Chapter 500

In the business district of La Défense, located near Paris, there were countless skyscrapers towering at 100 stories high, and one could even spot the new Eiffel Tower, which was 2.5 times taller than the original.

We took a bus through the forest of buildings and arrived at the hotel where we would stay.

We received a warm welcome from the National Exchange Committee and hotel staff and headed up to our assigned room.

“Oh. Our names are written on the room.”

[2314 No Name]

[2315 Kim Isabel Love]

Just as we were impressed, we felt a sense of emptiness.

“By the way, Na-me, what about the card key? Or is it biometric recognition? There’s no device on the door.”

“Um… should we go back to the lobby?”

Unexpectedly, the door opened automatically.

I awkwardly grabbed the handle and said, “It looks like it’s automatic.”

A modern hotel is indeed different in many ways.

“Hahaha! Na-me, did you see the frame on the bed? Hurry and check it out!”

Love Kim, who had entered her room first, shouted loudly.

Curious about what was so exciting, I went into the bedroom.

“Oh.”

Inside a large frame was my portrait prominently displayed.

In the photo, I was crossing my arms and looking to the side.

At the bottom, the name ‘No Name’ was neatly engraved.

“Wow, how is it? wow, Na-me, you look so cute!”

Before I knew it, Love had infiltrated my room.

“Not really…”

It was neither impressive nor cute, just rather ordinary.

It would have been nice if it had been one or the other.

I closely examined the two plush dolls sitting cozily on the bed.

The mascots for this year’s National Exchange Tournament, Runix and Loony.

It seemed they were named so because the finals would take place under a supermoon on August 16.

I lay on the soft blanket, hugging the bright yellow chicks.

“Ugh… I’ve been sitting in one place for so long, my whole body feels stiff…”

I buried my face in the pillow and spoke.

Bus, airplane, then bus.

I felt like I was going crazy from the discomfort.

A quiet stillness flowed.

Just as I found it strange and was about to turn around—

Squeeze—

“Wha-what!”

A tingling sensation shot through the back of my thigh, and I involuntarily screamed.

“Wasn’t I asking for a massage?”

Love tilted her head innocently and raised her thumb.

“No, when did I…!”

“Come on, try it! I promise your fatigue will completely melt away, dear customer.”

“H-Hold on…”

“Just stay still, dear customer…! You were the one who seduced me first!”

Knock knock—

Thanks to the knock on the door, Love’s rampage finally calmed down.

I intended to go out to greet, but the door was already half open.

This person must have come in without properly closing the door.

“PD-nim?”

“Oh, I saw the door open. If you two have already unpacked, can we shoot for about 5 minutes?”

“Yes, yes. Come in.”

Plush chicks scattered on the floor, the blankets in disarray.

Together with Love, we hurriedly tidied up the room and prepared for the documentary filming in a neat outfit.

Although the room wasn’t particularly spacious, I was very pleased to find a large bathtub in the bathroom.

“I feel tempted to stay longer in such a good accommodation, and I will do my best to meet the expectations of our Korean fans.”

“Love, if you fall out during the competition, you’ll have to pack and leave that day.”

I made up a lie as a joke to Love Kim, who was being interviewed.

“Oh no, then I need to pack my swimsuit in advance.”

“Why the swimsuit?”

“Because I have to swim there. Beep, turn left 8000km ahead.”

“Pffft.”

“Attention! Mobile pirate inspection area ahead. Please be cautious of looting!”

“Ugh, stop it, sis.”

Love casually responded, borrowing lines familiar to internet users.

I held back laughter, tightly closing my lips.

How embarrassing this was.

* * *

With about a week remaining until the opening ceremony, the Korea Mage Association announced news about No Name and Love through VTube and social media, drawing the attention of Korean fans.

[Korea Mage Duel National Representative Team | 670,000 Subscribers]

[#France National Exchange Tournament Robinson’s Accommodation Reveal (Feat. No Name’s Humor) | France National Exchange Tournament EP.5]

– It’s nice to see the association doing a good job this time. Their accommodation is well arranged, bb

└ Thanks to the staff who worked quietly behind the scenes.

– There’s only a week left now… I hope the players stay injury-free and get good results based on their preparations.

– Go Korea!

– (3:25) No Name’s awkward laugh moment

└ So they found this funny lololol

└ It wasn’t funny at all, but Na-me laughed and then I laughed too lolol

└ Isn’t her laugh too innocent lolol

– No Name, my love, my light. My darkness. My life.

– Am I the only one uncomfortable with this video…? Why is someone already saying they’ll swim over? That’s not funny even as a joke ;;

└ Yeah, you’re the only one uncomfortable.

└ They can joke amongst themselves. Are you just a hater?

└ Now that the competition is about to start, the FC Korea fans are crawling out lol

└ Why are there so many negative comments about Kim Love? Look at the latest comments, whoa.

FC Korea refers to those who usually have no interest in Korean soccer but get excited only during the national team games; this term was borrowed and applied to the Mage Duel as well.

The domestic situation is much worse than soccer, as there isn’t even a professional Mage Duel league in the country.

Therefore, the phenomenon was at least as bad as if not worse than with soccer.

It was unfortunate that the timing of Love Kim’s defeat in the Japan-Korea match coincided with the time when people began to take interest in the national exchange tournament.

Witnessing this, dedicated Mage Duel fans wrote angry posts in the community.

[Domestic Magic Gallery]

[As a 15-year fan of Mage Duel in America and Europe, I’ll let you know.]

The chances of advancing to the top 64 group stage are much higher for Kim Love than for No Name, that’s a fact.

While Kim Love has virtually secured a spot in the top 32, No Name needs to surpass at least 2 out of the USA, Japan, and the UK to advance.

Sure, let’s say she manages to advance.

Is the issue of stamina something ancestors will solve for her?

Especially since the group that No Name is part of is unusually tough?

No matter how strong the USA is, when their pace collapses, it’s guaranteed to be crunched to the top 32 in the national exchange tournament.

Let’s boost some national pride and say Kim Love will reach the quarterfinals, while No Name will only make it to the round of 16.

[Comments]

– Seems like someone just added their nostalgic fan feeling. I’m seeing them in the round of 16 and 32.

└ (Author) Haha, you caught me. However, I can’t help but feel that if No Name had better bracket fortune, she could have made it to the quarterfinals as well.

– Those who know know.

– No Name is practicing stamina training all alone for that reason.

└ (Author) This actually makes sense. It seems that those who just plan a custom strategy end up failing.

[Shit, those internet experts who can’t even support the players are disgusting, throwing out that they’ll barely make it to the top 32.]

Seems like they set the expectations low because they get angry when the results don’t meet their expectations.

I understand the dislike for national pride, but the Mage Associations of Europe and America are predicting Korea as a strong contender for the championship.

Let’s believe and support both Kim Love and No Name.

[Comments]

– Where did you hear that?

└ You don’t know because you haven’t looked. In a survey by 35 Mage Duel experts at the BBC, Korea ranked high right after the USA, Japan, and Italy.

– There is indeed a tendency to undervalue in Korea.

– How can the 4th place be a championship contender?

└ 4th place is enough haha. Last year, didn’t Japan get 8th or 9th or something?

– But Kim Love isn’t a local player, right? After showing that kind of performance in the Japan-Korea match…

└ It’s because a Japanese person fought cowardly.

└ What do you mean cowardly?! lol

└ That’s quite a compliment…

Even within the community, fans’ opinions cannot easily converge.

The tournament has too many variables to predict results in the first place.

Last year, there were players who had great performances up until the qualifiers but flopped in the finals, while others participated despite forcing themselves through injuries.

The community has become a battlefield.

Occasional wise individuals might appear, creating a miraculous peace like a Christmas truce.

[ Real-time Best ]

[How to enjoy the National Exchange Tournament properly]

No Name is 10 years old and her stamina is a problem, while Kim Love is shameless because of her defeat in the Japan-Korea match (no).

Reading top shorts where the players appear at the National ‘Exchange’ Tournament party (yes).

(Na-me eating Hawaiian pizza dipped in milk in front of Italians.gif)

(Na-me only eating fish on sushi in front of Japanese people.gif)

(Na-me picking out the sweet fillings in macaroons in front of French people.gif)

(Na-me pouring lots of water on Shin Ramyeon because it’s spicy in front of Kim Love.gif)

Wasn’t this the real deal all along?

[Recommended 2194] [Disapproved 245]

[Comments]

– No Name is so funny lolol

– What does the last one even mean lol

– Yeah, the original intent of the exchange tournament was not to fight.

└ But this is seriously asking for a fight…!

└ It’s like my sister just eating pork from kimchi fried rice, damn it.

└ Wait, that’s also No Name…

– Ahhh, that’s a magical Shin Ramyeon from the Han River!!!

– This is controversial.

– The expression of the Italian lady looks fierce, whoa.

– What do they expect to do if they provoke Korea on a broad scale!

The Middle Eastern wars that shook the world came to an end in 2024, and it has now been 27 years since the National Exchange Tournament was held with the goal of fostering unity and mutual understanding among nations.

While the dueling is important, the essential purpose is the interaction among promising mages.

A week before the opening match, 64 participants gathered in the party room.

Excluding safety personnel and cameramen, adults vacated the room according to tradition.

The most attention-grabbing figure in the party room was No Name.

She held Love Kim’s hand, moving from table to table, tasting foods from various countries.

“Hey! Excuse me, young lady? Can we talk for a moment?”

A girl with a lion-like mane of thick golden hair grabbed Na-me’s wrist.

The 2052 Europa Junior Champion, Monica Rich.

Even her patience was tested as she could not tolerate Na-me’s behavior of wrapping ali-oli pasta around salami slices and eating it.

“What kind of barbaric and clueless behavior is this?”

“Well, I remember the local residents eating like this when I traveled before.”

“From which country exactly?”

“Oh, that’s a bit hard to say…”

“Even so, this is food prepared by Italian chefs. You must respect our food culture.”

“Are you Monica Rich? Just humor me and try it once, okay? I’m not lying; it’s really delicious…”

Na-me pouted her lower lip and looked at her pitifully.

In her gaze, it seemed as if small diamond jewels were flying out.

Unfortunately, a camera was nearby.

“Right, let’s unveil how grotesque and dreadful this food is to the whole world.”

To prepare for the situation where her taste buds might be shocked, she tightly gripped the drinking glass in her left hand and put the pasta wrap into her mouth.

“Mmm, ahem. Traditionally, ali-oli pasta is rich with the scent of garlic, the flavor of olive oil, and just the right saltiness… Huh?”

“See? It’s better than expected, right?”

“Why is it not salty at all…?”

“I slightly removed the seasoning so it harmonizes with the pasta. Look, it’s not at all to the level of not being eatable.”

Monica Rich clutched her hair, sinking into self-denial.

Na-me moved to another table to create the dishes she had tasted in her past life.