Chapter 347

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on March 2, 2025

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“Close your eyes. I’m going to put some sparkle parts under them.”

“Okay.”

“Noname, you’re so cute! After this, I’ll make your hair into a dumpling hairstyle.”

“Do whatever you want.”

In the darkened academy classroom, the cheerful spring sunlight streamed in through the window.

While Yuna climbed on a chair to tie my hair, Haru carefully sticked heart-shaped and star-shaped stickers he bought from Daiso one by one.

“Done!”

My friends suddenly shoved a hand mirror in front of my face.

Two dumpling-like clumps of hair popped up awkwardly.

It felt a bit strange, but the effort was palpable.

“Thank you. Yuna, come here, I’ll put some sunscreen on you too.”

“Ugh, that’s a hassle. Alright!”

“Guys, the sports festival is about to start! Hurry up and come out!”

“We’ll be there soon, teacher!”

We dashed out of the dark corridor and quickly went down the central stairs.

Fluffy clouds that looked like cotton candy floated in the sky.

The vast academy’s artificial turf field was packed with students.

We lined up at the back of the 3rd Grade A Class line, following our teacher.

“Alright, let’s begin the Seviron Academy Sports Festival! The team with the loudest cheers will earn 50 points, Blue Team and White Team, shout out!”

“Waaah!”

The kids shouted so loud their voices would soon crack.

The May sports festival, which we missed last year due to health check-ups, finally began.

“But are we on the Blue Team or the White Team?”

“Our class is the White Team.”

“Noname should have concentrated during class!”

The sports festival involved competitions between the Blue Team and the White Team, but also competitions within the same grade classes.

It wasn’t very complicated; we just had to do our best in each match assigned to us.

“Please welcome the students participating in each event with bright smiles. Keep in mind that today’s sports festival is all about you, and I hope you have a great time.”

After the solemn greeting from Principal Gu Onyu ended, we returned to a shaded booth.

Dropping our shoes haphazardly next to the mat, we searched for a suitable spot to lie down.

Yuna, who had a portable fan, was chosen.

“I’ll lie down here.”

“Come on! Can you fan me?”

“Yeah, softly.”

“Noname really should have come last year… it was super fun.”

Yuna said with a hint of regret.

“Exactly! If Noname had been here, our class would have won.”

“Where’s Ji Hye?”

“She’s meditating alone in the classroom. She has to participate in the martial arts competition later.”

“Wow, the champion is truly something else.”

Due to the nature of the sports festival, it was advantageous for skilled kids to participate in multiple events.

The reason I was resting with my eyes closed was that today’s schedule was exhausting.

“What events are you participating in, Noname?”

“Hey, don’t just throw random stuff in there and act like you don’t know it. I’m personally participating in martial arts, trampoline, and relay—3 events.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. Counting the tug-of-war and tunnel running that the whole class participates in, that’s 5 events.”

“Let’s give Noname a massage. We have to win this year!”

[The 8 participants for the 3rd Grade Martial Arts competition please gather at the left sand area.]

The announcement echoed across the entire grass field.

Martial arts refers to anything done with the body without the use of weapons.

In general, martial arts competitions imply subduing the opponent using Aura.

However, in a sports festival designed for fun, it would be serious trouble if anyone got hurt.

Therefore, the martial arts competition among lower-grade elementary students is conducted slightly differently.

“You win by either knocking your opponent down first or pushing them out of the ring. You can’t grab their clothes and push or pull. Any choking or twisting of limbs and necks will be disqualified. Match time is 2 minutes. Everyone understand the rules?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, I’ll draw the first matches for 1st and 2nd grades. The first match will be… Park Ria vs. Hwang Junwoo! Both contestants, please come forward.”

At the teacher’s instruction, the cute kids made serious strides as they entered.

While the referee set up barriers around the contestants, the homeroom teachers and senior students cheered passionately.

“Noname, that 1st grader seems taller than you.”

Ji Hye whispered next to me.

I remembered them saying the average height of 1st graders was 125 cm. They definitely looked at least 10 cm taller than me.

“Ji Hye, if you keep that up, don’t be surprised when we meet in the 16th round.”

“Yikes, I don’t want that!”

Ji Hye had produced a miraculous upset by defeating a 3rd grader to win at the sports festival two years ago.

I was eager to match up with her, but Ji Hye shook her head vigorously in denial.

“Noname should just be natural.”

“Why get worked up about it?”

The match, whether it was wrestling or judo, was in full swing.

Seven-year-old kids were desperately trying to push back their 2nd-grade seniors while struggling to control their underdeveloped Aura.

However, the difference a year of experience made at this age was substantial.

Such talented kids faced their overwhelming defeat by their seniors for the first time, leaving them teary-eyed as they exited the arena.

“Oh dear, this year the 1st graders are all wiped out. Now, let’s quickly draw the 16th round match-ups. Let’s see… Ta-da, ta-da, boom, clap, clap.”

The referee pulled out a thin wooden stick from a cylindrical container.

“Noname?”

At that moment, the crowd buzzed with excitement.

I reluctantly rolled up my sleeves and stepped onto the sand with bare feet.

Meanwhile, the other contestants knelt down in a respectful manner, fervently praying not to be chosen.

‘Am I some kind of monster that eats people?’

“The opponent you’ll face is 2nd Grader Kim Yeeji!”

“Waaah!”

“Why me of all people!”

Amid the contrasting emotions, a girl was chosen as the offering.

“Oh, hello, Senior Noname. It’s an honor to compete against you…”

Kim Yeeji bowed shyly, bending at a 90-degree angle.

Hearing the word ‘senior’ gave me mixed feelings.

2nd graders were likely kids who hadn’t officially learned martial arts yet.

However, she must have watched the academy competition last year.

She seemed hesitant, possibly having seen my performances before.

“Don’t be nervous. I’ll hold back.”

“That’s a lie…”

“Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing!”

Her eyes were trembling uncontrollably.

What am I supposed to do if she loses her motivation before we even start fighting?

I narrowed my eyes and gave her a stern warning.

“If you don’t challenge yourself, you can gain nothing. The moment you stop challenging, your growth stops too. Do you really want to waste your talent like this?”

The friend who was roughly a head taller than me shook her head.

Changing someone’s mind with just a few words was nearly impossible anyway.

If she remembers my words someday when she’s in trouble, that would suffice.

“Now, let’s begin the match!”

* * *

Kim Yeeji’s face twisted in dread.

Noname was a symbol of fear for all academy students.

Even the towering 6th graders revered her like a goddess, let alone younger students.

Moreover, the academy competitions where Noname participated had a ’15+ age’ tag on VTube for being so violent.

Someone who could crush faces and smash bodies without batting an eye.

Though small in stature across all grades, she was not someone to underestimate recklessly.

“I won’t counterattack for a minute, so just go ahead and do whatever you can. I’m giving you this chance.”

Noname crossed her arms and stood straight.

‘Is this a trap?’

Even if it was, there was no reason for her not to rush in.

Yeeji bent her knees and lowered her stance, narrowing the distance.

“Haah!”

Gathering Aura from behind, she extended both palms toward Noname’s abdomen, overlapping them diagonally.

‘Please!’

As a pure 2nd grader, Kim Yeeji used her family’s secret technique right from the get-go.

There was no way she could knock her down; she likely intended to aim for a ring-out instead.

However, Noname merely twisted her body slightly and easily dodged.

“Ahh!”

She almost got eliminated herself, but Noname caught her clothes, pulling her back into the arena.

“You shouldn’t lose your balance. Also, your approach was too predictable. If you want that to work, you have to step faster or get closer to your opponent.”

“I’m sorry!”

“Try again.”

Realizing that Noname was genuinely giving her a chance, Yeeji launched another attack.

Even trying to use her physique to shove her shoulder back, she couldn’t even grip the collar.

She swung her fists wildly, but only air was struck.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

Noname continued to stand in the exact same pose.

Her feet, firmly planted like deep-rooted trees, looked as if they could not be swayed.

As Yeeji grew obstinate, tears welled up in her eyes, and she felt a lump in her throat.

The difference in skill was astronomical.

She couldn’t even understand why her attacks weren’t landing, it was such an overwhelming gap.

Biting her lips tightly, she fought back tears.

“You did well. That was really impressive.”

“How can it be impressive when not a single move worked!”

She snapped back at Noname’s encouragement.

At this age, children’s competitive spirit was on a whole different level.

Seeing Yeeji so furious caused Noname to momentarily lose her words.

Then, she relaxed her crossed arms and enveloped herself in Aura.

“Whoever taught you that technique, it’s a good one. If you mastered it perfectly, it could work against anyone, regardless of their strength. Want to see?”

Noname lightly placed her left hand atop her right.

It was exactly the same technique Yeeji had used.

Showing the girl, Noname slowly positioned her hand to the side and channeled Aura throughout her body.

“…!”

Then, the following process unfolded in an instant, far beyond words.

The sand sank beneath her left foot,

and the surrounding sand surged upward, casting a shadow.

Just two steps.

In the brief moment Yeeji closed and opened her eyes, Noname’s hands had shifted to her bellybutton.

The air between them compressed to its limit, generating a strong repulsive force.

Bang—!

The girl’s body soared from the impact, flying beyond the sandy area.

“Cough cough! Eww…”

Yeeji sat there dumbfounded, unable to rise from where she fell.

As she spat out grains of sand, she recalled the events that just unfolded.

Noname reached out and helped her back up.

“That didn’t hurt, right? I didn’t actually touch you.”

“Oh… yeah. Just my butt a little.”

“I may have exaggerated by showing off a bit, but did you see how the sand shot up? You need to put in that kind of strength in your legs. Just because it’s a technique that uses your hands doesn’t mean your legs are unimportant.”

“Ah!”

Realizing something, Yeeji politely bowed her head and returned to her place.

“Noname wins!”

The first match of the lower-grade martial arts competition concluded with Noname’s victory.

Noname formed a V sign with her fingers and showed it to the kids.

“Waaah! Noname! Noname!”

“Milk-colored Noname!”

“Copy Ninja Noname!”

Applause erupted from the 3rd Grade A Class and the senior and junior members of the White Team.

“Ji Hye, see you in the finals. The sooner, the better.”

“Yikes!”

* * *