Ch.198193 – One Year Since Escape

The news article about the President visiting NoName’s hospital room immediately after returning from an overseas trip seemed to quiet public opinion.

However, additional reports of wreaths being found in a garbage dump fueled growing public outrage.

“Has he really lost his affection for Korea? Is he going to just up and leave for America?”

Finally, on Saturday, June 10, 2051, at 10:30 AM.

President Lee Jo-won presided over a senior secretary meeting, directly addressing the Walpurgis suppression operation in his opening remarks.

He also stated he would request timeline records of the incident from UN forces, which unexpectedly drew simultaneous attacks from both ruling and opposition parties.

The ruling party criticized it as a rash decision that would break trust with allied nations and create a national security crisis, while the opposition party strongly condemned it as a time-wasting tactic when they should be thoroughly investigating the National Intelligence Service and Defense Security Command.

The media, fueled by anger, rejoiced at this development.

While nationalist videos gained popularity on VTube, mainstream media articles guaranteed views with what were called “nation-bashing” stories.

OECD “Youth Suicide Rate #1,” “Elderly Poverty Rate #1,” “Annual Working Hours #1,” and so on.

The public preferred to blame external factors rather than themselves for their difficult lives, and the media encouraged this tendency.

However, there was also genuinely hopeful news.

The cardiology medical team led by Professor Dong Jin-su had successfully completed surgery related to NoName’s Aura Heart condition.

With this relief, people began to focus on her activities once again.

[NoName’s YouTube subscribers hit 1 million – is this for real?]

Gaining 300,000 subscribers in a single day

How did our NoName suddenly become world-class?

[Comments]

-Seems like it’s trending in international news this morning too

└ For real?

└ Yeah, it even made the BBC main page

-I just wish she’d post an update saying her surgery went well, even if she can’t stream ㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Does she have Instagram or anything?

└ Social media is a waste of life

[Analysis of why NoName has suspiciously extensive knowledge]

If you were trapped in virtual reality and realized it, would you just play games?

You’d desperately try to escape somehow.

In her spare time between gaming, she probably memorized every bit of knowledge available on the internet.

From her streams, it’s clear she’s naturally gifted with superhuman memory.

There’s also research showing that higher mana sensitivity correlates with higher mental age, which explains her maturity.

The fact that she survived for 7 years just on potions means her mana sensitivity must have been extraordinary from birth.

What do you think of my theory?

[Comments]

-So non-academy educated politicians sound childish because they have lower mana sensitivity?

└ That seems completely unrelated lol

-Articles suggest NoName has Restakaya Syndrome, which has nothing to do with high mana sensitivity

└ (Author): Is that so?

└ But her superhuman mana sensitivity is undeniable

└ Even though World of Arsheria is a user-friendly simulation, handling 5th circle magic is no ordinary talent

-So she literally spent all day gaming and studying without even eating?

-That’s so sad. If it were me, I’d be too traumatized to ever enter a capsule again

[Life without Name is hell…]

I just realized NoName is irreplaceable…

Other kids’ channels just have children whining constantly

When I think about adults using child avatars and acting cute, it’s disgusting

Anyone know any streams with actual kids who have insane gaming skills?

[Comments]

-As if that exists lol

-We should have been more grateful when NoName was streaming

└ We were already super grateful even with her infrequent schedule

└ Remember how much we all cheered for her back then?

-She’s been streaming since last year, why didn’t you watch her before?

└ How would we know when she wasn’t even gaming!

└ Should’ve been deep sea exploring or something

NoName’s Twissy streaming waiting room was filled with silence.

The situation of viewers who couldn’t bring themselves to leave, despite knowing she wouldn’t be able to stream for a while, was truly pitiful.

[NoName’s Channel]

[Currently Offline – 4,921 people waiting]

-Is it real that there are consistently 5,000 people here even with no stream?

-5,000 space orphans bruh

-This is already a cold corpse

-Would be nice if the stream suddenly turned on

-That’s been said 299,792,458 times already

-So what now?

-She’ll come on Sunday… she’ll come next week… she’ll come next month…

-Mom, it’s too dark and cold here…

-Just a black screen with a chat is creepy

-(Manager5): Drᅟᅣᆯㄲㅃ@#ㅓgaㅣ#ㆍ#ᄁᅠᆯㅈga#($ㄲ!!!!!!!!!!!

-?

-?

-?

-(Manager5): I just got an invitation from the streamer!

-What?

-Invitation?

-Stop joking, you aggressive furry

-(Manager5): I’m serious, you idiot!

-(Manager5): (photo).jpg

-(Manager4): ?

-What is it?

-Birthday party?

-Is tomorrow NoName’s birthday?

-Why didn’t she say anything!!!

-(Manager1): Whoa I got one too omg

-(Manager2): I didn’t get one, feeling left out…

-What’s the criteria?

-Could it be…?

A total of three people received online invitations from NoName.

“HoYaMuYaHo,” “SaveMeFromGradSchool,” and “ILikeCateMatesBest.”

[If I get the chance, I’ll treat the top people to a meal or something.]

They all shared the common trait of being among NoName’s most dedicated viewers.

[I don’t know when it will be. So don’t expect too much. It’s like finding money in your pocket that you forgot about – feels good, right?]

The winners of the small awards ceremony held when she first created her Twissy community couldn’t hide their excitement.

-(Manager5): Goodbye everyone~~~! I’m throwing off all the shackles and constraints of this world to find my happiness~~~! Yes! I’m going to see Name!!!

* * *

“Happy eighth birthday to our Name!”

The dark room suddenly brightened.

I rubbed my eyes and found the bed button to sit up.

The voice belonged to Professor Cheon. He seemed to have timed his arrival perfectly at midnight. Unfortunately, Adella had been slightly faster with her birthday wishes.

“What, you stayed up this late just to wish me happy birthday?”

“And I told you to turn the light on when you’re on your phone. It’s bad for your eyes.”

“Either wish me happy birthday or nag me, but not both at once.”

“Hahaha.”

I had been wondering why Professor Cheon, who usually goes to bed at 10 PM, was staying up so late.

Somehow a pretty strawberry cream cake had appeared on the table, and in his hands was what I presumed to be my birthday present wrapped in teddy bear patterned paper.

“I was worried you might have brought a sweet potato cake.”

“I know your tastes quite well.”

At Professor Cheon’s recommendation, we had moved to a much more spacious VIP hospital room.

It was a comprehensive floor with a reception room, kitchen, bedroom, and even an adjacent room for medical staff.

The familiar interior design made it feel more like a home than a hospital, which reduced the pressure.

If anything, this aspect prevented me from thinking about the enormous cost of a VIP hospital room.

“Is this a present?”

“Would you like to open it?”

“I wonder what it is… I’m kind of excited.”

“It’s a gift you’ll absolutely love.”

With Professor Cheon’s confident declaration, I curiously and slowly untied the ribbon.

As the teddy bears on the wrapping paper gradually looked more crumpled, I imagined my expression was probably filled with joy.

In the very center of the white box was a logo of a brand I knew well.

[IWC Schaffhausen]

“I thought this would suit Name’s taste better than Rolex or Omega.”

“Wow… but if there’s just a watch inside this box, I’ll be quite disappointed. You know what I mean, right?”

“Hahaha, of course not. Why don’t you open it and see?”

The doctor said I shouldn’t do anything that would strain my heart for a while. In this regard, Professor Cheon lacks consideration.

With a pounding heart, I broke the seal and slowly opened the box.

The logo was clearly engraved on the ceiling of the box, emphasizing its luxury status.

I took out the elongated object that had been carefully packaged with cushioning and pulled it out from both sides.

If I were to compare it to a musical instrument, it was slightly smaller than a flute, about the size of a piccolo, with a shimmering silver glow.

“A portable magic circle composer…!”

A high-end product also known as a wand. With a luxury brand attached, I couldn’t even imagine how much it cost.

“Would you like to try using it?”

A wand, which is practically an extension of a magician’s self, skips some of the tedious magic recording process and injects optimal mana.

I could no longer hide my excitement.

Although I didn’t know the specific operation method, it wasn’t a major issue.

[Cast: Light]

The 1st circle’s outline draws itself automatically.

My mouth fell open as I saw even the detailed circuit formulas being automatically engraved inside, since the spell was so simple. In terms of convenience, it was far superior to the staff Professor Cheon used.

The only variable I needed to specify was the light intensity.

What’s more, there wasn’t even a 0.1% error from the optimal mana injection amount I had calculated in my mind, which made me increasingly curious about this wand.

“What… what’s it called?”

“They call it the IWC Reminiscence.”

“Reminiscence? That’s quite a sentimental name for IWC.”

“Do you like it? Is it not too heavy?”

“Yes, I love it… Oh, I should have thanked you before receiving the gift. Now it seems like I’m just happy because of the wand.”

Unable to put the wand down, I hugged Professor Cheon while still clutching it tightly in my hand.

“Thank you…”

“I’m glad you like the gift.”

“Thank you for adopting someone like me.”

“…!”

I felt Professor Cheon’s hand trembling against my back.

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while. I’m really a lucky person. So what if I lived through seven difficult years? I’m going to live happily for the next 90 years.”

“……”

Gone was the intimidating grandfather figure; Professor Cheon was looking at me with melancholic eyes.

“Today marks exactly one year. One year since I escaped from the capsule. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t met you, Professor Cheon.”

Professor Cheon is truly a good person.

He genuinely understood the difficulties of a child who had been in the world for less than a year and, in terms of experience, was no different from a newborn.

“I’ve been feeling this a lot lately. There aren’t many people in this world who are as great and kind as you, Professor Cheon. Anyway, what I want to say is… thank you for raising me. Oh, I’m not saying I’m going anywhere, so don’t misunderstand…!”

“Thank you…”

“It’s nothing… I’m the one who’s grateful… I mean it.”

A moment of silence lingered.

The act of expressing gratitude was both embarrassing and ticklish.

Neither of us knew how to continue the conversation.

Eventually, I took the initiative again.

“Was there a specific moment when you decided to adopt me?”

Professor Cheon’s lips parted and closed repeatedly.

He seemed to want to say something but kept hesitating.

Feeling sorry for his overly serious contemplation, I quickly changed the subject.

“Never mind, I was just asking casually. Oh, by the way, what should we do about the birthday party? Should I send a message apologizing?”

“Why not invite them here?”

“What? Here?”

I looked around at Professor Cheon’s suggestion.

The room was definitely larger than our living room at home.

“Would that be okay?”

“Of course.”

I opened the curtains and peeked out to see the first floor outside the hospital.

Being on the 19th floor, I couldn’t see clearly, but there seemed to be a lot of outsiders milling about.

There wasn’t a single white patient gown to be found.

Could they be reporters, or VTubers? Maybe politicians or civic groups. Occasionally, voices boomed through megaphones.

“It looks difficult to get through all that…”

“I can go down and escort them up.”

“Hahaha. Alright, I’ll let them know.”

After chatting a bit more with Professor Cheon, he wished me good night and turned off the lights.

Like the name “Reminiscence,” scenes from the past days quickly flashed by like a panorama.

Holding the portable magic circle composer preciously like a stuffed animal, I drifted into sweet sleep while listening to a very faint lullaby brushing against my ears.

“I miss you… Mom…”