Chapter 445

Art is always dominated by the wealthy.

The same goes for painting.

Royals, eccentric millionaires, and Fields Medal winners with questionable amounts of money.

[Is the total prize money for the NoName fan art contest insane? lol][32]

(Notice from the NoName fan cafe.jpg)

First place is 6 million won ㄷㄷㄷㄷㄷ

With 29 winners, it’s an easy selection, so artists who have been hesitating might all have a shot at it.

More than anything, it’s the Fields Medal prize money, so how can this be ignored?

[Comments]

– The symbolism is incredible.

– I feel like this will definitely make the news, I have to challenge myself.

– It’s already been in the news multiple times lol.

– NoName will actually see my artwork? Adding to my life’s achievements.

– The hidden masters will come out in full force.

– Fake madness: donating the entire prize / Real madness: using the entire prize for fan art.

– Isn’t it against the rules to deify? I wanted to draw creation and the Last Supper.

Once upon a time, there were pessimistic opinions that the illustration industry would collapse entirely with the advent of AI.

It’s true that many professions have indeed been replaced by AI.

But just like how no one watches matches between artificial intelligence chess players, the creative urge ingrained in human DNA after millions of years of evolution cannot be erased.

In fact, the personalized learning process provided by AI attracted all people with talent in drawing.

Finally, the grand painting contest has commenced, and there were plenty of hobbyists who could compete with professionals.

[NoName Fan Cafe]

[Fan Art Contest]

[Recommended Order]

[#21 Watercolor of NoName’s fan meeting]

I had the chance to attend a fan meeting hosted by NoName long ago!

I tried to capture the mood of that scene by drawing NaeMe drinking through a straw, haha.

I’m a self-taught middle school student, so there are many immature aspects, but I would appreciate it if you could look upon it kindly! (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧

<♥: 10496>

– Wow, what an atmosphere.

– How can you bring photos to the fan art board?

– How can this level of skill be from a middle school student? Don’t lie…

– The world is vast, and there are many masters.

– Isn’t that Piyong? Famous on SNS right now.

└ Yeah, that’s right lol.

– NaeMe is so cuteㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.

– There are too many talented hands here, it’s scary.

* * *

[Private Room]

[Namme and Adela’s House]

Adella sent 6,893 pieces of fan art to NaeMe, excluding the 337 that violated regulations.

“Check them out when you have time later!”

“Were there that many violations?”

“Ah, we started off a bit strict from the beginning. Otherwise, too many people would be making ridiculous submissions.”

“It’s a shame to just throw them away. I’m fine, so you can send those too.”

“Absolutely not!”

“Ugh, you scared me. Why are you yelling like that?”

Suddenly shouting, Adella made NaeMe flinch.

While Adella was setting up the broadcast, NaeMe slowly looked through the fan art.

From cute drawings made by elementary school students to grand works by professional illustrators, there was a variety of styles.

“About a thousand of these met the judging criteria, and the managers shortlisted 100 based on votes and quality. You can pick 29 from these and rank them.”

“This seems like it’ll take a while.”

“Hey, it’s been a while since we saw people. But are we really not showing our faces today? It’s still virtual after all…”

“Yep. After all, one face is just another face.”

“Okay. I prepared a special spot for you, knowing you would say that.”

“?”

[▶ Summoning Item no.7429 ‘Screen Curtain’.]

Shhhhhh-

NaeMe looked up toward the source of the sound.

From the ceiling, a screen curtain descended to the floor.

The large curtain made of finely-divided bamboo divided the Private Room into two parts.

“Just stay behind this screen! I’ve set the opacity to 90%, so you’ll only see the silhouette. Want to see?”

Adella moved behind the curtain and did jumping jacks on the bed.

Her figure appeared as a black shadow from the other side.

At that moment, NaeMe felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

“Isn’t this something used for regents? Like in historical dramas?”

Regents are the highest-ranking elders who support the king when the king is too young.

Adella snapped her fingers in agreement.

“Wow, my sister is a genius, right? Exactly.”

“You want me to just sit behind here? What kind of ridiculousness is that?”

“Are you saying you can’t do even this much? We’ve worked so hard until now…!”

Seeing Adella’s resolute eyes, NaeMe let out a deep sigh.

“Fine, let’s do it.”

“Hehe, you were going to agree anyway, weren’t you?”

[NoName / Adella Ch.]

[Just Chatting – Fan Art Contest]

[Broadcast Time – 0:05:22]

[Number of Viewers – 15,083]

– Open the door bang bang bang!!!

– At this rate, I’ll freeze to death…

– 8 billion Nameme fans eagerly wish for No Name’s return.

– Please come back to me as my little No Name 😭😭😭

– No Name is still little, though?

– 5 minutes of a black screen? I’ve seen this pattern before, can I expect something?

– Please tell me NoName is right in front of the screen when it turns on, please please.

The screen faded in, and the familiar room gradually became visible to the viewers.

The Private Room shared by NaeMe and Adella.

Suddenly, cat ears popped up from the bottom of the screen.

“You little rascal! How dare you!”

Adella grimaced and shouted at the viewers.

For some unknown reason, she was wearing a red royal robe embroidered with dragon patterns.

– What kind of concept is this?

– Adella, where’s NoName?

– Are you a king today?

– Cat King ㄷㄷ

– The concept is dizzying lol.

– Isn’t the room different somehow?

– No, it’s the same.

After manipulating the broadcast a few times, she played a pre-prepared audio source.

“Greetings to Her Majesty the Queen!”

With that proclamation, familiar Joseon dynasty court music played.

The gayageum and taepyeongso harmonized beautifully, creating an atmosphere of a solemn court.

– ???

– ????

– What?

– ??

– Why is the king saying that lol?

– Hahaha.

– Let’s just go with it, shall we?

The simple chroma key background curtain began to turn semi-transparent.

While everyone was laughing at the cat’s antics, sharp-eyed viewers began to voice their suspicions one by one.

Adella turned around and bowed deeply towards NaeMe’s silhouette.

“Here we present fan art painted by commoners praising your Royal Highness. As you see illustrations that diligently capture the majesty and gracious smile of Her Majesty, you can truly feel the loyalty and artistic sense of the people. This precious gift is seen as elevating Her Majesty’s status and expressing devotion, so as you enjoy this, I pray for your future prosperity. What are you doing? Hurry up and bow!”

“That’s pushing it too far.”

“Please grant us your wisdom, Your Majesty… I mean, Ma’am.”

As soon as NaeMe’s voice, slightly embarrassed, was heard, the chat mood became excited.

Completing the concept play, Adella sat down in her gaming chair while draped in the royal robe.

[‘BaliKi’ donated 1,000 won!]

– Is that person behind me the NoName I know?

“As previously announced, my sister NaeMe is still in self-reflection, so she will not be showing herself today. But with 90% opacity, I think seeing 0.1 NaeMe would be okay, right?”

– That’s a method I never imagined lol.

– I thought it would be on Discord since she’s not appearing today lol.

– NaeMe is behind the pillar!

– Did it really have to go this far? Just show her a little!

– When will the self-reflection end? 😭😭😭

– Can we round it and say it’s okay if it’s up to 0.49?

“Whoa, are you a genius? How about making NaeMe 51% opacity?”

“If you keep probing, I’ll just leave.”

“Ah! Let’s hurry before my sister changes her mind and start. For those who are here for the first time, let me explain one more time. Three editors, six managers, have selected the top 100 works from the contest. Today, we will spend time looking at those excellent works together with my sister NaeMe!”

“Fan arts not chosen here will also be meticulously reviewed one by one. Thank you to everyone who has drawn for us!”

“How will the order be? It’s random, random. I’ve written all the details on T-gather and the fan cafe, so please don’t ask questions here and check it out!”

* * *

From the start, an amazing fan art popped up.

“1. Captain NaMe Ho NoName vs Baalzebub

Inspired by the boss battle against Baalzebub in World of Arcelia.

I suddenly remembered a children’s song that NoName hummed, so I figured this was it and finished it in a week haha.

The setup is that we encounter and fight Baalzebub while crossing the continent on a large ship.”

A blonde woman wearing a pirate hat wielded a gigantic whip of light, splitting the devil shaped like a fly in half.

“This is the work of kdh1010. Oh, I remember this guy. Isn’t that the demon that took over the Pope? Ugh, it’s still disgusting to see again.”

“The whip seems to utilize Arabesque’s knot with the earth element. Thank you for the wonderful fan art.”

“Hey NaeMe, can you sing a line of that children’s song in that context?”

“Suddenly…?”

– Wow.

– So cute lol.

– Please release it as audio, I want to use it as an alarm.

– Are you skipping this? Are you skipping this? Are you skipping this?

– I’ve really been wanting to hear NaeMe’s voice recently 😭.

– Clap clap clap clap!

Before long, the viewer count climbed past 20,000, approaching 30,000.

Unable to refuse the atmosphere, I quietly cleared my throat and opened my mouth.

“I’ll just do one verse.”

“Waaaaa applause applause!”

Well, since they wouldn’t be able to see me anyway, this should be fine.

I swayed my upper body to the beat and hummed the song.

“A ship that set off for the open sea in search of the continent.

Carrying the dreams of 32 passengers.

When a fierce storm swallowed the ship’s bow.

The ship broke in two.

The captain is an upright man.

Prioritizing women and the elderly.

The ship floated back up again.

Now only 16 remain.”

– The way you sway side to side is really cute, it’s driving me crazy.

– Ugh, that’s why I want to see her in real life more 😭😭.

– NoName definitely has a knack for making people anxious.

– Illustration bang lol bop!

– My stomach hurts from laughing.

– This sheer leotard, I can’t resist.

– Isn’t this the one that should get the grand prize?

– No, there are way more amazing works, so look forward to it.

“Okay, time is short, so let’s go to the next fan art.”

Adella interrupted at just the right moment.

She was already showing signs of being a professional broadcaster.

Just by broadcast time alone, she probably had done ten times more than I had.

They continued to review high-level fan art, and before I knew it, I could see myself happily laughing and talking with the viewers.

There was so much shown in the broadcast that there was plenty of material to draw from.

Then, I came across a fan art that took my breath away.

“15. NoName’s Interview with the TaGaPei”

“Next up is the NoName TaGaPei interview by Witcher33. Let’s take a look.”

In the picture, I was sobbing uncontrollably like a young child.

Behind the child, a woman shrouded in pure white veil held the girl tightly.

This is unfair…