hides. So Honeybees, just look at strong Kariri, okay? Please?"

The peril of a VTuber's "inner self" reveal. But Yoon endured for VTuber fame and idol duty—nothing to abandon.

Fragile as glass now, she'd heal someday under Kariri's strength. NoName herself vowed it.

Donations and Super Chats exploded; Kariri thanked each amid the frenzy. Holding back a smile lest it seem money-motivated failed against sharp eyes.

Questions poured on her health and life; then, as if struck by thought, she shared with viewers.

"Nah, I'm fine! Super safe here! Heh heh heh! Tell you where and Honeybees would freak. Should I? Hng~."

"Right here at NoName's house!"

The chat flooded with hooks at her bombshell leak. Who was NoName? Korea's hottest streamer right now. Amid frenzy to unmask her, Kariri declared she was crashing there.

"NoName said so! Don't tell unless asked!"

Kariri beamed innocently. Payback for the tourney: World of Arceria D-1. Rumors about Nami swirled online—some true, obviously.

Per Nami's plan, her info drops precisely at MVP interview. Kariri pledged as spy, tasked with quashing "seven-year-old" rumors till finals day.

In short: spread disinformation. NoName must be solidly 14, not 7.

The chat boiled over again.

'She tells me to hide but goes to a press conference herself—what gives...!'

Kariri grumbled inwardly but honored the promise. Nami gave her the courage to stream again.

Kariri swallowed hard.

'Stay cool. Practiced for this.'

She'd anticipated the barrage. Height: 160cm over 14yo average, neat bob haircut, good figure. Prepped info swirled in her head.

'Wait, how "good" a figure? If they ask three sizes? B-cup? Nah, kids develop fast now. C? Too modest... D...'

Sudden eardrum-shattering fanfare blared.

Pam-para pam-pam pam—!

"Uh... uh? D-cup?"

"Ahh... huh?"

Unfiltered auto-response. Kariri paled at her own words.

'Blown... Sorry Nami!'

Retracting now would tank all credibility. Gritting teeth, she doubled down shamelessly.

In one day, NoName became: 168cm tall, 50kg, D-cup, academy dropout, hikikomori, tattooed girl.

This mess traced back two days—to Yoon Seol moving into Nami's place.