209 - Live Coverage
Before leaving Duri Island, I'd asked Master Baek if he could make a wearable portable transmutation circle writer with a gyroscope. He confidently declared he'd have it done with time to spare in just a month. Whether it'd be a bracelet or gloves, I didn't know, but when I passed the news to Ji-hye, she was so grateful she didn't know what to do with herself. I felt personally proud.
I was curious about the final product too, so I asked for at least a rough idea of the form, but Master Baek flatly refused.
This is totally a random box.
A whopping 10-million-won random box at that. Not exactly trendy these days, but it was the craftsman's choice, so I had to respect it.
While we were on the island, the world's gears kept turning fast.
The most positive news was that the columbarium holding Seola's urn was getting remodeled. The government was like a massive dinosaur—slow on its feet. The Walpurgis investigation still hadn't progressed, but they were showing some will to improve, leaving room for leniency.
But I got annoyed when the seven problems I'd proven were all deemed unverifiable by universities worldwide. Reporters twisted it, claiming errors in my proofs, stirring up a headache.
That's when Principal Gu On-yu called directly.
She said staff dispatched from Seferon HQ were staying at Korea University's faculty lounge. Since I wasn't going to the US, they'd come here.
"So if our NoName student has time, it might be good to meet them."
"But why Korea University instead of the academy?"
We had meeting spaces.
"We're in the middle of heavy power-saving mode."
"Pardon?"
"Haha, kidding. We're inviting other professors too—national uni's way more convenient for everyone, right?"
Her words didn't sound like a joke at all.
Anyway, a trip to Korea University was set for break.
"College English is VR, so why do we gotta drag ourselves up here for class?"
"Hope the school blows up later."
"Same."
Freshmen at Korea University, fresh from morning stats class and waiting for afternoon biology, were extra pissed at the cloudless swelter. Tell someone asking about the nation's future to "look up" at Gwanak Mountain—as if you had to crane your neck that high. Half a semester in, their Korea Uni high had worn off. Visions of zombie-walking through seven more semesters darkened their eyes.
"Gotta do a year and a half in the army too."
"Shut up."
Preparations for the 98th Liberation Day were underway somewhere in Korea. Unluckily, the country hadn't shaken its divided status in over a century.
"Healing... need some healing."
The plaid-shirted guy asked his friend like an oasis-seeker in the desert.
"You watch VTube? NoName's gayageum performance was insane."
"Who's NoName?"
"You don't know NoName?"
The girl the president visited in hospital with flowers, official Walpurgis survivor. A once-in-history super-genius kid famous worldwide.
"Oh, that's her name?"
He knew her as "the genius" from constant news.
His friend pointed to NoName's recent VTube video.
"Check this out."
"She has a VTube channel too?"
"You got zero interest in current events."
"This counts as current events? Anyway, watching."
Shorts at 20 million views. Main vid already over 2 million shortly after upload—they added one more.
Talent isn't always easy to spot. Too lofty for normals to grasp, or wrong era for proper use. Math especially— even in education powerhouse Korea, 30% math dropouts.
NoName's feats hadn't fully clicked for the public.
But music was different. Masters' works embrace even non-fans. Obscured by unfamiliar gayageum and automaton, but an 8-year-old nailing a tough piece left the guy's jaw dropped.
Pride? Admiration? No, awe.
"Total cheat character. World's gotta be bugged."
"NoName's super cute, right?"
"What's with the snake? Not Aladdin."
"Her name's Sebastian. Cute like NoName?"
"It has a name?"
The ball python's name was premium info for live viewers—docu edit pending. VTube comments occasionally asked about Sebastian.
Library study vows forgotten in free period. Friend looped NoName fan vids for an hour, manufacturing another fan.
"Why'd I only learn about her now? Half my life's wasted! Meeting NoName once would fulfill my life's wish!"
"Dude."
"This summer semester—no, whole GPA as sacrifice! Let me behold NoName-sama, oh god!"
"Dude...!"
"Cute, smart, great talker, squishy cheeks! What is this perfect being?!"
"Thank you."
"Yeah, voice all fresh and sweet too... Huh?"
Like divine mischief, his wish granted instantly.
Black twintails fluttering in the breeze. Tiny girl hurrying ahead, not glancing back.
"Dude... told you... that's NoName."
Even the hype man froze—they stood rooted awhile.
Korea University anonymous board buzzed with NoName tracking.
Thousand-won, five-thousand, ten-thousand bills piled on the ground. Embarrassed to take more, I politely refused further IRL donations. Grabbed a heavy stone to keep them from blowing away.
"NoName-yang! Know how to play violin?"
After chatting with the last student, about to head to my errands—a group rushed up.
"We're 'Bark,' running a classical VTube channel!"
"Bark?"
"Idiots' Crescendo! English for Bach."
"Ah, pun. Think I've heard."
"Whoa, you watched? We're world-class now."
No vids seen, but knew their content vaguely.
"Meeting on filming day. Right after too."
"God of variety descended. Can't miss."
Two guys whispering behind, two girls beaming at me.
"If NoName's okay, can we film? Free today?"
"Uh, not much time. Gotta go soon."
"Oh no!"
They huddled for strategy. Opened black violin case, showed faded violin.
"Then one piece on this? Pleeease..."
Sniffed case—well-kept but old scent.
"Expensive?"
"Yup! Matteo Goffriller! Rental, not sure price—over 500 mil? Wait, 700 mil!"
"700 mil...?"
Like carrying a house. Double what Baek Ho-chan barely got post-island hell.
Carefully took violin, shouldered. Adult-sized, heavy for me. But this instrument—mana barrier on body over 300 years untouched. Felt it holding. Never overlaid or tainted since craft.
Wonder what sound it'd make bowed. Curiosity won.
Kaizen violin vs. 17th-century Italian—which better?
"I'll try."
"That piece then... please?"
"Which? Paganini?"
All four nodded vigorously.
"Fans of that, huh. Thought pros would hate."
My skill not pro-level, bit shy, but best effort.
Familiarized fingerboard, adjusted stance. Deep breath. Like debutante, crowds gathered by pond. Not gowns or suits—tees and shorts. Emotions visible: envy to curiosity. Wove upcoming melody sharp in changed space.
"Here I go."