Chapter 175

QBS’s report caused a stir in Korea.

In just three short days, the three letters of No Name became firmly engraved in people’s minds.

[V-Tube]

[QBS News Talk / Subscribers 831K]

[Who is the 14-year-old genius streamer ‘No Name’ who solved a 300-year-old problem?]

[Comments: 3.8K]

– We shouldn’t miss out on supporting a kid like this to contribute to the development of natural sciences in our country. I don’t mind spending tax money at all. [Likes: 2.6K]

└ Should leave Hell Joseon, right? Haha!

└ But does it even make sense that they’re 14?

└ Fact: They solved 7 unsolvable problems without any support.

└ Why are you bringing that up?

└ It’s not confirmed until it’s proven. By that reasoning, there’s also a false paper by a 15-year-old claiming to have solved the Collatz conjecture.

– Sometimes I see algorithmically recommended game videos, but I never imagined this kid would be this young and smart. The choice of words, sentence structures, and conversational logic seem superior to our company’s new employees. [Likes: 1.7K]

└ Is it just me, or does it feel like they’re a genius in more than just math but linguistic abilities too?

└ I can’t have my own little No Name…

– No Name is a child… but they’re a prodigy… [Likes: 1.2K]

└ What is this? Haha!

└ LOL!

└ This is hilarious! Haha!

└ This is truly a legendary twist.

QBS’s V-Tube was truly a great success.

In an instant, the view count soared to 1 million.

People’s attention always mixes admiration with jealousy, turning the event into a battlefield.

‘What’s a streamer?’

People still more familiar with the term internet broadcaster tended to type the six letters on an old-fashioned smartphone keypad.

And in the video they discovered, a very young child was writing down equations with tiny hands.

Though it stated in the video that it was virtual reality, sometimes it led to unnecessary misunderstandings as people mistook it for reality.

– The co-author is a professor at Korea University… Hmm… At first glance, it looks like someone is trying to make a star by forcing the child to memorize a paper. It smells bad…

└ Isn’t it amazing that they could memorize it? There were videos where they filmed for an entire hour without a break in one take.

└ Conspiracy theorists are obnoxious, but honestly, it does raise suspicion. The level of genius here is completely different from others we’ve seen so far.

– That young kid solved all that alone?

└ Go watch the video; they said they’re 14. That’s a VR avatar.

└ Even 14 doesn’t make sense, though. Haha!

└ It looks good even if it’s VR. The decor is exactly my taste.

└ What part of it is gloomy?

A minor’s remarkable academic achievements can always be a huge topic of interest.

However, the reason such reports are often considered taboo is that uprooting a blooming talent at a tender age can have long-term negative effects.

Seeing a five-year-old doing calculus is undoubtedly impressive and awe-inspiring, but by the time they reach high school, it no longer holds the same value.

Moreover, once their face is out there, they face the ongoing burden of being embedded in the public’s consciousness regarding their private life.

This has led to repeated small and large issues both nationally and socially.

But getting anything started is always challenging.

When a new semester begins and the first couple emerges in high school,

or when a chicken industry that only cares about consumer perception suddenly raises prices,

all broadcasting stations began to pour forth reports on No Name like patient predators waiting for the moment.

[Fields Medal winner surprised, what are the 7 mathematical problems solved by the 14-year-old girl?]

[Minor internet broadcaster solves a 300-year-old global mathematics problem.]

[No Name, who solved the ultimate problem of number theory ‘Goldbach’s conjecture’, who is she?]

[Professor Kronheimer, you can expect your second Fields Medal in Korea.]

Even journalist Jang Seong-moon, who flew to England for an interview with Professor Kronheimer, seemed to be taken aback by this level of impact.

The editor-in-chief’s suggestion felt like a poisoned chalice of sorts.

If No Name were to stumble, all blame would be directed solely at the first outlet that reported it, QBS.

However, journalist Jang didn’t accept this thoughtlessly.

Firstly, No Name filmed the video in a VR space.

This alone would prevent her real identity from being revealed.

Secondly, only the ‘proof’ video had been allowed for public sharing and commercial use.

‘Could it be that No Name herself desires to be known to the public?’

I cannot understand why she posted her proof at this moment while a competition was ongoing.

Looking at the proof, it clearly looked like something that took longer than just a day or two to come up with.

‘Was it really intentional…?’

It was a fleeting thought that crossed the journalist’s mind, but there was nothing he could change based on mere intuition.

At the very least, journalist Jang believed only in what he had seen and heard himself.

As he glanced away, an interview video with Professor Kronheimer continued to air non-stop on the TV.

This also implied that QBS was raking in substantial profits.

He couldn’t help but admire the editor’s devilish decisiveness once again.

* * *

After two long days of hiatus, Kariri announced her return to Twish.

“Honeybees, come on in! It’s been such a long time!”

The World Aoa tournament was postponed by three days considering Kariri’s situation.

It was a near disaster for one streamer.

The tournament organizers received a considerable amount of criticism for merely extending it by three days as if they were doing a good deed.

Still, they maintained their stance that it must not overlap with the ACK SUMMER pro match.

Kariri returned with her usual bright expression, but the viewers here were extremely worried.

This was due to the stalking incident involving a female streamer earlier this year, which eventually reached Kariri.

Some netizens even speculated that the ‘Dogok-dong break-in incident’ posted in a corner of the internet news was referring to Kariri.

As soon as the audience filled to 10,000, Kariri looked into the camera with a determined expression.

“Kariri wants to have a serious talk before we start the broadcast today, if that’s alright?”

Her tone was devoid of laughter.

The girl, who usually smiled non-stop, looked different when she turned serious.

“I had a rough time a little while ago. Some people, both known and unknown to me, might have heard about it. To explain briefly, someone broke into my house… It’s not the stalker who had been following me, but someone else.”

Perhaps recalling the stalker who constantly came to her house, Kariri made a displeased expression for a moment.

“I seriously thought I was going to die… Thankfully, it was resolved well in the end, but I really worried a lot about whether I could keep doing this broadcast. I realized there are people out there who really hate Kariri.”

Several viewers who were aware of the full story offered their words of comfort to her.

They emphasized that Kariri was not the one at fault, but rather the intruder was in the wrong.

“I understand, everyone. I know why you like me and why some don’t. I really tried hard to make more people love Kariri.”

Gathering fans is an idol’s destiny.

Even after becoming a VTuber, Yoonseul, who could not let go of her dream of being an idol, worked diligently outside of her broadcasts to develop content.

“But whether you love Kariri or hate her, coming all the way to my house is still a crime, don’t you think? I’m not just talking about this incident, but all stalkers… Maybe it means nothing to you… But for me, I was truly… terrified every single day…”

Kariri bit her lip tightly.

It was rather heartbreaking to see her struggling to hold back tears.

“Kariri is strong, but… instead, Kariri dreams every day. I dream of my eyes turning black, my white hair disappearing, and returning to being an ordinary person instead of a queen. Honeybees probably have an idea who that is…”

In that nightmare, Kariri was using the name Yoonseul.

“That person is not strong like Kariri. They are too weak. It’s someone Kariri wants to hide. So I hope Honeybees only look at the strong Kariri. Can’t we do that?”

This was a downside of a VTuber where ‘the person inside’ was revealed.

But Yoonseul decided to bear everything.

The popularity of being a VTuber, along with the sense of duty as an idol.

These were all things she didn’t want to sacrifice.

Right now, Yoonseul was as fragile as glass, but she believed that one day, Kariri’s steadfastness would cradle her wounds.

No one other than Naame had confidently assured her of that.

[‘HoneybeeHoney’ has sponsored 1,000,000 won!]

– It’s not Kariri’s fault! If anyone dares to lay a finger on our Kariri, the million Honeybee legion will protect her!

Numerous sponsorships and super chats flooded in, and Kariri was busy expressing her gratitude.

She tried to hide her emotions as best as she could, fearing it might seem like she was happy because of the money, but keen viewers quickly saw through it.

Following that, questions about how she was doing or whether she was feeling okay dominated the chat, and Kariri suddenly recalled something and conveyed it to the viewers.

“Oh, it’s okay! I’m really safe! Heehee! If I tell you where I am, Honeybees would be shocked, right? Should I share or not? Hmm.”

– ??? Where are you?

– Did you return to the savanna, bro?

– ?

– At your parents’ house?

– Where is it?

– ???

“Right here at No Name’s house!”

Kariri’s shocking disclosure flooded the comment section with confusion.

Who was No Name?

At this moment, she was the most famous streamer in Korea.

As everyone was desperate to uncover her identity, Kariri declared that she was at her house.

[‘Copsa’ has sponsored 20,000 won!]

– Why are you saying that now, you honey badger!!!

“No Name told me! If you didn’t ask, don’t tell!”

Kariri flashed an innocent smile.

In the lead-up to the World of Arcelia D-1 tournament,

big and small rumors about Naame began circulating online.

Among them, it was obvious that some were likely true.

But according to Naame’s plan, information about her needed to be revealed precisely when the MVP interview occurred.

Kariri willingly promised to be Naame’s spy.

Now assigned the task of ensuring that her age as seven years old wouldn’t circulate until the tournament finals.

In short, create misinformation.

From now on, No Name had to strictly be 14 years old, not a seven-year-old girl.

[Video Share – ‘Sipyeondansim’ has shared for 10,000!]

(NoName VR Press Conference) – No Name’s press conference has begun! This is live!

The chat room boiled once more.

‘How can you ask me to hide while you go off to the press conference!? What are you thinking…!’

Kariri internally lamented but kept her promise, knowing she had to give it her all.

Naame had practically become her benefactor by giving her the courage to broadcast again.

[‘Parrot Day’ has sponsored 20,000 won!]

– What does No Name look like?

[‘rhinosaur’ has sponsored 10,000 won!]

– Did you two sleep together??? Is No Name really 14?

[‘Gaonashi’ has sponsored 30,000 won!]

– Please, cute girl, cute girl, cute girl, cute girl, cute girl, cute girl!

Kariri swallowed hard.

‘Okay, don’t panic. I practiced a lot for today.’

It was a broadcast she had anticipated would be filled with questions.

She was 160 cm tall, taller than the average height for a 14-year-old, with neatly groomed short hair and a decent figure.

Pre-planned information about No Name swirled around in Kariri’s mind.

‘Wait, what does a decent figure mean? What if they ask about sizes? Should I say B cup? No, but kids these days grow fast. C cup? No, that’s a bit lacking… But D cup…’

At that moment, a loud fanfare rang out that nearly shattered her eardrums.

Bam bam bam!

[‘Sparrow Hunter’ has sponsored 300,000 won!]

– What was your first impression of No Name, Kariri?

“Uh… uh? D cup?”

– ?

– ?

– ?

– ?

– Did I just hear that wrong? Haha!

– ???

– D cup super cute genius middle school girl!

– Protect No Name!!!!!!

– Kariri, what does that even mean!

“Ah… ah?”

Her automatic response came out without going through a mental filter. Even as Kariri uttered those words, her mind went completely blank.

She had gotten off on the wrong foot from the very start.

‘I messed up… Sorry, Naame!’

If she were to retract her statement now, it was obvious that everything else she said would lose credibility.

So Kariri decided to grit her teeth and become even bolder.

In just one day, No Name had become a 168 cm tall, 50 kg, D cup, academy dropout, hikikomori, tattooed woman.

The entire chaotic incident revolved around the day Yoonseul moved into Naame’s house, just two days ago.