Ch.193188 – Eye of the Storm

A cool breeze blew in, unusually mild for June.

Just the day before yesterday, temperatures had exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, but now it was only 16. Was this also an effect of global warming?

Global warming was truly a magical phrase. When abnormal weather occurred, you could blame it as the culprit and never be completely wrong.

Anyway, the drop in temperature wasn’t really due to global warming but rather the typhoon brushing past Jeju Island and Japan.

Showers were falling across Seoul, and I set out for school holding my dreary black umbrella.

There were various ways to get to Cephiron Academy.

It was close enough to walk, but if I left through the back gate and took the bus, I could get off right in front of Cephiron Academy’s main entrance after just three stops.

On windy days like today, even with an umbrella, the rain would blow sideways in the wind and unpleasantly soak my clothes, so choosing the route with minimal walking was wise.

Plus, I’d get to meet Yu-na a bit earlier because of it.

[Seo Ma-ru: Didn’t you say you’re going to school with Yu-na today? Are you out of your mind?]

Yu-na’s oldest brother and my current VTube editor, Seo Ma-ru.

After the competition and collab stream ended, dozens of messages had flooded in, but I was too exhausted to reply to him at the time.

Roughly congratulating me on winning the competition, roughly crying about learning I was a victim of terrorism.

Scrolling down to his most recent message, a somewhat puzzling statement popped up.

[Seo Ma-ru: NoName, I know you’re reading this. We’re on the bus with Yu-na right now.]

We? Who?

That question was quickly answered.

From across the intersection, a long articulated bus pulled into the stop.

It was so long it looked like a subway train running through the middle of downtown.

Despite having quite a few seats, many people were standing due to the morning commute.

As I carefully made my way through the crowd, I spotted a man whose head stuck out noticeably above everyone else’s.

“Seo No-eul?”

Combat power—no, height 190cm with a thuggish impression, Yu-na’s second oldest brother.

Right next to where he was standing, Yu-na and her oldest brother Seo Ma-ru were sitting. They were chatting quietly and hadn’t noticed me yet.

With No-eul’s intimidating appearance, anyone would think he was bullying these innocent siblings.

As the bus honked and prepared to depart, No-eul was the first to notice my arrival.

He spotted me remarkably quickly.

“Hey NoName! It’s been so long!”

No-eul put his hand on my shoulder.

With our height difference of about 80cm, it was hard to even look up at him.

Suddenly feeling playful, I said:

“Where do you think you’re touching?”

“Huh?”

I just wanted to tease him for looking like a creep, but suddenly every passenger on the bus turned to look at us.

“Eh…?”

Both No-eul and I were completely startled by the sudden attention.

“I-I’m not… that kind of person…!”

No-eul raised both hands in surrender. I’d never heard his voice tremble like this before.

A man suddenly trying to stand up, an elderly gentleman subtly raising his cane, a high school student reaching for the umbrella in his arms.

Everyone was looking at No-eul with dangerous intent.

How was I supposed to know? Who would have thought everyone would hear in this noisy environment?

My mind raced to defuse the situation quickly.

If I didn’t come up with an appropriate excuse within 5 seconds, No-eul’s skull would be split in half by the free and righteous citizens of the Republic of Korea.

* * *

On the day NoName gave her interview that shook Korea.

While Yu-na was sleeping soundly and snoring away, oblivious to the world, the Ma-ru and No-eul brothers were spending a sleepless night.

Thinking about NoName’s achievements over the past week, it seemed almost unbelievable.

Until now, they had vaguely known that NoName was impressive for her age, but they hadn’t fully grasped just how exceptional she truly was.

Especially regarding magic, which was the exclusive domain of a select few intellectuals.

She was indeed an irregular, or an outlier, even when compared to all of humanity worldwide.

Otherwise, every morning news channel wouldn’t be completely dominated by topics about NoName.

Moreover, after hearing that she had been trapped in a capsule for seven years, they were too solemn to even speak.

“Mmm… Both my brothers are up early… Huh? Wow, I got a message from NoName!”

Yu-na, checking her phone with half-open eyes, suddenly jumped up and ran to her brothers to show off.

“NoName’s going to school with me today!”

The brothers barely managed to calm down Yu-na, who was jumping up and down and shouting.

“Wait, today? And by bus…?”

She’s going to just walk around on the streets without realizing how much attention she’s getting?

They often forgot she was a child because of how she appeared on stream, but NoName was clearly a 7-year-old kid.

It was impossible not to feel anxious.

“Yu-na, should we go with you today?”

“What? Why…?”

“Well… NoName’s become famous, so she might need bodyguards.”

“That’s right, NoName’s super famous now!”

The brothers, who had stayed up all night, hurriedly changed clothes and prepared to go out.

They smiled wryly at the red-haired girl whose smile wouldn’t leave her face.

Does she like NoName that much?

Yu-na still didn’t know about NoName’s past.

It was only a matter of time before she found out. Surely some kids at the academy would have heard the news this morning.

With complicated feelings, the brothers boarded the bus and began discussing.

“Let’s treat her the same as always.”

“Is that right?”

“NoName would prefer that. She’s such a mature kid.”

They could offer comfort separately in private later.

After all, they had come along to help maintain her normal daily life on the way to school.

Let’s let her live as a normal elementary school student with Yu-na.

They promised to treat her brightly and warmly as usual, without making it obvious.

Despite their resolute determination…

“Where do you think you’re touching?”

NoName suddenly accused No-eul of being a pervert,

And No-eul experienced a life-or-death crisis.

He felt his heart drop to his stomach for the first time in a very long while.

* * *

“You should pat my head too while you’re at it.”

Phew, excellent response.

No-eul’s large palm swished across the top of my head before returning to his side.

“Hey…! Wow, I really thought my heart was going to fall out! What were you thinking saying something like that!”

“Well… how was I supposed to know this would happen. Hi, Yu-na, it’s been a while.”

“NoNameNameNameName! I’ve missed you so much…! Hnnng…”

Yu-na welcomed me with a tearful voice and even shed a few tears.

I gently pinched Yu-na’s soft cheeks and greeted Ma-ru and No-eul again.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, thanks to you!”

“That’s good. But have you been feeding Yu-na properly? She seems to have lost some weight.”

I stretched her cheek again. The texture felt slightly different.

“Gaaah…!”

“I don’t know about anything else, but I’ve been buying her double portions of beef every time.”

“Hmm… I’ll let it slide this time.”

Yu-na was tall but always too skinny, which was concerning.

Especially her legs, which had almost no fat on them, always worried me.

“Excuse me…”

I slowly turned my head at the timid voice from behind.

“Yes?”

“Are you… NoName? The one from the news…”

With a cautious tone, a passenger who looked like a middle or high school student scanned my face, and his expression gradually changed to one of certainty.

“Yes, I am.”

“Wow, is this for real… How could such a coincidence… on the same bus? Ah, I’m sorry! I’m just so amazed!”

“Please sit down, it’s dangerous to stand.”

“Yes! Wow, amazing, you even talk the same way…! This is so cool.”

The student sat back down and took out his phone, frantically moving his fingers.

Come to think of it, I could feel quite a few piercing gazes.

“I told you the bus wasn’t a good choice. I was just about to say that.”

Ma-ru remarked pointedly.

Indeed, compared to internet broadcasts, I could feel how much greater the impact of television was.

Maybe I should ask Professor Cheon to pick me up for a while.

While I was lost in thought, more people were whispering about me.

They looked back and forth between my face and their phones, and some had their mouths hanging open.

“She’s much smaller than in the video?”

“Shh! She’ll hear you…!”

“She’s just a baby, and she’s the same person as NoName?”

“Hey guys, did you see the morning news? About the Walpurgis survivor from 8 years ago being found…!”

“That’s her.”

“Huh?”

“That’s the kid sitting right there.”

“Wha…?”

I had overlooked something important.

Until now, I must have been in the eye of the storm, in Professor Cheon’s house.

Just one step outside, and so many people recognized me.

I should stay quietly tucked away at the academy and then call Professor Cheon or get a ride in Ha-ru’s car when going home.

<This stop is Cephiron Academy Main Gate. The next stop is Cephiron Foundation Entrance.>

Since the bus was crowded, I waited in my seat until others had disembarked.

Thinking we were almost the last ones, I held Yu-na’s hand and moved toward the back door.

At that moment, people in front of us started pouring out.

“What? I thought everyone had gotten off?”

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever entered through the main gate except during the entrance ceremony.

There’s a back gate, so there’s no reason to walk halfway around the large academy grounds.

So I just thought the place was always crowded with people.

That was a big mistake.

“Those people over there are all wearing raincoats?”

Raincoats instead of umbrellas?

I turned my head in the direction of No-eul’s gesture.

When I made eye contact with one of them, like a scene from a horror movie, all their necks twisted eerily in my direction.

“Look, there are reporters everywhere!”

No-eul opened his umbrella to shield Yu-na and me, but unfortunately, it seemed we had already drawn their attention.

“NoName, Yu-na, where exactly is the academy’s main gate?”

Ma-ru asked urgently.

“Um… um… we need to walk quite a bit from here. About a hundred meters?”

“Okay, we’ll get you there quickly! I’ll carry you, can you hold the umbrella?”

“Hurry, get on my back!”

“What…?”

“Hurry, there’s no time!”

Yu-na jumped onto No-eul’s back first.

Reluctantly, I put my hands on Ma-ru’s shoulders.

“Whoa…!”

In an instant, we gained Vehicle 1 (Seo Ma-ru) and Vehicle 2 (Seo No-eul), giving us a much higher vantage point.

“I think that’s her! NoName! Ms. NoName!”

“Someone block the road ahead! Quickly, anyone!”

“Ms. NoName, please wait a moment!”

The reporters, whom I thought numbered only about ten, were far more numerous.

Camera operators carrying expensive equipment were stationed not just at the main gate, but also at the pedestrian overpass, crosswalk, subway entrance, bus stop, and everywhere else, now running toward us.

What if they trip and fall?

“Hold on tight, we’re running!”

“Kyaaaa! Run, run! Everyone move!”

Seo Yu-na, age 8.

At the perfect age to enjoy being carried, she screamed excitedly as if riding an amusement park ride.

* * *

“So we ended up coming in through the back door after all!”

Section Chief Kim Yong-seong pounded on the principal’s office door, fuming.

“Teacher Gu! Teacher Gu On-yu! Principal, I know you’re in there!”

Clunk-!

The door opened by itself.

This was no longer surprising.

Past the partition in the principal’s office was only an elderly woman silently sipping tea.

Her curly white hair gave a vague indication of how much life experience she had accumulated.

“Cheon Kyu-jin, no, Cheon Byong-ho… There’s no way Teacher Gu On-yu didn’t know about that guy. What were you planning to do if people started calling her a parachute appointment?”

Section Chief Kim Yong-seong spoke with veins bulging in his neck.

The principal set down her teacup and interlaced her fingers.

Her piercing gaze at Kim was quite fierce.

“Parachute appointment? Section Chief Kim, isn’t that severely underestimating student NoName?”

“I know how exceptional that student is… but that’s not the point right now, is it?”

“Hmm… ‘Parachute’ sounds a bit off… Let’s go with ‘special forces’ instead.”

Principal Gu On-yu smiled slyly and turned her gaze back to the noisy academy main gate.