Chapter 280

Once a river flows, it does not return.

For the past decade, no matter how genius the PDs at the broadcasting station may have been in creating innovative programs, it was not enough to turn the hearts of viewers who had switched to internet broadcasting back to traditional media.

To grow the market itself, the broadcasting stations reversed course and signed broadcasting rights contracts with Twish.

Their strategy to absorb internet streamers’ audiences was effective.

So, around this time in October, a new broadcasting category emerged on Twish.

Broadcasts with hashtags like ‘#KBS, #Broadcasting, #Academy Competition’ opened one by one, featuring a flood of streamers who had impressive educational backgrounds.

[HyeBam’s Broadcasting Station]

[Kids, don’t give up! Fight back!]

[Seviron Academy (Gangnam) vs Altear Academy (Gangbuk)]

[Viewer count: 1895]

The streamer ‘Hyeji Myeonbam-i Doenda,’ famous as a female League of Legends Challenger and winner of the TagaGpad Tournament, Yusia.

She was finally able to benefit from her education since she started internet broadcasting.

– Is the host from Mirinae Academy?

– A graduate of Kumlaude in high school, suddenly they seem completely different.

– How is HyeBam a Mirinae Academy graduate? Hahaha

– How can the academy’s name be Mirinae? Hahaha

└ Don’t underestimate our king, the great Sejong!

“Is Name a second grader in elementary school this year? Then it will be the first match?”

– Yup.

– Since they’re 8 years old, they’re in second grade for sure.

– But did you hear they are competing as a third-year middle school student?

“What do you mean by third-year?”

Yusia quickly searched for the information on dual monitors.

Indeed, her name was prominently listed in the middle school competitor roster.

“What is this…”

– Hahaha

– Skipping elementary and jumping straight to middle school? Is this even possible? Hahaha

– The teacher is saying they’re using cheats all alone, Hahaha

– Is it that impressive? I don’t really understand since I’ve never watched the competition.

“Children participating in the tournament are all monsters without exception. Especially at the middle school level, everyone seems to be born to fight, right? Sigh, the competition won’t even be close…”

Yusia’s body shook as she recalled memories of the past while viewers passionately debated how well Name would perform. Just then, a general announcement broadcast rang out across Twish.

[A Popular Rising Streamer in the Academy Competition: NoName]

“NoName…? Why are they broadcasting at this time?”

It was the first time Yusia had ever seen a participant broadcasting during the competition.

[NoName]

[KBS Seoul Academy Competition – Broadcasting with Partiality alongside Father]

[Broadcasting Time – 0:06:39]

[Viewer Count – 28302]

The difference in viewers exceeded tenfold.

‘Let me go check, I’m curious.’

And Shia tasted the abyss.

– Legendary viewer count, wow.

– The host hasn’t even come yet, and they might hit 30,000 viewers.

– What is this Otaku Japanese song? My ears are confused.

– Have the foreigners finally woken up? Hahaha

– Is Name’s father going to appear?

– They say that person was a war mage back in the day.

Name, who valued routine, randomly played two songs by Kariri against the usual dim background.

Becoming unaware of the new viewers complaining about headaches due to the algorithm, she only began the video broadcast once the song ended.

From the first screen, Name’s white and squishy cheeks greeted them.

[Oh, but I’m not used to outdoor filming, so I’m not sure how to place the camera. Professor, do you know how to use this mini-drone?]

– ???

– Name, so cute~

– Finally starting, yesss!

– Wafflebawhahaha!

– Is NoName in the tournament venue?

[Oh, then let’s have one camera show the entire training hall and one camera on my face. Okay, thank you.]

The camera pulled away from her face again.

As the sounds of audience conversations and the echo of the commentator’s microphone faded away, Name nodded and opened her mouth.

[Hello, viewers. I’m NoName, no, I am NaName, and I will be your biased commentator for today’s Seviron Academy vs Altear Academy match. Please take care of us.]

* * *

Thanks to Principal Gu Onyu’s connections, our elementary school second graders and their families were able to reserve the first three rows right at the center of the training hall.

However, my friends had already gone to the waiting room to prepare for their first match, leaving the seat empty beside me.

“I don’t know how to do broadcasts; will it be okay, Name?”

In response to Professor Cheon’s question, I confidently nodded.

“Yes, just speak comfortably, like you’re giving a lecture to college students.”

“Haha, how could that be the same?”

“You’ll get used to it as you go along.”

I attached a miniature microphone to the awkward professor’s collar.

[‘ray0405’ donated 10,000 won!]

– Hoxy, is that person beside you going to be my future father-in-law?

“Father-in-law…?”

“Oh, I can explain all that…”

As I was distracted for a moment, donations started pouring in and Professor Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

I quickly waved my hands, denying that it was meant that way.

– Ban him right now!

– Crossing the line already, hahaha!

– Please give me your daughter in ten years!

└ Even in ten years, she’ll be a high school senior and still a minor, hahaha!

└ I’m getting dizzy, hahaha!

– It would actually be more plausible to have a son and get them married off right now.

└ Then should I call him ‘in-law’ instead of ‘father-in-law’?

– Manager! Manager!!!

– (Manager 1): Banned for 24 hours.

“Ugh…”

Giving up on explanations, I slightly adjusted the camera angle to include Professor Cheon on the screen.

Then suddenly remembering something I should mention before the broadcast began, I whispered to him.

‘I’ll just call you Father during the broadcast.’

‘…?’

‘It feels weird to keep calling you Professor.’

Does he not like that?

But seeing his eyes light up, he probably didn’t dislike it that much.

“There might be some familiar faces from past broadcasts, but this is my father.”

“Hello, viewers. Thank you for always taking care of our clumsy NaName.”

– You look handsome, father!

– The presence is overwhelming, could probably take down a tiger!

– You look gentler on TV, but in real life, it seems a bit scary.

– Our NaName has no choice but to be polite.

└ Wasn’t NoName polite…?

└ It’s a bit ambiguous, haha!

– Definitely an unapproachable household, hahaha.

[‘NaName must be protected’ donated 1,000,000 won!]

-Thank you for raising NaName, the cutest in the world! Please buy something delicious after the competition!

“Ah, NoName… Thank you for the donation. This means that a viewer just donated one million won for our dinner.”

“What? One million won? Does that person have money lying around at home?”

Professor Cheon’s mouth dropped open in shock.

Well, the world is vast, and there are many rich people.

While Professor Cheon adapted to the streaming ecosystem, I quickly scanned the rapidly scrolling chat.

“There are still a few minutes until we start, so if you have any questions for my father, I’ll take them now.”

[‘hellsMonster’ donated 50,000 won!]

– Does NaName have food preferences?

Our channel manager took the first question.

I glanced at Professor Cheon.

“I don’t really have any picky eating habits, do I, Father?”

Then Professor Cheon’s body stiffened, as if he had hit buffering.

When I nudged him with my elbow, only then did he react.

“I don’t touch vegetables like bell peppers or paprika at all. I don’t eat dishes like spicy stir-fried beef or seafood pancakes much either. Oysters and shellfish? I don’t eat them well either?”

“Seafood doesn’t really sit well with me.”

I still can eat it, but I tend to avoid it due to a trauma from being eaten by a similar creature long ago.

Questions continued pouring in afterwards.

[‘A world without NaName is hell’ donated 30,000 won!]

– Does your daughter often act spoiled at home? Has she ever shown any cute behavior?

“None at all. She’s probably just like what you all see.”

[‘honoka’ donated 1,000 won!]

– What do you think about NaName becoming popular recently?

“I’m always anxious, wondering if NaName will cause a big incident.”

[‘Monday’s NoName’ donated 5,000 won!]

– What would you think if NaName got a boyfriend?

“…”

“Hmm?”

Suddenly, a chilling aura crept in, giving me goosebumps.

Professor Cheon’s emotional shift was resonating with the mana around us.

– Wow, that’s scary! Hahaha!

– Hmm;; NaName will probably be single forever~

– A respectful bow to the future boyfriend…

– Living single isn’t a bad thing, NaName!

Questions had become too slanted towards me, so I decided to calm the festive atmosphere for a moment.

“I’m doing commentary today along with my father, so I should probably introduce him and his background.”

In the streams of others, former academy teachers, large academy lecturers, and current assistant professors usually emerged.

But I was just a regular student at Seviron Academy, so I put the spotlight on my father, who had a more impressive background.

Activating the pre-prepared hologram, I displayed the specifications listed on Professor Cheon’s personal website.

Currently, he is a professor in the Department of Material Science at Korea University, as well as the assistant dean of the Graduate School of Mage Studies, the director of the Theoretical Fusion Research Institute, and an outside director at several large corporations.

Not only that, he participated in various large projects in America, designed the National Defense Fusion Core, and even fought in the Middle Eastern War in his youth.

Viewers were amazed at his extraordinary credentials.

Honestly, from my perspective, it seemed like his day would stretch into 48 hours.

But what really stood out was this.

I slightly turned my head to make eye contact with Professor Cheon, seeking silent permission.

When he gave a slight nod, I played a VTube video that any Korean would immediately resonate with.

[(2013) 4th National Martial Arts Competition High School Semifinals: Ham Choryung vs Cheon Byeong-ho]

“You all know Ham Choryung, right? The only individual to last a full 30-minute match against her is my father.”

Proudly I puffed up my chest as if it was a personal achievement while introducing Professor Cheon.

I strongly felt that today, we were about to hit a record-breaking number of viewers in the history of broadcasting.

* * *

It was when Name temporarily stepped out to deliver one last word of encouragement to her friends.

Professor Cheon chuckled as he recalled what had just happened.

‘It might not have been a sincere expression, but… I really am happy.’

How could just the word ‘Father’ make his heart leap like that?

In an effort to steady his mind, he absentmindedly loosened his tie only to tighten it again properly.

He saw Name coming back, hugging her friends one by one from a distance.

Yuna, Ji Hye, Haru, Han Gyeol, and Si Hoo. He had talked so much about them that now he could even remember their names.

While ten students entered the training hall, Name bounced up the stairs leading to the arena.

As the emcee finished his introduction, judges were positioned at each corner.

“It seems our kid will be the first to go.”

A boisterous voice came from just behind Professor Cheon.

A burly man with a thick beard was Detective Ma Beom-il.

“I didn’t know Ji Hye could make that kind of expression! Sigh, do you think our daughter can do well? What do you think from your perspective, Name’s father?”

When he again looked towards the training hall, Ma Ji Hye and Iharu stood at the center, glaring fiercely at their opponent.

“They say that children grow taller day by day. I believe Ji Hye will show achievements far beyond what you expect.”

“I wanted to avoid having them fight as much as possible… But Ji Hye has a gentle personality—who did she take after, I wonder? ”

“Someone once said that the role of a parent is not to lead their child, but to support them from behind so they don’t fall. So let’s trust and wait for them. They will surely do well.”

“Professor Cheon, I’m here! Quickly turn on the broadcast; the match is about to start.”

Seeing Name hastily check the camera, Professor Cheon smiled broadly.

“…?”

Name tilted her head in confusion.

Professor Cheon gently shook his head as if it were nothing, and placed a soft cushion on her chair.

“Let’s see how well our juniors perform.”

“I won’t let you down. I’ve been training not for just a day or two.”

“Hmm? Training?”