Chapter 311

On a day when green trees grow thick like weeds around the world, and apple-shaped bulbs illuminate the night instead of stars, Christmas was fast approaching.

The significance of celebrating the birth of Jesus had faded across times and spaces, and it was often accepted as a holiday marking the end of the year.

[Only I♡N Seoul]

Seoul was no exception.

As a hologram power, outdoor advertisements were being displayed on the walls of tall buildings.

A girl wearing a red Santa hat pops out of a gift box.

She drew a magic circle, and cold air flowed out from the gift box, constructing a large ice castle.

Bouncing in place.

Spinning in a clockwise direction.

Once again, Nami walked back into the camera, holding a microphone and speaking.

[There’s a Christmas special event happening at the Modern Outlet, check the QR code below for details. Ah, this has been Little Santa Noname. Merry Christmas!]

A refreshing voice echoed over the boring eight-lane road during the commute home.

All the office workers were busy searching for the source of the sound.

And then they discovered Nami’s Santa outfit.

She was a child who had recently been appearing frequently in various advertisements.

An inexplicable existence who solved complex math problems with intelligence far surpassing that of an average human and defeated a senior who was seven years older than her in a duel.

Rumors such as “she’s not actually eight years old” and “she’s a super soldier whose brain was modified by Valpurge” occasionally surfaced, but there was no way to know the truth.

Due to living in a world so different from the ordinary public, there was considerable distance.

However, the images of Nami seen in various media made such thoughts arise.

“Was that child originally that pretty?”

It’s not common for people to say a child’s appearance is not ‘cute’ but ‘pretty’.

While she had a small face with big eyes, there was also a strange charm that caught the public’s attention.

And the simple ‘feeling’ transformed into a form of ‘sales’ thanks to the meticulous touch of various marketing professionals.

[Noname surpasses Lee Sang-yoon and ENVY, ranking 8th in brand reputation among advertising models. Are big companies now obsessed with Nami?]

* * *

Nami set a record by shooting ten advertisements in a month, and the community buzzed with discussions about her.

[Noname unleashed and is going crazyㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

Moreover, the brands she got endorsements from were only megacorporations like Samsung, Nike, Modern, Baskin, and Gigastudyㅋㅋㅋㅋ

What’s more surprising than the fact that she received ten ads is that she had the option to choose from hundreds.

[Comments]

– I heard each one is at least 100 million.

└ So that’s why she didn’t get the Wolf Awardㅋㅋ Just licking ice cream costs 100 millionㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ So it was thisㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– I just want to pinch Noname’s cheeks; she’s just so cuteㅠㅠㅠㅠ

– Baskin totally messed up their marketing. Instead of just using her as a model, they should’ve released a Noname edition ice cream; I bet it would sell out nationwide.

└ Are you a genius?

└ I wonder what Noname flavor would be…

└ Kyaaa!

[Noname, I never wished for you to be this happy…]

That’s right.

Instead of a government that did nothing for her, may she grow strong by sucking on the marrow of corporations.

[Comments]

– ENVY’s advertising fee is 1 billion, but Noname’s is probably less than 200 million; what exactly is up with that? (I really don’t know.)

└ You fool, ENVY has five members. Besides, they get cheated by their agency, but Noname keeps it all.

– I don’t pay attention to idol music videos, but I watch every ad that features Nonameㅋㅋㅋ

– Yeah, that’s how you earn moneyㅠㅠㅠ

* * *

[Why Noname’s advertisements succeeded like this. hmmteresting]

1. There is minimal relative deprivation. Even what little there is has been completely smoothed over by her appearances in public service ads.

2. Possible patriotic marketing. Refusing the proposal to emigrate to Switzerland was probably the biggest factor.

3. Unlike idols, her image has not been fixed, leading to a wider spectrum for advertisements. She can embody high-end images while also appealing to the general public.

4. Just incredibly cute (the most important). When well-dressed, most child actors cannot compete.

(Santa Nami.jpg)

Just GOD.

[Comments]

– I had no idea why that poor kid was being idolized, but… I think I get it a little now.

└ Cool Kid-

– The past is too horrifying to feel any relative deprivation ㅎㅎ…

└ She even got caught up with a psychopath and was terrorized.

└ Despite her harsh life, the kid seems so bright, which makes people love her even more.

– Is it true that as long as you’re smart, there are no limits? I want to be an actor, but I felt the wall after seeing that public service ad.

└ That was legendary, but unfortunately, it got buried because of the controversy.

└ I don’t even understand the controversy itself. Surely Noname would have chosen well.

– The only broadcast appearance she made is in the Academy Against Series, yet she landed ten adsㅋㅋㅋㅋ That’s unprecedented.

– Is this the advertising Spirit Bomb?

[I’d like to send Noname a gift. I wonder what her hobbies are?]

Thinking of Noname’s image, I imagine she likes embroidery, knitting, classical music, flower arranging, and tea time!

[Comments]

– Whoa… I’ll report you as a terrorist.

└ (Author): I’ll send it with safe delivery!

– What do modern elementary school students like?

└ Collecting idol photo cards, playing Roblox, having fun with slime, doing TikTok challenges, and watching Skibidi Toilet videos.

└ Wow… These are all things I can’t imagine Noname doing at allㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ A true fun expert.

– Are we dealing with nobility here?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– Surprisingly, listening to classical music is actually one of Noname’s hobbies.

└ Whoa?

– In the ads, she comes off as truly elegant. Am I the only one who thinks so?

└ I can understand what elegance means now. It gives off a bit of a swan vibe.

└ Yeah, kind of a Crown Prince swan vibe.

Marketers can drastically change the impression of the same person based on the image they project.

Noname exudes an aura of elegance while still being unexpectedly approachable.

Many PDs, writers, hairdressers, makeup artists, and fashion designers worked tirelessly to maintain the cute and innocent image of Noname.

As the compiled video ‘Noname’s Entry Moments’ became widespread, even executives from large corporations found themselves uttering words like “happy Monday.”

However, contrary to those expectations, Noname was witnessed in a shockingly unexpected place.

[Real-time Best]

[What is this? Noname is sitting next to me… Is this real?][279]

(Noname in real life.jpg)

I met Korea’s only deity and took a photo together.

I blurred my face. I’m aware of the size difference, so I didn’t mention it.

Noname and her father are sitting next to me.

I’m trembling as I write this, having just taken a picture.

Lol, Noname actually asked whether she was posting this in the communityㅋㅋ I guess this is granted permission…?

Where I am is such a place.

(UFC SEOUL Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium.jpg)

* * *

“What a rare sight! Right now, before the athletes enter, countless requests for handshakes are erupt from the audience section of the stadium! Noname! Do you remember me? We saw each other at the Academy Against Series!”

The microphone echoed loudly within the stadium.

I was busy signing and being called from all directions.

As the camera from the jimi house pointed toward me, I mouthed ‘Caster Kim Jae-sung’ quietly.

After all, there was no way my voice would reach that far.

“Did you hear that? You remember! Wow, I was interviewing in the wardrobe back then!”

“I don’t think you heard anything, though?”

“Noname clearly mouthed ‘Caster Kim Jae-sung is handsome.’ I hope you check back home!”

“Haha, I wish you would get sued!”

Listening to the back-and-forth banter between the commentators and casters was part of the experience, but I had no time to spare.

For now, my hands had to keep moving busily.

“Nami! Did you come to watch UFC with your dad?”

“I asked if we could come first.”

“Wow, really? You actually liked this stuff! Thanks for the sign!”

“Nami! Here too, over here!”

After the guide intervened, people stopped crowding around.

Finally, I could catch a break.

Professor Cheon, who was forced to come out because of me, looked around the stadium with interest.

He originally wanted to come alone, but given his age, a guardian was a must.

“When are you going to get tickets again? Is it really that great?”

“I’m pretty excited. I’m more nervous than when I competed in the series.”

“Haha. What’s so good about fighting without the aura?”

Not a chance.

Humans always pursue a dream.

Whether it’s soccer, which handles the ball without hands, or tennis, which requires only a racket to play with the ball, all have become popular because they limit human abilities while using human specialties.

In a duel, a little loss of sanity occurs at most.

But I personally thought that the thrill of fights where bones are broken or skin is torn and blood spills is far more intense.

Humans tend to yearn for what they lack.

Even now, people demonstrating explosive athletic performance and animalistic reflexes without aura are incredible.

Perhaps that’s why UFC is thriving even in such a world. Money never lies.

The two fighters, having made a solemn commitment, entered sequentially, and the audience rose to clap.

The spotlight slowly moved toward the octagon, showing the trajectories of the athletes.

Each athlete threw off their attire while the referees carefully applied Vaseline to their faces.

Next is the aura heart examination.

This process checks whether the remaining aura in the body is less than 10 kE, more rigorously dealt with than doping tests.

Now the crucial part begins.

Each athlete picks one spectator seated on the first floor and asks them to verify the aura heart inspection of the opposing athlete.

This rule was designed to prevent bribery even among the referees. Currently, it serves more as fan service.

I got up from my seat, raised my heels to the limit, and raised my right arm high.

It was an opportunity to see the athletes up close. I wouldn’t care which side was chosen.

“1-2, 012.”

Zakaev pointed to a foreigner in the opposite direction.

Given that it was a match held in Korea, it was only natural for a foreigner to be chosen.

I could but hope for a slim chance that Seojongchan would pick me.

“1-5, 016.”

“Huh?”

I took a ticket out of my pocket to confirm.

1-5 016. That’s my seat.

“Oh! Congratulations, Noname!”

“Let’s hurry, Nami.”

“Yes, yes!”

Receiving cheers, I swiftly navigated through the crowd and locked eyes with Seojongchan.

He seemed to have noticed I was there beforehand.

“Go and keep a close eye, little lady.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

The moment Zakaev exceeds 0.1 kE, even by 0.01 kE, I will extract his aura heart right here.

The Russian player had complicated wires attached to his body.

“Hey, a little kid came to UFC? Don’t get scared hearing the sound of bones breaking, haha!”

It was a provocation that hardly stirred up any excitement.

As a chubby referee pressed a button, the aura heart measurements resumed.

Beep-!

[9.98 kE]

I shook my head, expressing my disappointment.

“Such a shame. If only you had violated the regulations, you might have survived safely here.”

“Haha. I’m really looking forward to my fight with Seojongchan. You’ll cheer for me, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Then get lost. Go drink some more of mommy’s milk.”

“My mom isn’t here.”

“…”

Zakaev made a complex expression as if he had taken a strong blow to the head.

Geez… Nowadays, UFC fighters are too sensitive.

“Do you think I wouldn’t even understand that level of provocation? Just focus and both of you show your best performance. Personally, I hope you lose, though.”

Seojongchan also passed with a score of 9.96 kE.

I returned to my seat, watching the match with a fluttering heart.

Later, I realized that the camera was indeed continually focused on me.