Chapter 535

“Water.”

“Yes…”

As I extended my teacup, Saetbyeol carefully poured the Swiss herbal tea she had brewed in advance.

Sitting on the one-person sofa, wrapped in a bathrobe, I savored the mint aroma that opened my throat.

“About eating out… I couldn’t do it yesterday either…”

“Oh, I ordered kimchi jjim earlier. You like Korean food, right? It’ll arrive in about 10 minutes, so could you go down to the first floor to pick it up?”

“Another delivery? Ugh, I want to stop eating delivery food!”

“If you go outside, it’ll be even more trouble. The room is spacious, there’s air conditioning, it’s like heaven here.”

Saetbyeol’s lips puffed out like a duck.

“While you’re going to get it, could you also pick up the combat data I asked for from Giselle Fisher in the tactics conference room? Just say I sent you, and they’ll understand. They’ve been to many hotels, so they should know where the small assembly hall is, right?”

“Ugh, I’ll hold back since it’s before the match.”

“Yes, hello? Yes, Dad, when are you coming? Yes, yes. Oh, take care. Yes, I ordered what you like, Dad.”

“I was craving pasta today…”

Today was the day of the match between Switzerland and South Korea, with Lucas Schmid facing Love Kim.

Both are formidable opponents who wouldn’t be surprising to meet in the finals.

I invited Dad and Saetbyeol to the hotel to cheer with the viewers.

“They said it’ll arrive in 10 minutes. It should come around the same time as the food.”

“Sis, can’t we just ask Dad to come up instead?”

“…”

“I’m just saying! I’m going, really going. My, don’t you have hands or feet…”

“Okay, thanks. I’ll count on you!”

After sending Saetbyeol away, I quickly changed my clothes.

Drying my damp hair took quite a while.

Ding-dong—

In the meantime, Dad arrived at the door and rang the bell.

“Unspecified well?”

“Oh, you brought the delivery, right?”

“I almost arrived at the hotel at the same time; I just had a feeling. So I asked for the lake and received it.”

“Did you not see Saetbyeol?”

“I didn’t see her.”

“Oh, then she must have stopped by the tactics conference room first. Please sit here.”

I contacted Saetbyeol to come up and guided Dad to the sofa.

“Wow, kimchi jjim? I can’t believe we can deliver such things from France; I could never imagine that back in my day.”

“Here, there’s tofu, steamed eggs, and skewers too. Oh? It seems mackerel grilled was a complimentary addition.”

Having finished setting everything up, when I tried to turn on the broadcast, Saetbyeol was still completely silent.

“This is your first broadcast, so it’s a bit nerve-wracking.”

Professor Cheon said while loosening his tie.

“Yes? But you’ve appeared occasionally, like that time at Nice beach.”

“That was only for a moment. I didn’t come prepared like I am today. How many people are waiting to watch your broadcast now?”

“Let’s see. It looks like around 580,000. Just think of it as giving a lecture and relax. Shall I turn on the screen now?”

[NoName]

[Just Chatting – [Live] National Exchange Match Korea vs Switzerland, Let’s Cheer Together with Family]

[Broadcast Time – 0:14:38]

[Viewer Count – 584,729]

“Hello, No Name here. You can say hi now.”

“Ahem, greetings. I think this is the first time I’m formally addressing everyone. I’m No Name’s father. Please take care of me.”

“Wow, applause.”

-大橋

-👏👏👏👏👏

-Waahhhh

-That suit really suits you

-Legendary first team appearance

-Welcome!

-You seem too stiff, haha

-The moment I see you, it all comes backㅠㅠㅠ

[‘MeiAmon’ donated 100,000 won!]

“In fact, I’ve been waiting for an amazing father like you for a long time.”

“Please don’t take him away; he’s my dad.”

“Ha ha, thank you for always taking good care of our wonderful daughter.”

Professor Cheon, who just a moment ago said that broadcasting was awkward, quickly adapted.

“Namya, it seems like your viewers are overly flattering you.”

“Ah, that’s normal. You need to screen it out yourself.”

“Right? Everyone, go check out the cinema in front of your house; look how many young and handsome actors there are in our country.”

“Dad, people are asking how old you are.”

“Do I look good in this suit? Ha ha ha, thank you. You will be blessed.”

“Wait, it seems like Dad is only filtering to hear flattering comments.”

-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Selective comment readingㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“Objectively, you do look handsome.”

“You’re a broadcasting geniusㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

“So, how old is our esteemed elder?”

“The viewers all rush at you, so it’s hard to reject. I was born in ’95, which makes me fifty-eight this year.”

“You can conveniently remember that you’re four times older than me.”

“Namya, confirm kill really hurts…”

After a brief self-introduction, we opened the lid of the kimchi jjim.

There were many viewers worried if I couldn’t eat kimchi.

“It’s fine. I actually like the taste of kimchi. I’ll just eat the meat.”

“If you just take out all the meat like that, who’s going to eat the vegetables?”

“Dad and my sister? You both like kimchi.”

“Oh my. Where’s such a dutiful daughter in the world?”

“None, right?”

“Right, none.”

-I can’t deny itㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-“200 billion”

-“If you bring in 200 billion, I’ll eat only the kimchi from now onㅋㅋㅋㅋ”

“Is it true you were really just eating the meat?”

-ㄹㅇ true omnivorous dinosaur Namyaㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[‘VitaminNM’ donated 50,000 won!]

“How did you first meet Namya?”

“Let me think… It must have been during the winter session class—”

“Winter? I took Dad’s class from the summer onwards.”

“Did I? I took your class starting in the summer.”

“Oh right. But I remember only seeing you once or twice during the summer.”

“I was busy broadcasting lectures then. So let’s just talk about winter.”

While Professor Cheon talked about the past, I fished out meat from between the red leaves.

The viewers seemed enchanted, absorbed in his pleasant voice.

“After forgetting about it for a while, I opened a class in virtual reality in winter, and I received an email from Namya saying she wanted to formally attend Micro-Nano Material Mechanics. It seemed a bit strange.”

“Me?”

“It didn’t look like you were attentive in class at all. Sitting at the back, dozing off all the time, yet you ranked first in both midterms and finals. Ha ha ha, I thought my colleague was joking; how could I have taught so poorly?”

“No, the class was really good. I just felt sleepy for no reason. Plus, since you talk so slowly, it didn’t matter if I was dozing off.”

-Wow, is that really cheating?ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

-Three years ago, were you in first grade?

-A promising baobab treeㄷㄷ

-It wasn’t just a coincidence; No Name was giving off genius pheromonesㅋㅋㅋ

-How does the professor endure a live-action Good Will Hunting?ㅋㅋ

“We were supposed to meet during the final exam claims. But then a seven-year-old kid comes in saying she’s No Name and can prove it by reciting the answers. I’ve seen a lot of geniuses in this field, but I couldn’t express it in words. Then Namya, do you remember?”

“I’d like to forget that memory; why do you remember it, Professor?”

“Ha ha, since it seems you dislike that, I’ll just leave it at that. Mmm, this place is delicious. Well done.”

-🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

-Ahhhh!

-🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

-🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

-If you don’t finish this story, you’ll face a grave consequence…!

-Professor, please spare me!!!

“No, you don’t have to. It’s all in the past.”

“Ahem. Anyway, during the claims process, you made a fuss over a wrong answer on a 200-point test. Asking “Don’t lecture me, professor, can’t you understand this and that?” and so on.”

[‘NamyaSonSonJamJam’ donated 10,000 won!]

“Y-Yes…?”

“That’s right.”

I curled my arms in embarrassment and lowered my head.

“And then, you collapsed on the spot. When the small child’s complexion turned pale as if she could drop dead any moment, I was so surprised. Later, I learned it was due to mana withdrawal symptoms.”

“After that, I was adopted. Since I was stateless, I couldn’t just be adopted by anyone, but luckily Dad was a veteran mage, so it was possible.”

-(Standing ovation with tears in eyes)

“As I’ve aged, I love these cliché happy endings so muchㅠㅠㅠㅠ

“I’ve never heard of mana withdrawal symptoms.”

“I looked it up, it’s a disruption of the central nervous system… that’s genuinely terrifying ㄷㄷ

“Truly a kind father.”

“Namya must have instinctively sought a way to survive.”

“The match will start soon. Where’s my sister that she’s still not here?”

Just as I was about to make a phone call.

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG—

Someone pounded on the door fiercely as if about to break it.

I quickly ran to open the door, and Saetbyeol appeared, panting and looking ready to burst into tears.

“Where have you been?”

“Where, you ask…? I was waiting, waiting for the delivery, but it didn’t come! I saw Twish’s broadcast and realized!”

“Did you not see the message I sent?”

Saetbyeol hurriedly checked her phone from her pocket.

[No Name: Dad received the kimchi jjim on his way. If you didn’t grab the training data, I’ll go later, so come up now.]

Just as I feared, she hadn’t seen my message.

“Ugh, at least you could have called… I’ve been waiting to eat.”

In an instant, her frustration shifted from 50% anger and 50% sadness to 100% sorrow.

‘I thought you’d come sooner.’

This is not right.

‘You should have checked your phone better.’

This is even more wrong.

I barely held back the words that rushed to my throat and pretended to whisper.

“Saetbyeol, just a moment.”

“Hmm?”

*Peck*—

I placed a light kiss on her left cheek.

As our lips briefly touched and separated, her eyes widened in surprise.

“Thank you for always being by my side to help. I’ll make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.”

Her pouty expression instantly softened, and she gave a shy smile.

“Ah, I was just trying to act! Hehe, if you say that, I have to be thankful. Oh, wait! Ta-da! I brought the hologram of the Giselle Fisher data!”

“Great, great. Now let’s hurry and start the broadcast. The kimchi jjim that arrived was delicious.”

“From the broadcast, I saw you secretly picked all the meat. Is there anything left?”

“It’s three servings, don’t worry.”

I took Saetbyeol’s hand and led her to a chair outside the frame.

Then I pulled out some wet wipes from the drawer and wiped her cheek where I had just kissed her.

“Huh? I’m fine. It’s not dirty at all.”

“Sorry, it got kimchi juice on it.”

“Ugh…! Just!”

She alternated between looking at the red chili powder stains on my lips and the wet wipes, then ran to the bathroom in alarm.

“We’re family, what’s the big deal!”

“Even if we’re family, this has crossed the line!”