291 - A Sense of Unease

Unlike the Fields Medal, which is awarded only to mathematicians under 40, the Wolf Prize has no age limit. It can honor achievements from decades ago, even granting awards to those in their 80s, 90s, or centenarians. Moreover, if the nominee currently holds a prestigious position like president of a major academic society, political interests could boost their chances even further—making it impossible to escape criticism as a "league of their own."

Of course, there are exceptions. If someone achieves a feat undeniable in the history of mathematics, they could win in the very year of their breakthrough, with Andrew Wiles proving Fermat's Last Theorem being the prime example. The timing of the award also signifies the weight of the accomplishment, not just whether it happens at all.

And thanks to Israel's massive publicity push, the quiet morning in the Land of the Morning Calm exploded into chaos.

The Wolf Foundation had stolen all the spotlight that should have gone to the International Mathematical Union and Seferon Foundation. But if NoName skipped the keynote speech that would land her on front pages worldwide, the Union's hard-fought decision—made with a wary eye on them—would go to waste. It'd be a miracle if the prize's prestige didn't take a hit.

'Convince NoName somehow! Offer more prize money, nominate her for the Royal Society—whatever it takes!'

'She's the first Korean to win a Wolf Prize, and this kid's just casually streaming? What the hell?'

Everyone watching the news live with Wolf Foundation reps agreed: end her broadcast ASAP.

"No matter how you look at it, this feels like a ban party."

NoName tilted her head curiously, and Kariri scanned the battlefield. Lightning-fast general game matchmaking, no gaps in the enemy team's lineup.

"How many?"

"All six on the enemy side."

"Gasp!"

Kariri swallowed hard. She'd expected a sniper or two, but this was overkill. The "Safari Dream" team on a 5-win streak. This wasn't ranked—it was general games, matchups they should've crushed from the start. Adella was Master, Kariri Diamond entry, Yudex a total newbie, but NoName was Challenger. Yet without NoName sweeping the field, they'd have lost helplessly plenty of times. Like now.

Shwooo—!

An enemy arrow with an explosion rune slammed dead-center into their base camp where allies were recovering stamina.

"No vision here—how?!"

Suspicion turned to certainty.

Kaboom—!

The fire mage's explosion piled on, turning the area to ash. Yudex's death log popped up top-right as he mana-replenished, and Adella's HP was shaved too low for combat anytime soon.

"Unni, heal me!"

"Not now. Assassins might follow..."

"They can't just crawl here so easi—ah, ban party!"

You couldn't send an assassin solo into open ground—that was common sense, lest they get picked off piecemeal. But assuming a ban party? That logic didn't apply. NoName's mind was already churning assumptions like interlocking gears.

"We need to escape Arseria Forest ASAP. This feels off..."

The fog of war no longer shielded their bleeding allies. Facing tactically superior foes scouting from above was inevitable.

"3v6... We've done 2v50! This is nothing, right?"

Adella, with top movement speed and agility, gripped her twin blades and dashed. Her daring acrobatics halted the spearmen's charge. A long spear grazed past her head, splintering a tree.

"How long till NoName?!"

NoName's endgame character scaled exponentially. Once average stats hit critical mass, reversal was imminent.

"2 minutes... 1:30... no, 1:15..."

"Ugh, 1 minute? Game's over by then—how do we hold?!"

Complaints changed nothing. Meanwhile, Kariri stacked berserker rage for an escape route. Red vision clouded her sight; her blood-drenched character charged enemy lines under NoName's heals.

Bam—!

"Hngh!"

Kariri's attack bounced off the holy knight's barrier, reflect damage kicking in. But NoName's precise mid-tier heals kept her alive. At 1% HP, berserker stamina went infinite—Kariri unleashed her final ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠heavy swing.

Slash—!

Five claws from her fingertips shredded the shield knight's armor.

"Hold on tight!"

Silver thread linked to a thick branch mercilessly garroted the knight's neck—Adella's handiwork from her treetop hide.

"Grrgh!"

Yanking the silver line lifted his feet off the ground. He slumped, kill log flashing alongside.

"...Let's hold just a bit longer."

"No, we're at our limit! Help!"

Slash—!

If Deus Ex Machina existed in World of Arceria, it was surely NoName's character. With a voice that entranced, the world shuddered in golden threads. The priestess discarded her role, sword in hand, sweeping the field.

"Don't fall! Take down NoName and numbers win!"

"What heal output... self-heal but recovery's insane!"

Priest self-heals are halved—like a doctor operated on by another doc, or stylist by peer. But the penalty for "self-heal" becomes meaningless backed by overwhelming growth.

"Landed perfectly..."

"You dare... insolent...!"

"Agh!"

Kaboom—!

The knight's glee at stabbing NoName's thigh turned to despair in a flash. A sideways fist shattered his helmet, launching his jaw. NoName yanked the blade free and lunged at the exploding archer.

Straight-line charge. Shoot if you dare. Pressure crushed the archer. As she nocked five arrows, NoName's eyes locked on the taut string.

Swish—

"Stay back!"

Arrows whiffed through blonde hair, embedding in rock. Low-stance Scyavona thrust.

Clang—!

Despite expecting weak force, the cold blade sliced plate armor joints with a crisp ring.

Adella returned from ally base with revived Yudex shortly after.

"Unni, it's past 11 PM—how long you streaming? We can't lose at our skill level."

"NoName! Everyone's dying to reach you. Super grateful for debut help, but now... or we all celebrate your win? I suck at math but I clap hard!"

"..."

Kariri joined, patting NoName's blank-staring back.

"Ooh great idea! Ehehe, Nami, not embarrassed by us? Huh? No answer and we go in animal masks?"

Kariri hopped to match their 20cm height gap. NoName's deadpan gaze fired back.

"Who are you?"

Her icy tone froze the warm vibe; Adella's tail fur bristled, eye narrowing.

"Aww, why's our Nami sulky? One more game then?"

Kariri grabbed and massaged her hand. 'Looks cold but cute kid.' First time seeing NoName pout, really.

"Boss, hold on... Unni...?"

Sensing unease, Adella peered close. NoName bit her lower lip hard—bloody in reality.

"Unni sick?"

"What's up Adella? Nami hurt?"

"Never seen unni like this...?"

"Nami, you okay?"

"Quit joking. Say something. Teasing's no fun."

Adella pinched her cheeks. NoName's eyes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠narrowed, scanning her up-down. Lips parting—

"From the start... utterly filthy."

"Huh...?"

Adella's stunned face shone through the fading light haze. Her gaze dropped to the mud.

The proud Safari Dream inaugural badge Kariri had given NoName. Her avatar vanished without trace, half-buried in muck.