174 - Do One's Utmost and Leave the Rest to Heaven
"These guys... they weren't after NoName—they wanted to bury us at QBS for breaking the unspoken rules."
Media outlets that defy the code pay a heavy price. The public? Nah, the attackers are actually their fellow press corps. The days when the masses voiced opinions first are long gone. The media set up the stage for the public to hurl stones, reminding them of the past. Have they forgotten how many students were sacrificed on the altar of the media's forced idol-making?
About thirty years ago, news shows and variety programs hyped up countless boys and girls as the "Second Ham Chorong" or "Ham Chorong's Reincarnation." But those with promising futures (or their parents) couldn't withstand the mounting pressure and kept pushing reckless stunts. Solving world-famous unsolvable problems, unveiling secrets of the magic world, developing miracle cures for incurable diseases—you name it. Looking back now, it all sounds utterly absurd, but the public back then swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. The media packaged fakes as truth, and those sparkling interviews from bright-eyed kids built instant trust.
In the end, it all unraveled as lies, dragging Korea from international embarrassment to utter humiliation. Now, the public views such stories through tinted glasses of skepticism. That's why QBS's report stood out in this day and age—it was the kind of genuine journalism you couldn't find even if you scoured with a magnifying glass.
That's exactly what Jang Ki-ja, the editor-in-chief, had worried about.
"Looks like everyone's doubting that NoName proved it herself."
They weren't entirely baseless. As soon as QBS featured it on NewsTokTok, they swiftly launched investigations, attaching interviews from prestigious professors at Singapore University, UC Berkeley, Zurich University, and more as supporting evidence. A 14-year-old solving an unsolved problem? Impossible, they said.
"It's kinda funny, actually."
Nami steadied the mic.
"I came prepared for a barrage of attacks on the proof itself. But let me turn the tables—has anyone here actually understood even a single line of the proof I mentioned in the video?"
The mic's echo filled the auditorium. It was so quiet, the sound lingered like a endless reverberation.
"Really? No one? Not even one?"
Jang Ki-ja felt a pang of guilt at her words. QBS hadn't prepped either, after all.
A sigh escaped the tiny girl's lips.
"First off, let's clear up the age thing for good."
The beam projector screen lit up. Nami quickly connected to the internet, clicked on VTube, logged out of the guest account, and signed in with her own ID. She pulled up the World of Arceria Nightmare clear video on 'NoName Official,' and a black screen blared a warning tone.
[This video cannot be viewed by minors under 15 without parental consent.]
"That should make it clear enough. Age sorted. Next—'it's not just one person'?"
She gripped the mic—looking heavy even for two hands—like a precious treasure and stepped down from the podium. Approaching the reporter who'd fired sharp questions from next to Jang Ki-ja earlier, she said,
"On the last day of the tournament. I promise to show you my real self in reality, not VR. Of course, I won't be inviting all you reporters then."
Nami smirked mockingly at the man squinting one eye. Jang Ki-ja watched, chuckling at how un-childlike she was.
"Got any questions for me?"
"Uh, questions—yeah! Hold on, A-young, pass me the tablet."
"Y-yeah, here!"
"Lemme see."
QBS Channel 3 was streaming live on VTube. They'd exhausted their prepared questions; now it was time for viewer curiosities.
"No questions?"
"Well..."
Jang Ki-ja scratched his head awkwardly.
└ Nah, golden sun? roflmao
└ Kariri's live stream go watch, way more useful than this ㅇㅇ
'What a shitshow...'
"Looks like no questions. Good luck, NoName... rooting for the tournament too."
Jang Ki-ja slumped his shoulders.
"Thanks for the well-wishes. You too."
"Oh, one just popped up! Your goals and resolve for this tournament, please."
Nami rolled her eyes, pondering deeply before delivering an answer that satisfied even herself.
"Do one's utmost and leave the rest to heaven."
Seferon Foundation, 2nd Year Class A homeroom teacher Jacqueline A. Carol. Her conversation with Manager Kim Yong-seong convinced her that the NoName in the news was her student 'No Nami.' But that conviction wavered back to doubt.
> Literally played 50k games from Season 44 to 50.
"Nami's born in '43... but game records start in '44..."
It didn't add up. Digging through communities, she found a few more posts. Dismissing a 7-year Legacy of Legend vet as coincidentally 'NoName' was hard—especially since her current tourney nick matched. Jacqueline checked if nicks could duplicate or accounts be shared, but no hypothesis held water.
Meanwhile, NoName's presser streamed live.
"Is it really someone else? Just a similar avatar by chance...? No, Manager said the speech patterns match perfectly."
Copying another's avatar was impossible and illegal, but custom tweaks could mimic. Even the few at Seferon who knew Nami were iffy, per Kim Yong-seong. He, however, was convinced NoName was Nami. Yet she claimed 14 years old. One side lied. Or they overreached—even if Nami was truly 14, mysteries lingered.
Big fan of your streams! Ever thought about going pro?
The serious presser had morphed into a rowdy fan meet. Invitees weren't just media—10 Legacy of Legend pro teams, 18 World of Arceria pro teams, Vtubers with 100k-1M subs, uni reps. Under "truth-seeking," they'd booted the aggressive reporters.
⊳ Why play dying LoL, NoName? Can you offer 100M won salary?
⊳ 100M? We can burn 500M on prospects, confident?
The parties bickered over kimchi soup, ignoring her.
Seizing the moment, fans climbed the stage. Nami's face filled the screen. The ever-cool, expressionless girl's lips curved into a faint smile.
00:00:01 – NoName
"What's with all this decoration?"
"Hehe, win it all! Won't forgive you if you lose!"
The private room brimmed with balloons and banners. Adella's all-nighter handiwork. Before the tourney lobby opened, she'd stream to greet eager viewers.
She reclined in the armchair, rocking gently. A punchy beat popped from the nearby speaker.
It's starting soon!
Probably not easy!
"What's this song?"
"You wouldn't know even if I told you, unni!"
"True."
Adella's picks weren't her taste, but she'd respect them today as thanks.
World of Arceria – Do One's Utmost and Leave the Rest to Heaven
⏰ Time: 0:01:53
👀 Viewers: 4,081
"Lots joined already?"
About two minutes in, time to chat.
"Juggling two tourneys, so I pushed hard not to slack on either."
This past week had been a marathon grind.
"Hope the results match the effort."
Do one's utmost and leave the rest to heaven. Her favorite saying. Obsess less over outcomes, and paradoxically, peak efficiency follows. She'd done all she could.
"Then, I'm off."
World of Arceria
WareSoft
May the World Tree's blessing be upon you.